Chapter 47

Xiang Jianming pushed through the crowd and inspected the vegetables, confirming they were indeed not picked today. He then asked very suspiciously, "I remember your family didn't have many vegetables in your plot; you already finished sending them. The new crop hasn't grown yet. Where did these vegetables come from?"

Chen Lianzhen was stunned and forgot to answer. Zhang Dongmei smiled with a submissive look, "Captain, they are just from the fields. There was still a little bit we couldn't bear to pick. Maybe we were in a rush this morning and grabbed the wrong basket, bringing yesterday's vegetables. Please give us one more chance; we guarantee we won't do it again!"

"Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. Once a rule is set, it must be enforced. We cannot change things back and forth just because of your family. From now on, the brigade will not accept your vegetables!" Xiang Jianming delivered the final verdict!

The crowd clapped and cheered. Chen Lianzhen began to wail and curse again, but was pulled aside by Zhang Dongmei, who whispered a few words to her.

After the crowd dispersed, Chen Lianzhen found Su Qingyue to plead for mercy, "Su Qingyue, you have a good relationship with Captain Xiang. Why don't you help us put in a good word? We guarantee we'll hand in fresh vegetables starting tomorrow. Auntie is old, and our family doesn't have much income; we rely on these vegetables to earn some money."

Su Qingyue politely declined, "Auntie, I can't make the call on this. Since Captain Xiang has spoken, it must be done according to what he said."

Chen Lianzhen's face turned livid, "Why are you so cruel? Why can't you just help us?"

Su Qingyue took a deep breath. If it weren't for the fact that she was Pei Huaiye's mother, she would have rolled her eyes long ago.

"Auntie, since you want to earn money, why do you keep mixing water and dirt into the vegetables time and time again? Some people didn't have vegetables either, but they started planting as soon as the brigade began collecting. Summer vegetables grow fast; if you manage them well, they'll grow in ten days or half a month."

Zhang Dongmei pulled Chen Lianzhen, "Mother, forget it. Our family isn't short of this little bit of money anyway. Pei Huaiye will get his salary when he returns from his business trip, and he'll give you a large sum of money to show his filial piety. We don't care about handing in these vegetables. Let's go!"

Chen Lianzhen snorted coldly and said viciously, "You're right. Also, Su Qingyue, you vixen, stop seducing my son Pei Huaiye. Don't you even think about entering the door of my Pei family!"

Su Qingyue watched the two of them leave in an arrogant and domineering manner and was so angry she laughed. Pei Huaiye was too miserable to have grown up in such a family.

After Su Qingyue finished her work, she walked to Pei Huaiye's thatched cottage without realizing it.

She muttered in her heart, your mother and sister-in-law are bullying me, why don't you hurry back?

It had already been three days since they last met; she wondered if he was missing her just as she was missing him.

Su Qingyue had a beautiful smile, and at the thought of something, her cheeks flushed red. As she turned to walk home, she met Su Qianqian coming toward her.

"Su Qingyue, are you here to look for Pei Huaiye?"

Su Qingyue glanced at Su Qianqian, "I don't need to tell you what I'm doing."

Su Qianqian said with ill intent, "You can't hide it from me. I know you like Pei Huaiye, but it's a pity that Li Cuiyan will soon be Pei Huaiye's wife. Since we are sisters, don't blame me for not warning you; interfering in other people's relationships is not a glorious thing!"

Su Qingyue curled her lips into a smile; she wouldn't believe a single word that came out of Su Qianqian's mouth!

Her pair of peach-blossom eyes flashed with a sharp light, "Why are you talking about yourself like that? However, there is indeed no one in this Shuangshui Village who can be more 'glorious' than you. Being caught in adultery in public and still acting like nothing happened—I even admire your thick skin!"

Su Qianqian replied haughtily, "Su Qingyue, Brother Shen said in public that I am his fiancée, so we have nothing to be ashamed of!"

Su Qingyue sneered, "Hmm, being intimate in public with your clothes in disarray, and even after your adoptive family in the Capital found out, you still don't know how to restrain yourself. And here you are trying to compete with me; it seems you haven't repented at all."

Su Qianqian suddenly bristled and wanted to pounce on Su Qingyue regardless of anything else. What she hated most was that her parents had listened to Su Qingyue's words and wronged her, causing Su Weixin to forbid her from returning to the city!

