Chapter 37

“What’s the matter?”

“I want to stay home and take care of you and the kids after I retire from the military.”

After this recent mission, Jiang Huaijing had a lot on his mind. He regretted not spending enough time with Gu Nian and the children. Now, he wanted to focus on his family.

Gu Nian naturally agreed. This way, their family could be together every day.

“Alright, I support your decision.”

The next morning, Gu Nian woke up late because of Jiang Huaijing, but since it was Sunday, it didn’t matter.

She was feeding the children when Jiangsusu walked in, crying and carrying a large bag.

“Sister-in-law, Zhou Zheng bullied me!”

“What happened? Sit down and tell me slowly.”

Jiang Huaijing and Gu Nian sat together, while Jiangsusu continued crying.

“Stop crying. What happened between you and Zhou Zheng?”

Jiang Huaijing frowned. When he left the family housing, the two of them were still doing fine.

“Brother, sister-in-law, Zhou Zheng lied to me! He has a childhood sweetheart in the countryside. Their families arranged a child marriage when they were young, and now this woman has come looking for him at the family housing.”

“Are you serious?”

Jiang Huaijing found it hard to believe. Zhou Zheng and Jiangsusu had been together for years, and he had trusted Zhou Zheng’s character enough to let his sister marry him.

“It’s true, brother! I’m not lying—she really came.”

“Come back to the family housing with me now. He needs to explain this to me face-to-face.”

“I’m not going back! Brother, when I left, I said I’d never go back.”

Jiangsusu refused. She wasn’t the one at fault, so why should she be the one to back down first?

Seeing her like this, Gu Nian decided to take her to a room to rest. She had been exhausted from the journey. Soon after lying down, Jiangsusu fell asleep.

Once she was asleep, Gu Nian spoke to Jiang Huaijing.

“Send Zhou Zheng a telegram and ask him to come to Beijing. This matter must be resolved.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Huaijing left to send the telegram, while Gu Nian and Xiuzhi took care of the children.

That evening, Jiang Huaijing returned with Zhou Zheng.

“Zhou Zheng, you got here fast.”

“Sister-in-law, where’s Susu?”

“She’s in the room. Have a seat, I’ll call her for dinner.”

No matter how angry she was, she still had to eat. Jiangsusu came to the table with a cold expression.

Gu Nian and Jiang Huaijing welcomed Zhou Zheng. Seeing that he had come immediately after hearing Jiangsusu left, they felt relieved—it meant he still cared about her.

“Zhou Zheng, what’s the deal with this childhood sweetheart?”

As her older brother, Jiang Huaijing had the responsibility to get to the bottom of it. Seeing the misunderstanding, Zhou Zheng quickly explained.

“Brother, sister-in-law, here’s what happened…”

After hearing his explanation, Gu Nian and Jiang Huaijing understood.

The child marriage had been arranged by their parents when Zhou Zheng and Wang Hongmei were little. They grew up together like childhood friends, but Zhou Zheng never had any feelings for her.

He thought the matter was settled when his mother annulled the engagement, but Wang Hongmei had come looking for him again.

“You see, Susu? You misunderstood Zhou Zheng. Calm down and go home with him.”

Jiang Huaijing sighed at his troublesome younger sister. Jiangsu Su pouted before asking,

“Zhou Zheng, are you telling the truth? There’s really nothing between you and Wang Hongmei?”

“It’s true, Susu. Don’t you understand my feelings for you?”

Jiangsusu immediately smiled. Gu Nian sighed—what an easy person to pacify. The two of them made up on the spot.

Jiangsusu even felt guilty for being too impulsive. She should’ve asked first before running away—she decided to change that in the future.

That night, the couple planned to stay over and return to the family housing the next morning.

Gu Nian and Jiang Huaijing left them be.

—–

The next day, Jiangsusu and Zhou Zheng packed their bags.

Just as they were about to leave, two people entered the house, and Zhou Zheng’s expression changed instantly.

“Wang Hongmei, why are you here again? Didn’t I make myself clear?”

“Brother Zhou Zheng, we were engaged. No one else in the village will want me now. Just let me stay, please.”

Wang Hongmei cried as she spoke. The old lady beside her—her mother—started scolding Zhou Zheng.

“Zhou Zheng, you weren’t like this before! Your family promised to marry my Hongmei. Now you’re backing out? Too late!”

The old woman had come to fight for her daughter’s marriage.

“Auntie, you know the truth—I’ve never had any feelings for Hongmei.”

“Childhood engagement or not, Zhou Zheng, if you refuse to marry my daughter, I’ll kill myself right in front of you!”

The old woman started making a scene. Jiangsusu couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up.

“Zhou Zheng and I are already married! Besides, he doesn’t even like your daughter—why are you forcing this?”

“Marriage can be undone! Hongmei has waited for Zhou Zheng her whole life. Everyone in the village knows they were supposed to marry. Now that he’s married someone else, how will she face the villagers?”

Zhou Zheng was speechless at their unreasonable demands.

Gu Nian looked at the old woman and said,

“This child marriage was arranged by your families, but Zhou Zheng has already married Jiangsusu. And the one he truly loves is Jiangsusu. Do you really want to break up their marriage over an outdated engagement?”

Now, Gu Nian understood why Jiangsusu was so angry. Who wouldn’t be, dealing with this kind of nonsense?

Wang Hongmei and her mother exchanged glances.

In truth, Wang Hongmei hadn’t really liked Zhou Zheng. She had fallen for a young intellectual from a neighboring village.

He was good-looking and educated—exactly her type.

She had expected him to marry her and stay in the village.

But once the college entrance exams resumed, he took the test, got into university, and left for the city.

Now, she was getting older, and no one wanted to marry her. Panic set in.

Her mother then remembered Zhou Zheng and urged her to find him.

Their plan was simple—force Zhou Zheng into divorcing Jiangsusu so that Wang Hongmei could have a husband.

Seeing that things weren’t going her way, Wang Hongmei suddenly put on a pitiful act.

“It’s okay, Zhou Zheng. I know you have your troubles. If you really don’t want to marry me, I’ll leave.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t cause any trouble. I’ll never regret knowing you, Zhou Zheng.”

Her words were like a veiled threat.

The old woman was quick to play along. She grabbed Wang Hongmei, wailing dramatically.

“My dear Hongmei! Don’t do anything foolish! If you die, what will I do? You’re my only daughter!”

“Don’t worry, dear, I’ll make sure Zhou Zheng marries you. I’ll kill myself if he doesn’t!”

Gu Nian had had enough. She ran into the house, grabbed a bottle of rat poison, and handed it to them.

“You want to die? Here. No need to buy your own poison. Just do it far from here. Who’s drinking first?”

Wang Hongmei’s face turned pale. She immediately panicked.

“Mom, don’t! You can’t drink that! I don’t want to marry Zhou Zheng anymore, just don’t drink it!”

The old woman was furious.

This fool! I wasn’t actually going to drink it!