“You! You…!” Fan Xue was shocked, furious, and utterly humiliated, her face flushed crimson. The lethality of Jiang Lizhu’s words was unexpectedly immense.
Fan Xue had the illusion of being suddenly exposed, her old face stripped bare, her clothes torn off, leaving her naked for all to see!
“Me? I’m young, beautiful, wise, and brave. I’m doing just fine,” Jiang Lizhu said, feeling quite pleased with herself. That beautiful glint returned to her eyes, satisfied with Fan Xue’s utter collapse. This was the price of provoking her.
“Just fine indeed!” Fan Xue gritted out in response, but didn’t dare rashly utter any threats.
The saying goes, ‘Barking dogs seldom bite!’ She had never imagined that Jiang Lizhu, whom she had previously overlooked and regarded as insignificant, could have such a formidable personality. Not only did she know so much, but she also had no qualms about airing it all publicly.
Fan Xue turned her head, her gaze sweeping over the row of half-open windows in the East Small Courtyard. She took a deep breath, glanced back at Jiang Lizhu once more, then turned and walked away quickly, almost fleeing in defeat.
Jiang Lizhu didn’t press her advantage. Dealing with the “old witch” was the female lead Xiao Jinzhu’s business; adding fuel to the fire was enough for her.
She hadn’t thought much about it before, but now, with Fan Xue stirring up memories of the tangled past between the Jiang and Lin families, she suspected that Jiang Yuanbai’s reporting and downfall might have involved the Lin family’s machinations.
At the entrance to the shared kitchen, Granny Li leaned out, able to glimpse a bit of Jiang Lizhu’s fair elbow resting on the windowsill. “Girl Jiang, you know quite a lot, don’t you?”
Every word Jiang Lizhu had spoken had pierced Fan Xue’s most sensitive spots. Many people still remembered how Fan Xue had meddled in the potential engagement between Lin Tianlei and Ruan Yumin back then, and how she had ultimately come out on top.
“Granny, you do too!” And you appear and disappear like a ghost!
Jiang Lizhu felt a bit speechless but also wanted to laugh. Despite her age and slow movements, Granny Li was always at the forefront of any gossip in the family compound. There was truly nothing she didn’t know.
At this moment, not only was Granny Li lurking in the shared kitchen, but the windows of several households in the East Small Courtyard were also half-open, with vague figures moving inside. They might not have heard the entire conversation between Jiang Lizhu and Fan Xue clearly, but they certainly saw Fan Xue’s defeated and disheveled retreat.
Jiang Lizhu dared to say it, so she wasn’t afraid of being overheard. She glanced down and saw two cans of nutritional supplements and a bag of fruit sitting on the ground by the door. Fan Xue had forgotten to take them with her when she left.
Even if she remembered now, she probably wouldn’t have the face to come back and retrieve them.
“Really loaded, aren’t they?” Jiang Lizhu muttered softly. Lin Tianlei and Fan Xue truly doted on Lin Mujia. Not content with just bringing up Ruan Yumin, they were willing to give away nearly three hundred and fifty in cash and goods.
Turning back, Jiang Lizhu leaned down to kiss the little one, who was happily playing by himself, then got out of bed and opened the door. Just then, a young woman pushed open the door of the central room and came out.
“Afternoon, Sister Jiahui. Heading back for your shift?”
Seeing Chen Jiahui nod, Jiang Lizhu continued with a smile, “Could I trouble you to take these two bags to Dean Qin’s office for me?”
According to the hospital’s shift schedule, it was nearly three in the afternoon. It was highly likely that Dr. Chen’s niece, Nurse Chen Jiahui, was heading to the nurse’s station for the night shift.
Chen Jiahui didn’t usually live in the East Small Courtyard; she stayed in an eight-person dormitory in the new quarters, occasionally visiting her aunt for a decent meal.
Jiang Lizhu didn’t mind her making a special trip to the East Small Courtyard to watch the drama, but she had no qualms about conscripting her as free labor.
“Huh? Oh, okay!” Chen Jiahui quickly masked her surprise and nodded in agreement. Although both she and the pre-resignation Jiang Lizhu were nurses, they worked in different departments with different schedules, so they didn’t interact much normally.
