Chapter 34 I Want to See Her (Part 3)...
Chapter 34
Once you start talking, it doesn't seem so difficult anymore.
Grandma Song repeated, "Meng Baichuan is seriously ill and wants you to return home immediately."
Song Fenfang ignored the groundcherries that had fallen to the ground and stood up abruptly. She murmured, "I know Meng Baichuan's personality. He wouldn't send me a telegram unless it was absolutely necessary."
Then, without waiting for her mother's reply, Song Fenfang turned and ran to the calendar hanging on the wall, studying it carefully. "Today is May 9th, almost a month has passed since his telegram."
She turned around abruptly to look at her mother, "Mom, why are you only telling me now?"
Song's mother hesitated for a moment, unable to explain herself.
Seeing this, what else could Song Fenfang not understand?
It's likely that her father is behind this again.
Song Fenfang was somewhat angry. She picked up her bag and made to leave, but was stopped by her father, who had been playing chess and had returned home in joy upon hearing that his daughter was back.
Seeing that her daughter was about to leave.
Mr. Song, with a cold face, blocked her way, saying, "I told her not to tell you."
“Fenfang, you have a bright future ahead of you. You’ve already severed ties with that past marriage. Why would I tell you this and drag you back into that quagmire?”
Back then, in order to get her to give up that marriage, Song's father almost threatened suicide.
Two lives for one life.
Song Fenfang then left Meng Baichuan.
This situation arose because Song's father and mother schemed and risked their lives, leading to what we see today.
The daughter climbed her way up the social ladder, becoming the pride of the entire Song family.
Song Fenfang was stopped. She took a deep breath, her eyes slightly red, and her whole body trembled. "So, this is why you once again made a decision for me without my consent?"
Mr. Song remained silent, and the situation remained tense.
“Dad!” Song Fenfang raised her voice, her usually calm face now showing ripples and fluctuations. “When I was twenty, I was standing in the mud, powerless to resist. But now I’m forty, and I have the power to resist the mud.”
She stood there, her slender spine straight, her eyes and brows serene and indifferent. She spoke slowly and deliberately, as if informing the other person.
"Now I'm going back to find Meng Baichuan."
"I won't allow it!" Old Master Song slammed his cane on the ground, making a loud thud. "You and Xiao Lu have finally made some progress. Are you really going to give it all up again for Meng Baichuan?"
Song Fenfang stood there, looking at her father, the father she had once been powerless to resist.
Now, the other person's hair is completely white, and they look very weathered.
However, he still wanted to control himself, just like before.
"I'm informing you, not discussing it with you."
Song Fenfang stood there, her back straight, confronting her once tall and all-powerful father.
“I told you, I have no relationship with Lu Zhiyuan. It’s just that you’re trying to tie me to him.”
"in addition."
Song Fenfang said coldly, "I'm not going back to find Meng Baichuan, I'm also going to bring back my daughter Meng Yingying."
After saying this, she turned and left, creating a gust of wind.
Just like her as a person.
Old Master Song couldn't hold onto her twenty years ago, and he still can't hold onto her twenty years later.
Grandpa Song tried to chase after her, but with his cane, he couldn't catch up at all. In the end, he stood there, filled with impotent rage, and roared loudly outside, "Song Fenfang, you come back here!"
"I forbid you from going to pick up Meng Yingying."
"Now that you've brought Meng Yingying back, are you going to tell everyone that you eloped with a stranger when you were eighteen, had an affair in the countryside, and gave birth to an illegitimate child?"
Upon hearing this, Song Fenfang, who had already reached the door, suddenly stopped in her tracks, her entire body trembling violently.
Seemingly after a great struggle, she turned back again, wearing rubber-soled boots.
A clattering sound came from the somewhat aged wooden floor.
It was as if anger had been building up, but then finally subsided into calm.
Song Fenfang walked up to her father again. She looked up at him, and her once calm eyes were now filled with turmoil, like a deep well with its lid opened, unfathomable.
"In your eyes, my leaving Meng Baichuan back then, returning to Mengjiatun to get married and have a daughter, was an elopement, an unlawful affair?"
Song Fenfang never understood why her biological father could say such hurtful things.
Old Master Song was being roasted over a fire; he couldn't lower his head, much less bow it to his daughter. "Yes," he said.
He stiffened his neck and said, "Isn't that right?"
"You betrayed our whole family, abandoned your studies, and eloped with Meng Baichuan. It's a 1,300-mile journey from Harbin to western Hunan. Isn't that eloping?"
"Living with him in the countryside without her parents' consent and having a child, isn't that an unlawful act of adultery?"
look.
These are the closest people; they will always know where the other person's wounds are.
