Chapter 23: Putting the Blame on Him

Jiang Chengxiao was momentarily stunned before smiling and saying, “It’s been like this for a long time. This kind of work always has its bumps and bruises. We’re used to it, it’s nothing.”

Then, he suddenly realized that he no longer did this kind of work.

He sighed and gave a wry smile. “And from now on, I won’t have to deal with these things anymore.”

“Mhm. We can live peacefully and steadily, all thanks to you, the people’s soldiers, who are protecting us.”

Jiang Chengxiao felt a little embarrassed by her words. “Ahem, it’s nothing, really. It’s just what we should do.”

Song Xilan, with a serious face, said, “Speaking of which, Jiang Jingru is really too much. Since she wants to be with someone else, she should’ve made things clear with your comrade first. Only after breaking up should she be with someone else. She shouldn’t have tried to juggle two relationships, not letting go of either.”

Jiang Chengxiao sneered, “She’s reluctant, but it’s not the person she’s reluctant to let go of, it’s the money my comrade sends her every month.”

Song Xilan was shocked again. “She still wants his money?” Her parents had always told her that before marriage, a young lady should never casually spend money from other men, let alone ask for it directly. That wasn’t what a good girl did.

“Guangshan gets a stipend of 28 yuan a month. He sends 10 yuan to his parents, another 10 to Jiang Jingru, and keeps only 8 yuan for himself. Even so, he still managed to save over 100 yuan and bought a watch for her.”

Song Xilan said, “But now that he’s in trouble, what will his parents do?”

The organization has issued a condolence payment, but as for that woman, I can’t just let her off easy. I checked earlier, Guangshan has been sending money to her for three years, a total of 360 yuan. I need to get the money and the watch back.”

Song Xilan nodded in agreement. “Yes, that’s the right thing to do. The money should be kept for his parents’ old age, and the watch should stay with them as a keepsake.”

Jiang Chengxiao turned to look at her and smiled. As expected, she was the kind of girl he liked—so kind-hearted!

“Right, that’s exactly what I plan to do. But there’s one more thing I need your help with.”

Song Xilan asked, “Me? What can I do?”

“I hope you can come with me to see Jiang Jingru. She’s a tricky one, always scheming. If I go to see her alone, I’m afraid something might happen.”

Song Xilan was puzzled. “What could happen? You’re a big guy, and you’re pretty capable. Last time, you managed to make a big, burly man beg for mercy with just one hand. Why would you be afraid of a woman?”

Jiang Chengxiao gave an example. “When I was in the army, there was a girl from a nearby village who liked my comrade. But my comrade already had a girlfriend back home, so he rejected her. One time, when we were resting, that girl said something at home broke and asked my comrade to come help fix it. He went alone, thinking nothing of it. Guess what happened?”

Song Xilan’s eyes widened as she shook her head innocently. “I can’t guess.”

“When he went inside, the girl stripped off her clothes, hugged him tightly, and shouted loudly. The people around heard and rushed over. Seeing the situation, the villagers insisted that he give that girl an explanation, or they wouldn’t let him go. They even said they’d report him to the army, which would mean he’d get punished. In the end, my comrade had no choice but to marry her.”

Song Xilan gasped. “Oh my gosh! How can people be like that? That’s so shameless!”

“Exactly. After that, everyone was afraid of something like that happening to them, so every time we went out, especially to someone else’s home, we always went with a companion, just in case something happened and it couldn’t be explained.”

“Oh, I see.” Song Xilan suddenly understood. “So you want me to go with you?”

Jiang Chengxiao looked at her with a lingering sense of dread. “Last time, I almost fell into her trap. She specifically came to find me and even tried to get me to go to my hotel room. Luckily, I was cautious and took her to the hotel café instead. Otherwise, I might not be standing here talking to you now. I’d probably be busy planning a wedding instead.”

Song Xilan thought for a moment, then was shocked as she covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my goodness, but she had already… already…”

Jiang Chengxiao smiled bitterly. “At first, I thought she was just trying to find a replacement now that Guangshan was gone, but after hearing what you said, I realized—she was trying to pin the child in her belly on me!”

Song Xilan, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but glance at his head, imagining a little baby, head down, feet up, falling right on top of his head. She couldn’t help but laugh.

Jiang Chengxiao: “I almost got completely screwed, and you’re laughing?”

Song Xilan quickly became serious. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you with this. What do you plan to do?”

“This afternoon, I’ll call the army and have them request the remittance records from the post office for the past few years and the receipt for the watch he bought. Once we have the evidence, we’ll go to Jiang Jingru. She won’t dare to not return the money.”

Song Xilan had never done something like this before, and she felt both nervous and excited. She clenched her fists and vowed, “Yes, when the time comes, come find me. We’ll definitely get justice for your comrade.”

She then looked at the crumpled paper bag in her hands, realizing that, in the middle of talking to Jiang Chengxiao, she had unknowingly finished the entire bag of roasted chestnuts.

Where did they go? Upon thinking about it, she realized she had eaten them all.

And it was Jiang Chengxiao who had peeled them for her.

Oh my gosh, how could she be so shameless, letting someone peel a whole bag of chestnuts for her?

Just then, they passed a trash bin. Jiang Chengxiao walked over, took a handful of chestnut shells from his coat pocket, and threw them in. He then pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands. “Alright, the serious talk is over. How about letting me treat you to a meal today? Consider it an early thank you for helping me.”

Song Xilan hesitated, “How about we wait until you’ve actually helped before we go? I didn’t tell my mom in advance, so she’s probably already made my dinner.”

Jiang Chengxiao sighed. “Alright, next time then. You’re such a good girl, not someone who can be easily wooed with a little kindness.”

“Should I walk you home?”

Song Xilan, like a startled rabbit, quickly shook her head. “No, no, it’s really close. I can go back myself.” She lowered her head, explaining a little embarrassedly, “Everyone in our compound is familiar with each other.”

The gossiping skills of the aunts in the compound were terrifying!

Song Xilan could only see the bullet comments when they were about her or the important people around her.

So she didn’t know that, at this moment, those viewers who usually spouted nonsense in her mind were experiencing a massive “shocking” reaction.