Chapter 9

Jiang Weimin’s minor injuries could have healed with some anti-inflammatory treatment, but Jiang Fei added fuel to the fire and he developed an infection and a fever. He stayed in the hospital for three days, unconscious and delirious.

Li Chunhua scolded Jiang Ci in the hospital while taking care of Jiang Weimin.

Jiang Fei clamored to seek revenge on Jiang Ci, but she didn’t dare to go after being beaten last time.

It was not until Zhou Aimei and Li Chuncheng came to visit that Jiang Fei quickly accused Jiang Ci of the crime.

Li Chuncheng slammed the table in anger, “How could our family give birth to such a cruel and heartless beast? I will teach her a lesson.”

Jiang Fei pointed at her own face and said, “Uncle, look at these holes on my face, they were all pierced by Jiang Ci.”

Li Chuncheng took a look and saw that there were more than a dozen red spots around Jiang Fei’s mouth. She was not good-looking to begin with, and with the bruises on her head, she looked even uglier. How could she still get married? But if it was said that it was Jiang Ci who beat him, Li Chuncheng still had some doubts. Jiang Ci was just a meat bun, and even a dog could take a bite of it. It was more like Jiang Fei beating Jiang Ci.

“She also hit you on the forehead?” Li Chuncheng couldn’t believe it.

Jiang Fei felt guilty, and she hurriedly said, “Uncle, Jiang Ci is like a different person now, beating and scolding people, like she has rabies. You have to take good care of her.”

Li Chunhua wiped her tears and said, “That’s right. Now he even dares to hit me, his mother. I don’t know what to do in the future.”

Li Chuncheng said: “This Jiang Ci really married a soldier and didn’t know how high the heaven was or how deep the earth was. She will be kicked out of the house sooner or later!”

Li Chunhua said: “The soldier must have been blinded by greed to marry her. Otherwise, with her character, she would have been lucky enough to marry a boiler operator. Ugh!”

Jiang Fei said, “That’s right. Others are not proud of having a son, but she has no idea how high the heaven is and how deep the earth is after having a daughter. Her in-laws will beat her to death when they find out about her behavior.” She seemed to have thought of something, “Mom, we can write a letter to her in-laws and ask her mother-in-law to punish her. Let’s see if she still acts lawless.

Li Chunhua clapped her hands, “Yes, I will write a letter to her mother-in-law when I get back.” She suddenly became enlightened as if she had received some panacea. Only then did she notice that Jiang Yaozu was not here. She hurriedly asked, “Why didn’t Yaozu come?”

Zhou Aimei, who had been silent the whole time, glanced at Li Chuncheng guiltily, and then said to Li Chunhua dissatisfiedly: “Sister, I’m not saying anything, but your Yaozu is too spoiled. When he was eating, he looked around. I told him not to move, and he threw down his bowl and chopsticks and ran away.”

“Run away?” Li Chunhua’s eyes widened. “Where did he run to?”

Zhou Aimei had no idea, so she lied, “He went to grandma’s house. Sister, don’t worry, Xiaoling saw him at school, he’s fine.”

Li Chunhua hummed, but said unhappily: “Our Yaozu is different from your girl. He will be a scientific research talent in the future. It is normal for him to have a temper. Talented people must have temper. You don’t know how to tolerate it.”

Zhou Aimei admitted her mistake with a smile, but she was complaining in her heart, “What talent is there? It would be good if she doesn’t lag behind society in the future as she always ranks last in the exams.”

Li Chuncheng said, “Aimei, my sister is tired from being in the hospital these days. You can take over for her for a few days so that she can go home and have a rest.”

Zhou Aimei said regretfully, “I would like to, but my unit has a speech next week and I haven’t finished writing the manuscript yet. Besides, I’m clumsy and I can’t take good care of people like my sister, who is a nurse.”

Li Chuncheng clicked his tongue, “I asked you to do something but you can’t do this or that. Do you want me to take care of you?”