So, they took the sharpest thorn and stabbed it in.
Song Fenfang's body trembled slightly, her eyes were slightly red, and her voice was cold, "Fine, fine, so this is how you see my past marriage."
"No wonder, no wonder I haven't received a single letter from Meng Baichuan in the past twenty years."
"I never heard back from the letters I sent out."
"You said that after I came back, we would be a family. Is that all a lie?"
Song's father remained silent.
Song Fenfang seemed to have given up on getting a result. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "Then I'll tell you formally now."
"Meng Baichuan and I did not have an affair without a matchmaker. We got our marriage certificate and held a wedding banquet. We had relatives and friends to congratulate us, heaven and earth as our witnesses, and our elders to support us. After our marriage, we had Meng Yingying. She is a legal, compliant, and reasonable child."
"Besides, both Meng Baichuan and I love her, and that's enough."
“If Father says such things again, then we shall sever our father-daughter relationship.”
After saying this, she didn't seem to expect a reply from Mr. Song.
Song Fenfang turned and left without saying a word.
Seeing her trembling, resolute figure.
Grandma Song got angry and raised her hand to hit Grandpa Song, "You old fool, are you trying to drive Fenfang to her death?"
"It was true then, and it is true now."
Grandpa Song also regretted it, realizing he shouldn't have used such sharp words to hurt his daughter. But seeing Song Fenfang's resolute figure as she went to find Meng Baichuan...
He suddenly became angry, "Let her go."
"Her reputation was ruined twenty years ago; if she wants it ruined again this time, then she can ruin it once more!"
Grandma Song chased after Song Fenfang, but Song Fenfang was walking too fast and she couldn't catch up. She turned around and collapsed weakly on the sofa, then started fighting with Grandpa Song.
"If you hadn't insisted on bringing Fenfang back back then, how could she have been all alone for twenty years?"
“You intercepted all the letters she sent back to Meng Baichuan.”
"If it weren't for you, my daughter would not have had such a hard life for the past twenty years."
At this point, tears streamed down Old Mrs. Song's face. "I know you look down on Meng Baichuan, thinking he's a cripple and a pig butcher from the countryside, but your daughter likes him."
"Back then, he was still in the hands of bandits. He saved your daughter, and your daughter fell in love with him. He may not be well-off, but my Song family is well-off."
“My Song family can afford to raise Meng Baichuan, and we can also afford to raise Yingying.”
"It's you, it's all your fault. If it weren't for you, I would have already experienced the joys of family life."
"Instead of things being like they are now, where families don't feel like families, people don't feel like people, fathers and daughters don't feel like fathers and daughters, and mothers and daughters don't feel like mothers and daughters."
Old Master Song's face was covered in blood from being grabbed, but he didn't resist. He just looked at her coldly and said, "If you want to experience the joys of family life, aren't the three children in the eldest son's family enough?"
"Not enough," said Old Mrs. Song angrily.
"All I want is a fragrant child."
"I only want Yingying!"
Song Fenfang went downstairs, and could still faintly hear the arguing upstairs. She leaned against the corner of the wall, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.
The fine lines at the corners of her eyes looked even deeper, but the tears kept falling, one by one.
Du Xiaojuan, who was waiting for her in the car, noticed that she hadn't come over, so she quietly got out of the car and walked over, only to find that Professor Song was actually shedding tears.
Du Xiaojuan stared in surprise, knowing that Professor Song was an iron lady in the desert.
She had been by Professor Song's side for so many years, and had only ever seen her bleed, never shed a tear.
Du Xiaojuan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Professor Song, are you alright?"
Song Fenfang didn't speak. With outsiders present, she casually wiped away her tears and lowered her head to smoke.
She smoked it quickly and forcefully, as if she wanted to eat the cigarette whole.
She finished the cigarette in just a few puffs.
She didn't answer, which made Du Xiaojuan even more worried, so she changed the subject, "Director Guo said that we have to be back in the desert before 8 p.m., and it's already 10 p.m. If we don't leave now, it will be too late."
After finishing her cigarette, Song Fenfang calmed down. Her desolate shadow was reflected on the wall, making her appear even more lonely. "I'm not going."
"ah?"
Du Xiaojuan was somewhat surprised. She said cautiously, "But Director Guo said that you must be back before 8 p.m. There is still an experiment to be done, and you need to collect data."
Fenfang threw away her cigarette, stubbed it out, and then got into the car and sat in the driver's seat in the back. "Go send a telegram to Director Guo. I'm asking for a week's leave."
Du Xiaojuan hesitated slightly, "Professor Song, as you know, Director Guo will definitely not approve my leave request."
"It's okay if it's not approved."
