Chapter 68

Ruan Mingfu was so startled upon seeing Mrs. Ruan that she nearly jumped out of bed. However, due to her injured foot, she lost control and started to fall backward.

Fortunately, Xie Yanzhao was quick to catch her.

“Be careful!”

Ruan Mingfu didn’t think twice. She grabbed onto Xie Yanzhao’s waist and hid behind him.

“Xie Yanzhao, you have to protect me!”

She didn’t want to get hurt by her own mother.

Mrs. Ruan frowned. “What are you mumbling about?”

“Nothing… nothing at all!”

Mrs. Ruan rolled her eyes and looked at her disapprovingly. “Seriously, who are you trying to impress? You’re my own child. Do you think I would really hurt you?”

Ruan Mingfu felt like crying.

If it weren’t for that last comment, she might not have been scared. But hearing it made her hair stand on end.

Mrs. Ruan shot an irritated glance at her clueless daughter before finding a place to sit.

“Alright!”

Ruan Mingfu cautiously peered out from behind Xie Yanzhao.

When she saw that Mrs. Ruan wasn’t going to hit her, she finally relaxed.

With a smile, she looked at her mother. “Mom~”

“I’m not falling for your tricks.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Her mother was still as difficult as ever.

It was Xie Yanzhao who felt sympathy and tried to defuse the tension. “Mom.”

Only then did Mrs. Ruan lift her gaze to him.

Being scrutinized by his mother-in-law made Xie Yanzhao more nervous than facing a battlefield. His hands unconsciously clenched, and he bit his lip, fearing she might say she disapproved.

“Not bad,” Mrs. Ruan nodded, “you look pretty good.”

Xie Yanzhao breathed a sigh of relief.

He’d passed the first hurdle…

But Father Ruan wasn’t satisfied.

He suddenly glared at Mrs. Ruan, incredulous.

“Wife?!”

“Shut up,” Mrs. Ruan shot back, giving him a fierce look. “I’ll deal with you later!”

Father Ruan fell silent.

Like Ruan Mingfu, he looked like a child caught in the act, his expression downcast.

Qi Yangyan didn’t dare speak either.

His mother held the highest position in the family. She was the top predator in the food chain. Neither he nor his father could provoke her.

Gu Yilin’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

She looked like she wanted to leap into Mrs. Ruan’s arms and shout, “Sister, I’m all in!”

Even Qi Yangyan’s handsome face didn’t catch her attention.

“Mom, Mingfu still needs some time before she can go home,” Xie Yanzhao suggested. “Why don’t you and Dad go get checked? I can take you both.”

Mrs. Ruan nodded.

She shared the same sentiment as Xie Yanzhao.

“We can go ourselves. You just stay here with her.”

With her troublesome daughter accompanied by her son-in-law, she felt at ease.

Once Mrs. Ruan left, Ruan Mingfu let out a huge sigh of relief.

Finally, she dared to pout and mutter, “What does my mom mean by that?”

So infuriating!

Gu Yilin took the opportunity to tease her. “Really? You’re grown up now and still afraid of Auntie?”

“Hmph!”

Ruan Mingfu snorted.

Gu Yilin had no idea how terrifying Mrs. Ruan could be. Most of the beatings she received growing up came from her mother. Wasn’t it normal to be scared?

Besides, Mrs. Ruan wasn’t your average parent.

She really knew how to hit hard!

When Ruan Mingfu was about seven or eight, she cut a classmate’s dress, and when she got home, she received a brutal lesson with bamboo shoots. What was even worse, her mother collected the bamboo strips she’d used to hit her, saying she would tell her children about it one day.

Is this something a mother would do?

To avoid embarrassment, Ruan Mingfu had been much more obedient ever since.

“I’m actually a bit envious of you.”

Recalling her own mother, Gu Yilin pouted.

As soon as she saw her, she’d be told to go on blind dates, as if she were already an old maid.

How ridiculous…

Hearing this, Ruan Mingfu felt a surge of pride.

At least Gu Yilin had good taste.

“Of course!” Ruan Mingfu smiled brightly. “Mrs. Ruan is the best.”

Although strict, Mrs. Ruan was exceptionally good to Ruan Mingfu. Just this time, she had made sure that the nanny and her daughter couldn’t show their faces.

Gu Yilin scrunched her nose in disdain.

But if Mrs. Ruan were her mom, it would be perfect… Her gaze accidentally landed on Qi Yangyan standing nearby, and her eyes lit up.

She had just heard him call Mrs. Ruan “Mom”!

If she married Qi Yangyan, wouldn’t she be able to call Mrs. Ruan “Mom” too?

The more she thought about it, the better it seemed.

She sauntered over. “Handsome comrade, are you seeing anyone?”

Her question stunned Ruan Mingfu in the hospital room. She dropped the jujubes in her hand, and they rolled all the way to the door.

Xie Yanzhao quickly picked up a large, red jujube and handed it to her.

Ruan Mingfu took it, her eyes fixed on the two people not far away, and took a bite.

hiss–

Her plastic friend was indeed brave…

She even dares to flirt with a man like her brother, so bold!

Qi Yangyan didn’t change his expression at all. He didn’t even glance at Gu Yiling. His whole demeanor seemed to scream:

“Don’t get involved!”

Ruan Mingfu covered her face.

Sure enough…

Gu Yiling, however, acted as if nothing was wrong, trotting over to Ruan Mingfu and dramatically collapsing onto her, clutching her chest. “Sister, I feel so uncomfortable… boohoo~”

You feel uncomfortable, my foot!

