Chapter 46
Xie Chengye said: "What can we do? Just keep looking."
"Didn't I come here to look for it?"
Xie Chengye said: "We don't have it here. She has never been here and cannot come in."
Grandma said, "Yes, Tian Laoer, our old man has told the guards that Wu Jinfeng will not be allowed in, whether it is the front door or the back door. So she will not come to our place. You should look for her somewhere else."
Tian Guoqiang looked at Grandpa Xie and said, "Grandpa, can you please help me and ask someone to look for him... We don't know anyone here. Old Wu does know a few people, but they are not at home right now. They have gone back to their hometown for the New Year and can't help."
Mr. Xie said, "If this child is missing, I will definitely help you find her, but Wu Jinfeng is an adult, and she has a job, so I won't get involved. You should still call the police, and the police will help you find her. But Wu Jinfeng is obviously hiding from her parents by doing this. If she really hides, it won't be easy for you to find her in such a big city."
The old man was a serious, rigid and dedicated person. Even for the sake of his children, he would not necessarily use his connections, let alone help someone like Wu Jinfeng, so his refusal was expected by everyone.
"Grandpa, we are relatives after all. Are you really not going to help?" Tian Guoqiang asked, his eyebrows raised and he looked very angry.
"Yes, I won't help. This is your business. You three can't keep an eye on a young man. Who can you blame?" The old man said calmly, "If you have time to express your dissatisfaction with me here, you might as well go out and visit a few more places to see how to find the person. It's New Year's Day. Where can she, a girl who has never suffered, go? Someone must have taken her in and helped her hide."
Tian Guoqiang still frowned as he looked at Grandpa Xie. Xie Jinxuan said, "Second uncle, what my grandfather meant is that it's so cold, Wu Jinfeng can't be sleeping on the street, and now all the shops are closed, there aren't many places she can go. Either she found a guesthouse to stay in, or someone who knows her took her in. So, don't blindly look for her on the street, you should go to all the guesthouses to ask first, and then go to their factory to ask, to see who Wu Jinfeng usually has a good relationship with and who she interacts with more often. If you look for her based on this, it will definitely be easy to find her."
"Yes, Jinxuan is right. You should go find someone quickly and don't waste time here." Xie's mother said, "You should know that Wu Jinfeng has harmed our Jinxuan and Qingtang. Our family will never get involved in such matters."
Tian Guoqiang rolled his eyes at Xie's mother, then turned and left.
Grandma said: "The eldest son of the Tian family doesn't have this kind of personality, why is the second son like this?"
Xie's mother said with an embarrassed look on her face: "I'm sorry, it's my second brother's fault. He caused so much trouble during the New Year, which made everyone feel bad."
"It has nothing to do with you. Your second brother has problems as a person, not you." Mr. Xie said, "Okay, let's all go in and have dinner. Let's celebrate our New Year and not be affected by these people."
So the family went back into the house. Fortunately, it was warm inside and the food had not yet gotten cold.
Xie Chengye poured wine for everyone who could drink, and the whole family clinked their glasses together before starting to eat.
Although it is not New Year's Eve today, there is still a pork dish on the table. Aunt Liu stewed the pork with dried cowpeas and potatoes. It was a big pot full, and the soup was especially delicious when soaked with rice.
Aunt Six said as she ate, "This year's New Year is special. Jinxuan is getting married, and there's one more person in the family. This is a big happy event, so I made preparations in advance. We'll have a family reunion dinner tomorrow, and I've prepared eight dishes, including chicken, duck, fish and meat, to make sure everyone has a good meal."
Xie Jinyun was the first to cheer: "Great! I'll eat more!"
Xie Chengye said: "Since we have prepared eight dishes, why not add two vegetarian dishes to make it perfect?"
"I thought so at first, but our Qingtang said that no life is perfect. It is a rare blessing to be perfect. When I think about it, it is really true. Look at the moon in the sky. After it is full, it will have missing corners. So let's make eight dishes to avoid being too perfect." Aunt Liu said with a smile.
The old man immediately said, "Qingtang is right. It is indeed the truth. When the moon is full, it wanes. When the water is full, it overflows. If everything is 80% good or 90% good, it is already the best. Although our Qingtang is young, he is indeed very wise."
