Fang Qiao had a very comfortable New Year. She gained at least five or six pounds, and a layer of soft flesh had accumulated around her waist.
If I had to point out something wrong with it, it would be that An'an's birthday is not a year old.
In my hometown, children are aged using the traditional Chinese age system, where a child is considered one year old at birth and two years old after the Lunar New Year.
So An'an was only a 20-day-old baby, but after the New Year, she became a 'two-year-old child'.
Fang Qiao was left somewhat amused and exasperated.
However, for Jiang Moli, this year was the most nerve-wracking year she had ever experienced since she was born.
Cheng Yajun not only set fire to her kitchen and burned her hair, but also burned a large area of her face. However, because it was almost Chinese New Year, the village chief of Chengzhuang Village tried to smooth things over, and in the end, not only was she not locked up, but the marriage was also not canceled. When she asked for compensation, she was only paid twenty yuan and the matter was settled hastily.
Jiang Moli was terrified whenever she thought of the harsh words he had said before he was arrested that day. She was worried every day that Cheng Yajun would come to her door again to force her to marry him.
Fortunately, Cheng Yajun didn't cause any trouble before New Year's Eve.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, there was a temple fair at Wolong Lake in the neighboring town. Jiang Moli's boyfriend, a cadre, asked someone to pass on a message to her, inviting her to go to the temple fair together.
Jiang Moli was eager to make a move, but worried that Cheng Yajun would cause trouble for her. After hesitating for a whole morning, her desire to climb the social ladder ultimately overwhelmed her fear of Cheng Yajun.
After all, this young cadre comes from a really good family, and more importantly, he's good-looking. If you miss this opportunity, it will be hard to find someone with such good qualities on a blind date again.
In the afternoon, a well-dressed young cadre, wearing a brand-new gray woolen overcoat, rode his bicycle to Daxuzhuang to pick up the person. He swaggered through the streets, and many people saw him.
As they were heading to the temple fair, Wang Yun happened to be returning from having lunch there, and they bumped into each other on the way.
When she got back, she told Fang Qiao, "She's still so high-profile even though the engagement wasn't called off. She's really brave. Just wait, if Cheng Yajun finds out, he definitely won't let it go."
Fang Qiao was speechless.
Seeing that Cheng Yajun has already gone so crazy, yet still dares to dance on the edge of a knife, isn't he afraid of setting himself on fire?
"It can only be said that high skill and great courage are the best qualities."
"That's right, her house was burned down, and she still dared to go out with other men. She's really bold." Wang Yun also admired Jiang Moli's courage.
"Alright, let's not talk about her anymore." Fang Qiao asked, "Xiao Yun, I have a question for you. Did you run into Auntie's daughter, Xiao Jing, at the temple fair today?"
"No, I didn't see her." Wang Yun shook his head. "Isn't Xiao Jing usually very shy? Why did she go to the temple fair today?"
“My third aunt told me,” Fang Qiao explained. “She said Xiao Jing might have a boyfriend. Last night, she secretly gave away the gray scarf she had been knitting for half a month. This morning, she went to the temple fair with Xiao Qiang. But Xiao Qiang came back by himself at noon, and she didn’t. Xiao Qiang also said that they separated as soon as they arrived at the temple fair and he didn’t know where his sister went. My third aunt knows you went to the temple fair and asked me to ask you about it. Think about it carefully.”
Wang Yun thought about it carefully for a long time, but still shook her head: "I haven't seen her, but Xiao Jing is an adult. She just went out to play with someone for a morning. It's okay. Auntie, you don't need to worry too much."
Fang Qiao sighed and said, "It's no wonder Auntie is worried. Whether a relationship is suitable or not, it should be open and honest. Not only are you secretly dating, but you're also keeping it from your family. What kind of behavior is that? Who knows if that guy is good or bad? What if something happens? Your family will be worried to death."
She comforted Fang Qiao, "There are a lot of people at the temple fair, nothing should happen."
"I hope so."
Fortunately, Xiaojing returned safely that evening.
Auntie San was visiting Fang Qiao's house when Xiao Jing came looking for her.
As soon as she entered the house, her sharp-eyed aunt spotted her immediately. She picked up a broom from the corner and was about to hit Xiaojing with it when she ran out to play without saying a word, and didn't come home all day! How did I give birth to such a disobedient brat like you!
The old lady quickly reached out to stop her: "Oh dear, third son, calm down. Don't hit the child during the New Year. The neighbors will laugh if they hear!"
These words somehow touched a nerve with Auntie, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears: "The child I raised with so much effort keeps everything from me. He even got a boyfriend and didn't tell me, his mother. I've already failed so badly, so why should I care if people laugh at me!"
"Mom..." Xiao Jing called out timidly.
"You still know I'm your mother? Do you know why you never tell me anything?" Auntie's voice suddenly rose, instantly scaring Xiaojing back down.
Fang Qiao reached out and patted Xiao Jing's back, comforting her, "Xiao Jing, don't be afraid of your mother. She didn't mean to be angry. She's just too worried about you. She's your mother. She's been a widow all these years and has worked so hard to raise you and your brother. She doesn't know how much she's suffered, but all she wanted was for you to have a good life."
She changed the subject, saying, "Your mother is just worried and confused, but she's judging others by her own standards. Xiaojing, didn't you also do something wrong today? Shouldn't you have told her in advance if you weren't coming home for a day? Otherwise, your mother would have been waiting for you at home until dark, and she would have been very worried."
Xiao Jing lowered her head in shame after Fang Qiao's words, and her third aunt was also somewhat moved.
Fang Qiao put her arm around Xiao Jing's shoulder and pushed her next to her third aunt: "Mother and daughter don't hold grudges overnight. Go back and have a good talk with your mother. Once you've cleared things up, everything will be fine."
Xiao Jing turned to look at her mother, who was wiping away tears with her head down. After a moment of silence, she nodded and said, "Okay."
The mother and daughter have initially reconciled.
Xiao Jing's situation turned out alright, but Jiang Moli wasn't so lucky.
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