The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 107 - 106: So Thick-Skinned

Yang Xiaoxia ate one last slice of Yili bread.

Xue Yue felt a little sorry for her. "You look like you’ve lost a lot of weight. If it gets too bad, you should buy some milk powder to drink. You need the nutrients."

"We’ll see. Milk powder isn’t easy to buy either."

"If I had known you were having such a hard time, I would have brought some back for you when I went to the provincial capital. But I’ll mention it to He Lang. I’ll see if anyone on his team is heading to the provincial capital soon and ask them to bring some back for you."

Yang Xiaoxia nodded. "Okay, that could work. Just tell me how much it costs, and I’ll pay you back."

"Okay."

They happened to have some cellophane noodles at home, so for lunch, Xue Yue made Yang Xiaoxia a bowl of hot and sour noodle soup.

Yang Xiaoxia drank the entire large bowl without throwing up.

After she finished, she rubbed her belly. "That was so delicious."

Xue Yue smiled and said, "If you’re craving anything, just tell Auntie. If that doesn’t work, you can always come over and eat here. It’s best to buy some fruit, too. It’s less likely to make you sick."

Apples and pears should be available this time of year.

"Yeah, I’ll tell Zhen Dong when I get back. Sigh, I’m finally realizing how hard it is to be a mother."

"That’s right. Mothers are amazing, and you are too."

Xue Yue had bought a silk scarf for Zhang Qian, but since she couldn’t see her, she had no way to give it to her. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Besides, she had no idea what her brother had been busy with lately; he hadn’t come over at all.

That evening, Xue Yue said to He Lang, "I don’t know what my brother is so busy with. Could you go check on him tomorrow? Tell him to stop by when he has a chance."

"Maybe we should wait. I feel like something isn’t right lately. Our team leader told us today that starting tomorrow, any vehicles from our unit heading out will be inspected, and they’ve set up roadblocks. I’m guessing the Public Security Bureau is conducting an operation. Let’s just hold onto the gift for now. We can give it to him whenever he’s free."

He Lang’s guess was correct. The Public Security Bureau had lost a gun, and it had been nearly half a month with no leads.

Yesterday, a superior had thrown a cup in anger during a meeting, announcing that the higher-ups were sending people down to investigate.

The main focus was to vet every single person currently at the bureau.

Xue Xingzhou and Li Xiufeng were under the most scrutiny. They were the newest arrivals, the only two recruited in the past two years. Now that something had gone wrong at the bureau, the new guys were naturally the first to be suspected.

Xue Xingzhou hadn’t been home for two days; he was being held for investigation. Even Zhang Qian had come by twice without being able to see him.

Zhang Hongjie didn’t tell Zhang Qian the details. He just explained that there was an inspection from the higher-ups and told her not to come to the Public Security Bureau looking for Xue Xingzhou.

Zhang Qian guessed something must have happened and was worried sick.

There was nothing she could do. Her father wouldn’t tell her the truth.

So her only option was to run to Xue Yue’s place to talk about it.

Xue Yue’s expression changed the moment she heard the news, but then she remembered what He Lang had said and slowly calmed down.

"Sister Zhang Qian, since your father said that, maybe it really is just an inspection from the higher-ups. My brother and the others are probably just too busy to be seen. Let’s wait a few days and see."

Zhang Qian nodded. Waiting was all they could do for now.

Fortunately, three days later, Xue Xingzhou was finally released, but Li Xiufeng was detained.

A radio transmitter had been found in Li Xiufeng’s yard. Although the gun was still missing, this was enough to prove he was a spy.

The Public Security Bureau was immediately thrown into chaos again. Li Xiufeng had been recruited at the same time as Xue Xingzhou. While not as capable as Xue Xingzhou, he was considered quite diligent and was on good terms with many people at the bureau. He had been training under Liu Chunming, who was grooming him as an apprentice.

Now that he was suddenly exposed as a spy, even Liu Chunming was brought in for questioning.

Liu Chunming was more than just frustrated; he was furious. To think that someone like that had been by his side for so long, and he hadn’t noticed a thing.

