Chapter 48

Wu Xiangchen was carried home by his father. He had not felt his father's embrace for a long, long time. Every time his father wanted to hug him, he would hide away.

He couldn't explain what that feeling was.

But just now, his father said he was going back to find his stepmother. He looked at his father's serious and fierce face and then let him hug him.

Cheng Zheng, Jian Lu, Liang Haisheng and Feng Xiuhui followed behind, looking at the backs of the father and son in front of them, and felt that one could only know the face of a person but not his heart.

"I didn't expect Chen Qing to be so mean?" Feng Xiuhui lowered her voice and said to Jian Lu beside her. As a mother, she felt sorry for Wu Xiangchen who had lost his biological mother. "I don't know what life a child like this has to live at home."

Jian Lu remembered what Wu Xiangchen said. Chen Qing really didn't lack him for food and clothing, but she and Liu Huayong would say some words to torture and scare the child from time to time, which made Wu Xiangchen, who was already fragile and sensitive, even more so.

"In the end, it all depends on what Chief of Staff Wu does." Jian Lu didn't know what the tall father in front of her would do. Would he let Chen Qing smooth things over? Or would he break off the relationship completely?

Chen Qing is obviously an excellent actor. Even if he is exposed, he will probably admit his mistake with tears in his eyes and try to get away with it.

"Don't worry about it, this is the Wu family's business, it all depends on how he thinks." Liang Haisheng didn't expect that watching a performance by a cultural troupe today would lead to such a thing. This Wu Xiangchen is really a pitiful person.

"You've been out for most of the day, aren't you tired?" Cheng Zheng half-leaned and supported his wife, taking a look at her stomach and legs. She had just come out to look for Wu Xiangchen, and this man was very stubborn. "Don't go for a while, just go home and rest."

"No!" Jian Lu didn't want to go home and rest. Not to mention that she was concerned about the follow-up of the matter and wanted to see how it would be handled later, she was also worried that Chief of Staff Wu would be fooled by Chen Qing again. Selfishly, she hoped that this man could completely resolve the matter, but she also knew that it might be difficult.

When the group returned to their home, many neighbors in the yard stuck their heads out to look in. Seeing that Wu Xiangchen had returned safely, they couldn't help but express some concern.

"Have you found Chenchen? That's good!"

"Go back to the house and rest!"

Wu Feng thanked everyone with a stern face. Thinking of what his son had said earlier, he could no longer hide his anger. He entrusted his son in his arms to Feng Xiuhui beside him, walked to his house, and pushed open the door.

There was a loud bang.

Chen Qing and Liu Huayong in the living room were startled, especially Liu Huayong, who was originally sleeping on the sofa. He shivered and rubbed his sleepy eyes, "Mom, what's wrong?"

Chen Qing didn't know what was going on. Could it be that a thief could break into the family compound?

She looked towards the door, but saw the tall Wu Feng standing there, striding into the room.

"Old Wu, are you back? Didn't you find Chenchen?" Seeing that there was no one around him and his face was expressionless, Chen Qing thought that he was angry because he didn't find anyone. "Don't worry, Chenchen is so old, he will definitely not be lost."

Chen Qing just felt that this might be the best opportunity. The father and son had a quarrel, and Wu Xiangchen ran out. It would be good if he never came back.

"Chen Qing." Wu Feng looked at her seriously, his voice a little cold and hard, "I have something to ask you."

"What...what happened?" Chen Qingmin noticed that something was wrong with Wu Feng. Just as she was about to speak again, she saw a group of people walking in from behind, and Wu Xiangchen was clearly among them.

Why wasn't Wu Feng happy even though Wu Xiangchen had been found and seemed to have returned safely?

"What happened?"

"Dad Wu! You're back? Let me give you a back massage!" Liu Huayong always remembered to please Dad Wu, and now he just woke up and got up to go over.

"Don't call me Dad Wu, call me Uncle Wu." Wu Feng lowered his head and looked at Liu Huayong coldly. He felt that this child was a stranger to him. He usually called him Dad Wu and was very close to him, but he actually said such words to his own son behind his back.

Chen Qing suddenly looked up at Wu Feng, not knowing why he said that. Wu Feng had always been easy-going. After they remarried, he was often away from home on missions and felt guilty for letting her take care of the housework alone. He never treated her unfairly financially and never blushed when talking to her.

