Chapter 571
By the time Jiang Yexun returned from a cold water bath in the freezing weather, the little girl who had been teasing him but not fully quenching his fire was already curled up in the blanket, sound asleep.
Jiang Yexun stood by the bed, rubbing his icy body to warm up before carefully lifting the blanket and crawling in. He was careful not to wake his little wife.
But as soon as he lay down, before he could even reach out, Xiaoxiao, who had already grown used to his embrace, turned over and snuggled into his arms.
Jiang Yexun’s tail almost wagged to the sky, and he quickly held her tightly.
The next morning, when Su Xiaoxiao woke up, not only had her brother left, but Jiang Yexun had also gone with her mother-in-law to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy groceries.
The breakfast was already kept warm on the stove, meat buns bought early in the morning by Su Hongchen from the canteen, along with a cup of milk.
After finishing her breakfast, Su Xiaoxiao went outside to stretch her muscles and bones.
However, before she could even do a couple of stretches, two women in military uniforms, particularly fair-skinned and beautiful, walked up.
Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but take another look at them, thinking they must be from the Art Troupe because of their beauty.
Then she saw the two women stop outside her yard, their gazes filled with resentment.
“Are you Officer Su’s sister?” One of the women asked arrogantly.
Although she didn’t like their attitude, Su Xiaoxiao felt she had just arrived at the army base, so it was unlikely that she had offended anyone.
These two women seemed to have some connection to her brother. To avoid causing trouble for him, Su Xiaoxiao suppressed her discontent and nodded.
But the next second, the expressions of the two women grew even more unpleasant, their eyes scanning her up and down, full of criticism.
“You’re already so grown-up and married, yet you still shamelessly cling to Officer Su every day? And it’s not just you, but you drag your mother-in-law and husband along, trying to leech off your brother’s resources? How shameless can you be?” The woman who had asked earlier began, her words growing more and more hurtful.
Su Xiaoxiao’s previously calm expression instantly darkened.
She had tried to endure, hoping for peace, but instead, it seemed they were taking advantage of her patience.
If she didn’t lash out now, she might develop breast hyperplasia from holding it in.
“Who are you two to criticize my family?” Su Xiaoxiao glared with her round almond eyes, angrily retorting.
“Yulan is your future sister-in-law. How dare you talk to your sister-in-law like that?” Chu Xiangru raised her chin, speaking from a high position.
The woman referred to as Qiu Yulan didn’t speak but stiffened her back, obviously agreeing with Chu Xiangru.
“Sister-in-law? My brother is dating her?” Su Xiaoxiao seemed to hear the greatest joke.
If it weren’t for having talked to her brother about marriage just yesterday, she might have actually been fooled by these two women.
Sure enough, after Su Xiaoxiao asked this question, the two women’s faces became even uglier.
But the next second, Qiu Yulan softly spoke up, “My father is your brother’s superior. He said that after your brother finishes his current task, he will arrange for us to meet for an arranged marriage.”
“Just an arranged marriage. Whether my brother goes or not is another question. And even if he’s forced by your father and goes, my brother won’t consider dating people like you who use power to force things. Moreover, I’ve been raised by my brother since childhood. All the money he earned during his years in the army was given to me. If you’re so rude to me, as long as I tell him the truth, you and my brother will never have a chance.” Su Xiaoxiao proudly showed off.
Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru’s expressions instantly became even worse.
They looked like they were about to leap forward and tear her face off.
“Young lady, you’re already grown up, how can you say such things? Moreover, your brother gets so much money every month, and you still dare to take it? Don’t you have any shame?” Chu Xiangru gritted her teeth, her gaze vicious and full of jealousy as she glared at Su Xiaoxiao.
Why was it that, as a girl, this woman could enjoy her family’s favor while her brother worked hard outside, earning everything and giving it to her?
But Chu Xiangru herself was about to marry a middle-aged man who had been divorced twice, just to raise money for her brother’s dowry?
If she hadn’t threatened and coaxed Qiu Yulan into speaking up for her, that old man would never have allowed her to join the Art Troupe.
“You two are insane, right? My brother’s things have nothing to do with you! If this comrade here really married my brother, then she’d only have a say after they’re married. Before marriage, he’s not obligated to her. And with your attitude, I can 100% guarantee that my brother will never marry her, and he won’t even spare her a glance.” Su Xiaoxiao straightened her back, speaking with great confidence.
