Chapter 135: Chapter 135: It Was Me… Who Clung to You!

Li Ninghua finally secured a temporary job, with the potential for a permanent position if he performed well. However, after just a few days of work, he ended up being taken to the police station.

Li Zhiguo slapped Ma Zilan across the face, cursing, “Your son has turned out great! Aren’t you going to find him and make him talk to the police to let Ninghua out!”

Ma Zilan cursed Jiang Xingye vehemently, hastily promising, “I’ll go find him right now. That bastard is asking for it. I’ll teach him a lesson for bullying Ninghua. He should know his limits!”

Li Zhiguo said, “If there’s any trouble with Ninghua’s work, just see how I’ll deal with you.”

Originally, he wanted to deal with Jiang Xingye as well, but Li Zhiguo knew he wasn’t capable of doing that.

“It’s not going to happen. If Ninghua’s job becomes problematic, I’ll make sure to find a way with someone influential, certainly won’t let Ninghua get into trouble. That bastard dares to harm Ninghua; I definitely won’t let him off the hook!”

Zhang Meifeng prepared a lavish table of dishes, treating Jiang Xingye with the highest hospitality reserved for a distinguished guest. Li Shouzhi invited his colleagues from work, the police station director, and two county-level officials to accompany Jiang Xingye.

Seeing the many gifts Jiang Xingye brought, while Li Zhiguo was proud, he also felt a pang in his heart.

As Xu Qinghuan was leaving, Zhang Meifeng stuffed 200 yuan and a bunch of tickets into her hands, “Use it to buy fabric for clothes for yourself and also for Xiao Ye.”

Li Shouzhi then gifted two unused sets of military uniforms and a military coat to Jiang Xingye, “Take it home, if you can’t wear it, give it to someone! New ones are issued every year. I don’t attend training anymore; the clothes are durable and won’t wear out easily, too many to wear.”

Items have value, but sentiment is priceless.

Jiang Xingye wasn’t shallow, but since the items came from Xu Qinghuan’s relatives, he treasured them greatly.

Li Shouzhi arranged a car to take the two back. Xu Qinghuan checked on her ordered sewing machine at the supply and marketing cooperative. Initially assuming it hadn’t arrived, she was pleasantly surprised that it had. They conveniently brought it home with them.

The car passed the young workers’ site, just in time to see the police escorting Kong Lijuan out. Through the car window, Kong Lijuan spotted Xu Qinghuan, her eyes shot with hatred, almost toxin-laced.

Xu Qinghuan glanced briefly before looking away.

She didn’t even know who Zhao Hongbing was, yet Zhao knew she was Jiang Xingye’s partner and still caused trouble. Either he was stupid, or someone was inciting him.

Just verbal incitement wouldn’t allow Kong Lijuan to be sentenced, but getting her into the police station was no small lesson.

The jeep drove all the way to Xu Qinghuan’s house. Driver Xiao Wang helped Jiang Xingye carry the sewing machine down, ready to leave when Xu Qinghuan hurriedly stopped him, handing him two pounds of dried mushrooms, “Thanks so much this time!”

Though the amount wasn’t much, in these times, food was the most precious, and Xu Qinghuan’s actions pleased Xiao Wang.

After all, working for the leader, delivering Xu Qinghuan came with extra benefits, so why not!

“Next time if you need car service to the county, feel free to contact me,” Xiao Wang said.

Xu Qinghuan waved, “Thanks, Brother Wang, I’ll definitely trouble you next time!”

The sewing machine was set up in Xu Qinghuan’s room, where she measured the fabrics against Jiang Xingye’s body, “This light blue fabric would make a good top for you. The olive khaki can be pants. I’ll draw a design later and ask Sister Mei to make it.”

“I don’t need it, I have clothes to wear. Ask Meizi to make them for you.”

Jiang Xingye drew her into his embrace, resting his chin on her head. Rough fingertips gently stroked her soft chin, his heart stirred, yet he dared not reveal even a hint.

Despite his desires raging like a beast yearning to break free, his words and actions remained cool and disciplined, like a serene monk.