So the whole family praised Xia Qingtang so much that she felt embarrassed.
After dinner, Xie Jinxuan took out the red paper he had bought earlier and planned to write couplets and the word "Fu". Xia Qingtang helped him cut the paper.
There are many rooms in the house, and there needs to be a pair of couplets on the courtyard door, the front door and the back door. Everyone's bedroom needs a character for "Fu". Aunt Six also needs to cut window paper-cuts, so Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan carefully measured the size and then cut them carefully, for fear of wasting paper if they were cut badly.
"Xie Jinxuan, I may know where Wu Jinfeng went." Xia Qingtang said in a low voice when he saw that everyone was no longer in the living room.
Xie Jinxuan quickly asked, "Did someone in your factory help her hide it?"
"Yes, and this person...we all know him."
"I can't guess who it is. Please tell me quickly." Xie Jinxuan laughed.
Xia Qingtang leaned over and whispered in his ear: "I think it's Xia Qinghai."
Xie Jinxuan was stunned and stopped moving her hands.
"Xia Qinghai has taken a fancy to Wu Jinfeng's family background. He has visited Wu Jinfeng in the hospital before and even had lunch with her in the cafeteria. Everyone in the factory saw it. Wu Jinfeng has offended all her colleagues and no one likes her. She is hiding in this place and the only person she can look for is Xia Qinghai. And Xia Qinghai will definitely take this opportunity to develop that kind of relationship with her. As long as there is that kind of relationship between the two of them, Wu Jinfeng will not be able to escape. It's just that no one knows where Xia Qinghai has hidden her. They may not be able to find her if they go to the family quarters of the cotton mill." Xia Qingtang whispered.
"Maybe the person is in your family quarters. Doesn't your mother care about Xia Qinghai the most? She will definitely help to conceal it. Your father is a taciturn person and never speaks. Even if they hide the person at home, Wu Jinfeng's parents won't be able to find him."
This is true. Although the Xia family only has two houses and two small sheds, as long as Wu Jinfeng keeps silent, it is very easy to hide someone in the small shed.
Besides, without any definite evidence, it was impossible for Wu Jinfeng's parents to search house by house in the family quarters. Xia Qinghai might really have hidden the person at home.
After thinking for a while, Xia Qingtang said, "If they can't find anyone, will they go home directly? If they all stay here, won't your second uncle come to our house to celebrate the New Year?"
Xia Qingtang doesn't like Tian Guoqiang. This year's New Year has a different meaning for her, so she doesn't want Tian Guoqiang to appear in her home.
"I guess they can find him by tomorrow morning at the latest. If they still can't find him, they will definitely take the early morning train tomorrow to go back for the New Year. My second uncle can still come to our house for a meal, but what about those two people? Can the guesthouse still cook for them during the New Year? They can only go home." said Xie Jinxuan.
"I hope they can go back soon. I just want to have a peaceful New Year." Seeing that no one was in the living room, Xia Qingtang put down the paper cutter, walked behind Xie Jinxuan, put his arms around his waist, then lay on his back and sighed softly.
Xie Jinxuan also put down the red paper in her hand, put her big hand on her small hand, and whispered: "Don't worry, even if they really don't leave for the New Year, grandma won't let my second uncle come to our house for the New Year."
"I didn't say that I wouldn't let my second uncle come home to celebrate the New Year..." Xia Qingtang muttered softly.
Xie Jinxuan smiled and said, "I don't want my second uncle to come to our house for the New Year. He is a traitor and I am not happy to see him."
Xia Qingtang then laughed: "Then let's not tell our family about this matter, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble and make everyone worry."
"Don't worry, I won't tell them. If Wu Jinfeng is really with your brother, wouldn't that save me a lot of trouble? I will definitely help him keep this secret." Xie Jinxuan smiled slightly. Seeing grandma and Aunt Liu coming in from the backyard, he quickly changed the subject and said loudly: "Aunt Liu, the paper has been cut. Do you want to cut it now?"
"Just leave it there first, I'll cut it later." Aunt Six said, and went to the kitchen with grandma. She prepared to fry the tofu.
