It was laughable that Feng Yaojie hid like a turtle, yet expected Zheng Lei to resolve the issue.
"You're not divorcing him now, are you going to keep this kind of man for the New Year? Do you want your child to have a father like this, leaving a lifelong stain!"
Zheng Lei screamed in despair, "But he's your uncle! As long as the old man intervenes to protect him, my child won't lose their father!"
She didn't believe the old lady's claims that the Feng family would still support her and the child if she divorced.
If she truly divorced, she would no longer be the Feng family's daughter-in-law, so why would the old lady support her!
She would eventually be sold off by her bloodsucking parents to someone else.
Cheng You scoffed, her eyes full of mockery.
"Even if Grandpa intervenes, he can't protect him. Even if he could, it would only protect his official position. Can it cover up the ugly things he's done?"
Zheng Lei's lips moved, but she couldn't refute.
The people in the compound looked at her with a hint of sympathy in their eyes.
But she didn't want this sympathy at all.
"But as long as... as long as we transfer to another place, no one will know these things, and we can still live a good life."
As long as it wasn't too remote a place, she could accept it.
Anything was better than divorce.
Cheng You knew she couldn't convince her and had given up.
Zheng Lei had walked into a dead end. She had decided divorce wouldn't be better without even trying.
"If you want to continue living with him, then do so. No one will force you to divorce. But why should you expect Grandpa and Grandma to foot the bill for you?"
Zheng Lei's eyes were vacant, "To put it bluntly, you just don't want to help me."
"We indeed don't want to, because you're not worth it," Cheng You shrugged.
Since Cheng You had said those words, Zheng Lei no longer brought her child over.
The disciplinary action hadn't been decided yet, but Feng Yaojie knew this was the calm before the storm.
He didn't dare to go out every day, afraid to face the mockery.
When he learned that Feng Xue had lost her child, he felt sadness, but also relief.
He had considered ending that relationship and living a good life with Zheng Lei afterward.
He had never imagined that before this matter was over, it would become the biggest obstacle in his military career.
Zheng Lei had calmed down. She didn't scold him or hit him, but she also didn't speak to him.
The couple was like strangers living under the same roof.
"Zheng Lei," he called out to his wife, who was about to leave.
Zheng Lei paused and turned to look at him, "What is it?"
Feng Yaojie wiped his face, breathing heavily.
"Go and beg Cheng You again. Only she can help me. As long as Commander Qi speaks up, my position will definitely be saved!"
Zheng Lei gave a bitter smile, "I've begged everyone I could. Cheng You won't help you."
Feng Yaojie looked at the overcast sky, mirroring the gloom in his eyes. It was about to rain heavily.
"If you beg like that, of course she won't agree. You have to offer something in exchange."
Zheng Lei murmured, "If your parents spoke up, Cheng You would definitely listen."
Especially since the old lady's health was poor. If her mental anguish wasn't resolved, she probably wouldn't live much longer.
Cheng You was filial, that was beyond doubt.
After the old lady fell ill, her two sons didn't even look at her; it was all Cheng You who stayed by her side.
The problem was that the old lady was disappointed in her two sons and wouldn't speak up for them.
Feng Yaojie lowered his gaze, hiding the emotions in his eyes.
"I'll go see my mother."
This was the first time in a while that he decided to go out, even though he still felt the stares of outsiders piercing his skin like needles.
The nanny saw him and dared not let him in.
"Please wait a moment, I'll ask the old man."
Feng Yaojie wiped his face and said, "Tell the old man I'm here to see my mother, not to ask him for help. I just want to see my mother."
With that, the old man indeed let him in.
He walked into the living room. No one was there.
"The old lady is resting upstairs. You can go straight up."
Feng Yaojie said, "I won't disturb my mother. I'll wait downstairs. Call me when my mother wakes up."
The nanny didn't say anything and let him have his way.
It wasn't until two in the afternoon that Cheng You arrived.
Seeing him waiting in the living room, she looked slightly surprised.
Feng Yaojie's expression was as usual, and he greeted her with a smile, "Cheng You, you're here. Thank you for your hard work these past couple of days."
Cheng You nodded, "It's my duty to take care of Grandma."
She went upstairs and saw that the old lady was awake. She helped her up to drink some water.
"Second Uncle is here."
The old lady froze, saying nothing.
Her wistful expression had already said it all.
"I asked your Grandpa to inquire. He's been demoted and transferred to a remote mountainous area to guard. The conditions there are harsh and can't compare to Yan City."
Before, Feng Yaojie wasn't in Yan City either. The place he was stationed wasn't prosperous, but it wasn't remote either.
This time, he was being transferred with a demotion, and it was possible he would never have a chance to return.
Cheng You offered no comment, "He's still downstairs. Do you want to see him?"
The old lady waved her hand, "I don't want to see him. I'm afraid I'll soften my heart if I do. But you can tell him that if Zheng Lei and the child don't want to go, they can still live here. Your Grandpa and I will look after them."
But if Zheng Lei still couldn't come to her senses and insisted on following her husband, she couldn't do anything.
Cheng You acknowledged and went downstairs to deliver the message.
Feng Yaojie felt quite satisfied with this outcome.
At least he wasn't expelled from the army; he still had a chance to turn things around.
As for what he had said to Zheng Lei, he considered it completely unnecessary.
He knew Zheng Lei too well. Even after everything that had happened, she hadn't suggested divorce.
Now that she knew he was being transferred to the mountains, she would undoubtedly follow him willingly.
"I understand. Since the old lady doesn't want to see me, so be it. Please tell her to take good care of herself. Also, tell her that Zheng Lei and the child will go to the mountains with me, so they don't need to worry."
Cheng You watched his departing back with a cold gaze.
She thought Zheng Lei was truly devoted, willing to follow him even to such a remote place.
But this devotion sounded somewhat ironic.
From the moment Feng Yaojie arrived until now, the only thing he wanted to know was the military's disciplinary action against him.
He hadn't inquired about the old lady's health at all.
Cheng You sighed. Anyone would feel disheartened.
The nanny beside her mumbled, "So, children need to be raised with care. The old man was busy with the war back then, and the family was displaced. The two children basically weren't raised by their sides."
They provided good material conditions for their children, but they forgot that children aren't born understanding.
The Feng parents bore unavoidable responsibility for Feng Yaojun and his brother's current situation.
Cheng You offered no comment and heard the rain begin to patter outside.
"It's raining."
"Hey, I have clothes drying outside."
Cheng You leaned against the door, watching the nanny bring the clothes in.
The rain outside gradually intensified.
"Cheng You, come inside quickly. It's cold outside."
The plants in the yard drooped under the large raindrops, splashing the smell of mud.
Cheng You stared, thinking she might have to wait for the rain to stop before going home.
After a while, a figure appeared at the entrance, approaching her.
Her gaze focused, and seeing the face under the black umbrella, she smiled.
"Going home?" Qi Chengyan reached out to her.
Cheng You took his hand and hopped over.
Her small body was shielded by him, not a single drop of rain touching her.
"I was wondering how I was going to get back, and then you arrived."
Qi Chengyan stroked her small face and held her even tighter.