Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Instinct Protection

As noon approached, more and more people from the fifteen family buildings came to attend the wedding banquet, and the two makeshift stoves started cooking at the same time.

All the preparations were ready, and the helpers all gathered around the stove to watch Wang Nian cook.

He is not tall, with slender arms, and the cooking spatula he uses seems to be longer than Wang Nian's arms.

Sizzle——

After putting the green onions and garlic into the pot and stir-frying them for a few times, Wang Nian turned around, picked up a pot full of chicken with one hand and poured it into the pot. After stir-frying it quickly a few times, he moved two steps to the right.

The big pot on the right was covered with a lid. When the lid was opened, mist instantly dispersed, revealing a pot full of braised fish bubbling with steam.

"It's time to put it on the plate and serve." Wang Nianchong instructed the aunties waiting beside him, then turned around and moved back to the left.

The aunties rushed over and quickly put the fish on a plate, sprinkled it with chopped green onions, and served it on the table.

"There are so many people coming today. Fortunately, we have prepared 26 tables."

Because three tables were temporarily added, the tables were placed next to each other on the floor, and the dishes could only be delivered through two specially reserved aisles.

"Chief Engineer Shi."

As soon as Shi Xiangming appeared in the distance, Tan Ming immediately put on a big smile and went to greet him.

Today's high-profile wedding banquet is really not his style. His daughter-in-law Li Yan would not agree to get married without a banquet. The wedding has been delayed for almost a year, and it is not a good idea to delay it any further.

Fortunately, God has a good heart and suddenly announced the end of the revolution this year. We no longer have to worry about being reported for our extravagant thoughts and styles, so today's wedding banquet was made possible.

"Look at my poor memory! Now I should call you Director Shi."

Tan Ming is not tall, and looks even thinner when standing next to Shi Xiangming, but he is a very eloquent person and is definitely not as simple as he looks.

"Congratulations, why don't I see the bride and groom?"

The two hands were clasped together, and a red envelope immediately appeared in Tan Ming's palm.

"It's enough for us to just come. Why should we bring gifts? Today, we are very grateful to Comrade Xiao Wang for cooking. We should thank you!" Tan Ming politely pushed the red envelope back.

Shi Xiangming withdrew his hand and smiled: "Let's put it this way. The red envelope is a blessing to the two newlyweds." As he said this, he looked up at the embankment, but did not see the newlyweds.

"The two children are upstairs greeting the guests, and your aunt and I are busy downstairs." Tan Ming's words were flawless, and after the greetings, he warmly welcomed the guests to the table.

His son was playing cards with his friends, and his daughter-in-law was probably still in the dormitory. Could Tan Ming say that... Obviously not.

"dad."

"dad."

Shi Shuwen and Shi Wan, who were catching ants in the woods, saw Shi Xiangming. Remembering Wang Nian's instructions, they immediately flew over when they saw the figure.

Shi Xiangming waved to Zhang Liye who was hesitating in the distance, "Liye, come here too."

Zhang Liye quickly dropped the branch and ran over under Liu Chaoxian's speechless gaze.

Tan Ming looked at the three children carefully, but couldn't recognize which of the boys was Shi Xiangming's son, so he asked a few more questions.

As the two chatted, guests arrived one after another.

"Xiang Ming, sit here!"

The key to a buffet is to start eating when all the tables are full and leave when the food is finished. When Shi Xiangming was leading the children to find seats, someone suddenly called him from the corner.

Besides Wang Nian, the only person who could call Xiang Ming affectionately was Luo Yongde.

"Factory Director?"

Luo Yongde and his family had already seen Shi Xiangming, and Fu Fang quickly pointed to the empty seat opposite: "Come and sit here."

Two adults came to the Luo family today, and Shi Xiangming also knew the person sitting on the bench on the left.

"Deputy Director Zhu."

After Shi Xiangming and the children sat down, there was still room for two people on the right bench.

When the other guests saw that the person sitting at this table was either the factory director or the deputy factory director, no one would come here for no reason. They would rather go to other tables and wait.

"Wang Nian is the chef today, I'm really looking forward to it!" Fu Fang broke the silence and started talking.

With Deputy Director Zhu around, she couldn't talk about personal topics, so she could only start with Wang Nian who was busy not far away.

"It's not like you haven't eaten it before, auntie." Shi Xiangming rolled up his sleeves for Shi Wan, and took out some toilet paper to wipe the snot hanging on Zhang Liye's lips.

"Auntie, do you still remember the first time I saw you four years ago? I went home and grumbled to Lao Luo, wondering if Comrade Shi Xiangming didn't eat..."