Song Fenfang rubbed her eyes and looked at the lush green poplar trees outside the window. She said calmly, "I don't intend to get his approval, I'm just informing him."
She was going to find her daughter.
This was the only message she had received from Meng Baichuan in nearly twenty years; she was going to find Meng Baichuan.
She also wanted to find her daughter—Meng Yingying.
*
Meng Yingying and Officer Xu boarded the train. After three days of train travel, they arrived at Harbin Railway Station, and she felt like her legs were about to give way.
She stepped off the platform and said to Officer Xu, "It's really not easy, you're finally back."
Officer Xu grunted in response, his voice weary, "Exactly seven and a half days."
The journey took six days, with a one-and-a-half-day stop in Mengjiatun.
"Let's wait a bit before we leave; there are too many people at the exit right now."
"Wait until there are fewer people, so it won't be too crowded."
Meng Yingying naturally agreed. She was also exhausted and stood with her back against the corner of the wall, just in time to look at the ticket gate.
A woman around forty years old came over. She had short hair, wore a stand-up collar shirt, and had delicate features. She was very elegant.
He looks like an intellectual.
To be honest, it was quite a surprise for Meng Yingying to see such a scholarly woman in this day and age.
"Du Xiaojuan, hurry up and keep up."
Song Fenfang was in a hurry to get on the train, and as soon as they arrived at the train station, she urged Du Xiaojuan to hurry up.
However, when he turned around, he saw Meng Yingying standing in the corner.
Their eyes met.
They both saw amazement in each other's eyes, but it was fleeting.
The ticket inspector was urging Song Fenfang to have her ticket checked, while Officer Xu was urging Meng Yingying to leave quickly while no one was around.
After a brief exchange of glances, the two passed each other by.
One exits the station, and the other enters.
The two parted ways and went their separate ways.
They broke up.
Meng Yingying's heart was still pounding. She looked back once, then once more.
She only came to her senses after Song Fenfang's figure disappeared into the crowd.
"What's wrong?"
Officer Xu noticed that she seemed distracted.
Meng Yingying clutched her pounding chest, feeling somewhat distressed, and said, "I don't know."
"It's like missing out on something very important."
Officer Xu glanced around and saw that everyone passing by was hurrying along. She thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps you've been too tired these past few days and are hallucinating."
Meng Yingying guessed the same thing. She rubbed her temples, a moment of vulnerability showing on her fair face. "I'll probably be fine after I go back and rest."
Officer Xu nodded in agreement, and the two hurried on their way.
When Meng Yingying returned to the garrison, she was still somewhat dazed. Looking at the garrison's main gate, she suddenly had a strange feeling.
It's as if she was born to be a member of the team.
She felt more at ease with the team than with Mengjiatun.
"Yingying!?"
With a hint of probing in his tone.
Actually, Qi Zhenguo wasn't sure either, but he was with Officer Xu at this time, and both of them were women. He couldn't think of anyone else besides Meng Yingying.
He only shouted it tentatively.
Meng Yingying frowned and turned around to look. She saw that the other person was a middle-aged man she didn't recognize.
"Yingying?"
Qi Zhenguo called out again tentatively.
He had a buzz cut, graying temples, and a face shape almost identical to Qi Changcheng's.
Now, based on his appearance, age, and the tone of his voice, Meng Yingying was able to figure out who he was.
Meng Yingying paused for a moment, took a deep breath to calm herself down, and said, "Comrade Qi."
To describe it lightly.
Without a trace of emotion.
Qi Zhenguo sensed the distance in her tone. He had originally intended to take two more steps forward, but suddenly felt as if his feet weighed a ton.
"Yingying?"
He called out again.
Officer Xu noticed something, and she stepped in front of Meng Ying, asking Qi Zhenguo, "Who are you?"
She spoke like a protective mother hen, "I don't remember our Yingying having any relatives in Harbin?"
Qi Zhenguo's face showed some bitterness as he said this, "I'm not Yingying's relative, I am—"
How should he introduce himself?
It is said that he was Meng Yingying's godfather. At that time, Meng Baichuan was still alive and Meng Yingying had not yet been born. They had become sworn brothers and each other's children became godfathers.
They had also arranged a marriage before the child was born, making a beautiful promise.
Even before Meng Baichuan died, he granted Meng Baichuan's request to treat Meng Yingying well.
They treated her like their own daughter.
But when it really came to this point, Qi Zhenguo found that he didn't even have the tone to speak, nor the courage to introduce himself.
Seeing him like this, Meng Yingying took the initiative to speak to Officer Xu, "He is Qi Xiaoer's father."