What's happening now?

Why did he speak to his mother and son like that?

"Old Wu, what's wrong with you? What's wrong with Xiaoyong calling me Daddy Wu?"

"My son, Chenchen has always called you Auntie Chen. It is inappropriate for Xiaoyong to call me Daddy Wu."

"Old Wu!" Chen Qing was panicked. He looked at Wu Feng's cold face, then looked at Wu Xiangchen behind him. Could it be that this man discovered something?

"Did Chenchen say something?" Chen Qing quickly recalled that she had never done anything bad to Wu Xiangchen. She had provided him with everything he needed to eat and wear. Even if she went out and asked every household in the compound, they would all praise her for being a good stepmother.

Thinking of this, she suppressed the panic in her heart, clenched her fists, and smiled. No matter what happened, she could deal with it.

"Have you done anything? Are you worried that Chenchen will tell me?" Wu Feng caught the panic that flashed across Chen Qing's eyes just now. After all, this person was a woman who was in the family yard, in a room. Faced with his sudden and sharp questioning, she still couldn't conceal it perfectly like before.

"No, what is there to complain about?"

"Then let me ask you, have you ever told Liu Huayong to take me away so that I will be his father from now on?"

Chen Qing's eyes suddenly narrowed, and a breath of anger got stuck in her throat. She didn't know how Wu Feng knew what she and her son had said. She was very careful and only told her son once half a year after she got married, and she did it to Wu Xiangchen who was sick and confused due to fever.

"No!" No matter what, she had to deny it. She didn't want to lose her title as the wife of Chief of Staff Wu, didn't want to lose such a good life in the family compound, and didn't want to go back to the days when she was an orphan and a widow, and couldn't even fill her stomach. "I didn't say that, Old Wu, you know me, how could I say that to Xiaoyong?"

Wu Feng had already made up his mind. Then he looked at Chen Qing's reaction, which was not the right reaction for someone who had never said such words before. The panic in his eyes was something Chief of Staff Wu, who had met all kinds of people, understood very well.

"Didn't you say it?" Wu Feng sneered, "Chen Qing, when I was planning to remarry, my only request was to find someone to help me take care of my son. At that time, you brought your son to me and begged me, repeatedly promising that you would treat Chenchen well and treat him as your own son... I think you are a pitiful person, and you are really good to your son. As a mother like you, you should also be good to Chenchen, but what happened?!"

"I am!" Chen Qing's fear grew bigger and bigger, about to swallow her up. "Old Wu, go out and ask the neighbors in our family compound. Everyone says I am the best stepmother. I feed Chenchen everything first, and then Xiaoyong. Xiaoyong got angry with me because of this, and I always coaxed and persuaded him."

Feng Xiuhui helped to hold Wu Xiangchen and could clearly feel his body twisting, perhaps because he saw his stepmother change her behavior in front of his father again.

Wu Xiangchen struggled to get away from Aunt Feng Xiuhui's hands, ran to his father's side, and looked up at his stepmother.

"You clearly said that." He finally had the courage to say it, because his father was very fierce tonight, and he was fierce to his stepmother.

Chen Qing looked at his stepson who suddenly came over, tried to control his facial expression, and smiled softly, "Chenchen, maybe you remembered it wrongly? Maybe you got confused and misheard what your aunt said."

She clearly remembered that when she said this to her son, Wu Xiangchen was still running a fever in the house.

"Aunt Chen." Wu Xiangchen looked up at her, remembering that time when he really mistook her for his mother. "How do you know I'm talking about what I heard when I had a fever?"

Chen Qing's mind buzzed with alarm. What did she just say? Wu Feng and Wu Xiangchen did not mention when they heard this. His fingertips pinched into his palm. Because he pinched too hard, it was estimated that blood marks had been left. "I... I guessed that you must be sick to mishear."

Listening to Chen Qing's pale and powerless explanation, Wu Feng's eyes were sharp, like a sharp blade, "Chen Qing, I haven't treated you badly since I married you, right? Why do you treat my son like this? Huh?!"

Wu Feng's voice was deep and high-pitched, as if he was training his soldiers. Chen Qing felt a heart-wrenching shock. He felt like he was losing something, but he wanted to struggle and hold on to it. "No, no!"

