Chapter 43.2

When Jiang Nian returned to the dormitory, everyone was still awake.

Zhai Peipei hadn’t returned yet. Lu Xiaoqing lay in bed. When Jiang Nian entered, her expression was somewhat unpleasant. She snorted and turned over, burying herself in the blanket. She knew about the incident at the cotton mill today. She and Hu Zhongming were outside at noon and happened to see Feng Ren and Yang Jun leaving the cotton mill with their bedding.

Hu Zhongming asked them about it, so she knew the whole story. Because of this, Hu Zhongming was still blaming her, saying what kind of women were in their embroidery shop. She was also furious, but she didn’t expect that after she returned to the shop she was scolded by Ge Mei. Ge Mei told her not to bring Hu Zhongming into the shop again. If she saw Hu Zhongming there again, she would not let her come to the shop anymore, saying the state-run embroidery shop was a place for everyone to work, not a place for her to bring boyfriends.

In the afternoon, there were only her and Zhang Xiao in the state-run embroidery shop. She was so angry  that she almost cut Jiang Nian’s embroidery several times. If it weren’t for that man’s words that deterred her, she would have destroyed it!

Zhang Xiao silently mouthed, “Ignore her.”

Jiang Nian nodded in agreement and placed a paper bag in front of Zhang Xiao. “Try these, there are milk candies and chestnuts.”

Zhang Xiao’s eyes instantly lit up. She could count on one hand the number of times she had eaten milk candies since childhood, and she had long forgotten their taste. So she smiled with her eyes curved and whispered, “Thank you, Sister Jiang.”

“By the way, I boiled hot water for you. The thermos is under the bed.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Nian carried the kettle and an enamel basin to the water room.

Lu Xiaoqing turned over. “Xiaoxiao.”

Zhang Xiao looked up at her. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Xiaoqing said, “Give me two milk candies and a few chestnuts.”

Zhang Xiao: …

She pulled the paper bag closer to her and shook her head. “These are Sister Jiang’s things. You have to ask for Sister Jiang’s permission to eat them. You can ask her when she comes in.”

Lu Xiaoqing: …

“Look at you being so stingy. If you don’t give them to me, I don’t even want them.”

After saying that, she turned over again.

Zhang Xiao made a face at her back, and when Jiang Nian came back, she quietly told her in her ear, making Jiang Nian want to laugh.

Zhai Peipei came back in the middle of the night, seeming to have cried. Seeing that both Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao’s blankets were off, she went over to cover them. Jiang Nian sensed something and half-awake, was initially startled by the dark figure above her. Remembering the last lesson, she looked more carefully before recognizing it was Sister Zhai.

Zhai Peipei had red, slightly swollen eyes and carried a chill from the night air.

“Sister Zhai.”

She whispered, sitting up and putting on her cotton jacket. “What’s wrong with you?”

At the most vulnerable moment, one cannot be cared for, otherwise the tears that have been held back will instantly burst. That’s how it is for Zhai Peipei right now.

She wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and spoke to Jiang Nian for the first time in a weak voice, “I feel bad inside.”

Jiang Nian looked at the white hair at Zhai Peipei’s temples, her red eyes, and her vulnerability that she had never shown in front of outsiders, and instantly couldn’t sit still, climbed out of bed and put on her shoes. After looking at Lu Xiaoqing who had turned over, she didn’t know if she was asleep.

If she didn’t sleep well, she would have made a fool of herself by watching Sister Zhai.

Jiang Nian said, “Sister Zhai, let’s go out for a walk.”

At this moment, Zhai Peipei also wanted someone to confide in. Looking at Jiang Nian, who was about the same age as her daughter, their destinies were starkly different. As they walked along the path outside the dormitory, Zhai Peipei cried as she spoke, “If my daughter could have half of your luck, it would be great. She has suffered so much. It’s all me and her father’s fault. We thought if she could marry someone from the city, have a city household registration, our whole family could live comfortably without toiling in the countryside for work points.”

“It’s all my fault. If only I had seen through Chen Peng earlier.”

Jiang Nian listened as Zhai Peipei poured out all the grievances that Qu Hua had endured over the years. Qu Hua had been married to Chen Peng for three years. In the first year when she was pregnant, Chen Peng was still decent. He brought his mother to take care of Qu Hua. But when Qu Hua gave birth to a daughter, both Chen Peng and his mother began to verbally abuse her.

It started with insults, but escalated to physical abuse. By the second year, Qu Hua became pregnant again, and things improved slightly as they hoped for a son. However, when she gave birth again, it was another girl. This led to even harsher treatment from both Chen Peng and his mother.

