Chapter 120
The onlookers booed a lot and people began to whisper and discuss the matter.
Xia Qingtang knew very well that people like to watch the fun, and if this fun is related to the uncleanness between men and women, then everyone will be even more interested.
Sure enough, after Grandpa Kong finished saying this, some people who were originally planning to pass by in a hurry stopped and stood there, wanting to watch to the end.
Fang Manman was not afraid at all. She raised her chin high and said confidently, "Why not? Your grandson is already in prison, and you still want me to be a widow for him? Divorce cannot be discussed now. When he is convicted and I can see him, I will definitely divorce him immediately. Oh, maybe we don't have to wait until the divorce is final. Your grandson might be shot for the crime he committed!"
Someone was surprised and said: "Oh my God, what kind of crime has this committed? It's so serious!"
"I thought this old man was a good person, but I didn't expect his grandson to be such a bad guy! You can't judge a person by his appearance!"
Xia Qingtang knew that Kong Liangchao and his parents were all locked up, but according to Xie Jinxuan, Kong's mother was the most seriously imprisoned one, and if anyone was to be shot, it would be Kong's mother.
As for Kong Liangchao and his father, they will be released in about ten to eight years. Of course, the verdict has not been announced yet, so no one knows what the final outcome will be.
When the Kong family encountered this kind of thing, their home was searched thoroughly within two days. Kong Liangjing ran away immediately. After Fang Manman was investigated and it was confirmed that she had nothing to do with it, she also packed up and left.
As for her son, who had nothing to do with the Kong family, she would naturally take him away.
Now, in the entire Kong family, only Grandpa Kong is left. He had lived a glorious life, but encountering such a thing at his old age was the retribution for his indulgence of his descendants.
Grandpa Kong's face became even redder. He opened his mouth wide and whispered after a while, "But as long as you are not divorced, you are husband and wife. You and Xiao Chao are husband and wife, so you can't be with another man. It is said that a husband and wife are bound by a hundred days of grace. After all, you have been married for such a long time and have a child. Even if you don't think about anything else, you should think about the child..."
"One night of marriage means a hundred days of kindness? Old man, when has your grandson ever been kind to me? Don't forget that your grandson started to deceive me before marriage. He had several girlfriends before marriage and lied to me that he was single. Later, your family begged me to marry him. Okay, I thought I was not young anymore, so I married him. At the beginning, I also wanted to live a good life, but what did Kong Liangchao do? After he got married, did he have a peaceful day? Which month did he not meet a new girlfriend? How many times did women outside come to his house? Even you, old man, were called to the police station to help him deal with emotional disputes. How can you have the nerve to tell me that one day of marriage means a hundred days of kindness? What kindness did your grandson have to me? I only have hatred against him!"
"It's really outrageous. No wonder he was shot. How many hooliganism crimes did he commit?" Passersby began to talk in surprise again.
"That's right. It sounds scary. This old man has no shame at all."
Grandpa Kong looked even more helpless, but he still pleaded in a low voice: "Xiao Fang, I know Xiao Chao has wronged you, and he is indeed not a good person, but...but I really miss Yuanyuan, can you please let me see Yuanyuan? I really...only have Yuanyuan, please, let me see Yuanyuan."
"This is really not okay, old man. Three of your family have committed crimes. I dare not let my child have any contact with your family. If I don't cut off ties with them as soon as possible, I'm afraid my son will be corrupted by your family." Fang Manman shouted, "Please be kind. Your Kong family has become like that. How can you still want to see my son?"
Grandpa Kong said, "I only have this great-grandson... I only have him. I have nothing else. Xiaojing also ran away. I don't know where she went... I only have Yuanyuan. Xiaofang, I will give you money. As long as you let me see Yuanyuan, I will give you my salary for the next few months. Is that okay?"
"No, just give up on this idea. I will never let my son have any contact with a family like yours again! Give me money? Do you think I need it? I have my own hands, feet and a job, I don't want your dirty money! Your whole family is corrupt and has done all kinds of bad things, and you still have the nerve to bribe me in public? I tell you, I'm not that kind of person!" Fang Manman said with a cold snort.
