Speak of the devil!
The man riding over on a bicycle was none other than Li Mingliang. A string bag hung from his handlebars.
At a glance, it held brown sugar, malted milk powder, bread, red dates, canned goods, and several large, rosy apples.
A small woven basket was tied to the back seat, filled with eggs and dried noodles.
Li Mingliang quickly squeezed the brakes and swung one leg off the bike.
“Xiaohong, heading out to the fields?” A familiar smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
He could not even be bothered to spare Zhou Pandi a glance.
Zhou Pandi was full of schemes and had done no small amount of harm to Chuntao behind her back. Li Mingliang had heard about it long ago.
Wang Xiaohong had never expected Li Mingliang to show up, carrying so many things. She did not need to think twice to know he was going to visit Chuntao, and her eyes instantly burned with tears.
“Brother Mingliang, weren’t you away out of town?”
“Yeah. I only got back to Nangang yesterday. I heard Chuntao had given birth, so I came to see her.”
Li Mingliang spoke as though it were no big deal, but inside, a wave of disappointment swept through him.
A wonderful girl like Chuntao was sure to have adorable children. It was just a pity they were not his.
Remembering what Zhou Pandi had just said, Wang Xiaohong felt bitterness churning inside her.
So Li Mingliang had not turned her down because she lacked a job or because she was a country girl. It was because Chuntao already occupied his heart.
She had always been so confident, but after one blow after another, she now felt like a complete fool. Her resentment toward Chuntao deepened further.
Chuntao’s departure had cost her the chance to work at the oil field.
And now, it turned out that Li Mingliang had rejected her because of Chuntao too.
But then she reconsidered. Chuntao had married Zhou Zhijun and even borne his child. Surely Li Mingliang would finally give up, wouldn’t he? In that case, perhaps she still had a chance.
“Brother Mingliang, are you leaving again this time?”
“Yes. I’m leaving early tomorrow morning.” Li Mingliang straddled his bicycle. “You go on to the fields. I’m going over to see her.”
Wang Xiaohong watched his retreating back, tears swimming in her eyes. But with Zhou Pandi standing right there, she clenched her teeth and refused to let them fall.
Zhou Pandi watched it all from the side. She was secretly delighted, though she put on an indignant expression.
“Xiaohong, don’t you think that Li Chun Tao woman is shameless? She’s already had a child with Zhou Zhijun, yet she’s still got Li Mingliang hooked enough to come all this way to see her!
“You used to treat her with all your heart, but look at her now. Doing something like this—who does she think she’s being fair to?”
As she spoke, her eyes darted toward Wang Xiaohong, gauging her reaction. Seeing Xiaohong’s face grow darker and darker, she added fuel to the fire.
“Xiaohong, do you think Zhou Zhijun knows? Li Mingliang likes Li Chun Tao too. He even held her hand before! What do you think he’d do if he found out?”
The words pierced Wang Xiaohong’s heart like needles. She felt like a balloon inflated to its limit, ready to burst at the slightest touch.
Unable to listen to Zhou Pandi’s prattle any longer, she turned and walked away with her head down.
Watching her unsteady steps, Zhou Pandi felt overjoyed.
Because of Li Chun Tao, she had lost her job and been left with lasting health problems.
Once bitten, twice shy. From now on, she would learn to kill with a borrowed knife and sit back while others fought. No matter who won or lost, she would not be harmed in the slightest.
In her mind, Wang Xiaohong might look capable enough, but in the end, she was nothing but a fool.
Meanwhile, Li Mingliang had already arrived at Zhou Zhijun’s home.
When Aunt Zhou opened the door and saw him, she was both surprised and delighted. “Mingliang, what brings you all the way here?”
She knew Li Mingliang had once liked Chuntao, but he was a sensible young man and had never done anything improper.
Now that Chuntao was already the Zhou family’s daughter-in-law and everything was settled, Aunt Zhou saw no reason to be wary of him. On the contrary, she genuinely liked him.
“Auntie, I came back to Nangang on business. I heard Sister Chuntao had given birth, so I came by to see her.”
“Come in and have a seat!” Aunt Zhou briskly took the things from his hands and ushered him inside. “It’s enough that you came. Why bring so many things? You’re treating us like strangers.”