As soon as she heard this, Officer Xu immediately understood, and she immediately started cursing, "Are you a member of the Qi family?"
"You're still the elder, do you want to make things difficult for Yingying like Qi Changming did?"
Qi Zhenguo was speechless. He stuffed the money he had prepared into Meng Yingying's hand and said, "I'm sorry, Yingying."
"Our whole family has wronged you."
After saying this, Qi Zhenguo turned to leave.
Meng Yingying was still a little confused as she held the money bag. "Comrade Qi."
She didn't even call him "uncle," so it's unclear whether she had any good feelings towards the Qi family.
Qi Zhenguo also understood, and his heart grew even more bitter. "Yingying."
The footsteps finally came to a stop.
Meng Yingying weighed the bag in her hand; it didn't feel light. "What does Comrade Qi need this money for?"
She asked.
Qi Zhenguo's hair had turned completely white from worry these past few days, and his face had become even more wrinkled and aged. He didn't even dare to look Meng Yingying in the eye.
"I just feel guilty because my family did something to wrong you, and I want to make it up to you."
“Yingying, this money and these notes are a small token of Uncle Qi’s appreciation. I was originally planning to give you all these savings after you marry into the family, so you and Xiao Er can live a good life together.”
"I never expected Xiao Er to do such a thing, nor did I expect that you two would break off your engagement."
"Here's 1,600 yuan in cash, plus 100 jin of national grain coupons." He paused for a moment, then added, "Yingying, your uncle hopes you'll accept it."
“I promised your father that I would treat you as my own daughter, but I have broken my promise. I’m sorry.”
Qi Zhenguo bowed to Meng Yingying, bending his waist so low that it was almost level with his knees.
From Meng Yingying's angle, she could see his full head of white hair and deep wrinkles. Meng Yingying turned her face away. "Is it just to give me money?"
The tone was complex.
"Don't you want anything else?"
Meng Yingying asked him.
They all knew perfectly well what Meng Yingying meant by her question. Before Qi Zhenguo arrived, he had been holding onto this money and waiting outside the garrison from morning till night, all in hopes of catching a glimpse of Meng Yingying.
He took the money as compensation, hoping to get Meng Yingying to write a letter of forgiveness for Chen Xiulan.
But when that moment actually came...
Qi Zhenguo looked at Meng Yingying and Meng Baichuan, whose features were vaguely similar, and then fell silent. "No, that's all."
He completely overturned his plans.
"Take this money and live your own life from now on."
"I'm afraid your uncle will have to break his promise to take care of you, as he promised your father."
With such a thing happening to the Qi family, he dared not hope that Meng Yingying would forgive him. He could only hope to make amends in some way.
In the days to come, Meng Yingying, who has lost her father, will have an easier time.
This was one of the few things he could do for Meng Yingying.
Meng Yingying gripped the bag tightly, her knuckles turning white. She was the type of person who responded better to gentle persuasion than force.
Despite the way the Qi family treated her, she never showed the slightest leniency. Otherwise, she wouldn't have personally plotted to report them, resulting in Chen Xiulan ending up in prison.
However, Meng Yingying was the only one who couldn't stand others being nice to her.
She cherishes even the smallest kindness from others as if it were gold.
Zhao Yue is like that.
Qi Zhenguo was also one of them.
What were you doing in Mengjiatun back then?
In front of the two of them, Meng Yingying asked again.
Qi Zhenguo paused for a moment before saying, "Knowing that your father has passed away, I wanted to see him off on his final journey so that I could bring you back to Harbin."
It is the most difficult time for an orphan girl in the countryside.
He thought that since he was Meng Yingying's future father-in-law, no matter how much the people of Mengjiatun bullied him, they would still remember his name.
Since he's a grown man, Meng Yingying will be less bullied if he goes.
However, due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, the two missed each other, which led to the subsequent series of events. Even now, Qi Zhenguo still thinks, what if he hadn't insisted on his own way and had secretly gone to see Meng Baichuan off on his final journey?
Don't leave home.
If Meng Yingying came to Harbin, would the outcome be different?
Unfortunately, there's no going back in this world; things have already escalated to this point.
Why didn't you ask me for a letter of understanding?
She assumed the other party had come to ask for a letter of forgiveness.
Qi Zhenguo's shoulders slumped. "I did plan to come here, but when I saw you," he said, his gaze fixed on Meng Yingying. "You look so much like Baichuan, that resemblance is too striking. I can't bring myself to ask for it."
"I have to admit that the Qi family let you down, Xiao Er bullied you, and I broke my promise and failed to take good care of you."
“Yingying, whether you believe it or not, what I promised your father was true, and I truly do treat you as my own daughter.”
However, things didn't go as planned.