She, who was always gentle, spoke in a hoarse voice for the first time, with a bit of evil on her face, "Old Wu, why don't you believe me? You can see how much I have done for this family over the years! Why don't you believe me? Chenchen always thinks about his dead mother and doesn't like me. Can you believe what he says? He just wants you to drive me away, to drive me, your stepmother, away!!!"

Wu Feng realized that he had not fully understood Chen Qing before. The hysterical her who was splashing dirty water on her son was the real her.

"Why should I trust you instead of my son?" Wu Feng said coldly.

"So what? Chief of Staff Wu? I am your legitimate wife after all, even though we are both remarried. But you are going to blame me because of what your son said? I can bear this injustice today. After all, Chenchen is young. You help him, and I will take Xiaoyong back to my parents' home for a while."

Chen Qing sniffed the sour smell and tried not to let the tears fall from his red eyes.

Liu Huayong listened for a long time, and when he heard his mother say that she wanted to take him away and leave here, he refused!

"Mom, I won't leave!!!" He didn't want to go back to that poor, dirty and broken place, he wanted to stay here.

Chen Qing looked at her son. She found that Xiaoyong cried so much today, but Wu Feng was still hard-hearted and had no intention of trying to keep him. She couldn't force him today. Even if he was convinced from the bottom of his heart that she had said those words, so what? Wu Feng couldn't stay at home every day. He had a lot of tasks, how could he take care of the children? If she said she wanted to leave, he would naturally think about who would take care of Wu Xiangchen's child at home in the future? He would only remember her kindness and ask her not to leave.

She didn't ask for anything else, just to keep the title of Chief of Staff Wu's daughter-in-law and her current life, so she said she wanted to leave today.

By then, the people in the family compound would know that she had left with the child in the middle of the night and could help persuade her. In such a dark day, she wanted to see if Wu Feng was worried about her and Xiaoyong's safety. If anything went wrong, the spit of those people outside would drown him.

"Xiaoyong, be obedient." Chen Qing went back to the room alone to pack her clothes. She didn't take too much with her, most of her things were left at home, but she still had to pack a few pieces of clothes to take with her, and then she could go to the courtyard of her home and let people see her.

These neighbors would not let her take the children and leave. They would only help to persuade Wu Feng. After this persuasion, she would say some soft words and the matter would be over.

Feng Xiuhui and the others were stunned by the commotion. Although Chen Qing had caused quite a stir and looked like a stepmother with ulterior motives, it was late at night and her parents' home was not a place that could be reached within a few steps. Wouldn't it be easy for the mother and son to get into trouble if they went out?

No matter how wrong it is, nothing can really happen, right?

Feng Xiuhui immediately softened her heart and said, "We can't let them go, right?"

Jian Lu shook her head, watching Chen Qing looking back every few steps as he walked back to the house, and even nudged Liu Huayong as he went to talk to Wu Feng again, "He may not really want to leave."

Maybe it's a step forward.

As expected, when Chen Qing came out with a bag, he said to Liu Huayong, "Xiaoyong, say goodbye to your father Wu... no, Uncle Wu. You probably won't see him for a while, so don't miss him too much. Old Wu, you should take care of your health. And Chenchen, he doesn't eat much. Remember to persuade him. If you are busy with work in the future, you can leave Chenchen at your neighbor's house. We can all help."

"Mom, I won't leave!" Liu Huayong was dragged to the gate by Chen Qing. Chen Qing took another look at Wu Feng who was motionless, and her heart sank. She never expected this man to be so heartless!

He immediately shouted at the door, "We are leaving now, you two grandfathers, remember to take good care of yourselves."

This shout immediately attracted the attention of several military wives nearby. It was already so dark and it was almost nine o'clock. Why were they still going out?

"Chen Qing, where are you taking Xiaoyong?"

"It's so late and dark, don't walk around!"

"Let's go back to my parents' home." Chen Qing's voice was choked with sobs, but he held it back. When the other military wives heard this, they immediately realized something was wrong. An orphan and a widow were going back to her parents' home in the middle of the night. It was obvious that Chief of Staff Wu was trying to chase them away.

"Chief of Staff Wu, please take your wife back home quickly. You can't leave like this in the middle of the night. What if something happens?"

"You are a big man, why are you angry with your wife? It's not easy for Chen Qing to take care of your children when you are not at home. You can't be so heartless."