Turning toward the inner room, she called, “Tao, are you awake? Mingliang is here!”
Chuntao had just been drifting off to sleep when she heard the voice and abruptly opened her eyes, thinking she must have heard wrong. “Mom, who’s here?”
“Brother Mingliang—he came to see you!” Aunt Zhou replied as she poured Li Mingliang some tea.
“Brother Mingliang is here?” He had come all this way, so she could hardly hide from him. She quickly propped herself up, got dressed, and came out from the inner room.
“Brother Mingliang, I heard from Xiaoming that you went to the north side of the city. When did you get back?” Chuntao’s voice still carried the weakness of childbirth, though her complexion was rosy and she had filled out a little since before.
Li Mingliang hurriedly rose to his feet. “I got back yesterday to take care of something. I’m leaving again tomorrow.
“Don’t stay standing. Hurry back to bed and lie down!”
“I’ve been lying in bed every day. My whole body feels stiff. It’s good to get down and move around a little.”
Aunt Zhou handed Li Mingliang his tea, then helped Chuntao into a rattan chair. “Sit down. Don’t wear yourself out!”
She poured her a cup of brown-sugar water as well. “Have some water. Are you hungry? The steamed egg custard I just made is still warm.”
Aunt Zhou made her something different to eat every day, and Chuntao felt as if her mouth had not had a moment’s rest. She quickly waved her hand. “I’m not hungry. I ate not long ago.”
“You’re eating for three now. You have to look after not only yourself, but the two babies too. Tell me when you’re hungry—don’t just endure it,” Aunt Zhou fussed, her voice full of concern.
Li Mingliang looked at Chuntao’s fuller face, then saw how attentively Aunt Zhou cared for her. Knowing that she had not suffered any hardship after marrying Zhou Zhijun, he finally felt the weight lift from his heart.
They were destined to have no future together in this life. All he could do was quietly hope that she would live well.
“Are the two babies doing all right?”
Chuntao smiled softly, tenderness filling her eyes. “They’re doing great.”
Aunt Zhou added with a smile, “The two little ones are like bean sprouts—changing every day.
“They eat well and sleep well, all fair and plump. They’re absolutely precious! They just finished feeding and are asleep right now.”
Then she seemed to remember something and asked, “Does Hongxia work at the same oil field as you?”
“Yes, we’re in the same work unit.” Li Mingliang nodded. “Hongxia is very conscientious at work. She’s now the head cook in the cafeteria, and all the workers love her cooking.”
Aunt Zhou beamed. “That’s wonderful! Hongxia has been hardworking since she was little. Cooking, washing clothes, working in the fields—there isn’t any job she can’t handle.”
Li Mingliang smiled and nodded. Looking at him—gentle, dependable, and well-mannered—Aunt Zhou suddenly had an idea.
She had once hoped to match him with Chuntao, but Chuntao and her own son had fallen for each other.
It would be wonderful if such a fine young man could become a son-in-law of the Zhou family as well.
He and Hongxia worked at the same oil field and saw each other every day. They were a handsome, talented match.
The more Aunt Zhou thought about it, the more she liked the idea. Smiling, she said, “Mingliang, you’re such a fine young man in every way. Haven’t your family elders been urging you to find a wife?”
Li Mingliang had not expected the sudden question. He paused before answering, “Auntie, not yet.
“The work at the oil field is busy, and I’ve put all my thoughts into my job. My family does urge me, but this sort of thing can’t be rushed. It has to be left to fate.”
Aunt Zhou smiled. “Focusing on your career is the right thing to do. It’s important for a man to establish himself first.”
Then she changed the subject. “Hongxia is the same. She isn’t getting any younger, and her parents worry about her marriage, but she herself isn’t in any hurry.”
“A fine girl like her deserves someone reliable, someone whose background we know well. Only then can we put our minds at ease.”
How could Li Mingliang not understand what she was implying? He simply had no idea how to respond, so he gave a dry acknowledgment. “That’s right.”
Seeing that she had made her point, Aunt Zhou let it go and cheerfully changed the subject.
Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, followed by Zhou Pandi’s shrill cry: “Aunt Zhou, open up! Something terrible has happened!”
