Chapter 50

As Jiang Nian walked back from the state-run embroidery shop to the dormitory, she kept thinking about what Ge Mei had said.

Outside the dormitory, she glanced at the pillar by the gate. When she used to live here, Lu Yu would stand here holding breakfast. Ge Mei’s words brought to the forefront what she had hidden deep in her heart, things she had been unwilling to face or think about.

Even if she wanted to avoid it and pretend it hadn’t happened, it was no longer possible.

Jiang Nian sighed, and upon entering the dormitory, she immediately smelled the fragrant aroma of meat. Seeing only herself, Zhai Peipei asked in confusion, “Where’s Director Ge?”

Lu Xiaoqing peeked outside and said, “Hmm, why hasn’t Sister Ge come?”

Jiang Nian replied, “Sister Ge had something at home and went back first. She asked us to eat first.”

Zhang Xiao brought a pot of fish and chicken to the table, along with two plates of vegetables. Lu Xiaoqing filled everyone’s enamel cups with water, lifted hers, and said, “Come, let’s have a toast to celebrate that our state-run embroidery shop has finally returned to its peaceful days.”

Everyone stood up, raised their cups, and clinked them together, saying, “Cheers.”

After eating and drinking their fill, Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao cleaned up the pots and bowls. That night, lying in bed, Zhang Xiao cuddled Jiang Nian and teased, “Sister Jiang , I missed you so much when you weren’t here.”

Jiang Nian teased back, “Oh, so did you miss Zhu Jun?”

Zhang Xiao’s face instantly turned red, and she let go of Jiang Nian and burrowed into the blankets, saying, “I’m not talking to you anymore.”

Lu Xiaoqing clicked her tongue and said, “Oh my, feeling shy, are we?”

Zhai Peipei joked, “She’s still a young girl. Of course she’s shy.”

Lu Xiaoqing asked, “Then what am I?”

Zhai Peipei laughed, “You’re an old maiden.”

Lu Xiaoqing snorted irritably, “Fine, fine, I’m an old maiden.”

With laughter and banter, everyone gradually fell asleep. The next morning, as soon as it was light, Zhai Peipei got up to reheat the leftover food from last night. After breakfast, they went back to the embroidery workshop. Jiang Nian repaired the embroidery, ensuring it was flawless before handing it over to Ge Mei.

Ge Mei smiled and said, “I really admire your skills.”

With the embroidery completed and nothing else to do in the afternoon, Jiang Nian planned to go to the department store to buy some fabric and thread. She intended to make two summer outfits for both herself and Lu Yu. Ge Mei suggested, “Let Zhang Xiao go with you, so that you two can keep each other company.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiao happily stood up and said, “Thank you, Sister Ge.”

After lunch, Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao went to the department store together. On the way, they encountered a police roundup on the street, arresting a group of migrant workers who had flooded into the city. Jiang Nian turned her head to look. There were over a dozen men and women being apprehended.

“Sister Jiang, Hu Zhongming’s dad is in there.”

Zhang Xiao was startled, grabbing Jiang Nian’s sleeve. Jiang Nian followed her gaze and saw a short but strong-looking man following the two women. He looked disheveled and had an unshaven beard, and his features and eyebrows were very similar to Hu Zhongming.

As they passed by Zhang Xiao and Jiang Nian, Hu Zhongming’s dad seemed to notice Zhang Xiao. He turned and gave her a menacing glare. Zhang Xiao was frightened, swallowing nervously, leaning closer to Jiang Nian. “Sister Jiang, let’s go.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Nian averted her gaze and hurried away with Zhang Xiao.

Meanwhile, Hu Zhongming’s dad clearly heard Zhang Xiao calling the woman next to her ‘Sister Jiang’. Surname Jiang, female, and the age matched. Hu Zhongming’s dad turned to glance at Jiang Nian’s back, his eyes filled with menace.

The department store in this era couldn’t compare to the new century’s. Jiang Nian picked out a few fabrics and bought some, also purchasing a few pairs of insoles to make shoes for her and Lu Yu. Jiang Nian paid and left with Zhang Xiao. Outside, two men were looking for someone. As they passed by, Jiang Nian overheard them asking if they had seen a short, bearded man.

