The old police officer made the decision: “Take them both in. We’ll interrogate them slowly.”
Xu Xiaomei screamed, “Chen Mianmian, the one Wang Ximei should have strangled back then was you!”
Then she shouted, “She got rid of six perfectly good daughters, yet kept a heartless ingrate like you!”
The crowd had gathered in layers upon layers, completely surrounding them.
Officer Xiao Li shouted, “If you don’t clear out, we’ll arrest all of you!”
Chen Jinhui also yelled, “Director Jiang, go find my brothers-in-law and have them bail us out!”
But it was useless. The couple was handcuffed and taken away.
The crowd quickly shifted its attention back to Chen Mianmian.
People didn’t know the full truth, but they were good at imagining things.
An elderly woman asked, “Just because your brother is terrible, your officer husband kicked you out while you’re pregnant?”
Another woman asked, “Do you have money or ration coupons? Do you need us to donate some?”
Someone else suggested, “You should go to the army base and ask their leaders to stand up for you.”
As they talked, they began criticizing Zhao Lingcheng: “He’s a military officer, yet he treats you like this? You’re carrying his child—he should just scold you at most. How could he kick you out?”
While responding on the surface, Chen Mianmian kept scanning for the old officer.
The other officers had left, but he remained.
Unlike the others who walked, he had a bicycle and was unlocking it, preparing to leave.
Pushing through the crowd, Chen Mianmian ran over.
The old officer seemed to be waiting for her. He patted the back seat and said, “Get on. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
The crowd urged, “Poor girl, go with the officer and get checked!”
Chen Mianmian said goodbye one by one, “Thank you, sisters, thank you, aunties. Goodbye!”
The old officer still had doubts. As they rode, he asked, “Did your brother really try to sell you to an old bachelor?”
In truth, Director Wei wasn’t old or single—he was young and from a good family. Strictly speaking, he was also a victim.
But to bring Chen Jinhui down, Chen Mianmian had to stick to her lie. “Yes.”
The officer frowned. “You’re not lying?”
Wu Jingjing suddenly appeared and said, “Uncle Officer, Chen Mianmian is a good person! When she was in school, she volunteered every day in the cafeteria, washing dishes for everyone. Go ask around at Hexi Hongzhuan School—she was the first model ‘Lei Feng’ student. She would never lie.”
Zhao Lingcheng had sent the original host to school so she could study.
But she never attended classes seriously. Instead, she worked for free, doing chores for everyone.
Because she had a handsome officer husband and was hardworking, her classmates liked her.
But in truth, she did it all for her family—for Chen Jinhui.
Still, since Wu Jingjing praised her so highly, Chen Mianmian kept up the act and said sweetly, “The Chairman said we should learn from Comrade Lei Feng. I’m just following his teachings.”
The old officer was moved. “It seems I misunderstood you.”
Chen Mianmian added, “Serving the people is my duty.”
The officer asked again, “Your husband knew your brother abused you, yet instead of dealing with him, he drove you out?”
Wu Jingjing cursed, “That heartless man abandoned his wife and child. He’s unworthy of being a soldier!”
The officer’s eyes were sharp. Chen Mianmian pretended to stay calm.
Zhao Lingcheng was from the capital, tall and handsome, though a bit hot-tempered.
At first, he gave all his salary to the original host and never interfered with household expenses.
But her family constantly claimed poverty, and she kept taking everything from the base back home.
Chen Jinhui and his wife, along with her other brothers-in-law, wore Zhao Lingcheng’s clothes, belts, glasses, and watches.
Their home was stripped bare.
Eventually, Zhao Lingcheng stopped going home and slept at the office.
He wasn’t at fault, yet Chen Mianmian allowed others to ruin his reputation.
She felt a little guilty—but looking at her swollen belly and thinking of possible complications, she whimpered softly, “Mm…”
Then added, “I don’t blame him. I just want to safely give birth.”
Wu Jingjing was moved. “Mianmian, you’re so humble… so pitiful.”
She turned to the officer. “Please help her.”
They arrived at the hospital. The officer said, “I happen to know a soldier named Zhao Lingcheng.”
He added, “I’ll try to contact him.”
Chen Mianmian perked up. “What should I call you?”
The officer rode off, saying, “That’s not important. Take care of yourself and the child!”
He clearly knew Zhao Lingcheng, though not the full story.
Now, with both the telegram sent to Zhao Hui and the officer’s help, Chen Mianmian felt more at ease.
