Chapter 15: Does Your Hand Hurt?

Three days later, Huo Beichuan and Shen Jintao returned home with some things, and Shen Jianmin and Xu Xuemei had prepared a table full of delicious food at home.

“Shen Chunmiao and Lu Qingshan’s wedding date has been set.”

During dinner, Xu Xuemei suddenly said.

“When?” Shen Jintao was a bit surprised.

After all, Lu Qingshan had proposed not long before their wedding, so it was quite unexpected that they had already set a wedding date so quickly.

It was well-known that apart from Shen Chunmiao, no one from the old Shen family had agreed to this marriage. At least, they weren’t very satisfied with it.

“It’s set for the end of this month. I don’t know what that stupid girl, Shen Chunmiao, is thinking. She’s determined to be with that Lu Qingshan, no matter what…”

Just as she was saying this, Xu Xuemei suddenly paused, remembering that her own daughter had once been following Lu Qingshan around, so it didn’t feel right to say this now.

“They’re well-matched,” Shen Jintao said indifferently.

Huo Beichuan carefully glanced at his wife, and seeing no trace of disappointment on her face, he immediately let out a heavy sigh of relief. He had been worried that everyone said his Jintao still liked Lu Qingshan, and he feared that she might feel upset about Shen Chunmiao and Lu Qingshan’s relationship.

He was even more afraid that his wife still had someone else in her heart.

Xu Xuemei also noticed that her daughter seemed to have no feelings for Lu Qingshan anymore. “That guy really isn’t all that great. Shen Chunmiao will probably regret marrying him.”

As for Shen Chunmiao and Lu Qingshan’s situation, Shen Jintao wished them a lifetime of happiness.

After dinner, Xu Xuemei pulled Shen Jintao into the room. “Taozi, tell me honestly, how are you getting along with Beichuan’s parents?”

“Pretty well,” Shen Jintao gave an honest assessment. For example, the deer Huo Beichuan had gotten, Father Huo and Mother Huo had handled it and asked them to bring half of it home today.

“And… how about your… little sister-in-law?” Xu Xuemei knew that Huo Nanxi didn’t particularly like her daughter, and she was worried her daughter might be troubled by her little sister-in-law.

Thinking about that girl, Shen Jintao inexplicably smiled. Ever since Huo Beichuan told her that he had decided to leave the bicycle for them, the girl had become a bit awkward, but she no longer gave her the cold shoulder. She was quite an interesting girl, not bad-hearted. “She’s pretty cute. When people talk about me behind my back, she’ll defend me.”

Xu Xuemei nodded, feeling a little more at ease.

The day after the return visit, Huo Beichuan was called back to the army.

“Wife, this is all my savings, it’s all yours now. Don’t feel wronged at home, eat whatever you want, buy whatever you need. I’ll handle the army matters as soon as possible and come pick you up to go with me.”

Before leaving, Huo Beichuan reluctantly gave his instructions.

“Got it!” Shen Jintao didn’t hold back and immediately took the passbook and a wad of cash from Huo Beichuan.

She counted the money—there were still over two hundred, and Huo Beichuan even handed over his small bills. Obviously, he didn’t leave anything for himself.

Shen Jintao laughed, “You really didn’t leave anything for yourself. Take this fifty.”

“Thank you, wife, for the pocket money!” Huo Beichuan flashed a big, goofy grin.

“I’ll go prepare something for you to eat, so you can take it on the road.”

Shen Jintao didn’t look at the amount on the passbook. Since Huo Beichuan was handing it over, she should trust him.

“Mom should have prepared something.” Huo Beichuan took her hand, not letting her go to work. He didn’t mind what he ate, the most important thing was spending more time with his wife.

Shen Jintao couldn’t do much about him, so she just stayed with him.

Parting was inevitable. Even though they both felt reluctant, Huo Beichuan still had to set off back to the army.

He told his family to stop at the gate of the brigade, he didn’t want to be seen off any further because he was afraid—afraid that he wouldn’t want to leave.

Shen Jintao watched the man’s figure as he left, her heart full of bitterness. They say it’s hard being a military wife, and now she finally understood the helplessness of it.

Even though she didn’t want to part with him, she couldn’t stop him because he was going to protect everyone. She could only take care of their little family.

“Oh, looks like you’re going to be a widow!” Shen Chunmiao, who had somehow heard that Huo Beichuan had gone back to the army, jumped out after he left, her tone dripping with gloating.

“What did you say?” Shen Jintao looked at Shen Chunmiao. She could tolerate her rude remarks, but this kind of talk was something she couldn’t bear.

“I said you’re going to be a widow. I’m different. I’m marrying Brother Qingshan, and we’ll always…”

Slap!

Before Shen Chunmiao could finish her sentence, Shen Jintao grabbed her by the hair and slapped her hard. “I advise you to speak more nicely. You’ll be the one to be a widow, not me! You’ll be a widow for your whole life!”

Shen Jintao’s approach was childish, but her fierce attitude was clear. She didn’t hold back when it came to hitting.

“You! You dare to hit me!” Shen Chunmiao covered her cheek in disbelief.

“I’ve wanted to hit you for a long time, Shen Chunmiao. I’ve put up with you for too long. Starting today, if I ever hear you say anything like that again, every time I see you, I’ll slap you once!”

“Not happy? If you’re not, call your mom. I’m not the same. Not only do I have loving parents, but I also have strong and capable uncles and aunts. If you’ve got the guts, try me!”

Shen Jintao had no shame in bringing up her elders. Why be a fool when you can have uncles?

“You! You!” Shen Chunmiao pointed at Shen Jintao but couldn’t say anything. “Shen Jintao, if you treat me like this, don’t ever beg me in the future!”

She then covered her face and ran off, crying.

Liu Guifen looked at Shen Jintao in surprise. “Taozi, does your hand hurt?”

Pfft! Shen Jintao thought her mother-in-law would scold her for being impulsive and hitting someone, but she never expected her to say this.

Liu Guifen was serious, though. She knew her daughter-in-law had always been delicate, and her own mother-in-law had pampered this girl more than she did her own Nanxi. That slap had sounded painful even to her.

“Let me see your hand.”

Shen Jintao reluctantly stretched out her hand, and sure enough, her palm was bright red.

“You silly girl, this kind of thing should have been left to your mom to handle. Why did you do it yourself? Come on, let’s go home, I’ll rub some white wine on it.”

Shen Jintao was almost thrown off by her mother-in-law’s worried tone. “It’s… it’s fine, really…”

It was too much!

But Liu Guifen didn’t listen and immediately dragged her home, leaving Shen Jintao no choice but to follow.

She thought this matter was over, but just as she didn’t wait for Xie Lanzhi or Wang Lanxiu—who had always favored Shen Chunmiao—she ended up running into Lu Qingshan.

Shen Jintao had gone to deliver mung bean soup to Liu Guifen and Huo Chenggong, who were working in the afternoon. On her way back, she was blocked by Lu Qingshan.

Shen Jintao quickly took several steps back, as if she had seen something disgusting.

No matter how much she had once liked Lu Qingshan, she was now with Huo Beichuan, and she had to keep her distance from Lu Qingshan, especially given the warning from that dream.

Lu Qingshan noticed Shen Jintao’s movement and his face immediately darkened like ink.

“Shen Jintao, what do you mean by that?”

“Is there a problem?” Shen Jintao retorted.

“Shen Jintao, I know you still like me, which is why you targeted Chunmiao, but you really shouldn’t have hit her. I hope you can apologize to her. Otherwise, I will hate you for the rest of my life.”