The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 69

Song Mingyue kicked the door open in a rush, but the situation inside wasn’t as dire as she had feared.

It was mainly Qin Jiawang disciplining Qin Shuang. He was trembling with rage, holding a leather strap and lashing out at Qin Shuang, who was kneeling on the floor. Chen Cuicui stood nearby, her face full of heartbreak, but there were also several fierce-looking, large men—clearly hoodlums—watching the scene with the casual amusement of spectators.

Qin Shuang was tough. Even as her father struck her, she didn’t utter a sound, her face a mask of defiance. Song Mingyue realized that something truly unacceptable must have happened later in life to turn Qin Shuang into the gloomy person she had become. Regardless of the future, seeing Qin Shuang like this now, Song Mingyue only wanted to protect her.

As Qin Jiawang prepared to land another blow, Song Mingyue blocked his path, grabbing the strap. “You haven’t even figured out the facts, yet you’re beating Qin Shuang just because of what that family said. I don’t think that’s fair to her.”

Qin Jiawang was already at his boiling point; he wasn’t about to listen to Song Mingyue’s explanations. He barked, “Move aside! I’m disciplining my own daughter; it’s not for outsiders to interfere!”

“I’m not interfering, but Qin Shuang’s life matters too. It’s unfair to her to lash out based on someone else’s word.”

Qin Shuang pushed Song Mingyue away. “Mingyue, move! If he wants to hit me, let him beat me to death today!”

Hearing his daughter talk like that, Qin Jiawang’s temper flared even higher. “Fine! Let’s see if I don’t beat you to death today!”

“You know perfectly well that even if Qin Shuang is mischievous, she would never seduce someone else’s partner,” Song Mingyue said, her voice ringing out clearly. “These people are clearly here to cause trouble. As her father, instead of protecting your daughter, you’re siding with outsiders to question her?”

Perhaps swayed by her conviction, Chen Cuicui finally reached her limit. If Song Mingyue—someone she had only known for a few days—could believe in her daughter, she, as a mother, would surely protect her.

Chen Cuicui shielded them both. “No one is going to bully my children today! Qin Jiawang, I know my daughter’s character. She would never do what these people claim.”

Song Mingyue glared sharply at the men. “Spreading rumors is criminal defamation—you can go to jail for this. Nobody leaves today. We’re going to the police station. If you can’t provide proof, it’s slander, and we will prosecute this to the end!”

“Oh? Little girl, who do you think you’re scaring?” the leader of the men sneered, looking at her with disdain.

Song Mingyue had been blinded by anger. In the future, the rule of law was everywhere, but in this era, the lines between right and wrong were often blurred by those with connections. Still, she had gone too far to retreat; if she backed down now, they would only grow bolder.

She stood up, looking them straight in the eye without fear. “I’m not trying to scare anyone. Let’s go—we’re going to the police station right now.”

The leader smirked. “Threatening us with the police? We weren’t born yesterday. That wench snatched my sister’s man, and today, I’m going to teach her a lesson.”

Chen Cuicui, seeing their attitude toward Mingyue and her daughter, stood her ground: “This is my house. Get out!”

Qin Jiawang, finally realizing the situation, also stood up for his daughter, demanding they leave. However, the three large men, arrogant in their size, intentionally provoked Qin Jiawang, and the situation descended into chaos. Several neighbors from the alley rushed in to help push the men out.

Just then, Song Mingyue grabbed a vase from the long table in the main room and smashed it onto the floor with a deafening crash. Everyone in the room froze.

Song Mingyue picked up a jagged shard of glass, her expression shattered and resolute. “Nobody is walking away clean today. If you dare come closer, I’ll stab you. Come on, try me!”

Zhang Jingjing, always loyal to her friend, picked up a shard of glass herself. “Mingyue, I’m with you! At worst, it’s just one life. If anyone dares bully my friend, I’ll stab them!”

The three men hesitated. They actually saw the look of total desperation in the girls’ eyes—they looked like lunatics.

Song Mingyue continued, “Go back and tell your sister: Qin Shuang has people backing her. If you ever come to trouble her again, I will drag you down with me. I, Song Mingyue, keep my word. Get out now, or I’m coming for you!”

She was a madwoman. Everyone in the room believed that if the men didn’t leave, she would actually do it. Terrified, the three men scrambled to escape, looking over their shoulders as if running from a ghost.

Chen Cuicui, worried about her mental state, walked over to steady her. “Mingyue, are you alright?”