Just yesterday, they threw Qu Hua out of the house and wouldn’t let her return. What’s worse, when Zhai Peipei took Qu Hua back to Chen’s house, Chen Peng actually hit Zhai Peipei. Then, right after kicking Qu Hua out, they sold their two daughters!

Jiang Nian was furious. “Have you found the children?”

Zhai Peipei cried, “No, Chen Peng refuses to tell us where the children are. He kicked both Qu Hua and me out. We’ve been searching in the city for a long time but haven’t found them. I thought Qu Hua wasn’t well, so I asked her to stay at the embroidery shop overnight.”

Jiang Nian’s brows furrowed deeply. “Sister Zhai, we need to call the police. Let’s go now.”

Zhai Peipei hesitated for a moment. “I was so anxious that I forgot about that.”

Jiang Nian said, “Chen Peng is doing illegal things. If we report to the police now, we might find the children sooner.”

After hearing what Sister Zhai said, Jiang Nian wanted to personally punish Chen Peng.

Preferring sons over daughters, selling one’s own flesh and blood—worse than beasts.

Zhai Peipei spent the entire afternoon arguing with Qu Hua and the Chen family. After leaving Chen’s house, they searched the streets for the children, forgetting to report to the police. Passing by the state-run embroidery shop, they saw Qu Hua through the window. She lay curled up on four benches, covered with Zhai Peipei’s coat, possibly asleep.

Zhai Peipei unlocked the door and called out to Qu Hua. Qu Hua opened her eyes, tears filling them.

This was Jiang Nian’s second time seeing Qu Hua, and the visual impact made her feel deeply unsettled.

Qu Hua’s injuries were worse than at noon—her mouth was bruised and bloody, her forehead swollen from some blow, looking terribly pitiful.

Jiang Nian couldn’t fathom how much abuse Qu Hua had endured at Chen’s house over the past two years.

At that moment, seeing Qu Hua, Jiang Nian felt compelled to seek justice for her. As women and victims themselves, she couldn’t stand idly by.

Jiang Nian locked the door and, along with them, went to the police station to report. The police officers saw Zhai Peipei and Qu Hua crying uncontrollably and struggled to articulate the details. Jiang Nian calmly recounted the situation between Chen’s family and Qu Hua, detailing how Chen Peng had violently abused his wife and sold his two daughters.

A female police officer in the station stood up angrily after hearing Jiang Nian’s words. “This man is beyond despicable!”

The charge of child trafficking was serious. Qu Hua, as the victim and complainant, made a statement. Zhai Peipei and Jiang Nian stayed with her throughout. Late into the night, Chen Peng and his mother were arrested by the police.

Initially, Chen Peng denied everything and nearly assaulted Qu Hua at the station.

The police officers maintained their stern demeanor, interrogating Chen Peng, his mother, and Qu Hua and her mother separately. At one point, Jiang Nian was also called in for questioning. By the time the investigation concluded, dawn was breaking.

Chen Peng was the typical bully who backed down when confronted. He had subjected Qu Hua to physical abuse at home. Once brought to the station, he confessed quickly.

It was Chen Peng’s mother who proposed selling the two daughters. She had arranged the sale for seventy yuan. After driving Qu Hua out of the house, the buyers came and took the children away. The police immediately acted on the description provided by Chen Peng’s mother, searching for the two girls overnight.

When Chen Peng was taken away for detention, he glared viciously at Jiang Nian and Zhai Peipei outside. His eyes then turned red as he looked at Qu Hua and cursed, “You shameless woman, this isn’t over between us!”

Qu Hua had developed psychological trauma from Chen Peng’s abuse over the past two years. Upon seeing him, hearing his cruel words, she cried while covering her ears. Zhai Peipei held her and reassured her, while Chen Peng continued to shout as he was led away.

“It’s okay now, it’s okay. We’ll be okay from now on.”

Zhai Peipei repeated this phrase to comfort Qu Hua.

Chen Peng and his mother are currently detained, waiting for the trial results. The police assured them they would be contacted immediately if the children were found. With nowhere to go, Qu Hua had to temporarily stay in the dormitory with Zhai Peipei. Her future would depend on the trial’s outcome.

When they returned to the state-run embroidery shop, it was already 8 AM.

Jiang Nian had hardly slept all night and felt dizzy. She decided to skip breakfast and simply freshen up at the shop. She planned to eat at noon. Zhai Peipei suggested she take half a day off from work and stay with Qu Hua in the dormitory.

Jiang Nian agreed. Just as she was about to open the shop door, it swung open from the inside.

She thought it was Zhang Xiao, but when she looked up, she saw military green clothing. She raised her head and met the bloodshot eyes of Lu Yu, startling her. “What are you—”

Before she could finish her sentence, he grabbed her arm forcefully. Taller and with long legs, his sudden approach overwhelmed her. Her arm hurt where he gripped it, and she gently patted his arm. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Where have you been?”

