Zhao Manli’s heart was in wild upheaval over her discovery, and she very much wanted to talk about it with Lao Wei, but there were guests at the moment, and Lao Wei also had to go out, so she could only let it go.
After seeing them out, Zhao Manli continued entertaining Chen Aifang’s family and had them sit at her home a little longer.
It was only when the time was about right that Chen Aifang finally took her younger sister-in-law and the children and said goodbye before leaving.
Zhao Manli warmly tried to keep them there. “Have a bowl of liangfen before you go. I’m about to cook the syrup.”
Chen Aifang smiled and said, “We came here on the commune’s vehicle. The tractor has to go back at three in the afternoon. If we miss it, we’ll have to walk back.”
“Then I’ll have Lao Wei drive you back later.” Zhao Manli said carelessly, knowing that Gu Yijia’s body was not good and that she could not walk, so they would definitely have to be driven back.
The county town wasn’t far from Nanshan Commune, and by car it would be quick, not costing much in gas money.
Chen Aifang knew she meant well, but still refused. She did not want Officer Wei to use the bureau’s car to send them back. Although it would be fine for Officer Wei to borrow the car for a bit, it would not be good to let him do that.
Zhao Manli could only send them out the door in regret.
Chen Aifang said, “Sister-in-law, you don’t need to see us off. We can walk over ourselves.”
“Alright then.” Zhao Manli said, “Be careful on the road, and Jiajia too, don’t tire yourself out.” She looked at Gu Yijia, who stood elegantly beside Chen Aifang, and thinking of Feng Lin’s expression just now, became even more certain of her guess.
She really hadn’t expected it. Captain Feng had actually taken a liking to the younger sister of Captain Gu.
Although Gu Yijia’s health was poor, her face was so beautiful that being fancied by someone was normal.
Zhao Manli felt that Feng Lin probably was not the sort of person who cared about a female comrade’s looks. He must have other reasons for liking Gu Yijia.
As for Gu Yijia’s poor health, Feng Lin still paid attention to her after knowing about it, so he was probably truly smitten.
After leaving Officer Wei’s home, Chen Aifang and the others headed toward the agreed-upon place.
They arrived neither early nor late, and those commune members were already waiting there, ready to take the vehicle back.
Huang Pingping was there too.
Gu Yijia looked at her and saw the smile in her brows and eyes, the joy on her face impossible to hide, and knew that today’s blind meeting had gone very successfully. She was happy for her too.
“Jiajia, you’re here.” Huang Pingping said with concern, “The vehicle still hasn’t started yet. Come sit in the shade of this tree first.” She was worried the weather was hot and that Gu Yijia would get heatstroke and faint again.
Gu Yijia smiled and thanked her, then sat down on a long bench under the shade that was for people to rest on.
She knew her own body and never put on a brave front. Trying hard not to get sick was the best thing for the people around her.
After waiting for about twenty minutes, everyone finally arrived, and the group prepared to return to the commune.
Just after getting on the vehicle, they heard the ringing of a bicycle bell.
Everyone turned to look and saw a young police officer riding a bicycle over here. He looked very anxious.
The young police officer first looked around, and at a glance saw Gu Yijia on the vehicle. He immediately said, “Comrade Gu, wait, don’t go yet!”
Everyone on the vehicle looked over, somewhat surprised.
They looked at the young police officer, then at Gu Yijia. Could something have happened? Otherwise the police would not have come looking specially.
The young police officer rode up on his bicycle to the front of the tractor, looked at Gu Yijia on the vehicle, and showed her a bright smile. “Comrade Gu, do you remember me?”
Gu Yijia nodded.
This young police officer was the one who had taken away Jiang Jinwang last time.
Chen Aifang asked with some worry, “Comrade police officer, is there something?”
A police officer suddenly coming to find them naturally made people worry. Not just her, the other commune members were also rather uneasy. Even though they knew they had done nothing wrong, they still instinctively felt guilty and intimidated in front of the police.
Seeing Gu Yijia nod, the young police officer was very happy in his heart. Who wouldn’t like being remembered by a pretty girl?
He was secretly delighted and said, “There is something. Sister-in-law Wei was originally going to come find you, but since I ride a bicycle fast, she asked me to come tell you instead and let you know not to rush back yet. Sister-in-law Wei has something else to discuss with you.”
“Sister-in-law Wei?”
Hearing Sister-in-law Wei, Chen Aifang knew it should be Zhao Manli. She could not help but feel a little strange. “What’s going on? Could there be something else at sister-in-law’s side?”
The young police officer did not say, only vaguely said, “Sister-in-law Wei wants you to wait first. In short, don’t rush back.”
At this, Chen Aifang did not say anything else, and got off the vehicle with her two children and Gu Yijia.