Jian Lu was watching from the side and felt that Chen Qing was quite capable. With just a few words, she coaxed a group of military wives to stand on her side and help persuade Wu Feng, especially the moral blackmail.

At this moment, no matter how angry I am, I really can't let them leave. If something really happens, I will feel guilty for the rest of my life.

Chen Qing felt proud and relieved. She stopped talking. Everyone said so, Wu Feng would definitely come out. When the time comes, she will tell him about the difficulties he had experienced over the years, and he will surely soften his heart.

Sure enough, Wu Feng came out of the house after hearing what people around him said. He looked at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Sisters-in-law, you are right. We can't let them go out like this in the middle of the night."

Everyone listened with satisfaction and nodded one after another. Chen Qing also showed a happy expression. This man was still not merciful.

Then I heard, "But Chen Qing and Liu Huayong bullied my son at home, and our family couldn't survive any longer."

What? Bullying?

Several people in the family compound looked at each other in bewilderment. How could Chen Qing, such a good stepmother, bully Wu Xiangchen!

Chen Qing never expected that Wu Feng would bring this matter to light. It would be fine if he just made a noise in the house, but how could he ruin his own reputation in front of so many people!

"Wu Feng! I have been devoted to Chenchen every day since I married you. You were often not at home, and I worried that Chenchen didn't eat well, so I fed him everything. I was worried that he would get sick, and I always looked after him. I even put my own son Xiaoyong behind me, and you actually treat me badly!"

Chen Qing spoke heart-wrenchingly, and several military wives around her became excited and spoke up for her.

"Chief of Staff Wu, please speak with conscience. What did Chen Qing do wrong? There really is nothing wrong!"

"We have seen it every day. It is not adulterated at all!"

Wu Feng held his son's hand and found that he was tense all over. He stared at Chen Qing, then looked up at himself. His eyes seemed to say, see, she is really amazing.

Wu Feng only now realized that this man was indeed very powerful. He had several faces and knew how to use the neighbors to put pressure on himself.

"Chen Qing asked Liu Huayong to steal my father and told my son that Chenchen would be fatherless in the future. It's better to forget about such a stepmother. Chenchen will only become more and more afraid."

Wu Feng didn't wait for others to react and made his decision in a deep voice, "I will divorce Chen Qing, but you don't have to leave tonight. I will report it tomorrow."

The onlookers were still immersed in the matter of robbing their father, but they heard that Chief of Staff Wu wanted a divorce!

This is too scary. Divorce? These days, you can't find one divorced person among ten thousand people. Especially since this is a second marriage, they are actually getting divorced again?

Chen Qing also collapsed. She couldn't believe that Wu Feng wanted to divorce her because of this. She had finally managed to marry into a rich family and no longer had to endure hunger and could live a good life. She didn't want a divorce!

"I never said that! Wu Feng! I won't get a divorce!"

Wu Feng just looked at her coldly and said, "You know whether you said it or not, but you should know whether you did it or not."

Wu Xiangchen didn't expect his father to talk about divorce. He knew what divorce was. He heard some time ago that someone got divorced and had a fight in the supply and marketing cooperative. They would not live together in the future. In this way, Liu Huayong would not snatch his father away.

But everyone was trying to persuade his father, so he pursed his lips, broke away from his father's hand, and ran to Liu Huayong who was rolling around.

Liu Huayong also knows what divorce is, he doesn't want it, he wants to be Wu Xiangchen's father!

"Liu Huayong." Wu Xiangchen looked at him coldly, remembering what he had said to him many times, and said it back to him, "Dad is my dad, not your dad. You can't steal him away."

Liu Huayong stopped crying and looked at Wu Xiangchen. This man was so annoying that he actually said that Father Wu was not his father. He glared at him, pushed Wu Xiangchen to the ground, and roared:

"You are talking nonsense! Father Wu is my father! My mother said that if we snatch Father Wu away from me, he will be my father and not yours! You can't snatch him away from us! You don't have a mother or a father."

You could hear a pin drop in the yard. Everyone was silent for a moment. When Chen Qing heard his son yelling, he immediately stepped forward and covered his mouth!

"Xiaoyong, what are you talking about!"

"Mom." Liu Huayong broke free from his mother's shackles and cried, "Dad Wu doesn't want us anymore? Why? He is my dad, the dad of me alone!"

