Chapter 63

Su Qingyue had previously noticed that Pei Huaiye was quite thoughtful, but this time, traveling by train with him to a distant place, she realized he was meticulous to the point of being obsessive!

With just a glance or a gesture from her, he knew exactly what she was thinking and what she wanted.

Not long after boarding the train, Su Qingyue squinted her eyes and yawned; Pei Huaiye let her lie down on the berth, while he sat beside the bed watching her.

Su Qingyue slept with her cheeks flushed rosy, her long eyelashes like two small fans; watching her peaceful, obedient sleeping face, Pei Huaiye felt his heart soften beyond measure.

When she woke up, he brought the water bottle to her lips and said softly, "The temperature is just right—I tested it myself."

Su Qingyue half-closed her eyes and drank the warm water from his hand to soothe her throat; she rubbed her dazed, heavy-lidded eyes and then touched her stomach with her small hand.

Pei Huaiye let her lean against his shoulder, quickly taking out the canned food and snacks, saying, "Hungry? Eat a little first—later the train attendant will come and buy you a meal." He then pulled out a lunchbox from his bag, scooping orange canned fruit with a spoon and feeding Su Qingyue bite by bite.

No one sat opposite them; Su Qingyue had initially sat upright, but now, just waking up, she only wanted to cling to Pei Huaiye's embrace, boneless as she was, merely opening her small mouth to accept the feeding.

Su Qingyue felt utterly sweet, pampered and content; if not on the train, she would have wanted to sit on Pei Huaiye's lap, clinging to his neck and cooing like a spoiled child.

She felt that when alone with Pei Huaiye, she was like an immature child, unable to restrain herself from releasing a side of herself she hadn't even realized existed.

But she loved this feeling—loved being cared for by Pei Huaiye, loved relying on him, loved acting spoiled with him, loved being close to him......

Su Qingyue's heart felt honey-sweet; gazing at Pei Huaiye with eyes both pure and alluring, seeing no one around, she quickly scooped a spoonful of canned fruit and fed it to him, then lightly kissed his cheek.

Then she laughed, pure yet mischievous: "Go ahead and eat—no one's watching, hehe."

Pei Huaiye's eyes darkened; he leaned toward her flushed ear and threatened fiercely, "You've grown bold? Wait till we get back—I'll deal with you!"

Su Qingyue raised her eyebrows, her peach-blossom eyes both alluring and innocent, yet holding a hidden anticipation.

Pei Huaiye's black eyes grew deeper and deeper; he had originally thought that setting the wedding with Team Leader Xiang for the sixth of next month was a bit rushed, given only one week remained. Now he wished they could marry immediately, right there and then.

Their eyes still locked, a couple approached from the opposite seat.

Su Qingyue and Pei Huaiye shared the snacks and canned fruit, yet felt not the slightest bit hungry.

Su Qingyue nudged Pei Huaiye toward the upper berth: "I'll read for a while—you go get some sleep."

Pei Huaiye stood up, instantly blocking the line of sight of the man opposite the lower berth who had been peeking at Su Qingyue. He spoke gently to Su Qingyue: "Read for a while, then sleep—don't strain your eyes. I'm right below; don't be afraid."

Su Qingyue gave him a reassuring smile.

With him there, what could she possibly fear?

Su Qianqian went to the post office several times to confirm, found no letter for herself, and returned with a face full of disappointment and despair.

Calculating the time, a reply should have arrived by now—could it be that her father discovered Song Qingyan had sent her money?

Has everyone in the family stopped caring whether she lives or dies?

She and Shen Xunbao married and built a house; now the two of them have only eighty yuan left between them.

She is still pregnant, needing tonics and hired help.

Thinking of how every aspect of life requires money, Su Qianqian's body swayed a few times, her lips and complexion draining of color.

Qiu Lu bought the goods, handed Su Qianqian a letter and a package: "This whistleblower letter and package must be delivered to the Mechanical Factory Security Section. As for the malted milk and cigarettes—you figure out how to get someone to slip them to Pei Huaiye's superior. I don't believe he can keep his job!"

