Qiao Xingyue finally understood.
So Comrade Xie’s wife really was from Chadain Village.
What a coincidence.
Seeing that she did not speak, Aunt Mei, still keeping her loud voice, asked again,
“Comrade Xiao Qiao, you don’t know Xie Zhongming’s wife is from Chadain Village?”
Qiao Xingyue, carrying a net bag of vegetables and eggs and two and a half jin of pork tied with hemp rope, smiled lightly.
“Aunt Mei, I just arrived at Commander Xie’s house to work. It’s not convenient for me to inquire about such matters.”
“I only heard the name Chadain Village and thought it sounded familiar. I asked casually. No other meaning.”
A few days ago, she had asked casually why Comrade Xie’s wife did not go with him to the military.
It was just a casual question with no other intention.
Unexpectedly, it aroused Comrade Xie’s suspicion.
She did not know what he suspected her of.
Even now, she is still worried about losing her job. This work was very important for her and An’an and Ningning. Only by keeping the job and earning money could she afford Ningning’s medical care.
From now on, she will have to speak cautiously.
So she decided not to continue asking. She smiled and greeted Zhang Hongmei,
“Aunt Mei, I’m going to buy some soy sauce.”
“Just in time, I also need to buy soy sauce. Let’s go together.”
Zhang Hongmei followed Qiao Xingyue and casually asked,
“Comrade Xiao Qiao, you also know Chadain Village?”
Qiao Xingyue answered as they walked,
“I stayed there for a short time before.”
But she did not like Chadain Village.
That place was poor and harsh, full of unruly villagers.
When she still held the identity of the chubby wife, she had briefly stayed in Chadain Village for two months.
At that time, weighing over two hundred jin, the entire village mocked and ridiculed her. Even her own mother, Zeng Xiuzhu, and brother, Liu Dazhu, treated her poorly.
They said the harshest words imaginable. Many children threw stones at her while calling her an ugly monster, a fat woman, and even fatter and uglier than a mother pig with a newborn.
Fortunately, she had now shed the identity of the chubby wife. She would never return to Chadain Village, nor reconcile with her mother or brother.
She did not wish to speak much about the events in Chadain Village.
Seeing her silent, Zhang Hongmei continued to chatter.
“Comrade Xiao Qiao, isn’t it strange? Xie Zhongming and his wife have been married for many years, yet she has never been seen in the military.”
“But I heard from Madam Xie that Xie Zhongming’s wife is as beautiful as a fairy and very capable.”
Madam Xie was Chen Suying, partially paralyzed.
When Xie Zhongming married the chubby wife, Xie Jiang and Huang Guilan did not want Madam Xie to worry about their fourth son. They did not tell her how the chubby wife’s family had schemed against Xie Zhongming. They lied that his wife was as beautiful as a fairy and very capable.
At that time, Madam Xie had not yet been paralyzed and often visited neighbors. She proudly told everyone her fourth grandson’s wife was beautiful and capable. Gradually, the people in the compound knew Xie Zhongming had married a beautiful and capable wife.
Except Zhang Hongmei’s son, Jiang Beiyang.
Because Jiang Beiyang had gone to Chadain Village on a mission with Xie Zhongming, he never allowed his mother to inquire about Xie Zhongming’s wife.
The more forbidden, the more uncomfortable Zhang Hongmei felt.
By the time they reached the military service store, Zhang Hongmei handed over her bottle and bought one jin of soy sauce. She lowered her voice and asked Qiao Xingyue,
“Comrade Xiao Qiao, isn’t it strange? Since Xie Zhongming married such a beautiful and capable wife, why never bring her to the military?”
Qiao Xingyue also found it a bit strange but did not plan to ask further.
“Aunt Mei, I really don’t know.”
They received their soy sauce and walked out together.
Zhang Hongmei continued asking,
“Comrade Xiao Qiao, you really don’t know about Xie Zhongming’s wife?”
“If you know, tell Aunt Mei. I promise not to tell anyone.”
