Chapter 73

Sun Ying’s voice was loud, and the hallway was quiet, so everyone heard it. Doors opened one after another as heads poked out to see what was happening. One was a pregnant woman from the textile factory, and the other was an embroiderer from the embroidery shop.

Everyone knew this embroiderer. This morning, her partner had come to pick her up in a car, and the whole dormitory had heard about it. But they hadn’t expected that she and her partner were actually sister-in-law and brother-in-law?

Although she was a widow, being with her brother-in-law…

Suddenly, everyone’s gaze towards Jiang Nian changed.

Su Na and Shu Xue were stunned for a while before reacting. Even Jia Yuan was taken aback, recalling what Jiang Nian had said earlier: “The path I’ve walked wasn’t as easy as you think.”

So, she had been married, and her husband had died.

Now she was with her brother-in-law, and she had probably endured a lot of judgment during this time.

Yu Xia frowned, surprised that Jiang Nian had been married and widowed at such a young age. Being a widow entailed immense suffering, something Yu Xia deeply empathized with. 

She was older, so it was somewhat easier for her, but Jiang Nian was still young, with a long road ahead. If she did marry her brother-in-law, she would likely face gossip for the rest of her life.

Everyone in the dormitory building had their own thoughts.

Jiang Nian pressed her lips together, feeling an unprecedented fury with no outlet. When Sun Ying tried to hit her back, Jiang Nian stepped aside and, without hesitation, slapped her again. This slap was loud and forceful, leaving Jiang Nian’s hand numb and Sun Ying’s ears ringing.

Sun Ying was dazed for a moment before realizing what had happened. Her cheek burned with pain, and she lunged at Jiang Nian in a frenzy. She had never been hit like this before, let alone twice in public.

“Stop!”

A cold voice came from the third-floor stairwell. Ge Mei, the head of the embroidery shop, looked at Jiang Nian, who was leaning against the railing with a grim expression, and quickly stepped down to pull her behind. 

She stared at the nearly hysterical Sun Ying and said sternly, “Comrade Sun, some things require evidence. You can’t just slander someone from my shop with baseless accusations.”

Sun Ying’s eyes were bloodshot as she glared at Jiang Nian and Ge Mei, “What did I say that was false?!”

Ge Mei said, “Okay, if you insist that you didn’t wrongly accuse Jiang Nian, then I, the director of the state-run embroidery shop, will refute your words in front of everyone in the dormitory today!”

Jiang Nian tightly pursed her lips without saying a word. Ge Mei tightened her grip on Jiang Nian’s arm, then turned around to face behind her. Many heads were peeking out from every dormitory door, all eager to watch the spectacle.

The hallway was quiet, and Ge Mei’s voice rang out loud and clear.

“This comrade Sun Ying from the textile factory keeps saying that our embroidery worker Jiang Nian is having an affair with her younger brother-in-law. She has no evidence, just baseless accusations. Today I will tell you the whole story and see if Comrade Sun Ying is slandering Comrade Jiang Nian!”

Sun Ying’s face changed color, her fingers clutching her clothes tightly.

Ge Mei continued, “Jiang Nian’s late husband’s surname was Xu, and his name was Xu Cheng. He was a soldier. During a snowstorm rescue operation, he was crushed by a tree and broke his waist. Since then, he has been paralyzed in bed for four years. Jiang Nian married into the Xu family the year Xu Cheng became paralyzed, and took care of her late husband for four years. It was not until her late husband passed away that she had no relatives at home. Jiang Nian was taken to the army by her nominal brother-in-law and placed in the family quarters for care.”

Ge Mei emphasized the phrase “nominal” heavily.

Seeing some puzzled looks, Ge Mei went on, “Jiang Nian’s so-called younger brother-in-law surnamed Lu was temporarily fostered in the Xu family by his mother, taken care of by Xu family members. Lu Yu and Xu Cheng were comrades, not blood brothers but closer than real brothers. Lu Yu is unmarried, and Jiang Nian is currently single. What’s wrong if they’re together? They share mutual affection, completely unlike what Comrade Sun Ying described. She deliberately distorted the truth and smeared Jiang Nian!”

With this statement, a sigh of sympathy swept through the dormitory.

Jia Yuan came to her senses, looking at Jiang Nian with a hint of astonishment. She realized Jiang Nian’s path hadn’t been easier than her own. Looking at Jiang Nian’s slightly pale face, Jia Yuan stepped out of the dormitory and loudly addressed Sun Ying, “Comrade Sun Ying, Jiang Nian and Commander Lu’s relationship and feelings are nothing like what you said. You keep smearing Jiang Nian. Do you think we at the embroidery shop are easy targets to bully?”