However, she had heard about the recent major incident at the hospital from her aunt and colleagues. Because of Jiang Lizhu, they were facing two months of ideological study sessions.
She had also vaguely overheard some of the conversation between Jiang Lizhu and Fan Xue not long ago. She only understood parts of it and was dying to know more.
But being suddenly called out by Jiang Lizhu, the very subject of her gossip, Chen Jiahui felt a twinge of guilt and her mind went blank. Without thinking, she agreed.
“Here, have these. Thank you for your help,” Jiang Lizhu said, as Chen Jiahui reached the door. She casually took an oil-paper package containing eight mung bean cakes from the desk and slipped it into Chen Jiahui’s pocket.
“You’re too kind. It’s not heavy at all,” Chen Jiahui said, smiling at Jiang Lizhu. Then she hesitated. “I can take them to Dean Qin’s office, but I can’t guarantee he’ll accept them.”
“Don’t worry, Dean Qin will definitely accept them,” Jiang Lizhu said with absolute certainty. She had just donated money and was now donating goods; how could Dean Qin refuse?
Malted milk and fruit were perfect for the children in the pediatric critical care unit.
Chen Jiahui also felt Jiang Lizhu wouldn’t joke about something like this. Glancing at her watch, she nodded with a reserved expression. “Alright then. I’m off to work.”
Jiang Lizhu smiled and watched her go. The moment Chen Jiahui turned, she closed the door.
As Chen Jiahui exited the low gate of the East Small Courtyard, she came face to face with Gu Mingyan, who was approaching with large, vigorous strides. He was even more handsome than the fleeting glimpse she had caught through the guest room window at her aunt’s house at noon.
Chen Jiahui’s pretty face flushed slightly. Before she could greet him or say anything, Gu Mingyan walked past her, entered the low gate, and headed back into the East Small Courtyard.
Gu Mingyan didn’t know Chen Jiahui. He had been delayed a bit at the train station and was back later than expected. Jiang Lizhu and the baby were surely awake by now.
“Lizhu, I’m back,” Gu Mingyan announced from outside the door before taking out his key to unlock it.
Jiang Lizhu heard his voice and ran from the east window to open the door. She wrinkled her nose. “The baby did a smelly poo. Leave the door open; we’ll give him a bath while we’re at it.”
The little one was lying on the bed, straining hard, his chubby little hands clenched into fists, his little face slightly flushed. Jiang Lizhu didn’t disturb him, but she also stood far away from the bed.
Gu Mingyan swallowed many of the words he had been about to say. Taking off his jacket, he picked up the thermos, went to the bathroom to mix water, and then conscientiously came back to the bedside to wait for his son to finish his business before picking him up to clean him.
Jiang Lizhu stopped hiding. She rolled up her sleeves and pant legs high, tucked the hem of her top into her waistband, and came into the bathroom to help.
After they worked together through the busy task, the smelly baby was transformed back into a sweet-smelling one.
Jiang Lizhu carried the baby back to the bedroom to dress him, while Gu Mingyan stayed in the bathroom to continue cleaning up. That stinky diaper had to be scrubbed immediately; leaving it would only make it worse.
Gu Mingyan dried his hands and came to sit beside Jiang Lizhu and their son. He softly explained the reason for his late return.
“The leadership helped us apply for train tickets to Fenzhou City in Hebei, departing in seven days. Soft sleeper berths. It takes 43 hours to reach the capital, then another 8 hours by train to Fenzhou City. My fourth brother will meet us at the train station.”
Gu Mingyan’s fourth brother worked at a furniture factory in Fenzhou City. They could contact him via the factory’s phone and ask him to specifically come to the station to meet them.
If Gu Mingyan were returning home alone to visit family, he wouldn’t need anyone to meet him. But bringing Jiang Lizhu and the baby was completely different; he would do everything in his power to arrange things well.
“Seven days… okay, that should be doable,” Jiang Lizhu said thoughtfully, nodding. As Gu Mingyan’s legally wedded wife, protected by the military connections he possessed, it was only right that she accompany him with their son to visit his family.
Earlier today, Jiang Lizhu had specially asked Gu Mingyan to accompany her to the baby’s check-up and vaccinations, mainly to remind him to proactively take on more parenting responsibilities.
So far, Gu Mingyan was doing even better than Jiang Lizhu had anticipated. This being the case, she had even less reason to shirk the wifely duties that fell to her.
Jiang Lizhu explained to Gu Mingyan that her original plan for military dependents’ relocation had changed. All the family’s autumn and winter clothes, quilts, and bedding covers would be shipped ahead to Gu Mingyan’s military unit.
As for the wardrobe, desk, and the stack of three large wooden trunks she had added to this small single room, she would ask someone to deliver them back to the old Jiang family home.
“…The kettle and small iron pot in the shared kitchen were also bought by us. They can be shipped with the luggage to the military unit.”
Jiang Lizhu had learned from Gu Mingyan that he previously lived in the barracks and ate all his meals at the mess hall. He didn’t own a single piece of large furniture.
It was clear just how much they would need to buy once they arrived at the unit. Everything required coupons these days, so Jiang Lizhu had to be careful with her budgeting.
Jiang Lizhu’s gaze quickly swept across the room, briefly lingering on the sewing machine in front of the east window before returning to Gu Mingyan.
“What do you think about selling it? The old house is empty. If we send it back, it might get stolen. Even if it isn’t stolen, leaving it unused for a long time could cause it to deteriorate.” She was certain that for a long time after joining him, she wouldn’t be bringing their son back to Su City.
As for shipping it to the military family compound… the shipping cost for this heavy iron lump would be at least twenty or thirty yuan, and it could easily be damaged or even lost entirely. It really wasn’t a good suggestion.
This sewing machine was one of the betrothal gifts Gu Mingyan had given to the original owner. Jiang Lizhu felt it was necessary to get Gu Mingyan’s opinion.
“Can you find a suitable buyer? Should I ask the Company Commander?” Gu Mingyan had no objections. The sewing machine, given as a betrothal gift to Jiang Lizhu, belonged to her now. She could dispose of it however she wished.
Xiong Dongjun was a captain in the police bureau, and his wife worked for the subdistrict Women’s Federation. They knew many reliable people. Asking him for help should quickly find a suitable buyer.
Jiang Lizhu grabbed Gu Mingyan’s wrist and shook her head repeatedly. “Captain Xiong’s work is busy enough. No need to trouble him.”
“I heard from Aunt Mei that a woman in the neighboring government compound has been looking for coupons for the ‘three major items’ lately. Her son is marrying a leader’s daughter, and the betrothal gifts – the ‘three turns and a sound’ – can’t be missing a single one.”
Their sewing machine was practically brand new. Jiang Lizhu had only used it frequently in the last two months; before that, it was basically used as a shelf.
“Alright then,” Gu Mingyan responded softly. His gaze fell on Jiang Lizhu’s slender, fair hand, which she quickly withdrew, and a strange, itchy feeling rose in his heart.
Looking up, he met Jiang Lizhu’s eyes. “You decide. Just tell me what needs to be done.”
Jiang Lizhu’s fox-like eyes curved, a smile blooming on her face. She was very pleased with Gu Mingyan’s proactive attitude. “Then I’ll have to trouble Comrade Gu to put in a lot of effort, won’t I?”
“I will. Let me hold him,” Gu Mingyan said, his eyelashes fluttering slightly as he lowered his gaze. He reached out towards the little one in Jiang Lizhu’s arms. The baby’s dark, shiny eyes stared at him, then he turned his head and burrowed back into Jiang Lizhu’s embrace.
“Huh…” Jiang Lizhu also looked at her son with surprise. He had actually held a grudge from morning until now? This was a baby barely a hundred days old.
But that wasn’t quite right either. Earlier, during the bath in the bathroom, the little guy hadn’t seemed to resist Gu Mingyan. Maybe he hadn’t remembered? Or had he just used him and discarded him?
“Well, look at it this way – our son is so smart!” Jiang Lizhu offered a weak defense for her son to Gu Mingyan. Then she looked back down at the baby, her tone becoming serious.
“Baby, Mama has to scold you. Daddy just gave you a bath and scrubbed your diaper. That was hard work. We need to thank Daddy and love Daddy, understand?”
Having said that, Jiang Lizhu lifted the baby, turning his chubby little face towards Gu Mingyan. “Daddy Gu, come on, give your baby a kiss. You’ll be friends again.”