She stopped and made a gesture swearing to the sky, then curiously asked,
“Is it that Xie Zhongming and his wife don’t get along?”
Qiao Xingyue slightly frowned.
These people in the compound loved gossip.
She did not want to get involved. She said clearly,
“Aunt Mei, I really don’t know.”
She shifted the soy sauce bottle to her left hand holding the pork and added,
“At the Xie house, I only want to work diligently. I won’t ask questions that aren’t mine. If you want to inquire, ask Aunt Lan directly. I have to hurry back to take care of Grandma, so I’ll go first.”
She worked efficiently and walked briskly.
Her tall and slim figure quickly disappeared into the morning mist.
Carrying the pork and vegetables and the bottle of soy sauce, Qiao Xingyue walked through the alley of the compound.
March was the season of spring’s return.
The courtyard was full of budding roses. Nearby, paulownia trees bloomed with purple flowers.
The air smelled fresh and floral, far better than the stench of chickens and cows in Shantang Village.
Red brick walls bore slogans:
Only the people, the people create true history.
We come from all corners of the world to pursue a common revolutionary goal.
Each slogan inspired the heart. The conditions here were far better than the countryside.
An’an and Ningning especially liked living here.
She was determined to stay in the family compound and serve the Xie family long-term. She returned swiftly to the Xie family’s two-story courtyard.
The yard had some flowers and vegetables.
Qiao Xingyue plucked a few plump garlic shoots, planning to cook garlic shoots with pork today.
In the main room, Huang Guilan, upon hearing Xie Zhongming’s news, frowned.
“Fourth son, the chubby wife really went missing?”
Xie Zhongming’s expression was calm, but worry lingered in his eyes.
“Yes.”
Huang Guilan paused her sewing, putting the half-mended green military shirt on her lap, and sighed,
“What do we do? She’s missing. How can you divorce her?”
Xie Zhongming had never firmly decided on divorce.
Earlier misunderstandings about the chubby wife causing trouble in Chadain Village had led him to consider filing for divorce when Jiang Beiyang and his parents suggested it.
But since none of those incidents were her fault and the accusations were all from her mother and brother, he had no reason to initiate divorce.
“Mom, the key now is to find the chubby wife.”
Her disappearance trail ended in Chadain Village.
He had reported it. Once the police had news, they would inform him at the military.
“Fourth son, if you find her, you should divorce her. I’d rather you compensate her more than let your marriage be troubled. Her mother and brother only create scams. She wouldn’t have fared well with them anyway.”
“Mom, this matter…” Xie Zhongming’s words were interrupted by footsteps from outside.
Looking up, it was Qiao Xingyue returning from buying groceries.
She vaguely heard the conversation between the mother and son but not clearly.
Sensing that Comrade Xie was talking about something she should not know, she politely greeted them, put down the groceries, filled a basin with hot water, and went to Grandma’s room.
She did not pry into their discussion.
Huang Guilan, seeing Qiao Xingyue enter Grandma’s room, quickly closed the door, satisfied.
“This Xiao Qiao is not only efficient but also perceptive.”
Having only arrived a few days ago, she already wanted to keep Qiao Xingyue long-term.
Xie Zhongming lowered his voice.
“Mom, don’t upset Grandma. Don’t tell her about the chubby wife.”
Huang Guilan picked up her sewing.
“Don’t worry, I know.”
Xie Zhongming went to Grandma’s room door.
His long fingers gently tapped on the red-painted door.
The door opened to a smiling An’an.
She lifted her small head, looking at Xie Zhongming’s tall figure, her voice like wind chimes,
“Uncle Zhongming!”
“Hmm.”
Qiao Xingyue gave Grandma a face wash with a hot towel.
Xie Zhongming pulled out two toys from his green military pants pocket, giving one each to An’an and Ningning.
They were two wind-up frogs with green bodies and red eyes.
The twins had seen similar toys in Shantang Village’s supply store.
But each frog cost two mao. Their mother could not afford them. The girls had wanted them for a long time but never asked.
“Uncle brought these toys from Kuncheng for you. Here you go!”
