Feng Xue was urged by Cai Xiaoyu to go to the countryside. Since she wanted to visit the medicinal garden anyway and had nothing else to do, she chose a day to head down.
Before leaving, she was stopped by the caregiver at home.
"Feng Xue, you haven't given me this month's food expenses. Your father's condition requires nutritious food."
Feng Yaojun had woken up, but he couldn't move his limbs or speak. He needed someone to attend to his every need, from eating and drinking to personal hygiene. If the salary wasn't so high, it was unlikely anyone would be willing to take the job.
"How was it used up so quickly? Didn't I just give you money?"
The caregiver looked at her displeased. "It's been a month."
Feng Xue had just bought some things and really didn't have money for her.
"I'll give it to you after I get money from Grandma. Be thrifty. What's the point of him eating so well when he does nothing?"
Feng Yaojun, who was inside the room, clearly heard her words and let out an "Ah, ah, ah." But he couldn't say anything, only drooling.
Feng Xue glanced at him with disgust. "You figure it out. Just don't let him starve."
The caregiver didn't say anything more. She was just doing her job for money. The old lady had previously paid her a higher salary, but Feng Xue deducted money every month, leaving her with about two-thirds of the amount. She had been unhappy about it for a while. Since the family didn't care, why should she, as a caregiver, be so responsible?
Meanwhile, Feng Xue headed to the countryside with her belongings. Qiu Tingting was in the cultural troupe, and they had a performance to entertain troops that day. Feng Xianxu wouldn't come to the countryside for no reason, so she wasn't afraid of being seen.
She skillfully arrived at the Qiu family's house and saw Qiu's mother sewing shoe soles by the door. She knocked on the door.
"Auntie, you still remember me, right?"
Qiu's mother's face darkened. Of course, she remembered. Old Zhang's wife had told her that this was the daughter who had told her about the Feng family's affairs. Later, Qiu Tingting had told her a lot about Feng Xue, knowing that this girl had a black heart.
"What are you doing here?"
Feng Xue smiled and put down her things. "This is a small gift prepared by my grandfather. He said that your Qiu Tingting is not good enough for my brother, and the engagement is hereby canceled. But this cancellation is not because of our Feng family, but because you country folk are not worthy of my brother. Furthermore, Qiu Tingting being in the cultural troupe, if you put it nicely, she's a dancer, but to put it crudely, she's a seductive actress, and indeed not a match for my Feng family."
Her expression was arrogant, as if she were looking down on everyone. After saying these words, she felt refreshed. Qiu's mother trembled with anger. Her daughter was a well-known good girl in the village, beautiful and had joined the cultural troupe. People would praise her endlessly; no one had ever spoken to her like this.
But before she could unleash her torrent of curses, she saw a hand reach out from behind Feng Xue and slap her head, knocking it askew. Feng Xue turned around, and another slap followed, and then another, without stopping. This beating even stunned Qiu's mother.
"Did Grandpa ask you to come? When did he ask you to come, and who told you these things?" After venting her anger, Cheng You rubbed her numb palms and stared coldly at Feng Xue, wishing she could pierce through Feng Xue's skin. "To ensure Brother Xu could get married smoothly, Grandma was so worried at home that she couldn't eat. And you, you're directly pushing away Brother Xu's wife. Feng Xue, do you really think I don't know your intentions!"
Cheng You was furious. If she hadn't happened to be here today, this marriage might have been irrecoverable. Feng Xue, though panicked, felt more pain. Cheng You's strength was considerable, and her blows had swollen her face.
"What intentions do I have? I just simply think Qiu Tingting is not good enough for Brother Xu, she's unworthy!"
"She's unworthy, are you worthy?" Cheng You sneered. She scrutinized Feng Xue with a discerning gaze. "The Feng family has enough scandals; adding one more won't matter. You like Brother Xu, this is no secret!"
Old Zhang's wife happened to arrive and, upon hearing Cheng You's words, exclaimed, "This is incest!"
Feng Xue gritted her teeth. "Brother Xu and I are not blood-related!"
"Not blood-related, but on the same household registration! Feng Xue, blood relations are indeed not the most critical point; your despicable character is the biggest problem!"
Feng Xue lowered her head under the gaze of the villagers. She had calculated that Qiu Tingting and Feng Xianxu wouldn't be there, but she never expected Cheng You to show up. Cheng You wouldn't spare her.
"Get lost. Are you waiting for me to chase you away with a broom? You'd better think of a good excuse for Grandpa and Grandma, or I guarantee I'll report you when I get back," Cheng You chided.
Feng Xue tasted the blood in her mouth, her lowered eyelids hiding the darkness in her eyes. As she turned to leave, she saw Cheng You throw the things on the ground back at her.
"If you dare to come to the Qiu family again, I'll make you taste what it's like to be homeless."
Qiu's mother was stunned. Cheng You and Feng Xue didn't look like affectionate cousins at all.
"Auntie, I'm really sorry. I didn't know she would come and disturb you."
Qiu's mother waved her hand. "It's okay. You hitting her is also helping me vent my anger." She was not petty and wouldn't blame Cheng You because of this.
"Girl, is there anything you wanted to talk about today?"
Cheng You patted her bag, which was bulging and looked heavy. "I want to show you some things. I mentioned last time that I wanted you to give Brother Xu a chance, to get to know him."
Qiu's mother didn't know what she wanted to do, so she just invited her in to talk. The neighbors also wanted to come in and listen, and Qiu's mother didn't stop them. This way, if Qiu Tingting and Feng Xianxu eventually got married, these people wouldn't gossip behind their backs.
Cheng You first took out a photo album, mostly pictures of Feng Xianxu, with only a few joint photos of him and the Feng family elders. There were virtually no photos that made him look like he belonged to a family with his parents.
"As I told you last time, Brother Xu grew up with my maternal grandparents. My maternal grandfather was a soldier when he was young and traveled everywhere, so he couldn't take care of the two children. Thus, the way my two uncles turned out is inseparable from the neglect of their parents."
Old Zhang's wife watched as she took out a box containing Feng老爷子's medals of honor. Many people present were not young, and war was not unfamiliar to them. If there was anyone they most admired, it was naturally soldiers who defended their country. Especially soldiers who participated in the War of Resistance.
Upon hearing Cheng You's words, Old Zhang's wife instinctively defended, "You can't say that. Your maternal grandfather was their best role model. If they still turned out bad, it must be their own fault!"
Cheng You didn't explain this to her and took out another stack of documents. "Brother Xu attended military school and works in scientific research. I can't reveal much more, as his profession involves many secrets. In short, it's related to our country's weaponry. These are all honor certificates he received from military school to when he started working. We can lie, but these certificates stamped by the state will not lie."