The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 77

The method Old Yu came up with was the most primitive, yet effective one: calling in the parents.

He realized he couldn’t control Zhang Jingjing, so he decided to bring her mother over to keep her in check. Once he realized this, he felt a weight lift off his chest. He followed Yin Xiumei’s advice and went to pick up Zhang Jingjing early the next morning.

They had talked too late the night before, so when Song Mingyue woke up, she found that Chen Che had already prepared breakfast and left a note asking her to eat and mentioning that he would bring lunch later. Zhang Jingjing walked out of the room, yawning, and saw the note in Mingyue’s hand, her eyes full of envy. “Mingyue, Captain Chen is just too good to you. He’s so thoughtful.”

Mingyue smiled but said nothing. She had never enjoyed this kind of treatment before; she figured it was probably because of the baby. Although Chen Che had said he respected her decision regarding the pregnancy, it was obvious he cared about it. Mingyue decided to pretend she didn’t notice—as long as he didn’t bring it up, she wouldn’t ask.

Just after breakfast, Old Yu arrived with Yin Xiumei, bringing gifts for Mingyue. “I was too impulsive last night, Comrade Mingyue. I hope you don’t mind.”

Mingyue didn’t accept the gifts; she waited for Jingjing’s lead. Sure enough, once he set the gifts down, Old Yu rushed to Zhang Jingjing’s side. “Jingjing, I’m here to apologize. I was muddled last night and said things that hurt you. I’m sorry.”

His change in attitude was abrupt. Jingjing couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but knowing Old Yu, he wouldn’t usually let go of his anger this easily. She asked, “Do you know what you did wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have argued with you. A husband and wife should be harmonious, and I failed at that.”

Auntie Yin chimed in from the side, “Jingjing, you don’t know—Captain Yu took leave this morning and asked me to help mediate early on. For my sake, don’t hold a grudge against him for what happened.”

Jingjing asked Old Yu, “Then, in the future, if I want to open a clothing store with Mingyue, will you support me?”

Old Yu couldn’t get past that hurdle, but he realized the store business was too complicated for him to manage. He had already written to Zhang Jingjing’s mother that morning to explain the situation; keeping her stable was his top priority for now. Putting on a facade, Old Yu replied, “You do what you want. As long as you don’t mention divorce, I’ll agree to everything.”

“Old Yu, this is the last time I forgive you. If there’s a next time, it won’t matter who comes to mediate.”

Old Yu nodded, relieved that she was willing to go home with him. After calming down last night, Jingjing had done a lot of thinking. She didn’t want to leave the compound just yet, so she decided to follow him home for now. Since he was being sincere with his apology, she gave him a way out.

Seeing Jingjing’s stance, Mingyue naturally supported her friend unconditionally. She accepted the gifts. “I’ll accept these as a sign that yesterday is behind us. I know Jingjing’s character; she said this is the last time, and she means it. I hope you two live a good life together from now on, and don’t make her sad again.”

Old Yu agreed, but internally, he blamed Mingyue for the friction between them.

After lunch at home, Zhang Jingjing came to find Mingyue again. “Are you feeling any better today? I want to go find Pei Xiaoyu. Zhao Xing isn’t around, and I don’t know what’s been happening lately.”

The pregnancy was indeed affecting Mingyue—she got nauseous easily and was constantly drowsy. She gathered her strength, changed her clothes, and said, “Wait for me, I’ll go with you.”

The uncle at the school gate already recognized them and let them in immediately to call Pei Xiaoyu out. Compared to their trip to Shanghai, Xiaoyu seemed a shade tanner. Seeing Mingyue and Jingjing, her eyes welled up with tears. “Sister Mingyue, Sister Jingjing, you’re finally back!”

It was recess, but they had one more class left. Mingyue told her to go back and finish, as they were free all day and would wait. In the rural areas, education wasn’t highly valued, but for someone from the future like Mingyue, nine years of compulsory education was ingrained in her bones.

When the bell rang, Pei Xiaoyu rushed out. On the way home, she explained their recent ordeal. She and Zhao Xing had been selling watermelons, but Zhao Xing had been grounded by her parents. Xiaoyu had tried to visit her several times, but without proper identification, she couldn’t even get into the compound. Fortunately, she had gone to the factory with Zhao Xing a few times and knew the ropes, so she had managed to deliver the watermelons on time all by herself.

