Back then, Song Zhenzhen had refused to accept Zhao Beichen’s unilateral decision to break off their engagement. Li Huifang knew this very well. She had deliberately acted so forcefully to sever all ties between Song Zhenzhen and Zhao Beichen completely. Although it was cruel, there had been no other choice.
Regardless of why Yang Liu and Zhao Beichen had gotten married back then, Niannian’s existence was now the undeniable result of that marriage. They absolutely could not allow Zhao Beichen to gain a reputation for abandoning his wife and daughter who had shared his hardships in the countryside.
Li Huifang said: “Xingchen, take your Sister Zhenzhen home.”
When Zhao Dongshan returned that evening, Li Huifang asked him: “What did Beichen say?”
Commander Zhao had made a special trip to Zhao Beichen’s unit that weekend.
Commander Zhao snorted coldly and said: “I explained all the stakes to him. He didn’t say anything, so I’ll take that as his agreement.”
Li Huifang told Zhao Dongshan everything that had happened after Song Zhenzhen came to their home that day.
Commander Zhao chuckled twice and said: “I couldn’t tell that a good mother-in-law like you had a day when you’d show your temper too?”
Li Huifang hurled a pillow at Zhao Dongshan and cursed: “You old thing still have the nerve to laugh? Do you think it’s easy for me to be their stepmother? If it weren’t for you, would I have to put up with all this damn aggravation from them?”
Zhao Dongshan was sixty-eight and would soon retire completely. His sons and daughters from his first wife, as well as his daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, had all been properly settled into good work units. In the end, only Zhao Beichen had been willing to remain in the army and carry on his aspirations. But things were different now. In peacetime, getting promoted in the military was harder than ascending to heaven.
Zhao Beichen had already lost several of his best years because he had gone to the countryside and enlisted several years late. Even his position as Company Commander had been won by risking his life, yet now both his Eldest Brother and Second Brother wanted to squeeze him out of the Zhao Family.
Zhao Dongshan had it rather difficult as well. Early in the morning, he had spent several hours traveling by vehicle to find Zhao Beichen and lecture him, and after returning that evening, he still had to coax his wife.
Li Huifang was only fifty-one, merely ten years older than Commander Zhao’s eldest son, Zhao Beichuan. After marrying Zhao Dongshan, she had endured his mother’s anger when she was young. After his mother passed away, she then had to endure the anger of his sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law.
After Zhao Dongshan finished coaxing his wife, he went to lecture his eldest son and second son. Early the next morning, Guo Hongxia got up early and prepared breakfast for the whole family together with the auntie.
Zhao Dongshan had already stepped back into a secondary role. It did not matter if he went to his work unit a little earlier or later. He waited until everyone else had left before he and Li Huifang finally spoke with Yang Liu.
The Zhao Family was going to hold a banquet that Sunday to formally introduce Yang Liu and Niannian to everyone. Zhao Beichen would also return.
Yang Liu said: “Didn’t you say we weren’t going to hold one?”
Li Huifang said: “Yesterday, your dad went to Beichen’s unit. This banquet has to be held. Tomorrow, I’ll take you and Niannian to buy two sets of clothes, shoes, and things like that.” After saying this, she stared at Yang Liu for a while and asked: “Do you like permed hairstyles? If you do, how about getting your hair permed too?”
Permed hairstyles were particularly fashionable at the time.
Yang Liu’s face was not suited to a permed hairstyle or overly heavy, glamorous makeup. Yang Liu said: “There’s no need to perm it. Just trimming it a little will be fine.”
During these past few days at the Zhao Family, Yang Liu had truly been in a state of doing absolutely nothing. She did not have to do any work at all and only needed to take care of Niannian.
Niannian could already speak Mandarin very well. She could sit quietly and look through picture books, draw pictures, and arrange chess pieces. At this rate, she would soon be able to attend the Yuhong Preschool Class, right?
Zhao Beichen returned on Saturday evening.
Dinnertime had already passed. When Li Huizhen went to Yang Liu’s room, Yang Liu was teaching Niannian how to draw. The little one had excellent control of her pencil and could already draw some simple line drawings.
This made Li Huifang see Yang Liu in an entirely new light once again.
She had originally planned to find a teacher to teach the mother and daughter on weekends, but she discovered that there was no need at all. Yang Liu seemed to know how to do everything and understand everything.
Li Huifang said: “Xiao Wang, Beichen is back. Go with Sister Wang and make him something to eat. I’ll watch the child.”
Of course Yang Liu knew that Zhao Beichen had returned. She did not even want to run into him face-to-face, but she had no way to refuse Li Huifang’s arrangement.
“What does he like to eat?” Yang Liu asked.
Li Huifang said: “It’s already evening, so just make him a bowl of noodles! Make another two side dishes. Oh, right, he likes meat, so make a plate of dressed beef as well.
You two should discuss the arrangements for tomorrow’s banquet!”
Yang Liu had just finished changing her clothes when Zhao Beichen pushed open the door and walked in. He had just showered in the communal bathroom on the second floor. He was wearing a pair of casual pants, and he had not even finished buttoning his shirt when he walked in, drying his hair.