Chapter 52
Ye Qingzhi was being secretive. He Qiming had thought she was going somewhere special, but when he looked up, it was the town’s black market.
Because the army base was nearby, the security here was very good. But no matter how good the security was, there were still dangerous times. It was still not safe for a woman, especially a beautiful one like Ye Qingzhi, to come to such a place alone.
“Have you been here before?” He Qiming asked, holding Ye Qingzhi’s hand.
“No, I just observed from the side and suspected that this was the black market. I didn’t dare to go in alone. I was originally going to ask Wang Heng to go with me, but the clothes he was wearing that day were not convenient. I’m really curious. Can you go in with me to have a look?” Ye Qingzhi asked, tugging on He Qiming’s clothes.
He Qiming looked at her with amusement and took her in for a walk.
Inside was just a very ordinary house. There were a few people carrying baskets and buying things. There were not many sellers, but Ye Qingzhi saw someone selling meat without tickets for one yuan and fifty cents a catty. She picked out two catties of the fatter cuts.
“This place looks ordinary, but there are people guarding the front and back doors. You must not come here by yourself,” He Qiming said, still worried.
Ye Qingzhi nodded. She was not stupid. Of course, she would not come alone. But it would be fine if she called Gu Yao and Li Yang.
She also bought a few catties of Tibetan pastries and a catty of beef jerky. It seemed there was nothing else she needed to buy.
“Let’s go to the post and telecommunications office to see. Maybe Auntie Ye has written me a letter,” she said. If there was no letter, they could prepare to go back to the family compound. It was really too cold outside.
It was a coincidence. The letter and package sent by Auntie Ye had just arrived yesterday. The comrade at the post and telecommunications office was preparing to send it to the army in the afternoon.
“There’s a package too?” After signing for it, Ye Qingzhi looked at the package. It was a large bag. She didn’t know what was inside.
Just then, Yangyang was making a fuss about wanting to walk by himself. He Qiming put him on the ground, shouldered the package, and went with Ye Qingzhi to the place where they would get on the bus.
“What did you buy?” Li Jinfeng asked, peeking over. “Oh, such a big package. Is it from home?”
“Yes. Have the children come back?” Ye Qingzhi asked, looking around.
“No, they haven’t. They rarely come to town. Who knows where they’ve gone crazy. How could they come back so soon?” Li Jinfeng asked in surprise, seeing the meat in Ye Qingzhi’s basket. “Where did you buy this meat?”
Ye Qingzhi whispered “black market” in her ear. Seeing her tempted, she quickly stopped her. “Don’t go. There wasn’t much left when I bought it. There’s definitely none left now.”
Li Jinfeng sighed with regret. Although Li Hanxing had also gone hunting and there was still some meat at home, this meat had no fat.
“Where is the black market? Next time you go to town, give me a call. I’ll go and have a look too,” Li Jinfeng said, looking at Ye Qingzhi with anticipation.
He Qiming went around, found the children, and brought them back. Gu Yao and the others were also with them.
“Is everyone here?” Li Jinfeng asked. She felt a little cold in the car and wanted to go home and sit on the heated brick bed as soon as possible.
“There are still two missing,” Li Yang said, glancing around. She took out a bag of melon seeds. “Have some melon seeds. They should be back soon.”
The town was only so big. No matter how much you could walk, you couldn’t walk for long.
Sure enough, after seven or eight minutes, the two military wives returned with smiles on their faces, their hands full.
“Is everyone here? If everyone is here, we’ll go back,” Wang Heng said, counting the heads. After confirming that everyone was there, he drove back.
Back at home, Ye Qingzhi tidied up a little and eagerly opened the letter Auntie Ye had written to her.
She had a feeling that something must have happened back home, and it was related to her.
The more she read, the more her brow furrowed. Ye Qingzhi had always thought it was Wei Youliang who was causing trouble, but it turned out to be a problem with her parents’ family.
The original host had never been valued at home. After she married Wei Jiancheng, her parents had said that a married daughter was like spilled water and told her to come home less often.
