Shi Sue snorted, “If she were as timid as a quail, I wouldn’t even spare half an eye for her.”
“That just means she’s a shrew! She’s thick-skinned!” Chen Li still held a grudge, refusing to acknowledge this sister-in-law.
She was nothing but a troublemaker, a venomous woman who tore lovers apart, a meddler with a face thicker than a city wall.
If it weren’t for her, the family wouldn’t have so much trouble!
Though she was still fuming, Shi Sue felt a sense of relief in her heart, and her steps lightened.
“She only did this one thing right—everything else is another matter!”
Want the Chen family to welcome her into the household with open arms?
Dream on!
This was Shi Sue’s bottom line; she was still angry about her grandson’s act-first-apologize-later approach.
…
The evenings in the military camp always carried a certain tranquility. Battalion Commander Lian Hai did not, as usual, take off his uniform and wash away the day’s exhaustion. Instead, he glared darkly at his stammering wife.
“I was wondering why things had been so quiet these past two days. If it weren’t for Sister Lin from the committee telling me, I’d have been completely fooled by you!”
Zhang Daju hadn’t expected her husband to find out about this matter. Her heart was pounding—this time, he was truly furious.
“I only heard it from Chen Lang’s sister…”
Lian Hai slammed the table, causing the water in the teacup to splash onto the surface and startling Zhang Daju.
He pointed at Zhang Daju’s face and scolded her sharply, “Your big mouth stirs up trouble, and now you’ve dropped a rock on your own foot! Don’t you know what their situation is? The whole family are martyrs, and Chen Lang is the regiment’s prized talent!”
Zhang Daju, feeling guilty, avoided his gaze. “I apologized. Didn’t you see I haven’t left the house all day? Even murderers get a chance to repent…”
Lian Hai paced back and forth in the room, his chest heaving with anger.
“You’re still talking back! Do you have any idea how big a mess you’ve made? If you dare spread rumors again, I’ll divorce you!”
At the mention of divorce, Zhang Daju’s eyes reddened with grievance. “Lian Hai, I don’t want a divorce. I’ll change!”
Her excuses only irritated Lian Hai. He straightened his uniform and hurriedly left.
“Where are you going?” Zhang Daju stood up, afraid he might actually divorce her.
“I’m going to clean up your mess!”
Lian Hai didn’t dare delay, wanting to apologize quickly and clarify the situation.
Just as Chen Lang reached his doorstep, he saw Lian Hai pacing outside, clearly waiting for him.
“Battalion Commander Li? What brings you here?”
Lian Hai looked embarrassed, his tone apologetic. “Battalion Commander Chen, I’m sorry. My wife sincerely regrets her actions, and I’ve come to apologize on her behalf. She won’t dare do it again.”
Chen Lang looked puzzled. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
Thinking Chen Lang was angry, Lian Hai lowered his stance further.
“Daju only heard it from someone else. She shouldn’t have repeated it thoughtlessly. I’ve scolded her, and there must have been some misunderstanding…”
Chen Lang frowned slightly, standing quietly as he listened to Lian Hai’s roundabout explanations. By the time Lian Hai had talked himself hoarse, Chen Lang finally understood what had happened.
“You’re saying your wife spread rumors about my fiancée?”
Lian Hai broke into a cold sweat, feeling as though his earlier defense had been in vain.
“Well, your sister-in-law is just straightforward—she believes whatever others say…”
“I’ve received your message. I will ask Chen Li what exactly she said, and then discuss it with you in detail.”
Chen Lang’s tone was calm, but the chill emanating from him made Li Lianhai’s hair stand on end.
Li Lianhai was already feeling guilty, and hearing Chen Lang’s response, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“I won’t disturb you any further, Battalion Commander Chen. All the fault is mine, for failing to discipline properly.”
Chen Lang gave a slight nod, politely seeing him out.
After Li Lianhai left, Chen Lang remained standing at the door.
After a moment of thought, he knew the situation couldn’t be as minor as Li Lianhai had described.
Zhang Daju’s reputation was well-known; everyone knew most of the gossip in the compound came from her mouth.
How would she slander a divorced woman?
Chen Lang turned and went back inside, knocking on Chen Li’s door.
“Tell me, what exactly happened?”
Judging from her brother’s expression, Chen Li knew she had to tell the truth obediently.
She swallowed hard, “Brother, you know?”
“Speak.”
Chen Li recalled that day, trying hard to remember what she had said, and confessed everything. Finally, she timidly added, “I was just angry at the time…”
Chen Lang’s brow tightened, his lips pressed into a straight line, his expression gradually darkening.
Chen Li, frightened by his expression, felt her eyes redden and her nose sting.
“I just said a few things casually in front of Sister Qing. Who knew Zhang Daju would overhear? And you’re getting angry at me over an outsider!”
Chen Lang closed his eyes, suppressing the surging emotions. “Chen Li, you’re grown up now. You should know what to say and what not to say. She is your sister-in-law, not an outsider. From now on, please watch your words and actions!”
Chen Li burst into tears, stomping her feet and shouting, “No! I don’t want her as my sister-in-law! You have a wife now and don’t want your sister anymore! I hate you!”
This was the first time they had ever argued since childhood.
Chen Lang looked at her like this, his chest heaving a few times as he forcefully suppressed his anger. “It’s late, go to sleep.”
Chen Li slammed the door shut, refusing to look at the brother who had broken her heart.
Just because of an outsider, her brother who had always doted on her was actually scolding her with a stern face?
She lay on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
Shi Sue tiptoed out of the bedroom, looking reproachful.
“What’s all this noise? Do you want her to hear?!”
Afraid that Qin Mulan, who was bedridden, would hear the siblings arguing, she hurried out to scold them.
“Is she asleep?” Chen Lang rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking weary.
Shi Sue nodded.
“I’m going out for a bit.”
Chen Lang turned and left the house.
It only took a few minutes to walk from the martyr’s family area to the ordinary family area.
He stood at the door hesitating for a moment before raising his hand to knock lightly.
“Who is it?”
“Chen Lang.”
After a short wait, Lian Qiao rubbed her eyes and opened the door.
She didn’t know why he had come to see her so late.
Chen Lang found her somewhat adorable with her sleep-mussed hair and, for some reason, felt like reaching out to ruffle it.
He handed her the brown envelope from his pocket. “Just got my salary this afternoon.”
Lian Qiao was stunned, looking down at the envelope in her hand, her mind full of questions.
At this hour?
Coming to give her money?
“You keep it. I haven’t spent the last amount you gave me yet.” Lian Qiao tried to push it back into his hand.
Chen Lang put his hands behind his back, leaving her with nowhere to put it.
He was wearing a white shirt, and there was a pocket on his chest.
Lian Qiao wanted to stuff the envelope in there, but Chen Lang grabbed her wrist. “You keep it.”
His hand was large, warm and dry, the thin calluses on his fingertips not rough at all.
Lian Qiao had no choice but to give up, but his hand still hadn’t let go, which made her heartbeat quicken considerably.
“Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?” Chen Lang asked her softly.
“Huh? I’ve been helping my sister take care of the kids every day, every day is the same…” Lian Qiao didn’t know why he was asking this.
Could it be that he was actually concerned about what she ate or did each day?
They weren’t exactly like a couple in a free-spirited romance—they were more like two people who had met through a matchmaking session once and were now going through the marriage process.
Chen Lang didn’t get the answer he was hoping for and gradually loosened his grip.
“Since we’ve chosen to get married, I hope you’ll think of me first for anything that happens, okay?”