The two children seemed to really like Xu Xinning; seeing her reminded them of their former mother.
My mother used to be very beautiful, just like Aunt Mu. She had a lovely smile, spoke very gently, and always called them "baby".
Back then, Mom was very good to Dad, and she always liked to secretly hug Dad behind their backs.
But now Mom has changed. She no longer smiles, nor does she pay attention to Dad. Whenever Dad gets close to her, she likes to yell. She also likes to hide the three siblings, and always says in a neurotic way that someone is trying to steal them.
Mu Jingheng and the others took the two children to the detached house area and let them go home on their own, while the four of them continued towards the tenement building.
Xu Mingyang asked curiously, "What's the situation with the Shao family?"
Mu Jingheng: "Old Master Shao was an old revolutionary of the same generation as my grandfather. He had two sons and two daughters. His eldest son had three sons and two daughters, and his youngest son had two sons and two daughters. All three sons of the eldest branch of the Shao family were in the army, as was the eldest son of the second branch. His youngest son was sent to the countryside."
The Shao family members are all very low-key, but they are all very capable.
The eldest son of the first wife, Shao Baixuan, used to be a soldier serving a high-ranking leader, and is now the head of the security department.
Keep in mind that he's only in his early thirties.
The Shao family has always been quite prominent, and they hold very important positions. In recent years, many people have tried to bring them down, but they have always been very cautious and united.
Bringing them down won't be easy, but even so, the forces targeting them are probably still eyeing them covetously.
Xu Mingyang: "You suspect there's something wrong with the fact that Shao Baixuan's wife went insane?"
Mu Jingheng: "I've met Shao Baixuan's wife. She's very beautiful and a top student who graduated from a prestigious university. She's not someone who lacks knowledge or courage. Moreover, Shao Baixuan loves his wife very much and put in a lot of effort to pursue her back then. For her to become like this, something extraordinary must have happened. I don't believe that someone like her would suddenly go crazy."
Xu Mingyang sighed and tightened his grip on Kuang Meizhu's hand.
Everyone thinks that marrying a soldier with a certain status is an honor, but in fact, it comes with corresponding dangers. If they are on a mission, you have to live in fear every day. So being a military wife is really not easy.
The tenement building was bustling with activity. Many people were cooling off downstairs, children were chasing each other, while adults sat in groups, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans and chatting about gossip.
When they saw Mu Jingheng, Xu Mingyang, and the other two approaching, some people began to whisper among themselves.
"Hey! Who are all these people? They all look so handsome, like they stepped out of a movie."
"The actors in the movie are not as good-looking as them."
"Where are the two big bellies?"
"I heard the third floor was reassigned. Could it have been given to them?"
"No way, how could the two families be separated?"
"The third floor is quite spacious; it should be enough for this young man."
"I don't know what position it is."
"The person who gets such a nice apartment on the third floor probably doesn't have a low-ranking position."
"Young and promising!"
"Xiao Heng?" Suddenly someone in the crowd called out to Mu Jingheng.
Mu Jingheng looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man with a slight limp walking towards them.
This person is Auntie's husband, Shi Tiezhu.
Mu Jingheng: "Uncle, are you enjoying the cool air?"
Shi Tiezhu: "Yeah! I just came down to chat with everyone since I had nothing else to do after dinner. What brings you here? Your aunt hasn't come back yet!"
Mu Jingheng: "Auntie should be back soon. Uncle, this is my wife, Xu Xinning. You haven't met her yet, have you? These are my wife's uncle and aunt. Her uncle was just transferred to Kyoto and was assigned a house here. You'll be neighbors from now on."
Shi Tiezhu chuckled, "Alright, alright, I only went to your brother's wedding for a meal before returning to the factory, otherwise I would have seen him much earlier. You're so lucky! Everyone was just talking about who got the third-floor apartment, I didn't expect it to be a relative. Keep in touch!"
Xu Mingyang: "Brother, come over here often in the future, and I'll treat you to a drink."
Shi Tiezhu: "Alright, alright, then I won't stand on ceremony. So you've moved in?"
Xu Mingyang: "We just arrived today, and we haven't bought many things yet. We'll have to wait a few more days before we can move in."
Shi Tiezhu: "If you need help, just let them know. We're all family, no need to be polite."
Xu Mingyang: "We're all on the same side, we won't stand on ceremony."
Mu Jingheng: "Uncle, shall we go upstairs together and familiarize ourselves with the gate?"
Shi Tiezhu: "I know which one it is. Your aunt will be back soon. I won't go up with you today. Once you move in, I'll definitely come over and ask for a drink."
Xu Mingyang: "Then it's settled."
Xu Xinning: "Uncle, let's go upstairs."
Shi Tiezhu smiled and waved.
After Xu Xinning and the others went upstairs, Shi Tiezhu was surrounded by people.
"Zhu Zi, who are these people?"
Shi Tiezhu: "It's Chief Mu's second son and his wife. The other two are his wife's uncle and aunt. Her uncle was just transferred here, and this third floor was allocated to him."
"So you're Chief Mu's son and daughter-in-law? No wonder they're so handsome. Speaking of Chief Mu, I'm reminded of his wife. She was truly beautiful. Now that you mention it, her son looks just like her. How could such a good person have died so young?"
"They say beautiful women have short lives, maybe that's what happened to her?"
"Hey, the Song family has been transferred to the border for many years now, hasn't it? Chief Song isn't young anymore, why hasn't he been transferred back yet?"
"Perhaps losing his only daughter was too much of a blow."
"Alas! Life is truly unpredictable. Chief Song is quite a figure. I heard that he was the one who led the troops into Kyoto first, and he deserves much credit for the quick liberation of Kyoto."
"Who can argue with that? Everyone knows how much he dotes on this daughter. Who would have thought that a parent would outlive their child? How could he bear it? Plus, Chief Mu later remarried, which was an even bigger blow to Chief Song."
Mu Jingheng's mother is named Song Shiwen. She was in the military region's cultural troupe and used to be a beauty in the army, a goddess-like figure.
Song Shiwen looked gentle and unassuming, but had a very good temper and had never blushed at anyone.
But this very person suddenly died of a heart attack.
This was a huge blow to all her relatives, especially her father, Song Dacheng, who doted on her.
He seemed to age ten years overnight, and his health deteriorated rapidly.
To help his father recover from the grief of losing his daughter as quickly as possible, Mu Jingheng's uncle applied to be transferred to the border as a commander.
After that, they almost lost contact. Perhaps Mu Zhenting's remarriage was the reason they stopped communicating.
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