Lu Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed a few times. Suppressing his panic, he realized his actions were excessive. He loosened his grip slightly but didn’t release her completely.

This morning, he had come to bring her breakfast, but Zhang Xiao had told him she was missing. He had searched many places and had just returned to the state-run embroidery shop when she arrived. Lu Yu had gripped her arm unconsciously and finally loosened his hold.

Jiang Nian looked up at Lu Yu, who was so close. The crimson in his eyes hadn’t faded yet, and in the depths of winter, sweat had formed on his forehead. “I went with Sister Zhai to the police station.”

Lu Yu frowned slightly. “What happened?”

His gaze turned cold with anger. “Did those two troublemakers from yesterday come looking for you?”

Jiang Nian shook her head. “No, it’s about Sister Zhai.”

She briefly recounted the situation with Sister Zhai and Qu Hua’s family to Lu Yu. Looking at Jiang Nian, Lu Yu’s eyes softened slightly. “Sister-in-law is very clever.”

With Lu Yu’s praise, Jiang Nian felt a bit uneasy.

Jiang Nian’s stomach grumbled, and Lu Yu said, “I bought meat buns and milk.”

Saying this, he led Jiang Nian into the shop. There was a paper bag on the table by the window containing meat buns and a bottle of milk. Zhang Xiao had been in earlier and, seeing Lu Yu tightly holding Jiang Nan, hadn’t dared to interrupt. Her curious gaze kept shifting between the two.

The more she looked, the less they seemed like brother and sister-in-law, more like a married couple.

Lu Xiaoqing leaned against the curtain and sneered at Lu Yu and Jiang Nian. Inside, however, she was jealous and envious to death. So what if Jiang Nian was a widow? She had a man who cared for her, and she just heard Zhang Xiao calling this man “Deputy Commander Lu” in the room.

Only now did she realize that this man was the deputy commander of the military regiment.

Why is Jiang Nian so lucky?

Why can’t she meet a man like Deputy Commander Lu?

Lu Xiaoqing smelled the aroma of meat buns, feeling hungry as she swallowed her saliva and then turned to walk into the private room.

Lu Yu handed out buns to Zhang Xiao and Lu Xiaoqing, who was sitting opposite Jiang Nian and watching her eat.

Jiang Nian: …

She pursed her lips, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Lu Yu also realized his abruptness, cleared his throat and turned to look out the window, saying, “I’ll leave soon. If you need anything, just give me a call.”

Jiang Nian said, “Okay.”

“Have you eaten?”

Jiang Nian asked.

Lu Yu nodded, “Yes, I have.”

After Jiang Nian finished breakfast, Lu Yu stood up. “I’m heading back now.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Nian saw Lu Yu off at the door, closing it only after he had gone far away. Seeing Zhang Xiao looking at her strangely, Jiang Nian touched her face. “Is there something on my face?”

Zhang Xiao regained her senses. “No.”

She just felt that Deputy Commander Lu and Sister Jiang looked more and more like a couple.

She knew that Jiang Nian’s brother-in-law was the deputy commander because Sister Ge called him that when they were having dinner at the state-run restaurant yesterday. She only then realized that Sister Jiang’s brother-in-law had such a powerful status.

Jiang Nian went to embroider in the private room. When Lu Xiaoqing saw her come in, she sarcastically said, “You’re really lucky.”

Jiang Nian: …

She glanced at Lu Xiaoqing without saying a word, sitting on the stool and continuing to embroider.

Ge Mei came over at noon. She learned about Zhai Peipei and Qu Hua’s situation. Just now in the dormitory, she talked to Zhai Peipei and showed concern for Jiang Nian for a few sentences. Finally, she sat alone in front of the counter for a long time, wondering what she was thinking.

In the afternoon, Zhai Peipei came over, bringing Jiang Nian a bag of apples.

Jiang Nian raised her head in surprise and smiled, “What’s this for, Sister Zhai?”

Zhai Peipei said, “It’s to thank you. If it weren’t for you, my mind probably wouldn’t have thought of calling the police for a while. I was just thinking of how to reason with Chen’s family and get them to find their child.”

Jiang Nian realized that if she didn’t accept it, Sister Zhai would keep holding onto it.

So she took the bag of apples and smiled, “Then I won’t be polite.”

Finally, she got up and washed five apples clean, giving one to each person, saying they were bought by Sister Zhai. Zhai Peipei took a bite of the apple and felt it was the sweetest apple she had ever eaten.

Jiang Nian asked quietly, “How is Qu Hua?”

Zhai Peipei said, “When I left, she was sleeping. I’ll go see her again after work.”

