Xu Zhijun opened the car door, “Cheng Cheng, Dad, get in the car.”
Lu Jincheng: “Thank you, Uncle.”
He was the first to help Grandpa climb in, then he climbed in himself, squeezing right between Grandpa and Xu Zhijun.
Xu Zhijun shot a sidelong glance at the tactless child.
“Dad, when do you plan to leave this time? Jingyi has given birth too, why don’t you stay in the country a bit longer?”
Grandpa grunted in acknowledgment.
Xu Zhijun: “This is a good opportunity to catch up with some old friends. When Yunshu turns one month old, I’ll host a few tables and invite all your friends over.”
Grandpa remained unenthusiastic.
Growing anxious, Xu Zhijun instinctively glanced around and lowered his voice: “Dad, I heard you’re friends with Regimental Commander Li…”
Grandpa sneered inwardly.
‘No wonder you insisted on driving me home today – it was all for this matter.’
Xu Zhijun quickly explained, “Dad, our battalion commander has been discharged, and there’s currently a vacancy. Since you’re friends with Regimental Commander Li, could you…”
Grandpa cut him off: “No.”
Xu Zhijun stared at him in disbelief.
He only knew about his father’s acquaintance with Regimental Commander Li because his father had mentioned it himself, even suggesting that Regimental Commander Li look after him.
He’d heard that when Regimental Commander Li’s company had run out of supplies during the war, his father had learned about it and delivered a truckload of provisions to the front lines.
That was the kind of life-and-death bond they shared.
If his father would just say a word, this promotion would be practically guaranteed.
Grandpa: “If you want a promotion, earn it through military merit. Our family looks down on those who rely on their wives.”
Xu Zhijun: “…”
His face flushed crimson.
Grandpa didn’t even spare him a glance.
Even if he hadn’t known about Xu Zhijun’s wicked ambitions, he wouldn’t have approached Old Li about this.
If the organization considered Xu Zhijun suitable, they would naturally promote him.
Since they hadn’t, it meant Xu Zhijun wasn’t suitable.
Though if he hadn’t known about Xu Zhijun’s wicked ambitions, he wouldn’t have been so blunt.
When they arrived home, Grandpa didn’t invite Xu Zhijun inside, simply acting as if he didn’t exist.
His face still flushed with embarrassment, Xu Zhijun had no face to stay, but neither could he bring himself to ask to drive back, so he had to walk home.
Watching his retreating figure, Grandpa handed the box of nutritional supplements to Uncle: “Go check what’s really inside this.”
“Alright.” Uncle took the items and went out to have them tested.
Meanwhile.
Long Bao woke up to find Wang Pei packing, the two of them discussing their return home tomorrow.
Wang Pei: “Jingyi, would you like to come home with me for your postpartum confinement?”
Lu Jingyi shook her head: “No, I need to go back. I can’t let those two live too comfortably.”
[Mom’s right.] Long Bao clenched her little fists, [We can’t go to Grandma’s house, otherwise Li Hong will badmouth Mom behind her back and make everyone think Mom is the bad one, when Li Hong is the real villain!]
Lu Jingyi’s eyes sharpened.
She suddenly remembered that when she first married Xu Zhijun, several military wives had been quite friendly with her.
But later, as her hospital work grew busier, those military wives gradually stopped associating with her, occasionally looking at her with strange expressions when they saw her.
Could this be related to Li Hong?
Lu Jingyi took a deep breath.
This made it even more imperative not to let Li Hong off!
Wang Pei nodded: “Alright then, I’ll listen to you. I’ll come to your place to take care of you.”
“No need, my mother-in-law is there.”
“Mom, you must listen to Grandma. Grandma won’t take care of me at all – if anything happens she makes you handle it yourself, and she even gives the things Grandma sent to Li Hong to eat.”
“And Li Hong uses the excuse of living together for convenience to move into our home.”
This disgusted Lu Jingyi to no end.
Lu Jingyi: “Mom, I’d rather have you take care of me. Let my mother-in-law go take care of Li Hong.”
Wang Pei immediately agreed.