Jingjing was genuinely impressed. If she had been in that situation, she wasn’t sure she could have handled it as well as Xiaoyu. Mingyue stroked her head. “You’ve worked hard.”

Xiaoyu blushed and then asked, “By the way, how is Sister Zhao Xing doing?”

Jingjing sighed. “We only just got back yesterday. We heard she was sent to her aunt’s in another city.”

“Sister Zhao Xing hurt her leg when she tried to sneak out last time,” Xiaoyu said worriedly. “I don’t know if it’s healed.”

No wonder, Mingyue thought. Zhao Xing wasn’t the type to be submissive; if she hadn’t been physically hindered, her parents probably wouldn’t have been able to stop her.

“How did your trip go?” Xiaoyu asked.

“Very smoothly,” Jingjing said. “We found a connection through one of Mingyue’s relatives.”

“That’s great!” Xiaoyu was still focused on the shop. She took out all the money she had made. “Is it enough?”

“Probably not yet. We need a good location,” Mingyue said. She pulled thirty yuan back out and handed it to her. “Xiaoyu, this is an extra reward. You’ve worked hard.”

“I don’t want it. We don’t have enough money for the shop yet,” Xiaoyu insisted.

When she sat down, Mingyue clutched her stomach. Jingjing asked nervously, “Is your stomach hurting?”

“I’m fine, don’t be so jumpy.”

Xiaoyu poured them water and asked curiously, “Sister Mingyue, what’s wrong with your stomach?”

“Your Sister Mingyue has a little baby inside.”

Huh? Mingyue was pregnant.

Xiaoyu was happy for her—she had seen Chen Che, and they were a beautiful couple; their child would surely be adorable. But on the other hand, she felt a hint of worry. Mingyue was the core of their team. If she was pregnant, would the shop still open?

Mingyue saw through her thoughts immediately. She was touched—working with someone dedicated to business made things easier. She took Xiaoyu’s hand. “Don’t worry, Xiaoyu. I don’t intend to keep the baby. I’m going to the hospital tomorrow morning to have it taken out. It won’t affect our plans.”

“Sister Mingyue, that’s not what I meant. It’s your baby! Why abort it? Even if you’re pregnant, we can still open the shop. You can just direct things, and Sister Jingjing and I will do the heavy lifting.”

Mingyue smiled. “You’re still young—do you know what raising a child entails?”

Xiaoyu didn’t, but she spoke from the heart. “If it were me, I wouldn’t want to be un-born. But if it’s your child, and they have such a good mother and father, they must be very happy to come into this world.”

Jingjing thought to herself, That’s profound. She couldn’t have thought of such words to comfort Mingyue. Yes, she thought, Mingyue’s child would be the happiest child in the world.

That evening, Chen Che didn’t work overtime and got home early. When he saw Mingyue wasn’t there, he guessed she was out. When Mingyue finally returned, Chen Che’s expression was tense. “Did you go to the hospital?”

“No, I had some business with Xiaoyu.”

Chen Che relaxed slightly and asked if she felt unwell. After dinner, he took the initiative to wash the dishes, telling her to just sit and relax. When he brought out the foot bath again, Mingyue said, “Sit down. Let’s talk.”

Chen Che didn’t understand, but he sat down anyway. “Talk about what?”

“Chen Che, what’s been with you these past few days? I told you I didn’t want to have children, and you agreed when you were at my parents’ house!”

Chen Che nodded. “Yes. I respect your choice.”

“I plan to go to the hospital tomorrow morning to get it taken care of while I have the time.”

“Okay,” Chen Che replied. “I’ll go with you.”

His calmness made Mingyue feel restless, as if he were a machine without flesh and blood. Logically, this was the attitude she wanted, yet something felt strange—unexplainably strange. Mingyue was in a foul mood and went to bed early. Chen Che followed his usual routine, reading for a while before coming to bed. She slept on the inside, and she could feel how carefully he got into bed, as if he were afraid to wake her. But Song Mingyue wasn’t asleep at all.

When he finally settled in, she couldn’t take it anymore and sat up.

Chen Che looked at her. “Did I wake you?”

“No. Chen Che, let’s talk.”