Chapter 49.2

Soon, it was the beginning of the next month, and it was also the time for the First and Second Regiment to go out for training. When it got dark in the evening, Lu Yu came home with a military green bag, gave Jiang Nian some instructions, and left with Song Bai.

The news about Lu Yu moving to live in the dormitory had spread throughout the family quarters.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Feng Mei came to find Jiang Nian and told her all the recent gossip from the family quarters.

The small embroidery would be finished in a few days. Jiang Nian changed the thread and turned to look at Feng Mei. “Is that so?”

Feng Mei said, “Isn’t that so? Everyone says Deputy Commander Lu is a principled and sensible good man. Hou Lian, the one we met at the market that day, you know, the one you call Sister Hou, she came to me a few days ago. She wanted me to help introduce her sister Hou Meng to Deputy Commander Lu.”

Jiang Nian paused with the needle in her hand, waiting for Feng Mei to continue.

Feng Mei went on, “I asked Old Song about this. Old Song said that woman and Deputy Commander Lu are not compatible.”

Jiang Nian became interested, “Why did he say that?”

Feng Mei said proudly, “My Old Song knows how to judge people. He has seen Hou Meng twice and he said that Hou Meng is too shallow. She’s not suitable for Deputy Commander Lu. Deputy Commander Lu is someone who will achieve great things in the future. If he’s going to find someone, he needs to find a girl who understands the big picture and has foresight.”

After saying that, she sighed and said, “Where do you think we can find a girl who understands the big picture and has far-reaching vision?”

Jiang Nian lowered her head and pursed her lips. “I don’t know.”

Feng Mei said, “You’re his sister-in-law, so you should worry more about his matters. Aren’t you embroidering for the embroidery shop? Go to the embroidery shop when you are free to ask if there is such a girl. Let me tell you, if you can arrange Deputy Commander Lu’s marriage, they will hold you in even higher regard in the future.”

Jiang Nian smiled softly. “I’ll go ask when the time comes.”

After Feng Mei left, Jiang Nian stopped her embroidery, turned and looked at the room where Lu Yu used to stay. She felt empty inside, a desolate feeling as if abandoned in a lonely corner.

Shaking her head, she pushed aside her tangled thoughts and resumed her embroidery.

In the afternoon, Xu Yan sat with Jiang Nian for a while before leaving.

Six days had passed since Lu Yu left. The next morning, Jiang Nian got up early, completed her embroidery, and after finishing the last few stitches, she took the embroidery down from the frame and packed it into a small cloth bag. After breakfast, she planned to go to the city.

Just as she finished breakfast, three people arrived at her house.

It was Chen Fang and Hou Lian, the ones she had met at the market the other day. Jiang Nian already guessed their purpose for coming. Chen Fang sat down on a stool without ceremony and smiled at Jiang Nian. “Eating breakfast?”

Jiang Nian nodded. “Have you eaten?”

“We ate before coming,” Chen Fang replied.

Hou Meng sat under a tree, looking around the courtyard. Hou Lian smiled and asked, “Xiao Nian, how old are you this year?”

Jiang Nian hesitated. Earlier at the market, Sister Chen had already spoken. Now, it was clear what their purpose was without thinking. Suppressing her impatience, Jiang Nian calmly replied, “I’m 23.”

Hou Meng laughed, “You’re two years older than me. How old is Deputy Commander Lu?”

Jiang Nian remained silent.

Chen Fang smiled, “You ask me, I know. Lu Yu is 26 this year, five years older than Hou Meng.”

Hou Lian said, “That’s not young anymore. It’s time to get married.”

Jiang Nian saw the conversation taking a turn. They were here to propose marriage for Hou Meng.

She remembered what Feng Mei had said yesterday. Commander Song had lived for so many years and gradually risen to the position of Commander. Judging people and events weren’t much different. He said Hou Meng was superficial, and Jiang Nian had sensed something at the market.

Jiang Nian smiled and said to Chen Fang and Hou Lian, “Yes, I also think Lu Yu is not young anymore. It’s time for him to get married.”

