The man exuded an aura of iron-willed fortitude.
His tall, stalwart frame stood like a majestic mountain peak, radiating an incomparable sense of security.
Qiao Xingyue thought about the hardships she had grown accustomed to since transmigrating to this era. No one had ever protected her the way Regiment Leader Xie and Aunt Lan did. Her heart felt bathed in warmth, and the corners of her mouth lifted imperceptibly.
She was grateful to Regiment Leader Xie.
At the entrance to the bathroom, Huang Guilan stood watching everything that had just transpired.
Seeing how her fourth son spoke with such authoritative dignity before Jiang Chunyan—how was it exactly the same tone Xingyue had used that evening? Both had made Jiang Chunyan’s face turn as purple as a pig’s liver, leaving her speechless and unable to retort. It was truly satisfying.
Watching this, even Huang Guilan felt that Xingyue and her fourth son’s ways of handling things seemed like those of a married couple.
If they really were a couple, sharing the same values, similar approaches, compatible personalities, and equally sharp tongues—who knew how many common topics they’d have and how deeply affectionate they would be?
Ah! What a pity that her fourth son had such ill fortune, married to that rural woman Pang Ya who weighed over two hundred jin, was gluttonous, lazy, and constantly stirred up trouble—she could only hope her fourth son would find Pang Ya soon and that the divorce proceedings would go smoothly.
Utterly helpless against Xie Zhongming, Jiang Chunyan hugged her clothes and stomped angrily toward the bathroom. “Fine, I’ll wash them myself!”
Seeing Huang Guilan standing at the bathroom door, Jiang Chunyan shot her a glare. “I don’t know what your family is thinking, treating a little maid like some treasure.”
Huang Guilan recalled the tactic Xingyue had taught her that evening: using magic to defeat magic.
She retorted, “Chunyan, I don’t know what you’re thinking either. You have hands, yet you order others to wash your clothes. Anyone who didn’t know better would think your hands were broken.”
“Huang Guilan!”
“My ears aren’t deaf. No need to shout at me.”
Fuming, Jiang Chunyan went inside to wash her clothes, venting all her frustration onto the dirty laundry in the enamel basin. She didn’t even notice she had snapped the soap bar, scrubbing furiously as if no amount of washing could ease her anger.
Huang Guilan, however, felt immensely relieved!
In the past, she had always been the one swallowing her anger around Jiang Chunyan. But now, with Xingyue in the Xie household, just one technique she taught was enough to handle Jiang Chunyan—it was simply too satisfying!
Approaching Qiao Xingyue, Huang Guilan looked at her with admiration and gratitude. “Xingyue, your method really works!”
Qiao Xingyue smiled and was about to respond when Xie Zhongming took the enamel basin from her hands. “Comrade Qiao, from now on, I’ll wash Grandma’s clothes. You’ve worked all day—go rest for a while.”
“Comrade Xie, that won’t do…”
She reached to take it back, but Huang Guilan held her hand, stopping her. “Why wouldn’t it do? A grandson washing his grandmother’s clothes is only right! Xingyue, you’ve been busy all day. Hurry and rest.”
Deng Yingying, standing on the stairs without showing herself, overheard everything clearly from below: Why were Aunt Lan and Zhongming-ge so protective of Qiao Xingyue? What gave her the right? If this continued, once Zhongming-ge divorced his rural wife, what chance would she have?
Deng Yingying had initially thought a little maid posed no threat, but now this maid had already won the favor of Aunt Lan and Zhongming-ge. Suddenly, she began to feel somewhat panicked.
Her plans were completely disrupted. Deng Yingying, who had intended to slowly build a good image in front of Huang Guilan, was thrown off balance. After Huang Guilan returned to her room alone, Deng Yingying followed and knocked on the door.
“Aunt Lan, it’s Yingying. May I come in?”
“Come in.”
Deng Yingying pushed the door open, locked it behind her, and saw Huang Guilan sitting by the window at her sewing machine, working on a new outfit. The clothes looked bright and colorful, clearly meant for someone young.
Aunt Lan had always loved making new clothes for her.
These new clothes must be for her!
“Aunt Lan, these clothes are so pretty.”
Huang Guilan didn’t stop pedaling the sewing machine. She glanced up at Deng Yingying, then lowered her head again, focusing carefully on the needle and thread.
“Xingyue, An An, and Ningning’s clothes are too worn out. Aunt Lan is making two new outfits for the mother and her two daughters.”
What? They were actually new clothes for Qiao Xingyue and her two daughters?
