Zhou Qianqian listened in shock, “How is that possible? If he really cares for his wife, why would he let her stay at home for three years?”
“You silly girl, haven’t you inquired at all? Captain Lin lost his father early and was raised by his mother; he is her only child. If he went to the army and took his wife with him, his mother would be left alone at home.”
“This time, he brought his wife here because she is pregnant and it’s inconvenient for her. She spent the last three years at home taking care of her mother-in-law. It’s not like you said. Don’t go spreading rumors; if it weren’t for me, others might think you were deliberately spreading lies.”
“Alright, I’m done washing. I’m leaving now.”
Zhou Qianqian stared blankly as Sister Zhang walked away.
How is that possible?
Miao Jie said that Lin Shiheng never mentioned his wife at all, so how come Sister Zhang claims that everyone knows?
No, that’s not right; Miao Xing would never lie to her.
Lin Shiheng must be putting on an act, and it’s obvious to anyone that just after getting married, he wouldn’t want to leave his new wife.
She couldn’t believe that everyone in the army was so fond of Lin Shiheng.
Zhou Qianqian decided not to wash her clothes anymore and grabbed the laundry basin to head outside. After just a couple of steps, she spotted a young man with a pained expression, walking shakily and covered in dust, approaching her.
Curiously, she grabbed a woman sitting on a bench sewing shoe insoles and asked, “Who is this? I’ve never seen him before.”
“He’s the brother of Captain Lin’s wife,” the woman replied, biting off a string as she spoke. “Poor thing, he was just punished to run fifty laps on the playground, and if he stops, it’s another ten laps added. For the past few days, I’ve just been watching him run.”
Zhou Qianqian’s eyes brightened little by little.
She thought she had found evidence for why Captain Lin didn’t cherish his wife!
If he really cherished her, would he treat her brother like this?
He Xiaobao was limping along, wincing at every step and wiping his reddened eyes to ensure he wasn’t crying before he continued on.
In the past, he would have cried from such treatment, but not here. Here, whether man or woman, if they saw him crying, they would laugh at him for being a baby. He also couldn’t command women to do things. Last time, when he spoke to a female soldier incorrectly, he immediately got beaten up. With the daily punishment of running, he was too exhausted to even speak.
However, he was hopeful that San Jie would help him with medicinal alcohol when she saw him, which gave him a bit of motivation to move.
Just then, as he was stumbling forward, a “roadblock” suddenly appeared ahead.
He looked up with great effort and saw it was a girl, causing him to instantly wilt.
After being beaten by that female soldier, he had developed a complex.
“You’re Captain Lin’s wife’s brother, right?”
Zhou Qianqian looked at the young face before her that was even younger than her own, indignantly saying, “How can Captain Lin be like this? He doesn’t care about you at all!”
What came to He Xiaobao’s mind was the proud, smug smile of Deputy Zhang: “Captain Lin asked me to take care of you, and in our army, that means making you train! Now, run!”
He had been “cared for” in such a way already, and now this girl wanted his brother-in-law to “care” for him?
What kind of person is she!
His expression immediately turned furious. He quantified his aching limbs, and feeling that he couldn’t possibly take her on, he had to endure and silently maneuver past her.
“Hey, hey! Don’t walk away, I’m talking to you!”
Zhou Qianqian instinctively stepped forward to block him, resulting in a clumsy attempt that led to He Xiaobao’s legs giving out.
—Thud!
He Xiaobao collapsed to the ground, thinking about the punishment of running laps, the mockery he faced, getting beaten by female soldiers, and now being bullied by a stranger. The tears he’d been holding back finally fell.
He crawled up using both hands and feet, pointing at Zhou Qianqian with a loud complaint: “You… you’re too much!!”
As soon as he spoke, he noticed the people in the courtyard looking over. Remembering the tears on his face and how he had been laughed at in the past, He Xiaobao sadly shut his mouth, wiping his tears as he limped away.
Only Zhou Qianqian remained, stunned to hear him shout, standing still under the perplexed gazes of those around her.
What… What did she do?
Meanwhile, He Xiaobao struggled to reach the door and gently tapped on it.
This morning, Lin Shiheng said he wanted to eat dumplings, and He Xuezhu was humming a tune preparing them. Hearing the commotion outside, she quickly set down the rolling pin to open the door, only to see a face covered in bruises.
She was instantly shocked: “Xiaobao, what happened? Why are you crying?”
“Quick, come in, did you hurt yourself? Where does it hurt? I have medicinal alcohol; let me put some on you.”
He Xiaobao was pulled into the room; the fragrant smell of dumpling filling wafted at him, while his worried sister looked at him gently. The room was warm, nothing like the cold outside.
At that moment, as he felt the cruelty of the outside world and then saw his sister’s gentleness, he finally understood what family warmth meant.
Everyone bullied him; even a stranger dared to bully him.
Only his sister treated him well.
Only his sister was not fierce with him.
His sister was the one who made him dumplings.
He Xiaobao hugged He Xuezhu and wailed loudly.
“Sis, I promise to treat you well in the future!”
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