Huang Pingping looked at them worriedly and asked in a low voice, “Sister-in-law, is everything alright?”
The commune members on the vehicle also had worried expressions.
Chen Aifang smiled easily and said, “It’s fine. This police comrade is here to pass on a message for someone else. What could happen?”
The young police officer said to Gu Yijia, “Comrade Gu, my surname is Wan, my name is Wan Dongshan. If you have anything, you can come find me.”
Seeing that this young police officer looked natural, and that his attitude toward Gu Yijia was very friendly, and indeed did not seem as if anything serious had happened, everyone finally relaxed.
Driver Kang Liu said, “Then sister-in-law, we’ll head back first.”
Chen Aifang smiled and agreed, telling them to go back first.
When the tractor disappeared at the front of the road, Chen Aifang then asked, “Comrade Wan, did something happen?”
Wan Dongshan restrained the smile on his face, held onto the bicycle, and nodded. “There really is something. The bureau chief originally asked me to go to his home to find you, and have Comrade Gu stay at his place first until he came back.”
After hearing this, Chen Aifang immediately thought that something might have happened on the Jiang family’s side, and that they were worried it would affect Gu Yijia, which was why Officer Wei had kept her there.
At once she took Gu Yijia and the two children back again.
Wan Dongshan still had things to do. After notifying them, he left.
“Sister-in-law Chen, there are still things at the bureau. I’ll go be busy first. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come find me at the police station.” He said very warmly.
Chen Aifang smiled and agreed, thanking him for his help.
Gu Yijia also nodded slightly toward him.
Just after they returned to the family compound, they saw Zhao Manli waiting at the entrance.
Her expression did not seem to have changed much. When she saw them, she even smiled and said, “Ah, you left something at my place. Fortunately, I had Xiao Wan help me call you. It’s still early. Come to my house first and eat something, rest for a while.”
Chen Aifang’s expression did not change, and she smiled as she agreed.
After they entered Officer Wei’s home, when the Wei siblings saw them, they happily greeted them, seeming not at all surprised that they had come back.
Zhao Manli let the two children take Baoshan and Baohua into the room to play, and spoke with Chen Aifang and Gu Yijia.
She said, “Not long after you left, Lao Wei had Xiao Wan come over and say that he wanted you to sit a while longer, and wait until he came back to talk to you about something.”
“What is it?” Chen Aifang asked reflexively.
Zhao Manli shook her head. “I’m not sure either. We’ll know when Lao Wei comes back.” After hesitating for a moment, she added, “I’m guessing there’s some change on the Jiang family’s side.” Seeing Chen Aifang worry, she quickly comforted her, “Don’t worry. If the Jiang family really did commit some crime, they definitely won’t escape the law’s punishment. I’m just afraid they’ll jump the wall in desperation.”
Chen Aifang also thought of this possibility, and her mood could not help but grow somewhat heavy.
They lived in the commune. Although the commune people were united, if someone developed some bad intentions, it was hard to guard against.
Because of this matter, Chen Aifang’s mood was not very good. Fearing Gu Yijia would worry, she forced a smile and talked with Zhao Manli.
Zhao Manli said as if lightly, “See, I told you, you have to eat my liangfen.”
When she went to the kitchen to make liangfen for the guests, Chen Aifang said to the quiet Gu Yijia, “Jiajia, you don’t need to worry. Since Officer Wei called us back, there definitely isn’t anything serious.”
Gu Yijia answered with an mm and smiled. “Sister-in-law, I’m not worried. You don’t need to worry either.”
Zhao Manli brought out several bowls of liangfen and called the children in the room to come out and eat liangfen together.
What she made was black liangfen, made by simmering xiancao. Pouring on a spoonful of syrup or honey made it the most heat-relieving summer dessert. Every summer, many households, if they had the means, would specially go looking for xiancao to cook liangfen. It could relieve heat and could also be used as a dessert after meals. Both adults and children liked it.
The children were carefree. After finishing the liangfen, they continued to play.
Wei Baozhu was the happiest. She liked Baohua the little sister playing with her, and she also liked little Auntie Gu Yijia, who looked like a fairy.
Taking advantage of the fact that her mother went to the kitchen to wash dishes, she slyly followed after her.
“Mom, when will Dad be back?”
“I don’t know. What are you looking for your dad for?” Zhao Manli washed the dishes while shooing her away. “Go, go, go. You’re not even coming to help me work, and you’re just staying here getting in the way.”
Wei Baozhu pouted. “Mom, I heard what you and Uncle Xiao Wan were saying. It seems like something happened, and some bad person with ill intentions will bully the pretty little auntie. Dad asked them not to go home yet… ah, Mom, do you think we should let the little auntie stay at our house first, and only let her go back after it’s safe?”