Before her hand could even reach out, she was stopped by two men at the same time.

Yuan Guang had just finished his tasks after providing free medical consultations in a neighboring village and had rushed to Shuangshui Village to see Su Qingyue. On the way, he met Shen Xunbao, and since both of them knew Pei Huaiye, they chatted for a bit.

Unexpectedly, they witnessed Su Qianqian trying to hurt someone. Yuan Guang blocked Su Qianqian's hand, "Su Qianqian, why do you always bully people?"

Shen Xunbao also pulled Su Qianqian back and scolded, "What are you doing?"

Su Qianqian was about to open her mouth to curse when Shen Xunbao covered her mouth with his hand, "Qingyue, I apologize to you on behalf of Qianqian. Her emotions haven't been very stable lately. Dr. Yuan, sorry for the disturbance."

Then he dragged Su Qianqian away. When they reached a corner, Su Qianqian bit Shen Xunbao and tried to run off.

Shen Xunbao had no choice but to wrap his arms around her waist and plead, "Behave, stop making a scene." This one sentence, which could still be called gentle, immediately extinguished Su Qianqian's fire, and she buried herself in Shen Xunbao's arms and sobbed.

Su Qingyue was still talking with Yuan Guang. Although she didn't believe what Su Qianqian said, she couldn't help but ask, "Do you know what kind of relationship Pei Huaiye and Li Cuiyan have?"

Yuan Guang said blankly, "They don't have any relationship at all. Why are you asking like that?"

Su Qingyue repeated Su Qianqian's original words, and Yuan Guang said with a look of indignation, "Nonsense! Brother Pei doesn't even know any Cuiyan or Cuihua!"

He patted his chest loudly, "I can guarantee that in Brother Pei's heart and eyes, there is only you, Sister-in-law!"

Su Qingyue's face grew hot, "Stop teasing me. Thank you, Itinerant Physician Yuan. Are you really providing free medical consultations in the village tomorrow? Then I'll bring my father to have his back injury checked."

Yuan Guang looked proud, "I can still treat headaches, fevers, and backaches. By the way, after your free consultation tomorrow, please pass this can of fruit to Dai Xiaohong for me and say it's from me."

Su Qingyue smiled and nodded, "Alright, leave it to me. Then I'll be going now."

"Brother Shen, you heard it, Su Qingyue really likes Pei Huaiye! How shameless!" Su Qianqian was filled with righteous indignation, "She doesn't even like you, so why did you protect Su Qingyue just now? Have you also been bewitched by her vixen-like ways?"

Shen Xunbao let go of her hand, "Enough! I don't like her! Stop talking!"

He said very powerlessly, "Su Qianqian, look at what you've become. You used to be so gentle, generous, and understanding. Why do you have to be at odds with Su Qingyue everywhere now? Can't we just live our own lives well?"

Shen Xunbao just wanted to stay in the countryside quietly for two years and then return to the Capital smoothly; he didn't want to have too many conflicts or contradictions with anyone, including Su Qingyue.

Su Qianqian didn't think so. All the tragedies in her life were caused by Su Qingyue, and she must make her pay the price!

Seeing that Brother Shen didn't like her like this, Su Qianqian cried like rain, "Brother Shen, I'm just very sad. Don't leave me, don't be angry and ignore me..."

Shen Xunbao took off his glasses and rubbed his temples. He coaxed her for a long time before she stopped making a scene. She leaned weakly into Shen Xunbao's arms, but was pushed away ruthlessly by him, "Don't be like this. You should go back; we aren't married yet."

Su Qianqian ran back to the Educated Youth Courtyard crying.

The next day at noon, after finishing work, the villagers all went to the threshing floor to line up for the free medical consultations. Yuan Guang wore a white coat and carried a medicine box, sitting at a table with two other doctors; it really looked the part.

The free consultations didn't cost money; the doctors would prescribe medicine, and the villagers would go to the Health Center to buy it themselves.

Su Qianqian had cried all night, and when she woke up in the morning, her gums were swollen. It hurt so much she couldn't eat, so she also lined up to get it checked.

A doctor has a kind heart. Yuan Guang glanced at her indifferently and still took her pulse for a diagnosis, "How has your appetite been lately?"

Su Qianqian didn't think much, "I'm inflamed, I can't eat, and sometimes I feel like vomiting."

Yuan Guang frowned and said, "Su Qianqian, you are pregnant."