Later, when there was no news from Wei Jiancheng, the original host had had no choice but to go back once. But her parents had told her to give her children away and remarry. Scared, the original host had hugged her children and returned to Houxicun.
After that, the original host had cut off contact with her parents’ family, and the Ye family had also tacitly agreed, not caring about the original host and her sons’ affairs.
It wasn’t until Wei Jiancheng sent back his last letter that the matter had caused such a stir. Ye Qingzhi did not believe that the Ye family had not heard any news at all, but they still had not shown up from beginning to end.
They didn’t even ask after their son-in-law’s death. It was clear that they had completely severed ties. So whether Ye Qingzhi remarried or joined the army, she naturally did not have to tell them.
This time, she didn’t know where they had heard that she had married a military officer, and then the original host’s father, Ye Shuiping, and mother, Ding Aixian, had gone to Houxicun to find her together.
After confirming that Ye Qingzhi had really married a military officer, they had gone to the Brigade Leader to ask for her contact information. When they couldn’t get it, they had gone to Dayangcun to find He Dali.
He Dali and Yang Fuzhen were afraid that the Ye family would take advantage of He Qiming, so of course, they could not tell them the contact information. Thus, they had returned empty-handed again.
Finally, after much inquiry, they had confirmed that Auntie Ye had Ye Qingzhi’s contact information and had actually gone to find Auntie Ye with two eggs.
“What’s wrong?” He Qiming asked, putting his things away. He came back and saw Ye Qingzhi’s brow furrowed. “Did something happen back home?”
Ye Qingzhi handed the letter to He Qiming. “My parents. We haven’t been in contact for several years. This time, they must have heard that I’ve married well, so they want to take advantage. It’s very likely for my older brother’s son.”
After reading the letter, He Qiming took Ye Qingzhi’s hand and led her into the room. He hugged her and gently patted her back. “What do you mean?”
Ye Qingzhi leaned against He Qiming’s chest. She knew he was heartbroken for her, and her lips couldn’t help but curve into a slight smile.
In fact, she was really fine. Because Ye Shuiping and Ding Aixian were not her real parents, she had no feelings for them and would naturally not be angry because of their actions.
Besides, Ye Qingzhi’s own parents loved her very much, and she also had a doting older brother.
“I’m fine,” Ye Qingzhi said, shifting her body to a more comfortable position. “My older brother’s son is already sixteen. They probably want you to help him get into the army.”
He Qiming nodded in understanding. “What do you think?”
Although the Ye family was not good to Ye Qingzhi, they were her biological parents after all. Maybe she wanted to help her parents’ family.
“Since we’ve already cut ties, why bother now?” The original host had been sold to the Wei family by them. The original host had already paid back what she owed.
“Alright, Qingzhi, don’t be sad. You have me and the children now. Come on, let’s go and see what Auntie Ye sent,” He Qiming comforted her gently.
Ye Qingzhi looked up at him, her gaze so gentle it could drip water. “I know. I’ve long been disappointed with my parents’ family. Now, they’re like strangers to me. What they do won’t affect me.”
He Qiming didn’t really believe this. He, a man, would occasionally be sad because of He Dali and the others’ actions.
“Alright, let’s go and open the package,” He Qiming said, holding Ye Qingzhi’s hand tightly.
Ye Qingzhi lowered her head, her lips couldn’t help but curve into a slight smile. It seemed he didn’t believe her.
It was understandable. A normal person would definitely be sad if they were treated like this by their parents. Unfortunately, the original host who would be sad for this pair of parents had already disappeared.
She opened the package. There were two half-catty packages of tea and two one-catty bottles of honey. This should have been picked by Lizi in the mountains. There were also various dried vegetables and sweet potato strips. Some were sent by Auntie Ye, and some were a return gift from the Brigade Leader.
“Do you want this tea now?” Ye Qingzhi asked, handing it to He Qiming.
“Give it to me,” He Qiming said, taking the tea and looking at the remaining things. “Pack some sweet potato strips for me.”
Last time, she had sent nougat to Auntie Ye and the Brigade Leader, hoping they would help watch Wei Youliang. But they had sent back so many things.
