CHAPTER 338: CHAPTER 338: RAN AWAY IN DISGRACE

Wang Qinghua indeed knew the score, taking the 200 yuan and scurrying away, but she didn’t agree to divorce Song Yuantao. Instead, she took her daughter back to her parent’s home to seek help. After concocting a bunch of lies with her two brothers and distorting the truth, they all headed to the Song family to create a scene.

Song Yuantao was determined to insist on the divorce. Although Wang Qinghua’s two brothers were formidable, every man ultimately understands the bitterness of being cuckolded—his sister had committed adultery and even had a child. The hospital’s blood type test reports couldn’t deceive anyone, the facts were laid bare. The Wang brothers also cared about their reputation; the children at home were not so young anymore, all approaching the age to start dating. If Wang Qinghua’s affair became public, it would shame the family’s children.

After weighing everything, and being in the wrong, making a scene would only make it more embarrassing for both sides. Even though Wang Qinghua was still planning on stubbornly refusing the divorce, Song Yuantao could not endure it. He had stated that if she did not agree to the divorce, he would go public with her affair. Moreover, Wang Qinghua had already pocketed the 200 yuan, so continuing to make a fuss would simply look too ugly.

So when Xu Xiuxiu learned about the situation between Brother Song and Wang Qinghua, Song Yuantao and Wang Qinghua were already divorced. Regarding this, Xu Xiuxiu felt nothing but a profound sense of sigh.

But she had her own matters to attend to; the New Year was nearly upon them, and Soup City was ready to open for business. She did not want any last-minute complications. What made Xu Xiuxiu happiest was that Xu Jingjing’s romantic relationship seemed to be progressing well. Although she wasn’t sure if Xu Jingjing had opened up to Wei Jiaqiang, their relationship seemed promising.

On this cold day, as Xu Jingjing finished her busy shift at Sichuan Pavilion and prepared to head home, stepping out of the restaurant’s door, she saw Wei Jiaqiang waiting outside. The honest man lit up at the sight of her, smiling brilliantly, and held out two steaming hot roasted sweet potatoes, "Here, I just bought these, you must be hungry! Have a few bites to warm your hands." Wei Jiaqiang thought it was a good two-fold solution.

"Thank you." Xu Jingjing unceremoniously accepted the sweet potatoes, peeled them, took a bite, and the sweet fragrance made her eyes squint in delight, "Delicious."

"I’ll buy you more tomorrow." Wei Jiaqiang chuckled merrily, a look of satisfaction on his face as he watched Xu Jingjing eat, seemingly happier than if he were eating them himself. His genuine joy was evident.

"Okay." Xu Jingjing continued to nibble on the sweet potatoes, her warm eyes betraying a trace of madness behind her decision.

The two walked together for a while, and the piping hot sweet potatoes in their hands began to cool down. Xu Jingjing took a deep breath, stopped in her tracks, and turned to look at Wei Jiaqiang.

"What’s wrong? Did you step on something?" Wei Jiaqiang, seeing Xu Jingjing suddenly halt, shifted his gaze to check her shoes, thinking she might have stepped on something dirty.

"No." Xu Jingjing shook her head.

"Then..." Wei Jiaqiang continued to express his concern.

"Wei Jiaqiang, what do you think is very important for a girl discussing marriage beyond being good-looking, having independence in life, and being virtuous?" Xu Jingjing asked seriously, staring at Wei Jiaqiang, not wanting to miss any detail of his expression.

"Uh, good-hearted," Wei Jiaqiang answered after some thoughtful consideration. "My mom always said that when it comes to marrying a wife, nothing else is important, as long as she’s kind and good-hearted."

Jingjing was somewhat surprised by his answer and smiled slightly, "Besides being good-hearted, what about... a woman’s chastity? Is it important? Do you care?"

Chastity? Wei Jiaqiang stared at Jingjing in shock, as if trying to determine whether she was joking or serious. After a moment of eye contact, he shook his head, "What’s there to care about? I’m just a rough old man with no skills or money. If I can bring a wife home to offer incense to my mother, I’m already completely satisfied." He had never dared to hope for too much, including meeting Jingjing. If it hadn’t been for seeing her, a young girl who was also pretty, at the train station, he wouldn’t have mustered the courage to help her.

Now, he was even more afraid that his current happiness might shatter at any moment. She was so good, smart, beautiful, and kind. She could find a man hundreds of times better than him, so why should she spoil herself with a rough old man like him? His coworkers at the construction site also advised him not to waste time on her, assuring him that the girl surely didn’t truly fancy him, and deep down, he knew this too. But he just liked her, what could he do?

So, he told himself to give it a try. Maybe she really did fancy him!

"Wei Jiaqiang, I was once raped by a ruffian from a neighboring village, and I got pregnant and had a miscarriage. That’s why I’ve dragged on until now in my twenties without marrying," Jingjing remained calm as she spoke, as if discussing someone else’s affairs. Yet, her excessive calmness was exactly what proved her current restlessness.

"I don’t want to deceive you. I like you and want to be with you, but my past won’t be erased, so I’m being honest with you. If you mind, then after today we can stop here and pretend we never knew each other. You go your sunny path, and I’ll go my own bridge." Jingjing spoke these words while breathing deeply, her tone thoroughly composed.

But only she knew how frightened she was at that moment, waiting for Wei Jiaqiang’s reaction.

"I don’t mind." Hearing Jingjing mention acting as if they had never met, Wei Jiaqiang couldn’t help but urgently speak out, furrowing his brow and replying loudly. Seeing Jingjing still looking at him, he slowly relaxed, "Jingjing, if you don’t mind that I’m a construction worker who moves bricks, and don’t despise my lack of abilities, that’s enough for me. I have no family to speak ill of me. I’ll treat you well in the future, cook and wash clothes for you, serve you tea and water." Wei Jiaqiang spoke, planning to treat Jingjing like a delicate lady while turning himself into a little servant.

"Dummy," Jingjing said with a laugh, her eyes reddening, her smile mixed with too many emotions, "Isn’t that what wives are supposed to do after getting married?"

Complex emotions, sadness, happiness, and hope all at once.

"Except for having children, I’ll take care of everything else for you," Wei Jiaqiang didn’t mind at all and nodded firmly. Despite being a tall and burly man, this honest man felt no awkwardness at all when it came to doing traditionally female tasks.

"Okay," Jingjing happily agreed.

Wei Jiaqiang also smiled contentedly.

"Soup City is going to open soon, and after it opens, my sister will go to Imperial City to find my brother-in-law. Before that, find a time to come to my house for dinner!" Jingjing spoke up, and the meaning behind this dinner invitation – an indirect way to meet the parents – was clear to anyone who wasn’t a fool.