But the two women looked at her as though they had heard the biggest joke.
“Not only are you stupid, I think you might be blind too. Yulan is so beautiful, the pillar of the Art Troupe. So many officers in the army want to marry her, but she hasn’t agreed. Now she’s willing to marry your brother, and your brother must be overjoyed.
Besides, no matter what, Yulan’s father is a brigade commander, and your brother is just a deputy battalion commander. He can’t stay in this position forever. What if he reaches thirty, finds his career has no prospects, and chooses to retire in despair?” Chu Xiangru mocked arrogantly.
Su Xiaoxiao was so furious she almost laughed.
If only she had a recording device, she’d record these words and play them for the whole military district.
She had seen plenty of people abusing their power for personal gain, but this was the first time she encountered someone doing it so openly.
But Su Xiaoxiao knew very well that reasoning with such people was pointless.
So, she simply started acting arrogantly, “If you want to make things difficult for my brother over something like this, then go ahead. Our family has always spoiled me. We’re not going to let something small like this cause me any trouble.”
“You… you don’t care about your brother’s future?” Qiu Yulan jumped back in shock.
Su Xiaoxiao snorted coldly. “It’s because of him that I’m being humiliated and bullied by you, so why should I care about his future? If you really want to threaten him, go ahead. But I’m sure my brother’s abilities will never be swayed by you. And when he sees your condescending attitude, he won’t even want to talk to you.
If you really have the ability to pressure my brother, why don’t you go to him instead of trying to intimidate me? You want to suppress me in front of him, then pretend to be gentle and virtuous in front of him, right?”
Su Xiaoxiao’s final words were phrased as a question, but the meaning was clear.
Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru’s expressions stiffened, and they couldn’t hide their awkwardness.
Especially Qiu Yulan, her pale face turned bright red from embarrassment.
Actually, she had noticed Su Hongchen a couple of years ago. After all, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen in this military district, or perhaps in her entire life.
But at that time, she never thought about marrying Su Hongchen. A mere soldier or company commander was not someone she envisioned as her future husband.
Even when Su Hongchen was promoted to deputy battalion commander, she was still dissatisfied. His family background wasn’t anything special either. Her mother was just a women’s director, and her father was merely a factory manager, so they thought nothing of him.
Moreover, he had a younger sister who was sent to the countryside, married to a rural man, and that was a burden she found absolutely disgusting to even think about.
But this time, when Su Hongchen went on a mission, her father told her that if Su Hongchen completed the task successfully, he would definitely be promoted to a regiment commander upon his return. Even if there wasn’t a vacancy, he could be transferred to Beijing as a deputy battalion commander.
Whether it was becoming China’s youngest regiment commander or a deputy battalion commander in Beijing, the speed of promotion was so fast it completely broke military norms, which clearly showed that someone higher up must have taken notice of him. This also proved that Su Hongchen was a particularly capable person.
That was when she agreed to her father’s proposal and decided to meet Su Hongchen.
Who knew that he would be so foolish? He brought his sister-in-law here, and now he’s bringing his sister and brother-in-law too.
The reason she was standing here now was also for Su Hongchen’s own good. He couldn’t see the bigger picture, but she had to help him see it clearly, or else they’d be in big trouble in the future.
“You should be grateful. If your brother marries me, at least he can avoid struggling for ten more years. Once he rises further, he can even help you and your husband find jobs in the city. Then, you won’t have to work in the fields every day, living like peasants. You must not want to spend your whole life stuck in the countryside, right?”
Qiu Yulan was still somewhat satisfied with Su Hongchen, so she suppressed her anger and changed her approach, attempting to lure Su Xiaoxiao with promises.
But Su Xiaoxiao wasn’t buying any of it.
“Get lost! My family earns an honest living with their own abilities. We don’t climb ladders by relying on others.” She spat out firmly.
Moreover, Qiu Yulan’s father didn’t hold a high position.
Not only was he not as high as Grandpa Zhang, but even Zhang Zhiyuan’s position was much higher.
If Qiu Yulan knew about this, who knew how she’d try to cling to her brother?
Su Xiaoxiao thought, her face tightening even more.
No, before her brother comes back, she must tell him to be careful when choosing a wife. Especially not women like these two in front of her—she couldn’t even bear to look at them.
Otherwise, she feared these kinds of women would get crazy and think it’s inappropriate for anyone to even glance at them.