Look at that rosy face—there’s no sign of any sadness from being rejected.

Ruan Mingfu narrowed her eyes.

This girl is definitely putting on a show for her!

She pursed her lips and ignored her.

The others didn’t pay much attention to this little scene, and when Mrs. Ruan and Father Ruan returned, everyone headed back to the family compound.

As they walked, especially past the small square where the military wives usually rested, everyone’s gaze turned toward Mrs. Ruan.

This made Ruan Mingfu feel a bit down.

Before Mrs. Ruan arrived, she was the center of attention in the entire compound. Every move she made was watched.

The military wives discreetly observed the group until they walked far away, then began to whisper among themselves.

“Is that the one they were talking about?”

“She’s Comrade Ruan’s mother… but she doesn’t look like it. They seem more like sisters.”

“Didn’t you hear? She slapped a family member from Commander Xie’s household!”

One of the wives who had been absent today just returned from visiting relatives and learned about the gossip.

Hearing this, another wife quickly chimed in.

“The fight was intense, absolutely frightening.”

“Indeed! That mother and daughter had to be carried out in the end.”

“Wow… that’s brutal?”

“Well, they asked for it. Comrade Ruan was seriously hurt too… If my daughter were bullied like that, I’d definitely react the same way.”

The military wives continued chatting, pulling in all sorts of topics.

“You wouldn’t believe the commotion when Comrade Ruan’s mom came… a whole crowd clearing the way, thought it was someone important!”

Before she could finish her sentence, she was tapped on the shoulder.

“Are you out of your mind?”

The speaking wife realized her mistake and quickly covered her mouth.

“My bad, my bad! Everyone, don’t mind me.”

Another wife then spoke up, “You didn’t see that impressive young man? I saw Commander Gu personally escort him out.”

Everyone gasped.

In this military district, everyone knows old Commander Gu. He’s the top leader here. If even he had to curry favor with this young man, what kind of background does he have?

“Oh my gosh, that’s too scary!”

The other wives fell silent, their expressions saying it all.

“Do you think he has a girlfriend?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the whole square of military wives went quiet.

Who wouldn’t want a golden son-in-law?

Looking at how he dressed and adorned, they’d never seen anything like it. If they could marry him, wouldn’t they be set for life…?

Goodness!

The military wives’ breaths quickened.

They all began to mentally sort through their own families and relatives with eligible daughters.

…

Once home, Ruan Mingfu finally relaxed.

Xie Yanzhao settled her onto the sofa and began to entertain the guests. Thankfully, Qi Yangyan had sent his bodyguards away. Otherwise, this little living room wouldn’t be able to fit so many people.

“It’s not bad.”

Mrs. Ruan surveyed the surroundings and nodded.

“Not bad, huh?” Ruan Mingfu couldn’t help but perk up. “I decorated this myself!”

“Really?”

Mrs. Ruan was well aware of what kind of daughter she had and looked at her with skepticism.

If it weren’t for her injured foot, Ruan Mingfu would’ve jumped up.

“Of course I did! Mom, how could you think otherwise? I’m so hurt…”

She talked while Xie Yanzhao did the work.

Rounding it up, didn’t that mean it was her doing? That rough man certainly didn’t have her taste.

“Alright, stop pretending.”

Mrs. Ruan took a seat, while Gu Yilin eagerly brought her a glass of water and quietly snuggled up beside her.

She was such an idol!

“Mom, how long do you plan to stay this time?”

Mrs. Ruan raised an eyebrow at her. “What? Are you starting to dislike me and your dad already?”

“Of course not,” Ruan Mingfu wrapped her arm around Mrs. Ruan affectionately and leaned her head against her shoulder. “I can’t wait for you two to stay with me forever!”

Though Mrs. Ruan pretended to be annoyed, she felt quite pleased inside.

“We won’t stay long. When your dad came, the farm’s Secretary Huang was crying, wishing he could follow us here.”

He was worried his valuable assistant would run off after just one trip.

Hearing this, Father Ruan sheepishly rubbed his nose.

Men, right?

Who doesn’t have a dream of a strong and prosperous country? If he had the ability, he’d do it. Since he came to this era and is good at economics, wouldn’t being a factory director be wasting his talents?

Thankfully, Father Ruan didn’t say this out loud. Otherwise, Mrs. Ruan would have scolded him thoroughly.

Heaven knows when they called back to inform them that they were rejecting the transfer and wanted to stay at the farm, the staff on the other end fell silent for several seconds. Later, they repeatedly confirmed their identities and asked questions, then reported to their superiors.

The leaders were so moved, praising how insightful the two were, saying they would report to higher-ups to apply for awards for them.

Mrs. Ruan: “…”

Those people were definitely flattering them on the surface, but inwardly thinking, “Heh, we’ve encountered a couple of fools.”

Ruan Mingfu tilted her head and asked, “Mom, are you really not going to reconsider?”

“Forget it,” Mrs. Ruan waved her hand. “Let your dad do what he wants.”

While at the farm and even on the train, Qi Yangyan had tried to persuade Father Ruan countless times. But Father Ruan was stubborn. He just wanted to stay at the farm. It was such a remote place that even visiting the kids wasn’t easy.

Yet Father Ruan insisted, and Mrs. Ruan went along with him.

Ruan Mingfu pursed her lips.

Mrs. Ruan was tough on her and her brother, but with Father Ruan, she was gentle and accommodating, which made others envious.

How frustrating!