“Oh my God, has this old man’s family done so many bad things?”
"How about three people from the same family being punished?"
“How shameless.”
Everyone began to blame Mr. Kong. Fang Manman smiled smugly and turned to leave.
She was carrying a bulging cloth bag on her back, and it seemed that she had come here to do some shopping while the weather was good.
No matter how others scolded Grandpa Kong, he still refused to let Fang Manman leave.
Xia Qingtang looked across the crowd and felt that Fang Manman was relatively polite. Even though Grandpa Kong kept grabbing the corner of her clothes, she did not make any excessive moves to push him away, and kept persuading him with words.
"Old man, please let go. I have to go home. It's getting late. I have to go back to make dinner."
"Xiao Fang, please, let me take a look at Yuanyuan, just one look, just one look."
"It's really not possible. My parents and I have made a decision that we will never let our child see anyone from your Kong family. After Kong Liangchao and I are divorced, I will transfer Yuanyuan's household registration and change her name. From now on, Yuanyuan will have my last name and will have nothing to do with your Kong family anymore."
Grandpa Kong started to cry: "Xiao Fang, it doesn't matter if you don't have our last name, as long as you let me see Yuanyuan, please... please..."
Fang Manman sighed helplessly. She looked around and saw that the onlookers all had excited expressions. She said, "Comrades, can you please do me a favor? I really need to go home. I can't stay here all the time..."
There was a kind-hearted aunt who said, "Okay, let us help you. Come on, everyone, help hold this old man back and let the woman go home."
"Then I'll come and help."
When everyone adds fuel to the fire, Xia Qingtang soon saw Grandpa Kong being grabbed by several older aunts.
Someone else whispered to him, "Uncle, I'm telling you, this is all about your grandchildren, it has nothing to do with you. As for your great-grandchild, you are not allowed to see him because it's for the good of the child. Your whole family has gone to jail, and it won't be good for the child to have contact with your family."
"That's right, you should think more positively."
Fang Manman finally broke free. She thanked everyone and walked out carrying a bulging cloth bag on her back.
She had good eyesight and noticed Xia Qingtang standing behind the crowd from a distance. She smiled at Xia Qingtang and Xia Qingtang also smiled back at her.
Fang Manman had just walked out of the crowd when she heard Grandpa Kong yelling, "Fang Manman! Yuanyuan is our Kong family's child, let me see him! Let me see him! If you don't let me see Yuanyuan, I will hit my head and die here! Fang Manman, I tell you, I don't care if you are with a wild man, but you must let me see Yuanyuan! He is my great-grandson!"
Everyone was shocked by his action. Although he was thin, he was very strong. He pushed away several middle-aged female comrades around him and rushed towards Fang Manman without thinking.
But the elderly’s legs and feet are not that flexible after all, and there were too many people here, so Grandpa Kong somehow fell to the ground with a bang.
The falls of old people can be serious or minor. Although Grandpa Kong is not that old, the onlookers were still shocked.
"Hey, why are you doing this?"
"Is it broken?"
"Help him up quickly..."
Everyone reached out to help him up, and Fang Manman also sighed and walked over.
She said, "Grandpa, why are you doing this? You are just Yuanyuan's great-grandfather. Even if you go to court, you won't be able to see it unless I, your mother, show it to you."
"I want to see Yuanyuan... I want to see Yuanyuan..." Grandpa Kong was very persistent. He didn't care that his chin was broken after falling, and he was trembling to see his great-grandson.
Fang Manman's expression finally turned cold. She stared at Grandpa Kong's haggard but crazy face, then suddenly leaned over and whispered something in his ear.
It was quite noisy around and many people were talking, so no one except Grandpa Kong himself heard what Fang Manman said, but Xia Qingtang roughly guessed what she said.
Because when Fang Manman raised her head again, Grandpa Kong's eyes were wide open as if they were about to pop out.
"You...you..." His eyes slowly turned red, and his face was full of horror and disbelief.
Fang Manman said in a deep voice: "What I said is true. If you don't believe me, you can ask someone to check it out. So, don't bother me anymore in the future. Do you understand?"
