Chapter 190: “i’ll Be Your Vanguard”
The Qiu Family couldn’t wait to take advantage, so that same day they brought a few eggs and a basket of wild greens to the Dongfeng Brigade.
On the way there, they were full of excitement, only to not even enter the Lin Family’s door.
Guessing the Qiu Family’s intentions, Song Xiwei naturally wouldn’t let them see her granddaughters.
She stood at the door, her narrow and sharp black eyes scanning each Qiu Family member one by one, her aura oppressive.
“My family’s second son and your family’s daughter have already divorced and are no longer a legally protected husband and wife. Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng are the Lin Family’s children. If you want to see the sisters, we have no reason to stop you, but…”
She paused slightly, her gaze becoming even sharper.
“If you want to use them to scheme for benefits, you’ve thought too much!”
Qiu Old Woman was actually a few years older than Song Xiwei, but just looking at the surface, whether in appearance or temperament, she seemed a full ten years older.
She didn’t like Song Xiwei this in-law, hadn’t liked her before, and didn’t now; she always felt inferior.
But.
Qiu Old Woman didn’t dare to be presumptuous anymore, forcing a smile, “In-law…”
Before she could finish, Song Xiwei ruthlessly interrupted.
“Wrong address.”
Qiu Old Woman choked, her face darkening slightly, then piling on the smile again, “Shisheng’s mother, we agree with what you just said. We came today… just to see Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng. It’s been a while since we saw them, and we don’t know if the two kids have grown taller. We brought some eggs for the two children.”
She shook the basket in her hand.
Hearing this, Song Xiwei gave Da Dan a look.
“Da Dan, take it.”
It was a gift from the sisters’ maternal family; why not take it? By rights, the Qiu Family should pay alimony.
Da Dan stepped forward a few paces and took the basket. Noticing Qiu Old Woman gripping it tightly, as if reluctant to let go, he used more force and smoothly took it, entering the home.
Song Xiwei’s expression was cold, “We’ve accepted the things. They’ll all go into Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng’s stomachs. Our Lin Family isn’t so greedy as to keep the children’s things.”
“The two children are staying at their aunt’s place, not at home. You probably won’t see them today. If you want to see them, come back in half a month.”
With that, she entered the home and told Da Dan to close the door.
Bang.
The gate shut, followed by a click—the sound of the door bolt dropping.
Qiu Family members: “…”
If they’re not letting us see them, fine, but give the eggs back.
The family exchanged glances.
Qiu Old Man’s face burned with embarrassment; feeling disgraced, he turned and stormed off in anger.
“Hey!” Qiu Old Woman called after him, wanting to say to think of another way, but the old man walked off quickly.
Qiu Lian’s younger brother stared at the closed Lin Family gate, his face falling, and followed his biological father.
His wife didn’t dare make a sound, glanced at Qiu Old Woman, afraid her mother-in-law would vent on her, and trotted off to chase her husband.
In just a few seconds, only Qiu Old Woman remained on the spot.
Her old face fell, and the malicious plans in her mind vanished instantly. Just her alone here—what could she accomplish? Not even enough for Song Meihua to beat with one hand.
Fuming, she stomped her foot and left in a huff.
Noticing the hated people had left, Da Dan opened the door. After confirming they’d gone, he didn’t close it again and called to Lin Heling and Song Xiwei in the yard: “Grandpa, Grandma, they’re gone.”
“Go do your work; no need to mind them,” Song Xiwei said.
She was too lazy to judge the Qiu Family’s character and didn’t want to deal with them.
Lin Heling’s voice was gentle and slow, carrying a calm steadiness, “They must have heard about the second son joining the transportation team.”
Song Xiwei knew too, “They’re divorced. No matter what achievements the second son achieves in the future, it has nothing to do with the Qiu Family. If they don’t come to the door… I’ll just pretend the Qiu Family doesn’t exist. If they dare come disturb the second son’s good life, they’ll have to ask if my fist agrees.”
Before, with the connection through her son and the Qiu Family, Shisheng said nothing, so she couldn’t interfere much. Without the in-law relationship, why would she indulge that family anymore!?
Lin Heling hadn’t seen this side of his wife in a long time and looked over with some novelty.
His warm eyes were full of tenderness.
Xiwei was always as she was in his deepest memories—bright, passionate, like the most brilliantly blooming rose in the wilderness. He couldn’t see the wrinkles age had added to her; he only remembered the first time he saw her, wielding a frayed black whip, heroic and valiant, charging straight into his heart at first sight.
“Why would you need to do it yourself? With four sons at home, aren’t they enough for you to boss around?” Lin Heling smiled, “If not, there’s still me. You give the orders, and I’ll be your vanguard.”
After his health improved, he no longer needed to stay in bed every few days like before. Full of energy, his relationship with his wife had also improved; this was winning at life.
Hearing her husband’s words, Song Xiwei shot him a coquettish glare, not pursuing the topic.
“…In any case, the Qiu Family shouldn’t think of clinging to the second son.”