When Liu Huayong thought that Father Wu was no longer his father, he wanted to cry. He could not accept going back to his past life. He wanted to eat sweets and meat and wear nice new clothes, but he didn't want them!

He wants Father Wu to be his father, he hates Wu Xiangchen so much!

The half-grown child exerted great strength, pushed his mother aside, rushed to Wu Feng, hugged his thighs, and cried, "Dad Wu, I want you to be my dad, you don't want Wu Xiangchen! I am better than Wu Xiangchen!"

"Listen to what they are saying?" Several military wives understood, "It seems that these two really want to squeeze Wu Xiangchen out and occupy Chief of Staff Wu for themselves!"

Wu Feng no longer paid any attention to this child whom he had once loved very much. He originally thought that Liu Huayong could become good brothers with his son and support each other as they grew up. Who knew that these two people never had good intentions.

Wu Feng pried open Liu Huayong's little hand, took a few steps to the left, picked up his son and prepared to go into the house. He took just two steps and said to Chen Qing without turning back.

"Tomorrow I will go to the army to file a divorce report. It's too late today, so you and Liu Huayong should go back to your room and sleep. If you insist on leaving now, I won't care if anything happens, and you will have to bear the consequences yourself."

Wu Feng knew that a selfish person like Chen Qing would not risk her life by going out late at night, so he had to make his attitude clear and completely put an end to her thoughts.

The cold words hit Chen Qing's face. She looked ashen. Looking at the man's resolute back, she felt cold from head to toe.

After such a commotion, the events at Chief of Staff Wu's home on the first floor had spread, especially to Cheng Zheng and his wife, and Liang Haisheng and his wife, who had gone with the group to look for someone, who had become the key figures they were inquiring about.

After all, we couldn't catch Chief of Staff Wu and Chen Qing in person to question them.

"Xiuhui, tell me quickly, what happened tonight?"

"Oh, this hasn't happened in our hospital for a long time."

"Sister Jian Lu, do you know why Chen Qing is such a person?"

The Wu family's door was closed. Cheng Zheng just wanted to take his wife back to the house. She was pregnant with a child and it was time for her to rest after so much trouble today.

"Sisters-in-law, Lulu is pregnant, we will go back first." Cheng Zheng felt overwhelmed. A group of military wives and several battalion commanders who had already gone to bed and put on their clothes and trousers came out and surrounded them to ask questions.

"Yeah, that's right, Lulu, you should go back soon!"

"Captain Cheng, please take care of your wife, Xiuhui. You two can't leave! Tell us."

Jian Lu was confused as she was urged to leave by several sisters-in-law. Cheng Zheng led her hand up to the third floor. Standing in the corridor on the third floor, she could still hear people talking downstairs. Everyone was very enthusiastic about watching the show. After all, the stepmother with the best reputation in the hospital suddenly had her image ruined today, and there was even big news that Chief of Staff Wu wanted a divorce. Several people who had already gone to bed came out quickly.

"Don't look at it." Cheng Zheng took out the key, opened the door, and pulled his wife into the house. "I told you to rest a long time ago, but you insisted on going to find someone."

He had long been worried that his daughter-in-law would feel uncomfortable.

"I'm really fine. Think about how old I am. If I were not feeling well, wouldn't I tell me?" Jian Lu sat down on the chair and took the enamel cup that Cheng Zheng brought to her, which contained the hot water he had just poured.

Not tired, but a little thirsty.

I walked too much today. I didn’t notice the mess at the Wu family earlier, but now that I sit down I feel my calves are a little sore.

As soon as she moved her legs, her right leg was pulled up by the man.

Jian Lu's right leg was pulled and placed on Cheng Zheng's thigh. The man massaged her with both hands. He was holding back on strength, but because of his great strength, the massage was very comfortable.

"Hmm~hmm, the strength is good." Jian Lu relaxed her body and leaned back in the chair, enjoying the man's massage. "A little higher, yes, my calves are indeed a little sore."

Cheng Zheng added a little more strength, pinched her calf, and scolded, "I told you to come back early to rest, now you feel sore in your leg."

"It's not bad." Jian Lu felt that this person actually had some old motherly traits! It was outrageous! "By the way, do you think Chief of Staff Wu can get a divorce smoothly?"

Cheng Zheng didn't even raise his head, his eyes still locked on his wife's legs. He massaged her right leg and then her left leg. "Why not?"