“That’s right!” Su Na also ran out, “Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean we’re afraid of you. You need evidence when you speak and act. You can’t just twist right and wrong as you please.”

Shu Xue also spoke up, “People from our embroidery shop aren’t easy to bully!”

Sun Ying looked at the imposing group of people, leaned against the wall, her face pale. She glanced at the row of dormitories where everyone’s eyes were fixed on her and Jiang Nian. Even though it was dark, she could still see from their eyes that these people believed Ge Mei’s words.

Just as she was about to retort, Jiang Nian spoke up, “Sun Ying, we have no grudge between us. You’ve repeatedly made trouble for me. Back in the military compound, you married Captain Tang—”

“Ah! My stomach hurts!”

Sun Ying let out a sharp cry, clutching her stomach and sitting on the ground. She opened her mouth wide, seemingly trying to drown out Jiang Nian’s words. Wu Youshan had gone to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy milk. He had just run to the bottom of the building when he heard Sun Ying’s cries, which scared him so much that he stumbled when he rushed up to the second floor.

“Yingying, what’s wrong with your stomach?!”

Wu Youshan ran over to hold Sun Ying. Seeing handprints on both sides of her face, he looked at Jiang Nian and the several people from the embroidery workshop standing opposite. He suddenly understood, glaring at Jiang Nian with red eyes, “I’m calling the police! I’ll find the police. If anything happens to Yingying and the child, I, Wu Youshan, won’t let you off!”

After speaking, he picked up Sun Ying and ran to the hospital.

Jiang Nian looked coldly at their departure. She knew Sun Ying was faking it, afraid that Jiang Nian would reveal the affairs of her and Wu Youshan. If these matters were exposed, these two would never hold their heads up in the city again.

Ge Mei looked at Jiang Nian worriedly, “How are you?”

Jiang Nian shook her head, “I’m fine.”

Her palms were still numb, a sign of how hard she had struck Sun Ying just now.

The eyes of the people in the dormitory towards Jiang Nian changed from mere curiosity to a mixture of awe and sympathy. Her late husband was a martyr, paralyzed while rescuing others. With no family left, Jiang Nian was placed in the military compound by Commander Lu, entirely justified.

Both of them are single now, so there’s nothing wrong with them being together.

The lively dormitory soon returned to silence.

Yu Xia looked at Jiang Nian, who was led back to the dormitory by Ge Mei, and thought of the group that had come to pick up Jiang Nian outside the embroidery shop that day. She was called sister-in-law on the outside, which was for another reason.

Both widows, Yu Xia felt that Jiang Nian’s life was better.

At least she had a “nominal” younger brother-in-law by her side, but it was different for her. After her husband died, she was left alone and ran to the embroidery shop in Yuan city. She had to make money by embroidering and also subsidize the family to help her two sons get married. All the burdens of the family fell on her, and in the end she still had a hard time with her second son.

The light bulb in the dormitory was on.

Jiang Nian sat quietly on the edge of the bed, and Ge Mei stayed with her for a while before leaving.

Jia Yuan stood by the cabinet, seeing Jiang Nian bowing her head all the time, and said, “You say the path you’ve taken isn’t easy. I didn’t understand it at first, but I do now.” When Jiang Nian looked up at her, Jia Yuan smiled, “It’s no big deal. Look, I’ve made it through too, haven’t I?”

“Don’t say that.” Shu Xue was still a little confused by Jia Yuan’s reaction.

After all, from the beginning, Jia Yuan didn’t look good to Jiang Nian, but today she helped Jiang Nian again and comforted her.

Jiang Nian smiled, “I’m fine.”

Su Na said, “If you’re okay, that’s good. You and Commander Lu aren’t even real relatives, so don’t worry too much. You are unmarried and single. What’s wrong with being together?”

Shu Xue said, “I think even if they were real relatives, there wouldn’t be anything wrong with being together.”

Jia Yuan and Su Na both looked at her immediately.

Shu Xue: …

What she said wasn’t wrong, was it?

Actually, she didn’t dare to say anything. Her paternal aunt used to be her uncle’s sister-in-law, even his real sister-in-law. So when she heard what Sun Ying said just now, she just froze for a moment, not too surprised.

After a while, Jia Yuan left. When she returned to the dormitory, Yu Xia asked, “How is Jiang Nian doing?”

