Living like a widow? My rough neighbor is coaxing me to have a baby every night.

Chapter 76 The Feeling of Being Pampered and Treated Like a Treasure

Li Dazui's jaw almost dropped to the ground, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the red booklet as if he wanted to bore a hole through it.

Divorced? When did that happen?

And...she even got a marriage certificate with this jinx?

Liu Baoguo looked as if he had been slapped hard in the face, his expression a fascinating mix of emotions, turning from green to white to red.

How is this possible? How could Li Xianglian, that doormat, get a divorce so quickly?

And she got involved with Qin Rushan so quickly?

"This...this is impossible..." Liu Baoguo stammered, trying to reach out and grab the notebook to see if it was real.

Qin Rushan flipped his wrist and put the marriage certificate back into his breast pocket, patting it seriously as if afraid it would be touched by something dirty.

"Nothing is impossible."

Qin Rushan turned to look at Director Wang, his tone icy, "Comrade Leader, you're here to inspect conduct as well. I'd like to ask, this Party Secretary not only slanders the masses without understanding the situation, but also leads a group to verbally abuse military families. What kind of conduct is this?"

Although I've retired from the military, military marriages are still protected. Shouldn't the person who just called my wife a "slut" also be charged with indecent assault?

With this huge accusation pinned on them, the women who had been so loud and boisterous just moments before instantly shrank back into quails, each one wishing they could bury their heads in their crotches.

Military dependents? Are you saying we can just insult them like that? They could get us arrested!

Director Wang finally realized what was happening. He'd been used as a pawn by Liu Baoguo!

They are a legally married couple, and they are honorable veterans. How could you have wanted to arrest them and parade them through the streets?

If this gets out, he'll lose his job as director!

Director Wang's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He turned and glared fiercely at Liu Baoguo, his eyes filled with hatred as if he wanted to devour him whole: "Secretary Liu! Is this what you call a thorough investigation? Is this the advanced brigade you manage? You don't even have a basic understanding of the situation, yet you casually label the masses! I think you, as the secretary, have a very serious problem with your thinking! A very serious problem!"

"Write a profound self-criticism and submit it to the commune! If it's not profound, you can forget about being the Party Secretary!"

Liu Baoguo broke out in a cold sweat, his legs trembling uncontrollably: "Director...it's a misunderstanding, it really is a misunderstanding..."

"A misunderstanding?" Qin Rushan sneered, slinging back onto his bicycle, one foot on the ground. "Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, everyone knows the truth. Secretary Liu, I'm putting my words out there."

He looked around, his gaze sharp as a knife, causing the villagers to avert their eyes.

"Li Xianglian is now a member of the Qin family. If anyone dares to gossip about my wife behind her back or cause trouble for my family again, I, Qin Rushan, may be tough, but I can be quite unreasonable. Don't blame me for turning my back on you and smashing your pots and pans!"

After saying that, he didn't even look at Liu Baoguo's grief-stricken face, and with a push of his foot, the wheel rolled forward.

As Qin Rushan passed by Li Dazui, he deliberately slowed down, turned his head, and said with a sinister look in his eyes: "Sister-in-law, you were cursing quite a bit just now? If you can't keep your mouth shut, go help feed the pigs in the commune's pigsty, instead of spewing nonsense all day long."

Zhao Dazui was so frightened that he sat down on the ground with a thud, his face turned pale, and he didn't dare to utter a sound.

The bicycle, adorned with that flamboyant big red flower, sped away through the stunned crowd.

The wind whistled against her face as Li Xianglian pressed her cheek against Qin Rushan's broad back. Tears finally streamed down her face uncontrollably. But this time, it wasn't tears of resentment, but of catharsis.

Having lived this long, she had never felt so strong before.

"What are you crying about?" a gruff voice came from ahead. "You didn't cry when so many people were yelling at you, why are you acting like you're made of water now?"

"I didn't cry." Li Xianglian said in a nasal voice, wiping her tears and snot all over his polyester military uniform. "It's just...it's just that sand got in my eyes."

The hard lines at the corners of Qin Rushan's mouth softened.

He freed one hand and squeezed her wrist behind his back: "Alright, stop rubbing against me. I just washed those clothes last night. Hold on tight, our house is just ahead. Tonight..."

His voice suddenly lowered, carrying a husky quality that made one blush and their heart race.

"Tonight is a big night for us, so we need to put in some effort."

Li Xianglian's face flushed red again, this time even her ears turned bright red.

The last rays of the setting sun fell on the three dilapidated but independent mud-brick houses not far away.

In front of the door, Er Gou, that clever fellow, was squatting on the ground, diligently fanning the stove, and a rich aroma of stewed meat wafted over on the wind.

The old bicycle wheels rolled over the last earthen embankment and came to a steady stop in front of the row of adobe houses.

Although the courtyard had no walls and was bare, the three large tile-roofed houses were sturdy, giving people a sense of security.

Er Gou was bending over, adding firewood to the stove. The flames in the stove were leaping high, filling the whole yard with the aroma of braised pork, making everyone's mouths water.

"Brother! Sister-in-law! You're back!" Er Gou heard the bicycle bell, threw down the palm-leaf fan in his hand, jumped up and shouted.

The kid's face was covered in black and white streaks, like a tabby cat.

Qin Rushan parked the bicycle steadily and put the ladder on. Ignoring Er Gou's strange winking, he turned around and grabbed Li Xianglian's hand, as if afraid that his wife would fly away if he let go.

"Er Gou, is the meat stewed until it's tender?"

"It's mushy! It's practically melting in the pot!" Er Gou slurped, "Just waiting for my brother and sister-in-law to come back for dinner!"

"Alright, bring the dishes inside, and then warm a pot of wine," Qin Rushan instructed, pulling Li Xianglian towards the main room. "Come on, let's go inside."

Li Xianglian lowered her head, the blush on her face had not yet faded, and her palms were sweaty. Wrapped in his calloused hands, she felt her heart pounding faster than the fire in the stove.

Are we about to... go inside?