She only had one daughter, who had been cherished since childhood.
She couldn’t bear the thought of the things she gave her daughter being eaten by that family.
She’d rather throw them away than let those animals touch even a bit.
Her daughter’s mother-in-law wasn’t easy to get along with either. With those two together, there would probably be some drama to watch.
Wang Pei packed up and said: “How about having your dad pick you up at nine tomorrow?”
“I…” Before Lu Jingyi could finish, she heard the Xiao Nai Yin, [Have Grandpa come earlier. Dad wants Li Hong to ride in our car.]
Lu Jingyi changed her tone, “Make it earlier. After lying in the hospital for so many days, I already miss home.”
“Alright, I’ll send someone to tell them at home later.”
Only then did Long Bao peacefully fall asleep.
No one should think about taking advantage of her or bullying her family!
Lu Jingyi gently patted Long Bao’s back, her heart and eyes full of the child.
If this had happened before, knowing what her husband and Li Hong had done would have made her furious.
But now it was different – she had Long Bao.
Not only would she divorce Xu Zhijun, she would also ruin his reputation so he would never have the ability to compete with her for Long Bao.
The next day at seven o’clock, Lu Jingyi was fully prepared and quietly left the hospital to get in the car.
When Xu Zhijun and Grandma finished packing and came to hitch a ride, they found the room already empty.
Xu Zhijun asked around and learned that Lu Jingyi’s family had already left at seven o’clock.
Li Hong was so angry she secretly pinched the child.
How could Lu Jingyi be so stingy!
What would it hurt to let her ride in the car!
Her eyes immediately reddened, “Lu Jingyi has already left. What should we do now?”
Grandma: “What else can we do? Walk back – it’s not that far. Do you think you’re some capitalist young lady too?”
The contempt in these words made Li Hong burst into tears.
She raised her arm and hit the child, “It’s all because of you, you Jinx!”
Grandma’s eyes widened, “You wretched Li Hong, how dare you hit the child in front of me!”
She raised her hand and slapped the back of Li Hong’s head.
“Cry, cry, cry! That’s all you know how to do! She’s your child. If she’s a Jinx, then what does that make you!”
Li Hong trembled with rage.
But she didn’t dare say this child was the one she had swapped.
Lu Jingyi ate so well during her pregnancy, how did she give birth to such a sickly child?
So unlucky!
Xu Zhijun took off his scarf and wrapped it around Li Hong’s hat, “There’s no other way. Let’s just walk back for now.”
Meanwhile.
The car had already reached the compound gate.
Outside vehicles weren’t allowed to enter.
Wang Pei worried, so she bundled up Lu Jingyi and Long Bao securely before letting them get out and walk back.
Long Bao peered at the outside world through the gaps.
This world was really nothing like the sea.
They hadn’t walked far when they encountered some Military wives going to the cafeteria for meals.
“Comrade Lu, you’re out of the hospital already? I heard from Sister Cheng and the others that you had a daughter. Let me see.”
“Oh, this child is so beautiful. She looks just like you.”
“This child clearly has a blessed destiny.”
Lu Jingyi smiled and said, “Thank you. Please have some candy.”
Wang Pei had already taken out the prepared candy and was distributing it to everyone.
“Oh, we couldn’t possibly accept this. Candy is such a precious thing.”
Lu Jingyi: “Take it back for your children to enjoy.”
“Alright then, we’ll accept it. Thank you so much.”
“Hey, Comrade Lu, where is Xu Fuyingzhang?”
Lu Jingyi’s hand paused briefly, her tone cooling slightly. “He went to pick up Li Hong.”
“Picking up Li Hong? Didn’t your mother-in-law come?”
“She did.”
Everyone exchanged glances.
Since his mother had already arrived, why would a grown man not pick up his own wife, but instead go fetch Li Hong?
However, no one thought too deeply about it, especially since Li Hong’s husband had already passed away.
In this era, people’s minds were still quite innocent. Even if beaten to death, they would never have imagined that this brother and sister-in-law had already become accomplices in an improper relationship.