The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 82

Jiang Manman had waited for several days, especially after seeing Chen Che’s earlier attitude, which clearly suggested something was going on at home. She wasn’t worried about Chen Che being harsh toward her; she was only afraid she wouldn’t be able to stir up enough trouble. However, after these few days, all she saw was a harmonious family. Even after the pregnancy was terminated, Chen Che’s mother and grandmother didn’t blame her at all.

Living under such prolonged psychological tension, Jiang Manman began to unravel. Whenever something happened that made her feel out of control, she would become highly agitated, forcing herself to perform repetitive, self-destructive motions. This time, she was scrubbing her hands so violently while washing them that the skin had worn away, revealing raw, bleeding flesh—yet she didn’t lessen her force.

Li Zhuo, who was in the same unit, saw this and rushed over to stop her. “Manman, what are you doing?”

“Let go of me!” Jiang Manman used every ounce of her strength, but Li Zhuo was a man who had served in the military, and she couldn’t break free. Once she finally quieted down, Li Zhuo gently comforted her.

In this era, mental health was rarely prioritized. However, because they were military personnel serving in high-pressure environments, they had received some basic training on it. Li Zhuo said, “Manman, let me take you to see a psychologist. Your state of mind… it isn’t right.”

Everyone in the unit knew that Li Zhuo had long harbored feelings for Jiang Manman, though she had never looked at him directly, let alone noticed his affections. Unsurprisingly, upon hearing the suggestion to see a doctor, Jiang Manman threw a tantrum.

What had she done wrong? Nothing. She was simply trying to make up for the regrets of her past life and love a man she had adored for decades. She couldn’t understand why Chen Che was so blind, or what Song Mingyue had that she didn’t. Out of pure spite, she decided to do something even more insane.

Song Mingyue knew how to handle elders; if she acted a little乖巧 (sweet and obedient), she could easily win them over. While accompanying Zhou Fang and the grandmother on outings, she always anticipated their needs before they even spoke.

The grandmother, a lady who still cared for her appearance, was completely won over when Song Mingyue used her unique eye for style to buy her a few elegant outfits. The grandmother finally understood why Chen Che loved her; she was such a beautiful, cheerful girl that even she couldn’t help but like her. They were a perfect match.

Zhou Fang was used to living in a large house and felt uncomfortable after staying in their small home for a few days. When Chen Che returned that evening, she asked if he had managed to get their train tickets.

Chen Che nodded. “I have. They are for 9:00 AM tomorrow. I’ve already requested leave; I will take you and Grandmother to the station before heading to work.”

Song Mingyue, who was wearing an apron while cooking, rushed out of the kitchen upon hearing this. “Why so soon? Stay a few more days! I heard the autumn scenery in the neighboring county is beautiful—I wanted to take you both to see it.”

The grandmother took her hand and smiled. “There will be other opportunities. The house isn’t large, and it’s a bit crowded for the four of us. When Chen Che comes back to visit this year, you should come with him. I’ll make my special peach pastries for you.”

“That sounds wonderful. As long as he has the time, I will definitely go.”

That was a clever answer—if they didn’t end up going, it would be Chen Che’s fault. Shifting the blame was her specialty. The grandmother felt a pang of sadness. “Chen Che’s work is unique, Mingyue. You have to be patient with him.”

Song Mingyue nodded, and Zhou Fang, watching from the side, felt satisfied. They had come hoping to check on their grandson, and while that specific wish hadn’t been fulfilled, seeing the two of them doing well resolved the worry that had been weighing on Zhou Fang’s heart.

The next morning, the four of them headed to the train station. On the way, the grandmother suggested they have another child: “You’re young; having children is easy now, and we can help you raise them.”

Song Mingyue agreed on the surface, but inwardly, she disagreed completely. Pregnancy took a toll on women, and she didn’t have the confidence to raise a child properly. Chen Che remained characteristically silent throughout, neither agreeing nor refuting what his mother and grandmother said.

When they arrived at the station, just as Chen Che pulled out the tickets, they saw Jiang Manman rushing toward them. Chen Che frowned; his previous warnings had clearly fallen on deaf ears.

Zhou Fang, still viewing Jiang Manman as family, greeted her warmly, “Manman, why are you here? We were so busy, we didn’t get a chance to visit you.”

“Auntie, I have something to tell you.” Her expression was grim. Zhou Fang felt a jolt of anxiety. “What is it?”

