Chapter 86.3

She had been packing clothes for the past few days, planning to leave the day after tomorrow. Guan Lu, knowing Jiang Nian was leaving, came over for a visit. She had been suffering from severe morning sickness, even vomiting after drinking water, and had lost weight significantly. In contrast, Yue Qiao was able to eat and sleep well with no such reactions.

Sitting on a stool, Guan Lu held a teacup, hesitant to drink for fear of vomiting, and placed it back on the table, looking enviously at Yue Qiao eating a cucumber. Jiang Nian suggested, “Maybe you should see a doctor. This can’t go on.”

Looking weary, Guan Lu shook her head, “I’ve seen one. There’s not much they can do.”

Jiang Nian glanced at Yue Qiao, who was now eating a tomato, and couldn’t help but smile.

Yue Qiao also smiled, a bit embarrassed, “The cucumber is quite tasty.”

Guan Lu sighed enviously, “It’s great that you can eat. I can’t even think about it without feeling sick.”

Jiang Nian couldn’t fully empathize with Guan Lu’s discomfort, but she could see it was tough.

Yue Qiao asked, “Will you be away for seven days?”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Yes, going back to see an old friend. She went to the hospital last night, so she must have given birth.”

Guan Lu touched her belly and smiled, “I wonder when this little one will stop giving me trouble.”

After chatting for a while, Yue Qiao mentioned Li Pandi. She told Jiang Nian, “Yesterday was Li Pandi’s wedding day. I went to see Old Lei’s second aunt, and you won’t believe what I saw.”

Intrigued, Jiang Nian asked, “What happened?”

Yue Qiao took a bite of her tomato and sneered, “Luo Xiaoyue crashed Li Pandi and Qi Dawang’s wedding, claiming her father was Deputy Commander Luo, not Qi Dawang. The whole village was there. Qi Dawang and Li Pandi didn’t have a peaceful wedding. Qi Dawang ended up beating Luo Xiaoyue. The Li family, who only care about sons, didn’t intervene. Li Pandi couldn’t fight Qi Dawang either, so both mother and daughter got beaten. If it weren’t for the village people pulling them apart, it would have been even worse.”

Yue Qiao continued, “Luo Xiaoyue was causing a fuss about coming to the base to find Deputy Commander Luo, insisting that he deal with Qi Dawang. In the end, Qi Dawang locked her in a room so she couldn’t get out. To be honest, she deserved it. So young, yet with such a ruthless mind. If it weren’t for the two of us seeing through her and her mother’s schemes last time, Guan Lu’s child might not have survived.”

Jiang Nian had anticipated Li Pandi and Luo Xiaoyue’s fate.

The Li family only cared about the bride price money. They wouldn’t care what happened to Li Pandi and her daughter.

As for the herbal residue that Li Pandi gave to Luo Xiaoyue, perhaps Deputy Commander Luo should consult a doctor. Of course, this was just Jiang Nian’s guess.

It turned out Jiang Nian was right about the herbal residue.

When Deputy Commander Luo returned home, he kept the residue with him. The next day, after Luo Xiaoyue went to school, he took it to the county hospital to see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. The doctor identified it as an abortifacient, a potent medicine that could cause miscarriage in women with unstable pregnancies, and Guan Lu happened to be in such a condition.

During this era, matters involving induced abortions were strictly monitored. Even for hospital procedures, one needed a referral letter. This herbal medicine was likely purchased by Li Pandi from some old Chinese medicine doctor. Deputy Commander Luo left the hospital with a somber expression and began to guard against Luo Xiaoyue without showing any unusual behavior towards her.

As a soldier, he was not oblivious to his daughter’s disguise. He simply chose not to expose it, hoping to educate her gradually and change her view of Guan Lu. However, under Li Pandi’s influence, Luo Xiaoyue became increasingly stubborn and extreme. Sometimes, he would reflect at night, wondering if he had been an inadequate father, especially after his divorce from Li Pandi, as he had paid less attention to his daughter.

It wasn’t until Li Pandi’s mother and Qi Dawang caused a scene at the military base that he realized a harsh truth.

Some people’s hearts are simply unchangeable.

Some individuals are born with predetermined natures.

Although he was reluctant to let Luo Xiaoyue go, considering he had raised her for nine years, he finally decided to send her back to Qi Dawang after she cursed Guan Lu and her unborn child in front of him. This event solidified his decision.

Guan Lu was unaware of all this. She stayed at home until evening, only finding out that Luo Xiaoyue had been taken away by her biological father when Deputy Commander Luo returned to pack Luo Xiaoyue’s clothes and schoolbag.

Guan Lu and Yue Qiao stayed at Jiang Nian’s place until the afternoon before leaving. As they were about to go, Yue Qiao suggested to Jiang Nian, “Why don’t you also consider having a baby soon? Our three children could grow up together.”

Jiang Nian laughed, “I’m still focused on embroidery. The child can wait.”

