Chapter 18
The last few times they had met, it had been in secret, like underground party members making contact. This time was different. They were walking together openly, yet they felt a strange shyness and didn’t know what to say.
“Qiming/Qingzhi,” they said in unison.
“You first/You first,” they said in unison again.
Ye Qingzhi smiled. “You first.”
“I could only get ten days of leave this time. The round trip by train takes eight days, so we have to leave tomorrow. Time is a bit tight, so I can’t give you a wedding. I’m sorry,” He Qiming said apologetically.
“It’s alright. I don’t care about that.” In her current situation, she didn’t want to be too high-profile. Besides, she also wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
If nothing else, if the news of her selling the house and the private plot got out, Wei Youliang would be the first to come after her, and the other relatives would also come demanding an explanation.
“Qingzhi, I will be good to you.” He Qiming carefully took her hand, but quickly let go when he saw someone approaching. He coughed twice to cover up the awkwardness. “Did you bring your household registration book? We’ll get our marriage certificate today, then buy some wedding candy to distribute to the villagers and let everyone know we’re married.”
Ye Qingzhi smiled and took the household registration book from her pocket, waving it in front of him. “I want to transfer the household registrations for me and my two sons, and also change their surnames.”
He Qiming looked at her in surprise. Not only transfer the household registrations, but also change the children’s surnames? Would Wei Jiancheng’s family agree?
Seeing his confusion, she sneered. “If Wei Youliang cared about his grandsons, he wouldn’t have insisted on splitting the family when I was pregnant. As for Wei Jiancheng, if he truly had us in his heart, he wouldn’t have been gone for six years. I reckon he and his mistress have children, and more than one. As for his other relatives, they were afraid of being burdened by us, so they never had anything to do with us.”
That being said, Wei Youliang and the other relatives wouldn’t just stand by and watch her transfer the children’s household registrations, let alone agree to change their surnames.
So, she had no intention of discussing it with them. She had brought the household registration book today to get everything done at once.
“I’ve already discussed it with the children. They will take my surname, Ye, from now on.” She looked at him. “What do you think?”
He Qiming didn’t dwell on why the children weren’t taking his surname. He already had two sons of his own, and he and Ye Qingzhi were still young; they might have children of their own in the future. So, Wei Anmin and the others could have whatever surname they wanted.
“And Wei Jiancheng, since he’s already dead, I’ll cancel his household registration today as well. Then this household registration book will be empty,” she said, looking at the book in her hand. She wondered if Wei Jiancheng would come back to life if he knew.
The two of them arrived at the bus station in Dayang Village, discussing what to bring. According to He Qiming, they didn’t need to bring much; they could just buy whatever they needed there.
“We have four sons. There will be many expenses in the future. We should save where we can. Let’s bring what we can,” she said. She was quite fond of the pickle jar and the oil jar.
Hearing her say “our four sons,” He Qiming was overjoyed.
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.” He had only suggested bringing less because he was afraid she would be tired.
They got on the bus. Ye Qingzhi found a window seat. Seeing her frown in discomfort, He Qiming quickly opened the window a little, peeled an orange, and held the peel under her nose.
“Is this better?”
She took the peel and held it to her nose herself. Her complexion improved. “Much better.”
The smell of the bus was what bothered her. Now that the fresh scent of orange filled her nostrils, she naturally felt much better.
“Before we get the certificate, I want to take a picture. Oh, we should have brought the four children for a family photo,” she said, patting her head. On such an important day, they should have taken a picture with the children to commemorate it.
“It’s alright. The train is at four tomorrow afternoon. We can go to the city early and take a picture then.” He Qiming sat down next to her. His left hand accidentally touched her right. He quietly took her hand and intertwined their fingers. “If you feel sick, you can rest your head on my shoulder and sleep for a while. I’ll wake you when we get there.”
Ye Qingzhi was taken aback. She had always thought he was a very serious person, but after getting to know him, she found that he was actually a bit of a quiet flirt.
Because of the orange peel, she wasn’t as carsick. Remembering what she had seen at the He family’s old house yesterday, she told him in a low voice.
“I’m not trying to stir up trouble, but the two children have definitely been wronged at your parents’ house. Especially your sister-in-law. Although she was always smiling, I don’t think she’s easy to get along with.” She thought Wang Xiuhua was a smiling tiger.
