Reborn as a Tough Army Wife

Chapter 617 - 612: All Alone

Xu He, who was inside the house, was frightened by Luo Cuilan’s words and expression. She thought about it for a long time, growing more scared the more she thought.

She intuitively felt that Luo Cuilan knew something.

She pondered over and over again. Luo Cuilan didn’t know about those things in the provincial city, and there was nothing disreputable about them either. What Luo Cuilan most likely knew about was either the incident of Shuanzi mistreating her in the countryside or the matter of the child in her womb.

Although she wasn’t sure how Luo Cuilan knew, in this village, there truly was nothing that could be kept secret.

But logically, Luo Cuilan had always been someone who thrived in chaos, eager to broadcast any bit of gossip. Why hadn’t she revealed it all along then?

This was something Xu He couldn’t figure out. It also made Xu He very anxious, because Luo Cuilan had been holding onto this leverage, surely having her own plans, and Xu He had no clue what she intended to do.

Therefore, in the following days, Xu He didn’t dare to make a scene carelessly, but that did not mean she had really compromised.

On New Year’s Eve, Xu He woke up early, got dressed after washing up, and nudged Luo Zhiming who was still sleeping on the bed, "Wake up, we are going back to my parents’ home."

"Going back to your parents’ home?" Luo Zhiming moved restlessly, annoyed, "It’s New Year’s Day today—why go back there?"

Seeing Luo Zhiming unwilling to get out of bed, Xu He immediately flipped off the blanket, and Luo Zhiming, feeling the cold, promptly sat up.

Seeing him awake, Xu He threw the quilt to him, irritated, "You know it’s New Year’s as well? Do you see any hint of New Year’s celebration in this house?"

After saying that, she pointed outside, "Your mom initially said she would bring back a couple of kilograms of meat for dumplings. I just saw her coming back from outside and the amount of meat she carried, I don’t know if it’s even one kilogram. Who is that supposed to feed? Plus, look at other families; they have been preparing steamed buns and bread since the morning, while our house is cold and still—what kind of household is this?"

Speaking of this, Luo Zhiming really had no idea what to do. On one hand, he thought Xu He was right, there really was no New Year spirit at home, but at the same time, he also felt that Zhou Yunmei not taking out the US$ 100 wasn’t an unreasonable act.

He had no choice but to hold Xu He’s hand, coaxing her, "Didn’t we agree on this before? We don’t have money at home, just getting by this year. After the New Year, I will go to the city to work, and will send all my earnings each month to you and our son. Buy whatever you fancy."

Xu He snorted, flinging Luo Zhiming’s hand away, "Luo Zhiming, don’t try to sound pleasing now—your deeds never match your words when you actually get to the city, involving yourself in drinking and pleasure. Next thing you know, you get tangled up with another woman."

"You..." Luo Zhiming frowned, exasperated that Xu He kept bringing up old issues, especially those involving him and Fang Xiushi which had nothing to do with Xu He.

Xu He had no patience to listen to Luo Zhiming any further; she picked up the clothes at the edge of the bed and tossed them to Luo Zhiming, saying, "Hurry up, get ready and come with me to my mother’s home. We’ll celebrate New Year there and then come back after the third day."

Hearing this, Luo Zhiming was reluctant. He tentatively said, "If you think our house isn’t good enough and want to go back to your mother’s, then go. I’ll just stay here and spend New Year’s with my mom. Otherwise, it’s such a big festival, and she would be so lonely by herself. What’s she supposed to do?"

Actually, Xu He deliberately asked Luo Zhiming to join her back at her mother’s house for New Year in order to let Zhou Yunmei taste the bitterness of spending New Year alone; Zhou Yunmei had rather clench onto the money than to spend it for New Year.

She frowned and called out to Luo Zhiming, "Stop the chatter, quickly get up and pack, we’re going together to my mom’s place. As for your mom..."

Xu He’s lips slightly curled as she added, "Since she isn’t willing to spend money to celebrate properly, it means she already doesn’t care about the New Year. What’s there to do? The meat she bought today, it’s enough for her alone, isn’t it perfect?"

Luo Zhiming heard that Xu He was doing this deliberately, he didn’t like Xu He being so hard-hearted, and frowned, "I’m not going."

Xu He glared at him, pointing at her stomach, "Luo Zhiming, if you don’t go, don’t expect to have this child in my belly. Believe it or not, I will go to the hospital in town right now and abort it."

"You..." Luo Zhiming, left with no options, had to compromise, "Fine, fine."

The two finished packing and were ready to leave for Duan Fenghua’s home to spend New Year.

Luo Zhiming initially thought about sending Xu He over first and then sneaking back to appease Zhou Yunmei later; since the two homes weren’t far apart, if absolutely necessary, they could just have their meal a bit later. After eating there, he could come back again.

But Xu He, once outside in the courtyard, deliberately raised her voice and called out, "Mom, come out for a minute, I have something to say."

"What is it? I’m getting dough ready for dumplings, planned to eat them tonight." Zhou Yunmei approached while still handling the dough on her hands, but upon seeing Luo Zhiming carrying things, she suddenly froze, "Where are you both going taking all these?"

Luo Zhiming lowered his head, silent.

Xu He glanced at him and half-smiling, she told Zhou Yunmei, "Zhiming and I have decided to spend this year at my mother’s house. We will return after the third day. You can keep those dumplings for yourself."

Hearing this, Zhou Yunmei’s expression abruptly changed. She ignored Xu He and stared fixedly at Luo Zhiming, "Zhiming, you’re not staying home for New Year?"

"Mom, I..." Luo Zhiming hesitated to continue.

But Xu He glared at him, forcing him to speak, "Luo Zhiming, I say what I mean. Don’t think I’m just scaring you."

Luo Zhiming reluctantly nodded towards Zhou Yunmei, "Mom, anyway, we’re short on money this year. I’m going to my mother-in-law’s house for New Year to save some money at home."

After hearing this, Zhou Yunmei’s face flushed with anger, but she was never the type to plead with anyone. Angrily, she waved at them and shouted, "Go, go; better not to come back at all. I can spend New Year alone, I won’t die."

Zhou Yunmei finished her words and angrily returned to the kitchen alone.

"That’s fine." Xu He glanced at the kitchen, then pulled Zhiming towards the door, "Zhiming, let’s go."

As they heard the door closing, Zhou Yunmei, who was kneading the dough, paused, her grievances bursting forth as tears incessantly dripped, pattering into the dough she was mixing.

In the past, she had never imagined she would end up in such a state. Others celebrated New Year with a house full of children and grandchildren, joyfully festive, or at least had a spouse to accompany them. But she was even forsaken by the spouse who was supposed to be by her side.