Chapter 33 Song Fenfang Appears (Three-in-One)...
Chapter 33
Meng Yingying also realized that she seemed to have misspoke.
Just as she was thinking about how to explain it.
Zhao Yueru grasped her hand and stroked it. "Yingying, are you even more nervous than I am?"
She noticed that Yingying's palms were sweaty, even more so than hers.
Meng Yingying exclaimed, looking down at her palms, which were damp. She bit her lip and whispered, "Yueru, I think I said something wrong."
Where can you find someone to get married, where the first time is awkward and the second time is familiar?
Zhao Yueru laughed heartily, full of youthful vigor, "What's wrong with that, Yingying? You're just nervous. Besides, I'm nervous too."
"Don't worry, I'll only get married once in my life." She smiled, but her eyes were exceptionally clear. "If Zhou Jingsong and I don't get along, then I'll get a divorce."
"I will never remarry after the divorce."
Since Zhou Jingsong went blind, his senses have become extremely sharp, so he heard Zhao Yueru's words from afar before he even entered the house.
Zhou Jingsong's usually gentle and handsome face paused for a moment.
Immediately, he climbed the steps without changing his expression, though his steps seemed slightly heavy.
Until someone nearby, who had been watching the spectacle, cheerfully shouted something.
"The groom is here."
As soon as she heard this, Zhao Yueru tensed up. She reached for Meng Yingying's hand, but Meng Yingying patted her and said, "Don't be nervous."
"In a moment, the groom will be treated like a radish and cabbage."
"However, the groom is the most handsome radish among all the radishes."
What kind of description is this? After Meng Yingying's words, Zhao Yueru finally broke down and laughed.
They even forgot about the nervousness they felt.
Instead, they looked out the door with a hint of anticipation.
The next second, a white cane was seen being pushed in through the door. Perhaps because it was for a wedding, the cane had been wiped clean and was shiny with oil.
Only the bottom of the white cane was in contact with the ground, and it was covered in dust.
Zhao Yueru thought to herself, "Zhou Jingsong is quite particular."
However, before she could think about it further, Zhao Yueru saw an even more particular person appear. Zhou Jingsong was wearing a white shirt with a large red flower pinned to his breast pocket.
With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, and an upright posture, he exudes the aura of a soldier.
He even removed the white gauze covering his face and had someone borrow sunglasses from the hospital to block out the light.
Therefore, the gauze was replaced by sunglasses.
This version of Zhou Jingsong is less gentle than usual; the sunglasses he's wearing give him an air of aloofness and superiority.
At least, the moment Zhou Jingsong entered, the small room fell silent.
Everyone started whispering among themselves.
"The groom is so handsome."
"The bride is so beautiful."
"The two of them look quite well-matched standing together."
Zhou Jingsong tried to see Zhao Yueru, but his eyesight had not recovered, and he could only see a vague outline, not very clearly.
Zhao Yueru appeared to be wearing a red wedding dress, sitting on the edge of the bed, with beautiful features, red lips and white teeth.
He tried to see more clearly, but his eyes started to ache, and Zhou Jingsong felt a pang of self-loathing for his own incompetence.
He unconsciously gripped his white cane tighter.
Zhao Yueru seemed to sense something, and she immediately stood up from the bed and ran towards Zhou Jingsong, "Are your eyes hurting again?"
During the time she spent with Zhou Jingsong, she knew his every move better than anyone else.
Zhou Jingsong didn't want to talk about these things on such a joyous occasion, so he shook his head and said, "It's nothing."
Zhao Yueru frowned and remained silent.
Zhou Jingsong thought she was angry, so he remained silent for a while before tentatively asking, "Yueru?"
Meng Yingying tugged at Zhao Yueru's hand, and Zhao Yueru calmed down. "Let's go, you take me home."
"I'll be your eyes."
She was particularly decisive in this regard.
This relieved Zhou Jingsong. Zhao Yueru took Zhou Jingsong's hand and, as before, became his eyes.