He Qiming sighed. He knew the two children were being wronged at the old house, but he didn’t have time to take care of them himself and needed his family’s help. At least they were fed and clothed.
“I know, especially Jingyan.” Seeing her look at him with confusion, he glanced around the bus and said in a low voice, “I’ll explain when we get off.”
She was feeling a bit sick anyway, so she just nodded and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
When they finally arrived at the county town, he gently nudged her. “Qingzhi, Qingzhi, we’re here.”
“Hmm?” Ye Qingzhi, who had fallen asleep without realizing it, opened her eyes, her gaze a bit dazed.
He Qiming thought she looked very cute like this and chuckled. “We’re in the county town. Come on, let’s go take a picture.”
They went straight to the photo studio. They could take a picture, but it would take at least three days to get it.
“Let’s take one. Today is our big day. It’s worth commemorating,” he decided.
“But we won’t be here in three days. Let’s forget it. There are photo studios in the city near your base. We can take a family photo with the children then, and also one of just the two of us,” she said, pulling him out of the studio.
They first went to the marriage registration office. He Qiming took out his officer’s ID and the marriage approval report. Ye Qingzhi also took out her household registration book and ID. The staff checked everything very carefully. After confirming there were no problems, they solemnly stamped the documents.
“Congratulations on your marriage. I wish you a hundred years of happiness and may you have a son soon.”
“Thank you for your kind words,” He Qiming said, taking a handful of candy from his pocket and giving it to the staff.
Ye Qingzhi looked at the marriage certificate, which looked like an award certificate, and was filled with emotion.
In her past life, she had been unmarried at thirty. In this life, not only had she become a widow, but she had also remarried so quickly. Life was truly unpredictable.
“Come on, let’s go to the police station,” He Qiming said, happily putting away the marriage certificate.
“On the bus just now, you said you would tell me about Jingyan when we got off. What is it?” She had noticed something was off with He Jingyan long ago but had never had the chance to ask.
He Qiming pondered for a moment, then told her that He Jingyan was not his biological son.
“I didn’t expect Xu Baoli to abuse him. If I had known… I wouldn’t have sent him back to my hometown,” he said, his face full of regret.
He Jingyan is his comrade’s son? No wonder she had always felt that his relationship with the He family wasn’t very close.
“So how did your ex-wife abuse him?” she frowned.
“She misunderstood and thought he was my illegitimate son. She would either beat him or scold him, and she wouldn’t give him enough to eat. If my older sister-in-law hadn’t found out and told me, who knows how much more he would have suffered.” He Qiming wiped his face. “His father saved my life, and he’s the only one left in his family. So… Qingzhi, I beg you to help me take good care of him.”
She glanced at him. “Didn’t we agree from the beginning to treat all four children equally? Don’t worry, he is the eldest son of the He family.”
He Qiming excitedly took her hand. “Qingzhi, I’m so lucky to have married you. And it’s Jingyan and Yangyang’s good fortune to have you as their mother.”
She couldn’t help but glare at him. “Don’t flatter me.”
But He Jingyan’s life was indeed hard. His father had sacrificed his life, his mother had run off, and he had no direct relatives. After being adopted by He Qiming, he had encountered a stepmother like Xu Baoli.
Wait a minute. Looking at the decor of He Qiming’s house, Xu Baoli seemed to be a person with a bit of a bourgeois and aloof taste. How could she have treated him like that?
“Did you not tell your ex-wife about Jingyan’s background?” she asked, puzzled.
“Of course I did. She believed me at the time and was quite good to him for a while. I didn’t expect her to…” He Qiming suddenly stopped, then narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Are you suggesting there’s more to it?”
“I’m just suspicious. I don’t know the details. After all, I’m not very familiar with your family’s situation.” Seeing him lower his eyes and fall silent, she joked, “What, you found out you misunderstood your ex-wife and want to get back together with her?”
He Qiming held her hand tightly. “Don’t talk nonsense. We were never on the same page. Even without this, we wouldn’t have been able to stay together. Besides, no matter the reason, the fact that she abused him is true.”