When it was getting dark, Sister Zhai left first. Lu Xiaoqing seemed to be in a hurry and left in a hurry too. Ge Mei stopped Jiang Nian, specifically asking about Qu Hua’s situation. Today in the dormitory, because Qu Hua was there, she couldn’t ask, and just now because Lu Xiaoqing was there, she couldn’t ask either.

So Jiang Nian told Ge Mei about last night and early morning events.

Ge Mei said angrily, “I always felt that Chen Peng was not a reliable person from the beginning. Unfortunately, Sister Zhai thought Chen Peng was good, and now she’s suffering!”

She sat on the stool and snorted, “In the end, it’s her own daughter who suffers.”

It wasn’t appropriate for Jiang Nian to talk about other people’s family affairs.

After sitting for a while, Ge Mei left. Jiang Nian planned to go eat with Zhang Xiao, and the phone rang. She went to answer it, guessing it was probably Lu Yu, and indeed it was.

“You’re back?”

Jiang Nian felt silly after asking this question, as of course he would be back at this hour.

Lu Yu said, “Hmm, are you going to the cafeteria?”

“Yeah.”

There was silence for a moment on the other end. “Go to the cafeteria, get your food, and eat in the dormitory. If there’s anything, go find the guard at the gatehouse of the Cotton Mill. I’ve spoken to him.”

Jiang Nian didn’t expect him to be so considerate. “Okay.”

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao went to the cafeteria to get their food. When they walked out of the cafeteria’s door, they met Hu Zhongming. Hu Zhongming looked at Jiang Nian with a sinister look. When Jiang Nian saw it, her back felt cold. Zhang Xiao was also a little scared and pulled Jiang Nian to leave quickly.

However, as they walked out of the Cotton Mill, in the dark alley diagonally opposite the Cotton Mill, they saw the figures of Feng Ren and Yang Jun. The two had taken off their gray-blue work uniforms and were wearing their own clothes, looking even more like thugs.

Jiang Nian frowned slightly and, holding the aluminum lunch box, walked away with Zhang Xiao.

When they returned to the dormitory, they still felt lingering fear about what had just happened. Jiang Nian washed the aluminum lunch box after finishing her meal and looked at Qu Hua. She had been silent with her head down, and after eating the meal Zhai Peipei had made, she lay down and went to sleep again.

Zhai Peipei whispered to Jiang Nian, “She’s feeling a bit better than at noon.”

Zhang Xiao also looked worriedly at Qu Hua, showed concern for Sister Zhai, and lay down with Jiang Nian to sleep. Jiang Nian didn’t sleep well tonight. Just thinking about the looks of those three men made her heart race.

She thought she was the only one feeling this way, but apparently Zhang Xiao felt it too.

They stayed awake until almost midnight before falling asleep. They were awakened by Zhai Peipei the next morning. Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao, still groggy, washed up and took their aluminum lunch boxes to the canteen for food. They saw Feng Ren and Yang Jun again in the dark alley opposite the Cotton Mill.

The two were still haunting them.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao hurried into the cafeteria to get their food, occasionally looking back. Seeing that the two didn’t follow, but still tense, she wanted to call Lu Yu, but then thought that Lu Yu coming over would only warn them and waste his time.

After all, Feng Ren and Yang Jun only stayed near the Cotton Mill and the state-run embroidery shop and hadn’t actually harmed them. Even if the police came, they could only give them a scolding.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye. Jiang Nian’s embroidery had already completed more than half. If she continued at this pace, she would finish within seven days.

During these five days, Feng Ren and Yang Jun were like shadows in the dark alley opposite the Cotton Mill, watching her and Zhang Xiao every time they went to get their food. They would also encounter Hu Zhongming in the cafeteria, whose gaze carried a sinister hostility.

After enduring these five days, Jiang Nian felt that the family quarters were still the best place.

Having Lu Yu by her side all the time not only ensured her safety but also gave her peace of mind.

One evening after work, Jiang Nian called Lu Yu. She had hesitated for several days but finally decided to tell him about this matter. Zhang Xiao sat by the window. These past few days, she had been afraid too. Normally a sound sleeper, she had suffered from insomnia for five consecutive nights.

Jiang Nian dialed the number. The operator’s voice came from the other end. Jiang Nian said, “Please connect me to the Military District Office.”

After a moment, a military officer’s voice came through, “Hello, whom are you looking for?”

Suddenly, Zhang Xiao exclaimed, “Ah!” Jiang Nian was startled, her hand trembling. She turned to see Zhang Xiao’s face pale, running towards her. At the same time, outside the window, Feng Ren and Yang Jun smirked as they walked past the glass.

Jiang Nian’s face changed color, her voice somewhat panicked, “I’m looking for Lu Yu, the deputy commander of the Second Regiment!”

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