Watching from behind, Meng Yingying pursed her lips and suddenly smiled. Zhao's mother was beside her, and she whispered to her, "Auntie, Yue Ru will definitely be happy."
Zhao's mother wiped away her tears, "Yingying, I appreciate your kind words."
"Auntie, I also hope you can be happy."
Meng Yingying pursed her lips and didn't speak. Seeing Zhao Yueru leading Zhou Jingsong out of the courtyard, she lifted her skirt and chased after her, saying, "Auntie, I'm taking Yueru to the Zhou family. Wait for me at home."
Zhao's mother hummed in agreement and watched them leave.
Meng Yingying was very familiar with Mengjiatun, and she followed behind Zhao Yueru and Zhou Jingsong the whole way.
Zhao Yueru was acting as Zhou Jingsong's eyes, and Meng Yingying wisely didn't chase after him, but instead lagged behind at a leisurely pace.
It's rare for there to be a happy occasion in the village, so many neighbors came to join in the fun.
The Meng family's relatives were no exception. As Meng Yingying walked, Aunt Meng and Dunzi slowly squeezed through the crowded people to Meng Yingying's side.
Meng Yingying was somewhat surprised to see them suddenly.
"Auntie, here's the stool."
She called out as a greeting.
Aunt Meng hesitated for a moment before walking up to Meng Yingying and asking softly, "Yingying, I heard that you got accepted into the stationed cultural troupe?"
There were so many people that I couldn't hear very clearly, plus there was a band playing drums and gongs at the wedding.
So much so that Meng Yingying couldn't hear clearly. She tilted her ear and leaned closer to listen, "Auntie, what did you say?"
In the sunlight, her face was as pure and clean as a gardenia.
This left Aunt Meng somewhat bewildered; she wondered what the point of asking was.
She smiled and changed her words, "Yingying, I wish you a bright future."
That daughter from the Meng family finally broke free from the dogmas of the Meng clan. She was perhaps the only daughter of the Meng family to leave Mengjiatun and secure a stable job.
Meng Yingying heard this and nodded to Aunt Meng.
After saying this, Aunt Meng pulled Dunzi along and slowly separated from the main group.
Dunzi was still a little confused. "Mother, didn't you say you had a lot to talk about with Yingying?"
Aunt Meng shook her head as she watched Meng Yingying's departing figure. She said, "Yingying has already struggled out of the mud. I don't need to say anything more. She has her own path."
"If we disturb them again, it will only make things worse."
Dunzi seemed to understand, but not quite.
Aunt Meng instructed, "Don't bother her anymore, let her move forward on her own."
They did not help Meng Yingying when she was struggling.
Now that she has flown away, the best thing for her is for them not to disturb her.
Meng Dunzi understood. Meng Da Niang's other three daughters remained silent. Seeing their reaction, Meng Da Niang said in a low voice, "Yingying has found a path, a path other than marriage. You should all think carefully about where your own path lies."
She got married and spent her whole life taking care of her husband, children, and elderly parents, and she was beaten her whole life.
Aunt Meng then realized that there was no end to serving others, and that it was better to rely on herself than to place her hopes on others.
The path that Meng Yingying took opened up a completely new way of life for Aunt Meng.
A woman's value lies not only in marriage, but also in her work.
With a secure job, even the men of the Meng clan began to show him respect.
After Meng Yingying returned, none of the relatives of the Meng clan who had bullied her before showed their faces again.
They looked as if they were all dead.
The only exception was when Meng Yingying wanted to transfer her household registration; he mumbled a few curses, but that was all.
Meng Yingying was unaware that her existence, like a guiding light, illuminated a path forward for the other girls in the Meng family.
However, she would be happy if she knew.
Meng Yingying escorted Zhao Yueru to the Zhou family.
This was Meng Yingying's first time visiting the Zhou family. Upon seeing the Zhou family's house, she stood there, her brows slightly furrowed. Compared to the Meng family's two-story house, the Zhao family's garden villa was quite impressive.
