Chapter 15: I’ll Help You Stay

Jiang Chuan was walking home in a daze when he saw Du Wanqiu sitting outside the apartment building with her baby, sunning herself. He thought about ignoring her, but then he noticed how small the baby was. In such cold weather, surely the baby would get sick.

He couldn’t help but comment, “The baby’s not even a month old yet, and it’s so cold. You should keep him inside. If he catches a cold, he’ll need shots and medicine.”

Du Wanqiu could tell that he was hesitating, and she suspected he had just been to see Xiao Qingru. But from his defeated expression, it seemed things hadn’t gone well. For someone as proud as Xiao Qingru, how could she tolerate being repeatedly cast aside?

She brushed the thought aside she had her own concerns. Once her baby turned a month old, she’d have to leave, and she didn’t want to return to her hometown. Tearfully, she asked, “Comrade Jiang, I don’t want to go back to my hometown. Can you help me stay?”

“I can help you temporarily, but I can’t protect you forever,” he replied. “Eventually, you’ll have to leave.”

“I know I’m putting you in a difficult position, but you know my family’s situation. If I go back with the baby, we may not survive,” Du Wanqiu pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

Jiang Chuan frowned. “Things can’t be that bad. Out of respect for the child, your mother in law won’t be too harsh on you.”

Du Wanqiu shook her head. “You don’t understand. She blames me for her son’s death. If I go back, I won’t have a moment of peace, and my son is still so young. If anything happened to him, how could I face his father?”

Jiang Chuan, thinking of his late friend, was caught in a moral dilemma. “Perhaps you could wait at home while things are sorted out? Xiao Qingru’s father promised he’d arrange for someone to look after you and even help you find a job. Once you have work, you’ll be able to live in a dormitory, and your mother in law won’t interfere.”

But Du Wanqiu shook her head, wiping her tears. “Jobs are hard to find, and there won’t be an opening just for me. And even if I get one, who would take care of my baby while I work?”

This was indeed a problem. Without a job, she couldn’t escape her family, but if she stayed here, she might have a chance to get by.

“Comrade Jiang,” she continued, looking at him as if he was her last hope, “you’re the only one who can help me. If I go back, my son and I won’t survive. I’m begging you. Will you help?”

Seeing her desperation, Jiang Chuan felt like salt was being rubbed into an open wound. Jobs were scarce, housing was tight, and food was hard to come by. She was so helpless, so vulnerable.

He heard his own voice before he fully realized what he was saying: “Okay, I’ll help you stay.”

Du Wanqiu’s face lit up with joy. She grabbed his sleeve and said, “Thank you, Comrade Jiang. You’re a good man.”

Jiang Chuan felt a twinge of regret as soon as he said it. He hadn’t meant to make such a big promise on impulse, especially since this was more than a small favor. But seeing her so happy, he couldn’t take back his words.

“Go back inside,” he urged, looking at the child’s red cheeks from the cold. “It’s too cold out here.”

“Thank you, Comrade Jiang,” she replied, nodding as she went back inside, glancing over her shoulder to give him a big smile before finally heading upstairs. In her mind, she was already making plans. If she could stay in the compound and manage the funds she had left, she could make a life for herself and one day, even surpass Xiao Qingru.

As Jiang Chuan watched her leave, a neighbor called out, “Oh, Comrade Jiang, paying a visit to Du, are you?”

“Just passing by,” he replied curtly.

“So, when will you two be tying the knot? Now that you’ve broken off your engagement with Xiao Qingru, there’s nothing stopping you from marrying Du Wanqiu. Everyone knows you’d be a perfect family.”

Jiang Chuan’s face darkened. “Marriage? Stop spreading rumors. I don’t want to hear that again.”

“Why so serious? You visit her all the time. If you don’t plan to marry her, why are you always around? You’d be helping her and her child if you just made it official.”

Fuming, Jiang Chuan held back his response. He hadn’t considered marrying Du Wanqiu, nor did he have feelings for her. No wonder Xiao Qingru had refused to reconcile she must have heard these rumors.

With a deep breath, he told himself not to argue trying to defend himself would only add fuel to the fire. As long as he knew the truth, that was enough.

“Sheesh, no need to leave in such a hurry,” muttered the neighbor as he stormed off.

Mrs. Wang, who had been standing silently beside her friend, whispered, “Why say such things so casually?”

“Can’t stand her,” her friend muttered, rolling her eyes. “You got close to her because she paid you, right?”

Mrs. Wang chuckled nervously, “Not that much, honestly.”

“Well, I’m off. With the way those two are, this saga’s far from over. I’m just waiting for the next show.” The woman left, carrying her shopping basket, humming a tune.

Mrs. Wang, who knew more about the situation, couldn’t shake the feeling that things might indeed spiral out of control.