Hou Lian and Chen Fang looked at Jiang Nian, thinking she was reasonable. Hou Meng also showed a shy smile. Jiang Nian noticed everything and sighed, “As his sister-in-law, I have already urged him. I want him to start a family sooner, but I am just a sister-in-law. If I say too much, he will be annoyed.”

Hou Lian wanted to say something, but Chen Fang stopped her, “You’re right. We sisters-in-law shouldn’t talk too much, or people will find it annoying.”

She understood Jiang Nian’s position. After all, she also had a troublesome younger brother-in-law. Sometimes, when she cared too much about Tang Ze’s marriage, the two brothers would reprimand her. Moreover, Jiang Nian was not Lu Yu’s real sister-in-law, so saying too much would indeed annoy people.

Hou Meng glanced resentfully at Chen Fang and Jiang Nian. She felt that Jiang Nian looked down on her and deliberately found excuses to help Lu Yu avoid this marriage.

The more she thought about it, the more possible it seemed. So, she started to look at Jiang Nian with hostility.

Hou Lian understood what Chen Fang meant and didn’t continue to entangle Jiang Nian. She took Hou Meng and left Jiang Nian’s house.

As they walked, Hou Lian looked at Hou Meng, who didn’t seem to be in high spirits, and smiled, “It’s okay. If Deputy Commander Lu has no hope, I’ll take you to Feng Mei’s house another day. Deputy Commander Song is also good.”

Chen Fang said, “Yes, I forgot about Song Bai.”

She looked at Hou Meng. “Do you know the deputy commander of our Second Brigade? Do you know him?”

Hou Meng remembered meeting him at Commander Tang’s house before, so she smiled, “I know him.”

The next morning, Jiang Nian got up early, took the small cloth bag, and went to the county. She was going to the city to hand over the small embroidery pattern to Ge Mei, asking her to see if there were any places that needed improvement as soon as possible.

When she left the unit, the military guard saw her smiling, “Sister-in-law, are you going out?”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Um, I’m going to the state-run embroidery shop.”

When she arrived in the county, she met Sun Ying and Wu Youshan who were waiting for a bus on the side of the road. Sun Ying saw Jiang Nian and frowned, with a distinct look of displeasure on her face.

Jiang Nian: …

She couldn’t be bothered with Sun Ying and Wu Youshan.

Wu Youshan said, “Yingying, today is your mom’s birthday. What should we bring back?”

Sun Ying replied indifferently, “Whatever.”

After thinking for a moment, Wu Youshan suggested, “When we get to the city at noon, I’ll buy a scarf for Auntie at the department store.”

Sun Ying responded casually, “Okay.”

Wu Youshan smiled, “Then it’s settled, we’ll get a scarf.”

Sun Ying agreed nonchalantly, “As you wish.”

Jiang Nian: …

She almost laughed aloud. Wu Youshan was unquestionably a lapdog, even in books, he’d always been kissing up to Sun Ying.

When the bus arrived, Jiang Nian boarded first. The bus was already full, with only one seat left. Jiang Nian sat directly in the last available seat, placing the small cloth bag on her lap and closing her eyes to rest.

Wu Youshan and Sun Ying stopped a few seats ahead of her. Jiang Nian listened as Wu Youshan kept chattering, while Sun Ying occasionally replied absentmindedly.

After a four-hour journey, when the bus reached its destination, Jiang Nian stood up straight away and got off. Just as she took a couple of steps, she heard Sun Ying’s voice from behind, “Comrade Jiang.”

Jiang Nian paused and turned around, asking, “Is there something?”

Sun Ying looked at her seriously, “Are you and Deputy Commander Lu really just ordinary relatives?”

Jiang Nian sneered coldly, but her expression remained calm, “What else could it be?”

“What’s wrong with you?” Wu Youshan glared at Jiang Nian unhappily. “Yingying was just asking you a question, why are you so angry?”

He had no idea who this woman was until Sun Ying mentioned Deputy Commander Lu. She was a former patient at the hospital he stayed in before. Her brother-in-law was the deputy commander of a military unit. Sun Ying had been thinking about that person every other day, visiting the military base multiple times, only to be turned away each time.

He couldn’t understand why Sun Ying was so fixated on that man when they had no previous connection. Jiang Nian glanced at Wu Youshan and retorted, “What’s your relationship with her? You seem overly concerned, more than just comrades in the revolutionary cause. Are you two dating?”

Upon saying this, she looked at Sun Ying. Seeing Sun Ying’s expression change suddenly, Jiang Nian continued unabashedly, “If you’re not dating, then are you just flirting?”

“Jiang Nian!”

“You shrew!”

Sun Ying and Wu Youshan spoke simultaneously, both looking displeased.

“I have better things to do than waste my breath with you two,” Jiang Nian said dismissively before turning and walking away. Wu Youshan frowned deeply, “She’s really uncouth, coming from the mountains and waters. You see, she’s just an uncultured shrew.”

“Yingying, don’t bother arguing with someone like her. It’s not worth getting angry over.”

Sun Ying brushed away Wu Youshan’s hand and turned to glare angrily at him. “Stay away from me from now on!”

Jiang Nian went to the state-run embroidery shop. Ge Mei had been out discussing embroidery designs these past two days and was expected to return the day after tomorrow. The only ones at the embroidery shop were Zhang Xiao, Zhai Peipei, and Lu Xiaoqing.

As soon as Zhang Xiao saw Jiang Nian, she rushed over and hugged her. “Sister Jiang, I missed you so much. You’re finally here.”

Jiang Nian exchanged a few words with her and by lunchtime, they returned to the dormitory to cook. Lu Xiaoqing was cooking, and after the meal was ready, the four of them sat at the small table in the dormitory to eat. Jiang Nian asked about the cotton mill, and Zhai Peipei replied, “It hasn’t started yet, but it should be soon. I saw people cleaning inside the big iron gate yesterday.”

Zhang Xiao said, “Even if the cafeteria opens, I’m not going. We’ll cook here in the dormitory. It’s more economical and there’s more food.”

Lu Xiaoqing asked, “Are you going back this afternoon?”

Zhang Xiao suddenly held Jiang Nian’s arm. “Sister Jiang, stay over tonight and sleep with me. Wait until Sister Ge comes back tomorrow before you leave. Is that okay?”

Jiang Nian thought that she would be alone if she went back, so she agreed.

In the afternoon, Jiang Nian stayed in the embroidery shop and taught Lu Xiaojing the embroidery needlework and how to embroider better. Zhai Peipei interjected from time to time, and Zhang Xiao leaned on the door frame of the compartment, talking and laughing.

There was a sound of the door opening outside, and Zhang Xiao straightened up. “It’s…”

Her words abruptly stopped.

She instinctively glanced at Jiang Nian and Lu Xiaoqing. Lu Xiaoqing frowned, “Her again?”

Jiang Nian asked in confusion, “Who?”

Lu Xiaoqing sneered, “Hu Zhongming’s mother.”

Just as she said that, the middle-aged woman outside coldly snorted. Zhang Xiao pursed her lips and looked at Lu Xiaoqing and Zhai Peipei. Zhai Peipei whispered, “Ignore her. Wait until Director Ge comes back to deal with her.”

Then she whispered to Jiang Nian, “Don’t go out later. She’s been looking for you.”

Jiang Nian furrowed her brows slightly. It seemed she had a string of bad luck with the city. Every time she came, something happened.

She guessed the purpose of Hu Zhongming’s mother looking for her, probably seeking revenge.

What Lu Xiaoqing said next confirmed Jiang Nian’s guess. Sitting next to Jiang Nian, she whispered in her ear, “Hu Zhongming is their only son. His actions caused trouble for the  factory his parents’ work for. They were fired, and their only son ended up in jail. Now they have no jobs, no money, and no son. They hold a special hatred for our state-run embroidery shop. They probably visited him in prison and found out it was Deputy Commander Lu who sent him there. So they’ve been wanting to cause trouble for you. They said they have nothing left, not even a decent life.”

Jiang Nian felt that the Hu family’s mindset was fundamentally twisted.

Their son committed a serious offense, but instead of reflecting on their own failure in upbringing, they blamed others for sending their child to jail.

Lu Xiaoqing added, “After the last incident at the mill, they came to cause trouble shortly after. Director Ge called the police, and they were scolded by the police officer, but since they didn’t break any laws, they couldn’t be arrested. It ended there.”

“They calmed down for a couple of days, but Hu Zhongming’s mother came again. One time, it got so serious that she was detained for ten days. After she was released, father Hu came. He probably learned from his wife’s experience and leaves only when things are about to get worse. They’ve disrupted business at the embroidery shop. She was just released the day before yesterday, and she came again yesterday.”

Jiang Nian: …

Dealing with such scoundrels sometimes left her at a loss.

Zhai Peipei also came over and whispered softly, “The couple has been clamoring to confront you for some time. Director Ge ignored them. Just stay here. Hu Zhongming’s mother hasn’t seen you yet. Even if we leave after work, she won’t know who you are.”

Jiang Nian nodded, but she didn’t feel good inside.

If these scoundrels continued like this, business at the state-run embroidery shop would be affected. And since they hadn’t done anything morally wrong or illegal, even the Revolutionary Committee and the police could only scold them.

Hu Zhongming’s mother sat outside, making a fuss, but she stopped after a few minutes, then went outside for a walk, and finally squatted at the door, kicked it. When Zhang Xiao opened the door and went out, she was sitting by the window, tapping the glass with the back of her head.

After a while, Hu Zhongming’s mother came in again. Zhang Xiao’s face was cold as she said, “We’re closing soon.”

Hu’s mother sneered, “You close at seven, and it’s only six now. I’m a guest here. I want to see the embroideries.”

After saying that, she sat down on a bench. When Zhang Xiao didn’t move, Mother Hu stared at her. “Is this how your state-owned embroidery shop treats guests who come in? I’ll complain to your superiors! Have you fired!”

Zhang Xiao didn’t dare to hand her the embroidery pattern, afraid she might tamper with it. If the pattern was damaged, she couldn’t afford to compensate for it.

Seeing Zhang Xiao hesitating, Mother Hu slapped the table loudly and glared fiercely at Zhang Xiao. “Are you taking it or not?! Do you believe I’ll complain about you right now?!”

“Zhang Xiao.”

Jiang Nian’s voice came from the compartment.

Zhang Xiao glanced at Mother Hu, then turned and walked into the compartment. Jiang Nian handed her the embroidery pattern she had taken out from her pocket. “Show it to her.”

Zhai Peipei and Lu Xiaoqing hurriedly tried to stop her. Zhang Xiao also shook her head quickly. “Sister Jiang, this won’t do. Not only is this embroidered cloth expensive, but the silk threads aren’t cheap either. It’s stitched needle by needle by you, and it’s from that batch of goods from Gangcheng’s boss. If something goes wrong, it will be troublesome.”

“Even you think this embroidery pattern is precious and don’t dare to touch it?” Jiang Nian asked with a smile.

Zhang Xiao nodded. “Yes, if it gets damaged, I’ll have to buy new cloth and silk threads, and redo the embroidery. If the boss from Gangcheng comes to collect the goods and finds them missing, we’ll have to compensate.”

Jiang Nian pursed her lips and smiled. “Then it’s okay, take it out and show her.”

Zhang Xiao didn’t quite understand her meaning, but Zhai Peipei reacted quickly. After all, she had worked at the state-run embroidery shop for seven or eight years and knew a thing or two about these matters.

Seeing Zhang Xiao still hesitating, Zhai Peipei said, “Listen to her, take it out and show it to that woman.”

Zhang Xiao pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and finally took out the embroidery. Just as she was walking over, Mother Hu snatched the embroidery from Zhang Xiao’s hand. Zhang Xiao was annoyed and said, “Be gentle!”

Mother Hu sneered. “What’s so precious about a piece of cloth?”

Mother Hu really didn’t understand embroidered cloth. In her eyes, the cloth from the embroidery shop all looked the same. She used to work in a food factory, was a manager there, and her husband was a team leader in a machinery factory. Both their parents were city people, and after they retired, they paved the way for them.

Hu Zhongming was her only son. She looked down upon the wife that Hu Zhongming had married before, saying she was just a hen that didn’t lay eggs. Hu Zhongming was the only son in their family, and they definitely couldn’t let him die out with her. So she asked Hu Zhongming to divorce his wife. Later, she wanted to introduce another girl to Hu Zhongming, but Hu Zhongming wasn’t interested.

After discussing it, the couple spent money to buy Hu Zhongming a job as a team leader in a cotton mill. However, something happened after he had worked for just over half a year. Now Hu Zhongming is in prison, and the couple has lost their jobs. In the final analysis, it was all caused by that woman named Jiang Nian!

If it weren’t for her husband’s comrade, how could their son be in jail?!

The couple made trouble every day at the state-run embroidery shop. First, they didn’t want the people at the state-run embroidery shop to have an easy time. Second, they wanted to force them to bring Jiang Nian over. They wanted to see what tricks that cheap woman could still play!

Anyway, their lives were over, and their son was also in prison. They had no more hope.

Mother Hu flipped through the embroidered cloth, touched and looked at it with her fingers. Zhang Xiao anxiously said, “Have you finished looking? Give it back to me after you’re done.”

Mother Hu looked up and glared at Zhang Xiao. “What’s your attitude? I’m just looking at an embroidery pattern, and you’re rushing me? Do you look down on me? Do you think I can’t afford it?”

Zhang Xiao: …

Lu Xiaoqing listened inside and said to Jiang Nian, “I really regret it. I was blind to insist on meeting Hu Zhongming. Fortunately, I didn’t go to see her. Look at her behavior, she’s just a shrew.”

Jiang Nian nodded in agreement, but her mind was focused on the situation outside the compartment.

Soon, Zhang Xiao’s voice came from outside, “I’ve already said the embroidery pattern is very precious. Now let’s see what you can do!”

Mother Hu cursed, “What’s the big deal about a piece of embroidery?”

Jiang Nian raised her eyebrows and almost stood up together with Zhai Peipei to go outside. Mother Hu had never seen her, so she wasn’t afraid of Mother Hu causing trouble. Jiang Nian walked out of the compartment and saw Zhang Xiao holding the embroidery. A few silk threads had been pulled out.. Zhai Peipei walked over angrily, took the embroidery cloth from Zhang Xiao, put it on the table, and pointed at the pattern to Mother Hu. “Do you know how expensive this embroidery pattern is?!”

Mother Hu was stunned for a moment and felt a bit guilty. But after looking at the small embroidery pattern on the table, she sneered, “How much can a piece of small cloth be worth? Besides, who saw me touch the embroidery?” She pointed at Zhang Xiao. “Just because she says I damaged the embroidery , does that mean it’s true? I can even say she was making it up!”

Zhang Xiao was angry. “It was obviously you who pulled out the silk threads! I couldn’t even stop you!”

Mother Hu sneered again, “You people at the embroidery shop collude together. Whatever you say goes, and you’re good at framing innocent people.”

Zhang Xiao was once again infuriated by Mother Hu’s stubbornness. Zhai Peipei put the embroidery on the table and said to Zhang Xiao, “Let’s call the police and let the police come to resolve this matter.”

Jiang Nian sat on the counter, looking coldly at Mother Hu, and glanced at the embroidery again.

Mother Hu had been detained for ten days and didn’t want to go back in. She stood up and was about to leave. Jiang Nian walked to the door and blocked her way. Mother Hu hadn’t seen Jiang Nian before, so she widened her eyes. “What do you want to do? Want to detain me? Do you know this is illegal?!”

Jiang Nian said, “You destroyed the embroidery of the state-run embroidery shop and refused to admit it. We have no choice but to call the police. Before the police officer comes, you can’t leave. Otherwise, we will sue you for damaging the property of the state-run embroidery shop and for evading responsibility and fleeing the scene.”

Jiang Nian emphasized the words “state-run” heavily.

Mother Hu started to panic. “Who are you? What right do you have to stop me? Threatening me?”

As she spoke, she tried to push Jiang Nian aside. Seeing Zhai Peipei and Zhang Xiao trying to stop Mother Hu, Jiang Nian signaled to Zhai Peipei to hold back Zhang Xiao. Mother Hu grabbed Jiang Nian’s shoulder and tried to push her to the side. Jiang Nian followed her force and fell towards the counter, hitting her head on the counter. Her arm grazed the corner of the counter, leaving a blood mark. Then she fell unconscious on the ground.