"Impossible! This is impossible!" Grandpa Kong stretched out his hand towards Fang Manman, "You are lying to me!"
"I really didn't lie to you. If you don't believe me, go find your old friends and classmates and have your grandson checked inside and you'll know. I really didn't lie to you. Besides, he's had so many girlfriends outside for so many years, but he hasn't had a child. Don't you find it strange?"
Hearing this, others might still feel that they don’t understand, but Xia Qingtang was instantly certain that Fang Manman had indeed told Grandpa Kong the truth about the child.
She really admired Fang Manman, who was much smarter than her. It took her only a year or two to determine that Kong Liangchao had a health problem. But she didn't discover the truth until the very end of her previous life. She was really stupid.
Grandpa Kong's eyes were getting redder and redder, but Fang Manman looked calmer and calmer. She said, "Don't think I'm sorry for him. You have to figure out who was sorry for whom first. I have done my best for him and your family. Originally, when something like this happened in your family, I wanted to comfort you and save your face by not telling you about it. But you had to come to me every few days, and I really couldn't stand it. Grandpa, this is what happened. If you come to me again, I will be rude to you. To be honest, my boyfriend is a scoundrel. Grandpa, you have nothing now. If anything happens to him, you can't bear it."
Xia Qingtang heard from Xie Jinxuan that the biological father of Fang Manman's son was not a good person. He had a personal grudge with Kong Liangchao in the past, so he deliberately approached Fang Manman in order to cuckold Kong Liangchao.
People like this have bad intentions to begin with. Now that the Kong family has fallen on hard times, no one will care if they really do something to Grandpa Kong.
Fang Manman was probably forced into a corner, which was why she threatened him like this.
Grandpa Kong looked at Fang Manman as if he was meeting her for the first time: "You...you...you really..."
"How many times do I have to say it? It's true. It's all true." Fang Manman said impatiently, "I'm so fed up. I want to go home."
After she finished speaking, she turned and walked away. After she had taken a few steps, she heard Grandpa Kong's breathing like a bellows from behind. He covered his chest and gasped louder and louder. Then his eyes rolled back and he fell down.
The crowd was in a panic again. They were watching the fun, but if an old man suddenly fainted, these onlookers would not just ignore it.
Everyone rushed to look after Grandpa Kong, while Fang Manman walked out slowly.
She just walked towards where Xia Qingtang was standing. When she came to her side, Fang Manman said, "Long time no see, Comrade Xia."
"Yes, it's been more than a year since we last met. I see that you look very healthy, so I guess you are doing well."
Fang Manman smiled and said, "I am indeed living a good life. Kong Liangchao and his parents have been arrested. Although I don't know what they have specifically committed, everyone says that they may be sentenced to death. Tell me, should I be very happy?"
"It's really exciting." Xia Qingtang said, "I've heard about it too."
Fang Manman smiled even more happily, and she said, "I knew that you were also paying attention to the Kong family's little troubles, and I also heard that your wife helped in it. I originally thought that if I had time one day, I would go to say thank you in person. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that I met you here today, so I will say thank you to you."
Xia Qingtang said: "I don't know what you are talking about. I don't understand."
"Hahahahaha...you are such an interesting comrade. Okay, if you don't understand, then don't understand." Fang Manman said: "Anyway, we are all living well, and the Kong family is not doing well, that's all."
"Yeah." Xia Qingtang nodded slightly.
Fang Manman took a step forward, approached Xia Qingtang and whispered, "Fortunately, you didn't listen to your family and marry Kong Liangchao. You know what? That Kong guy is a loser. He can't have children."
Xia Qingtang was slightly surprised, not because of Kong Liangchao's health, but because she was surprised that Fang Manman would say these words to her.
Seeing Xia Qingtang's eyes widened, Fang Manman smiled even more happily. She said, "Okay, I've already said thank you, so goodbye. Comrade Xia, see you again if we're lucky."
"Okay, see you again if we're lucky." Seeing her walking away, Xia Qingtang also got on his bicycle.
The fainted Grandpa Kong had been lifted up by others, probably to be sent to the hospital.
Two older and younger grandmothers came out from the crowd, and one of them said, "He's vomiting blood..."
"At this age, I don't know if I can recover after vomiting blood."
"At this age, vomiting blood means that the root is injured. I'm afraid it won't heal."
Xia Qingtang looked over there and smiled, then went home with a big bag of dried fish.
As soon as she entered the house, she came up to Xie Jinxuan with a smile and kissed him on the cheek.
"Did anything good happen to you today?" Xie Jinxuan looked at her with a smile.
"I bought some very good dried fish. They will last me for a while." Xia Qingtang said, "A kid from the reservoir came to sell them. There was a whole basket of them. No one bought them. I saw that these fish were very clean, so I bought them all. Look, it's such a big bag."
Xie Jinxuan took the bag of dried fish and looked at it, then said, "There are so many, we can eat them for the whole Spring Festival."
"Well, you can give half of it and send it over there. This small dried fish is delicious when it is steamed with green onions, ginger and garlic."
There are not many ways to supplement protein nowadays. Small dried fish like this are good things. Not only do they taste delicious, but they can also increase nutrition.
Xie Jinxuan gave half of it and sent it to the small western-style building.
Xia Qingtang washed her hands and started cooking. As she was humming a song and cooking, Xie Jinxuan came in with a big bowl: "Sixth Aunt made sweet potato cakes and asked me to bring back a big bowl."
Xia Qingtang said: "That's perfect. We don't need to make a staple food for dinner. We can just eat this. I'll stir-fry the vegetables and make a soup, and then we can eat."
Xie Jinxuan stood there with her, and seeing that she looked very relaxed, she asked, "Besides the dried fish, are there any other good things?"
"Of course I do. We're off from work tomorrow. Aren't you happy?"
The provincial university will also start its winter vacation tomorrow, but Xie Jinxuan still has to go to school tomorrow because he is the class monitor. He has to wait until all the students have left school, check the unoccupied dormitories, and seal them up with the head teacher before the semester is officially over.
"Having a holiday does make people happy, but I always feel that your joy is more than that." Xie Jinxuan said softly.
"Well, you're smart. You're really too smart. I can't hide anything from you." Xia Qingtang said, "After I bought some dried fish, I ran into Fang Manman and the old man of the Kong family. The two were arguing on the street. Grandpa Kong wanted to see Fang Manman's son, but Fang Manman disagreed. Finally, Fang Manman told the old man that Yuanyuan was not Kong Liangchao's child, and the old man vomited blood and fell down."
Xie Jinxuan was startled: "Vomiting blood?"
"Yes, I vomited blood."
"It's probably too bad. At his age, he has experienced the arrests of his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. Now he knows that his great-grandson's surname is not Kong. I don't think he can make it."
Xia Qingtang thought about the past life and whispered, "There's nothing we can do about it. It's because the Kong family has done too many bad things."
At this moment, she found that all the hatred from her previous life had really subsided.
However, she did not expect that within just two years after her comeback, the Kong family would have reached its current situation.
Comparing it with my previous life, it’s really ridiculous.
As expected, Grandpa Kong didn’t live long. He stayed in the hospital for a few days, and the doctors couldn’t find his family members anywhere. When they went to his residence to ask, they found out that almost all of his family members had been locked up, with only one granddaughter still outside. So they asked the people in the compound to look for Kong Liangjing.
Who knew that Kong Liangjing was not willing to go to the hospital to look after his grandfather. Before the three days had passed, Grandpa Kong passed away.
This information was brought back by Xie Jinxuan. At the same time, before the New Year, the investigation into the case committed by the Kong family was finally completed and there was a large report in the newspaper.
Only then did everyone realize that there were actually families of cadres who were planning to embezzle shared property. Not only that, they had also engaged in many illegal activities over the years.
To be honest, Mr. Kong should thank Fang Manman. If Fang Manman hadn't provoked him to get into trouble, he wouldn't be able to survive a day after seeing these long reports.
The city revoked his housing qualification and notified Kong Liangjing to go back and move the belongings at home and hold a funeral for Grandpa Kong. However, Kong Liangjing only went home to take away her belongings and refused to come forward to hold a funeral for Grandpa Kong.