Lin Heling smiled, “The second son isn’t a fool; he won’t fall into the same pit twice.”
“Not a fool, yet he married that kind of wife,” Song Xiwei muttered.
Her mutter wasn’t quiet; every word reached Lin Heling’s ears.
Helplessness flashed in his eyes as he said, “It was timing and fate. I admit the second son had bad luck, but if you say he’s foolish, I refuse to accept it.”
“I’m not arguing with you,” Song Xiwei said with a full smile, “Anyway, in your heart, your sons and daughters are all smart; not one is a fool.”
Lin Heling’s brows and eyes brimmed with affirming smiles, “Of course. Neither of us is stupid; how could our children be?”
“…”
News of the Qiu Family’s visit soon reached Lin Zhao’s ears.
She perked up, sitting straight, “They came to make trouble?”
Da Dan shook his head, “Nah, my grandma sent them packing.”
“Hahaha, well done,” Lin Zhao’s smile was radiant, “The Qiu Family must regret it badly now, huh?”
Da Dan nodded vigorously like pounding garlic, sitting next to his aunt, grabbing a handful of peanuts and munching happily, saying freely: “Regret it? How could they not!”
“What? Aunt, you ask why? What else—can’t take advantage of my second uncle anymore. My second uncle’s a worker now, in the transportation team.”
“What’s the transportation team? A top unit that city folks break their heads to join, with a bright future ahead.”
“Originally, such a fine young man was the Qiu Family’s son-in-law—such face for them. But my second uncle divorced the Qiu Family! Divorce means strangers. How could the Qiu Family not regret it? Their guts must be green with regret.”
Da Dan’s words were all fragmented, spoken at machine-gun speed, rattling off without giving anyone a chance to respond, spilling it all out at once.
Lin Zhao was curious, “The Qiu Family gave up that easily?!”
“Of course not.” Da Dan’s sun-darkened face turned serious, then he grinned again, “My grandma’s awesome!”
“Aunt, you know, when my grandma puts on a stern face, she’s formidable. The Qiu Family was already afraid of her before, and after that person divorced my second uncle, they had even less confidence. My grandma finished talking to them and had me close the door. I peeked through the crack; the Qiu Family didn’t linger and left right away.”
“Right, my grandma sent me here specifically about the Qiu Family matter.” Da Dan looked at Lin Zhao seriously, “Aunt, my grandma says the Qiu Family is full of bad intentions. They’ve got their eyes on Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng. Be careful not to let them bully the two girls.”
“Of course,” Lin Zhao said.
Sending Da Dan specially to remind her was underestimating her.
She lifted her chin slightly, “The two of them are safer here with me than at home. If the Qiu Family dares come to the door, I’ll respect them as heroes.”
Da Dan’s eyes lit up slightly, “Aunt, what did you do?”
“Hm?” Lin Zhao looked over in surprise, “Your second uncle didn’t tell you?”
“No, no, he said nothing.” Da Dan scooted his stool closer to his aunt, “Aunt, what did you guys do? Tell me.”
“Nothing much, just flipped the Qiu Family’s roof off,” Lin Zhao said casually.
“!”
Da Dan’s mouth gaped open into a big O, “The, the roof flipped? How many of you did it?”
Lin Zhao reached out to close his mouth for him, “Two.”
“…You and my second uncle?” Da Dan was still shocked.
Just two people flipped the Qiu Family’s roof? So fierce.
“Aunt, you and my second uncle are amazing,” he said admiringly.
Lin Zhao: “The Qiu Family being at fault is part of it, but also because I’m formidable. Even if the whole family gangs up, they can’t beat me, so of course they have to take the beating obediently.”
She didn’t feel the slightest bit excessive about dealing with the Qiu Family.
Da Dan’s eyes shone with awe.
As expected of his aunt—so cool, so cool.
After delivering the message, Da Dan left with a full bag of love from his aunt. He had been brought to the Fengshou Brigade by a friend of Lin Shisheng’s on the way and was taken back by the same person.
Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng learned of it—the Qiu Family wanting to curry favor with them. The two sisters showed no reaction and comforted their aunt not to worry; they’d stay home and go nowhere, and wouldn’t be fooled by the Qiu Family.
The Qiu Family didn’t like them, and they weren’t close to that side either.
Lin Zhao reassured the two girls a few words, then at the children’s room window, she tapped the window with her knuckles.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, I need to mail letters tomorrow. Have you two finished writing yours?”
“All done.” Yu Bao pulled open the drawer, took out neatly stacked letters, and handed them out the open window, a shy smile on his face, “I don’t know many characters yet, so I used pinyin.”
“Using pinyin is great too. You’re still little; once you’re in school, you’ll know all the characters,” Lin Zhao soothed warmly.
Yu Bao nodded solemnly and earnestly.
Heng Bao also handed out his letter, “Mine’s done too.”
Lin Zhao stacked the two letters neatly, “Mail them out tomorrow.”
