Chapter 44: Don’t Ruin a Marriage

Chapter 44: Don't Ruin a Marriage

Jiang Chengxiao: "Guang Shan is my good brother, his family's matters are my matters. Younger sister, don't be afraid, if there’s anything, just say it."

He meant it sincerely; he came this time precisely because he feared the Lin family might have difficulties that the organization hadn’t considered. He would definitely help if he could.

Lin Weihong then spoke about her brother-in-law's problem. No matter what, this was the foremost issue to solve; otherwise, if her brother-in-law brought the butcher to their home to snatch someone, she would have no way to stop him.

After listening, Jiang Chengxiao pounded the table angrily: "In this day and age, how can such things still happen? Where is your brother-in-law? I'll go and ask him clearly!"

At that moment, a child ran in panting: "Sister Weihong, something’s wrong, Sister Chunlai's husband is here!"

Lin Weihong's face immediately showed panic: "It's my brother-in-law, my brother-in-law is here."

The Lin parents also visibly panicked, their hands trembling, muttering what to do.

Jiang Chengxiao snorted: "Perfect timing."

Meanwhile, Song Xilan quickly pulled a round boiled egg from her pocket and stuffed it into the child's hand: "Hurry, go get the Brigade Party Secretary, tell him that Lin Chunlai's husband is causing trouble at her parents’ house, and have him bring some people over immediately."

She then turned to Jiang Chengxiao, who was ready to act: "A gambling man is beyond help, beating him won’t solve anything. You can't stay here forever; once we leave, he'll only get worse. You can’t put out a fire from afar; such matters must be handled by local brigade cadres. I’ve already sent someone to fetch my uncle over."

Jiang Chengxiao, pulled by her soft hand, felt the impulsive anger dissipate: "You're right, we live in a society with laws, no one can do as they please."

Song Xilan added: "Gambling is illegal, you can report him." She sighed, "I need to talk to my uncle, their work as cadres is still insufficient. Things like wife-beating, people still don’t know they can seek help from the Women's Federation at the commune."

Lin Weihong felt like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat, unable to swallow or spit it out.

How annoying, who is this woman to meddle so much? What she wanted was Jiang Chengxiao's help, not some brigade cadres.

When Tan Jianhua arrived with a few burly young men from the brigade, he ran into Lin Weihong's brother-in-law.

The man had just lost money gambling and was in a bad mood. The compensation the army had given to the Lin family had all been taken by him from the Lin parents and lost. Hearing that someone had brought things to their home, he hurried over again.

Whatever it was, things sent as condolences were surely valuable, he could sell them for money and try his luck again tonight.

But before he could enter the house, he encountered the Brigade Party Secretary of Yangsongkeng, who gave him a stern look: "What are you here for again?"

"I, I'm going to my in-laws' place, what’s it to you?"

"Where you go is none of my business, but I must tell you, their family is a martyr’s family, the organization has the responsibility and duty to protect them. If you want to do something, think carefully."

Under the watchful eyes of Tan Jianhua and a few strong men, the man didn't dare do anything and slinked away.

But the Lin family showed no joy, Mrs. Lin looked worried: "Jianhua, I know you're helping us for our good, but he got nothing and just left, our Chunlai will suffer again!"

Tan Jianhua: "Auntie, why didn’t you tell us sooner that Chunlai is always beaten by her man? You're a martyr's family, who dares to bully a martyr's family? If you had told us earlier, we would have stood up for you!"

"Uncle, that man is also involved in gambling in a group!" Song Xilan whispered a reminder.

Tan Jianhua: "This is also your fault, gambling in a group is illegal. Since you knew earlier, you should have reported it to us! Alright, A Yong, hurry over to the neighboring brigade, find their brigade leader, tell them that Lai Tou Qiang from their place is about to beat his wife, have them send someone to stop it."

A Yong was one of the young men he brought, Lai Tou Qiang was Lin Weihong's brother-in-law.

"Auntie, don't worry, Lai Tou Qiang won't dare beat your daughter today."

Lin Weihong whispered: "What's the use of not beating today, can the brigade people watch every day?"

Song Xilan: "What else then, do you want Comrade Jiang to help you kill or maim someone? Beating people is illegal. Actually, if your sister doesn't want to be bullied anymore, there is a way, divorce and return to her parents' home!"

At this point, Lin’s mother couldn’t hold back any longer and complained, "How can you be so vicious, girl? There's an old saying, 'Better to tear down ten temples than to ruin a marriage.' How can you, so young, be so cruel as to suggest divorce! What will Chunlai do if she gets divorced?"

Song Xilan widened her eyes, "You're the ones afraid she might be beaten to death in her husband's home, yet you're also the ones who won't let her divorce and return to her parents. I was just trying to help, and you call me vicious? Fine, do whatever you want. I’m done with this. Uncle, I’m heading home."

Then she turned to Jiang Chengxiao, "I'm leaving. Are you coming?"

Jiang Chengxiao was taken aback. Wasn’t he here to help? How did things turn out like this?

"Uncle Lin, Auntie, I’ll be going now. Take care of yourselves."

Tan Jianhua threw out a sentence, "Don’t stress too much about Lai Touqiang. I'll find a way to deal with it," and left as well.

Lin Weihong couldn’t believe Jiang Chengxiao was leaving like this. He hadn’t even helped with anything yet, and he was already leaving?

She instinctively took a few steps after him, only to see the haughty girl next to Jiang Chengxiao suddenly turn around and glare at her angrily.

"Mom, who is that girl? Why is she so annoying?"

Mrs. Lin replied, "Isn’t that the girl you used to play with? Don't you remember?"

"I told you, I had a fever that messed with my memory. I don't remember many things from the past."

"She's the daughter of our team leader's sister who married into the city. Her surname is Song, and her name is something like Lan Lan."

Lin Weihong's heart stirred, "Song Xilan?"

"Yes, yes, that's the name. City folks’ names are so fancy."

Wait, she remembered in the original plot, Jiang Chengxiao and the female lead Song Xilan didn't meet until much later, and by then Song Xilan was already married to someone else and had children. Jiang Chengxiao was eager to be her lover!

How did they meet so early this time?

"Mom, is this Song Xilan married?"

"I haven't heard so. She just turned eighteen this year. How could she marry so early?"

So, in this lifetime, they met early, both unmarried. What’s left for Lin Weihong then?