Meng Yingying was not surprised to hear this answer; she was just confirming it. After confirming it, she closed her eyes briefly and then opened them again.
A hint of determination appeared in her eyes. "So, do you still want it now?"
What do you want?
Of course, it's a letter of understanding.
Qi Zhenguo waved his hand, "Now that things have come to this point, there's a saying that's true: everyone has to pay the price for their own actions."
"Xiulan's personality went astray, and she was arrested. This is the price she paid. I failed to control her, and I lost my wife. This is the price I paid."
"Therefore, I have no face to ask you for a letter of forgiveness."
These were his heartfelt words: "Yingying, this is our farewell. Take care of yourself from now on."
They both knew perfectly well that this money and these tickets represented the last remaining bond between them.
Meng Yingying pursed her lips and suddenly asked, "Did you bring paper and pen?"
"What?"
Qi Zhenguo was somewhat taken aback.
"Did you bring paper and pen?" Meng Yingying asked impatiently, her beautiful eyes now cold. "I'm just doing this for money. I'll give you the letter of understanding."
From now on, Meng Yingying and the Qi family will have no connection.
Qi Zhenguo's body trembled. "Yingying?"
Meng Yingying pursed her lips, her face was pale, and her tone was the same, "Give me paper and pen."
Qi Zhenguo did as instructed, and Meng Yingying took paper and pen and wrote a letter of understanding on the luggage.
Qi Zhenguo looked down at her as she wrote. His eyes stung, and he turned away to wipe his tears. After wiping them away, he saw Meng Yingying's beautiful handwriting, which was already nearing its end.
Meng Yingying signed her name at the end, "The letter of understanding is here, this is the end."
"Don't come looking for me again."
Qi Zhenguo held the letter of understanding, but instead of finding it informative, it felt like it was burning his hand.
Meng Yingying gave him the letter of understanding and turned to leave.
Qi Zhenguo called out to her, "Yingying."
"Thanks."
Meng Yingying paused, then left without looking back, on her way back to the performing arts troupe.
Suddenly, Officer Xu asked, "Didn't you always refuse to issue a letter of understanding? Why are you willing this time?"
Meng Yingying held up the bag in her hand. It was an inconspicuous little cloth bag, but Meng Yingying knew that it represented decades of hard work from an ordinary family.
For families in the countryside, they might not be able to save up this much money in their entire lives.
"Didn't he show his sincerity?"
Meng Yingying said calmly, "Cash on delivery."
Officer Xu stared at her for a long time. It was midday, and the sunlight shone on her fair face, making her look radiant.
Only those eyes dared not meet his gaze.
Only the mole at the corner of her eye remained, growing ever more vibrant.
"Yingying, you can lie to me, but don't lie to yourself too."
Meng Yingying's smile vanished instantly, and the small cloth bag she was holding slowly fell to the ground. "Sister Xu."
"I just think he's a good person."
That's all.
Qi Zhenguo was able to travel thousands of miles to see his father one last time, yet he could also imagine that he, an orphan girl, would be bullied in the countryside.
So he thought he would go and pick her up, and also to support her.
That's all.
Meng Yingying thought, "Then I'll give it to you."
Officer Xu raised his hand and tapped her hand, "You said Zhao Yueru had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, I think you are too."
"If someone does you a little kindness, you'll try your best to repay them."
Meng Yingying squinted under the sun. "It's so annoying. The Qi family is always looking for me. It's good to get this over with. I won't have anything to do with them anymore."
In fact, if we look at the actual results...
She actually benefited from the deal.
After breaking off her engagement with Qi Xiaoer, she exchanged 800 yuan for a spot in a performing arts troupe assessment, 1,600 yuan in cash, and 100 jin of national grain coupons.
All I can say is that breaking off the engagement was definitely worth it.
"That's what you think," said Officer Xu.
"Let's go. I'll take you to see Commander Fang. We'll officially complete your onboarding process today, and you'll be able to collect your salary on this day next month."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yingying's eyes lit up, and she instantly forgot about the Qi family's affairs.
When they returned, Commander Fang seemed quite pleased. "Did you get everything done?"
"It's done, and it went quite smoothly."
“This is Yingying’s background check, this is her household registration certificate, and this is her food ration certificate.”
"Now that everything is ready, let's go to Section Chief Qian in the Organization Department and get her onboarding processed in one go."
Xu, the clerk, didn't go along for this.
After all, when it comes to the onboarding process, she, as a section-level officer, doesn't have as much influence as Regiment Commander Fang. If she went, the other party might make things difficult for her.
But if Commander Fang goes, it might be done in less than half an hour.
