Chapter 130

Chapter 130

She rushed in, holding a thick cotton coat. Xie Junli recognized it as his own. "Wait, it's so cold outside. He'll get sick if he goes out like this. Come on, put it on."

It was also an old military overcoat, but even though it was worn, it was still much better than what He Xiang had on, and it was warm.

It was just very big.

When he put it on, it clearly gave the impression of a child wearing adult clothing.

Seeing He Xiang’s shy demeanor, Xu Yuqing didn’t say anything. She simply folded his sleeves and then stepped back two paces, waving impatiently at the two stunned men. "Alright, go ahead."

Xie Junli stood there, receiving no concern. He glanced helplessly at He Xiang and watched his wife walk away, then slowly started walking out.

He needed to finish quickly and get home for dinner.

He hadn’t eaten the eggplant at lunch.

Thinking about the eggplant, he quickened his pace.

Pushing out his bicycle, Xie Junli swung his long legs over and sat down. The cushion on the backseat wasn’t installed yet, but he didn’t plan to install it; it was something he had sewn for his wife.

"Wrap yourself up and sit on."

Seeing him being so stern, different from how he was inside, He Xiang puffed up with anger, wrapped himself up, and jumped onto the bike. The large hat covered his face, and he didn’t hold onto the bike, sitting stiffly instead.

Xie Junli knew where his mother-in-law lived. Coincidentally, it was right next to the canning factory, at the meat processing plant.

So, this route was very familiar to Xie Junli.

He Xiang looked thin, but he weighed over a hundred pounds. Although it wasn’t heavy for Xie Junli, the slippery road made him ride much slower.

He Xiang was already angry and wanted to provoke him. Seeing the slow speed, he couldn’t resist taunting Xie Junli, "You haven’t trained in a while, have you? At this speed, we might as well walk."

His mocking tone made Xie Junli’s veins bulge, and he sneered, "Fine, you do it then."

Saying that, he got off the bike. Without anyone holding the handlebars, it immediately tipped over. Fortunately, He Xiang quickly extended his foot to steady it.

He looked at Xie Junli in panic, "What are you doing! What if I fall?"

Meanwhile, he carefully checked the bike.

Xie Junli looked at He Xiang with the same sarcastic expression and mocked, "Didn’t you say you were great? Go ahead, then."

He Xiang, being young, jumped onto the seat immediately, and Xie Junli didn’t hesitate to sit down too.

"Go ahead."

He said leisurely.

He Xiang pretended to look disdainfully at Xie Junli, "You can’t, but I can."

Why was he still so petty after getting married? In the past, he wouldn’t even bother talking to people. Still, He Xiang couldn’t help but secretly smile, a slight curve forming on his lips. This smile soon disappeared.

He gritted his teeth, trembling as he held the handlebars, his legs shaking. He Xiang kept cursing Xie Junli for being so heavy and making him ride, and cursed the slippery snow, wishing they could just walk instead.

He clenched his jaw and managed to make it halfway before Xie Junli noticed his legs shaking and feared he might not be able to stand. So, he mercifully stood up.

The backseat suddenly felt lighter, and He Xiang pedaled forward, startled. He lost balance for a moment, but Xie Junli caught him with one hand. "Get off."

Caught off guard, He Xiang steadied himself. Before he could recover, Xie Junli’s attitude upset him again. The fragile boy gritted his teeth and angrily jumped off the bike, heading back. "I’m not going. If you look down on me, then fine!"

He walked away, spitting out harsh words. Xie Junli was momentarily stunned by his sudden action, then quickly went back to grab him, glaring sternly. "Sit properly!"

He Xiang tried to struggle, but seeing Xie Junli’s serious demeanor, he remembered the beatings from childhood and froze.

The rest of the journey was silent. They soon arrived at the dormitory of the meat processing plant. After parking and locking the bike, Xie Junli led He Xiang straight to the fifth floor.

The building was small, and the narrow staircase was cluttered with scraps of waste. He Xiang, who had been lively earlier, fell silent upon entering. His eyes showed no emotion, as if he had died inside.

Even though Xie Junli had come here angry and frustrated with He Xiang’s lack of spirit, seeing him like this softened his heart.

This child was just like him.

Reaching the fifth floor, he knocked on the door. The sound echoed through the building, drawing attention from other residents, but the door remained closed.

Someone from the neighbors called out, "They’re home, but not coming out. I saw them."

Xie Junli’s knocking grew more forceful, and his face darkened.

Inside, Wu Xiuyue clung to her husband, trembling in fear. "What should we do?! Didn’t you say he wouldn’t interfere after getting married? If you hadn’t said that, I wouldn’t have dared to take the money!"

Wu Xiuyue still had some charm left, but her small face was now filled with terror. Her husband, pudgy and out of shape, still had traces of his former good looks in his eyes.

He looked at the door irritably, furious at the thought of neighbors watching their family drama. But he didn’t dare to confront Xie Junli, knowing firsthand how strong he was.