The Zhou family's circumstances were really too poor.
The Zhou family still lived in an adobe house, similar to other houses in Mengjiatun: three adobe rooms and a small courtyard.
In the past, there were a few chickens in the yard, but now the chickens are kept in a chicken coop, and the yard is full of relatives and friends coming and going.
But it's still broken, just like always.
Meng Yingying looked up at Zhao Yueru. Zhao Yueru seemed to be very familiar with the situation. When she turned around, she met Meng Yingying's worried expression.
Zhao Yueru nodded to her, and in the brief moment before entering the house, she whispered to Meng Yingying, "Yingying, I feel at ease living in this house."
It's dilapidated, but I'm not worried about being kicked out or having my home ransacked, nor am I worried about being followed.
Because it's broken, it's safe enough.
Knowing her concerns, Meng Yingying remained silent.
Once inside, many children came to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber. Meng Yingying held a small red envelope she had prepared in advance, each containing two cents.
In a short while, more than twenty red envelopes were handed out.
Someone in the crowd said, "This bride is indeed a capitalist's daughter; she's really extravagant."
"Yes, I also saw the two-cent red envelopes, and I gave out several at once."
As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Yingying looked at Zhao Yueru's expression, and she was about to speak.
The next second, Zhao Yueru exploded, "You think it's dirty? If you think it's dirty, give it back to me."
"Zhou Jingsong".
She wasn't one to tolerate things, so she called Zhou Jingsong over and said, "Some of your guests here look down on me because I'm a capitalist's daughter and give them too many red envelopes."
"Since they think it's dirty, then go and get it for me."
Meng Yingying applauded Zhao Yueru in her heart, thinking, "Well done!"
Sure enough, as soon as Zhao Yueru finished speaking, Zhou Jingsong did as she said. Although he couldn't see, he raised his voice and said, "My wife said that she thinks he's a capitalist's daughter, so she's returning the red envelope."
No one said a word.
Once the money is in hand, nobody wants to give it back.
Zhou Jingsong was not surprised by this outcome. He walked up to Zhao Yueru with his cane. Although he was blind, he was able to hold Zhao Yueru's hand accurately.
“She is my wife, Zhou Jingsong’s wife. I hope you will all show some respect.”
When Meng Yingying saw this scene, she knew that Zhao Yueru would have a good life after marrying Zhou Jingsong.
Because Zhao Yueru is independent and not one to suffer in silence, and Zhou Jingsong is on her side, almost always at her beck and call.
Therefore, she could almost predict the outcome of this marriage.
When Zhao Yueru had finished toasting everyone, Meng Yingying quietly left. She didn't say goodbye in person, but left a note on her pillow.
"Goodbye, Yue Ru."
Hope to see you next time.
She didn't have the courage to say goodbye; she was afraid of bursting into tears.
Meng Yingying appeared beside Zhao Yueru amidst the bustling crowd, and left without a sound.
She didn't even have the courage to say goodbye to Zhao Yueru in person. After returning home, she nodded to Zhao's father and mother.
Zhao's mother breathed a sigh of relief and went forward to hug Meng Yingying. "Yingying, thank you."
Meng Yingying shook her head and watched as Comrade Liu took Zhao's father and mother away.
After explaining things to Officer Xu, she went home with Uncle Meng to get a bottle of wine, a pack of cigarettes, and a can of yellow peaches before heading up the mountain.
She went to see Meng Baichuan, who was sleeping in the cemetery.
When Meng Yingying arrived, she silently opened the wine bottle, poured a glass and placed it on the grave, then lit a cigarette and opened a can of yellow peaches.
Watching the smoke rise and dance around the canned yellow peaches.
Looking at the mound of yellow earth, Meng Yingying squatted down and poured a glass of wine beside the grave. "Dad, I've been accepted into the stationed cultural troupe."