That's exactly right. Commander Fang personally went to the Organization Department, and Section Chief Qian directly instructed Zhang Wenshu to process Meng Yingying's onboarding.
It only took about ten minutes.
Meng Yingying took out a small notebook.
"Here is your identification. You are a Level 13 Cultural Troupe Officer. Work hard from now on and strive for a promotion as soon as possible."
These were just polite words from Section Chief Qian.
Meng Yingying nodded, holding the notebook with some excitement. She glanced at Commander Fang and Section Chief Qian, then bowed to them.
"I will certainly live up to the leader's high expectations."
With this certificate, her job security is now completely secured!
Seeing her rosy cheeks and bright eyes, Commander Fang remarked to Section Chief Qian, "She's still just a child."
"Thank you for your help today, Section Chief Qian. If you need any help next time, I will definitely do my best."
This is a complete loss of face.
Section Chief Qian waved his hand with a smile.
Commander Fang led Meng Yingying out, "Alright, you've been running around for so long on the way back, go to the dormitory and rest first. After you've rested today, come to the dance studio tomorrow morning, refocus your mind and put all your energy into dancing."
Meng Yingying hummed in agreement, "I know, teacher."
"If I can recover by the afternoon, I'll go to the practice room tonight."
With her attitude, you couldn't find another one like her in the entire performing arts troupe.
After saying goodbye to Commander Fang, Meng Yingying dragged her luggage back to the dormitory. When she arrived, it was noon, and Ye Yingtao and Lin Qiu were both in the dormitory.
The two were figuring out a new hairstyle, and they were eager to create a fancy braid.
When Lin Qiu saw Meng Yingying, she was the first to cry out. Unable to move while sitting, she pointed at Meng Yingying and yelled, "Ahhhhh!"
Ye Yingtao slapped her on the head, "You're tying your hair up, what are you doing moving around? You'll ruin your braids again."
"Yingying, Yingying, Yingying is back!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Yingtao stopped combing her hair and looked up.
All that could be seen was Meng Yingying standing at the door, wearing a loose Dacron shirt tied around her waist, with her slender, fair ankles showing through her trousers.
Just standing there quietly, it exudes a vibrant, clean, and beautiful aura.
Ye Yingtao was in a daze for a moment, "Yingying, you're back."
Meng Yingying nodded and was about to come in with her luggage when Lin Qiu, without even bothering to tie her hair, jumped up from her chair and snatched the luggage from Meng Yingying's hands. "Yingying, how can you hold luggage like that?"
"Give it to me, give it to me. From now on, I'll handle all the heavy work."
Her attitude left Meng Yingying somewhat speechless, both amused and exasperated.
"It's not as serious as you make it out to be. Carrying something is definitely no problem."
"no."
Lin Qiu, with her hair half-tied up, declared confidently, "These hands of yours are for dancing, for defeating Shen Qiuya, Yingying."
"Let me tell you, from now on, you'll be responsible for fetching water and carrying things."
Meng Yingying was surprised. She sat down on the edge of her bed to rest and massage her legs. She asked curiously, "Who is Shen Qiuyue?"
Lin Qiu wanted to say something more, but Ye Yingtao pulled her back and explained, "She's from the Jilin Provincial Cultural Troupe, next door to us, but let's not talk about her."
She noticed a small booklet in Meng Yingying's hand and asked, "Have you gotten your employment certificate?"
Meng Yingying nodded, handed over her documents for them to look at, and went to put her luggage away. "Just got them, fresh off the press."
Ye Yingtao took it and looked at it. When she saw that it was a Level 13 officer, she couldn't help but say enviously, "Wow, you're amazing. You're a Level 13 officer right after you joined, and you get a monthly allowance of 42 yuan."
"Back when Lin Qiu and I came here, we were only level seven cadres, receiving a stipend of thirteen yuan."
Meng Yingying put down her luggage and looked back with some confusion.
Ye Yingtao explained, "When we joined the cultural troupe, we were only seven or eight years old. We were so young then that a monthly stipend of thirteen yuan was already a very high salary."
"Yingying, I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me if I tell you this."
Ye Yingtao said very seriously, "It's because of this monthly salary of thirteen yuan that I don't have to be sold to someone else's family as a child bride."
If she hadn't been selected as a promising talent for the performing arts troupe, she would probably be living in the countryside now, a mother of three or five children.
No, perhaps she is no longer here.
Having a child is such a difficult path; if she lived in the countryside, she would have had no choice.
She was forced to keep giving birth, but if she was unlucky enough to suffer a massive hemorrhage one time, then perhaps she would finally be free.
After listening, Meng Yingying remained silent for a moment, then stopped packing her luggage and simply walked up to Ye Yingtao and gave her a gentle hug.
