Chapter 2 Fight 1

When Lan Yu first met her, she lowered her head and said nothing. He thought she might be afraid of him, so he didn’t say much either. He could only slow his steps and wait for her to catch up. Even though their marriage was due to special circumstances and not their mutual wish, he still felt it was his duty to act like a proper husband.

After getting off the bus, Lan Yu bought some vegetables and meat on the way home. He needed to help her build up her health.

Meanwhile, Lin Qiyue had already figured out how to get her money back. After all, it had been sitting untouched for three years—it was a decent little fortune. Now was the perfect time to leverage the male lead’s authority. That way, once they divorced, she’d have the means to survive on her own.

Back home, she heard a commotion.

“Lin Qiyue! Out all night messing around with some man? You think you don’t need to do any housework anymore? Where’s the fabric and formula I told you to buy?”

The harsh voice was unmistakably her sister-in-law’s. A baby was crying inside—clearly her sister-in-law was overwhelmed, especially since she was pregnant again.

Lan Yu felt deeply uncomfortable hearing those words. He clenched the things in his hands tightly and took a slow, deep breath to calm himself.

“You got paid this month, didn’t you? Hand over all your wages. And don’t forget to collect the money your husband sent home. Your nephew’s at a critical growing stage—everything costs money!”

Lin Qiyue couldn’t help but smirk to herself. She hadn’t even started her plan yet, and it was already halfway to success.

Lan Yu suddenly understood why Lin Qiyue was so frail—her money had all been funneled into someone else’s pockets. He turned to look at her standing silently at the gate, looking aggrieved and too afraid to speak. Guilt surged in his chest, along with rising anger.

When there was no response for a while, Shen Qingmiao realized something was wrong. Why hadn’t anyone answered her? She walked out with the baby in her arms and saw Lan Yu standing silently in the courtyard. Panic flashed across her face.

“You’re back, second brother?” she asked with an awkward smile, glancing toward Lin Qiyue at the gate, wondering if Lan Yu had overheard what she’d said earlier.

“Just got back,” Lan Yu replied, then turned to Lin Qiyue and said, “You go rest in the room. I’ll make dinner tonight.”

Lin Qiyue hid her joy, nodded, and walked in behind Lan Yu without sparing Shen Qingmiao a glance.

The house was a large single-story building with three rooms in a row and three surrounding walls. Upon entering, you first saw the living room, then the main room further in. On the left and right were six more rooms in total. In the courtyard, there was also a separate kitchen.

The Lan family had quite a few members: two sons and a daughter. The main room belonged to the Lan parents. The left side was where the eldest brother’s family lived. On the right, Lin Qiyue lived with her sister-in-law Lan Yusui, with a room between them for separation.

In 1976, this setup was considered fairly well-off—these were government-assigned housing units.

Father Lan, Lan Huaixi, worked within the system. After his position was reinstated, he was always busy and rarely home. Mother Lan, Qian Xiuying, was a Women’s Federation director who often went on field visits with her colleagues, also rarely home. Younger sister Lan Yusui was in school and usually returned late.

As for her relationship with the original host, it was lukewarm at best. She didn’t get along with her eldest sister-in-law either. The eldest brother worked at a factory and was always arguing with his wife, often not coming home. So no one ever noticed the original host being mistreated.

Plus, the people in the compound all believed the original host had drugged the eldest brother to get married because she didn’t want to marry him. There was no solid proof, but everyone assumed that was the case.

Back in her room, Lin Qiyue felt completely drained. A shower and some rest sounded like a good idea. She undressed to get clean clothes and go to the bathroom.

Just as she turned around with her clothes in hand, she bumped right into Lan Yu, who had entered holding a bowl.

Their eyes met again. Lin Qiyue blushed deeply—she had just taken off her outerwear and was only in her undergarments.

Lan Yu hadn’t expected her to suddenly be undressed.

“I… I just wanted to take a shower. I didn’t know you’d come in,” she said, quickly turning her back to him in embarrassment.

Lan Yu’s own cheeks turned slightly red. He set the bowl down and said, “Sorry, I’ll be more careful next time. But drink this milk powder before you shower.”

He’d bought it on the way home. She looked far too thin—like she could collapse any minute. It was quite troubling.

Once the door closed, Lin Qiyue looked down at the bowl of freshly made milk powder and gave a bitter smile.

“He really knows how to take care of someone… just way too cold! Such a pity his wife’s already dead.”

Then she thought of her sister-in-law—how she’d ruined the original host’s life just to get her own sister a permanent work placement. That grudge had to be repaid.

After finishing the milk, Lin Qiyue went to shower and changed into clean clothes. She still wasn’t sleepy, so she brought the bowl out to the kitchen to wash it.

Seeing Lan Yu preparing vegetables, she offered, “Is there anything I can help with?”

Lan Yu didn’t look at her. With a cold expression, he replied quickly, “No need. Just go rest.”

Lin Qiyue wasn’t surprised by his distant demeanor. As she turned to leave, Shen Qingmiao—who had just finished changing the baby’s diaper—spotted her and smiled sweetly.

“Sister-in-law, could you wash the baby’s clothes for me?”

If Lan Yu hadn’t been there, her tone wouldn’t have been nearly so polite—it would’ve been an outright order.

