At that moment, Li Fengmei’s eyes shifted as a thought occurred to her. If she admitted that Wang Lei was one of the Xiao family, wouldn’t the three thousand yuan go to Wang Lei? Wang Lei had always been obedient, and once the money was in his hands, it would eventually end up with her anyway.
In truth, Xiao Mandong had already guessed Wang Lei’s background and seen through his intentions.
“Since the child died shortly after birth, then give the money to me.”
Wang Fugui glanced at Shen Linzhou. The other man wore a stern expression and clearly looked like someone not to be trifled with, but Wang Fugui still forced himself to speak.
“I… I only have a little over a thousand yuan on me. You’ll have to wait until your grandmother comes back for the rest. She always carries her passbook with her, and I don’t have that much money.”
Xiao Mandong was just about to agree when Shen Linzhou cut her off, his voice cold and firm.
“No. If I don’t see the money by noon tomorrow, you can wait for the police to investigate.”
With that, he turned to Xiao Mandong, his tone instantly softening. “Let’s go back. It’s windy tonight.”
Jiang Yue curled her lips. “Uncle Shen, are you performing face-changing in Peking opera? How can you change expressions so quickly?”
“Big Sister, Uncle Shen won’t do. He’s too dark and not handsome enough. I’ll introduce you to a boyfriend instead! My cousin is very handsome. He’s six foot tall and teaches at a Workers-Peasants-Soldiers University in Beijing…”
Shen Linzhou was somewhat annoyed. She called Xiao Mandong “Big Sister,” but called him “Uncle.” What did she mean by that? Did he really look that old?
Besides, he had never seen anyone try to steal someone else’s girlfriend right in front of them. This girl couldn’t stay here. He needed to get rid of her as soon as possible.
He walked straight to the guesthouse telephone and made a call.
“Hello, Deputy Division Commander Jiang? Could you please have someone come and take Jiang Yue home?”
“All right. I’ll send someone over right away.”
Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang was in a foul mood and had no inclination to pick up Jiang Yue and ask what had happened, so he could only send an orderly to fetch her.
By the time Jiang Yue ran over, hoping to snatch the phone away, Shen Linzhou had already hung up.
“You… Why are you such a terrible person? How could you tattle on me? Are you a little kid? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. I’m telling you, I won’t let you get your way!”
Jiang Yue was so angry that her eyes turned red as she stamped her feet and argued with Shen Linzhou.
Outside the guesthouse, Wang Fugui’s legs were so weak that he could barely stand. Xiao Zhenyu supported him as they made their way home.
He regretted everything bitterly. Why had he gone looking for Xiao Mandong? Not only had he lost his job, but he also had to come up with three thousand yuan. Where was he supposed to get that much money?
Li Fengmei’s expression was equally grim. She followed behind Wang Fugui without saying a word.
Wang Lei stared fixedly in the direction of the guesthouse entrance. He was convinced that he was the real Xiao Zhenyu. He would go home and look for evidence. Once he proved that he was Xiao Zhenyu, Xiao Mandong would definitely protect him.
Half an hour later, the orderly arrived. Jiang Yue, cheeks puffed out in anger, climbed into the jeep.
The moment she stepped through the front door, she sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere at home.
Zhu Liping sat on the sofa, one hand gently covering her lower abdomen. Her eyes were red, and tears still clung to her cheeks. She looked deeply wronged, yet restrained, as though she had endured a great deal.
Her father sat on a stool nearby, silently smoking.
Her father rarely smoked. Every year, he would smoke one cigarette only on her mother’s death anniversary—or when he encountered an especially difficult mission.
“Dad, what’s wrong?” Jiang Yue asked cautiously.
Jiang Bingzhong spoke gently. “Yueyue, pack your things and go stay at your grandmother’s house for a few days. I’ll come get you in a couple of days, all right?”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Liping’s tears began falling even more freely.
“Jiang Yue, your father… your father wants to divorce me.”
She hated the way Jiang Bingzhong always unconditionally protected Jiang Yue. Why should he? She was Jiang Bingzhong’s wife, yet even after two years of marriage, he still kept a photograph of his former wife in the house. Every time Zhu Liping saw it, she felt suffocated, as though she were living in someone else’s home.
“Zhu Liping, this is a matter between the two of us. Don’t drag Jiang Yue into it.”
Jiang Yue froze. Her eyes widened instantly as she stared at her father in disbelief. She had told him long ago that this woman was scheming and that she didn’t like her, but he had never believed her. Why had he suddenly decided to divorce her?
“Then get divorced if you want. Dad’s right—it has nothing to do with my custody. You don’t need to ask me. You two can make the decision yourselves.”
“I’ll go pack my things and stay at Grandma’s for a few days. I won’t get in the way while you discuss the divorce settlement.”
Zhu Liping had never expected Jiang Yue to be so heartless.
For the past two years, she had cooked all sorts of meals for the girl, doing everything she could to please her. Now that she was getting divorced, Jiang Yue couldn’t even say a single word to make her stay.
“Yueyue, I’m pregnant. There’s a little brother or sister in my belly. Please, let me keep the baby, all right? I promise the child won’t affect you in any way after it’s born.”
“Zhu Liping, are you out of your mind? I told you not to involve my daughter in this. Why are you dragging her into our affairs? You’re pregnant—what does that have to do with her? Can she raise the child for you?”
Jiang Bingzhong did not want the problems between them to affect Jiang Yue.
Besides, whether he wanted another child had nothing to do with Jiang Yue in the first place.
“Why can’t I tell her? If Jiang Yue agrees, then I can keep the baby. I want a child of my own, too. You can’t refuse to let me have one just because you’re afraid of having to share the fatherly love you give Jiang Yue.”
“Why are you so selfish?”
“Zhu Liping, regarding children, I remember making it very clear before we got married that I didn’t intend to have any more. I only wanted Jiang Yue, and that was enough for me. You agreed at the time, didn’t you?”
“And whether this child stays or not has nothing to do with Jiang Yue. I’m the one who doesn’t want it.”
Zhu Liping lowered her eyes and wiped away her tears, her voice full of self-reproach.
“It’s my fault. I was so busy recently that I forgot to take my birth-control pills on time. By the time I realized it, it was already too late.”
“But the baby is already here. How can you bear to make me abort it? It’s your own flesh and blood, too.”
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to give Jiang Yue a sibling?”
She had deliberately stopped taking the pills. She had gone to great lengths to get pregnant, believing that once she was carrying a child, Jiang Bingzhong would never force her to have an abortion. Only by giving birth could she establish herself in the Jiang family. A child would be her lifelong security.
But she had never expected Jiang Bingzhong’s heart to be so hard.
Jiang Bingzhong suddenly crushed the cigarette into the enamel mug. At last, he could no longer contain his anger.
“Forgot to take your pills? Zhu Liping, do you take me for a fool?”
“The way you treat Jiang Yue—do you think I can’t see that you’re trying to destroy her with false kindness? I’ve known exactly what you were plotting. I only let it go because you were young. That doesn’t mean I was unaware.”
Zhu Liping abruptly raised her head. He had actually seen through everything, yet he had never said a word.
Jiang Bingzhong’s eyes were filled with mockery. “And this latest mission—you think I don’t know what really happened?”