“What should we send back?” Ye Qingzhi hesitated for a moment and decided to send two bags of milk powder to Auntie Ye, and also a small bag of dried wolf meat to her and the Brigade Leader. As for the yarn she had mentioned, she would not send it this time.
He Qiming wrote on her behalf. Seeing that Ye Qingzhi said the yarn was hard to come by, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. In fact, besides red and pink, other colors were not hard to get.
“You can’t let people think it’s too easy. People’s hearts are hard to predict. If you satisfy them with half a catty of yarn this time, they’ll want a catty, two catties, three catties next time. There will always be a day when you can’t satisfy them. At that time, they might even hold a grudge. It’s better to be a villain first and a gentleman later. I don’t want to fall out with Auntie Ye because of this,” Ye Qingzhi said, seeing He Qiming pause for a moment, and explained softly.
He Qiming placed a hand on hers. “You’re right. But your parents’ family, are you really not sending anything?”
Ye Qingzhi shook her head. The Ye family had avoided the original host and her sons before, afraid that they would latch onto them. Then they shouldn’t get involved now either.
As for her reputation, she was a woman who had been married for many years, had lost her husband, and had remarried with a child. She and her child had to rely on others to support them. How could she have the ability to be filial to her parents?
Besides, who wasn’t talked about behind their back? Ye Qingzhi was sure that even if she were more filial, someone would still say she was not good. Besides, the original host had already cut ties herself. Why should she rush to be filial?
“I’m not sending anything. What about your parents? Are you sending anything this time?” Ye Qingzhi asked, turning to look at He Qiming.
“I’m not,” He Qiming said, pausing for a moment. Five yuan a month, he had already fulfilled his filial duty as a son.
This time, it was Ye Qingzhi’s turn to hug him. Like him, she gently patted his back. “Don’t be sad. You have me and the children.”
He Qiming chuckled lightly. That’s right. They just had to live their own lives well.
A week later, Auntie Ye received the letter and things sent by Ye Qingzhi. Thinking of Ye Qingshan, who had just come yesterday, she let out a long sigh.
“Qingzhi is a good child, but unfortunately, she has no fate with her parents. Her parents and father-in-law are not good, and her mother-in-law died early. It’s a good thing she met Regiment Commander He now. Otherwise, her life would be even harder.”
Juzi folded the letter and put it away. She glanced at Auntie Ye and felt that Ye Qingzhi’s life was indeed bitter, so they should help her if they could.
“Ma, you must not tell Uncle Youliang and her parents’ family Qingzhi’s address. Otherwise, they will definitely keep writing to bother Sister Qingzhi,” Juzi pouted, looking down on Wei Youliang and Ye Shuiping and the others with great contempt.
Auntie Ye shot her a look. “Do you need to tell me? Of course I won’t say. Your Sister Qingzhi said this is dried wolf meat. Tsk, tsk, this is my first time eating wolf meat. But that place of hers is too dangerous. There are even wolves.”
“What’s there to be afraid of in the military camp, Sister Qingzhi? Haven’t you seen that the wolves have all been turned into dried meat?” Juzi said with a grin.
As the mother and daughter were talking, they heard Ye Qingshan calling from outside.
Auntie Ye hurriedly and Juzi put the things away, complaining, “Why is he here again? Qingzhi was so difficult before, and they didn’t even show up at Jiancheng’s funeral.”
“Hmph, he just wants to take advantage of Sister Qingzhi. Ma, I’ll take care of this. You go and send him away,” Juzi said with a sarcastic look.
Auntie Ye poked Juzi’s forehead, straightened her clothes, and went out with a broad smile.
“Qingshan, what can I do for you?” Auntie Ye asked, inviting him in and pouring him a glass of boiled water. “You don’t have to work today?”
“It’s not busy these two days,” Ye Qingshan said, rubbing his hands. He really didn’t want to come, but thinking of his son at home, he could only ask with a thick face, “Aunt, I heard Qingzhi sent you a letter. What did she say? Did she agree to give us the address?”
Auntie Ye’s heart skipped a beat. She had just received the letter. How did Ye Qingshan know about it immediately?
