48: Chapter 48 Luo Hongqi’s Enlistment Notice 48: Chapter 48 Luo Hongqi’s Enlistment Notice The Lin Family and the Luo family had just canceled their marriage arrangement, and at such a sensitive time, it was somewhat inappropriate for Chuxia to stay at the Luo family’s house any longer.
Despite Luo Xiaoqiong’s reluctance, both sets of parents had already decided on how to proceed.
For the sake of Chuxia’s reputation, she knew she couldn’t be willful and, with tears in her eyes, let Chuxia return to her own home.
The room was still a bit damp, so Zhao Yulan had fired up the kang.
After all, the three family members used to live in one room, and even if Chuxia wanted to live alone, a few days wouldn’t make a difference.
In the courtyard, a pear tree near twenty years old was covered with snow-white blossoms that filled the canopy.
While Zhao Yulan was heating the kang, Chuxia would move a small stool under the pear tree and chat with Zhao Yulan to pass time.
Having grown up so much, it was her first time seeing a living pear tree, which excited Chuxia greatly.
She had always envied this kind of life, leisurely and pastoral, with flowers, grass, trees, chickens, ducks, and geese…
Unfortunately, when her wish came true, it wasn’t at all in the way she had wanted.
Thinking this, a trace of melancholy crossed her face.
Zhao Yulan thought she was worried about the Xue family’s marriage arrangement and comforted her daughter, “Chuxia, don’t worry.
If Xue Ligang dares to play dirty, mom has ways to handle it.”
“What ways does mom have?”
“Just trust that mom has ways…”
Under the light of the fire, Zhao Yulan’s cheeks were tinged with a rosy flush.
Chuxia stared, slightly stunned.
This side of her mother, charming and bashful, was something she had never seen before.
Could there be some romantic entanglement she didn’t know about?
But considering the relationship between Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe, there shouldn’t be any lingering affair, right?
Don’t blame Chuxia for thinking wildly.
Generally, what else but love could bring such an expression to a woman’s face?
“Mom, was Dad your first love?”
Zhao Yulan glanced quickly at her daughter and scolded, “What kind of question is that?
Go outside and call your father, it’s time for dinner.”
Chuxia observed Zhao Yulan, her lips unconsciously curling into a smile: “Mom, you’re blushing, hehe…” Before Zhao Yulan could get annoyed, she quickly stood up, “Having my own room feels so good.
I’m going to call Dad to come home for dinner.”
Lin Baohe was industrious, taking advantage of the approaching darkness; he went out with his basket to collect cow dung.
Just as Chuxia was leaving the alley, she spotted him.
She quickly walked up to him, “Dad, Mom has finished cooking.” As she said this, she reached for the small shovel, but Lin Baohe pulled it back, “It’s dirty.
“Dad, you’re always , never wanting me to do anything…” Chuxia examined Lin Baohe’s expression, “Dad, what’s wrong?
“Nothing’s wrong.” Lin Baohe spoke and quickened his pace, “Dad is hungry.”
Chuxia quietly pouted; her dad was not good at lying.
Seeing his demeanor, she knew he was making excuses, but she wasn’t in a hurry.
There would be plenty of time to question him after dinner.
For dinner, Zhao Yulan made cornbread and stir-fried cabbage.
Perhaps because they now had their own house, even Chuxia, who didn’t normally like cornbread, found the meal especially delicious.
“Out with it, what’s happened?” After dinner, before Chuxia could start asking, Zhao Yulan spoke first, and Chuxia grinned broadly, “Dad, you still want to act as if nothing’s wrong, but the more you pretend, the less convincing it looks…”
Zhao Yulan gave her daughter a stern look: “Let your dad speak.”
“Everyone in the village is talking, the Xue family has taken a liking to Liu Meifeng.”
“Dad, that’s good news…” Chuxia chuckled moving closer to Lin Baohe, “Is it because someone said, after Hongqi and I broke up, the Xue family didn’t fancy me, then spoke ill behind our backs and that made you upset, right?”
“Yes.” Lin Baohe sighed, “Some people said it outright on the road…It wasn’t pleasant.”
“Wasn’t it said that the Xue family didn’t fancy Meiching’s sister?” Zhao Yulan was full of confusion, “Her second aunt’s Xiaoqing said that Xue Guohong saw Liu Meifeng, turned around and left, could Xiaoqing have gotten it wrong?”
“Mom, I guess someone is deliberately spreading rumors, let them say whatever they want to say.
As long as they don’t make me marry into the Xue family, anything goes.”
Even if we don’t marry into the Xue family, it is still annoying to be gossiped about .
In the future, what decent family would come to propose marriage to us?” Zhao Yulan’s brow furrowed, “Whoever is doing this clearly wants to disgrace our family, but who could it be?
Could it be the Zhong family?”
Chuxia nodded, “Zhong Hongying’s mother is capable of doing such a thing.”
“I’m going to find her!” Lin Baohe suddenly stood up to leave, but Zhao Yulan quickly held him back, “What’s the use of you finding her?
She’s nothing but a scoundrel, what advantage could you possibly gain by confronting her now?”
“If it really was her who said it, I’d smack her mouth shut!” Lin Baohe’s eyebrows twisted into a frown, “We haven’t done anything to block her path, how could she do such a despicable thing?”
“Dad…” Chuxia hesitated slightly, then said, “I have another suspect in mind, don’t be angry when I say it.”
“Grandpa, grandma, and my younger uncle’s side.”
“Impossible!” Lin Baohe’s head shook like a bobblehead, “Your grandparents and your uncle, no matter what, are our own family.
How could they spread such rumors?”
“We’ll see in a couple of days.
I just suddenly felt that since we’ve already moved here but grandparents haven’t moved to uncle’s place yet.
If we live here and they don’t move there, what would the villagers say about them?
But if our reputation gets ruined first…”
At the same time, Fat Auntie’s family was also discussing this issue.
Luo Gangshun’s finger poked his son’s head repeatedly, his mouth opening and closing without being able to utter a word — he was too angry.
Like Chuxia’s family, they guessed back and forth but couldn’t pin down who exactly spread the rumor.
However, Luo Gangshun and Fat Auntie had made up their mind that even if they called off the marriage arrangement with the Lin family, they would not let Zhong Hongying enter the Luo family’s door.
If Hongqi was set on marrying Zhong HongYing, they’d disown him as their son.
At this point, for Hongqi, it was a dead end.
Zhong Hongying was willing to marry him because he was supposed to join the army, but if his parents wouldn’t support him, where could he enlist?
He didn’t have much time to dwell on this dilemma.
The next morning, Zhou Hanliang arrived, bringing with him Hongqi’s enlistment notice — it was a special recruitment.
Holding that bright red enlistment notice, Luo Gangshun’s hand trembled uncontrollably — the timing of this notice couldn’t have been better!
“Do you want to marry Zhong Hongying, or do you want to enlist?”
Hearing Luo Gangshun’s inquiry, Zhou Hanliang’s eyebrows suddenly twitched, what?
Hongqi was supposed to marry Lin Chuxia?
Sorry for the late update today; I will try to post earlier tomorrow.
Special thanks to “Paris Fashion” for the reward~