He didn’t plan to tell her about Xu Baoli’s affair. It wasn’t something to be proud of, and he didn’t want to dirty her ears with it.
As for the hidden story, he would investigate it thoroughly. He hoped it had nothing to do with his family at the old house.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the police station. He Qiming had an acquaintance who worked there. He told her to wait while he went to find him.
Indeed, having connections made things easier. What she had worried would take all day was done in half an hour.
“That’s it?” she asked, looking at the new household registration book in a daze.
“How much trouble did you think it would be?” he asked with a laugh.
In any case, without an acquaintance’s help, it certainly wouldn’t have been so simple.
Her and her two sons’ household registrations were first transferred to Dayang Village. When they got to the base, if she could get a job, they would transfer them all together.
As for Wei Jiancheng, since he was already dead, his household registration was naturally canceled, so he wouldn’t be an eyesore.
“Come on, let’s go shopping,” she said happily, looking at the candy, cloth, and cotton tickets they had received after getting their certificate.
They got off the bus with large and small bags. Ye Qingzhi followed behind him with a bright smile. “Let’s go to Houxi Village first, give some wedding candy to the relatives and friends there, then take the two boys to your house for lunch.”
Across the road, He Yongyao rubbed his eyes in disbelief. After coming here so many times, he had finally found the girl he had been longing for. But there seemed to be a man next to her.
When the man turned around and he saw his face, He Yongyao’s expression changed drastically. Isn’t that He Qiming?
Why is he with that girl?
“Yongyao, why are you at the station again?” Third Auntie He asked, puzzled, carrying a basket.
“Third Aunt, do you know the girl with Qiming?” He Yongyao’s face was pale.
Third Auntie He looked over and her eyes widened. “He Dahong and Yang Fuzhen work fast. They must have had their eyes on her for a long time. That’s why Qiming came home so quickly.”
He Yongyao looked at her with a grave expression. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t know?” After meeting Ye Qingzhi yesterday, she had mentioned it to Yongyao’s mother.
“Know what?” He Yongyao’s face suddenly turned even paler.
Last night at dinner, his mother had mentioned Ye Qingzhi from Houxi Village again, saying that Third Aunt had seen He Dahong take her to see He Qiming’s house, probably to set them up.
His mother had even lamented that Ye Qingzhi was a good woman and that he would regret missing out on her. What had he said then? He had said he would definitely not regret it.
But now, he regretted it.
He wanted to slap himself. Why hadn’t he met her? If he had, they might have already gotten their marriage certificate.
Wait a minute. This was their first meeting. They weren’t married yet. He still had a chance.
“Hey, Yongyao, what are you doing?” Third Auntie He grabbed him.
“Third Aunt, I… I’m going to say hello,” he said, his eyes fixed on Ye Qingzhi.
Third Auntie He had sharp eyes. She could tell at a glance that he had taken a fancy to her. She held him tightly. “Yongyao, don’t do anything rash. You can tell they’ve already hit it off. Qiming is an officer. Destroying a military marriage is a jailable offense.”
“They’re not married if they haven’t gotten their certificate. How is it destroying a military marriage if they’re not married?” he hissed.
Third Auntie He was a close relative of his. Of course, she couldn’t watch him make a mistake. So she slapped him on the head. “Your mother said she introduced you to Ye Qingzhi long ago, but you weren’t willing. What are you making a fuss about now? Hurry up and come home with me.”
“What’s wrong?” Ye Qingzhi asked, seeing He Qiming staring at the entrance to Dayang Village. She followed his gaze and saw an aunt pulling a younger man away. The man kept looking back at them.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that the man was looking at her.
Suddenly, her view was blocked by He Qiming’s body. “Nothing to see. Let’s go. We still have to pack this afternoon. We’re short on time.”
He Yongyao? The way he looked at Qingzhi was not right. And the way Third Auntie He was pulling him away was also not right.
Thinking of how he was always at the station waiting for someone, or rather, looking for someone, could it be that he was looking for Qingzhi?
It didn’t matter. Qingzhi was already married to him. Tomorrow, she would go to the base with him. Even if He Yongyao liked her, it was useless.
Looking at the smiling and oblivious Ye Qingzhi, a faint smile touched the corners of his lips. The old chief was right. With a good woman, you have to strike first.