"What if Chen Qing cries, makes a scene, or even hangs herself?" Jian Lu finally understood her. Would she be willing to give up her good life? Would she become the poor widow who had trouble making ends meet? The odds were against her!

"Stop worrying about others." Cheng Zheng was worried that the pregnant woman thought too much and it would be bad for her health. "Although Old Wu usually has a good temper, he will never be soft-hearted when it comes to his bottom line. His wife died, and he only has this son. After what happened today, he will not let it go. Don't worry."

"Really? That's good."

Jian Lu's legs were massaged and she wanted to wash up and lie down on the bed. There were two thermoses of hot water in the room. Cheng Zheng squeezed tooth powder for her, poured water for her face, and even put a towel in to soak it in advance.

By the time she finished washing her face, water at a suitable temperature for washing feet had been placed in front of the chair.

After a busy day, Jian Lu couldn't help but sigh as her feet were comfortably soaked in warm water. It was over. This life was like being served like a queen dowager. She even wanted to call him "Little Chengzi" now. She wondered if Comrade Cheng Zheng would agree.

Comrade Cheng Zheng waited until his wife lay down on the bed before he simply tidied himself up. He was a quick man and soon he entered the room, turned off the lights and lay down next to his wife.

With both hands, I hold the warm, fragrant and soft jade in my arms.

"Do you want to press it again?"

Jian Lu answered casually, "That's fine."

Then I felt the rough palm of his hand massaging my calf.

"You see, this little Wu Xiangchen is really pitiful. I am a little worried after seeing what happened today."

"What are you worried about?"

"If you are worried that I will die before you, will you find a vicious stepmother to abuse my child?" As Jian Lu spoke, she stroked her belly. The baby is now four months old and she can feel the fetal movement.

Cheng Zheng frowned, thinking his wife was lying, "What are you imagining?"

"I'm telling the truth." Jian Lu felt that this could really happen. "Will you not look for another one?"

Before Cheng Zheng could answer, Jian Lu spoke again, "Of course they will, you men are all like this!"

Cheng Zheng: "..."

He hasn't said a word yet!

"First of all, don't talk about life and death. Secondly, you are the only wife in my life. I can't find anyone else. You are not allowed to think too much and don't put the blame on me." Team leader Cheng analyzed to Jian Lu in a clear and stable manner.

He refused his wife's strange ideas for him.

"Really?" Jian Lu put one leg on the man's leg and stepped on his leg intentionally. "But if I leave before you, will you really not look for me again and just take care of our child by yourself?"

Cheng Zheng continued to massage her legs and said calmly, "No. I won't look for anyone else. I only recognize you as my wife."

After a pause, he continued, "What about you? If I..."

"Yes! I will find a stepfather for the child then!" Jian Lu's voice was filled with laughter, and her words made sense. She was pressed under the man.

In the dark night, she couldn't see Cheng Zheng's eyes clearly, but she knew that he was angry.

"You are so brave!" Cheng Zheng kissed his wife fiercely, and said coldly, "You can only be my wife forever in this life, don't even think about marrying anyone else."

He doesn't care about anything, Jian Lu can only be his!

Jian Lu raised the corners of her lips, her breath was filled with the clear and cool breath of a man, and she whispered softly, "So domineering."

"I am so domineering." Cheng Zheng curled his lips and slowly leaned down to kiss his wife's lips...

+++++

The next morning, Cheng Zheng went to the army and Jian Lu went to the supply and marketing cooperative. Several salesmen from the supply and marketing cooperative lived in the family compound. There were no secrets in the compound, and everyone heard about the major events that happened in the Wu family.

Li Jihong and Sun Qiuyue were quite surprised. They didn't expect Chen Qing to be such a person.

Only Qiu Sifeng was smug, "See, I told you last time that she's not that good, but you guys still insisted that she was a good stepmother."

Jian Lu laughed at her, "Sister-in-law Sifeng, you really have a sharp eye."

"That's right!" Hearing Jian Lu's compliment, Qiu Sifeng was a little proud. She stretched out her hand that was wiping her glass counter and wiped Jian Lu's counter as well. "I have eaten more salt than you have walked. If you have any questions in the future, just ask me."