The knocking grew louder, and the couple hugged tighter. Finally, the man pushed Wu Xiuyue away. "Open the door!"

Wu Xiuyue was pushed out, staring at him in shock. "Liu Guoyi, you’re pushing me out?"

She asked incredulously.

Liu Guoyi ignored her and turned back into the room. "The baby is sleeping. Clean up your mess. If you wake him up, I’ll beat you!"

He glared at Wu Xiuyue, his threat clear. She shuddered, remembering the pain, and hesitantly opened the door.

Outside, Xie Junli heard everything clearly. He turned to He Xiang, who had been looking down, and stepped back a bit.

Soon, the door slowly opened. Wu Xiuyue put on a forced smile, "Captain Xie, why are you here?"

As she spoke, she stepped back humbly, "Why don't we come in and talk?"

Although Wu Xiuyue was humble to Xie Junli, she wasn't humble to her neighbors. Her face turned fierce as she yelled, "What are you all staring at! If you have so much free time, why don't you taste some feces!"

"Ugh!"

"Wu Xiuyue, what kind of person are you? Your mouth is smeared with feces, always talking about it!"

"That's right, no manners. You've been causing trouble in this residential area!"

The crowd attacked her, and Wu Xiuyue's face turned red then pale, pale then red. Just as she was feeling embarrassed, she suddenly saw He Xiang behind Xie Junli. Instantly, she found an outlet for her anger and started yelling at He Xiang, "What are you doing! Always bothering your Uncle Xie! Bring people in to make a spectacle, is that what you want? How could I have given birth to such a fool!"

Her shrill voice was particularly piercing, but He Xiang showed no reaction, as if he was used to it. Xie Junli couldn't bear it anymore and grabbed He Xiang's shoulder, "I came here. Is that not allowed?"

"Wu Xiuyue, I don't want to argue with you. You took Old He's pension and left his child behind. Considering you are a woman, the military didn't pursue it further. Now, are you even going to take the money meant for the child's survival? Do you have any conscience?"

Xie Junli's voice was deep and cold as he looked at the unrepentant woman before him. Suddenly, memories from a few years ago floated into his mind—his first visit to the He family, a gentle wife, and an adorable child. But now, looking at the scene before him.

And seeing the child suffering.

"Give the money back. And if I find out you're still taking money from He Xiang or bullying the orphan of a martyr, your husband won't be able to handle the disgrace."

Wu Xiuyue clenched her teeth, wanting to refute but afraid of him. She could only glare at He Xiang secretly. This unlucky star! Better off dead.

She wouldn't be so despised.

She wanted to say she had no money, but Xie Junli's intimidating presence scared her. A dozen yuan was the family's food budget. This unlucky star couldn't possibly use it all. Wu Xiuyue hesitated, refusing to hand over the money. Xie Junli impatiently knocked on the door. She instantly jumped up and ran back to the room to get the money.

Running back to the room, Wu Xiuyue's forehead was covered in sweat. Her child and husband were sleeping soundly. She quickly pleaded, "Guoyi! Where's the money! Give it to him, and he'll leave."

Liu Guoyi hadn't fallen asleep yet but didn't want to deal with it. The family's money was in his hands, and if he didn't give it, the woman would have nothing.

Liu Guoyi's attitude was clear to Wu Xiuyue. She wasn't stupid and glanced at the direction of the door. "Guoyi, if you don't give it, we'll stay here. Xie Junli definitely won't dare to come in!"

She said it fiercely.

But Liu Guoyi was scared by her words and sat up. "Wu Xiuyue, are you crazy? Our son is here!"

Saying this, he roughly picked up their sleeping son, showing no gentleness.

Wu Xiuyue didn't want to be hit. If she loved her son, there was another one outside. She stood there unmoved, having experienced Xie Junli's terror and not daring to face it again.

Liu Guoyi glared at Wu Xiuyue, finally moving. He put down their chubby son and pulled out some money from his pocket. It didn't look like more than five yuan. He tossed it to Wu Xiuyue, "The money for the schoolbag is long gone; this is all that's left."

Just this?

Wu Xiuyue didn't believe it. In times of crisis, couples fend for themselves. Though this wasn't a crisis, she was still scared. She clutched the few yuan tightly and reached into Liu Guoyi's pocket with her other hand.

For a moment, screams, curses, and the child's cries echoed in the room. Xie Junli waited impatiently at the door and glanced at He Xiang.

"If you don't listen to reason, don't blame me."

With these not-so-loud words, the room fell silent except for the child's crying.

Soon, Wu Xiuyue stumbled out with a wad of small bills. Still angry, though not daring to provoke Xie Junli, she grabbed He Xiang's hand angrily, her nails digging deeply into his flesh. Wu Xiuyue smiled and said, "Son, I'm sorry. Your little brother needs to go to school!"

She waited for He Xiang to throw the money away in anger, as he usually did, so she could pick it up.

But this time, He Xiang looked at the money and, for the first time, reached out with his other hand and clenched it tightly. "From now on, every time I see you, I'll beat your son."

"Beating your own brother isn't illegal."