Su Qianqian looked at the malted milk and cigarettes, her expression tightening. She smiled at Qiu Lu: "If this can't be settled in a day or two, we'll need an intermediary—otherwise, tracing it back to us won't be worth it."

"What good ideas do you have?"

Su Qianqian said Pei Huaiye had once, to save Su Qingyue, gotten Zhang Jun detained for a month.

Qiu Lu's thoughts shifted: "Where do Zhang Jun's parents live? Let's go pay them a visit!"

The two then took a vehicle from the county back to the village.

But they discovered Pei Huaiye and Su Qingyue were nowhere in the village; they couldn't extract any information from the Su family, so they had to leave awkwardly.

Qiu Lu instantly lost her spirit; she planned to use drugs to let herself and Pei Huaiye "turn raw rice into cooked rice," getting Su Qianqian to help, forcing Pei Huaiye to marry her.

She even dragged her along to buy sow mating drugs—even if it failed, she could dip a handkerchief in pig blood and smear it on Pei Huaiye to accuse him of raping her.

Anyway, she would ruin Pei Huaiye's reputation, cost him his job, and leave him no choice but to obediently marry her!

Unexpectedly, Pei Huaiye wasn't in the village.

She turned her mind again and, with Su Qianqian, revised the whistleblower letter.

That evening, Zhang Jun's father, Zhang Guoqiang, caught Su Zhuangzhuang playing with children and asked: "Does your family have a sewing machine?"

Su Zhuangzhuang struggled free from his grip: "Yes, Auntie has a sewing machine—it's part of her wedding dowry." He said this, then hopped and skipped away.

Zhang Guoqiang narrowed his eyes, glaring hatefully at the Su Family Courtyard; he and Li Dongmei exchanged a glance, clutching the anonymous whistleblower letter, and walked all night to the County Mechanical Factory.

At dawn, the two arrived at the Security Section and reported Pei Huaiye for profiteering.

Old Zhao of the Security Section listened, filled with righteous indignation: "Such things still exist? We'll investigate to the end! Leave your names and addresses—if the report succeeds, we'll come thank you in person!"

Zhang Guoqiang eagerly left his information, and he and Li Dongmei returned to the village beaming, planning to tell their son: "Half of your revenge is done!"

Xichuan Criminal Investigation Base, midnight—received an urgent telegram.

Yuan Guang read it, his face solemn; fortunately, he had already greeted the Mechanical Factory side.

The next morning, Qiu Lu pushed her bicycle, crying as she left Shuangshui Brigade, seen by many.

Within an hour, villagers were spreading the word: Pei Huaiye is a cold-hearted, ungrateful white-eyed wolf.

"His master paid for his education and military service—yet when his master fell seriously ill, he didn't even go back to see him! He's truly no good!"

"So heartless! Just like his father! A crooked beam makes a crooked roof—none of them are decent people!"

"Poor Su Qingyue—just engaged to Pei Huaiye, and she doesn't even know she's met someone wicked!"

"As Qiu Lu said, the money for Pei Huaiye's house and dowry all came from his master!"

"I've been saying it—a second-level fitter earns less than thirty yuan a month, yet his dowry to the Su family is over a thousand!"

They chatted and laughed on the train, and ten-odd hours passed in no time.

Beijing Station arrived soon; Pei Huaiye put on his coat, suddenly sneezed, frowned, and firmly shielded Su Qingyue as he followed the crowd toward the exit.

Not far from the station, a round-faced young soldier saw Pei Huaiye and kept waving, even saluting.

Pei Huaiye nodded slightly, opened the car door, shielded Su Qingyue as she climbed in first, gave an address, and the jeep roared off.

They arrived at a place that looked quite upscale—a family compound, just like his foster father's, with rows of small apartment buildings.

Su Qingyue laughed and said, "We don't live in a guesthouse, do we? Where is this? Are you going to sell me?"

The family compound is very quiet, the houses are spaced far apart, and many tall plane trees have been planted.

Pei Huaiye rubbed her fluffy head, "How could I bear to sell you? I will only..."