Jia Yuan said, “She’s fine.”

Dong Shu lay in bed without saying a word. The lights in the dormitory went out. She stared at the dark ceiling, unable to sleep. At first, she thought Jiang Nian was a girl from the city, related to Director Ge, and introduced to Commander Lu through a matchmaker. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be such a truth.

If it weren’t for tonight’s incident, they really wouldn’t have realized that Jiang Nian was a widow.

That innocent look, how could it resemble someone who had been married?

The dormitory fell into darkness again in the quiet night. But on this calm night, Wu Youshan came with several police officers to take Jiang Nian to the police station for questioning. Two police officers stayed behind to question the residents of this row of dormitories, gaining a deeper understanding of the conflict between Jiang Nian and Sun Ying.

Their testimonies were almost consistent: Comrade Sun Ying insulted Jiang Nian first, and Jiang Nian struck back in anger.

In the cold interrogation room, Jiang Nian sat on a cold bench and answered the police officers’ questions directly. Her account matched the investigation on the dormitory side. A female police officer looked at Jiang Nian and said, “Indeed, Comrade Sun Ying was at fault first. But you made a serious mistake by striking first. Comrade Sun Ying is now lying in the hospital, complaining of headaches and stomach pain. She also has a child in her belly. If anything happens, your responsibility will be further investigated.”

Jiang Nian lowered her head, fingers clenched tightly.

At that moment, she was consumed with anger and didn’t think about the consequences.

In fact, when Wu Youshan mentioned calling the police, she had already guessed. Wu Youshan was a doctor, and Sun Ying was a nurse, both understanding medical matters. It was simple for these two to frame her.

Not long after, someone outside said that the director of the embroidery shop wanted to see Jiang Nian.

Across a table, Ge Mei looked at Jiang Nian, her face slightly pale. Across the table, she reached out and held Jiang Nian’s hand. “Sun Ying is also at fault in this matter. I will have another doctor examine her to see if her illness is real or fake. I also contacted the director of the textile factory to have her go to the hospital to talk to Sun Ying again.”

Jiang Nian smiled. “Thank you, Sister Ge.”

Ge Mei squeezed her hand. “Jiang Nian, I have informed Lu Yu about this matter. He is on his way here.”

Jiang Nian’s eyelashes trembled. She stared at Ge Mei for a long time without saying a word.

Then she slowly lowered her head, suddenly realizing that Lu Yu seemed to be the only person she could rely on.

Ge Mei went to discuss with the police officers about taking Jiang Nian back to the embroidery shop. She was willing to guarantee it with her identity as the director of the embroidery shop, ensuring to take good care of her. However, the matter involving a pregnant woman was a bit tricky. Just as Ge Mei was feeling a headache, a man came in from outside.

She had seen this man before. He was the secretary beside Secretary Zhu.

Ge Mei was stunned for a moment, not knowing what the secretary had said to the police officers. Finally, he relented, “Alright, we will continue to contact Comrade Jiang Nian for any follow-up matters.”

Wang Wei said, “We will cooperate fully.”

Wang Wei escorted Jiang Nian out of the police station. The cold wind blew on their faces, making their cheeks sting. Jiang Nian looked at Wang Wei in a daze. Before she could speak, Wang Wei said first, “Comrade Jiang, I will first take you and Director Ge back to the embroidery shop. Later, I will go to the hospital to understand the situation there.”

Wang Wei came by car, an old-fashioned small car.

He opened the car door and let Jiang Nian and Ge Mei sit in the back. He took them back to the embroidery shop. As Wang Wei left, Jiang Nian walked to the car door and whispered to Wang Wei, “Thank you.”

She knew that Wang Wei’s arrival was at the order of Secretary Zhu.

Wang Wei nodded to Jiang Nian with a smile before driving away.

It was deep into the night now, and the dormitory building was pitch-black. Ge Mei and Jiang Nian walked side by side. Since that time when Secretary Zhu said “not bad” to Jiang Nian at the embroidery shop, she knew that Secretary Zhu and Jiang Nian might have known each other.

Ge Mei didn’t ask, but said, “You don’t need to think about anything right now. Just stay in my room. Lu Yu might come to find you soon.”

Since being taken to the police station, Jiang Nian had been silent all along. She nodded. “Okay.”

The two returned to the dormitory. Ge Mei poured a cup of hot water for Jiang Nian and handed it to her. Jiang Nian took the enamel cup and held it in her hands. The warmth spread through her hands and into her blood. She sniffed and took a sip of water, bowing her head.