Xu Qinghuan leaned against his chest, “It’s not like we don’t have fabric, why not make clothes to wear? Also, last time didn’t I accidentally tear off half your sleeve? I kept saying I’d sew it for you, but you didn’t let me. Were you afraid I’d try to hold on to you?”

She turned around, playfully glaring at him. Her tiny nose snorted coldly, “Turns out I did hold on to you!”

The affection in Jiang Xingye’s eyes was as thick as melted sugar, his arms tight, wanting to press her into his own body, “It’s me… who held on to you!”

His gaze rested on Xu Qinghuan’s vibrant lips, his heart stirred, and desire tinted his eyes. Uncontrollably, he leaned forward, wishing to capture the red in his lips, wanting to savor her taste that rushed upon him like a tide.

“Jiang Xingye, get out here! You heartless wretch, you brainless slug, you harmed your brother. Are you even hoping to give me a way to live?”

Ma Zilan’s voice echoed from outside, yelling and crying, shockingly loud.

Xu Qinghuan felt Jiang Xingye’s body tense instantly, guessing who it was. Listening to the insults hurled at Jiang Xingye, she was filled with anger, ready to go out but held tightly by Jiang Xingye, “Don’t go, ignore her!”

He seemed particularly helpless, burying his face in Xu Qinghuan’s shoulder, his suppressed gasps causing Xu Qinghuan’s heart to ache.

Slowly, she raised her hand, wrapping it around his broad shoulders. She always thought Jiang Xingye’s shoulders spread like mountain ranges, able to bear all things, yet hadn’t realized he too had fragile moments like these.

That woman who gave birth to him, nurtured him, and whom he once relied on, now cursed him, even in her presence, for an outsider. It was unbearable for him.

“Don’t feel upset, it’s not your fault!” Xu Qinghuan comforted him with gentle words, “Not everyone qualifies to be a mother. Let’s just pretend she doesn’t exist.

You know my mother too; for fourteen years she ignored me until I grew up, then arranged a marriage, trading me for her ambitions. Such a person isn’t worthy of being our mother or of us feeling sad for her.”

“I won’t allow it!” Jiang Xingye lifted his head, looking at Xu Qinghuan, his eyes reddened, gaze determined, “I won’t let her marry you to someone else. You are… the best!”

He wanted to say you are mine, but he knew he lacked the right.

He would guard her, stay by her side, yet never dream of possessing her, that would be desecration.

He was always proud and upright, yet before Xu Qinghuan, he felt as humble as a medieval knight guarding a princess.

As Jiang Xingye and Xu Qinghuan were brought back by the car, along with the sewing machine, they were already seen by others and word spread throughout the Shangjiang Team. The news that Ma Zilan returned and was yelling curses at Jiang Xingye’s gate also quickly circulated.

“That shameless woman dared to return. Watch how I’ll rip her mouth,” Zhou Guizhi ran upon hearing the news, tossing aside her hoe and rushing up the field path.

“Mom, I’ll go with you!” Jiang Xingmei hurriedly followed.

Such a commotion couldn’t be missed for free. Everyone from Zhou Guizhi’s group cleared off, while people from nearby groups also concocted excuses to go home – to feed babies, to cook, all finding reasons but heading in the same direction as Zhou Guizhi.

“You filthy woman who can’t live without a man, still have the nerve to come back and scold Xiao Wu? Watch how I’ll rip your mouth. Who do you think you’re cursing, huh? Is Xiao Wu someone you can curse at? What are you even worth, to stand here?”

Zhou Guizhi took off her shoes and slapped towards Ma Zilan’s face. Ma Zilan raised her arm to block, nearly breaking her forearm.

Originally, Ma Zilan wanted to climb up to Li Zhiguo to become a city dweller. After moving to the city, she got a temporary job, which sounded respectable but wasn’t easier than farming. Plus, she had to serve Li Zhiguo’s entire family, wearing down her body over the years.

Before she had time to react, Zhou Guizhi shoved her forcefully, causing her to fall to the ground, pain shooting through her tailbone as if it had fractured.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep