Chapter 607 Something Happened

Chapter 607: Something Happened

He Youfu and Liu Junmei were so eager to feed Jiang Yu that they practically wanted to feed her the entire pot of chicken soup.

Only when she was stuffed did they reluctantly let her leave.

Jiang Yu’s belly was already large, and now it felt even more bloated, too swollen to sit comfortably. She paced around the room instead.

He Tingyue came in from outside with a basin of hot water.

“Wife, let’s rough it tonight—a quick sponge bath is enough.”

Even in the coldest winters, Jiang Yu usually insisted on bathing daily. Sometimes at home, other times He Tingyue would take her to the public bathhouse.

But ever since her belly grew, her daily baths had become a white-knuckle affair for him, like preparing for war.

Jiang Yu knew she couldn’t be too particular while staying at someone else’s home, so for once, she complied without fuss.

The couple made the best of a single basin of water for a quick wash.

Then, he brought over another basin of hot water for Jiang Yu to soak her feet.

No matter how warm the leather boots were, they couldn’t hold up against the biting cold.

After walking outside for so long, Jiang Yu’s feet were ice-cold. The moment they touched the hot water, they burned so sharply she flinched and hesitated to dip them in fully.

She poked his arm. “Aren’t your feet cold? This water’s so hot—let’s share the soak.”

After she urged him a few times, He Tingyue finally took off his shoes and socks and stepped into the water.

His feet were much larger than Jiang Yu’s, and a good deal darker, like sandpaper on silk—so much so that he held back to avoid hurting her.

Jiang Yu rested her feet on top of his and tapped them playfully.

“You’re going out later, right?”

“Yeah. Just sleep well and wait for me to come back.”

Jiang Yu yawned, her eyes welling up with sleepy tears.

“Be careful, then.”

Once the soak was done, He Tingyue dried her feet and helped her into bed.

He didn’t rush out immediately but instead cuddled Jiang Yu until she drifted off.

After checking the time again, he slowly got up and stepped out into the howling snow.

Jiang Yu felt him slip away and wanted to open her eyes, but her eyelids were too heavy.

What startled her awake was the sound of urgent knocking outside.

Soon after, He Youfu’s voice rang out: “Who’s banging at this hour?!”

Jiang Yu had just pushed herself upright when she heard someone outside say, “Captain, there’s trouble with He Xing—you need to get over there!”

Without another word, He Youfu bolted out the door.

Liu Junmei stayed behind, as Jiang Yu was still here and needed someone to look after her.

"Auntie, what happened?" Jiang Yu called out.

Liu Junmei, bundled up in a thick coat, came in from outside.

"They said there was trouble over at He Xing's place. You rest first, and I'll let you know when there's news."

It was too dark in the room for her to notice that He Tingyue wasn't even there.

Jiang Yu lay back down but couldn't sleep, her mind racing.

After what seemed like ages, there was movement outside again.

Liu Junmei, who hadn't slept either, immediately stepped out.

When she saw He Tingyue, she froze.

"Ting Yue? You went out too?"

He Youfu said, "Get inside first—it's freezing out here."

Liu Junmei closed the door, lit the kerosene lamp, and hurried to pour them hot water.

Only then did they hear He Youfu pound the table angrily.

"Damn it! That Cai Jiancai and his family are no-good bastards—I knew they were scheming something!"

Liu Junmei gasped, "What did they do?"

He Youfu's shadowed face flickered in the lamplight as he recounted what had happened that night.

Cai Jiancai had spiked He Xing's water with sleeping pills, planning to have Cai Song sneak into her room at night to force her into marriage.

That way, even if He Xing refused, she'd be forced to marry him.

Liu Junmei exclaimed, "He Xing is just a child!"

He Youfu said with a cold sneer, "That's why they're beasts—they don't care how young she is."

"No, Youfu, we've got to call the cops! We can't let them get away with it!"

The thought of what He Xing had nearly endured made Liu Junmei's blood run cold, colder than the snow outside.

He Youfu quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, he didn't succeed."

Somehow, the drugged water ended up being drunk by Zhang Tao instead.

Cai Song crawled into the wrong bed, ending up in Zhang Tao's room and making a complete fool of himself.

"I've already had someone have that whole family under watch. We'll send them to the police station tomorrow."

Only then did Liu Junmei relax, giving him a look.

"You had me scared half to death!"

After all the commotion, He Youfu was exhausted and sent Ting Yue back to rest.

He Tingyue knew Jiang Yu was surely still awake. When he entered the room, he didn't rush to bed but first filled her in.

Jiang Yu yawned, "Glad nothing’s wrong. Come up quickly."

He Tingyue said, "Hold on a sec. I'm still cold."

Jiang Yu flipped back the blanket. "Come up."

He Tingyue had no choice but to take off his coat and crawl into bed.

He was icy cold, making Jiang Yu shiver.

But she still didn’t let go, wrapping her arms around his waist and snuggling against him.

The next day, by the time Jiang Yu woke up, Cai Jiancai and his family had already been hauled off by the cops.

After Granny Blind was laid to rest, Jiang Yu took He Xing and left Nanhe Village.

On the way into the city, He Xing was uneasy.

"Jiang Yu, I could’ve just stayed in the village. You didn’t need to bother."

Jiang Yu said, "I’d worry leaving you alone."

Her family was so poor, their home empty and ripe for trouble—how could Jiang Yu possibly rest easy?

Lai Liuzi spoke up, "Your sister-in-law’s place is too crowded. You can stay at my place for now. Don’t sweat it—you’re handy and can help me with a lot of work."

Jiang Ye, thinking of Cai Huifang’s attitude, doubted she’d welcome He Xing.

"Sixth Brother, let He Xing stay with me."

Lai Liuzi refused outright. "That won’t work. You’re a grown man—how can you live with her? It’s inconvenient."

"But—"

"No arguing. It’s settled. She’ll stay at my place."

Jiang Yu could have taken He Xing home too—they could’ve made room.

But He Xing, mindful of Jiang Yu’s pregnancy, wouldn’t hear of burdening her and insisted on going with Lai Liuzi. Jiang Yu couldn’t force her.

"Liuzi, then you’ll have to keep an eye out. If it really becomes too inconvenient, bring Xing Er to me. I’ll make arrangements."

Lai Liuzi agreed and hurriedly led He Xing home.

He hadn’t returned for a full day and night, only telling Cai Huifang he was helping a friend without explaining further, leaving Cai Xiaole worried sick.

Now, without any warning, he brought He Xing home—even the most patient person would be pissed off.

Lai Liuzi, feeling guilty, didn’t argue back, letting her scold him. Only after sweet-talking her for a while did her anger subside.

Cai Xiaole noticed He Xing flushed and squirming uncomfortably.

Thinking of her circumstances, she felt a twinge of pity.

"Xing Er, I was scolding him, not you. The house is spacious, with plenty of space. Even if a few more people came, there’d still be space."

He Xing bit her lip. "Sixth Brother was just looking out for me..."

"I know. And that’s why I let him off easy."

With that, Cai Xiaole led her inside to prepare a room for her.

But when Cai Huifang came over and saw Lai Liuzi had brought someone home again, her anger boiled over.

She didn’t openly confront He Xing but instead pulled Cai Xiaole aside for a private talk.

"Are you crazy? Sixie brings someone home, and you just let her stay?"

Cai Xiaole didn’t see the problem and explained softly, "Mom, this girl's in a tough spot, with no one to rely on. Letting her stay for a while is no big deal."

"What do you mean, 'no big deal'! How do you know if she’ll stay for a while or for life? If she refuses to leave, would you even have the nerve to kick her out?"

Cai Huifang’s dissatisfaction reached its peak at that moment.

"Then what do you want me to do?" Cai Xiaole protested. "Just kick this girl out and have a huge fight with Sixie? That's completely unnecessary!"

Cai Xiaole’s anger was directed at Lai Liuzi for staying out overnight—it had nothing to do with He Xing.

"How is there no need? Seems like you’re just born to be taken advantage of..."

"Alright, Mom, don’t speak so loudly. If He Xing hears, it’d be awkward."

Cai Huifang snorted coldly. "Then I’ll stay here for a few days too. Surely if an outsider can stay, you wouldn't keep your own mother-in-law out, right?"