Mr. Kong, who had enjoyed great glory for so many years, was finally sent to the crematorium under the supervision of street workers. But no one buried him afterwards. They said that he would be kept there until someone from the Kong family was released from prison.
And Xie Jinxuan's commendation has also been confirmed. After the New Year, they will officially recognize his meritorious service and give him a big award certificate.
The Xie family already knew what Xie Jinxuan had done, but Luo Xiangqian, their good brother, only found out about it on the day the report came out.
He immediately rushed to the small courtyard and asked Xie Jinxuan why she didn't tell him earlier.
"Because we can't tell you. This has to be kept secret. You understand, right?" Xie Jinxuan said.
"You should have told me before reporting it. This is too polite."
"But I don't know when the report will be published. They won't notify me before publishing."
Luo Xiangqian curled his lips: "Okay, okay, you are right, okay?"
"I was right in the first place." Xie Jinxuan said, "Okay, don't be upset. Qingtang made braised dried tofu today. Don't leave. I'll treat you to a couple of drinks at noon. How about that?"
There was indeed a big pot sitting on the stove in the living room, and an enticing aroma was wafting from it.
Luo walked over, opened the lid and took a look. He couldn't help swallowing his saliva: "It smells so good...Okay, I'll go home and tell them and bring a bottle of wine."
Having said that, he ran out.
Xia Qingtang came out of the bathroom and saw that Xie Jinxuan was the only one at home, so he said, "Where's Lao Luo? I just heard his voice."
"I'll go back and get some wine. I'll cook some noodles for lunch and we'll have a good meal."
Xia Qingtang said, "Okay, it's still early, I'll knead the dough and make noodles myself."
She took out two kinds of flour and mixed them, then added water and kneaded it into dough. After that, she left it there to rise.
"Jinxuan, Old Luo has been gone for so long, why hasn't he come yet?" Xia Qingtang asked.
"I don't know. I'll go take a look." Xie Jinxuan said, put on her clothes, and walked out.
After waiting for a while, Xia Qingtang finished cutting the noodles, and then Xie Jinxuan came in with Luo Xiangqian.
Luo lowered his head forward, his eye sockets were swollen, as if he had been hit by someone.
"What happened? Who hit you?" Xia Qingtang was very surprised.
Xie Jinxuan said: "His father."
"Ah? Why did your uncle hit you? How did you offend him during the holidays?"
Luo Xiangqian sneered: "I have never offended him. He is the one who doesn't know right from wrong and doesn't listen to others."
"What's the matter?" Xia Qingtang said, "Let me find you some medicated oil to apply on it."
Xie Jinxuan said: "Ding Yurou couldn't find Xiang Qian, so she found Uncle Luo and told him a bunch of lies. Uncle Luo thought Xiang Qian had let down a good girl, so he started beating her. Xiang Qian was also stubborn, unwilling to talk properly or explain, and just stood there and got beaten. Luckily I went over, otherwise, he would have gotten a few more punches in the face, and how would he have celebrated the New Year?"
Luo Xiangqian said: "Will my explanation be of any use? He has already decided that I am a bad person!"
"That needs to be explained. It's useless to explain. You can come to us. Qingtang and I are both witnesses. Let's go together and talk. Uncle will understand." Xie Jinxuan said, "Why did you get beaten for no reason?"
"Hmph! I just can't stand him wrongly accusing me. I feel uncomfortable whenever he says that. He is my father, and he doesn't believe me. But when an outsider said a few nonsense words, he believed them! Am I such a bastard in his heart?" Luo Xiangqian sat on the chair in dismay.
Xia Qingtang took out the medicated oil and asked him to wipe the area around his eye sockets. Luo Xiangqian waved his hand and said, "I won't wipe it. I'll keep this eye socket until all the relatives come during the New Year so that everyone can see what my father did wrong."
Xia Qingtang said: "Why bother? You'll have a bruised face during the New Year, and your relatives won't be able to introduce you to a partner then."
