Chapter 226 Box

Although the border warriors were not experienced fighters, they were not inexperienced either. However, the moment the box was opened, several warriors' faces changed.

The box was a common wooden box for clothes. It had been buried for too long, and its original color could no longer be seen. There was a small rusty lock on the box. The soldiers broke the lock and opened the lid. They found a child in a red skirt lying inside.

Under the ravages of time, the skirt had faded and decayed, making the child in the box look even more bizarre.

Lin Yue only learned about this when she heard her sisters-in-law chatting. At that time, Tang Sisi had been locked up for many days. What she didn't expect was that the child was actually the granddaughter who went missing next door to Tang Sisi.

Zhou Aixiang likes to listen to gossip, and Lin Yue was dragged by her to be an eavesdropper. She is not so well-informed, and cannot get a word in. She just wants to be an eavesdropper, but others will not let her go, and ask her to interact from time to time.

"Have you heard? That child has been gone for several years, but he hasn't decayed at all. Except for the skin color changing, everything else is fine!"

"Is it really that weird? I heard that this happened several years ago, it's so creepy! You didn't see the looks of Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang and Aunt Xu. They looked like they were crazy and wanted to eat people. It was so scary!"

Someone sneered, "How can she not be crazy? The child is gone, and the wife is gone too. A good family is broken up just like that. Aunt Xu even mistook her enemy for a benefactor. She has been so kind to her for so many years. It would be strange if she is not mad now!"

Everyone sighed, and one person asked, "But what did Tang Sisi want? The child was only four or five years old when he died. How could she have the heart to do that?"

Zhou Aixiang's eyes sparkled with the excitement of gossip, and she interrupted, "You may not know, but Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang and Aunt Xu went to see her, and I heard that she only said one sentence."

When everyone heard her stop, they were all dissatisfied with her keeping them in suspense and urged her, "What did she say? Tell us now!"

Zhou Aixiang had been holding back these words for a long time, but now she was finally able to say them out loud: "She said, I really hate children!"

Everyone was stunned by Zhou Aixiang's stare, and then they felt a chill: "She said she hates children? But she usually acts like she likes children. All the children in the compound like her. Now she says she doesn't like children, but she always tries to please them. What is she trying to achieve..."

Zhou Aixiang said faintly: "So Aunt Xu's little granddaughter is dead!"

Everyone shuddered. Among the people present, how many children had never been close to Tang Sisi? This matter cannot be thought about. The more you think about it, the more scared you will be. Although Tang Sisi has been arrested, everyone's emotions are still very excited, and they start to curse at her.

This was the first time Lin Yue heard about the inside story. Zhang Yuandong was not there, and the discipline in the army was strict. If it hadn't involved the child of Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang, these things would never have been spread. But she really didn't realize that Tang Sisi hated children so much before.

Although Tang Sisi would take advantage of children and teach them to do improper things, I really didn't see that she hated children to that extent.

The topic of conversation shifted from cursing Tang Sisi to Captain Yu. "Captain Yu must have been unlucky to marry such a wife. I knew his previous children were not raised properly, but he still treats this wife like a treasure. I wonder if he is regretting it now!"

Captain Yu is the leader of the cavalry regiment. He is currently on a mission outside. Even if he is contacted, he will not be back for a while. It happened to be the weekend, and the children at home knew about it. However, except for the youngest Yu Zhiguo, the other three children were surprisingly calm and accepted the fact in silence.

For some reason, Lin Yue suddenly remembered Yu Tiantian's threat to Sisi: "Let you die quietly." She was actually more scared than anyone else in the family compound, because Tang Sisi had really entangled several of her children. Thinking about it now, she still felt a little scared.

"I think the ones who suffer the most are Wang Fang's two children. Wang Fang didn't go to take them back, but just let them be locked up without doing anything."

Another person said: "Why should they be pitiful? They treat their own mother like an enemy. I wouldn't go to pick her up even if they asked me to!"

The voices of the crowd gradually died down, and someone coughed and changed the subject. Lin Yue looked up and saw Li Zhiguo walking towards him from a distance.

Everyone greeted Li Zhiguo warmly, and some even asked about Zhang Yulan's situation with concern, "Coach Li, you're back. You were out for a long time this time, right? We went to see Mrs. Zhang a few days ago. When is she going to give birth? How is she doing recently?"

Li Zhiguo smiled politely and replied, "I'd like to thank my sisters-in-law on behalf of my wife. She's pretty good, but she's had a bad temper recently and doesn't want to see anyone. She's even annoyed to see me. She always dislikes me hanging around in front of her!"

People advised: "It's inevitable that you'll be in a bad mood when you're pregnant. You should be more tolerant and don't get angry with her!"

Li Zhiguo responded patiently and then walked home in a big stride.

Everyone's gossip shifted from Tang Sisi to Zhang Yulan. Someone remembered that Zhou Aixiang was their neighbor and wanted to find out more. Unfortunately, Zhou Aixiang hadn't been next door for a long time and didn't know much. After chatting for a few sentences, she felt it was boring and dragged Lin Yue back.

As soon as the two entered Zhou Aixiang's house, they heard a fierce quarrel coming from next door.

Zhang Yulan cursed in a suppressed voice: "Don't give me a crying face every day. If you don't know, you will think that I have treated you badly. I serve you with delicious food and drinks all day long, and you have become an enemy, right?"

Then came Zhang Yuhui's low pleading voice, which was so soft and unclear that even Lin Yue, with his good hearing, could not hear clearly what she said.