She gently patted her belly and thought, I spoke badly about your father earlier, but it was for our safety. When you’re born, I’ll make it up to him.
The baby moved in response.
It seemed Niuniu understood.
For now, survival came first.
…
After examining her belly for a long time, the female doctor shook her head.
Wu Jingjing grew anxious. “Doctor, how is the baby? Is it okay?”
The doctor didn’t answer directly. “What is the patient’s class background?”
Wu Jingjing quickly said, “Red category.”
The doctor asked again, “Any rightists in the family within three generations? Any relatives detained?”
Chen Mianmian thought, Getting pregnant here is like applying for a government job—background checks included?
The doctor explained, “Your fetal position is not good. There’s a high chance of difficult labor. If your background is clean, I can apply for an A-scan—done by more experienced specialists for better analysis.”
Wu Jingjing lowered her voice. “At the military base, right?”
Then she added, “Her brother was just detained, which might affect her review, but she’s been abandoned by her officer husband and is very pitiful. Please help her apply. I’ll pay anything.”
So the difficult labor was inevitable.
The A-scan was likely similar to an ultrasound.
Civilians could access the military hospital, but only after strict background checks.
With Chen Jinhui detained, her chances dropped.
The doctor looked at her bruised belly and took out a notebook. “Register your information and pay a 35-yuan deposit. I’ll try, but there’s no guarantee.”
In the original story, the baby was breech and injured during delivery.
Chen Mianmian gathered all her money and handed it over.
She would try anything for a safe birth.
…
After leaving the hospital, she looked pale and weak.
Wu Jingjing said, “Wait here, I’ll get you something nutritious.”
She went into a state-run restaurant and returned after a while, hunched over.
“Let’s go,” she whispered.
Back in the room, she opened her coat to reveal a bowl of lamb ribs.
Chen Mianmian grabbed one immediately. “So good!”
Wu Jingjing smiled. “Our classmate Guli sent it.”
She added, “Meat is hard to get this season. Eat up.”
Chen Mianmian realized many classmates worked in service jobs.
Wu Jingjing proudly said, “We’re from martyr families. Jobs like this are ours.”
Chen Mianmian finally understood—being a server was considered a good, stable job.
The lamb was incredibly delicious—tender, juicy, and flavorful.
Wu Jingjing refused to eat. “Lamb gives me diarrhea.”
She smiled at the belly. “Mom eats well, baby grows strong.”
There were only three pieces. When Chen Mianmian finished, she tried to throw away the bones.
Wu Jingjing stopped her. “We can make soup tomorrow.”
After settling her down, she left.
Chen Mianmian stroked her belly. The baby moved again.
For now, her only goal was to give birth safely.
She silently vowed to repay Wu Jingjing and Guli someday.
…
But peace didn’t last long.
Early the next morning, Wu Jingjing brought soup and cornbread.
Someone knocked.
It was Director Jiang. “Your mother is sick. You need to go home.”
Wu Jingjing protested, “The doctor said she might have a difficult birth—she can’t leave!”
Director Jiang ignored her and packed the bedding.
Chen Mianmian sensed something wrong.
She glanced upstairs and saw the accounting office door shut.
Xu Xiaomei’s family lived nearby.
Soon, Wu Jingjing saw Xu Cigang—Xu Xiaomei’s brother—wearing a militia uniform and a new watch.
“He must have gotten her released,” she said.
Then she asked quietly, “Do you want to go home? Their family is dangerous.”
Chen Mianmian knew the answer.
Her mother wasn’t dying—it was just an excuse.
And she couldn’t go back anyway.
The original host had only survived infancy by chance.
If she returned now, her mother might kill her.
Director Jiang locked the room and left.
Wu Jingjing said, “I’ll take leave and go with you.”
But Chen Mianmian said, “No. Go to the police station again. Tell them there’s a murderer here.”
Wu Jingjing paused, then nodded. “Okay.”
The marriage itself had been a conspiracy.
Yesterday, there was no proof.
But today, one of the culprits had returned—wearing the evidence.
Chen Mianmian took a big bite of cornbread, drank soup, and prepared to fight again.
…
At the same time, on a long desert road, a military jeep sped forward.
In the back sat a dignified woman in her forties.
The driver asked, “Director Zhao, why are we heading into the city so early?”
She looked out at the spring greenery and murmured, almost dreamlike:
“Our Zhao family has waited far too long… for a new life.”