"Sifeng, you're still pretending." Li Jihong really didn't expect that one can only know a person's face but not his heart. "Did Chief of Staff Wu really file for a divorce today?"

Military marriage is protected. It is not that easy for military personnel to get married or divorced. Of course, this is relative to ordinary people. If the military personnel take the initiative to propose it, it should be fine.

"That should be the case. When I went out today, I heard that Chief of Staff Wu entrusted Wu Xiangchen to Sister Xiuhui to take care of him."

"Then Chen Qingniang and her husband are still living at home?"

"Yes, the marriage has not been divorced yet, so they would not kick her out. However, Chief of Staff Wu did not believe her and directly sent his son to a neighbor's house."

After get off work that day, Jian Lu returned home and saw Dunzi Hengheng and Wu Xiangchen playing in the corridor on the third floor.

Wu Xiangchen was obviously happier than before. I heard that he slept with his father last night. He was also very happy at Feng Xiuhui's house today. After all, he had two playmates.

Dunzi has a loud voice and kept asking Wu Xiangchen to play cards.

The children were making a lot of noise, and Dunzi even joked about Wu Xiangchen's poor fighting skills, which made Feng Xiuhui glare at him.

"Wu Xiangchen, how come you don't know how to do it? You are so stupid, come here, let me teach you!"

Feng Xiuhui was worried that Wu Xiangchen would be hurt by her son's careless words after what he had just experienced, but Wu Xiangchen turned out to be cheerful and listened to Dunzi.

"I've never played it before." He sat on the ground, not caring whether his pants were dirty or not, "Okay, then I'll learn from you."

"Sister Xiuhui, how are you?" Jian Lu had just returned from get off work and wanted to ask about Chief of Staff Wu's family.

Feng Xiuhui took a few steps forward and pulled Jian Lu a little further away to talk. "Chen Qing hasn't left the house all day. Chief of Staff Wu said he left early in the morning. I wonder if he has written a report."

"Oh oh." Jian Lu could only go home and see if her man had any first-hand information.

Turning back to the house, Jian Lu took out three beautiful shells from the drawer and returned to the corridor to give them to Wu Xiangchen.

"Chenchen, you didn't want the shells last time, can you take them this time? All the kids in the courtyard have them."

Wu Xiangchen looked at the three different beautiful shells, then looked at Aunt Jian Lu, nodded, and reached out to take it, "Thank you, Aunt Lulu."

He heard Dunzi calling people like this, so he followed suit.

"As long as you like it!"

......

Cheng Zheng came back late today. He came back from the cafeteria to get food. When Jian Lu saw him returning to his room, she went up to him and asked, "What's going on?"

Cheng Zheng was stunned for a moment. Looking at his wife's anxious expression, he realized that she was too concerned about other people's affairs. "Eat first. Aren't you hungry yet?"

Jian Lu sat at the table, looking at the food Cheng Zheng brought back. She suddenly felt a little hungry. There was one serving of Wenchang chicken, one portion of braised tofu, one steamed fish, and one blanched shrimp.

"Tell me quickly, has Chief of Staff Wu filed for divorce?"

"He was beaten." Cheng Zheng saw it with his own eyes.

"That's quite a quick move."

Cheng Zheng was peeling shrimps for his wife. With Jian Lu's instruction, he was very skilled at peeling shrimps. "Old Wu is not a slow person."

Downstairs, Wu Feng had just returned from the army and went to Liang Haisheng's house to see his son first. Wu Xiangchen was having fun with Political Commissar Liang and Chief of Staff Xu's son. When he saw Wu Xiangchen, he called him "Dad" with a little excitement for the first time.

Wu Feng was happy and did not take his son downstairs. He went home to talk to Chen Qing first.

Inside the house, three dishes and a soup were placed on the dining table, steaming hot. Seeing the delicious food, Chen Qing put away his hysteria from last night and spoke softly, "Old Wu, you're back. Please sit down and bring Chenchen back for dinner. I cooked so many dishes, all of which are his favorites."

Seeing Wu Feng didn't move, Chen Qing didn't get angry, still smiling, "I was wrong in the previous things. I came from such a poor family, you know, I was nervous, I always wanted to hold you and have someone to rely on for the rest of my life. I said some things that I shouldn't have said, but I was wholeheartedly good to Chenchen, and never thought of starving him or letting him dress badly. Give me another chance, you often have to go on missions, if I leave, what will happen to Chenchen? There will be no adults to take care of him at home..."