They wandered for the afternoon. Jiang Nian bought some apples for Sister Zhai and others. By the time they returned, the sun was setting. On their way back to the embroidery shop, they had to pass through two alleys. Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiao was knocked unconscious by a brick.

“Zhang Xiao!”

Apples and fabrics in Jiang Nian’s hands were scattered on the ground. Zhang Xiao lay there, blood flowing from her head. Standing opposite her was a man, none other than Hu Zhongming’s dad. Jiang Nian instantly recalled the man they were looking for at the department store.

“You must be Jiang Nian.”

Hu Zhongming’s dad approached Jiang Nian. When she tried to turn and run, he quickened his pace, grabbing her by the neck and covering her mouth, fiercely saying, “You’ve ruined my Hu family, left us without jobs, lost our home, and forced us into the countryside.”

Jiang Nian trembled uncontrollably, hands tightly gripping Hu Zhongming’s dad’s arm, trying to pull his hand away. She was worried that Zhang Xiao would bleed too much and something bad would happen. She wanted to beg Hu Zhongming’s dad to let Zhang Xiao go, but the man before her had clearly lost all humanity.

He glared at her malevolently. “My Hu family only has Hu Zhongming as a son. I’m going to take your life to get my son back!”

He was very strong, leaving Jiang Nian no room to resist.

Hu Zhongming’s dad grabbed Jiang Nian and took her somewhere. As she left, she saw a small puddle of blood under Zhang Xiao’s head.

Zhang Xiao was found by the dormitory auntie, who was terrified and quickly ran to the state-run embroidery shop to call Ge Mei and the others to take Zhang Xiao to the city hospital. Watching Zhang Xiao unconscious and unresponsive, Zhai Peipei was frantic. “Which scumbag did this?!”

Lu Xiaoqing was also worried. “Where’s Jiang Nian? Auntie, did you see Jiang Nian?”

The dormitory aunt shook her head, her hands trembling. “I only saw Zhang Xiao alone when I passed by.”

“Call the police!”

Ge Mei’s face turned pale. “It must be Hu Zhongming’s dad! I’m going to call the police!”

Zhai Peipei stayed with Zhang Xiao, while Lu Xiaoqing and Ge Mei went to the police station to report the incident. After explaining the situation, the police quickly contacted their colleagues to confirm that Hu Zhongming’s dad had fled and began searching for him and Jiang Nian.

Lu Xiaoqing was crying anxiously. “Sister Ge, what do we do? What if something happens to Jiang Nian?”

Ge Mei, feeling weak and supported by Lu Xiaoqing, anxiously glanced around. “Make a call. Call Deputy Commander Lu.”

If something happened to Jiang Nian while she was responsible, she would be too ashamed to face Deputy Commander Lu.

For many years, Ge Mei had never felt so panicked. She could barely walk straight, leaning against the brick wall. She said to Lu Xiaoqing, “Go back to the embroidery shop. Call Deputy Commander Lu immediately and tell him what happened.”

Night had fallen, and the road was pitch black.

Leaning against the wall, Ge Mei felt extremely anxious.

Lu Xiaoqing ran all the way back to the embroidery shop, opened the lock with shaking hands, and ran in. She picked up the phone and hesitated before dialing the military guard office’s number, asking for help. After dialing the number, the operator’s voice came from the other end. Lu Xiaojing panted and said, “Help me connect the call to the military district.”

“Okay, please wait.”

After a while, a stranger’s voice came over the phone. Lu Xiaoqing said urgently, “Please help me find Deputy Commander Lu from the Second Regiment. His sister-in-law is in trouble, and we’re at the state-run embroidery shop!”

The military guard acted almost instantly, rushing to the family quarters. They met Deputy Commander Lu and others halfway.

“Deputy Commander Lu—”

Lu Yu had just undone two buttons on his military uniform when he heard the voice behind him. The military guard looked anxious, and his cold and stern face immediately darkened. “What happened?”!