Once they were gone, Song Mingyue’s heart finally relaxed; her hands were soaked with cold sweat. They weren’t real gangsters—the truly dangerous ones were ruthless. But she had managed to scare them away.

She squeezed Chen Cuicui’s hand. “Aunt, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you so much for today.”

A sense of deep longing welled up in Song Mingyue. This is my grandmother. Even though she wasn’t sure if this was the same person she had known in her past life, looking at her face filled her with overwhelming emotion. She hugged Chen Cuicui tightly. “Aunt, if Qin Shuang ever meets some older, wealthy man, you absolutely cannot agree to the marriage! Even if you have to make her get an abortion, do not let her marry an old man.”

“You child, what are you saying?”

“Nothing. I just heard a story about a girl who was attracted to a rich man and insisted on marrying him, only to have a tragic end. Her parents were driven to their graves by it, and her children hated her. It’s a painful lesson, so I just keep it in mind.”

Chen Cuicui shook her head. “Any girl who would do that would be truly cursed. Don’t worry, Qin Shuang wouldn’t be like that.”

After the dust settled, Chen Cuicui noticed the large bags Song Mingyue and Zhang Jingjing were carrying. “Where are you two going?”

“We’re going back to Mo City. Today was meant to be our farewell.”

Qin Shuang hadn’t really cared for this relative at first, but after seeing how she risked everything to stand up for her, she felt moved. She hadn’t expected them to leave so suddenly. “Why not stay a few more days? Why are you leaving so soon?”

“We didn’t expect things to go so smoothly. Qin Shuang, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. We’re family. Besides, after what you just did, I should be thanking you.”

“I live in the Military Compound in the West District of Mo City. If you ever have time, you must come visit.”

Mo City wasn’t close to Shanghai, and Song Mingyue knew it might be a long time before they met again. Before leaving, she warned Qin Shuang once more—never to trust the words of wealthy older men. She nearly blurted out her scumbag father’s social security number. She couldn’t control everything, but she left her contact information, hoping to write to Qin Shuang regularly to keep her on the right path.

The train was scheduled for that night, so Chen Cuicui prepared a feast in the afternoon to send them off. She held Song Mingyue’s hand reluctantly. “Mingyue, there aren’t many of us left in the Chen family. Take good care of yourself and write often. When I have time, I’ll come to see you, and we’ll go back to our hometown together.”

“I will. You must take care of your health, too. Family is important, but your health and happiness matter more.”

Before, Chen Cuicui might have doubted if Song Mingyue was truly her niece, as she lacked any proof. But after their time together, Chen Cuicui was convinced that they were destined to be connected.

Before they left, she worried the men might return, but Qin Jiawang had already reached out to his contacts at the police station to investigate their background and issue a warning.

During the meal, there was a touching moment: Qin Jiawang silently kept picking choice pieces of food and putting them in Qin Shuang’s bowl. No father truly wanted his daughter to suffer; he had only reacted out of hot-headed concern. After reflecting on Song Mingyue’s words, he felt a pang of guilt. Song Mingyue watched, thinking that Qin Shuang was lucky to have such loving parents; she hoped she would never take the wrong path again.

Chen Cuicui packed many things for their journey and watched them leave for the train station with a heavy heart. Song Mingyue felt down as well. Even in this new body, and even without knowing the Qin family well, the bond of family was unbreakable.

She waved from the train window and shouted, “Grandma, I’ll be back to see you!”

Chen Cuicui waved back with a smile, wondering if she had misheard. “Did Mingyue just call me grandma?”

Qin Shuang nodded. “I heard it too. Probably just a slip of the tongue.” Neither of them took it seriously.

On the train, Zhang Jingjing sat quietly beside her. “Mingyue, don’t be sad. You’re almost home; you should be happy!”

Shanghai wasn’t far from Pingcheng, and their train stop was right there. It had been a long time since she had left with Chen Che; she hadn’t been back to Songzhuang Street in ages. She had written letters, but nothing could replace being there in person.

She composed herself, her heart finally settling on the home she had missed so much. As they neared Pingcheng, her anticipation grew. She hadn’t told anyone they were coming—she wanted to surprise Wang Yufen and the others. The only hassle was carrying the two giant bags, but that was a small price to pay to see her family again.

After getting off the train and passing a department store, Song Mingyue bought a few items and walked with Zhang Jingjing toward Songzhuang Street.