Deng Yingying’s heart instantly soured with envy, but she forced a sweet smile and said, “Aunt Lan, you’re so good to Sister Xingyue! But Sister Xingyue is very capable and takes such careful care of Grandma. She truly deserves your kindness.”
Huang Guilan nodded, her feet still pedaling the machine, and she couldn’t stop praising Qiao Xingyue. Deng Yingying had no choice but to pretend to agree with every word.
Deng Yingying added, “Aunt Lan, my mother has been a bit too much these past couple of days. You know how she is—I’ll definitely talk to her about it later.”
“It’s fine. Aunt Lan has a way to deal with your mother now. Xingyue taught me.”
The method Xingyue taught was really effective. Now she didn’t have to fear Jiang Chunyan’s moral kidnapping anymore. This time, she finally remembered the term “moral kidnapping.”
“…” This Qiao Xingyue—how does she manage to win Aunt Lan’s favor at every turn? Deng Yingying was so furious she felt her lungs might burst, but she didn’t dare show it.
After a moment’s thought, Deng Yingying hinted delicately, “Aunt Lan, Zhongming already has a wife.” Surely Sister Xingyue doesn’t have any… ideas about Brother Zhongming, does she?”
At this, Huang Guilan stopped pedaling the sewing machine and looked up. “Yingying, how could you think that way? How could you be like your mother?”I… I just heard that Brother Zhongming is going to divorce his wife from the countryside.” Brother Zhongming is outstanding in every way, and I’m afraid Sister Xingyue might be setting her sights on him. Even though Sister Xingyue is capable, she’s still not a match for Brother Zhongming in any aspect.”
“That’s a mistaken way of thinking. Even if your Zhongming brother really gets divorced, I’d still feel that a divorced man like him isn’t quite worthy of someone as excellent as Xingyue in every way.”
“What? Aunt… Aunt Lan, but Sister Xingyue has two children.”
Mentioning the two children made Huang Guilan even fonder. “An An and Ning Ning are even more connected to our Xie family.”
One was like her and Zhongming—allergic to peanuts.
The other was like Old Xie—born with asthma.
“If your brother Zhongming really divorces his wife from the countryside someday, I’d get two adorable granddaughters for free.” What a bargain!”
Huang Guilan had spent her whole life hoping for a daughter but ended up with five sons in a row.
She had also hoped for granddaughters but didn’t get any—the wives of her eldest and second sons gave her four grandsons instead.
If An An and Ning Ning really became her granddaughters, even if not by blood, she would wake up laughing from her dreams.
To Deng Yingying, these words made no sense. How could Aunt Lan treasure those two little burdens so much? Yet Deng Yingying didn’t dare utter a single word of disagreement.
“An An and Ning Ning really are quite adorable!”
Deng Yingying tentatively asked again, “Aunt Lan, does Zhongming really plan to divorce that rural wife of his?”
“He has such intentions.”
But wasn’t it because Pang Ya had gone missing and couldn’t be found?
Deng Yingying probed further, “Aunt Lan, then… if Zhongming really divorces his rural wife, are you planning to have Xingyue sister marry him?”
After asking this question, Deng Yingying anxiously awaited Huang Guilan’s response.
Huang Guilan studied Deng Yingying. This girl had previously wanted to marry Old Fourth, but he had refused. She didn’t want Deng Yingying to ruin things now.
Though Huang Guilan’s voice remained gentle, her words were resolute, “Yingying, you should give up any illusions about you and Zhongming. Your Zhongming brother doesn’t like you in the slightest. Otherwise, back then he wouldn’t have chosen to marry that lazy rural woman over you. But it’s alright, Aunt Lan will still treat you like a dear niece.”
Deng Yingying felt displeased.
Why just a niece? Didn’t she used to say she’d treat me like her own daughter?
Just then, someone knocked at the door – it was Xie Zhongming. “Mom, I’ve bought what you asked me to get.”
Huang Guilan looked at Deng Yingying, “Yingying, you should leave first.”
After Deng Yingying left, Xie Zhongming entered, and Huang Guilan had him close the door.
“Mom, I’ve bought the Snowflake Cream you asked me to get for Comrade Qiao.”
“Could you take it upstairs for Comrade Qiao? I need to hurry and make new clothes for the mother and her two daughters.”
Huang Guilan continued pedaling the sewing machine, carefully guiding the fabric under the needle without looking up.
Xie Zhongming tightened his grip on the box of Snowflake Cream: Was it appropriate for a male comrade to give Snowflake Cream to Comrade Qiao?
Though he thought this, he still took the cream and sandwiched it between several books before heading to the bathroom door.