Xie Jinxuan took out the red paper used for cutting window flowers and placed it on the coffee table. She then spread out the cut couplet paper and began to grind the ink.
Xia Qingtang sat beside him and looked at him seriously: "You can actually write calligraphy."
"I practiced with my grandfather when I was a kid. My handwriting is average, but my grandfather's is beautiful. It's just that he is too busy. Since I was a teenager, I have been the one writing couplets. Sometimes I also write for my neighbors next door."
But Xie Jinxuan was actually being modest. When he dipped the brush in thick ink and carefully wrote the first couplet, Xia Qingtang was stunned.
"Is your handwriting considered average? Then what is good handwriting?"
Xie Jinxuan said: "Grandpa's calligraphy is good, my calligraphy is too artificial and lacks momentum."
"I think it's already very beautiful. You don't have to be a calligrapher in the future, but you can write inscriptions for others with your handwriting like this." Xia Qingtang said seriously, "Wait until summer for you to write a fan. I plan to get a folding fan this summer and put it in my bag. It's more convenient to use."
She works in an office now, so she could use something a little more elegant.
"As long as you don't mind my handwriting, I'll write for you as many fans as you want."
"Okay, stop being so modest. If you continue to be modest, I won't accompany you."
Xie Jinxuan laughed: "Okay, okay, I was wrong. I should be honest and say that my handwriting is pretty good."
"That's more like it."
Xie Jinxuan finished writing three couplets and a lot of blessing characters. Before she finished, Xie Chengye came back from outside. Seeing Xie Jinxuan writing couplets, he said, "Just now, the Chang family next door asked you to write couplets again this year. I'll go get the red paper later."
"It doesn't matter. We still have the red paper. Will it be the same as in previous years, with three couplets?" Xie Jinxuan said.
"That should be the case. You write it first and then give it to him when you're done." Xie Chengye went to the second floor, took something and hurried out again.
"What is Dad busy with?" Xia Qingtang asked in a low voice.
"He went to play mahjong." Xie Jinxuan whispered, "It seems that this year no one cares about that. Some people in the compound have started to secretly play mahjong at home. My dad must have gone to Uncle Liu's house to play mahjong."
Xia Qingtang said: "I don't know how to play these, can you?"
"I know how to play mahjong and poker, but I don't have many opportunities to play."
"Then teach me, and then we can play at home." Xia Qingtang's eyes lit up.
As soon as Xie Jinxuan said the word "good", she immediately said: "Not now, I can't delay your study time!"
"It's the New Year, so it's a good time to have some rest and work. Don't worry, I've almost finished my review, so there's no need to be so nervous."
"That won't work either. After all, you are taking the exam with the current graduates. They study for twelve hours a day, and there are teachers teaching them." Xia Qingtang said seriously, "Let's talk about it after you finish the college entrance examination. Also, after the Chinese New Year, we will move out and live on our own. I will prepare your breakfast and dinner carefully to ensure that you eat and drink well and your brain will not lack nutrition."
She also learned this from other people in the community. She remembered that the parents of those high school students would give their children a combination of meat and vegetables every day. They would drink milk, soy milk, and eat eggs. If they didn't eat well, their brains would not be able to keep up.
Xie Jinxuan couldn't help laughing: "That would be too hard for you."
"It's not hard. It's just cooking. I like cooking... Besides, it's my duty to work harder for your college entrance exam."
Before the college entrance examination every year, all entertainment activities are banned in the upper and lower floors of the community for fear of affecting the children taking the exam.
If any family renovates their house before the college entrance examination, there will definitely be a lot of protests.
Although this is a little crazy, the college entrance examination is indeed a very important matter. Xia Qingtang is willing to take good care of Xie Jinxuan to the best of his ability.
Xie Jinxuan glanced towards the kitchen and saw that her grandmother and Aunt Six were both staying inside, so she leaned over and kissed Xia Qingtang on the mouth: "Thank you."
Xia Qingtang chuckled: "I'm not a playboy who covets beauty. You are not sincere in thanking me like this."
Xie Jinxuan also laughed: "What does it mean to be sincere?"
"I'll tell you after we move into the new house after the first month of the lunar year." Xia Qingtang made a face.