"I won't date anymore. I'm really scared." Luo Xiangqian smiled bitterly and said, "I've seen clearly that there's something wrong with my fate. All the women I meet are not good. Take Ding Yurou for example. I was really kind to her. She was the one who betrayed me, but she told my dad that I betrayed her and said...she also said that I ruined her...My dad is really my real dad! He didn't ask anything and concluded that there was something wrong with me. He came back and beat me with his fists...I'm such a failure. I can't meet a good person when I'm dating, and my own dad is not a good person either. I've really seen clearly that I don't have that fate. I'd better stop thinking about it."
Seeing his sad expression and depressed spirit, Xia Qingtang didn't know how to persuade him.
Xie Jinxuan said: "It's good not to be in a relationship. This kind of thing should be left to nature. When you meet someone you like, you will naturally want to be in a relationship. Besides, you are doing well in your company now, so why not focus on your work and strive for a promotion as soon as possible."
Luo Xiangqian has done a very good job in the Grain Bureau. Although he has not been to college, he is a very down-to-earth person. He has completed several good major tasks since he joined the unit. The higher-ups value him very much now. If he works hard for a few more years, he will always have the opportunity to be transferred.
Luo Xiangqian then raised his head and said, "Jinxuan really understands me. I should just work hard and serve the people."
"Then don't forget to drink and relax." Xia Qingtang said: "The dried tofu is already cooked, you can pick it up with chopsticks, I will cook the noodles, today I made hand-rolled noodles. You, have a good meal, don't think about anything else."
Luo Xiangqian rubbed his hands and said, "This is really great, but it's a pity that I can't drink."
"Have some malted milk, that's one thing. By the way, Jinxuan, take another big bowl over there." Xia Qingtang said, and went to cook noodles.
Xie Jinxuan first made malted milk for Luo Xiangqian, then took out a large bowl, put one bowl on the dining table, and let Luo Xiangqian eat it alone, and then took another large bowl and sent it over there.
The braised dried tofu made by Xia Qingtang is very delicious and is always popular.
She cooked white dried tofu and fried white dried tofu together, and also added frozen old tofu and soaked dried bamboo shoots. Finally, she cooked a big pot of hot food. Every piece was very tasty. It was first-rate whether it was eaten with rice or as a side dish for wine. Even Xie's mother liked to have it with two glasses of rice wine.
Luo Xiangqian couldn't drink today, and Xie Jinxuan also accompanied him in not drinking. Fortunately, there was the hand-rolled noodles made by Xia Qingtang. After they were cooked and seasoned, they were poured with a spoonful of soup from the stew pot. They were so delicious.
Luo Xiangqian ate two large bowls of rice in one breath. Just when he was feeling happy, he saw Luo's father walk into the small courtyard and knock on the door gently.
Xie Jinxuan looked at Luo Xiangqian and said, "Uncle is here. I'll go open the door."
"I'll leave if he comes!" Luo Xiangqian snorted, quite angry.
"Don't be like this, just sit down." Xie Jinxuan patted his shoulder and went over to open the door.
When Luo's father came in, he showed an apologetic expression: "I'm so sorry, I wanted to talk to Xiang Qian."
"Uncle, we have just finished our meal. Qingtang and I will go wash the dishes." As she said that, Xie Jinxuan took the empty bowls and plates and went to the kitchen with Xia Qingtang, then closed the kitchen door.
Luo's father didn't stay for too long, and Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang hardly heard any voices outside. After about seven or eight minutes, Luo's father said loudly, "Jinxuan, I'm going home."
"Okay, goodbye uncle." Xie Jinxuan walked out and escorted Luo's father out of the small courtyard.
Xia Qingtang walked out and saw Luo Xiangqian sitting there with his head down, not moving, so he said, "What's wrong? Did they quarrel again?"
"That's not the case..." Luo Xiangqian shook his head.
"Then why are you like this?"
"I'm a little surprised... My dad would apologize to me like that..." Luo Xiangqian sighed, "Now, I can't even get angry anymore."
Xia Qingtang laughed: "Then don't be angry. Being angry is harmful to your health. Your uncle apologized to you, which is a good thing. There is no overnight hatred between father and son. Just be angry for a short time, and then forgive him."
"Hey, you say that so easily, but why haven't you forgiven your family yet?"