The bathroom door was open, and the voices of Qiao Xingyue, An An, and Ningning could be heard inside.
“Let Mommy check if you’ve brushed your teeth clean.”
“Ah!” An An opened her little mouth. After her mother finished checking, she said happily, “Mommy, it’s so nice at Shizhang Grandpa’s house. We can use this fragrant toothpaste. Back in the countryside, we used tooth powder, and our toothbrushes were made of bamboo, not like the soft ones Uncle Zhongming bought us. Brushing feels so comfortable.”
An An really wished she could have a warm-hearted father like Uncle Zhongming.
She had said this privately to Qiao Xingyue before, but Qiao Xingyue had told her never to say such things again – because Uncle Zhongming was already married.
Though somewhat disappointed, An An felt completely satisfied and grateful to be staying at Shizhang Grandpa’s house.
Qiao Xingyue too was deeply satisfied and grateful for this good life!
She also wanted An An and Ningning to stay in the city and put down roots here, but working as a nanny at Aunt Lan’s house wasn’t a long-term solution. If only she could take the college entrance exam and get a diploma.
But when she went to register at the Education Office, they said she was over twenty-five and already married, so she didn’t meet the requirements.
Just then, Xie Zhongming called to her from the doorway, “Comrade Qiao, here are some books for you. You might find them useful.”
Seeing the books being offered, Qiao Xingyue quickly wiped her wet hands on her clothes before reaching out to take them. “What are these?”
High school textbooks!
Qiao Xingyue was utterly bewildered! What was going on?
She had just washed her face with warm water.
While washing, she casually unbuttoned the top button of her collar and cleaned her neck as well.
A few strands of damp hair clung to her fair neck, which was slender and pale like freshly peeled tender lotus root. Further down, her delicate collarbones were visible, forming shallow hollows. Though she wore no rouge, her face carried a faint flush from the recent washing, even the tips of her ears tinged pink. Her eyes sparkled like morning dew, presenting a strikingly vivid and captivating appearance.
Xie Zhongming had only glanced at her before quickly averting his gaze, as if scalded, not daring to linger on her face too long.
His hand, clutching the hem of his clothes, subtly tightened. “When I returned, I ran into the admissions director from the Cultural and Education Office. He heard you were working at my place and asked me to relay that, given your medical expertise as a special talent, they’re making an exception to enroll you as this year’s college entrance exam candidate.”
“Comrade Xie, what did you say? The Cultural and Education Office is really willing to accept me?”
“Yes. Take these books—you can study in your spare time.”
“Comrade Xie, thank you.”
“I just happened to meet the director and brought you the good news.”
“…”
“Comrade Qiao, I’ll help you get the referral letter from the Logistics Department of the military Family Compound.”
“Comrade Xie, there’s no need to trouble yourself. I’ll go tomorrow—”
“I’m more familiar with the military Compound than you are. It’s settled.” Xie Zhongming stated decisively.
With that, his tall, straight figure turned and left.
Qiao Xingyue was somewhat puzzled. When she went to the Cultural and Education Office that morning, she had also mentioned her medical skills and English proficiency. Why hadn’t anyone there brought up her being a special talent eligible for exceptional admission?
Could it be sheer luck?
Ever since coming to the Xie household, how could her luck be this good?
“Comrade Xie, I truly thank you.”
Hearing her, Xie Zhongming paused, his broad shoulders unmoving as he glanced back slightly.
He had learned earlier that she was born to parents sent to the countryside and grew up in a rural area with no formal schooling, yet she had acquired considerable knowledge and medical skills from her well-educated parents.
He admired her greatly—for persevering in learning despite such circumstances. “Comrade Qiao, if you have dreams, strive for them. I’m sure you can achieve them.”
Seeing the radiant determination in her eyes, Xie Zhongming found himself unable to look away, feeling that she shouldn’t be confined to the Stove Chamber as a mere housemaid.
“Yes!” Qiao Xingyue nodded firmly.
“Comrade Qiao, I hope you’ll have broader horizons in the future!”
“Yes! Comrade Xie, don’t worry, I definitely won’t neglect my duties.”
The employers in the Xie family were all broad-minded and kind—Division Commander Xie, Aunt Lan, and Comrade Xie alike. An indescribable emotion filled her heart.
She was just a small housemaid in the Xie household, yet not only did they not worry about her work being affected, they supported her in taking the college entrance exam and pursuing her dreams.
Even a minor maid in the Xie family received such treatment.
With five sons in the Xie family, the five daughters-in-law who married into it must be incredibly cherished!