At that time, Shi Xiangming was as cold as a lump of ice, speaking only one or two words at a time, and looked aloof to everyone he met.

Who would have thought that he would be so gentle and patient at home.

Just by looking at the children who like to be around him, you can tell that he often takes care of his children. Unlike her grandchildren, who hide when they see Luo Yongde.

"I was ignorant at that time and offended many people." Shi Xiangming laughed.

I had just gotten divorced, and was punished and sent to support Factory 431. That period was one of the darkest moments in my life.

Speaking of offending people, Shi Xiangming couldn't help but look at Deputy Director Zhu who had been smiling but didn't interrupt.

Deputy Director Zhu, who was in charge of arranging work and life, should have felt this the most. He was often so angry at Shi Xiangming's silence that he could not keep a straight face.

"I haven't been offended." Deputy Director Zhu waved his hands repeatedly.

"That's Deputy Director Zhu's big belly." Shi Xiangming replied immediately.

"You have even learned how to flatter." Deputy Director Zhu smiled and patted Shi Xiangming on the shoulder. His next words were shocking: "It's a pity that I won't have the chance to see you again in the future!"

Deputy Factory Director Zhu is usually a low-key person and is easily overlooked in the leadership team.

If you don't move, it's fine; but if you move or make a sound, it's startling.

"The transfer order has been sent to the factory. I will return to Anhuai City next month. I don't know when I will see you again..."

Luo Yongde smiled, and his smile was somewhat meaningful: "Next time we meet, I will have to call you Director Zhu."

“…”

"Congratulations!" Seeing that Deputy Director Zhu did not respond to Luo Yongde's words, Shi Xiangming smiled and raised his teacup: "Then I wish Director Zhu a bright future and a long way to go."

"You're welcome." Deputy Director Zhu raised his glass and clinked it with Shi Xiangming's. "When you get back to Anhuai, remember to come and have a drink with me."

"Okay." Shi Xiangming smiled.

Deputy Director Zhu spoke a lot in high spirits. If someone hadn't called him away for work, Shi Xiangming's left sleeve would have been wet.

"snort!"

As soon as Deputy Factory Director Zhu left, Fu Fang slammed the table with a cold snort: "He's looking up at the sky before he even leaves. If he really becomes a big leader in the future, he's going to step on us!"

"Alright!" Luo Yongde said sternly, "If they have the ability to return to the city, that's their ability. We can't be jealous of them."

How could one be transferred back to the city from a third-tier factory without some connections at the top, let alone be promoted without any notice?

Being promoted to factory director was a good thing, but this person left the company too quickly!

Shi Xiangming was a technician and never got involved in power disputes in the factory, so he did not join in when Luo Yongde and his wife made sarcastic remarks.

There was a plate of crispy peanuts on the table. Shi Wan thought no one was watching, so she secretly took two handfuls and gave each to her two brothers.

It was finally my turn, but Shi Xiangming suddenly grabbed my hand and said, "Your mother said you have been coughing recently and you can't eat peanuts."

Shi Wan pouted and looked at her brother for help.

"Mom said you can't eat because you have a cough." He threw the remaining peanuts into his mouth and chewed them proudly in front of Shi Wan: "Children should listen to adults."

After entertaining the guests, Tan Ming saw that Shi Xiangming's table was not full yet, so he simply asked the bride and groom to sit over there as well.

Tan Huisong, reeking of cigarette smoke, sat on the stool on the left, and the person sitting next to him was not Li Yan but... Xie Hua.

"Xie Hua, come and sit here." The groom personally invited her over.

The bride's expression suddenly changed and her brows furrowed. After silently looking at Tan Huisong's back for a while, she finally sat down opposite the groom.

Zhang Liye noticed that there was a bride in red next to him, and he froze up and dared not move.

Fu Fang looked left and right, not knowing what to say.

The strange situation was not over yet. Seeing Zhou Shanxiu standing aside and not eating, Tan Huisong's mother enthusiastically pushed him to the table and sat him next to the bride.

“…”

Shi Xiangming had heard something from Wang Nian about the affair between Zhou Shanxiu and Xie Hua in the past.

At this moment, the two of them were sitting opposite each other. Not only was there an awkwardness that was visible to the naked eye, even Shi Xiangming felt a little embarrassed.

Fortunately...the food was served at the most embarrassing moment.

Shi Xiangming breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and after asking everyone to start eating, he lowered his head to pick up food for the children.

Zhang Liye and Shi Shuwen also sensed the strange atmosphere at the table, and ran towards Wang Nian as soon as they received their bowls.