Xia Qingtang said: "Our issues are not the same. Your father misunderstood you and apologized to you immediately, but my biological mother will never realize her mistake. Besides, I will go to my mother's house for dinner soon. Do you want to go home quickly as well?"
"I... forget it. I'm still angry today. Let's talk about it tomorrow." Luo Xiangqian sighed, "Why is my life so bumpy?"
Xia Qingtang burst out laughing: "You call this a rough life? It's just a breakup. If this is considered a rough life, then there would be no suffering people in this world."
"Hey, hey, hey, it's easy for you to say that. You ran into our Jinxuan right after you came here. You have never been heartbroken before. Why do you think this is not called a rough life?"
Xia Qingtang only glanced at him lightly, then said softly: "Okay, if you think so, then so be it. I just think that it's boring for you to be so upset over a broken heart at your age. Who doesn't need to suffer a little in life? You have no worries about food and clothing, you are healthy and smart, you have everything you need, so what's wrong with suffering a little in love? Those people who don't have enough food and clothing didn't say anything, but you are complaining."
Luo Xiangqian blushed slightly and said, "What you are talking about... this and that are not the same thing..."
"It's the same thing, but their suffering is more difficult than yours, because hunger and coldness can really kill people. Last time I met a little girl on the road, she was only in her teens, she hadn't eaten much for several days, and she fainted on the side of the road. At least you haven't experienced that kind of suffering, right?"
As soon as these words came out, Luo Xiangqian immediately sat up straight: "Oh, what you said... I..."
Xie Jinxuan smiled and said, "Xiang Qian, when it comes to bickering, you can't compare to Qingtang."
"This is not a quarrel, this is a discussion of reason." Xia Qingtang argued.
Luo Xiangqian stood up: "Forget it, I'd better go home. After hearing this, I also feel that I am a bit too ridiculous. It has been such a long time since we broke up, and I am still thinking about it. It's boring. I am a man after all, why can't I get over it? Fortunately, Leng Feng is not at home. If he was here, he would definitely laugh at me."
Having said that, Luo Xiangqian stood up, put on his thick cotton coat, and prepared to go out.
As a result, before he walked out, he saw Leng Feng wearing a green military uniform, holding something in his hands, standing at the gate of the small courtyard and looking around coldly.
"Oh my God, I didn't drink any alcohol, why am I hallucinating?" Luo Xiangqian was shocked.
"What's wrong?" Xie Jinxuan glanced outside, immediately opened the door and shouted, "Leng Feng? Why are you back?"
Luo Xiangqian then followed him out: "It's not an illusion, it's real? Leng Feng is really back? Why didn't he tell us?"
Xia Qingtang also looked outside, and sure enough, Leng Feng was standing there. He still had that expression on his face, as if everyone owed him ten thousand yuan, which was even colder than the weather at the moment.
She curled her lips, didn't move, but closed the door, sat on the sofa and started eating melon seeds.
After a while, Xie Jinxuan happily pulled Leng Feng in. Luo Xiangqian had not gone home either. He followed behind and kept complaining to Leng Feng for not saying hello in advance.
"Why say hello? What's there to say hello for about this kind of thing? Anyway, I'm back this time and I won't leave." Leng Feng said indifferently.
Xia Qingtang glanced at him sideways, and said with a half-smile, "Comrade Leng, hello."
Leng Feng did not feel embarrassed, but handed over the cloth bag in his hand and said, "Hello, Comrade Xiao Xia, I haven't seen you for a long time. I am sorry to bother you again. These are some mountain products that I brought back from there."
Xia Qingtang didn't answer: "I'm so sorry, I don't want to receive gifts without merit, I dare not accept it."
Luo Xiangqian heard the unhappiness in Xia Qingtang's words. Although he didn't know what was going on, he still stood aside tactfully without saying a word.
Leng Feng said: "Okay, I'll give it to Jin Xuan."
Xie Jinxuan had no choice but to accept the package and said, "Thank you for bringing these things to us from such a long distance. You are so thoughtful."
Leng Feng said, "It's not a good thing. I brought it to you thinking it can be used to cook. Okay, I'll go back first."
He was not a fool. He knew that there was a conflict between him and Xia Qingtang, and he did not intend to stand here and be an eyesore.
