The wind in the cornfield rustled as before.
The green waves of corn swayed under it.
Xie Zhongming stood in the wind, the corners of his clothes fluttering. His brows were tightly furrowed, yet his gaze remained fixed on Qiao Xingyue.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Feeling the grip on her arm was a little too tight, Qiao Xingyue awkwardly waved it off. For some reason, she sensed that besides concern, there was another emotion in Xie Zhongming’s eyes.
When everyone had gathered around, she brushed off the grass from the tips of her hair and said decisively, “Comrade Xie, Uncle Xie, don’t worry. I wasn’t taken advantage of. I have already taken Jiang Yongqiang to the police station, and here are the police officers for identification at the crime scene.”
Seeing the anxious, shocked expressions of those around her, she added, “I really am fine. I know acupuncture and always carry needles with me. Whenever Jiang Yongqiang came close, I could make his arms go numb, so he could not use strength.”
Xie Zhongming knew exactly how it felt to have his arm numbed after a single needle.
It happened back in Shantang Village. Comrade Qiao, seizing every second, had quickly inserted a needle into his arm, making it go numb and powerless. Only then did she remove his pants to perform the surgery.
With that memory, the tightness in Xie Zhongming’s chest eased slightly, and his clenched hands relaxed a little.
At that moment, police officers stepped down from the jeep with Jiang Yongqiang. His face was swollen, eyes bruised, and his hands cuffed behind his back with dark green silk ribbons wound several times around his wrists.
The ribbons looked familiar.
These were the ones Qiao Xingyue had used to tie her braids. No wonder her hair was so messy.
This comrade was truly fearless. Despite Jiang Yongqiang being so tall and burly, much taller than her, she had effortlessly escorted him to the police station.
After the scare, Xie Zhongming’s fingers, still slightly tense, relaxed with a trace of unnoticeable unease. “Tomorrow, you are not allowed to bring my father lunch again.”
This cornfield had seen one or two criminal incidents in the past, and it was unsafe.
The police, seeing the crowd, advised, “Comrades, we are investigating a case. So many spectators here could affect the process. It is best if everyone disperses.”
Before Xie Zhongming could respond, Xie Jiang waved his hand. “Everyone, go back to the pea fields and continue your work. Thank you for your efforts. It’s fine now. You can go back.”
Jiang Yongqiang, battered and bruised, looked at the police in despair. “Comrades, I really did not break the law. She hit me first. Look at all these injuries, I am a victim too.”
“That is not hitting,” the officer said sternly. “That was self-defense. If you had not dragged her into the cornfield, would she have hit you?”
Qiao Xingyue had explained the whole incident to the police, and seeing the scene, they believed her.
Fortunately, this comrade was brave and skilled in acupuncture. Otherwise, today could have ended as another assault case.
While the police investigated, Xie Zhongming’s gaze fell on Jiang Yongqiang like ice.
The cold in his eyes seemed to freeze the air, making the dust around them stop floating.
Jiang Yongqiang trembled under that intimidating look. Originally shrinking his neck and lowering his head, he dared not breathe heavily. He stammered, “Regimental Commander Xie, I, I will never dare again. There will be no next time. Considering that my uncle once saved your father, could you say a good word for me to the police, spare me?”
“Next time?” Xie Zhongming’s fist clenched tightly. “For lewd acts, you will face the consequences.”
Jiang Yongqiang went limp instantly and collapsed into the dusty ground.
After he collected himself, he crawled in front of Qiao Xingyue. “Comrade Qiao, I didn’t really harm you. Could you say a good word for me to the police? Please.”
“What for?” Qiao Xingyue kicked him aside and said decisively, “You are still hoping to take advantage of me? When will you be satisfied?”
“Comrade Qiao, I didn’t mean that. I know I was wrong. I sincerely repent, I—”
“Stop! I will not speak for you. I will also clarify what happened four years ago in the broken temple in Kuncheng when you tried to assault me. The witness who saved me has already been found. Just wait to rot in prison.”
“Four years ago, you were already targeting Comrade Qiao?” Xie Zhongming grabbed Jiang Yongqiang’s sweat-stinking collar, his knuckles white with force.
His eyes blazed with fury, every breath weighted with heaviness.
