Chapter 115 : Someone is watching her

After lunch, the three of them took a short nap. Then, Su Xieqiu brought the children to the brigade headquarters to pick up her package.  

Hongbing had just opened the office door when he saw her walk in with Chenchen and An an.  

“Captain,” she greeted with a smile, “Sister Fengqin mentioned there’s a package for me?”  

“Yes,” he confirmed. “The postman came this morning and didn’t find you at home, so he left it here at the headquarters.”  

Remembering the jar of meat sauce and the fabric coupons that Han Zhenyu had gifted him before, Hongbing’s mood brightened. He grinned and playfully teased Chenchen and An an as he handed over a small package to Su Xieqiu.  

“Su Xieqiu, is Zhenyu on a business trip again?” he asked casually.  

“Yes, Captain, he left yesterday,” she replied.  

As she examined the package, the sender’s address caught her attention. Suspicious, she wondered what her estranged family might be up to now. For them to send her something, it was as if the sun had risen in the west.  

Hongbing noticed her expression and recalled seeing the sender’s address earlier that day. Thinking of her troublesome cousin, he asked, “Su Xieqiu, your cousin recently joined our brigade. Have you seen her yet?”  

Concerned that her cousin, Su Xieyun, might misuse her name in the future, she decided to clarify.  

“Captain, although Su Xieyun is my cousin in name, she has bullied me since we were children. I don’t acknowledge her as family, and her matters have nothing to do with me,” she explained firmly.  

Hongbing nodded in understanding. He couldn’t help but note that Su Xieqiu seemed much more perceptive and assertive than before. Perhaps her time with Han Zhenyu had positively influenced her.  

“Got it,” he said with a smile.  

Initially, he had planned to look after Su Xieyun out of consideration for her supposed family ties. But now that he knew their relationship, there was no need for that.  

As the conversation wound down, Su Xieqiu reflected on how long it had been since she’d gone to work. With the autumn harvest underway and grain distribution coming soon, she realized she couldn’t afford to sit idle.  

After all, three people in her household depended on the village’s food rations. If none of them contributed, it would surely stir resentment among the villagers.  

“Captain,” she said, “my headaches have improved a lot, and I’m planning to return to work tomorrow. It’s a busy time, and I’d like to help.”  

Hongbing gave her a sideways glance, thinking to himself, ‘You’ve been ‘recovering’ from this mild injury for two months. If it’s still not healed, even I wouldn’t know how to explain it to the higher-ups.’  

Still, for Han Zhenyu’s sake, he decided to assign her lighter duties.  

“Tomorrow, head to the warehouse and help peel corn,” he suggested. “It’s easier than working in the fields, though the work points are fewer.”  

He assumed she wouldn’t mind earning less, given Zhenyu’s stable income and surplus food coupons.  

“Thank you so much, Captain,” she said gratefully.  

This arrangement was perfect for her. She didn’t lack food or supplies. If not for wanting to silence the villagers’ gossip, she wouldn’t have even agreed to this task.  

After leaving the headquarters with the children, she decided not to head home immediately. Instead, she went to the area where the village children often gathered.  

She spotted Goudan playing in the mud with his brothers. As soon as he saw her, he dropped what he was doing and ran over.  

“Auntie, what are you doing here?” he asked excitedly, remembering the last time he visited Uncle Zhenyu’s house with his mother and second aunt. That visit had been full of delicious treats courtesy of this kind aunt.

Su Xieqiu patted Goudan’s head, gently pushed the two children in front of him, and smiled, “Goudan, these are Chenchen and An an. They want to play with you. Do you want to play with them?”

Goudan studied Chenchen and An an carefully. Then, he took Chenchen’s hand and said, “Auntie, I want to play with Chenchen, but An an is too young and can’t even walk properly. We don’t play with little girls.”

Chenchen, hearing that his sister wasn’t allowed to join, quickly pulled his hand away and said, “I want to take care of my sister. If you don’t let me take care of her, then I won’t play with you.”

Goudan didn’t like that response either. He threw Chenchen’s hand away and pouted, saying, “If you don’t want to play, then don’t. Who cares? It’s not like I don’t have other friends.”

Seeing their potential friendship ending before it even began, Su Xieqiu quickly intervened. She grabbed Goudan and explained, “Goudan, our Chenchen is a good brother. He loves his sister very much, but he also wants to be your friend. Can you take An an along with you? She’s very well-behaved.”

At first, Goudan wasn’t too keen on the idea, but then he remembered how much delicious food he had gotten from others recently. Feeling a bit embarrassed to refuse, he hesitated and then reluctantly said, “Okay, if she doesn’t cry, I’ll play with her.”

Chenchen smiled and took out two candies from his pocket, offering them to Goudan, “Here, have some.”

Su Xieqiu was happy to see how well Chenchen understood the ways of the world.

Goudan looked at the two candies, swallowed his saliva, but didn’t dare to take them immediately. He glanced over at Su Xieqiu, who was looking at him as well.

Seeing his hesitation, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Goudan, take them. This is Chenchen’s treat for you. You two will be good friends from now on. You can share good things with each other.”

Goudan smiled and took the candy. “Thank you, Auntie, and thank you, Chenchen.”

He unwrapped the candy, licked it, then carefully wrapped it up again and put it in his pocket. He patted Chenchen on the shoulder and said, “Since I ate your candy, from now on you’re my little brother, and An an is my sister. If anyone in the village bullies you, tell them my name.”

Su Xieqiu couldn’t help but laugh and teasingly asked, “Did you just say ‘Puppy Egg’s name’?”

“Auntie, my full name is Han Jun, Han Jun!” Goudan pouted, a little upset. He felt like the candy wasn’t as sweet anymore.

Seeing that he was upset, Su Xieqiu quickly apologized with a smile, “Okay, okay, Auntie understands, little friend Han Jun.”

She took out a few more candies and handed them to Chenchen, “Go ahead and play, and share some with the other kids too.”

Chenchen took the candies and handed them to Goudan. “Brother Dan, you go and share them.”

Su Xieqiu couldn’t help but laugh at how Chenchen called him “Brother Dan,” but she quickly held back her laughter, worried that it might upset Goudan.

Suddenly tasked with the important job of distributing the candy, Goudan was so focused on it that he didn’t even notice what Chenchen had said. He marched off with Chenchen and An an, proudly walking toward the other children. “Come here! Meet Chenchen and An an. He brought you some candy.”

Hearing that there was candy, the other children rushed over and soon started playing with Chenchen and An an.

Su Xieqiu sat on a stone pier nearby, watching them. But then, she felt an uneasy sensation, as though someone was watching her.