The moment she was hugged, Ye Yingtao felt as if she had been healed. She smiled and said, "It's all in the past now, and things are fine now."
“I have a job and a salary. Even if my parents want to marry me off to anyone, they can’t make that decision for me. I can only make my own choice.”
Therefore, she has to desperately choose a partner with good conditions; a partner with poor conditions simply doesn't catch her eye.
She struggled out of the countryside and learned the requirements of rural men when it came to finding a wife.
Meng Yingying thought for a moment, "It's very good now."
"With a job and income, all you have to do is climb the ladder."
Lin Qiu felt this deeply, "That's right, if I could ever reach the position of Commander Fang, that would be real success."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Yingtao smacked him on the head. "Dream on! There are so many female soldiers in the cultural troupe, and they keep changing every year. In the end, how many of them can reach the level of Commander Fang?"
"Given our current situation, it's best to marry a man with good prospects while we're still young, so that after we're discharged from the army, we won't be able to marry a man from the countryside."
This has always been Ye Yingtao's view, but Lin Qiu does not agree.
Meng Yingying was similar; she smiled and went back to pack her things, subtly reminding everyone, "But marriage is not a safe haven."
Ye Yingtao: "I know."
"But getting married is the best outcome I can choose from among the few possible results."
Meng Yingying didn't want to argue with Ye Yingtao about this topic anymore, so after packing all her luggage, she prepared to massage her legs.
The next second, Ye Yingtao suddenly asked, "Do you know Commander Qi?"
Meng Yingying had just rolled up her trouser leg and was massaging her calf. The journey took seven days, with six of those days spent on the road. Even special forces soldiers would find it unbearable, let alone a woman like her.
What's wrong with him?
Upon suddenly hearing the name Commander Qi, Meng Yingying was still somewhat taken aback.
"He's been put in solitary confinement."
As Ye Yingtao spoke, she carefully observed Meng Yingying's expression, trying to discern something from it.
Meng Yingying paused in her leg massage, and her trouser leg fell down, covering her dazzlingly white skin.
This made Lin Qiu, who had been staring wide-eyed at the comparison, reluctantly withdraw her leg.
When was he put in solitary confinement?
Unfortunately, Meng Yingying, whose mind was filled with Commander Qi, didn't notice Lin Qiu's little actions at all.
Ye Yingtao hesitated for a moment, and Meng Yingying sat up straight and asked, "Was it the night of the fight?"
Seeing that she had guessed, Ye Yingtao nodded, "Yes, didn't we separate from him back then? He secretly went to see the Qi family again, and you know what happened next. He was taken away as soon as he returned to the garrison."
"At first, Kaitian could keep it a secret, but later, when Commander Qi disappeared for a long time, rumors started to spread, saying that he—"
Meng Yingying got up and stood at the head of the bed, her hands gripping the iron bars so tightly her knuckles turned white. "What did he say about him?"
He was definitely nervous.
Ye Yingtao took in all her emotions before finishing her sentence, "He said he's going to be dismissed."
“His public fight has been witnessed by many people, which has affected the image of our station, especially since he is at an important stage in his promotion from deputy commander to commander.”
She didn't need to finish her sentence; Meng Yingying could almost guess what she was going to say.
She stood there for a long time without saying a word, but her face was excessively pale. After a while...
She then asked, "Do you know where Commander Qi is being held in solitary confinement?"
Ye Yingtao shook her head and then nodded.
Meng Yingying didn't understand what this meant.
"I know roughly where it is, but we can't get in."
“Yingying, the rules for stationing people in the team are very strict. People like us from the cultural troupe can hardly go to the places where they punish people. Similarly, it is very difficult for them to come to our cultural troupe.”
Although they were stationed in the same team, most of the time everyone was just sticking to the old ways.
Meng Yingying paced back and forth, trying to think of a solution.
"Do you really want to see Commander Qi?"
Ye Yingtao asked her.
Meng Yingying suddenly looked up, her big eyes filled with hope and light, "You have a way?"
"have."
Ye Yingtao was also weighing the pros and cons of this matter. She could tell that Commander Qi liked Meng Yingying. What if Meng Yingying really got together with Commander Qi?
So her future as a roommate, friend, and matchmaker is definitely bright.
This investment is worthwhile!
After thinking it through, Ye Yingtao said, "I'll help you."
"I know that Commander Qi's roommate is named Xu Wenjun, who is also their instructor."
At this point, Ye Yingtao seemed a little uncomfortable. She fidgeted for a moment, "Xu Wenjun seemed to have a crush on me back then, but I was focused on chasing Qi Changming and didn't pay much attention to him, so, as you know—"
She didn't need to say anything more; Meng Yingying and the others understood.
