Chapter 162
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t even think before shaking her head, “I’m worried about Yexun’s mother. His two brothers and their wives are all troublemakers. If we’re not here, who knows how they might bully Aunt Guo.”
As she spoke, she briefly explained the problem. In reality, the issue they were facing now was related to their background, which had been plaguing so many people in the country. It was an unsolvable, dead-end problem that everyone could only wait and hope for a return to normalcy.
“Don’t worry; it will get better. Everything will eventually get better,” Grandpa Zhang muttered solemnly, not sure if he was trying to comfort Su Xiaoxiao or himself.
While they were discussing this, Zhang Zhiyuan walked in. When his cold gaze fell on Su Xiaoxiao, it turned friendly.
“Fortunately, we rushed here in time,” Zhang Zhiyuan said, as he washed his hands in an enamel basin.
Peng Huijing quickly got up and placed a chair next to her. Zhang Zhiyuan frowned but, considering the legal aspect of the matter, he sat down.
“You’re leaving today. When do you plan to return?” he asked as he peeled a shrimp.
“At the earliest, it’ll be after next year’s autumn harvest. Getting leave as rural-educated youth is not easy. We initially came to visit my brother and hoped he could take leave to come back home and talk to our parents. But things took a turn, and now we’re stuck here, unable to go far,” Su Xiaoxiao said, and her beautiful face drooped.
Peng Huijing, who had been sitting silently, couldn’t hide the spite in her eyes when she mentioned Su Hongchen. This didn’t go unnoticed by Jiang Yexun, who saw it.
Jiang Yexun, however, didn’t react, maintaining his gentle gaze as he continued to place peeled shrimp into Su Xiaoxiao’s bowl.
Zhang Zhiyuan furrowed his brow and said, “Tomorrow, I have to visit retired cadres. I have two free days next week, which might be the right time to visit your brother.”
The attempted crime targeting at Su Hongchen was extremely severe, and news about it had already spread to several nearby military units. People were worried, not just the families, but also the soldiers themselves.
As a result, Zhang Zhiyuan had to go there in person to get more information.
Su Xiaoxiao, however, had a mischievous look when she heard him say this and couldn’t resist making a playful comment, “I don’t think you can go, Uncle Zhang.”
Both Grandpa Zhang and Zhang Zhiyuan were startled by this and looked at Peng Huijing.
Peng Huijing, who had been frightened and was about to apologize, heard Zhang Zhiyuan’s next words, “No, if she causes any more trouble this time, she won’t have a place in the Zhang family.”
“Zhiyuan, I’ve told you I really didn’t mean to…” Peng Huijing tried to explain her actions.
But then Grandpa Zhang added, “This time, both Hanyu and Xiyue should also avoid causing any trouble. Otherwise, you two will leave the Zhang family with your mom.”
Zhang Hanyu and Zhang Xiyue both raised their heads in shock.
Why?! They hadn’t even done anything yet, and they were already being threatened!
Zhang Hanyu was infuriated and about to argue, but Zhang Xiyue pinched his thigh under the table, and the intense pain made him instantly calm down. He quickly swallowed his words.
Seeing them, Zhang Xiyue tried to mimic Su Xiaoxiao’s previous innocent and cute demeanor, “Grandfather, we know how important dad’s work is, and we won’t cause any trouble.”
The expressions around the table suddenly became a bit strange.
“You should talk how you normally talk,” Grandpa Zhang grumbled, exasperated.
Su Xiaoxiao was initially trying not to laugh, but when she heard Grandpa Zhang’s comment, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Zhang Xiyue and Peng Huijing both glared at her, and Su Xiaoxiao quickly closed her mouth. However, beneath the table, she pinched her own thigh to keep from laughing again.
Suddenly, a warm and slightly rough palm gently covered her hand, which was still clutching her thigh. Unintentionally, her body shivered at the contact, and the warmth spread through her. Even her face and ears on that side turned hot.
Thankfully, at that moment, everyone’s attention was on Zhang Xiyue, and no one noticed her unusual reaction. Su Xiaoxiao subtly shook their intertwined hands and pulled her hand back. Jiang Yexun also let go.
She immediately pulled her hand back and looked at Zhang Xiyue. The girl’s face was flushed, but it was due to anger and embarrassment.
“Grandfather, how am I not talking normally?” Zhang Xiyue said, feigning a helpless and pitiful expression.
Grandpa Zhang, who was very unimpressed, made a disgruntled sound, then directed a stern look at her. “Just talk normally. Don’t strain your voice like that.”
Su Xiaoxiao had a naturally sweet and soft voice, so her imitation didn’t sound out of place. However, Zhang Xiyue had always been arrogant, and her way of speaking was equally haughty. Her attempt to mimic Su Xiaoxiao only made her sound comical.
This embarrassed Zhang Xiyue to the point of tears, but she didn’t dare say anything more for fear that her grandfather would say something even more hurtful.
As she retracted her gaze, Zhang Xiyue glanced at Su Xiaoxiao again, only to find that she still had an innocent look on her face. This fueled Zhang Xiyue’s anger even more. This person dared to come to their Zhang family and vie for her grandfather and grandmother’s love.
From childhood to adulthood, her grandfather, her grandmother, and even her father had never treated Zhang Xiyue and her brother with even a fraction of the kindness they had shown to this wretch . Why should this person be any different?