Fu Fang didn't understand what was going on, but she felt that Li Yan was not very happy, so she hurriedly greeted everyone with a smile.

"Eat your food, and look at how well the fish is cooked."

A whole carp is fried until it has a crispy crust, and the thick brown sauce is dotted with red and green chili shreds. It not only looks good, but also smells delicious.

Li Yan's expression eased a little after she saw the dish. She stretched out her chopsticks, picked up some fish meat and tasted it slowly.

The spicy and slightly sweet sauce unexpectedly blends with the crispy and soft fish skin, and you can actually taste the sweetness of the fish meat, followed by the delicate texture of the fish meat.

Frying the fish skin until crispy without losing moisture in the fish meat is a real test of the chef's skills.

Li Yan was very satisfied and was busy trying the braised pork with preserved vegetables which was served at all banquets.

The people of Wenxi Township like to add chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns when seasoning their pork with preserved vegetables, and in order to make the meat look bulkier, they steam it for a shorter time.

For Li Yan, who doesn't really like spicy food, it was a little hard to swallow.

So I specifically asked Wang Nian if the braised pork could be made non-spicy.

After all, it was her wedding, so of course she could choose whatever she wanted for the wedding banquet dishes.

The skin is soft and the meat is glutinous. The braised pork melts easily with your teeth, and the aftertaste on the tip of your tongue is surprisingly sweet.

"Lao Luo, the braised pork is delicious."

The first time I ate it, I was surprised by the taste. The sweet taste went well with the braised pork. The aroma of the preserved vegetables had permeated the meat and I could finish it in one bite.

"Another dish is here." Fu Fang smiled.

The person who brought the dishes was Wang Nian. After putting the last dish of soup and shredded potatoes on the table, he sat down himself.

"Steamed spareribs, a hometown dish specially ordered by Comrade Li."

Wang Nian didn't notice Xie Hua sitting next to the groom. After sitting down, she started talking to Li Yan with a smile, and then she held the squirming Shi Wan on her lap.

Li Yan couldn't wait to pick up the ribs and taste them. Wang Nian looked to the left and found that the groom was sitting opposite her.

They sat opposite each other without saying anything, and were enjoying their meal, occasionally clinking glasses with the people who were blocked next to them, just like drinking in a restaurant...

Wang Nian tilted his head and glanced at Shi Xiangming.

Shi Xiangming raised his eyebrows slightly. Wang Nian, not knowing what he was thinking, slightly tilted his body to look towards Tan Huisong.

“…”

Then she did almost the same thing as Shi Xiangming just now, and immediately turned to look at Zhou Shanxiu.

These two people... actually met at Factory 431!

"Wang Nian, if you have the chance, please teach me how to make steamed spare ribs so that the children at home can try it." Fu Fang liked the steamed spare ribs the best, and there were already several pieces of bones piled in front of her.

Xie Hua looked to the right suddenly, his expression was not panic, but even a little surprised.

"Wang Nian?" he called.

Wang Nian took in all the expressions of the people at the table; some were confused, some were surprised, and some had distorted facial features that Zhou Shanxiu had to blink to recover from.

"Xie Zhiqing." Wang Nian just smiled and nodded with a sense of distance but not too strange: "It's really a coincidence today. Not only did I meet Xie Zhiqing, but even Comrade Zhou is here."

Several eyes turned to Zhou Shanxiu again.

There was nothing else to say. The meal was halfway through and Zhou Shanxiu and Xie Hua seemed to be strangers to each other. They didn't say a word the entire time.

Maybe I'm not familiar with it...

Just as Fu Fang was thinking this, Wang Nian continued with a smile, "Xie Zhiqing is a rare intellectual in the Red Flag Brigade. Many people in the team come to him to learn cultural knowledge. Comrade Zhou is one of them, right?"

“…”

"I remember that comrade Miao Meili from the production team next door seemed to be one of them..."

Wang Nian listed several names while picking food for Shi Wan, and finally concluded: "I am really happy to meet you again at Factory 431."

"Comrade Wang, thank you for the award. This is what I should do." Xie Hua smiled reluctantly, and the joy in his eyes that he had when they first met just now was no longer there.

The people Wang Nian mentioned were not just random people, but each of them has some connection with Xie Hua in some way.

Others may not know, but Xie Hua knows it very well.

Zhou Shanxiu only knew Miao Meili, but when Wang Nian mentioned the names of the girls from other brigades, he reacted immediately.

His gaze turned and he stared at Xie Hua with a pair of murderous eyes, which was very gloomy and terrifying, making people shudder.