“I—”

“She’s not feeling well. You should wash them yourself,” Lan Yu cut in before Lin Qiyue could respond.

Hearing him speak up, Shen Qingmiao could only force a smile. “No problem. I’ll wash them later when I have time.”

Lin Qiyue couldn’t help but think, This man does have decent values, after all.

She wanted to go back and say thank you, but after thinking about it, she gave up. At that moment, she could already feel the chill in the air.

Lan Yu saw her standing there without moving and thought, If I hadn’t stepped in to refuse for her, she probably would’ve gone to help. “Go make a call to Mom and Dad. Tell them I’ve made dinner and to come back early, okay?” Since she didn’t move, he had to give her a reason to go.

“Alright!” Lin Qiyue quietly went to do as she was told.

Just as she reached the doorway, Lan Yu added, “Did you bring any money?”

Only then did Lin Qiyue realize that making a phone call cost money. How awkward!

Lan Yu felt like something was off with her thinking. He wiped his hands with a towel, then pulled out a handful of coins and small bills from his pocket.

He walked over and placed them directly into Lin Qiyue’s hand.

“You don’t need this much just to make a call!” Lin Qiyue felt a bit uneasy taking someone else’s money.

“Take it. And don’t give it to anyone else,” he said seriously—a clear warning.

Lin Qiyue gave a stiff, forced smile and nodded slightly before walking out slowly.

Just as she stepped outside, she saw Lan Yusui returning home. The two came face to face.

“I heard you were secretly meeting some random man?” Lan Yusui asked sharply, eyeing Lin Qiyue from head to toe. She added coldly, “If it’s not true, explain yourself. Say something! Or do you enjoy being talked about? My second brother can’t afford to carry that kind of false accusation.”

Without waiting for a response, she stormed back into the house angrily. Lin Qiyue didn’t even get a word in.

After a few steps, Lin Qiyue ran into another person—a nosy middle-aged woman carrying a shopping basket. The woman looked her up and down and said mockingly, “Qiyue, I saw a soldier touch you earlier. Honestly, you’ve got no shame, seducing men all over the place. Aren’t you putting a green hat on Yu?”

Her tone was dripping with malice. Lin Qiyue had originally planned to ignore her, but the woman’s eyes were full of contempt.

Before she passed out that day, it was this woman who’d claimed that she’d been touched by another man. Judging by what Lan Yusui had just said, the entire compound must’ve heard the rumors by now. Just thinking about it gave her a headache.

“Auntie, are you saying that if I accidentally fell into the water, a soldier should just stand by and watch me drown? Do you hate me so much that you’re hoping I die? Even if I did die, your daughter probably still couldn’t marry into our family.”

“I… if I were you, and another man had touched me, I’d rather be dead. No dignity left at all,” the woman sneered.

Lin Qiyue cursed inwardly, What a backwards old hag!

This woman was notorious—an infamous gossip in the housing compound. Her husband was a military district staff officer, and she’d married him through an arranged engagement made when they were children. She was even two years older than him. Her name was Liu Zhaodi. Originally, the engagement was for her husband’s older brother, but after the brother died in the war, her current husband had to marry his late brother’s fiancée. They had two daughters and still no son.

“Auntie, I heard your daughter was groped by some thugs on her way home from work recently. Should she marry one of them then? Or maybe she should jump into a river and die, huh?”

“You’re spouting nonsense! My daughter was forced—how is that the same?” Liu Zhaodi was furious and immediately pointed at Lin Qiyue, shouting, “You shameless little tramp, spreading lies! You think meeting with another man doesn’t count as cheating? That’s— That’s…”

Halfway through, she suddenly went quiet.

Lin Qiyue remembered this woman well. Shen Qingmiao often talked to her about the original host’s so-called “misdeeds,” saying she couldn’t stay chaste and was sneaking off to meet old men. She had definitely gone to watch the scene earlier and must’ve seen Lin Qiyue being rescued. That’s why she assumed Lin Qiyue had been caught having an affair and jumped into the river from shame.

“Well? What’s the rest? Your daughter was forced, but when I fell into the lake and was rescued, that means it was voluntary? And that soldier who saved me—you’re accusing me of having an affair with him? That’s slander. I’m going to report you to the Women’s Federation!”

Lin Qiyue’s words were clear and logical.

Liu Zhaodi, fuming, wasn’t intimidated. She scoffed and said, “That man had his hands all over your chest! Don’t forget, you’re a married woman. Even if you go report it, your mother-in-law’s reputation will be ruined. Do you think I’m scared of you, you little slut?”

“It’s just a matter of letting the Women’s Federation judge fairly,” Lin Qiyue replied. “I wasn’t groped by any man, and I want them to know that your daughter was—so maybe she should marry the guy. You say I’ll bring shame on my family? Let’s see whose face ends up red in embarrassment!”

“Oh, and I forgot to tell you—the man who rescued me was my husband, Lan Yu. We’re legally married. Whatever he does to me is perfectly normal. Maybe you should be worrying about your own daughter.”

She flashed a triumphant smile. “Pretty sure the Women’s Federation office is still open. I think I’ll go clear this up now.”

“You little bitch!” Liu Zhaodi screamed after her.