“What gives you the right to decide for your brother?” Qiu Yulan had never been humiliated like this before in her life, so she angrily questioned.
“Because he’s the brother who’s always been obedient to me since we were little,” Su Xiaoxiao answered proudly.
Qiu Yulan gritted her teeth when she saw Su Xiaoxiao’s smug expression.
This little wretch was definitely too spoiled by Su Hongchen. She feared that when Su Hongchen married, he would stop sharing money and resources with her, and would even favor his wife and children over her. That’s why she had intentionally brought her in-laws here to smear Su Hongchen’s reputation in the military.
Not only was this woman shameless, but she was also so malicious.
However, Qiu Yulan couldn’t suppress Su Xiaoxiao’s arrogant attitude right now, so she tried to calm down and continued to tempt her: “If you don’t understand, you can ask your husband and mother-in-law. Would they prefer to be workers in the city or farmers in the countryside? Don’t turn me down now, and then be unable to explain to them later.”
“My wife doesn’t have to explain anything to me,” a man’s chilling voice suddenly came from behind them.
Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru felt like a sharp blade had grazed their skin. The cold feeling made their faces turn pale in fright.
They turned around to see Jiang Yexun, with his strong features and a gaze as sharp as a blade.
Jiang Yexun’s appearance was already striking, but with his aura and recent nurturing from Spirit Spring Water, he no longer resembled a country bumpkin at all.
Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru’s hearts started racing like little rabbits as they looked at him.
Though they felt ashamed for feeling attracted to a rural man, they had spent years in the Art Troupe, surrounded by men as handsome as Su Hongchen. In the military, there were strong men, but none of them were as handsome.
So even though they didn’t want to look at Jiang Yexun, their eyes still couldn’t leave him.
They couldn’t help but steal glances at him from the corner of their eyes.
To their surprise, the man who had been so fierce just moments ago, as if ready to tear them apart, immediately softened as he walked toward Su Xiaoxiao. His cold gaze melted away, replaced by a warmth that spoke of love and tenderness.
With a smile, he gazed at Su Xiaoxiao, as if she were his entire world.
Whether it was Jiang Yexun, who made them feel a flutter in their hearts, or his deep affection for Su Xiaoxiao, it was enough to make Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru jealous to the point of madness.
Jiang Yexun stood protectively by Su Xiaoxiao’s side.
Aunt Guo still wanted to say something to Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru, but Jiang Yexun spoke up first: “Mom, go inside and prepare lunch. I’ll handle things here. No one will bully Xiaoxiao.”
“Alright, be careful. If Xiaoxiao gets even a scratch, don’t blame me for breaking your legs,” Aunt Guo warned, still uneasy, before heading inside.
Once Aunt Guo was inside, Su Xiaoxiao and Jiang Yexun turned their attention back to Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it quickly. Otherwise, just get lost!” Jiang Yexun’s words were like sharp arrows, aiming straight at them.
Chu Xiangru stomped her foot in anger. “How can you speak like that? You have no manners at all!”
“I’m just a rural bumpkin. What manners should I have?” Jiang Yexun retorted sarcastically.
Su Xiaoxiao grinned, showing her big white teeth as she looked at Chu Xiangru’s fake, delicate mannerisms.
What was she trying to do? Just moments ago, hadn’t she been looking down on a country bumpkin like Jiang Yexun?
Now, she was acting like this little woman in front of him?
Couldn’t be Jiang Yexun she was trying to impress, right?
This thought made Su Xiaoxiao roll her eyes at her.
Then, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, she recounted everything Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru had said to Jiang Yexun earlier.
Jiang Yexun’s face immediately darkened.
“What’s your brother-in-law doing, letting people like this bother you? He kept reminding me this morning not to upset you, but now that he’s gone, they come here and make things uncomfortable for you.”
Qiu Yulan and Chu Xiangru’s heads buzzed as they listened to Jiang Yexun’s complaints.
Although Qiu Yulan looked down on a mere deputy battalion commander, Su Hongchen was still considered a successful man in their family.
Moreover, he was the only son, so why didn’t his family stand by him?
Why didn’t their family treat their daughter as a support for Su Hongchen’s rise, like other families did?
If their family wanted to treat their daughter as a support for Su Hongchen, Su Xiaoxiao, with her scheming ways, could definitely help him climb higher.
So the Su family were all fools.