Wang Nian achieved his goal and continued to eat with satisfaction.

Don't you know what kind of person Xie Hua is? When he gave me that malicious look just now, I knew he had no good intentions.

He wants to use the same old trick again... Wang Nian won't give him any chance.

Those words were both a warning to Xie Hua and made Zhou Shanxiu more cautious.

Xie Hua obviously understood what Wang Nian meant, and he never mentioned the previous brigade again. Instead, he laughed it off when Tan Huisong asked curiously.

After finally finishing their meal in peace, Shi Xiangming had to rush back to the factory to work, and Wang Nian also prepared to take the children home.

Don't worry about the next job of collecting the laundry. As for the salary of the chef, Wang Nian thinks Li Yan should not be thinking about anything else now.

Before all the guests had left, Li Yan started arguing with Tan Huisong.

The two quarreled from upstairs to downstairs, and all the old accounts from their adulthood were brought up one by one, from the groom ignoring the bride at the wedding banquet to various old accounts.

The guests who didn't leave...now they don't want to leave even more.

"Wang Nian."

Xu Fen was also among the lively crowd. When Wang Nian was leading the children back, she happened to look back for someone.

"Teacher Xu."

"Don't call me Teacher Xu. I am at home taking care of the kids just like you."

Xu Fen put Cui Jiao down, and Shi Wan immediately excitedly broke away from Wang Nian's hand, and the two little girls started talking affectionately.

Unable to be separated from the child for a while, Wang Nian could only continue chatting with Xu Fen.

"Principal Cui is not here?"

"Lao Cui has work, so my sister and I came here together." After saying that, Xu Fen turned around and continued to look for Xu Jie.

When Wang Nian heard the name, his heart skipped a beat and he quickly turned around to look for someone.

Even if Xu Fen didn't believe her sister had a mental illness, she should have been aware of it. She actually brought someone here as a guest. Wang Nian didn't know what she was thinking...

"Xu Jie." Xu Fen suddenly shouted, the blood drained from her face in an instant, and she ran forward.

Wang Nian's movements were no slower than hers. In order to speed up, he even stepped directly onto the table and jumped over the flowerbed.

Behind the flowerbed is a ping-pong table and horizontal bar.

Shi Shuwen lay on the table, struggling helplessly. He wanted to make a sound but couldn't make a single sound because a big hand was pinching his neck.

Xu Jie held a stone in his other hand and laughed strangely. Even though his arm had just been bitten hard by Zhang Liye, it did not loosen at all.

"Auntie Wang." Zhang Liye immediately opened his mouth and burst into tears.

A figure suddenly fell from the sky, and after landing heavily on the ground, his abdomen suddenly felt a needle-like pain. Wang Nian didn't care about anything else and ran over desperately.

Xu Jie suddenly went crazy and was stronger than any man, so Wang Nian failed to move him at first try.

"Xu Jie, your daughter is there!" Wang Nian suddenly pointed toward the woods and shouted.

As expected, Xu Jie's expression changed instantly. He looked up in confusion and even turned to look behind him.

It was during this opportunity that Wang Nian grabbed the hand that was holding Shi Shuwen down and bit it hard. Xu Jie felt the pain and instantly let go of her hand.

Wang Nian took advantage of the situation and pushed Xu Jie back, and hurriedly checked on Shi Shuwen's condition.

There was a red mark on the neck, but fortunately the crying was loud and there was no sign of suffocation or vocal cord damage.

"Mom!" Shi Shuwen rushed over with tears in her eyes, her body shaking like a sieve, and she held Wang Nian's waist tightly without letting go.

"You lied to me!"

Suddenly, a sharp curse sounded from behind. Xu Jie's expression was completely distorted, and he was shouting something incomprehensible.

"Liye, run quickly." Wang Nian didn't care about the two children and quickly pushed Zhang Liye.

Zhang Liye ran towards the crowd, crying and shouting "Mom".

In fact, many people have noticed the flower bed at this moment, and Luo Yongde has already taken the lead and ran over here.

But it's too late...

There was no way Wang Nian, holding an eight-year-old child, could outrun the already crazy Xu Jie.

Xu Jie quickly caught up with Wang Nian, grabbed her braid and pulled it back with force, and with his other hand he picked up a stone and smashed it hard on Shi Shuwen's head.

Everyone could see clearly that the person she wanted to harm was Shi Shuwen.

At this moment, Wang Nian endured the severe pain from his scalp and raised his arm to block the attack.

Taking advantage of the loosened grip of the stone, he pulled out his hair with one hand, gritted his teeth, and kicked Xu Jie in the stomach with all his might.