No, there must be something fishy going on here. She had to find out.
“A letter? I did receive a letter today, but it wasn’t from Qingzhi. It was from my younger sister. You know, my younger sister is married in the next city. Qingshan, I really don’t know Qingzhi’s address. It’s really no use looking for me,” Auntie Ye said earnestly.
Ye Qingshan did not believe a word of what Auntie Ye said. And he was very clear that the one who had sent the letter to Auntie Ye today was Ye Qingzhi.
He had no impression of this younger sister. He only remembered that she was thin and small and always kept her head down and did not speak.
Who would have thought that a widow like her could marry a deputy regiment commander? By the time the family got the news, she had already joined the army with her children. Now they couldn’t even contact her. But to give up just like that, they were reluctant.
A deputy regiment commander! With just one word from him, his son could go and be a soldier and change his fate from then on.
“Qingshan, where did you hear that I received a letter? By the way, you came so early today. You didn’t go back last night?” Auntie Ye asked, looking at him suspiciously.
Ye Qingshan did not hide it. “I slept at my father-in-law’s house last night. It was also my father-in-law who told me about the letter.”
Auntie Ye was just asking tentatively. She had not expected Ye Qingshan to tell her directly.
“This father-in-law of mine is a bad person. No matter what, I also hope for the best for Qingzhi,” Ye Qingshan said and got up to leave. He was very clear that he would not be able to get anything out of her today.
Looking at Ye Qingshan’s back, Auntie Ye clicked her tongue. Retreating to advance, he was quite smart. Unfortunately, he was too late. Qingzhi did not want to bother with them now.
In the Northwest, Ye Qingzhi had long since forgotten about the Ye family. She was making dumplings with Yang Xiaorou and the others, hundreds at a time, preparing to eat them until after the New Year.
“Qingzhi, this pickled cabbage of yours is really good. It’s so golden. Can you teach me later?” Gu Yao asked, taking a piece to taste. The taste was also good.
“Qingzhi’s spicy cabbage is the real delicious one. It’s a pity it uses so many apples and pears,” Yang Xiaorou said, smacking her lips.
“No problem. You prepare the things, and I’ll help you pickle them later,” Ye Qingzhi said. She couldn’t roll the wrappers, but she could make dumplings, and she made them very beautifully.
Today, she was helping her. Tomorrow, she would make dumplings for Yang Xiaorou’s family. The day after, Li Jinfeng’s, and Gu Yao’s family was the last day. At that time, she would also help her pickle the vegetables.
“By the way, I saw Bai Xue walking with a very handsome man today. Xiaorou, do you know who it is?” Li Jinfeng asked, as if she had thought of something, her eyes full of curiosity.
Yang Xiaorou looked at Li Jinfeng in surprise. “You saw Bai Xu?”
From the name, you could tell that his relationship with Bai Xue was not ordinary. He should be her brother.
“Bai Xu is Bai Xue’s older brother, her biological brother. He should be here to pick Bai Xue up for the New Year,” Yang Xiaorou said, not saying too much.
Although Xu Kaisheng had submitted a divorce application, they had not yet gotten their divorce certificate. Yang Xiaorou could not say too much. What if the two of them got back together? At that time, she would be like Zhu Bajie looking in a mirror—neither inside nor out.
“Is Bai Xue going back to her parents’ home for the New Year?” Gu Yao asked, thinking of Bai Xue’s situation and sighing. “It’s good to go back to her parents’ home for the New Year and relax.”
Ye Qingzhi knew that Xu Kaisheng had filed for divorce, and with Bai Xue’s brother personally coming to pick her up, it seemed that this divorce was eighty percent certain. Then this time Bai Xue went back, it was very likely that she would not come back.
At this moment, at the main gate of the army, Bai Xue looked at the place she had stayed for several years with reluctance, a smile mixed with tears. “Brother, let’s go.”
“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to the people you know?” Bai Xu asked, standing next to Bai Xue.
Bai Xue shook her head. “No.”
Bai Xu nodded. “Then let’s go. Mom and Dad are waiting for you at home.”