Xie Jinxuan couldn't help laughing: "You said you're not a playboy who covets beauty. You said that, it's obvious that you're coveting my beauty. You want to wait until we move in, so you can do whatever you want to me."
Xia Qingtang said seriously: "How is that possible? I am a serious person. When I say thank you, I mean I hope you can do more housework after the college entrance examination, so that I can be a hands-off boss."
As they were talking, Xie Jinyun suddenly ran down from the second floor. Seeing that couplets were being written here, she wanted to join in the fun and said that she wanted to write a couplet for her own room as well.
Xie Jinxuan said, "Sure, there should be enough red paper. I'll finish writing in a while, and you can cut the paper and write one yourself."
After the couplets and the word "Fu" were written and dried, Xie Jinxuan rolled up the couplets written for the Chang family and sent them out.
Xia Qingtang also rolled up the couplets and blessing characters that would be used at home and placed them on the low cabinet in the living room. They could be pasted up tomorrow morning.
After that, Xia Qingtang helped Aunt Liu in the kitchen. When Aunt Liu finished her work, he followed her and learned how to cut paper-cuts.
After cutting the window paper-cuts, everyone went to the bathhouse in the courtyard to take a bath.
Because it was almost New Year, there were a lot of people in the bathhouse, and it took quite a long time to finish bathing. Xia Qingtang walked slowly home with her grandmother. When they reached the door, they saw Tian Guoqiang standing there again, knocking on the door.
"Second uncle, there's no one at home." Xia Qingtang said loudly.
Tian Guoqiang turned around and saw Xia Qingtang and her grandmother both with wet hair. He knew they had gone to the bathhouse, so he quickly asked, "Did anyone else go take a bath?"
"Yes, you went to take a shower, why did you come to our house again?" Grandma said: "We don't have Wu Jinfeng here, she really can't come in. If you don't believe it, go to our house and look for her."
Tian Guoqiang said: "I know that the person is not at your house. I came here to look for Xiao Xia."
"Looking for me?" Xia Qingtang began to wonder, worried that they had already found out about Xia Qinghai.
Grandma said, "Let's talk inside. We'll catch a cold easily if our heads are wet. It's warm inside."
As she said that, she took out the key, opened the yard door, and then took Tian Guoqiang in.
The room was indeed warm. Xia Qingtang put the basin away first and said, "Would Second Uncle like some tea?"
"I'm not drinking tea anymore. I want to ask you, have you ever had a conflict with Wu Jinfeng in the factory before?" Tian Guoqiang didn't sit down, but asked while standing.
"I didn't have any conflicts with her because I was very busy at work and had no time to deal with her. But she would come to our office every day and loudly criticize me. She even stole my written speech. In the end, Director Huang from their factory office came to apologize on her behalf. But I don't understand. Aren't you looking for someone? Why are you asking this now?"
Tian Guoqiang said: "Isn't this because you had a conflict with her?"
"No, she is the one who is looking for trouble unilaterally. Do you think I have nothing to do? Why should I conflict with her?" Xia Qingtang said coldly.
"Okay, okay, then she is the one who is looking for trouble. I want to ask you, since there is a conflict between you two, and you grew up in a cotton mill, and you have many friends in the mill..."
Xia Qingtang narrowed his eyes: "What exactly does Second Uncle want to say?"
"I want to ask... is it possible that you asked your friends in the cotton mill to hide Wu Jinfeng on purpose? Or... deliberately harmed her..."
The room was silent for a while. Just as grandma was about to lose her temper, Xia Qingtang suddenly laughed out loud: "Uncle, you are not crazy, are you?"
"Can you please speak properly?"
"I'm talking nicely. I think you're crazy, uncle. Do you know what you're saying? Why should I help Wu Jinfeng hide? I wish she would leave our city as soon as possible, get away from us, and never appear in front of me again. As for harming her, I want to ask you, uncle, do you think your own friends would help you kill people?" Xia Qingtang looked at Tian Guoqiang as if he were an idiot.
Grandma said, "Tian Lao Er, you must be crazy. I tell you, if you continue like this, I will really hit you with a stick! Our Qingtang is such a good girl, listen to what nonsense you are talking about!"