The burning pain in the arm was bearable, but the severe pain in the abdomen made Wang Nian's face turn pale and big beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

But she did not stop at this moment. She retracted her feet and immediately ran towards the oncoming crowd.

"Wang Nian."

Liu Chaoxian ran in the front dragging the broom, waving it desperately to block the people chasing him, and also gave the people who came later a chance to control Xu Jie who had gone completely crazy.

Wang Nian finally had the chance to bend over and breathe loudly.

"What happened to you?" Fu Fang hurriedly supported Wang Nian, and then she realized that her face was pale and bloodless. She looked at the bright red blood on her sleeve and shouted in panic: "Lao Luo, Wang Nian is injured, hurry up and send her to the hospital."

Wang Nian felt dizzy and covered his stomach with his bleeding hand, while the other hand was still holding Shi Shuwen.

My head became more and more dizzy and my stomach hurt more and more.

Until everything went dark before my eyes and I knew nothing.

***

Factory health hospital.

The door of the emergency room was pushed open, and Zhou Yuying took off her plastic gloves and pulled down her mask.

"How is Wang Nian?"

When Shi Xiangming stood up, his front legs went limp and he almost fell to his knees in front of Zhou Yuying.

Zhou Yuying actually laughed, patted Shi Xiangming on the shoulder and joked: "Finally, I see another side of Comrade Shi again."

"What happened to Wang Nian?" Liu Chaoxian was so worried that he wanted to grab Zhou Yuying by the collar, and asked hurriedly in anger and anxiety.

"There's a cut on my arm from a rock, but the wound isn't deep and doesn't need stitches." Zhou Yuying spoke slowly, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately added, "But..."

“…”

"She's pregnant."

His brain seemed to have not yet reacted. Shi Xiangming just watched Zhou Yuying's mouth open and close. He stood there in a daze. After a moment, he pulled the corners of his mouth and murmured, "Pregnant."

"Thanks to Wang Nian's good health, if other women had jumped and bumped like this in the first three months of pregnancy, they would have lost the baby long ago." Zhou Yuying laughed.

"Is the baby okay?" Liu Chaoxian recalled the scene of Wang Nian holding her stomach just now and asked anxiously.

"The child is fine, Wang Nian is fine too. She will stay in the hospital for observation tonight. If there are no problems, she can go home tomorrow."

"Where is Shuwen's child?"

Shi Xiangming had not yet recovered from his mixed emotions until he heard Liu Chaoxian's question. Then his mind suddenly came to his senses and he quickly looked over.

"The child is fine, just go back and drink more water."

His wife and children were fine. Shi Xiangming let out a deep breath and finally pulled himself together and asked Zhou Yuying some more questions.

Soon, Wang Nian, who was receiving an IV drip, was pushed out and was awake.

"Where's Shuwen?" When Wang Nian saw Zhou Yuying, the first thing he cared about was the child: "Is his throat okay?"

"You, the stepmother, care about your son more than his biological father." Zhou Yuying smiled and pointed at the three children standing at the door: "Aren't the children you tried so hard to protect here?"

Although the mark on the neck had turned a little purple, the child looked fine as he stood there with tears in his eyes.

"Mom." Shi Wan was frightened by the sight of Wang Nian getting an injection. She rushed to the bedside crying, "Where does it hurt? I'll give you a soothing blow."

"It doesn't hurt at all after the injection." Wang Nian smiled and touched Shi Wan's braid with his intact left hand: "Your clothes are all dirty. Let your dad take you home to change later."

"You were crying and looking for your mother just now, why are you silent when you see people now?" Zhou Yuying smiled and pushed Shi Shuwen.

"Mom." Shi Shuwen called out clearly in a hoarse voice, and his tears could no longer be controlled and burst out.

All fear and terror disappeared at this moment.

Shi Shuwen rushed to the bed, grabbed Wang Nian's arm tightly, and cried heartbreakingly.

"I was scared to death just now." Zhang Liye covered his chest with fear and recalled the scene with his mother: "Shuwen and I were waiting for Aunt Wang Nian to come home on the roadside, and that man suddenly rushed over and said he wanted to avenge his daughter."

He heard clearly that Xu Jie kept shouting that he wanted to avenge his daughter.

Shi Xiangming listened quietly, but when he looked back at the end of the corridor, his eyes suddenly turned cold. Xu Jie was being controlled in the room at the end.

"Let's send Mom back to the ward to rest first."

The moment he withdrew his gaze, there was only unmelted warmth in his eyes as he looked at Wang Nian tenderly.

It's his turn to step forward next...