"I came back to transfer my household registration and grain ration, and also to visit you."
"Try this liquor, it's your favorite baijiu, and this canned yellow peach, I bought it from Harbin, it's especially sweet, I'm sure you'll like it."
"And this cigarette is also from Harbin. It's strong and gets you high. I don't know if you're used to it."
Meng Yingying muttered to herself in front of a pile of yellow earth, but no one answered.
She wasn't in a hurry, and she continued weeding his grave. Meng Baichuan had only been buried for half a month, and the grass on the grave had already grown a shallow layer.
Meng Yingying slowly pulled out the twigs and sat quietly to the side. "If I leave now, I can only come back to see you when I have a vacation."
"Dad, will you miss me?"
Still, no one answered.
She wasn't angry.
"By the way, Qi Xiaoer and I have broken off our engagement."
Meng Yingying said this result as if it were unintentional, "I exchanged the annulment of the engagement for a spot in the cultural troupe, that's it."
She gave a wry smile. "The Qi family doesn't seem to be very capable, so I had a falling out with them."
"dad."
Meng Yingying squatted down and carefully swept the grave mound of Meng Baichuan, cleaning the offerings left by Qi Zhenguo.
As Meng Yingying tidied up, she complained, "Dad, we won't eat anything the Qi family gives us. They're bullying me; the whole family ganged up on me."
"Not only do they want me to break off the engagement, but they also want to ruin my performance evaluation in the performing arts troupe and kick me out of Harbin."
"Dad, let me tell you, that family is really wicked."
She quickly threw away all the offerings on the table, and then, finding them pleasing to the eye, served herself only what she had brought, saying, "You can eat what I brought you."
"We won't take advantage of the Qi family."
After her rambling ended, Meng Yingying felt relieved, stood up, and walked around the small grave mound.
Looking at that pile of cold yellow earth, she actually felt a strange sense of emotion.
She was thinking, not because she liked the loess soil, but because her dearest loved ones were buried in this loess soil.
Therefore, even the loess soil gained warmth.
"Third Uncle, let's go."
Uncle Meng was afraid something might happen to her, so he accompanied Meng Yingying to the grave.
Hearing Meng Yingying call him, he stubbed out his cigarette, turned around, and followed Meng Yingying down the mountain. "The Qi family is bullying you like this?"
He was standing far away and only heard a few words, but he could piece together a rough picture of the situation.
Meng Yingying turned her head, and the sunlight filtering through the leaves of the bushes fell on her fair face, making her appear even more radiant. "Third Uncle, it's all over now."
She didn't want to bring up the past anymore.
Uncle Meng paused for a moment, then said, "If they bully you in the past, send me a telegram."
"Yingying, I'm going to avenge you."
With his second brother gone, he is the second brother.
He is Yingying's other father.
Upon hearing this, Meng Yingying swallowed hard and whispered, "Thank you, Third Uncle."
"If Yue Ru doesn't live at home in the future, please help look after the house more often, Third Uncle."
"Don't let it lose its popularity like this."
Uncle Meng nodded, "Now that Comrade Zhao is gone, I'll move in and live on the first floor."
Meng Yingying bowed to Uncle Meng. When she arrived home, Officer Xu was already waiting for her. "Is everything ready?"
Meng Yingying nodded.
Officer Xu said, "Then let's go. Our train is at four o'clock this afternoon. We'd rather be early than late."
Meng Yingying didn't answer, but walked to Uncle Meng's side and gently hugged him. "Uncle, please take care."
She looked at her third uncle and it was as if she saw Meng Baichuan in him.
The third uncle, who used to be as fat as Maitreya Buddha, has lost a lot of weight, and his outline vaguely resembles Meng Baichuan's.
Uncle Meng's throat tightened, and he reached out to hug Meng Yingying. "Take care, Yingying, please take good care of yourself."
Then he turned around, bowed to Officer Xu, and said, "I'm entrusting Yingying to you from now on."