Don’t look at her as only ten years old. Living in the compound, she already understood many things she should know. She was not the kind of ignorant child who knew nothing.
Zhao Manli looked at her and knew what this girl was thinking. She laughed and said, “You like Jiajia that much?”
“Like her!” Wei Baozhu said as a matter of course. “Little Auntie is so pretty. I could look at her every day and never get tired of it.”
Zhao Manli knew her daughter well. Since she was little, she had been someone who loved beauty, not only dressing herself up beautifully, but also liking people who looked good. Seeing the beautiful Gu Yijia, it was only natural that she would like her so much and have such an idea.
She put the washed bowls upside down in the basket and said, “Let’s talk about it after your dad comes back.”
Wei Baozhu happily agreed, then bounced out.
Officer Wei came back very late. The sky had already darkened.
Seeing that Officer Wei looked exhausted all over, Zhao Manli said, “Lao Wei, you’re back. Are you hungry? I’ll go serve your meal.”
The others had already finished eating, and only Officer Wei’s food was still being kept warm in the pot.
This could not be helped. Sometimes when Officer Wei got busy, he might not even make it home by the middle of the night. It was impossible for the whole family to wait for him with empty stomachs, right?
Wei Baozhu thoughtfully brought over a teacup of cooled tea water and gave it to her father to quench his thirst. In hot weather, her father liked drinking cool tea the most to relieve thirst.
Seeing how thoughtful his daughter was, Officer Wei’s tired face gained a bit of comfort.
Seeing Chen Aifang and the others waiting at home, he greeted them. Just as he was about to say something, Zhao Manli called him over to eat with mock annoyance.
“Whatever it is, talk after you’ve eaten.”
Chen Aifang followed with a nod. “Sister-in-law is right. Officer Wei, eat first.”
No matter how anxious they were, they were not anxious over the time of one meal. Seeing that Officer Wei had been busy all day and come back starving, how could they bear to let him go hungry?
Officer Wei smiled good-naturedly at his wife, washed his hands, and then went to eat.
He ate very quickly, and got scolded by Zhao Manli again.
Zhao Manli said, “I don’t care how you used to be in the army. Now that you’re no longer in the army, you’re not allowed to wolf your food down when you eat. It’s not like you’re in a rush, and it’s bad for your stomach.”
Officer Wei obediently slowed down a bit, but compared with ordinary people, he was still unbelievably fast, and Zhao Manli got so angry she just stared at him.
After Officer Wei finished eating and drank a mouthful of water, he sat down in the living room.
Zhao Manli tactfully drove the children back into the room.
Officer Wei also did not beat around the bush. He said directly, “This afternoon, people sent from above came and sealed up the Jiang family.”
At this, everyone present’s brows jumped wildly.
Even Gu Yijia, who understood through history how crazy this era could be, could not help feeling a shock. Only by being in it could one know how dangerous the situation described by those words really was.
Zhao Manli stammered, “W-What’s going on?”
Officer Wei shook his head at her and said, “Don’t worry about this yet, and don’t go asking around either! For now, Jiajia can stay at our place first. We’ll talk after this period passes.”
Because Gu Yijia was Old Gu’s younger sister, Officer Wei also treated her like a younger sister, and now simply followed Chen Aifang and the others in calling her Jiajia.
Zhao Manli was also someone who had seen things and reacted quickly, “Alright. Baozhu that girl likes Jiajia so much that she’d love for Jiajia to live in our house.”
In her heart, she was thinking that something capable of alarming the people above was probably no small matter on the Jiang family’s side. In the end it would be nothing more than those few possibilities, and every one of them was a big matter. If you got involved, even if you did not die, you would still lose a layer of skin.
They really could not be involved in this matter, nor could they ask too much about it. They would wait until the dust settled before talking about it.
Zhao Manli could not help feeling somewhat puzzled. The Jiang family’s position in the county town was not low. She had even heard that there were Jiang family members over in the provincial capital, and Factory Director Jiang did not look like a foolish man either. How had something suddenly happened?
It should not have anything to do with Gu Yijia, right?
Zhao Manli thought this and looked at Gu Yijia. The only thing related to her was Jiang Jinwang’s indecent behavior. She did not believe that Jiang Jinwang being locked up for indecency could shake the Jiang family in any way. Perhaps this time Lao Wei, because Jiang Jinwang had harassed Gu Yijia, had asked people to investigate the Jiang family, and found out something in the process.
If that was the case, then she understood why Lao Wei had hurriedly had Xiao Wan call Gu Yijia and the others back. This matter could affect a lot of things, and she was afraid it would implicate Gu Yijia.