Xie Jinxuan didn't keep him, but said, "Then I'll come find you later?"
"Maybe in a few days. I have to go somewhere else soon and I have some personal matters to attend to these days. When I'm done with my work, I'll invite you and Xiang Qian to have lunch one day at noon." Leng Feng said.
"Okay, then I'll take you out." Xie Jinxuan and Leng Feng went out.
Luo Xiangqian whispered, "Xiao Xia, did Leng Feng offend you?"
"Yeah, did you figure it out?"
"Of course I can tell. You are such a particular person. Normally when I come, you always treat me to good tea and good food. But Leng Feng hasn't been back for such a long time, but when he came in, you were too lazy to stand up, not to mention no tea. I'm not a fool, of course I can tell."
Xia Qingtang said: "It's not a big deal, just think that he and I are incompatible."
In the past, people would not dare to say this out loud, but now that people go to temples to burn incense normally, they are not afraid to say such things anymore.
"Hey, that's definitely not your problem, it's his problem. Leng Feng is a guy who only gets along well with the two of us. He can't get along with anyone else. He's coming back this time and he's going to stay and work. Fortunately, he's going to be a policeman, which suits his cold face." Luo Xiangqian laughed.
"He's a policeman? That's really suitable for him." Xia Qingtang said: "It has nothing to do with me anyway."
"Don't refuse to invite me to dinner with you just because you hate him. I really like your cooking." This was Luo Xiangqian's point.
Nothing else matters. What matters is that I can come here again in the future to taste the side dishes made by Xia Qingtang.
Xia Qingtang laughed: "Your Lao Luo is my friend, we have a good relationship, as long as you want to come for dinner, just tell me anytime."
"That's more like it. I knew you were nice enough. Okay, I'll go over and take a look. I'm afraid Jinxuan will have to send him back to the Leng family."
"Go ahead, go ahead. I'll take a rest for a while too." Xia Qingtang saw Luo Xiangqian off, closed the door, and went back to the bedroom to take a nap.
Leng Feng really did return to the city permanently this time. He was asked to transfer to a civilian position due to health reasons, but he disagreed. It just so happened that he had military merits, so his family helped him come back to be a policeman, which was similar to before and more in line with his personality, so he completed the formalities and came back.
After the New Year, I will officially start my job.
But this man's personality is still so weird. It took him such a long time to go home, but he really didn't tell his friends at all. Fortunately, Xie Jinxuan and Luo Xiangqian are both good-tempered people and didn't bother with him.
Xie Jinxuan still looked very happy. His good brother had returned to the city to work, and they would be able to meet often in the future. This was indeed a good thing for him.
For Xia Qingtang, this matter had no impact at all. Anyway, Leng Feng had never come to the small courtyard since that day, and Xie Jinxuan also respected the agreement and had not taken the initiative to invite him.
They cleaned the house as usual and made various preparations for the New Year. On the morning of the Little New Year, they went out with two bottles of wine, intending to have lunch in the cotton mill's family quarters.
The two of them rode only one bicycle. Xia Qingtang sat on the back seat of the bicycle, with one arm around Xie Jinxuan's waist and the other hand fiddling with his new coat.
This coat was given to her by Xie's mother before the holiday. Someone was specially made for her. She said it was made according to the most popular style, with a very beautiful big lapel. The color was also very fashionable, dark green with black fine plaid. When she put it on, her skin looked whiter and she was very elegant.
Xie Jinxuan was there today, so they did not take a detour on that road. When they passed the intersection where the fall occurred, Xia Qingtang squinted and glanced over there, and saw the skinny Li girl, wearing the same tattered jacket from last time, fighting with a middle-aged woman in her forties on the side of the road.
But she was young and short, and so thin that she could be blown down by the wind, so she was no match for the middle-aged man. She was pushed to the ground in a few moves. The female comrade was also a ruthless person. She raised her right foot and kicked Li Yatou hard.
Xia Qingtang was shocked. How could the child survive if he was kicked like this?
The bicycle squeaked to a stop, and Xie Jinxuan said in a deep voice: "Qingtang, wait for me here for a while."
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