Jiang Beiyang added, “Zhongming, I think this scum needs a thorough investigation. Maybe he committed crimes before but got lucky.”
Jiang Beiyang’s older brother, Jiang Beisong, agreed. “Such scum should be expelled permanently from the logistics department.”
Xie Jiang saw that Qiao Xingyue only had minor external injuries but felt like his own daughter had been hurt.
He clenched his fists, examining the collapsed Jiang Yongqiang. “I was foolish. I should not have agreed to let Jiang Chunyan place you in the logistics department. Zhongming, Jiang Yongqiang is from Kuncheng. Uncle Luo is at the Kuncheng police station. Have him check if Jiang Yongqiang had committed any crimes in his hometown. This time, get everything cleared up.”
Jiang Yongqiang’s world collapsed.
If the police checked his village, they would discover that he had assaulted a mentally disabled mother and daughter. He was going to prison for sure.
The police handcuffed him and took him away. The remaining were Xie Jiang, Xie Zhongming, Jiang Beiyang, Jiang Beisong, Jiang Wang, and Qiao Xingyue.
Everyone’s eyes rested on Qiao Xingyue, filled with admiration, shock, concern, or fear.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Jiang Beiyang gave her a thumbs-up. “Comrade Qiao, you are a model woman of this era. Amazing!”
“What is amazing about it?” Qiao Xingyue said calmly. “I was just forced to act and released my potential.”
Her simple words carried immense weight, pressing heavily on Xie Zhongming’s chest.
The wind still blew through the cornfield, but Xie Zhongming felt short of breath. Qiao Xingyue, raising two children alone, had lost her parents early, and her husband too. She was truly on her own. How many times had she faced life-threatening situations like this to develop her courage?
Jiang Beiyang curiously asked, “Comrade Qiao, tell me how you beat that bastard Jiang Yongqiang black and blue?”
“Enough, Comrade Qiao is tired and needs to rest.” Xie Zhongming interrupted.
He picked up the fallen bicycle and gathered the scattered aluminum lunch boxes and lids, checking the chain. He squatted, fixed it in a few motions, and pushed the bike toward Qiao Xingyue. “Comrade Qiao, I will take you home to rest.”
“I can ride back myself. I am fine, just minor scrapes. Comrade Xie, focus on your work.”
She looked at the sky; the sun was about to set.
She held the handlebars. “I can get home in time to cook.”
Two pairs of hands gripped the handlebars, one hers and one Xie Zhongming’s. Seeing her hold on, he did not release. “It is not safe on the road. I will take you.”
Qiao Xingyue had no choice but to let go.
Then Xie Zhongming added, “No need to cook tonight. We will go out to eat.”
Xie Jiang agreed. “Yes, Qiao Xingyue, look at you, pants torn, face full of scratches, hands injured. Rest for a few days. Tonight, Uncle Xie will take you out to eat.”
Her eyes moistened at the warmth of their concern.
Her throat tightened for a moment, but she said decisively, “Uncle Xie, it’s fine. These are only minor scratches. Don’t spend too much. I will cook and save some money.”
Xie Zhongming said firmly, “Listen to my father. Rest, avoid work, and stay out of water.”
He glanced at her hands, streaked with blood and long cuts from the corn leaves.
His brows furrowed, a quiet pity in his chest, then he gently patted the back of the bicycle seat. “Get on. Let’s go home first.”
Qiao Xingyue had no choice but to sit.
Just then, Xie Zhongming took off his jacket, folded it to fit the seat.
Once she sat, the hard iron seat became soft. Even when Xie Zhongming rode over bumps in the muddy road, it would not hurt her.
This man was thoughtful. How did he know her butt would hurt from being dragged into the cornfield?
Though he said nothing, these small acts of care warmed her heart.
Soon, the others fell behind in the cornfield. Jiang Beisong whispered to Jiang Beiyang, “Beiyang, I feel Zhongming treats Comrade Qiao differently.”
Jiang Beiyang lowered his voice. “Second brother, you noticed too?”
Jiang Beiyang suddenly remembered the news about Chubby Wife, which he had not told Xie Zhongming yet. He shouted, “Zhongming, will you return to the regiment later? I have something very important to tell you.”