The twins’ eyes lit up. They took them together and said,
“Wow! Wind-up frogs! Thank you, Uncle Zhongming.”
The twins squatted on the floor to play.
Madam Chen Suying on the bed looked at the dusty Xie Zhongming and asked haltingly,
“Fourth son, why haven’t you brought your wife here?”
Xie Zhongming never let Grandma know the truth about the chubby wife.
She thought his wife was a civil staff officer in Kuncheng Military District, tall, slim, beautiful, and very capable.
She did not know the chubby wife existed.
Knowing her grandson had married such a capable wife, she had hoped they lived together to give her a great-grandchild, ideally a girl like An’an or Ningning.
Because the Xie family had only had boys since Xie Jiang’s generation.
Now, the fourth son said he went to Chadain Village but did not bring his wife, leaving Grandma disappointed.
Xie Zhongming realized one lie required countless more to cover it.
In front of Grandma, he had no choice but to lie.
“Grandma, your granddaughter-in-law is busy with important duties in Kuncheng Military District. She cannot leave. Otherwise, I would have brought her to serve you.”
Qiao Xingyue quietly massaged Grandma.
She did not deliberately eavesdrop but clearly understood why Comrade Xie and his wife were separated.
His wife was also a busy military officer.
Qiao Xingyue remained silent, carefully massaging Grandma’s stiff left arm.
Xie Zhongming glanced at her.
Her hands moved along Grandma’s stiff shoulder and neck, inch by inch.
“Grandma, is the pressure right?”
Her voice was brisk and precise yet gentle.
Each stroke lifted her wispy hair, brushing her delicate face and fair neck.
Her focused, efficient manner was striking.
Since he entered, she had not looked at him or asked anything.
Xie Zhongming observed her for a while.
His gaze sharp as a hawk—this comrade is uninterested in his matters today.
Qiao Xingyue knew her limits. After asking too much before, she caused suspicion.
Today she worked silently, not meeting his gaze.
Yet she felt his eyes always on her.
Though she did not know his expression, it felt heavy as stone, pressing on her heart.
When massaging Grandma’s acupuncture points, she gradually adjusted pressure.
“Grandma, this spot might hurt. It’s blocked. Pain is good. Press a few times with acupuncture and it will gradually unblock. Please bear with it.”
Xie Zhongming stood still.
His scrutinizing gaze relaxed.
“Comrade Qiao, you seem quite skilled in traditional medicine.”
Qiao Xingyue continued her movements.
“Just some knowledge, not skill.”
“Oh.” Xie Zhongming asked casually,
“Where did you learn?”
Qiao Xingyue paused slightly, a subtle reaction he noticed.
She answered calmly,
“I never formally apprenticed. But my family is all medical practitioners. My parents took me to the countryside shortly after I was born. I grew up there. I learned a lot of medical knowledge from them. My parents are deceased.”
She suspected Comrade Xie either thought she was trying to seduce him or suspected her as a spy. Either way, she could lose her job.
She hoped this explanation would ease his doubts.
If she revealed her uneducated chubby wife identity, anyone would be suspicious that a rural woman knew medicine and even English.
“Thank you, Comrade Qiao, for helping care for Grandma.”
“I’ll do my best.” She kept her tone modest.
After speaking, Xie Zhongming greeted Grandma and left for the military.
Once he left, Grandma spoke a lot with Qiao Xingyue, explaining that her grandson was cautious. The previous questions were harmless, and she should not overthink them.
She added,
“Xingyue, my granddaughter-in-law is tall, slim, beautiful, and capable like you. The only regret is that after five years of marriage, they have not had a child.”
Grandma looked proud talking about her granddaughter-in-law.
Qiao Xingyue thought, Comrade Xie was young, a regiment commander, and handsome. His wife must be beautiful and capable.
Just as she prepared to agree with Grandma, Huang Guilan suddenly cried out,
“Ningning, what’s wrong, Ningning?”
“What’s happening?” Qiao Xingyue hurried out of Grandma’s room.
The scene in the main room made Qiao Xingyue panic instantly.