Zhou Aixiang turned around and whispered to Lin Yue, "It's like this every day. Zhang Yulan is really something. Her personality has changed just because she's pregnant. She scolds her sister all day long without any mercy. Her sister is really pitiful."

Lin Yue believed this deeply. Who could have imagined that the person swearing in such a rough voice would be the timid and cowardly Zhang Yulan in the past?

As the two were about to enter the house, they heard Li Zhiguo's impatient voice from next door again: "I have explained to you many times that the entire army is under strict alert. During this period of time, no one is allowed to go out unless there is military service. Why do you have to go home at this critical moment? Besides, your body is not suitable for long-distance travel. After this period of time is over, I will personally take you home, okay?"

This time, Zhang Yuhui's voice could be heard clearly. "I know, I know. I won't make it difficult for you. I just haven't been home for a long time and want to report safety to my family. Zhiguo, I don't ask to go home to visit now, I just want to make a phone call and hear my mother's voice..."

Her voice was soft and pitiful. Unless one had a heart of stone, it would be impossible for him not to be moved. But he never expected that Li Zhiguo would get very angry: "Don't even think about it! Don't think I don't know what's going on in your mind. I tell you, you'd better behave yourself, otherwise, even your stomach can't save you!"

The sound was fierce, and even had a hint of gnashing of teeth.

Lin Yue's heart skipped a beat. She felt as if she had heard something extraordinary. Just as she was about to think about it carefully, she was interrupted by Zhou Aixiang.

"Hey, did I hear it wrong? Why did I hear the Zhang family's sister calling her brother-in-law's name? Are they so close?"

Lin Yue's eyes moved, and he also raised his ears to listen carefully, but unfortunately, the people over there suddenly stopped moving. Lin Yue then realized that Zhou Aixiang's voice was a bit loud and might have been heard by the people next door.

Zhou Aixiang obviously realized this as well. Her face flushed, she looked at Lin Yue, and hurriedly pulled him into the house.

"Oh my, I'm so scared. You really can't talk about other people's bad deeds behind their backs. I'm so embarrassed!"

Lin Yue joked, "So you're afraid too. I thought you were as strong as a rock and invulnerable to swords and knives!"

Zhou Aixiang hit her angrily, "You have the most powerful mouth. When you hurt someone, you leave no room for mercy!"

She paused for a moment before saying, "I'm not afraid. The main thing is that the two families are neighbors. What I said just now was a bit too much. If it gets out, their reputation will be ruined!"

She said with some self-blame: "Anyway, my mouth is always used to offend people!"

Lin Yue could only comfort her, "Don't think too much. Just don't tell anyone about it in the future. Their family may not hear about it."

Zhou Aixiang was not comforted at all, but it was not the first time she had experienced such a thing, so she quickly adjusted herself and turned to talk about other things.

When people reach middle age, they either suffer for their parents or their children. Unfortunately, Zhou Aixiang suffered from both.

"My boy is going to be fifteen soon, but he's still like a kid, thinking about playing all the time. In less than two years, he will be at the age to go to the countryside. He is not good at studying, and he can't stand the fatigue of being a soldier. We can't really send him to the countryside!"

Lin Yue consoled him, "You're exaggerating. I remember Dongkai was only four years older than the two eldest children in my family. It's still too early for him to go to the countryside!"

Zhou Aixiang sighed and said with a wry smile: "According to his actual age, there are still two years. But you also know that Lao Lu is old. He will be transferred to a new job in the next two years. When he returns to his hometown, my good days will be over. It will be even more difficult to find a way out for this child!"

Every family has its own problems. Zhou Aixiang's in-laws are really a group of blood-sucking worms. Most of Lu Mangang's allowance has to be paid back home. Not only does he have to support his parents, but he also has to support his brothers and sisters. They don't produce anything, and the whole family is waiting for Lu Mangang to send money back.

Zhou Aixiang's life was not easy in her hometown. She and her children did not have enough to eat. It was only after she joined the army that her life became better. Because of this, she was reluctant to go back to her hometown during the Spring Festival. Seeing that Lu Mangang was about to be discharged from the army, her usually carefree personality began to worry.

Lin Yue knew the situation in her family, but household affairs were always the most difficult to handle, so she could only smile and say, "What are you afraid of? When you go back, show your fierceness and see who dares to bully you! Besides, Captain Lu is so good to you, he won't let you be bullied in vain!"

Speaking of Captain Lu, Zhou Aixiang grinned. "That's right, my old Lu is a man who knows what's right and won't let me suffer any injustice."

She changed the subject and continued, "Actually, Zhang Yuhui did tell me that if Dongkai was willing to stay in the black market, she had connections that could arrange for him to work in a steel structure factory. But the work wasn't easy either, and he often had to lift steel bars and so on."

Lin Yue was surprised and asked, "Is she that capable? I heard that she was badly bullied by her in-laws and never got a good look from her sister. I never thought she had such connections."

Zhou Aixiang didn't think much of it. "She said she had a classmate working there, and she asked her about it a while ago. But she couldn't go because of her health, so she came to ask me. Besides, she's actually living quite well here. Zhang Yulan cooks delicious food for her all day long. I think she's gained a lot of weight recently."

"Isn't Zhang Yulan pregnant? I always thought she was the one taking care of Zhang Yulan, but that's not the case?"

Zhou Aixiang thought for a moment before saying, "Yes, it seems a little wrong, but she is not in good health. Maybe because of this, her sister takes better care of her."

Lin Yue nodded thoughtfully and did not ask any further questions.