Tian Guoqiang said: "I just want to ask, why are you in such a hurry? We really can't find anyone, and we are desperate. I also heard that your brother, Xia Qingtang, had dinner with Wu Jinfeng in the cafeteria. Why did your brother eat with her? Isn't he helping you do bad things?"
"I have severed ties with my family a long time ago. Didn't you hear from the people in the factory that I no longer have any contact with my parents and brother?"
"I've heard of it, but even if you break your bones, you still have tendons. Who knows if you are a harmonious family behind the scenes?"
"Then why are you asking me? If Xia Qinghai really did something, go ask her. I haven't been to the cotton mill since the holiday. You come to me, but I don't know anything."
"Didn't you go out yesterday? Did you take advantage of that time to go out and look for someone?" Tian Guoqiang stared at Xia Qingtang with an unfriendly look.
"How do you know I went out? Are you asking about my whereabouts?" Xia Qingtang's eyes were not very friendly.
"Shouldn't I be asking about your whereabouts? Now that Wu Jinfeng is missing, you are her only enemy here. You are the biggest suspect!" Tian Guoqiang was quite confident.
Xia Qingtang made a gesture to send him away, his eyes were cold: "I don't want to talk to you anymore. If you think I killed Wu Jinfeng, you can call the police and show them the evidence to let them arrest me. But you don't have any evidence now, please get out! You are not young anymore, I won't do anything to you because you are Jinxuan's elder, please get out by yourself!"
Grandma suddenly took out a bamboo stick that Xie Jinyun used to play games from under the coffee table, picked it up and hit Tian Guoqiang's arm twice: "Get out! Get out!"
Tian Guoqiang was startled: "What are you doing? Why are you hitting someone?"
"What's wrong with me hitting you? You deserve to be hit! You are such a brainless thing! Jinxuan is your own nephew, and it's fine if you help outsiders to harm your own nephew, but now you are accusing your nephew's wife of murder! I heard that your old Tian family is reluctant to teach you a lesson, but now you are here at our door, so I will help them teach you a lesson! You are such a beast with no brain and no heart, just wait and see if I won't teach you a lesson!"
As she spoke, grandma hit Tian Guoqiang's arms and back with the small bamboo stick in her hand.
After all, grandma is quite old and doesn’t have much strength. Plus, Tian Guoqiang was wearing thick clothes in winter, so it didn’t hurt much when she was hit.
But Tian Guoqiang felt extremely humiliated. Even his own parents had never beaten him like that. Why would a strange old lady treat him like this?
"That's enough! Don't think I dare not fight back!" As he said that, Tian Guoqiang seized the opportunity and pulled the bamboo stick hard and pulled it over.
Grandma was trying so hard that when the bamboo stick was pulled away, she staggered and fell backwards. Fortunately, Xia Qingtang was standing next to her and hugged her.
"All of you Xies are bad people!" Tian Guoqiang cursed while waving a bamboo stick. "Now that someone has lost their daughter, a matter of life and death, you are still here fussing over the little conflicts of the past! Especially you, old lady, it was you who indulged this woman to marry Jinxuan! I tell you, this woman is not a good person, and she will kill all of you Xie family members sooner or later!"
"What are you talking about?" Xie Jinxuan suddenly opened the door and rushed in.
Tian Guoqiang was seen waving a bamboo stick in his hand, while Xia Qingtang was supporting her grandmother opposite him. Both of them had anger on their faces. Xie Jinxuan immediately rushed up and snatched the bamboo stick.
Xie Chengye and Xie Jinyun ran in right after him. Xie Chengye's eyes widened: "Tian Laoer, what did you do to my mother?"
"What did I do to your mother? Your mother beat people with a stick! Look for yourself, what I've been beaten into?" Seeing that the men had all returned, Tian Guoqiang's attitude was no longer as arrogant as before.
"Grandma, are you okay?" Xie Jinxuan immediately walked to her grandmother's side.
Grandma pointed at Tian Guoqiang and cursed, "He came here to wrongly accuse Qingtang, saying that Qingtang hired someone to hide Wu Jinfeng, and also said that Qingtang's friend and brother might have killed Wu Jinfeng! Do you think he should be beaten? Should he be beaten?"
Xie Jinxuan's face was as gloomy as water. He looked at Tian Guoqiang and said coldly, "Are you serious? Do you and Wu Jinfeng's parents really think so?"
"It's not true or not. I can't find the person, so I have to come and ask. People in the cotton mill said that your wife and Wu Jinfeng had conflicts, and more than once. If there is a grudge, the hatred between them is very deep. Your wife's brother also had a meal with Wu Jinfeng in the cafeteria. Everyone saw it." As he spoke, his confidence suddenly weakened.
"Have you looked for her at her brother's house?"
"I've looked for it, but I couldn't find it twice."
"Since you haven't found her, why are you asking Qingtang? Do you think she can make someone disappear without leaving this compound?"
Tian Guoqiang said, "Can't I ask? We've been looking for someone for so long that we're almost dying of anxiety. Wu Jinfeng is a grown-up girl. If something really happens to her, what will we do?"
"That's your business, it's Wu Jinfeng's own business. She's in her twenties and she ran away on her own. Should others be responsible for her life? I can tell you that Qingtang in our family is a kind and good person. She is also a person of style. She simply disdains to have anything to do with a despicable and shameless person like Wu Jinfeng, let alone do anything to her. Instead of doubting her, you might as well doubt me. I have the strength and the brains. It's actually very simple for me to make a person disappear. If you want to try it, I can demonstrate it to you now. Believe it or not, I can use the simplest method to make you disappear from this world, and your family will never know where you went." Xie Jinxuan's tone and eyes suddenly became very dangerous, especially his eyes. The eyes that usually always smiled burst out with endless murderous intent and malice, which frightened Tian Guoqiang so much that he trembled all over and took two steps back unconsciously.
At this time, Xie Chengye said, "Tian Guoqiang, what you did this time is too outrageous! Our Jinxuan and Qingtang are both honest children, and they have not left the compound for the past two days. In order to help your superiors, you came to our house to slander my children and said they did something against the will of heaven. Tian Guoqiang, is this what a human being would do?"
Tian Guoqiang lowered his head and said nothing. His grandmother said, "Why are you still talking to him so much? Get him out of here!"
"You really should get out." Xie Chengye said in a deep voice: "On behalf of the Xie family, I tell you that from now on, we no longer have a relative named Tian Guoqiang. Don't even think about coming through our gate or this compound. Even if your parents-in-law come to plead for me, I, Xie Chengye, will never have anything to do with you again in my life."
Tian Guoqiang was stunned: "Is it that serious? I didn't suspect Jin Xuan, I just suspected that Xia Qingtang. Are you all crazy? Are you going to sever your relationship with us just for a poor woman?"
"What do you mean a poor woman? Xia Qingtang is my son's registered wife! She is now a member of our family! If you look down on her, you are looking down on our entire Xie family! Xiao Xia is a very good child, and our whole family likes her very much. You have repeatedly done disrespectful things to Xiao Xia. As a father, I can tell you directly that they don't need an elder like you, and I don't need a relative like you. You can get out now!" It was rare for Xie Chengye to get so angry that his roar could be clearly heard even outside the house.
Tian Guoqiang stood there motionless. He still wanted to wait for Xie's mother to come back, but for some reason, Xie's mother had not shown up yet.
At this time, Xie Jinxuan walked over and he held out his hand: "Do you want me to ask you to leave, or do you want me to throw you out? It's your choice."
"Xie Jinxuan! I'm your uncle!"
"From now on, it's not the same anymore. If you don't respect my wife, you are disrespecting me. From now on, I will only have one uncle." Xie Jinxuan said coldly, "I have tolerated you many times. It was you who deliberately chose this path."
"Alright, then don't admit it! Your Xie family is so powerful! I want to see, you marry a poor woman like this, and when your mother-in-law comes to your house, you will be sucked dry by them for the rest of your life!" Tian Guoqiang stomped his feet and started to walk out.
Xie Jinxuan followed him out, and Xie Jinyun followed quietly behind.
Xie Jinxuan said, "I am happy to be sucked dry, what's it to you? If you like to meddle in things so much, just take care of your own son, and don't put your hands on me. Don't say harsh words, you can't compare to me in terms of cruelty. I didn't hit you today because of grandma's face. If anyone insulted my wife like this, I would have made him regret his life. Tian Guoqiang, remember this, go back and tell Wu Jinfeng's parents and your own wife that Xia Qingtang is my life. If anyone does anything to her, I will drag you to hell with you."
During the Chinese New Year, the path is bustling with people. You can hear children talking happily and the occasional sound of firecrackers.
But after hearing what Xie Jinxuan said, Tian Guoqiang felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen. He felt cold from the soles of his feet to his heart, and his breathing became less smooth.
Seeing that his pace slowed down, Xie Jinxuan said in a low voice: "Walk faster, what are you dawdling for?"
Tian Guoqiang looked at him blankly, as if he was meeting his nephew for the first time.
In his impression, Xie Jinxuan was always smiling. He had been likable since he was a child, polite to everyone, handsome, smart, and kind. This was the impression he had for so many years. But what Tian Guoqiang didn't expect was that this nephew would also have such a vicious side, and it was for a woman...
To Tian Guoqiang, women are just stepping stones on his life path, so he chose a spoiled woman as his wife just to gain benefits from her.
He looked at Xie Jinxuan and suddenly realized that this nephew was a completely different person from him. Xie Jinxuan might really have fallen in love with that poor woman...
In the terrifying and suffocating atmosphere, Xie Jinxuan sent Tian Guoqiang to the gate of the compound. He pointed at Tian Guoqiang and said, "Look, everyone. This man is Tian Guoqiang. From now on, don't let this man enter the gate of our compound."
In addition to the normal security room at the gate of the provincial party committee compound, there are also young soldiers responsible for standing guard and patrolling, so once the guard remembers a person's name and appearance, that person will never have the chance to enter the compound again.
Tian Guoqiang looked at his nephew's cold profile and whispered, "Jinxuan, is it that serious? Is it that serious?"
"If I ask someone to fire you and take away all your money and past honors, will you fight me to the death?" Xie Jinxuan whispered.
"Ah?" Tian Guoqiang was stunned.
"You will definitely fight me to the death, because all you want in this life is to get promoted and make money. Qingtang is to me just like your official position is to you. If you touch Qingtang, you are forcing me to fight you to the death. So, is it that serious?"
Tian Guoqiang was completely speechless this time. He looked at his eldest nephew's face and felt his head buzzing and his heart pounding.
"Comrade, please go out." the guard said loudly.
Tian Guoqiang was awakened, and subconsciously he raised his legs to walk out, but his legs were weak and uncontrollable, and he staggered after taking a few steps and almost fell.
He finally stood firm and patted his chest. When he turned around, he found that his two nephews were standing there, looking at him with very cold eyes.
"Xiao Yun..." He spoke hesitantly.
"My brother doesn't have a second uncle like you, and neither do I. So don't call me by my name. I feel dirty when a bad person like you calls me by my name." Xie Jinyun looked at him with disdain.
Xie Jinxuan said to the guard room: "Brothers, we will go back first. It's the New Year soon, so please don't let any dangerous people into the compound."
The leading guard smiled and said, "Don't worry, Director Xie, I will increase patrols during the New Year and make sure every family can have a safe and happy New Year."
"Thank you all for your hard work. I'll bring food tomorrow." After Xie Jinxuan exchanged greetings, she took Xia Qingtang's hand and strode home.
Xie Jinyun fell behind, secretly listening to her brother and sister-in-law's conversation while walking.
Xia Qingtang put his hand on Xie Jinxuan's chest and took a deep breath: "Thank you for what you did just now."
"I just hate myself for not doing this earlier." Xie Jinxuan said, "I'm sorry for making you suffer."
"Why should I feel wronged? Do you know how many times grandma hit him? I lost count when I was counting." Xia Qingtang smiled happily, "I am very happy. You are all so kind to me. I am very, very happy. Xie Jinxuan, thank you."
Xie Jinxuan stopped and hugged her: "Don't thank me, I feel really bad."
"Why?" Xia Qingtang was puzzled.
"I said I would take good care of you and protect you, but now it is my relatives who have hurt you. I feel really bad." Xie Jinxuan buried her head in her shoulder. Her voice sounded muffled, as if she was really depressed.