Uncle Meng was sharp-tongued and arrogant, but the fact that he was willing to bow to Officer Xu, whom he had only met a few times, shows how much he valued Meng Yingying.
For Meng Yingying's sake, he did the things he used to despise the most.
Officer Xu helped him up, saying, "Comrade Meng, you're being too serious. Yingying is in our cultural troupe, so it's only right that I take care of her."
"Farewell."
She left with Meng Yingying.
As soon as they came out, Aunt Meng boiled eight red eggs and jogged over to hand them to Meng Yingying, saying, "Yingying, you didn't want them last time I offered them to you, but you can keep them this time."
Have a safe journey.
Meng Yingying knew how precious these eggs were. In the countryside, a family could only raise a maximum of two chickens, and these chickens didn't lay eggs every day. These eight eggs would take at least a week to accumulate.
Aunt Meng and the others were reluctant to eat them themselves. They would save up ten and take them to the supply and marketing cooperative to exchange for salt.
But this time, Aunt Meng gave her all the eggs.
Meng Yingying sighed, "Auntie, you don't need to do this."
Aunt Meng looked at her and said, "Yes, I'll take it."
"Yingying, yes, I want it."
She pulled her three daughters behind her and said, "I told them that if they can get a chance to make a living like you in the future, I will also cook eight eggs for them as a farewell gift."
"Yingying, you are the first girl from the Meng family to leave home."
"Keep these eggs."
"If you accept it, it will be a source of hope for them as well."
A hope of breaking free from the cage.
Meng Yingying looked up at the three sisters, Meng Shuiqin, Meng Shuihua, and Meng Shuiping, who were all looking at her with curiosity and anticipation.
Those eyes all held a longing for the outside world.
Meng Yingying lowered her eyes. "I'll take the eggs." When she looked up, she had already made up her mind. "Find a way to learn to read. After you learn to read, go around the area. The brigade headquarters and the women's federation will be recruiting. In addition, the primary school in the village will also be recruiting."
"If you have the ability, go to Xiangxi City for a visit. There are many opportunities there. The premise is that you can read, so that you don't go out and not even recognize the place names."
"besides."
This was Meng Yingying's last piece of advice: "If you really want to get married, wait until you have the confidence to turn your back on someone before you do so."
Meng Yingying had no idea that her parting words would change the lives of Meng Shuiqin and the others.
After Meng Yingying left, Officer Xu asked her, "Was it useful?"
Meng Yingying shook her head, "I don't know either, but I still want to try."
"What if, what if they actually listen?"
"Sister Xu, this is an opportunity for them to change their fate."
*
Stationed at the base.
When Political Commissar Xiao received Zhou Jingsong's marriage application report, he was a little confused. "How come Old Zhou went back for a trip and already sent over this marriage application report?"
Political Commissar Xiao went to ask Xu Wenjun, but Xu Wenjun didn't know either. He shook his head and said, "You should ask Lao Qi. He went to see Lao Zhou before, and he knows Lao Zhou's situation best."
"But Lao Qi is in solitary confinement right now."
"What's the big deal?"
Xu Wenjun pulled the telegram over, "Just go ask through the door."
He looked frail, but his character was decisive. By the time he received the telegram and went to inquire about Qi Donghan, it was the fourth day of Qi Donghan's imprisonment.
In fact, he was no longer aware of the flow of time in the outside world.
"Old Qi."
Suddenly hearing someone calling him from outside, Qi Donghan came back to his senses. He hadn't been out for many days, his beard was unkempt, and he hadn't spoken a word, so his voice was hoarse.
"What's wrong?" he asked, each word uttered slowly and deliberately, his throat seemingly glued shut, making it difficult to speak.
Xu Wenjun understood. He paused, clutching the telegram, and asked with some concern, "Are you alright?"
Qi Donghan didn't want to speak, so he knocked on the door and made a sound.
Xu Wenjun knew that this meant everything was alright, so he breathed a sigh of relief and told them the purpose of his visit.