“Mommy, Daddy, when will they get the letters?” Yu Bao’s bright black eyes were full of doubt.
Lin Zhao shook her head, “Not sure.”
Travel is slow, and letters take a long time in transit; ordinary mail takes quite a while to arrive.
Yu Bao said dispiritedly, “Okay.”
“Mommy, has Daddy gotten to the troops?” Heng Bao bit on the pencil lead, looking up at Lin Zhao.
“Probably by now,” Lin Zhao calculated the time, figuring it was about right.
“Oh.” Heng Bao seemed to ask casually and said nothing more.
Gu Chenghuai saw the familiar military region gate and let out a long breath of relief.
“We’re here already,” Lu Mu said happily. After days on the road, her whole body ached; after getting off, they’d walked very far, and finally arrived!
The Lu Family were unfamiliar faces; the sentry didn’t recognize them and, seeing Lu Mu keep approaching, issued a warning.
“Heavy military area; unrelated personnel keep away.”
The soldier’s eyes were sharp as knives.
Lu Mu froze in place.
After a moment, she hurriedly retreated, looking to Gu Chenghuai, “Chenghuai, look at this… Talk to that soldier. We’re not bad people; we’re here to accompany the army. My Yizhou is inside.”
Along the way, the clueless Lu Mu had caused Gu Chenghuai plenty of trouble. For the sake of Lu Yizhou being a comrade and from the same village, Gu Chenghuai helped where he could, coldly refusing anything slightly out of line, making the journey barely smooth.
“Don’t worry. No matter whose family, everyone has to register to enter the military region. You go register; I’ll find someone to pass word to Deputy Battalion Commander Lu.”
With that, he headed into the military region, saluted the comrade at the gate, said a few words, strode in with long legs, and vanished in an instant.
Su Yuxian observed the surroundings— all so unfamiliar, unsettlingly so.
“Mom, he won’t ditch us and run off alone, will he?”
Lu Mu was a bit panicked too but didn’t show it, snapping coldly, “Nonsense. Gu the third is a soldier at least, and our fellow villager. No benefit in deceiving us. If he doesn’t want to ruin his reputation and future prospects, he won’t ditch us.”
Su Yuxian thought so too, smiling obsequiously, “Mom still has the widest experience; you know all this.”
Lu Mu gave her a sidelong glance, her expression half-smiling.
This daughter-in-law wasn’t so sweet-tongued back home. Ever since she agreed to bring her to accompany the army, the woman had turned docile, speaking nicely—not like before, when mother-in-law said one thing and she’d fire back ten; so annoying.
“Grandma, I’m hungry.” Lu Baozhen clutched her empty flat belly.
Lu Mu looked down at her, and seeing her face brought back memories of the family’s lost valuables, irritation surging uncontrollably.
“Who isn’t hungry? We’ll eat after settling. Not a bite left in the baggage—where am I supposed to get food for you? Eat, eat, eat—all day wanting food. You know the family situation; can’t you be sensible!”
It came out as a scolding, tone impatient.
Lu Baozhen lowered her head, clutching her belly, her sallow face gradually losing color.
She’d eaten half a steamed corn bun at noon yesterday and hadn’t had a drop of water since— so hungry, so hungry, stars flashing overhead.
Lu Yizhou learned his family had come and froze.
…His family came?
Gu Chenghuai raised a brow, “You didn’t know?”
His dark eyes fixed on Lu Yizhou’s face, showing admiration and envy.
“Auntie told the whole village you filed to accompany the army, to bring her for a good life. Auntie, your wife, and your daughter are all here, registering at the gate.”
Lu Yizhou’s head throbbed.
What accompany the army report? His mom had hounded him relentlessly; in a brain fart, he’d said she could come stay a few days to relax—not accompany the army. He hadn’t even applied for housing.
Forcing a smile, “…Thanks.”
Politely thanking him, Lu Yizhou jogged toward the military region gate.
Spotting his family from afar, he felt no surprise, just darkness before his eyes.
Did they think the military region was the village threshing ground?
Full of resentment, he walked over.
“Mom, why’d you come?”
As he spoke, he shot Su Yuxian a displeased glance.
He couldn’t blame his biological mother, only Su Yuxian for not doing a wife’s duty, not managing the home front, distracting a man fighting for his future.
Su Yuxian’s smile froze on her face, her eyes cooling.
What did this scoundrel mean? They’d been married this long without consummating, and she wasn’t mad yet—he was the one pulling a cold face, spoiled habit.
No longer looking at Lu Yizhou, she deliberately sized up the place she’d live from now on.
Lu Mu didn’t notice the spat between son and daughter-in-law, grabbing Lu Yizhou’s arm and crying, “Son, all our family’s money is gone. Haven’t had a proper meal in days at home, still owe the brigade grain. How’d you not send money and coupons home? No choice, had to come find you…”
Lu Yizhou: “…”
Such regret—why’d he “forget” to send money and coupons.
No, not the point; the point was…
“How’d the family’s money disappear?”
