Chiang Qing had requested two days off from the army and sat in her room clutching her knees, staring blankly at the sky through the window.
When Chiang Tian brought food, he saw her like this and felt a pang in his heart, exclaiming, "Sis, it’s time to eat!"
These past two days, she had barely eaten anything.
Chiang Qing, as if she hadn’t heard, simply asked, "What date is it today?"
Chiang Tian was taken aback, glanced at the calendar on the wall, and realized he didn’t know the date. The pages of the calendar were meant to be torn off day by day, and since he had never torn one off at his sister’s house, he didn’t know.
Without a response, Chiang Qing checked herself, saying, "It’s the 10th already, he should be coming back soon!"
He, who was he?
Chiang Tian quickly learned who Chiang Qing was referring to, and his expression darkened. Even now, how could she still be thinking about that man!
Chiang Tian really wanted to shake her awake, but seeing the sparkle in her eyes, he didn’t dare. He could only suggest, "Come eat something, you’ve lost a lot of weight recently!"
Chiang Qing touched her face and asked another question, "Does it look bad?"
"It’s not bad, just not as good as before," Chiang Tian said evasively.
More than bad, she looked like a ghost.
Chiang Qing sat down at the table and said, "Have you heard something outside?"
She hadn’t left the house in days, but without a doubt, she knew the people in their courtyard were gossipy and must be talking about her.
Chiang Qing’s face was overcast with gloom.
"They are all uneducated roughnecks, why bother yourself with their words, don’t lower yourself to their level," Chiang Tian said with utter disdain.
Chiang Qing hummed in response, but her complexion didn’t improve.
This scandal had only increased the distance between her and Qi Taiguo; it was all Cheng Su’s fault for pushing her to this point.
Indeed, everyone in the courtyard was talking about Chiang Qing’s situation.
People said that despite the Military Doctor Chiang coming from a good family background and having a respectable job, it was unexpected that she could fall for another woman’s man and say those things; she must be mad.
The households of Southwest Ladder were busy consoling Cheng Su.
"Considering how high and mighty she always acted, I never would’ve thought she was like this inside. To brazenly declare her love for Commander Qi, tsk, it’s just shameless," Chunhua said while breastfeeding her daughter: "Sister-in-law Qi, you shouldn’t waste your words on her. With such a shameless person, just slap her in the face and be done with it."
"Exactly, oh my, to just say you like someone is one thing, but to have the courage to declare it, as if she was afraid we all didn’t know, and to say it with such righteousness, really opened my eyes," Qiumei said as she too came downstairs with her son to join the gossip.
Clearly, that incident had reshaped their perceptions and worldviews.
"I don’t even want to see her now; it’s disgusting," Cheng Su admitted, also feeling a sense of fear.
Chunhua and Qiumei exchanged glances and cautiously asked, "Sister-in-law, seeing how crazy she acted, could it be that she has some kind of sickness?"
Cheng Su’s bean-snapping hands paused, and her brows furrowed.
"I think she really might be sick in the head, otherwise she wouldn’t have gone that mad. You didn’t see it, Chunhua, but I did. Ah, the look on her face was as if she wanted to devour Cheng Su," Qiumei said with a face full of fear.
"In that case, it’s best to keep our distance indeed," Chunhua added worriedly.
Cheng Su curled her lips slightly and said, "Let’s keep these words between us. Don’t talk about it outside, lest it causes unnecessary trouble." "Of course, we’ll just discuss it here!" Qiumei nudged Chunhua, changing the subject: "Oh, those who went for training should be returning soon, right? Little Egg certainly misses his dad."
Platoon Leader Lu had also gone out for training.
Cheng Su smiled and said they should be back soon, but then her hands became restless as she pinched the beans.