"Old Zhou sent a telegram. He submitted a marriage application, saying he wants to marry a comrade named Zhao Yueru. Are you aware of the situation?"
Qi Donghan sat behind the door. He opened his mouth, but didn't speak for a long time, so much so that his thin lips stuck together.
He tried pronouncing it, adjusted the syllables, and then said, "I know."
"When Lao Zhou had the accident and was undergoing surgery at the hospital, that woman waited for him the whole time."
In a single sentence, it becomes clear why Zhao Yueru treats Zhou Jingsong differently.
This made Xu Wenjun somewhat envious, "I didn't expect Lao Zhou to have such good fortune after going back."
"Since the woman is nice, I'll go back and tell Political Commissar Xiao to do a background check. If there are no problems, I'll approve their marriage application."
Qi Donghan paused for a moment, his voice hoarse, "That woman's identity is somewhat special."
"What's wrong?"
Xu Wenjun's heart skipped a beat. "She can't be a bad element, one of the 'Five Black Categories,' or a capitalist's daughter, can she?"
This is an identity that even they fear.
Qi Donghan hummed in agreement.
He was right after all. Xu Wenjun was dumbfounded. "That will be difficult."
“The station now has explicit regulations that prohibit any association with people of questionable backgrounds. You know that, Lao Liu was discharged because of this.”
Old Liu's family were capitalists. No matter how outstanding he was in the team, his family background was a problem that he couldn't avoid leaving.
Qi Donghan was silent for a moment. He looked ahead and stared at the tally marks written on the wall.
"So you need to tell Lao Xiao to contact Lao Zhou himself and see what the situation is now."
Xu Wenjun nodded with a slight headache, "Okay, I'll go ask now."
"etc."
Hearing him turn to leave, Qi Donghan suddenly stood up and asked, "Is she back?"
Xu Wenjun was about to leave when he suddenly heard this question. He paused for a moment before saying, "I don't think so."
"No background check can be done so quickly."
They were also in this line of work, so they naturally knew that if there were any setbacks along the way, it could delay things for ten days or half a month.
Qi Donghan hummed in agreement before closing his eyes to rest.
Xu Wenjun thought he would remind her again, but she didn't expect that he would wait for a long time without getting a result.
Xu Wenjun then left, after he returned and explained to Political Commissar Xiao the situation of Zhou Jingsong's other half.
Commissar Xiao frowned. "A capitalist's daughter?"
"This identity is a bit tricky."
She's not as good as Qi Changming's ex-girlfriend. Although she was the daughter of a butcher, she had a good family background and at least her identity was not a problem.
"Yes, but Lao Qi also said that when Lao Zhou was having surgery, his life was uncertain and his future was unclear, so he stayed with him, watched over him, and took care of him."
"So his suggestion was that we shouldn't jump to conclusions and should contact Lao Zhou first."
"Go ask the higher-ups for their opinion."
Commissar Xiao nodded and sent a telegram, leaving a phone number to explain the situation clearly.
It will never go out of style.
Zhou Jingsong then called back, "Political Commissar."
"Jingsong, I saw your marriage certificate, but I heard your wife is a capitalist's daughter?"
Political Commissar Xiao went straight to the point: "In this situation, I suggest you handle it with caution."
"I'll keep your marriage certificate for now."
Before the words "No approval yet" could even be uttered, Zhou Jingsong refused, saying, "Political Commissar, I'm already married."
"They got married yesterday, so it's too late to say anything now."
"I have to be responsible for my wife and the child in her womb."
Now, Political Commissar Xiao, who had prepared a whole host of arguments, was speechless. He even started to get angry.
"Do you know what will happen to you after you marry a capitalist's daughter?"
"Hasn't Battalion Commander Liu's lesson been enough?"
Zhou Jingsong paused for a moment, holding the microphone. Beside him was Zhao Yueru's worried gaze. His voice was steady as he said, "Political Commissar, she is the one I love."