Xia Qingtang smiled and patted his back: "What you did was to protect me. Didn't you drive him out and say that he wouldn't have such an uncle anymore? If that's not called protection, then what is? Did you really beat him until he couldn't get up?"
When Xie Jinxuan raised his head, he saw Xia Qingtang looking at him with a sweet smile, her big watery eyes full of tenderness and genuine gratitude.
His heart tightened, and he whispered, "I haven't done enough..."
"Don't be in a hurry. You said we will have a lifetime together, so take your time. You can do whatever you want later." Xia Qingtang said, "You have done everything at once. What are you going to do in the long years ahead?"
Xie Jinxuan nodded: "That makes sense."
"That's fine. Come home with me. I'm hungry." Xia Qingtang pulled him and walked forward.
Xie Jinyun followed quickly with a pair of curious eyes. He felt that there was an indescribable atmosphere between his brother and sister-in-law, not like the one between his grandparents, or his parents, but Xie Jinyun couldn't tell what it was exactly like.
When they got home, Xie's mother was sitting on the sofa, covering her face and crying silently. Xie Chengye was originally trying to comfort her, but when he saw them coming back, he asked, "What happened?"
"I've told the gatekeeper that he won't be let in again." Xie Jinxuan said, "Why are you crying, mom? Are you crying for Tian Guoqiang?"
This person is a bit like Xia Qingtang in this respect. After saying that there is no longer a second uncle, he really calls him by his full name.
Mother Xie looked up at her eldest son and was stunned for a moment before she said, "I'm not crying for him, I just feel guilty about my family being like this."
"What happened this time may not be a bad thing. If he hadn't gone too far, I wouldn't have severed our relationship so quickly. We're no longer relatives, so there's no need for mom to cry." Xie Jinxuan said, "Qingtang didn't take it to heart, and mom is the same. Just remember that grandpa and grandma, uncle and aunt are good, that's all."
Xie's mother looked at her son and opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
After dinner, the whole family went back to their bedrooms early to rest.
Mother Xie tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
Xie Chengye said: "Are you still thinking about those things?"
"No, I was thinking about Jinxuan."
"What happened to Jinxuan?"
Mother Xie whispered, "I think Jinxuan has changed a lot..."
"It's normal for children to change as they grow older."
"I'm just a little worried. I don't know whether his change is a good thing or a bad thing. He wasn't as decisive as he is now. Or, he's even more ruthless now."
Xie Chengye laughed, "If you are not cruel to someone like Tian Guoqiang, then you are cruel to yourself. I thought you were worried about something else, but it turns out you are worried about this. I am different from you. I am very confident in Jinxuan and have high expectations for her. She should be as cruel and ruthless to her enemies as the harsh winter. He couldn't do it before, but now he has done it. This is a good thing, a great thing. Our Jinxuan will definitely have a better future than me in the future, so you can rest assured!"
Xie's mother was stunned. Before she could figure out what was going on, Xie Chengye turned over and started snoring. She could only sigh, turn over and go to sleep.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, Xia Qingtang got up at seven o'clock, put on a new coat and a new apron, and went to the kitchen to help.
Because Grandpa Xie has to work every New Year's Eve, the Xie family has had the New Year's Eve dinner at noon in recent years, so they have to start preparations early in the morning.
Xie's mother is not good at cooking, and grandma can cook but the food she makes is not tasty, so today we have to rely on Sixth Aunt's cooking skills.
Xia Qingtang usually couldn't help, but she had already told Aunt Six that she was going to make eight-treasure rice pudding for everyone so that they could taste her cooking skills.
Everything was prepared yesterday. The glutinous rice was soaked and the red beans were cooked and put aside for later use.
In order not to occupy Aunt Six's stove, Xie Jinxuan built a small stove with bricks for Xia Qingtang in the backyard. It could be used by just lighting the fire, which was quite convenient.
The neighbor next door was also stewing something delicious in the yard. A fragrance wafted over. Xia Qingtang sniffed and identified it, and said, "It's chicken soup."
Grandma smiled and said, "We cooked our chicken soup on a charcoal stove all night last night, and we turned off the fire this morning. It will boil soon, so I'll give you a bowl to try."
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