"You mean you're looking for Xu Wenjun?"
Lin Qiu was shocked. "Didn't you say that he used to be interested in you, but you rejected him?"
After Ye Yingtao's embarrassment subsided, she said confidently, "Yes, but I've already broken up with Qi Changming, so it seems like it wouldn't be a problem for me to go back and talk to Xu Wenjun again."
"After all, gay men are a resource in our hands, and we should make good use of them."
Lin Qiu couldn't help but ask, "What will you do if Xu Wenjun starts pursuing you?"
Ye Yingtao rolled her eyes. "Go ahead and pursue me, I haven't agreed to it anyway."
Even Meng Yingying admired Ye Yingtao's attitude. She asked curiously, "Don't you feel embarrassed?"
After all, emotions are involved.
She was using him to get things done, and she was also pursuing him, but he wouldn't agree, and they still saw each other all the time.
Ye Yingtao shrugged, "As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's others who are embarrassed."
"I'm just asking you, do you want to meet Commander Qi?"
Meng Yingying nodded subconsciously, "Yes."
She had a pair of very beautiful eyes, big, clear black and white, with upturned corners and a small mole on her eyelid, making her look innocent and pretty.
Even so, Ye Yingtao was momentarily stunned. She thought to herself, with Meng Yingying's captivating appearance, it's no wonder that the clueless Commander Qi would like her.
It can be said that as long as Meng Yingying doesn't do anything reckless and doesn't marry for love, she will be fine.
Ye Yingtao could almost foresee Meng Yingying's future; at the very least, she would become a general's wife!
When Meng Yingying noticed that she was staring at her, she touched her face and waved her hand in front of her. "What's wrong?"
“Yingying, remember this.”
"If you become successful in the future, don't forget that I helped you."
This is Ye Yingtao; she is extremely pragmatic and always puts her goals out in the open.
She wouldn't help people for nothing.
In fact, Meng Yingying did not dislike Ye Yingtao; in fact, she felt a sense of reassurance towards her.
Because Ye Yingtao is someone who puts everything out in the open, even her interests.
She won't turn against someone as long as there's profit to be made.
Therefore, Meng Yingying readily agreed, "Of course."
With these words, Ye Yingtao felt relieved. "Come on, I'll take you to find Commander Qi."
*
Solitary confinement.
"Today is the last day, Lao Qi. You need to write your self-criticism, otherwise it will be difficult for you to write it even if you think of it today."
It was Political Commissar Xiao who came to persuade them.
Qi Donghan leaned against the wall without speaking. The white wall reflected his tired features, his eyes were bloodshot, and his beard was unshaven.
However, those eyes grew increasingly dark and fixed, with an extremely strong penetrating power.
Inside, Qi Donghan was counting numbers. This was his seventh day in detention, and he seemed not to hear what Political Commissar Xiao had said.
Commissar Xiao was not surprised by this outcome. He changed the subject, "Let me tell you, Comrade Meng Yingying has already returned from out of town. If you keep her locked up, do you think a place like the garrison can tolerate Meng Yingying and prevent someone else from picking this delicate flower?"
He finally understood.
The reason why Qi Donghan was willing to go against his principles to snatch Meng Yingying from his subordinate Qi Changming.
While in solitary confinement at Qidong Pass, Political Commissar Xiao pondered the matter but couldn't understand it.
People like Qi Donghan know the rules, understand the rules, value principles, and understand principles.
Why would someone knowingly commit such a crime?
There is only one possibility for this situation.
That is, Meng Yingying is a beauty, and a beauty that is exactly what Qi Donghan desires.
Only under such circumstances would Qi Donghan knowingly commit such a crime.
Sure enough, as soon as Political Commissar Xiao finished speaking, Qi Donghan, who had been quiet all along, asked, "When did she come back?"
"This morning."
Qi Donghan pursed his lips and remained silent.
Meng Yingying is a sheep, but the team is full of wolves.
He was still the same wolf in sheep's clothing. The moment he saw Meng Yingying, even knowing that she was Qi Changming's childhood sweetheart, he still wanted to possess her.
"You really won't write it?"
"If someone sees Comrade Meng Yingying and then goes after her, I won't care."
Qi Donghan remained silent.
Commissar Xiao scratched his head, he didn't understand, wasn't Meng Yingying Qi Donghan's nemesis?
But why hasn't the other party responded after he's brought it up so many times?
Just when Political Commissar Xiao thought he wouldn't speak.
Qi Donghan spoke up, his voice hoarse, "I want to see her."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Commander Qi: I miss my wife when I don't see her!
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