Widow Remarries in Sixties

That evening, Liu Hongyue’s husband came over with their child to apologize.

The man looked to be in his mid-thirties, not very tall, around 1.75 meters. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, with a dark complexion and calm eyes exuding a sense of righteousness. The boy standing behind him was about eleven or twelve years old, with dark skin and a buzz cut. His eyes looked somewhat fierce, but when he glanced at his father, there was a hint of fear.

The boy had many stick marks, clearly from his father’s beatings. His father was holding a large bag of items. Jin Xiuzhu casually glanced at it and saw two cans of malted milk, two bags of White Rabbit candies, two bottles of canned fruit, and a big bag of biscuits. It must have cost quite a sum.

Qi Min explained the reason, then with a stern face, told his son to step forward and apologize.

He only found out about Liu Hongyue’s actions today when the incident escalated.

When Jiang Mingchuan’s wife first arrived and went to Captain Yan’s house for dinner, he was out for training that night and didn’t go. He had no idea his son was bullying Jiang Mingchuan’s son, let alone that Liu Hongyue had reported Jiang Mingchuan’s wife.

Many people expressed regret when Jiang Mingchuan’s wife no longer worked in the cafeteria. He felt the same way at the time, never expecting it was Liu Hongyue’s doing.

He had always been upright in his actions, yet he never thought everything would fall apart because of Liu Hongyue and his son.

He now lives in the dormitory and wouldn’t have returned if not for this incident. Last night, he had a big argument with Liu Hongyue and, seeing her unrepentant attitude, beat their son right in front of her.

The boy unwillingly took two steps forward with his head down, then whispered, “Sorry.”

Qi Min frowned and loudly rebuked, “Haven’t you eaten?! Who are you apologizing to?!”

The boy trembled. With reddened eyes, he shouted, “I’m sorry, He Yan.”

He Yan stood behind Jiang Mingchuan and Jin Xiuzhu, encountering such a situation for the first time, and looked up at his parents, somewhat at a loss.

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t intervene but instead said, “It’s up to you to decide whether to forgive him or not.”

Jin Xiuzhu never treated He Yan as a child. Perhaps in her heart, she still unconsciously considered herself a person of the Dajing Dynasty, where children of He Yan’s age were already capable of supporting their families independently.

He Yan thought for a moment, “I can forgive you, but you must promise not to bully anyone in the future, not just me but anyone else as well.”

Qi Kang nodded, raising his arm to wipe away his tears.

Qi Min said mercilessly, “Answer him.”

Qi Kang immediately choked out, “Okay.”

Qi Min then looked at Jin Xiuzhu and her husband, his expression softening. Then he said warmly to He Yan, “If he bullies you again, come tell Uncle, and Uncle will break his legs.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Kang’s body trembled in fear, and He Yan also glanced nervously at this fierce-looking uncle.

Qi Min then said to Jin Xiuzhu, “I wasn’t aware of what Liu Hongyue did before. However, as a married couple, my sister-in-law’s job loss in the cafeteria was indeed caused by her interference. I will deduct twenty yuan from my salary each month to compensate for your loss.”

Initially, he had planned to bring Liu Hongyue over to apologize as well, but she was crying and making a scene like a madwoman at home. He had lost all patience with that woman.

Originally, it was his own mother who pretended to be sick to get him to take time off and go on a blind date. The one he was supposed to meet was Liu Hongyue’s cousin, but after they got married, he found out it was Liu Hongyue. The Liu family and his own mother knelt in front of him, begging him not to cause a scene, saying it didn’t matter whom he married…

Thinking back on it now, it’s truly laughable. How could it possibly be the same? Other families were harmonious and happy, but his family was filled with endless quarrels.

He had tried to live a good life with Liu Hongyue, but she was the kind of person who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong. She looked down on this person and that person, and whenever someone else was doing well, she would be jealous and talk bad about them behind their backs. It was impossible to go on living like that.

He had often wanted to ask his mother why she insisted he get married back then. Was such a marriage really a good idea?

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu’s opinion of him improved a bit, but she still refused. “No need. I’ve already found a job. I’m quite clear about these things: you are you, and Liu Hongyue is Liu Hongyue. I don’t need you to make amends. It’s already very good that you brought your child to apologize.”

If she took the money, all her efforts today would be in vain, and Jin Xiuzhu was no fool. But she could tell that he was much more decent than Liu Hongyue.

Qi Min looked at the reasonable Jin Xiuzhu and nodded. He placed the gifts in his hand by the corner of the wall. “These are for the child. Please accept them. We won’t disturb you anymore.”

He glanced at Jiang Mingchuan and said nothing more, leaving quietly with his child.

As he reached the third step of the staircase, Qi Min heard the door closing behind him, and he paused.

He couldn’t help but recall the scene when he knocked on the door. It was opened by the youngest daughter of the family, who turned her head and called for her parents.

Jiang Mingchuan’s wife and son were at the table, drawing and writing, while Jiang Mingchuan came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands. The house was simply but warmly decorated. It was a simple scene, but one he had never experienced.

Seeing his father not moving, Qi Kang softly called out, “Dad.”

Qi Min pursed his lips and strode away.

He couldn’t help but think… If he hadn’t been soft-hearted back then, would things be different now?

After Jiang Mingchuan closed the door, he couldn’t help but say to Jin Xiuzhu, “Qi Min once had the opportunity to attend the military academy, but her wife heard something from someone, went to the leader to make a fuss, and the spot was canceled. He could have advanced further, but now he has to wait until next year to retire.”