Guan Lu pulled Yue Qiao away, preventing her from pressing Jiang Nian further.

He Yue also knew Jiang Nian was leaving for seven days and came to chat for a while. Shortly after she left, Chen Ping arrived.

Jiang Nian opened the door, smiling at Chen Ping standing outside, “Come in.”

Chen Ping, holding a small package, walked in and placed it on the table, “I heard from Old Ren that you and Commander Lu are going back?”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Yes, we’re leaving tomorrow.” She paused and added, “Lu Yu plans to treat some old comrades to a celebratory meal and announce our marriage.”

Chen Ping smiled, “That’s good.”

She pushed the small package forward, “Can you take this to Chen Fang for me?”

Jiang Nian glanced at the package, which seemed to be about the size of two bricks, and asked, “Is it something valuable? Is it convenient to carry?”

Chen Ping smiled, “Chen Fang is going back to our hometown next month. I prepared some good things for my mother. I trust you and Commander Lu to deliver it.”

Jiang Nian agreed, “Alright, I’ll make sure it gets to her.”

The next day, Jiang Nian got up early. She had packed everything the night before, including two baby outfits she made using a sewing machine. Not knowing the size of newborns, she had consulted He Yue and made them according to the size He Yue told her.

Lu Yu prepared breakfast, and after eating and cleaning the kitchen, they left. As they reached the base gate, they saw Chen Yao running towards them from the regiment. It was scorching hot, and Chen Yao was sweating profusely. Lu Yu asked, “Why are you here?”

Chen Yao, wiping his face, looked at Jiang Nian somewhat sheepishly, “I know you are going to the city today. Can you take me to the embroidery shop and set up a meeting with Shu Xue?”

Remembering Lu Yu’s advice, he knew he had to take action and prove he wasn’t a rough person, despite Shu Xue’s initial impression of him.

Jiang Nian smiled, “Sure.”

The three of them took a bus to the city. Upon reaching the embroidery shop, Lu Yu and Chen Yao waited outside while Jiang Nian entered. Su Na greeted her with a playful tone, “Oh, you’re here.”

After chatting briefly, Jiang Nian walked into the inner room, where the others greeted her. Even Dong Shu nodded at her and said, “You’re here.”

Everyone, including Fan Shan and Shu Xue, was surprised. Yu Xia asked, “Are you visiting the city?”

Jiang Nian smiled, explaining her and Lu Yu’s plans, then asked Shu Xue to step outside for a moment.

Shu Xue put down her embroidery needle and followed her outside, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Nian, biting her lip slightly, whispered, “I want you to meet someone, but promise me you won’t run away.”

Shu Xue quickly realized who it might be, glancing at the window, but seeing no one outside, she asked, “Is it Captain Chen?”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Yes, he genuinely wants to meet you. Let’s not avoid it. Whether you like him or not, let’s talk it out.”

Shu Xue hesitated but then nodded, “Alright.”

Despite thinking Chen Yao was too fierce and not wanting to meet him, Shu Xue couldn’t help but feel nervous as he stood outside the embroidery shop. After Jiang Nian mentioned Chen Yao wanted to see her, Shu Xue had been thinking about their few encounters before falling asleep at night.

They had met three times. The first time was when Lu Yu came to fetch his bride, and Chen Yao kicked the door open like a brute. The second time was at Lu Yu and Jiang Nian’s wedding banquet, where Chen Yao kept dragging Lu Yu to drink. The third time was at Lu Yu’s house, where Chen Yao kept staring at her during the meal.

At that time, Shu Xue thought that this person was really impolite.

Shu Xue followed Jiang Nian out of the embroidery shop and saw Commander Lu and Chen Yao standing under a tree not far from the shop. Chen Yao was wearing his summer green military uniform and trousers, with a black leather belt at his waist. His hair was cut short, giving him a clean and stern look. Upon seeing her, his originally dark eyes lit up with a smile as he walked briskly towards her.

Jiang Nian said to Shu Xue, “Don’t be afraid. Lu Yu and I are here. If he dares to be rude to you, just call out, and Commander Lu will be the first to deal with him.”

Shu Xue smiled shyly and lowered her head.

Jiang Nian went over to Lu Yu, leaving Shu Xue standing alone. She started to feel nervous as Chen Yao approached. She took a couple of steps back, which he noticed. He stopped, scratched the back of his head, and spoke in a much gentler voice, “Comrade Shu Xue, my name is Chen Yao.”

Shu Xue did not look up at him, “I know, you are Captain Chen.”

Chen Yao smiled and cautiously took a step forward. Seeing his feet moving closer in her field of vision startled Shu Xue, making her look up and directly into Chen Yao’s smiling face. His smile was so bright that his face almost looked stiff, as if he was afraid that not smiling would make her think he was fierce. He said, “Comrade Shu Xue, I’m really not fierce at all.”