The next day, Jian Dan didn't see Cheng Zhuo and Cheng Chao again, but knowing that Cheng Chao had come for important business, she wasn't in a hurry.
After Tang Sumei went to work, Cheng Rui and Cheng An became Jian Dan's little shadows, leading her around the family compound. At first, she was a little uncomfortable, as an adult running around with the kids. But she eventually gave up and figured that no one knew her, so it wouldn't be embarrassing for her.
As I walked, I left the residential compound and saw a woman heading straight towards me. My first thought was, "Someone's here to cause trouble."
The standard hairstyle of that era: two long braids hanging down in front of her chest, with an oval face, a delicate and pretty girl.
"Cheng Rui, who is this?"
Unconsciously, her hand stroked the two long braids on her chest, and her scrutinizing gaze naturally fell on Jian Dan, filled with curiosity, and perhaps a hint of envy or jealousy.
Even Jian Dan didn't quite understand, and was a little surprised that they had such complicated feelings for each other on their first meeting.
Cheng Rui flashed in front of Jian Dan, blocking her way, head held high and menacing.
"Chen Xiulian, what are you doing here again? We've already resolved all your family's issues and found you a job, and you still want to come and cause trouble for my dad?"
Simple nerves tensed instantly. What? Uncle's been scammed?
"No, Cheng Rui, you've misunderstood me. I just wanted to come and thank Commander Cheng."
It was as if Jian Dan had suddenly returned to a familiar environment. The tone of this little white flower was all too familiar. Cheng Rui, with his sharp tongue, was no match for her.
"Thank you? If I thank you again, my dad won't just be suspended from his job!"
I'm just baffled. Did my family dig up your ancestral graves? Why are you still harassing us like this?
Cheng An pursed his lips and remained silent, watching his brother perform quietly. He glanced at the growing crowd around him but did not stop him. He only exchanged a seemingly unintentional glance with Cheng Rui.
"You do the math yourself, how many times have you caused trouble in the past few years?"
Even a kid like me knows when to stop, don't you?
Or do they just want to squander all of Brother Chen's achievements over the past few years before they're satisfied?
Brother Chen joined the army, and your family came to make trouble. He only had that little salary, and you wouldn't let go of a single penny, insisting that he send it all back home. Brother Chen is filial, and he would rather go hungry himself than not agree to your demands.
He wanted to get married, but you all made a fuss, insisting that you'd already found him a wife back home. You tried everything to stop him, and in the end, you ruined the marriage. In the end, aren't you just afraid that if he finds a wife here, you won't get any money from him?
What kind of wife did you find for her? Brother Chen hasn't been home for years, how have you treated her? Do you want me to tell you? I'm so young, I'm afraid to say it would offend my eyes.
Brother Chen has been exploited by your family so much that he doesn't have a single penny in his pocket. He goes out and goes hungry all day. Even when he comes back in the middle of the night, he can only eat at the canteen. Have you ever felt sorry for him?
Before he could even say anything about his injury, he came running back, insisting that the military had wronged him, and the whole thing was going on and on.
Let me tell you, it's not my duty to find you a job. It was Brother Chen who earned it with his hard work and his own efforts. How dare you come here?
If we hadn't been home last time, that bucket of dirty water would have been thrown on my dad's head, right?
What's wrong? Can't you live anymore? You're so desperate, insisting on clinging to this unit and refusing to leave?
Cheng Rui was just a kid after all, and there must have been something he couldn't say, which made him blush. But he was also really angry, like a little hedgehog covered in thorns, hands on his hips, unleashing his fury without reservation.
Cheng An stood quietly to the side, but his gaze toward Chen Xiulian was also very cold.
More and more people gathered around, and they were all familiar with him. They nodded in agreement with what Cheng Rui said, pointing and whispering among themselves.
However, Cheng Rui was genuinely surprised that a ten-year-old could speak in such a logical way.
"You've dragged my dad down with you, and now you want more? If it weren't for my mom being so good, you would have ruined our family. What more do you want?"
The young boy was quite angry, his eyes were red, and the conversation swirled back to his own family, showing him to be a child who genuinely cares for his father.
Chen Xiulian, sitting opposite him, was clearly stunned because Cheng Rui hadn't given her a chance to speak from the moment they met. She quickly seized the opportunity to retort.
"No, no, Cheng Rui, you've really misunderstood me. I... I really came to thank Commander Cheng. As for what happened last time, I've already forgotten about it."
"Wait a minute,"
After all this time, Jian Dan has pieced together the story. It turns out that this time, not only did she exploit her own son to the death, but she also wanted to seduce her second uncle. However, Cheng Rui and his brother ruined the plan, but the second uncle was also implicated and suspended from his job.
"Wait a minute, don't be so vague, as if my family has done something wrong and needs your forgiveness."
This isn't something you can decide just by saying it. With so many people here, everyone has sharp eyes. Commander Cheng has been here for so many years; what kind of person is he? What kind of character? Even if we don't know him inside and out, everyone knows pretty much him, right?
Cheng An wanted to say something, but seeing that it was simple, he paused, then stopped and stood next to his brother.
Chen Xiulian stroked her braid and stammered.
"No, no, don't misunderstand. What happened last time really wasn't Commander Cheng's fault."
Simply rolling your eyes—isn't that just trying to mislead people into overthinking?
"Whether it's something else or not, whether it's strange or not, it's not something you can decide just by opening and closing your mouth."
I'm sure many of you know about what happened last time, so why don't we go talk to the leaders and get to the bottom of this?
I won't lie to you, the Brigade Commander Cheng you mentioned is my second uncle.
I can't speak for others, but my second uncle has a very clear-cut personality; he's either right or wrong, and he won't tolerate others making wild guesses behind his back.
If it really is his fault, let alone suspension, he would rather take off his job and go home to farm than engage in fraud and leave you here to smooth things over.
Let me tell you, he can't bear the shame.
Don't say you don't blame him or that you don't care. Oh, so you mean there's something else going on?
"Or, I'll call my second uncle over, and also call the military leaders. There are so many discerning people here; let's confront them together. If my second uncle really did something to you, it can't be left so unclear and ambiguous. He should make amends and apologize. We can't let you suffer like this, can we?"
As more and more people's eyes fell on her, Chen Xiulian was starting to feel overwhelmed. "Is a confrontation alright?"
The scene from last time is still fresh in my mind. I'm only saying this because some people here don't know the truth. I just didn't expect this kid to be so difficult to deal with today, and he even has an extra helper.
His face was pale and he was swaying precariously, his eyes darting around; it was obvious at a glance that he was up to no good.
No need to guess, the best of the thirty-six stratagems is to flee; this guy is about to faint.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
