The moment Liu Jinhua heard the words “police station,” she completely lost it.
“Justice in the highest court! It’s unfair! I didn’t say that!” Liu Jinhua immediately dropped to the ground, slapping the floor and rubbing her legs.
Her actions mirrored Li Erni’s earlier ones. “You’re my son-in-law, I just accidentally touched you a bit how does it have to go all the way to the police station?!”
Qin Huai pursed his lips, watching coldly as she flailed and rolled on the ground.
Li Qiuyue sneaked a glance at him.
Alright, fine. If he wasn’t saying anything, she wouldn’t either!
When Liu Jinhua’s one-woman drama finally became boring and her voice began to die down, Qin Huai stepped forward.
His voice was icy: “I don’t want to make things difficult for you. If you want me to drop this, you must apologize to my wife and promise never to speak ill of her or Zhaozhao again.”
“She came into my house to hit us, and you want me to apologize to her?” Li Erni ground her teeth, struggling to breathe through her fury.
“Apologize! We apologize!” Zhao Huaizhi hurriedly chimed in.
If they let this soldier pursue things, it wouldn’t just be a problem if the mother-in-law got taken away—they might not even be able to live in Li Family Village anymore!
“This is our fault against Qiuyue. It’s my wife and mother-in-law who couldn’t hold their tongues. Qiuyue, please, forgive us this once,” Zhao Huaizhi said to Li Qiuyue while signaling Liu Jinhua and Li Erni to comply.
Finally, Liu Jinhua, fearing being taken away, reluctantly glared at Li Qiuyue: “Fine! I apologize! I shouldn’t have raised you this way, it’s my fault, okay?!”
Li Erni, however, stiffened her neck and refused to speak.
Li Qiuyue stared at them for a moment, then said: “Hmm, knowing your mistake is enough. I won’t forgive you.”
Everyone else: “……”
Qin Huai raised an almost imperceptible brow.
This woman was really… something else!
He hadn’t expected them to apologize sincerely; all he wanted was for them to show Li Qiuyue some humility.
Now, regardless of their sincerity, Li Qiuyue had at least forced them to acknowledge their wrongdoing publicly.
They had no face to report today’s events to outsiders, nor could they pursue Li Qiuyue for taking matters into her own hands.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Qin Huai turned to Li Qiuyue: “Let’s go.”
Li Qiuyue hissed softly, somewhat dissatisfied with Qin Huai’s phrasing.
But remembering he had just rescued her, she swallowed her frustration.
She helped Qin Huai take a few steps before suddenly stopping.
Caught off guard, Qin Huai’s injured shoulder was pulled, eliciting a muffled groan as his face twisted.
He shot a resentful glance at the “ungrateful” Li Qiuyue, as if to say, You better have a reason for this.
Li Qiuyue forced a sheepish smile: “Wait, I forgot something.”
She quickly let go of Qin Huai and ran to Liu Jinhua: “Earlier, your son-in-law agreed to pay me fifty yuan. Give it now!”
Liu Jinhua, busy untying her daughter, was stunned. “I thought you weren’t going to pursue it?”
“The fifty-yuan compensation is separate from letting go of the earlier grievance,” Li Qiuyue lifted her chin.
Seeing her evade, Liu Jinhua immediately threatened in a dark tone: “If you don’t pay, I’ll go to the police and report you for intentionally injuring a soldier, and they’ll take you in for punishment!”
“I’m your daughter!” Liu Jinhua growled through clenched teeth.
Li Qiuyue smirked: “Perfect. If I report you, I’ll even earn a reputation for doing the righteous thing against my own family.”
“……”
Qin Huai froze for a moment, already imagining the expressions on the three of them.
He watched Li Qiuyue impatiently kick Zhao Huaizhi, who quickly nodded repeatedly, urging Liu Jinhua to pay.
Li Qiuyue returned with fifty yuan in small bills, helping Qin Huai once more.
Like a triumphant rooster, she stood tall: “Alright, let’s go.”
Qin Huai felt a lump in his throat. This woman truly acted without concern for consequences.
Could she really raise Zhaozhao properly?
His heart sank slightly, and he lowered his gaze.
He didn’t want to embarrass Li Qiuyue in public, so he only turned his head, unwilling to look at her again.
At home, Zhaozhao sat on the doorstep. Hearing movement, he lifted the door curtain and dashed out.
“Mom, did Uncle really bring you back?” He flew over and hugged Li Qiuyue’s legs like a little cannonball. His bright eyes focused entirely on her, completely oblivious to anyone else.
Nor did he notice that his sudden rush had caused Li Qiuyue to tug on Qin Huai’s injured arm.
Qin Huai realized it this mother and child were both heartless!
Thankfully, Li Qiuyue still retained some sense. She told Zhaozhao briefly and helped Qin Huai sit inside.
On the floor lay a heap of belongings: a large green military backpack, a mesh bag containing enamel basins and toiletries, and a big cloth bag filled with items, two thin sticks sticking out.
“Oh my, Commander Qin, did the army kick you out?” Li Qiuyue raised an eyebrow.
Turning back, she noticed Qin Huai breathing heavily and quickly suppressed her smile.
She had thought he was exaggerating, but seeing his pale lips, she realized something was wrong.
Carefully, she asked: “Is your shoulder alright?”
Using formal address, she was genuinely alarmed.
Qin Huai’s temple veins throbbed as he shook his head, gasping heavily while struggling to remove his coat.
Li Qiuyue then saw faint blood stains seeping through his sweater.
“You’re bleeding on your shoulder!” she gasped, shivering instinctively for him.
Only now did she truly grasp his pain.
Gritting his teeth, Qin Huai said, “Could you step outside for a moment? I need to take off my clothes.”
Li Qiuyue nodded, holding Zhaozhao’s hand as they stepped out.
Before leaving, she noticed the sweat beading on his forehead, and his hand rising and falling as he struggled to grab the coat’s hem.
She hurried over and said, “Stop fussing, I’ll help you.” Opening his hand, she ignored his shock and began lifting his sweater.
Her words sounded brash, but her movements were careful, precise, like performing a delicate surgery.
Qin Huai watched, amused.
He had wanted Li Qiuyue’s help but, being a man, had hesitated.
Who knew this woman was so reckless!
Despite her reckless nature, she was very beautiful delicate features, bright eyes, truly a rare beauty.
“Wow, Commander Qin, you’re bleeding so much are you going to die?” Li Qiuyue marveled.
Qin Huai pressed his lips together, thinking that if only this great beauty would keep her mouth shut, things would be even better!