Chapter 74 2/2

Look, he’s also “working”!

“Xiang Xiang is such… a good kid,” sighed the head of the station.

Lu Tianming put down his book, his eyes showing envy. “Indeed.”

The two brothers discussed and speculated on whether the fourth child Lu Tianming’s wife was expecting would be a boy or a girl. The head of the station sent out warm blessings for a child like Yan Xiang: “Having one like Xiang Xiang, not a worry at all.”

Lu Tianming sighed, “Ah.”

Yan Xiang quickly found the logistics department, politely called for someone, and then handed over the requisition form written by the head of the station. Afraid that the staff in the logistics department might make a mistake, he repeated clearly all the items the head of the station had requested, and he didn’t get a single one wrong.

He could remember anything in one go.

The child’s face was round, red from running all the way, looking like two big apples.

He was already cute enough, but when he spoke, he sounded like a little adult, and he was exceptionally polite.

Too rare.

“Oh my, this kid!”

The people in the logistics department surrounded him, patting his cheeks one by one.

Yan Xiang knew that when adults pat his cheeks, it meant they liked him. He didn’t resist, remaining calm, and only said to the person who took his requisition form, “Auntie, please hurry.”

He needed to quickly complete the task the head of the station had given him and report back.

Oh, please stop patting, too many hands.

Someone asked, “Whose kid is this? So adorable.”

“The broadcasting station’s.”

“Huh, isn’t that…”

“Right?”

“Seems like it.”

Watching Yan Xiang carefully counting and packing items into the cloth bag, someone couldn’t resist and teasingly asked the child, “Do you have five sisters?”

Yan Xiang looked up in surprise. Why were people from other offices asking the same question?

And they asked much more than Lu Manman did—

“Tell Uncle, does your mom hit your sisters?”

“Do they get hot meals or cold meals? Are they leftovers?”

“Does she never buy them new clothes? Only you?”

Yan Xiang frowned.

It wasn’t a big deal to hit children, after all, Sister Yang from Zhao’s family often used a broom to discipline Gangzi, Huazi, and even Junjun, making them cry out in pain.

But eating cold meals was not right.

“I don’t have any sisters,” Yan Xiang earnestly educated them, “Rice hardens and becomes difficult to digest after it’s cold, causing wear on the stomach lining. Over time, it can lead to gastritis. So, don’t eat cold meals.”

That’s what his mom said at the dinner table.

The logistics department: “…”

No, that’s not what they wanted to hear.

And what’s up with this kid, talking like an old scholar?

Before they could ask more questions, Yan Xiang tightened the mouth of the cloth bag and cheerfully said, “All set, thank you Auntie! Goodbye!”

He turned and ran off.

Yan Xiang returned to the broadcasting station, having successfully completed his task.

Not only did the head of the station give him a candy, but Uncle Lu also applauded for him.

Hu Sui licked his lips. “Look at this kid!”

Yan Xiang’s small chest puffed up even higher.

He put the candy in his mouth, planning to tell his mom later, “The uncles and aunties at the logistics department also asked about the five sisters.”

Suddenly, Hu Sui and Lu Tianming became alert again!

“What, they asked too?”

The head of the station was still clueless. “What sisters?”

Qiao Wei asked, “What did they say?”

Yan Xiang recited all those questions word for word.

Hu Sui and Lu Tianming exchanged glances.

The head of the station was even more stunned. Qiao Wei was someone he had interviewed with Director Xie. He knew she only had one child. Where did the idea of five daughters come from?

Lu Tianming said, “Weiwei, in your family…”

“Of course not,” Hu Sui said. “Weiwei’s husband is notorious for being under her control. They’ve been married for several years, and they only have one child.”

“Ha?” 

What’s going on with the husband being under her control?

“Ahem,” Hu Sui accidentally let slip, feeling embarrassed. “Well, you just arrived, I’ll go back and tell my husband. He’ll definitely say you’re probably Yan Lei’s wife. Is it him?”

With that remark from her husband, Hu Sui finally matched the person.

Sometimes, it’s like that, a gossip heard from a few words in the toilet doesn’t match the person at all.

Prompted by her husband, she realized that Qiao Wei’s husband should be the youngest regimental commander in the military district.

Her husband’s evaluation was: “Yan is good in every aspect, just a bit controlled by his wife.”

It’s said that he even washes clothes and dishes at home.

“The head of the station asked, ‘What’s going on?'”

Qiao Wei said, “It seems like some people in the compound are spreading rumors about me. Have you heard anything?”

The head of the station replied, “What rumors? Nobody has told me anything.”

Lu Tianming added, “I haven’t heard anything either. I only know your husband is quite senior.”

Qiao Wei: “Huh?”

What does that have to do with anything?

Lu Tianming shifted the blame, “The head of the station mentioned it.”

Gossiping about their female comrade behind her back, the head of the station blushed, cleared his throat, and awkwardly said, “I didn’t say much, I just mentioned it to Tianming during dinner, your husband has a quite high rank, he’s a regimental cadre. Maybe, uh, maybe a fair bit older than you…”

“What nonsense,” Hu Sui burst into laughter, “Qiao Wei’s husband is the youngest regimental commander in the military district. He’s quite famous, I even know about him.”

Both the head of the station and Lu Tianming were curious, “How young is he?”

Hu Sui looked at Qiao Wei, “…Around twenty-seven or twenty-eight?”

“No,” Qiao Wei corrected, “He’s not even twenty-seven yet. He enlisted early, joined the army before he was fourteen.”

Lu Tianming was surprised, “He’s even younger than me by a few months.”

Hearing about Qiao Wei’s husband being so young and accomplished, both the head of the station and Lu Tianming breathed a sigh of relief together, “That’s great.”

Qiao Wei: “…”

Qiao Wei vaguely understood where the misunderstanding in the rumors was.

But what did you two men mean by breathing a sigh of relief?

In the afternoon, when Lu Manman came to work, she felt that everyone was looking at her strangely.

But she was always a bit late, and it was almost time for broadcasting, so since no one said anything, she entered the broadcasting room as usual.

The entire week would be spent repeatedly broadcasting the schedule and steps for the collective mosquito eradication. It was hassle-free; she could just read the materials provided by the county and didn’t have to write her own script.

But as soon as the broadcast finished, Lu Manman was surrounded by her colleagues in the office.

“Comrade Lu Manman,” Qiao Wei said, “I heard I have five stepdaughters? What’s going on? Come, tell us in detail.”

After integrating into the conversation, Qiao Wei went from “Qiao Wei” to “Weiwei.”

The others were addressed as follows: the head of the station, Sister Hu, Tianming, Manman.

Suddenly being called by her full name, Lu Manman couldn’t help but feel a chill down her neck.