If you were to ask her, after tonight, whether she regretted hitting Sun Ying, Jiang Nian felt that perhaps she wouldn’t regret it.

If she could go back in time, she might even slap Sun Ying a few more times.

Jiang Nian closed her eyes. Just as she took a breath, she heard hurried footsteps outside. Before Ge Mei could open the door, she heard Lu Yu’s voice downstairs, “Jiang Nian——”

“She’s here with me.”

Ge Mei quickly opened the door and shouted downstairs, afraid of waking up others.

Almost as soon as Ge Mei’s words fell, hurried footsteps rushed up. Jiang Nian had just stood up and saw Lu Yu stop outside the door. The man was in military uniform, with a slightly furrowed brow and a thin sweat on his forehead. When he saw Jiang Nian, he walked over in big steps and hugged her into his arms. His rough, panting breath sounded in her ears. “Are you okay?”

Even though it was bitterly cold, Jiang Nian was shocked by the heat coming from Lu Yu.

She pursed her lips and wanted to say she was fine, but when the words came to her lips, she unexpectedly choked up.

When Jiang Nian was taken away by the police officer from the dormitory, she didn’t cry. When she was questioned repeatedly by people, she didn’t cry either. Sitting quietly alone, her heart was calm. But now, being embraced by Lu Yu, Jiang Nian suddenly felt extremely wronged.

It was like a child who had been wronged finally found someone to support her.

“You two talk, I’ll go to the bathroom to wash my face,” Ge Mei said, closing the door behind her.

Now, only the two of them were left in the room.

Jiang Nian buried her head in Lu Yu’s strong and comforting chest, tears welling up in her eyes. “I hit Sun Ying.”

Lu Yu kissed her head and gently stroked Jiang Nian’s back. “It’s okay, leave it all to me.”

Jiang Nian’s heart trembled, and the hand that was free hugged the lean waist of the man tightly. A faint sobbing sound muffled out, and Lu Yu lifted Jiang Nian’s chin, pinching her slender neck, soothing her with every gentle touch.

“Director Ge has already explained the whole situation to me. Leave the rest to me. Have a good sleep tonight.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Nian’s voice was nasal and soft, which softened Lu Yu’s heart.

The man lifted her face and kissed her on the red tip of her nose. Looking at Jiang Nian’s teary eyes, Lu Yu leaned down and kissed her lips, comforting her, slowly quieting the crying that leaked from her lips, until he heard Jiang Nian softly whimper, he released her.

Air flooded into her lungs all at once, and Jiang Nian took a few breaths. Her cheeks were redder than before.

Lu Yu rubbed her head. “You should sleep in Director Ge’s room tonight. I’ll go over first.”

As Lu Yu reached the door, Jiang Nian called out to him, “Lu Yu.”

He held the door, turned to look at her, a hint of smile in his stern eyes. “What is it?”

Jiang Nian bit her lip. “Shouldn’t I go with you? After all, I’m involved.”

Lu Yu replied, “No need. Rest well.”

Ge Mei returned only after Lu Yu had walked away. Jiang Nian placed the water cup on the table. Ge Mei said, “Go to sleep first. Things will turn around tomorrow.”

Jiang Nian tossed and turned all night, and there was no news from Lu Yu until dawn.

She got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up with Ge Mei. Ge Mei asked her to stay in the dormitory. She brought breakfast for Jiang Nian. Shortly after, Su Na and Shu Xue came to see Jiang Nian, asking about the situation there. Jiang Nian remained silent about everything, only saying that the investigation was ongoing.

After breakfast, Jiang Nian and Su Na went to the embroidery shop. Today’s atmosphere at the embroidery shop was unexpectedly different for Jiang Nian. In addition to Shu Xue who said a few words to her, Jia Yuan and Yu Xia also chatted with her with a smile.

Jiang Nian smiled and chatted with them for a while.

Ge Mei instructed Jiang Nian to stay at the embroidery shop and not go anywhere. She went to the hospital to check on the situation. Around noon, Su Na rushed in from outside the room, “Jiang Nian, Sun Ying and Wu Youshan came back and several other people went to the textile factory with them. Judging by Sun Ying’s appearance, it seems like nothing happened to her.”

Before Su Na could finish, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside.

“Jiang Nian, could you please come with me to the textile factory?”

Opening the partition door, the person who walked in was Sun Yuan. She looked at Jiang Nian with a smile on her face. “My sister is ignorant and has made mistake after mistake. It’s time for her to apologize to you properly.”