Chapter 7: Suitable to Be a Father

In front of many witnesses, Wang Jing and Xu Yuanlong were completely done with each other.

Xu Qingmo stepped forward and took Shen Jiang’s hand. He followed her to Wang Jing. Xu Qingmo reached out her hand, and Wang Jing held her little hand.

Xu Qingmo deliberately let their hands fall together. Shen Jiang understood immediately and held onto Wang Jing’s hand tightly, afraid she would pull away again.

In a dream Xu Qingmo once had, Shen Jiang was still single, staying single for Wang Jing. Moreover, Shen Jiang was more suitable to be the father for this body.

Xu Yuanlong watched this scene, trembling with anger. “What are you doing? Do you think I’m dead?”

Xu Qingmo glared at him. “You might as well be dead, so you don’t waste air being alive.”

“Impudent girl! You talk to your own father like that?” Xu Yuanlong looked furious, raising his hand to punish her.

His hand swung at her face but bounced back. His palm was scorched and bleeding.

Xu Qingmo spoke lazily, “I’m hungry. Xu Yuanlong, go clean the kitchen. Wang Xiuzhi, make me a meal. Don’t hide any meat in the house—take it from the corner of the east room and make a pot of meat soup. I want to celebrate for Mom and Uncle Shen.”

Several times she wanted to call Wang Jing’s name, but it didn’t feel right. Finally, she forced herself to say “Mom.” Wang Jing’s heart leapt with joy, but Xu Qingmo felt uncomfortable.

Wang Jing squatted and held her tightly, smiling sweetly. “Yes, Mom is here.”

Xu Qingmo didn’t understand. She just said “Mom,” so why was Wang Jing so happy?

Xu Hai couldn’t stand it. With Xu Qingmo causing such chaos, their family would surely become the village joke. Where would he put his face?

“Xu Qingmo, you tiny child, still want to eat meat? What about my fist?” Xu Hai had kept quiet before because Shen Jiang was present.

When he saw Zhou Qinqin’s eyes red with disappointment, Xu Hai decided he couldn’t stay silent anymore. He would punish this mother and daughter in place of his older brother.

Shen Jiang stood in front of the mother and daughter, commanding without anger, “Try touching them and see what happens!”

Xu Hai was furious but dared not speak, staring blankly at the side. Zhou Qinqin rolled her eyes. “You’re a coward, useless.”

Xu Qingmo peeked out from Wang Jing’s arms and addressed Xu Hai and Zhou Qinqin. “You two only got married because my mom gave you money. After eating, any children from the cook get beaten. Give me back everything that belongs to us.”

“What are you? You say return it, and it comes back?” Xu Hai retorted, stiff-necked. When his interests were involved, he couldn’t stay silent.

Xu Qingmo’s words were harsh but true. He did marry Zhou Qinqin using Wang Jing’s belongings.

“Those things were all from my sister-in-law? Xu Hai, you boasted before that you earned them yourself. Lies! I’m going back to my parents’ house,” Zhou Qinqin, unable to defend herself, turned away angrily.

Xu Qingmo looked at the village chief. “Grandpa Village Chief, should my mom take back what belongs to her from Xu Hai’s house?”

The villagers watched intently. The village chief’s authority was respected, though he privately favored Zhou Qinqin. But in front of so many, he couldn’t be too obvious.

Xu Qingmo deliberately used the situation to pressure him.

Suddenly, the village chief clutched his stomach, trembling in pain. “Old problem flared up. I’ll go home for medicine. Handle this yourselves.” He fled.

Truly a dog—offending no one inside or out.

“What are you standing there for? Not cooking and want me to starve?” Xu Qingmo’s childish voice was full of anger.

Wang Xiuzhi and Xu Yuanlong were intimidated and didn’t dare reply. They went to the kitchen dejectedly.

Wang Jing felt guilty, caressing Xu Qingmo’s face with tears. “Mom can’t take you away. I’m useless.”

“You’re not useless. I’m staying here on purpose. Soon they won’t be able to stop me from going with you,” Xu Qingmo comforted her mother. She then looked at Shen Jiang. “Do you want to marry her?”

The question made the villagers outside perk up.

“The little Xu girl is clever. Just got her parents divorced, now wants the captain to marry her mom. Small but smart—knows to find a big tree for shade.”

The elderly were embarrassed, and even Shen Jiang, battle-hardened, blushed. Wang Jing quickly covered Xu Qingmo’s mouth and apologized to Shen Jiang. “My daughter is talking nonsense. Don’t take it seriously.”

“I will.” Three words, firm and resolute.

“What?” Wang Jing froze.

Shen Jiang repeated, “I said I will marry you. I wanted this eight years ago.”

If he hadn’t joined the army, he would have found a way to marry Wang Jing back then.

Wang Jing hung her head, feeling unworthy of Shen Jiang now.

“Don’t joke. It’s impossible between us,” she said, eyes red.

Xu Qingmo shook Wang Jing’s hand. “Mom, don’t you want to leave here with me?”

“Of course I do,” Wang Jing said immediately.

“Then marry Uncle Shen. He can take us away.” Xu Qingmo wanted to use Shen Jiang as a way out, and he was indeed suitable to be her father.

Wang Jing shook her head. She couldn’t drag Shen Jiang into trouble just to leave.

“I will take you away. I’ll find another way,” she said, unable to overcome the mental barrier.

Xu Qingmo didn’t understand. Such a simple solution was right in front of her, so why not choose it?

“Wang Jing, I’ve made it clear my feelings for you never changed. Why don’t you see it?” Shen Jiang stared at her fragile figure. He wanted to protect her, always.

Wang Jing saw Xu Qingmo’s expectant eyes, bit her lip. “Give me some time to think. It’s too rushed now.”

Shen Jiang didn’t push. “Fine, I’ll wait for you.”

After dinner, Xu Qingmo went to sleep but saw Wang Jing take out a license from the cupboard—a driving license she had earned in Shanghai when she was idle.

Xu Qingmo suddenly couldn’t sleep. “Mom, you want to take me away, right? This license works.”

“You want me to be a driver?” In this era, being a driver was respectable. But with her current status, she couldn’t leave Xu Family Village yet.

Perhaps she really needed to consider marrying Shen Jiang.

Over the next two days, Xu Qingmo and Wang Jing went to Xu Hai’s house and took back all the items he had taken, storing them in their space. Zhou Qinqin, seeing her home empty, packed and returned to her parents, demanding a divorce.

Since she hadn’t driven in a while, Xu Qingmo told Shen Jiang. He had a car and offered Wang Jing practice driving it.

Shen Jiang also mentioned the army was recruiting drivers. Wang Jing immediately felt hopeful about her future.

On the road while learning to drive, sparks flew between them. A week later, Shen Jiang expressed his feelings again. Wang Jing no longer refused.