Li Chunhua waved her hand, “Stop fighting, the two of you. I’ll take care of you. Jiang Fei, go home and see your brother.”

Jiang Fei said, “I’ll go back and get you some change of clothes.”

Li Chunhua said, “Don’t worry about me, go find your brother.”

Jiang Fei agreed, and left the hospital with Li Chuncheng and his wife. On the way, Jiang Fei said, “Uncle, you have to take care of Jiang Ci.”

Li Chuncheng raised his eyebrows and said, “Of course we have to take care of her. She is lawless. Let’s go now.”

——

Jiang Yaozu, the chubby little boy, may not speak in a pleasant way, but he is quite efficient at work. He is responsible for washing diapers, washing dishes, and sweeping the floor. However, he eats too much, so a jar of rice is empty in just a few days.

Jiang Ci didn’t have many food coupons left, so she took her child to the post office to see if there was any letter for her. There was no letter, but there was a big box of food sent by her parents-in-law.

It was not convenient for Jiang Ci to carry the child. She was standing on the side of the road trying to figure out a solution when a young man came over and said, “Comrade, do you need help?”

The young man looked to be about 25 or 26 years old, tall and thin, about 1.75 meters tall, with a buzz cut, a navy blue shirt and gray pants, the standard attire of the working class of that era.

Jiang Ci was more than happy to have someone come to help her. She nodded and said, “Can you help me move to the steel plant’s staff quarters? It’s a bit far.”

The young man leaned over, picked up the box and said, “I’m on my way.”

“That’s troublesome.”

The two walked from the post office to the family building together. It turned out that the young man was named Zhang Hai, an accountant at the steel plant. He was arranged to have a blind date today, and the other party was a family member of a steel plant worker. Sure enough, internal digestion has always been popular in any era, and steel mills always look for people within the factory.

Jiang Ci wishes him a successful blind date.

Zhang Hai felt embarrassed and his face turned red.

The two walked together with smiles on their faces, especially Jiang Ci, who was wearing a light blue blouse. She had fair skin and beautiful looks, and walked in a graceful manner. From a distance, they looked like a newlywed couple.

Zhao Qing came over with her bicycle on her shoulder. She greeted with a smile, “Comrade Jiang, who is this young man?”

Before Jiang Ci could speak, Zhang Hai said, “Auntie, we don’t know each other. We met on the road and asked for help.”

Zhao Qing looked the young man up and down, with a hint of contempt in her eyes, “Young comrade, Comrade Jiang is married and a military family member.”

Zhang Hai instantly sensed the sarcasm in Zhao Qing’s tone. Was she saying that he had bad intentions towards Jiang Ci and warning him not to ruin their military marriage?

He angrily retorted: “Auntie, I’m just helping you. Don’t think I’m such a dirty person. I came here for a blind date. Your suspicion will affect me. Please take back what you said just now.”

Zhao Qing laughed, “Why did you ask me to take back what I said? I think you have something to hide. Even if you are on a blind date, no one would think highly of you.”

Zhang Hai was so angry that his face turned red and his neck became thick, “You!”

Jiang Ci saw that Zhao Qing was just jealous, and because of jealousy, she took every opportunity to spread dirty rumors about her. She smiled and deliberately raised her voice and asked, “Aunt Zhao, is it true that your husband is with that guy?”

Zhao Qing was puzzled. “What is that so-and-so?”

Jiang Ci said: “You said it a few days ago, men are unreliable, they always like to have affairs outside.”

“Hey, shut up! What nonsense are you talking about?” Zhao Qing said anxiously.

As they were talking, Aunt Liu from the neighborhood committee came running over. Seeing Zhao Qing and Zhang Hai together, she greeted them and said, “What a coincidence that you two met. I told Zhang Hai and Liu Dai to meet at my house.”

Zhao Qing was shocked, what? My daughter’s blind date turned out to be this young man in front of me?