“It might sound ridiculous, but I must say it,” Jiang Manman said, looking resolute. “I am actually a reborn soul. Next year, Chen Che will die in a car accident because of this woman. They cannot be together.”

Song Mingyue: “…” What a fool.

To prove her claim, Jiang Manman began blurting out “future” events, such as the return of Hong Kong and Macau. But the more she explained, the less Zhou Fang and the grandmother believed her.

Zhou Fang asked with genuine concern, “Is the pressure at the base too much? I’ll talk to your mother when I get back and have you transferred home.”

The grandmother sighed, “Such a bright girl, how did she end up like this?”

“No, I’m telling the truth! Chen Che will have an accident next year—you’ll regret this!”

“Manman, your Auntie doesn’t like hearing that. Even if Chen Che has offended you in some way, you shouldn’t curse him to die.”

Jiang Manman was red-faced and ready to argue, but Song Mingyue had already called over the station security. “This woman is spreading superstitions; she seems to have lost her mind. Please take her away.”

After all, declaring herself “reborn” sounded like a clear case of possession or madness. Zhou Fang was deeply upset; she thought it was cruel of Jiang Manman to curse Chen Che, especially since she had previously liked her.

Song Mingyue comforted her, “Mom, Chen Che’s unit is very tough. Jiang Manman doesn’t have a strong foundation—it’s not surprising if she’s been pushed to the brink of insanity.”

The grandmother agreed, “She’s a madwoman, truly.”

Jiang Manman was a perfect example of someone shooting themselves in the foot. It was no wonder she had fumbled such a good hand in life—she had brought this on herself.

On the way back, Chen Che didn’t mention the incident, and Song Mingyue didn’t ask. However, once they reached their courtyard and Song Mingyue told him to go to work while she went home, Chen Che suddenly said, “Yueyue, if something ever happens to me in the future, you must live a good life on your own.”

Song Mingyue’s heart raced. She rushed over and hugged him. “As long as I am here, nothing will happen to you.”

Zhou Fang hadn’t believed the absurdity of Jiang Manman’s claims, but Chen Che had. Jiang Manman didn’t have the research background to speak so confidently about certain technical data; that was inexplicable. Regardless of where she came from or whether her words were true, he would never give up on Song Mingyue. Even if the end was as Jiang Manman had predicted, Chen Che would gladly accept it.

After seeing off Zhou Fang and the grandmother, life returned to normal. They never mentioned Jiang Manman’s claims again, though both had processed the information.

Initially, Song Mingyue had viewed the situation as a bystander watching a comedy, even preparing for the possibility of becoming a wealthy widow if Chen Che died heroically. But now, the thought of him actually being in danger made it hard for her to breathe.

Chen Che cannot have an accident. She would have to work harder, become wealthier, and then they would leave this place. Motivated, she continued running errands for the shop with Zhang Jingjing, even when she felt physical discomfort.

The shop owner they were working with was an honest man. Seeing they were in the garment business, he suggested, “Most places around here are for food. Clothes don’t have much of a market, and who knows if you’ll be suppressed later? You should go to the garment market.”

“This spot is perfect. It has a high flow of people; that’s all that matters.”

When the owner saw they wouldn’t listen, he said no more.

Song Mingyue had a reason for choosing this location: she remembered from the original story that this area would eventually become the most famous commercial district in Moshi. In two or three years, it would be opened up for development. Even if the owner decided not to rent to them later, she was banking on the heavy foot traffic from the surrounding residential areas.

She decided to commit. However, she couldn’t afford the full year’s rent, so she negotiated for a six-month lease. Even so, coming up with that money was difficult. Pei Xiaoyu had no money, Zhang Jingjing had very little savings, and Zhao Xing was away. The burden fell entirely on Song Mingyue.

Beyond the rent, there was the cost of renovations. Chen Che had some savings he had left with her—he believed, quite simply, that a husband’s money belonged to his wife. But since this was Chen Che’s hard-earned money, she felt she needed his consent to use such a large amount.

That night, after showering, Song Mingyue deliberately wore a sleeveless top, showing off her slender waist. Chen Che was reading when he glanced at her, visibly affected. He asked seriously, “Yueyue, is something the matter?”

Song Mingyue handed him a towel. “My hands are a bit tired after washing my hair. Could you help me dry it?”

She said it with an air of innocence, though it was clearly a calculated temptation. Chen Che coughed, not daring to look directly at her. He moved to the other side of the bed, opened his arms, and gestured for her to come over.