"We're already married. After I married her, I willingly accepted all the decisions the station made regarding my situation."
Upon hearing this, Political Commissar Xiao's temper flared up. "Fine, fine, even if it means being expelled from the garrison, you'd be willing?"
That's too harsh.
After saying this, Political Commissar Xiao regretted it. Zhou Jingsong had already considered the consequences. He said, "I'm blind, so I really can't serve the team anymore."
"That's perfect timing since I'm being discharged from the military, so I can stay home with my wife and kids."
This is utterly unrepentant!
Political Commissar Xiao slammed his fist on the table, almost roaring, "Zhou Jingsong, are you willing to throw away your future for a woman?"
Zhou Jingsong remained silent.
Commissar Xiao was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. "Your 139th Regiment is really full of romantics. Qi Donghan would rather fight in public and be punished than repent for someone else's childhood betrothal.
"You're really something, willing to be fired from the team just to marry this capitalist's daughter."
"How about we stop calling your 139th Regiment 139 and start calling it the Romantic Regiment?"
It's so difficult to train a talent while stationed in a team.
The 139th Regiment is likely to lose three men.
Zhou Jingsong was somewhat surprised, but now was clearly not the time for him to ask Qi Donghan.
Because he was like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river, barely able to save himself.
"Political Commissar, I am willing to accept any punishment the garrison gives me, as long as I can stay in the garrison and protect my wife."
"Political Commissar, I, Zhou Jingsong, have been stationed in the team for seven years and have never asked anyone for help before. I'm begging you this time."
He didn't want to leave the team.
He didn't want Zhao Yueru to spend her whole life living with him in the countryside. Gossip here kills people; on their wedding day alone, Zhao Yueru was the subject of countless discussions in the village.
The best solution would be for him to take Zhao Yueru with him to join the army after his eyesight recovers.
Go and start a new life.
Hearing Zhou Jingsong say this, Political Commissar Xiao took a sip of water, forcing himself to calm down, and said, "Let me think about it."
"Would you be willing to trade your military assets for them?"
Zhou Jingsong answered without hesitation, "I'm willing."
After hanging up the phone.
Even the usually cheerful and emotional Zhao Yueru was filled with anxiety at this moment. "Zhou Jingsong, have I dragged you into this?"
The phone call was amplified, so it was difficult for her not to hear it even if she wanted to.
Zhou Jingsong shook his head, holding Zhao Yueru's hand. "Yueru, I can't see. Does that mean I'm dragging you down with me?"
Zhao Yueru shook her head, "How can that be the same? I can be your eyes."
"If you marry me, your career will probably be over."
"Won't."
Zhou Jingsong replied, "I am a combat hero in the stationed team, they will not fire me."
At most, he'll just be relegated to the sidelines after returning to his post.
He wasn't afraid of being sidelined; as long as he could return to his post, he would have a chance to make a contribution.
However, he couldn't say this to Zhao Yueru, for fear that she would overthink it.
Zhou Jingsong led Zhao Yueru along a path in Mengjiatun. The path was uneven, and Zhao Yueru would occasionally kick away stones for him.
Zhou Jingsong was not unaware of it.
He held her hand even tighter, saying, "Yueru, we will always be together."
*
The Qi family is constantly shrouded in gloom.
"So, did you go to the police station to ask? Is it possible to release your mother early if she admits her mistake?"
The one who asked this question was Qi Zhenguo, whose hair had turned white in just a few days.
"no."
Qi Changming's face was bitter. "Public Security Officer Qin said that we must have Meng Yingying's letter of understanding."
“Without a letter of forgiveness, my mother will be sentenced according to the typical law.”
The Qi family's house fell silent instantly.
"But Meng Yingying hasn't come back yet, and we can't find her at all."
"Could we go to western Hunan to find someone?"
Qi Changming asked tentatively.
Qi Zhenguo shook his head, "Meng Yingying went back to take care of some business. What if we go to find her but happen to miss her?"