Zhang Hongjie, however, breathed a sigh of relief. ’As long as Xue Xingzhou is okay, that’s all that matters,’ he thought. ’Getting reprimanded would have been a minor issue. But my daughter has her whole heart set on that boy. If something had actually happened to him, I don’t know how heartbroken she would be.’

That afternoon, Zhang Hongjie brought Xue Xingzhou home with him. He was very satisfied with his apprentice. ’Now that I think about it,’ he mused, ’having him as a son-in-law wouldn’t be so bad after all.’

The moment Zhang Qian saw Xue Xingzhou, she ran over and hugged him.

Zhang Hongjie gritted his teeth at the sight, then turned, clasped his hands behind his back, and went back inside. Out of sight, out of mind.

After Xue Xingzhou saw Zhang Hongjie go inside, he wrapped his arms around her too.

"I made you worry."

Zhang Qian let go and studied him carefully. "They didn’t give you a hard time, did they? What exactly happened? Why were you suddenly put under investigation?"

Xue Xingzhou quietly explained the reason.

Zhang Qian covered her mouth in shock. "That’s terrifying! I’ve heard those kinds of people are all desperados. To think he was living among you for so long... It’s a good thing he was caught."

Then she hugged Xue Xingzhou again. "It wasn’t just me who was scared to death these past few days. Your sister was worried sick, too."

"You told her?"

Zhang Qian nodded. "My dad wouldn’t tell me anything, and I was at my wit’s end, so I had to go to your sister."

Xue Xingzhou patted Zhang Qian on the back. "It’s okay. I’ll stop by her place on my way back and let them know."

"Okay."

"How long are you two going to be hugging? Are you eating or not?" Zhang Hongjie’s displeased voice came from inside the house.

Zhang Qian stuck out her tongue, then slowly pulled away from Xue Xingzhou’s embrace and took his hand. "Come on, let’s go eat."

When he was heading back that evening, Xue Xingzhou made a special trip to Xue Yue’s place.

The first thing Xue Yue did when she saw her brother was look him up and down. Seeing that he was alright, she relaxed.

"You haven’t eaten, have you? I’ll go make you a bowl of noodles."

Xue Xingzhou stopped her. "I’ve eaten. I ate at Zhang Qian’s house."

Xue Yue winked at him. "Met the parents, huh?"

Xue Xingzhou flicked her on the forehead. "I already met them last time, after I left your place."

"Your master didn’t beat you up?"

Xue Xingzhou shrugged. "Your brother is so charming. How could my master bear to hit me?"

Xue Yue shivered theatrically. "Ew~ you’re so shameless."

"Hahaha."

He Lang came out of the house holding Ruanruan. "Do you two have to stand in the yard to talk? Ruanruan was getting antsy waiting inside."

When Ruanruan saw her uncle, she reached out her arms to be held.

Xue Xingzhou waved his hand at her. "Oh no, Uncle hasn’t showered in a few days and is a little stinky. How about I hold you after I’m all clean?"

Xue Yue stared at him in surprise. "You didn’t go to Sister Zhang Qian’s house like this, did you?"

Xue Xingzhou didn’t say anything, but his silence was a clear admission.

Xue Yue gave him a disgusted look. "Sister Zhang Qian must have been so grossed out by you."

A smile played in Xue Xingzhou’s eyes. ’Actually,’ he thought, ’Zhang Qian still hugged me. She didn’t seem to mind.’

"Brother, don’t go back tonight. You can take a shower and rest here."

"I can take a shower, but I should still go back. I have tomorrow off, but I need to run an errand."

Xue Xingzhou’s home had also been searched; he needed to go back and check on it.

Xue Yue said to him, "Perfect, I need to go back home tomorrow too. Brother, just stay the night. He Lang has to work tomorrow, and it’s not convenient for me to go back with Ruanruan by myself."

Xue Xingzhou didn’t ask what she was going back for. Seeing the situation, he had no choice but to agree. ’Oh well,’ he thought, ’I can check on my place tomorrow. One more night won’t make a difference.’