Chen Aifang was also full of thoughts.
She had not expected things to develop like this. The Jiang family really was bold beyond measure.
If Jiang Jinwang had forced Gu Yijia into marriage and really married her, then if the Jiang family ever had something happen, wouldn’t that drag Gu Yijia down too? It might even implicate Gu Mingcheng in the army…
Thinking of this, Chen Aifang was instantly very thankful.
Fortunately, Jiajia had no good feelings toward Jiang Jinwang and had never thought of being with him, and fortunately she had driven away the matchmaker who had called Jiang Jinwang over.
After Officer Wei revealed some things to them, he hurried out again.
From the looks of it, he probably had to stay up all night tonight.
Zhao Manli was already used to this, and said to Chen Aifang and Gu Yijia, “Aifang, it’s late. Why don’t you all stay here for the night tonight.”
Chen Aifang shook her head. “Let Jiajia stay. I’ll take the two children back.”
“Go back to what? It’s already dark. Are you planning to walk at night?” Zhao Manli said reproachfully. “If the police bureau isn’t busy, I could still have Xiao Wan help send you back to the commune. But right now, I’m afraid things are very busy over there.”
Hearing this, Chen Aifang said nothing more. She did not want to trouble others.
When they learned that Gu Yijia and the others would be staying at the house for the night, Wei Mingzhu was very happy.
She loudly declared, “I’m going to sleep with Little Auntie and Baohua.”
“Go, go, go!” Zhao Manli chased her away. “With your dog-like sleeping posture, what if you kick someone awake in the middle of the night? Jiajia’s body is not good and can’t take your messing around.”
Only then did Wei Mingzhu remember that the pretty little auntie’s body was not good, and she could only puff up her cheeks and let it go.
Officer Wei’s home was a unit apartment, a three-room one-living-room layout, which in this era was already a very good house.
The three rooms were just right for Officer Wei and his wife to have one room, Wei Baozhu one room, and Wei Baohua one room.
Now that there were guests, Wei Baozhu slept with her mother, giving up the room for Chen Aifang, Gu Yijia, and Baohua to sleep in. Baoshan went to sleep with Wei Baohua, his older brother.
At night, Officer Wei really did not come back.
Gu Yijia did not sleep well, whether because she was not used to the bed or because she had heard about the Jiang family.
In the plot, until the original owner died and the male and female leads got together, the Jiang family had remained perfectly fine and had not had anything happen. The story’s ending also stopped abruptly after Jiang Jinwang and Gu Mingyue got together, with no follow-up.
If that modern-era novel had a follow-up, what would it be like?
Would it be like now, with the Jiang family having something discovered about them, attracting the attention of the authorities and causing people to be sent to seal up the Jiang family?
Now that she had come to this world and was living here, then this was not some novel at all, but a real world, and anything could happen.
The Jiang family committing some offense was also possible.
In the middle of the night, Gu Yijia coughed herself awake once again.
Her chest hurt and felt so stuffy it was as if it was about to explode. Her whole body curled up inside the blanket, trembling, cold sweat pouring down, and it was only Chen Aifang, startled awake, who held her in her arms and helped her smooth her breathing.
“Jiajia, Jiajia…”
After quite a while, Gu Yijia finally caught her breath and weakly said, “Sister-in-law, I’m fine…”
Chen Aifang was still holding her, gently patting her chest, just as back then, when she had just married over and at night, she would hold the skinny young girl, and when she coughed in the middle of the night until she was almost out of breath, she would help her smooth her breathing, then feed her water.
Feeling the thin body in her arms, Chen Aifang inexplicably felt a pang of sorrow.
Seeing that she was indeed much better, Chen Aifang groped for a cup of water and fed it to her.
Officer Wei’s home also had a thermos. Before sleeping, she had specially poured some cooled boiled water into it, for her younger sister-in-law to drink when she woke up in the middle of the night and when she got up tomorrow morning.
After drinking the water, Gu Yijia had already recovered.
“Sleep,”
Chen Aifang touched her hand and said. It felt warm and slightly cool to the touch, and in the hot summer night, it felt really comfortable to touch, but it also showed that her body was extremely bad.
In the darkness, Gu Yijia kept her eyes open and could not fall asleep for a while.
The county town’s night was very quiet, unlike the countryside where there were chirping insects. It was so quiet that one could even hear the breathing of the people in the house.
She spoke softly, as if calling out in a breath of air. “Sister-in-law…”
Chen Aifang had not fallen asleep yet, and in a daze she said, “What is it?”
“Sister-in-law, go with your husband’s unit.”
Gu Yijia’s voice was especially clear in the quiet darkness, and it also made Chen Aifang instantly lose all sleepiness, her whole body fully awake.