"You don't have to worry about that." Wu Feng felt disgusted when he saw Chen Qing. This person was really good at pretending. "I have already filed a divorce report. After a few days, if it is approved, we can go through the divorce procedures."

"Old Wu, are you really so heartless? After all, I have been with you for more than two years and have done my best for this family! I...I won't leave!" Chen Qing's eyes were filled with tears and his voice was choked with sobs.

If she really wanted to be driven away, she would just throw herself around in the yard!

"Don't think of relying on me. I remember that you still cared about the family. I won't tell your parents about this to save your dignity. If you have any money left from the household allowance I gave you, I won't care. Just take your son and move out."

In the past two years, Wu Feng paid Chen Qing very generously. Chen Qing did save some pocket money and lived a very good life.

Seeing that Chen Qing was about to speak again, Wu Feng's eyes turned cold, "If you want to make a big fuss about this matter, and spread it to your mother's family, and your commune will know about it, then just keep on asking for trouble. I believed you before, but now... don't forget, I came out of the battlefield, don't force me to deal with you!"

Having served in the army for many years, Wu Feng's domineering aura could not be restrained and he kept saying threatening words. For the first time, Chen Qing felt that this man was not one of those easy-to-control men out there, but a soldier who had been on the battlefield and experienced many life and death situations.

When it comes to being ruthless, it has nothing to do with others.

Chen Qing looked at Wu Feng's departing back, sat paralyzed in the chair and cried silently, looking at the table full of food without any appetite at all.

=

A week later, everyone in the family compound knew that Chief of Staff Wu was divorced, and Chen Qing packed up and left with his son Liu Huayong. However, they left very early in the morning. According to Mrs. Liu, who got up early, they left before the roosters even crowed.

"I'm just afraid that others will see it."

"That's true for me. You can't live a good life, but you have to plot against Chief of Staff Wu's son."

"Oh, you're stupid, really!"

In the courtyard, everyone was discussing this matter, and they were all sighing. However, some people who were more thoughtful, seeing that Wu Feng was single again, became eager to make a move.

"Tomorrow I will introduce a wife to Chief of Staff Wu. She is my sister, and she is not married yet. She works in the fields every day to earn a living, and she looks good."

"I just got divorced, and you're thinking of doing this?"

"What's the matter? How can Chief of Staff Wu not find a wife? If he doesn't find one, who will take care of Wu Xiangchen in the future?"

Feng Xiuhui cleared her throat and said to the others, "Chief of Staff Wu said he doesn't plan to look for another one. When he goes on a mission, Chenchen will stay at our house. It just so happens that there is only one stool in my house, so the two of them will have a companion."

"Ah? Not looking for one anymore? Chief of Staff Wu wouldn't be so scared, right? Not all stepmothers are like Chen Qing."

"Why do you care so much about other people's affairs? Do you just want your sister to marry the chief of staff?"

"Go away! I'm doing this for the good of others."

Feng Xiuhui said a few words, and then spoke to Jian Lu, "It just so happens that I have few children at home. Seeing Yuhe gave birth to two cute kids who are jealous of me, I also feel sorry for Chenchen's child. It's good for Dunzi to have a companion."

It is common for comrades to help take care of each other's children, and Feng Xiuhui is very happy about it.

Jian Lu felt that Sister Xiuhui was really enthusiastic. When she came here, she was able to let her live in her home for a few months. Now it was Wu Xiangchen. Perhaps this was the most precious thing in this era. "Sister Xiuhui, I will help you in any way I can when the time comes."

"What can I do for you? Chenchen is already six years old. Children of this age are the easiest to take care of."

——

In the family compound, big things came and went quickly, and soon everyone seemed to have forgotten about Chen Qing and his mother, and started to care about other things.

Due to the impact of the previous typhoon, the construction of the second-floor building of the family courtyard, which had been suspended for a long time, has started again. Each household in the family courtyard is also asked to sign up to see if anyone wants to live there.

"The two-story building in front is almost finished. Anyone who wants to sign up can come to me to sign up!" Mrs. Liu is the building manager of this building in the military family compound and usually helps the military with notifications.

The other military wives were not interested, but Jian Lu was different! She immediately had an idea: a two-story building for family members? Isn't this equivalent to a villa?!