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t know about this and nodded, feeling a bit sorry for Qi Min. Then she poked Jiang Mingchuan’s arm, “Look how lucky you are… Marrying such a good wife like me.”

She never missed a chance to flatter herself.

Jiang Mingchuan laughed at this, but thinking about it, he had to agree. He was indeed luckier than Qi Min.

If Jin Xiuzhu were like Qi Min’s wife, he and Xiao Yan wouldn’t have had any good days.

Thinking of this, he looked at his son. He and his daughter were busy unpacking the snacks Qi Min had brought, already tearing open the White Rabbit candies and stuffing them into their mouths, their cheeks bulging as they ate.

He felt a slight pang in his heart. He remembered that when Xiao Yan first came here, he always kept his head down and didn’t dare to speak. But ever since Jin Xiuzhu arrived, he gradually became more lively, and now he treats them as his real parents.

While feeling comforted, a faint sense of envy also arose.

***

Early the next morning, Liu Hongyue ran to find Zhao Yun with swollen eyes.

Zhao Yun didn’t expect Liu Hongyue to come over. She instinctively glanced around and, seeing no one had noticed, sighed in relief before inviting her in. After pouring a glass of water, she gently asked, “Why did you come over?”

In her heart, though, she didn’t really want Liu Hongyue to visit. Their previous close interactions could be attributed to Wang Ling. But after yesterday’s incident, Liu Hongyue’s reputation had become notorious, and it wouldn’t look good to be seen with her.

Upon hearing these words, Liu Hongyue’s eyes welled up again as she angrily said, “Isn’t it all because of Qi Min? He called me shameless and despicable, saying I did such a thing and brought shame upon him in the army. He even said Jin Xiuzhu was right to scold me, calling me ‘Envious Liu.'”

“What am I jealous of?! I wasn’t wrong. That Jin Xiuzhu makes delicious food at home every day. I don’t believe she hasn’t taken any food from the cafeteria! But he just sides with outsiders to bully me. Last night, he even beat Xiao Kang right in front of me. You have no idea how heartless he was, using such a long and thick stick, hitting our son again and again as if Xiao Kang wasn’t his own child.”

Seeing her crying with snot and tears mingling, Zhao Yun turned her face slightly away. Noticing her daughter eavesdropping from the table not far away, she gave her a stern look, motioning for her to go back to her room.

Caught by her mother, Tang Ying pouted unhappily, jumped off the stool, and ran back to her room with little stomps.

Liu Hongyue continued, “I know he hates me, thinking I can’t compare to Jin Xiuzhu and that I’ve brought him shame. He hates me for tricking him into marriage back then. But he isn’t any better. Why was he willing when it was my younger, prettier cousin? But despises me because I’m not as attractive?”

As she said this, she glanced at Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun didn’t know how to respond. She had heard about the past mess between Liu Hongyue and Captain Qi. In her mind, if she were a man, she might despise Liu too, but instead, she said, “Captain Qi isn’t that kind of person. Don’t overthink it, sister-in-law. If he truly despised you, why would he have children with you?”

Upon hearing this, Liu Hongyue sniffed and Zhao Yun, seeing her reaction, felt a bit disgusted. But she gritted her teeth and didn’t turn away.

Liu Hongyue felt a pang of emptiness in her heart but still stood her ground, saying, “Exactly, if he had any objections, he should have refused on the wedding day.”

She didn’t mention how she had instigated her mother-in-law to feign illness to coerce him into having a child with her, nor did she mention how on the day of the wedding, she had knelt down with her entire family to beg Qi Min not to cause trouble.

Zhao Yun softened her voice further, “Sister-in-law, don’t be angry. There’s no married couple without quarreling. We argue at the head of the bed and make up at the foot. It’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

Instead of calming down, Liu Hongyue’s face turned even uglier upon hearing this. Ordinary couples might argue and then make up, but she and Qi Min had never reconciled after a fight.

For some reason, she suddenly turned her head to look at Zhao Yun, with a hint of resentment in her eyes, and angrily said, “It’s all because of you! You told me you saw Jin Xiuzhu using pastries to entertain the wife of Commissar Zhu and asked me about the benefits of working in the cafeteria. That’s why I thought of reporting her. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be in this situation now! Do you know how afraid I am to go out now?! Everyone who sees me points fingers at me.”

Afraid to go out but still bold enough to come to my house?

Zhao Yun felt a pang of annoyance in her heart, but she wasn’t surprised by Liu Hongyue’s behavior of biting the hand that fed her.

Luckily… She had been worrying about not having an excuse to get rid of this person. After listening, her expression immediately turned cold, and she pretended to be angry, saying, “I comforted you out of kindness, and this is how you repay me? I’m just bored staying at home every day. I couldn’t help but ask about Jinxiu Zhu’s job when I saw it was good. But when I found out she got it through her own abilities, I dropped the idea. Who knew you would go and report her? Did I tell you to report her? Yet you blame me. Leave now. Honestly, I don’t dare to associate with someone like you.”

Liu Hongyue looked at Zhao Yun in disbelief, her eyes widened, “What do you mean?”

She had finally mustered the courage to come and confide in her, but now she was being told to leave.

Zhao Yun said icily, “What I mean is for you to leave my house immediately. This is entirely your fault and has nothing to do with me. Don’t blame your mistakes on me.”