"That would only waste time."
“Then we can only wait, wait for Meng Yingying to come back, and try to get the letter of forgiveness from her.” Qi Changcheng said this, “But Qi Changming and I can’t show up anymore.”
Upon hearing this, Qi Zhenguo looked over, and Qi Changcheng awkwardly touched his nose. "Qi Donghan threatened me, telling me not to go looking for Meng Yingying anymore."
"Otherwise, he would hit me again."
Little did he know that Qi Donghan was a man who, even as a regimental commander, would still resort to violence without hesitation, showing absolutely no respect for others.
Qi Changming didn't say anything, but that was about it.
"Dad, the only way is for you to go to Meng Yingying. You are an elder, and Meng Yingying should still have feelings for you. She shouldn't be so resistant to you. Besides, if you go to her, Qi Donghan won't be able to lay a hand on you."
The last one is the most important.
Qi Zhenguo remained silent.
What did your mom's workplace say?
When this topic came up, Qi Changming and Qi Changcheng both looked grim. "Their store manager said that if my mother doesn't come to work within a week, it will be considered absenteeism, and if this continues, they will apply to their superiors for her dismissal."
That was the fatal blow.
Their family was well-off; firstly, Qi Zhenguo worked at the Grain Bureau, and secondly, Chen Xiulan worked at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
These days, both members of their family work in the most lucrative jobs, which is why Chen Xiulan is so high and mighty.
If Chen Xiulan continues to be imprisoned and ends up being expelled, then everything will be over.
Qi Zhenguo closed his eyes, wishing he could slap each of his two sons again, otherwise he wouldn't be able to vent his anger.
"You've ruined our perfectly good in-law relationship."
"I really want to beat you all to death."
In the past few days, Qi Zhenguo has regretted countless times that he shouldn't have secretly gone to visit Baichuan.
If he were home, there would still be room for things to be salvaged, instead of the way they are now.
Faced with his father's furious scolding, Qi Changming lowered his head and after a long while said, "Dad, why don't you go and beg Meng Yingying?"
Now, he can only use the word "beg".
Because of the setbacks the Qi family has encountered almost everywhere these past few days, they have experienced the coldness and warmth of human relationships.
For their family to get Chen Xiulan out, they would need to obtain a letter of forgiveness from her.
Qi Zhenguo closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, there seemed to be even more silver hair at his temples. "Go."
"How could I not go?"
"Even if I have to kneel, I will beg Meng Yingying to come to me."
*
The Song family.
After spending six months in the desert, Song Fenfang returned to her home in Harbin. Breathing in the humid air, she felt somewhat dazed.
"Fenfang, how long are you staying this time?"
Grandma Song brought over a plate of ground cherries, which were washed clean and looked beautiful; just looking at them made one's mouth water.
Song Fenfang opened her eyes. Her thin face had distinct features. Wearing black-rimmed glasses, she looked more scholarly and less sharp.
"Just two hours."
"I'm coming back to see you and Dad. I'm leaving this afternoon."
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Song froze. She turned around and glanced at her husband, who had just gone out to play chess and wasn't home at the moment.
She pondered for a while.
Song Fenfang ate a ground cherry; the juicy ground cherry gave her a sense of satisfaction.
She is over forty years old, but because of her long-term dedication to scientific research, she has developed a strong scholarly air about her.
"Mom, what are you trying to say?"
Song Fenfang asked a question.
Grandma Song hesitated for a moment, "On the 13th of last month, Meng Baichuan sent a telegram."
She carefully observed the expression on her daughter's face before cautiously saying, "He said he is seriously ill and wants you to return home immediately."
As soon as she said that, the ground cherry in Song Fenfang's hand fell to the ground with a thud.
"What did you say??"
-----------------------
Author's Note: The red envelopes in Chapter 31 have been sent.
This chapter continues with 100 red envelopes! Hehehe, let's draw them!
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