Mother Hu was startled. “I-I-I didn’t push her hard! She was trying to blackmail me!”

She opened the door and tried to run away but was grabbed by Lu Xiaoqing and Zhai Peipei who came out of the compartment. Zhang Xiao hurried over to check on Jiang Nian’s condition but was stopped by Zhai Peipei. Zhai Peipei shouted, “What are you looking at? Go call the police!”

Zhang Xiao panicked and ran to make a phone call.

Jiang Nian lay motionless on the ground. To deal with such a scoundrel, you have to use their own tactics. Otherwise, the state-run embroidery shop would continue to be affected. The most affected would be Ge Mei, who would be going to the Yuan city in a few months. If something happened at this critical moment, not only would Ge Mei lose her qualification to go to the Yuan city, but she might also be ousted from her position as the shop director.

Ge Mei had helped her a lot. The trouble with Hu Zhongming’s parents at the shop had happened because of her. Ge Mei didn’t even mention it on the phone, showing that she didn’t want her to get involved.

If Ge Mei could be so sincere to her, how could she be a turtle hiding its head?

Mother Hu was held tightly by Lu Xiaoqing and Zhai Peipei, struggling to break free. Jiang Nian lay on the ground, a scratch mark on her sleeve, not knowing how her arm was. Lu Xiaoqing didn’t know what was happening and scolded Aunt Hu furiously.

Zhai Peipei also said, “Let’s see what you do now. Not only did you damage the state-run embroidery’s pattern, but you also knocked someone unconscious!”

Mother Hu didn’t care much about the damaged embroidery, but she was really scared about the assault. Her husband had told her before that she could cause trouble at the shop, but she shouldn’t hit anyone or use violence as that would somehow end up troubling their own selves.

Last time, she was detained for ten days because she hit Zhang Xiao.

Now, she had directly knocked someone unconscious. She didn’t know how many days she would be detained this time.

When the police arrived, Jiang Nian was still unconscious. They all knew Jiang Nian and knew she was the biggest victim of Hu Zhongming’s incident. The couple’s disturbances at the shop had given them headaches, but they hadn’t done anything outrageous. So, they were just scolded. They didn’t expect Hu Zhongming’s mother to hit Jiang Nian unconscious this time.

Not only that, but she also damaged the state-run embroidery’s pattern.

Mother Hu kept insisting she didn’t damage the embroidery and that they were ganging up on her and deceiving the police. However, the damaged embroidery was on the table. Zhai Peipei sneered, “What reason do we have to damage the embroidery? This is the state-run shop’s property. It’s our hard work, stitch by stitch. We make a living from embroidery. Damaging the embroidery would be like ruining our own livelihood! The fabric and silk threads are the most expensive. Do we waste our skills and time to ruin it?”

Lu Xiaoqing echoed with a long speech. Everyone’s statement was consistent, blaming Mother Hu for destroying the embroidery. When Jiang Nian was taken to the city hospital, Zhang Xiao explained in detail to the police what happened after Mother Hu entered the shop. The police took notes and investigated, finally taking Mother Hu to the police station, continuing the investigation when Jiang Nian regained consciousness.

Zhang Xiao quickly contacted Ge Mei, who was out of town. On the day she arrived at the guesthouse she was staying at. She called the state-run embroidery shop saying to contact her in case of an emergency. Upon hearing about the shop’s issue, Ge Mei immediately went to the train station to buy a ticket and rushed back.

This incident was quite serious. Mother Hu was temporarily detained, and the police took the embroidery pattern for safekeeping. The embroidery was Jiang Nian’s, and they would question her again when she woke up.

°.✩┈┈∘*┈˃̶୨୧˂̶┈*∘┈┈✩.°

Ayalee: Hey guys, don’t hesitate to comment or ping me on Discord if you discover any mistake on this chapter and if you don’t mind, I would like to ask for some of your time to check out my new translation. Thank you and hope you enjoy this chapter.

The Best Friend of the Female Supporting Character in Period Novel