Chapter 40

Xu Di’s incident didn’t leave any gossip behind, everyone’s attention was elsewhere.

Yang Zhaodi was chased back to her parents’ home by her husband, they were about to get a divorce, this was the real explosive news in the family compound.

As for Xu Di, the most common thing people talked about was how the Xu family protected their own, Xu Li was usually a quiet guy, but when it mattered, he really knew how to fight!

Xu Di didn’t care about these things, she was in a good mood now. For the first time in two lifetimes, she had someone to back her up, it felt good!

After work that day, Xu Di was the first to rush out of the unit’s gate, carrying a bag of Great White Rabbit candies, peach cakes, fried dough twists, and biscuits she had bought at the grocery counter at noon.

This was what Xu Di had promised Xu Jun and Xu Ping’an, she couldn’t break her word.

To take the rooster out of her space, Xu Di deliberately took a detour behind the department store, there was an alleyway there, it was a blind spot.

She took a tied-up rooster from her space, picked over a dozen apples and pears, and a few large persimmons.

She put the things in a cloth bag she had prepared in advance and hurried to catch the bus.

After getting off the bus, Xu Di subconsciously looked around, yesterday’s incident had still scared her, it left a bit of a shadow.

When she entered the family compound, the talk about Yang Zhaodi automatically entered Xu Di’s ears.

“Did you hear, Yang Zhaodi was fired.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, it’s a divorce, divorce, don’t talk nonsense, be careful you get labeled as spreading feudal superstition.”

“Really divorced?”

“How can it be so fast, the Women’s Federation came to mediate, but her husband is determined to get a divorce. For so many years, she’s only thought about her family, her own children come after her family, I don’t know what she was thinking.”

…

Xu Di heard this kind of talk all the way, she didn’t feel happy or sad, it was just a personal choice.

“Second sister, you’re back?”

“Auntie.”

As soon as Xu Di entered the door, Xu Jun and Xu Ping’an were waiting for her at the door.

“Oh, it’s rare, Xu Jun, you’re actually at home, you didn’t go out to play?”

“Second sister, I was going to pick you up at the station, but Sister-in-law was cooking, so I had to watch Ping’an.”

Xu Jun glanced at his second sister’s bag, he wondered what she had bought?

“Auntie, candy.”

Xu Ping’an still remembered what his aunt had said, she would buy him candy.

“You little rascal, you have a good memory. Here you go, Xu Jun, you two go eat. Watch Ping’an, don’t let him choke on the candy.”

“Wow, Second sister, you’re the best. Ping’an, come on, let’s go eat good stuff with Uncle.”

Xu Jun took the cloth bag and took a look, he was excited and shouted, making Xu Ping’an anxious, he kept calling “Uncle, Uncle.”

“Xu Di, what did you buy for them again?”

Sister-in-law heard her younger brother-in-law’s shout from the kitchen, she wiped her hands and came out quickly.

“Sister-in-law, I promised Xu Jun and Ping’an yesterday, I can’t go back on my word.

Sister-in-law, I met someone selling roosters, it’s a big one.”

Xu Di handed another cloth bag to her sister-in-law, inside was a tied-up rooster, over a dozen apples and pears, and a few large persimmons.

“Oh my, why is this chicken so heavy?”

“Sister-in-law, there are also a few apples and pears inside, and persimmons.”

Xu Di’s voice came from the bathroom, Sister-in-law quickly opened the bag.

“Xu Di, this rooster must be seven or eight pounds, why did you buy so many apples and pears, and persimmons? Mom will definitely criticize you for spending money recklessly.”

Sister-in-law thought to herself, Xu Di was really generous. Since she started working, she had been buying things back home, she had spent a lot of money in a month.

“It’s okay, I just happened to come across them.”

Xu Di knew that her mother wanted her to save the money for her dowry.

It was rare to have such a good family, Xu Di couldn’t help but want to be good to them.

This is how relationships between people are, you’re good to me, and I want to be good to you.

Love is mutual.

Sister-in-law thought, she would buy her a nice wedding gift when Xu Di got married.

“Sister-in-law, we can’t eat the rooster tonight, can we?”

“It’s too late, we’ll eat it tomorrow. Just in time, Mom is on the early shift tomorrow, she’ll be off work early.”

“Okay, I want to eat Mom’s braised chicken and potato stew.”

Everyone liked to eat the dishes Xu’s mother cooked, she was a good cook.

“You’re right, I’m craving it too.”

“Hehe…”

Xu Di was amused by her sister-in-law, she changed her clothes, set the table, it was time to eat.

In the evening, Xu’s mother came back, she confiscated Xu Jun and Xu Ping’an’s treats.

“Mom, Second Sister bought them for me and Ping’an, why did you take them away?”

“You little rascal, are you getting greedy? Ping’an doesn’t know any better, but you don’t know any better either?

Your Second Sister bought so many candies, peach cakes, and biscuits, you two have no self-control, you almost ate them all.

If Ping’an has a stomachache tonight, I’ll beat you up.”

Xu Jun thought about the things he and Ping’an had eaten, he didn’t dare to say anything.

“Xu Di, you can’t spend money recklessly in the future, do you hear me?”

“I hear you, Mom, I know I was wrong.”

Xu Di didn’t expect the fire to burn to her so quickly, she glared at Xu Jun, it was over, there would be no more treats next time.

Xu Jun also regretted it, why didn’t he watch Ping’an? Oh, his treats were gone!

The Xu family’s life was going smoothly, except for their worry about Xu Mei, who was far away in Yunnan Province, there were really no other worries.

And Zhang Chaoyang, who was far away on the island base in the south of the country, returned from another mission.

Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang, you have a letter.

Zhang Chaoyang took two letters from the communications soldier, he took a look, they were from the same address, both sent by Comrade Xu.

He glanced at the time, they were a month apart, she must have written back after receiving his letter.

Last time, he got Comrade Xu’s address from his grandma and sent her a letter.

He received a mission and left half a month later, and it had been another month since then.

Holding the two letters, Zhang Chaoyang returned to his dormitory.

The weather was hot here, and there were many mosquitoes and insects, the whole camp was full of men, no women.

He had joined the army and came here to guard the border, hiding it from his family, to escape the conflicts at home.

He didn’t regret it, he just felt a little sorry for his grandma.

Was she lonely by herself, did his parents and brother, sister-in-law, brother, and sister often go to keep her company?

But, with Grandma’s temper, even if they went, she wouldn’t give them a good face.

Because of Grandpa and Grandma’s affairs, the family relationship was a bit complicated, he didn’t want to get involved, he didn’t want to rely on Grandpa’s connections.

He came to the border to be a soldier, he refused to be transferred back, his mother was so angry, but she couldn’t do anything.

People have different ideas, he didn’t understand his parents, and his parents didn’t understand him.

Zhang Chaoyang shook his head, he shook off the messy thoughts in his head.

He looked at the two letters on the table, the handwriting was neat and elegant, not flamboyant.

From his grandma’s words, he couldn’t imagine an eighteen-year-old girl, how could she be willing to write letters to him.

Although soldiers were very popular now, he was a border guard, the conditions were harsh, he couldn’t bring his family with him.

If she married him, it would mean long-term separation. If they had children in the future, she would have to raise them alone, he wouldn’t be home much of the year.

For these reasons, Zhang Chaoyang didn’t have much hope for marriage.

But, looking at the two letters on the table, he hesitated.

He didn’t know what Comrade Xu was thinking, she must have had some thoughts to send two letters.

Zhang Chaoyang, who had lived for twenty-three years, hesitated for the first time.