"I didn't see her, but I heard something: she already has a boyfriend. Don't you think we were being silly at yesterday's social gathering?" Zhai Qingping laughed self-deprecatingly, kicking a pebble away.
He hadn't forgotten that at yesterday's social gathering, both he and Zhou Jinshan had their eyes on Feng Mingshu, and they had even argued over who would dance with her. Now he realized he was being foolish, and he didn't hesitate to tell his good roommate.
We're in the same boat, after all.
No one should laugh at anyone else.
Hearing Zhai Qingping's words, Zhou Jinshan frowned: "No investigation, no right to speak. Old Zhai, don't casually belittle a woman's character."
"How could I not investigate? As soon as I got the news, I went to find out about her boyfriend. He is the only son of the director of the Nancheng Cotton Mill. He didn't graduate from high school. In order to be with her, he didn't take the college entrance exam. He just wanted to go to the countryside with her as an educated youth. His parents have been so angry that they collapsed. There's a huge commotion at home."
This new gossip spread throughout the cotton mill area in just half a day. Zhai Qingping went there and learned about it after a little inquiry. His heart sank. Seeing that there wasn't much time left, he rushed to the mall, bought some things, and headed straight to the hospital.
After listening, Zhou Jinshan's brows relaxed, and he said calmly, "This is just a rumor you heard from outsiders."
Sensing the skepticism in his voice, Zhai Qingping chuckled: "Yes, it's a rumor, but there's no smoke without fire."
“Old Zhou, to be honest with you, Comrade Feng’s background is already a lot of pressure for me, and my family has a hard time accepting her. I went to see her in a moment of impulse, putting my future and family aside, but I found out that I don’t understand her, and I’m also a bit tired.”
Zhai Qingping's voice was weary, and Zhou Jinshan did not offer any words of comfort, but remained silent.
Zhai Qingping felt a tightness in his chest and couldn't help but take out a cigarette case from his pocket.
Knowing that Zhou Jinshan didn't smoke, he didn't offer him one, but lit one himself and took a deep drag. With his other hand, he patted Zhou Jinshan's shoulder and said earnestly, "Old Zhou, I know you also have feelings for her, but really, don't be foolish like me, it's not worth it."
Zhou Jinshan raised his hand to brush away Zhai Qingping's outstretched hand, glanced at the cigarette in his hand, and said indifferently, "Since you're tired, go back and rest. The political commissar is still waiting for you right on time. If you're late, you'll have to write a three-thousand-word self-criticism."
Zhai Qingping, who was blowing smoke rings, was reminded by him. He glanced at his watch, and the smoke choked him. He coughed, threw away his cigarette, stomped it out, and ran away in a very disheveled manner.
Watching his roommate's departing figure, Zhou Jinshan's lips curled into a smile. Then, he slowly crossed the road and walked to the bus stop on the other side.
When Lu Xiangqian returned with the braised pork, he saw the empty hospital bed and frowned: "He's been gone for so long after sending someone away. Has Lao Zhou gone out to cause trouble again?"
"No way?"
Twenty minutes later, looking at the cold braised pork, Lu Xiangqian angrily roared out the window: "Old Zhou, are you even human? Are you going to keep tormenting me? I'm going to complain to the political commissar!"
Where is the patient in this bed?
Just then, a nurse came in with a medicine bottle and asked what was wrong.
"He fell into the toilet. I'm going to drag him out and wash him. Wait a minute." Lu Xiangqian said this and ran out.
Nurse:"……"
...
The Feng family.
Wang Ma cooked dinner tonight. When they were almost finished eating, Wang Ma suddenly remembered what happened in the afternoon and talked about it on the table, emphasizing the soldier who passed by, who was wearing a white military uniform.
Feng Mingshu paused for a moment upon hearing this, then met her mother's smiling gaze and pursed her lips: "They must have just been passing by."
Yu Jingqiu remained noncommittal, turning her gaze to her son, who was squirming in the chair beside her: "Xiaoyu, are you feeling unwell?"
"No, Mom." Feng Mingyu quickly shook his head in denial, sitting up straight, but his face showed guilt. He was a little afraid to look at his sister because he suspected that the soldier Wang Ma mentioned was the one he had locked outside the courtyard gate.
No one knows a son better than his mother. Yu Jingqiu asked gently, "Xiaoyu, are you hiding something from your mother?"
The little boy immediately got off the chair, his face flushed: "Mom, I was wrong..."
"Ring ring, ring ring—"
Just then, the doorbell rang suddenly, its sharp and piercing sound startling the whole family.
Feng Mingshu was startled and put down her chopsticks: "Mom, I'll go out and take a look."
"Miss, I'll stay with you."
"No need, I'll go myself."
Feng Mingshu refused Wang Ma's offer because she suspected that the person ringing the doorbell might be the same bandit from yesterday.
Running across the courtyard and opening the gate, Feng Mingshu didn't see the bandit, but instead saw Yu Xiuchun and a strange woman. The woman was in her thirties or forties, with short hair and a cold expression.
Last time Yu Xiuchun came to the Feng family to cause trouble, she was first slapped in the face by Feng Mingshu, and then reprimanded by Director Wu. At that time, Yu Xiuchun ran away in a sorry state. Now that she has brought people over, it is easy to tell that she is not here with good intentions.
Feng Mingshu stood guard at the courtyard gate, his face cold as he asked, "What are you doing here?"
Yu Xiuchun, afraid that she would close the door, held the gate open with her hand: "How dare you talk to your elders like that? Where's your mother? Tell her to come out."
“My mom’s busy. Just say what you need to say,” Feng Mingshu said coldly.
“What an impolite girl,” Yu Xiuchun said with the respect due to an elder, then turned to the strange woman with a fawning smile. “Director Wang, this is my ignorant niece, Feng Mingshu. She is in the same class as your son and my Xuanxuan.”
The strange woman hummed in response, her gaze shifting to Feng Mingshu with scrutiny and displeasure.
Feng Mingshu found this person inexplicable and was about to close the door when she saw the woman raise her chin: "I am Zhang Yunxiao's mother. I would like to talk to your mother about you and my son in person."
The woman was Wang Sujuan, Zhang Yunxiao's mother, and the director of the women's committee of the trade union at the Nancheng Cotton Mill. She was a person who valued dignity and disliked those with capitalist backgrounds. However, the incident her son had caused today made her disregard everything else and she went to the Feng family's house at night.
Upon learning her identity, Feng Mingshu was even more bewildered: "What could I possibly have to do with your son?"
Wang Sujuan's face turned cold, and Yu Xiuchun immediately stepped in to defend her: "You shameless girl, you even seduced Zhang to go to the countryside with you as an educated youth, and you still say it has nothing to do with you?"
The winter was cold, but that didn't stop people from going out for a stroll after dinner. There was a bright street lamp in front of the small villa, which the Feng family installed themselves so that their own family members would have a light to guide them when they returned home at night. Later, it became the street lamp for the street and also became the first choice for neighbors to take a walk after their meal.
Yu Xiuchun's loud voice immediately attracted the attention of the neighbors who were strolling nearby.
Across the street at the bus stop, a bus pulled up, the back door opened, and a tall man stepped out.
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