Chapter 49

The original person really was very strong, almost like a mutant. Because of her strength, even though she was a bit foolish, she had never suffered as a girl living in the countryside all these years. Also because she was strong, Chen Daniu and his wife had to first knock her unconscious before they could even try to harm her. But no matter how strong she was, it was still within human limits. Fu Qingshan, on the other hand, was a battle-hardened soldier—if Qiao Xinyi thought she could win a fight against him, that was just pure boasting.

“Anyway, my eldest sister is the strongest in my heart!” Qiao Yunbai pouted, a little unhappy that Qiao Xinyi looked down on her like that.

Seeing Qiao Xinyi walking around lively and well, Fu Qingshan was relieved. “Auntie took Qiao Baihe with your household registration booklet to get the referral letter first. We’re heading over to pick them up now.”

The three got in the car, and Fu Qingshan drove to the street office.

Chen Yubing was Qiao Xinyi’s mother. Although this wasn’t reflected on the household registration booklet, the street office staff all knew about it. After all, Qiao Xinyi’s household registration was processed and certified through the street office. Plus, the news that Qiao Xinyi and Qiao Baihe were switched at the hospital had spread widely—everyone knew about it. So even though Qiao Xinyi herself hadn’t come, the street office still issued the referral letter to Chen Yubing as requested.

The car stopped in front of the street office. Chen Yubing and Qiao Baihe got in.

Chen Yubing handed the household registration and referral letter to Qiao Xinyi sitting in the front passenger seat, casually asking, “What are you going to Tong’an County for tomorrow? Visiting relatives? Going alone?”

Qiao Xinyi was too clever. Before Chen Yubing helped her get the referral letter, she hadn’t even asked clearly.

Qiao Xinyi turned sideways, put the documents into her cloth bag, and answered calmly, “Going back to my boyfriend’s hometown.”

Her tone was casual, but Chen Yubing heard it as earth-shattering.

“What?!” That sudden outburst nearly made Fu Qingshan loosen his grip on the steering wheel and cover his ears.

So Qiao Xinyi hadn’t even told her future mother-in-law anything before sending someone to get a referral letter for her?

“When… when did you get a boyfriend?” Chen Yubing realized she had overreacted and quickly tried to calm her shocked expression, forcing her voice to sound steady. But even so, the trembling in her voice betrayed the effort.

“Today,” Qiao Xinyi put the bag on her lap, turned to look at Chen Yubing, pointed at Fu Qingshan who was driving, and smiled brightly as she introduced, “Mom, this is my boyfriend, Fu Qingshan. You should still remember him; you met at the public security bureau before.”

Fu Qingshan sighed deeply in his heart. He had said it—his girlfriend really was good at saying shocking things.

Fu Brother Qingshanntly pressed the brake to pull the car to the side of the road. After stopping, he turned to look at Chen Yubing.

“Auntie, sorry if this is a bit forward,” the boldness all came from Qiao Xinyi, the instigator.

Fu Qingshan said, “Auntie, everyone’s hungry now, so this isn’t the best time to talk. Once we get to the state-run restaurant, we can sit down and talk properly. Does that sound good?”

Chen Yubing sat there stunned. Qiao Baihe gently nudged her back to reality.

She nodded just as Qiao Xinyi told Fu Qingshan to drive quickly, saying she was hungry.

Chen Yubing sighed in her heart—this daughter of hers really was so outgoing!

She didn’t know whether it was good or bad. When Qiao Xinyi said she was hungry, Fu Qingshan quickly found a nearby state-run restaurant. After parking, the group went inside. This state-run restaurant was rather small—not as nice as the place Qiao Xinyi and the others had eaten at for lunch—and it didn’t have private rooms. Thinking about the fact they would need to discuss things with Qiao Xinyi’s boyfriend later, Chen Yubing reserved the empty table in the farthest corner. She called Qiao Baihe and Qiao Yunbai over to hold the seats, then turned to order and pay. But Qiao Xinyi grabbed her arm and pulled her away, leaving Fu Qingshan alone in front.

“You kid, I’m the elder here. You pull me away and let Fu Qingshan pay the bill?” Chen Yubing patted Qiao Xinyi’s hand. “Mom still has money for a meal and the bill.”

“Otherwise, how could a boyfriend be so good?” Qiao Xinyi grinned and replied cheerfully. “Mom, a meal won’t bankrupt him. Besides, don’t I have to give your future son-in-law a chance to show off? If you pay, what would he think? That his future mother-in-law isn’t happy with him?”

“Oh, you really have no shame, talking about son-in-law and mother-in-law just like that!” Chen Yubing thought about it carefully and realized Qiao Xinyi had a point. So she followed Qiao Xinyi over, and before Fu Qingshan came, she asked Qiao Xinyi about him.

Chen Yubing already knew Fu Qingshan was a soldier, but hearing that he was such a young battalion commander made her both happy and worried. Then learning that Fu Qingshan had a difficult stepmother at home made her even more concerned.

“Mom, with eldest sister’s mouth and strength, you don’t need to worry about her,” Qiao Yunbai leaned forward, grinning as he stared at Qiao Xinyi. “If you’re worried about eldest sister, you should worry about how many lives your future in-laws have left to withstand her tongue!”

“Mom, Qiao Yunbai is right!” Qiao Xinyi nodded. “Fu Qingshan definitely liked me because I’m good at cursing.”

Fu Qingshan came over carrying the teapot. His hearing was sharp, and those words slipped right into his ears, almost making him drop the teapot. If his mother-in-law didn’t approve of him, he was certain Qiao Xinyi would be ninety-nine percent responsible.

“Auntie, don’t listen to her nonsense,” Fu Qingshan said nervously. If he’d come a little later, it was uncertain if he’d still have a girlfriend tomorrow. His future mother-in-law might have directly broken them up.

“Qiao Xinyi, drink some water to soothe your throat,” Fu Qingshan quickly poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her, giving her something to do to shut her mouth from talking nonsense.

Once seated, Fu Qingshan politely said to Chen Yubing, “Auntie, if you have any questions, please ask me. If you have any concerns, feel free to tell me.”

Fu Qingshan was humble and courteous, and kept pouring tea for Qiao Xinyi. Chen Yubing immediately felt that Fu Qingshan might really be more reliable than her own daughter. She had been married to Qiao Laiwang for twenty years but had never once been served a cup of tea by him. In the Qiao family, the wife was born to serve the husband.

Their relationship was only just established that afternoon, and Qiao Xinyi’s decision to return to Fu Qingshan’s hometown with him tomorrow was a sudden impulse. Even so, Fu Qingshan explained their relationship and feelings to Chen Yubing in a tactful way.

Chen Yubing listened as Fu Qingshan spoke, watching him slowly pour tea for everyone at the table. Aside from the one fact that Fu Qingshan had a difficult stepmother, Chen Yubing couldn’t find anything wrong with him. But precisely because Fu Qingshan’s conditions were so good, Chen Yubing felt more worried.

“The food’s ready, I’ll go get the dishes,” Fu Qingshan said as he heard the call that the food was ready, standing up. Qiao Yunbai eagerly pulled Qiao Baihe along to get the dishes as well. Once they left, the smile on Chen Yubing’s face deepened with worry.

Qiao Xinyi, of course, knew what Chen Yubing was worried about, so she said bluntly, “Mom, people don’t live their lives to please others, so whether others think someone is worthy or not doesn’t affect me or Fu Qingshan.”