CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 072 SCARED BY THE SERIOUS ATTITUDE [140 VOTES+]

——————

"Wife, when you see Old Chief Liu later, don’t be frightened by his stern demeanor. His voice is loud whether he is speaking or scolding, but you’ll get used to it." Xie Jingchen brought his young wife to the county town, and it was already a little past eight in the morning.

There was no helping it. The earliest tractor in the village left at seven in the morning. If they wanted to leave earlier, they would have to take a bullock cart, but that was even slower than the tractor. At least with the tractor, it only took less than an hour and a half, whereas the bullock cart would take nearly two hours.

This was Zhang Shanni’s first time riding such a slow mode of transport! Several times, she was so jolted that she nearly couldn’t help but grab a faster means of transportation from the Space!

Indeed, it’s called a ’tractor,’ and true to its name, it ’drags’!

"Brother Chen, are we really okay just bringing these few things for the visit?"

Knowing that Xie Jingchen was taking her to his former superior’s place, Zhang Shanni noticed that the items her mother-in-law prepared seemed rather scant. Yet, both her father and husband seemed to think this was appropriate, so she didn’t question it.

It wasn’t until there were no outsiders around them that she, following Xie Jingchen’s brisk pace on the cobblestone path, hesitated to ask.

"It’s fine. The old chief is just like that. If we bring too good things, he would certainly kick us out along with the gifts."

Xie Jingchen, striding upright, accompanied his young wife along the earthen wall, and while no one was around, he softly stroked her black hair to comfort her.

Old Chief Liu had sustained serious injuries early in his life and his health had declined over the past few years. He had retired internally three years ago and was now recuperating in a retirement home for old cadres in the county town.

The old chief had been residing there for three years straight.

His body was really too weak, having been for three whole years with no signs of improvement in his chronic conditions. Fortunately, there had been no further deterioration.

Zhang Shanni, upon hearing her husband’s words, froze briefly and then realized her own mistake. She had just regarded her husband’s former superior with the pre-apocalypse worldview, instinctively thinking to bring valuable and fine gifts, completely forgetting that in this era, such superficial displays were not the norm.

Between superiors and subordinates, the relationship was more about amicable and equal treatment, not like the future eras dominated by the intense personal desires solved by ’money’.

Zhang Shanni inwardly cautioned herself about her blind spots, realizing that she needed to adhere to the principle of speaking less and listening more. Fortunately, up to now, she had behaved quite normally.

"Mm, I’ll listen to you!" She nodded in agreement.

"Wife, don’t be too nervous. I’ve spent quite some time with Old Chief Liu, and now he only has one granddaughter who is married off in Beijing, far from here. They aren’t very close... So whenever you are free, you can come here to chat with him more often, but remember not to bring too heavy gifts. As they say, ’a light gift conveys deep affection.’ We need sincerity, not impractical material things, understand?"

Jingchen thought to himself that he would be leaving in three days and feared that without him by her side, and her own family unreliable, he must find a backup plan for her.

He knew in his heart that his parents would definitely not mistreat his young wife, but it’s helpless that his father had more than one child, with siblings aplenty, there would inevitably be favoritism which could lead to friction and grievances...

Since his wife’s status was somewhat awkward, he thought of letting her spend more time with Old Chief Liu, and to have him accept and acknowledge her. This way, whether it’s his parents or those troublesome brother-in-laws and sisters-in-law, seeing that she is esteemed by Old Chief Liu, they would cause less trouble.

That is exactly why he purposefully brought her to visit Old Chief Liu upon returning home. Regardless of his current feelings towards her, he was determined that the young woman beside him is now his wife, and he had a responsibility to be her pillar, to create a safe space for her, and to ensure her happy and comfortable existence under his wing.

The young wife, although very clever, ultimately could not escape the weak position attributed to women. During these past two days and three nights of close intimacy, he would always wake up in the middle of the night, feeling the emptiness in his embrace, and recall her resolute determination to dive into the water vortex—clearly, his wife was adorably curling up in his embrace, sweetly asleep, yet he felt a chilling cold through his body.

Thinking that if he were to leave, his wife might be pressured and despair again, his heart ached sharply!

She is now his wife, and if anyone dares to mistreat her even slightly, he would not forgive!

These intermittent days revealed the unsightly dealings of the Zhang Family and Lin Ai, and he really did not expect much from the brainless Zhang and Lin families. However, in the end, the two families still married off. To back his wife with more confidence, he vowed to evaluate the dangers and protect his wife’s future life and safety as best as he could.

Seeing that he had only three days left before his departure, time was running short, and he needed to act quickly to crush both families into dust!

With a solemn expression, Xie Jingchen let out a smile, his tiger eyes slightly squinted. With his wife beside him, he showed his identity and official documents, gaining verification and approval from Old Chief Liu, and entered the intricate processes of the veteran care center.

When Elder Liu retired, his official rank was very high, so his treatment level in the care center was similarly high. Moreover, given his old age, the care center assigned him a large suite on the first floor. Apart from the main bedroom where he slept, there were guest rooms, a study room, a reception hall, a small kitchen, practically a small but fully-equipped suite.

G Province, Quan County, has a climate with distinct four seasons and pleasant scenery, and the local care center is famous in the country for its medicinal spring water drawn from the mountains, effectively boosting immune systems.

Thus, many high-ranking retired officials like to recuperate here. But like Elder Liu, staying here continuously for three years, he was the only one.

The old man was in his seventies now and basically, when he spoke, it was almost like shouting, as loud as if arguing with someone. For the faint-hearted, hearing his loud public-like voice directly frightened them.

Indeed, it was not that he couldn’t hear, but that he was used to it. His health wasn’t good, but he changed none of his habits. Not only was he an old smoker, but he also enjoyed strong spirits, precisely because he could neither give up smoking nor alcohol, and he favored salty foods, so he had lived in the care center for over three years without any improvement in his condition, dragging down the reputation of the entire care center!

Despite his high official rank and top treatment, neither the attending physician nor the dean dared to be presumptuous in front of him!

Over these three years, only Xie Jingchen’s visits could occasionally cheer the old man up a bit. As for his only granddaughter, every visit ended in a loud fight and a displeased parting, worsening Elder Liu’s condition each time! Over the years, repeatedly, even the dean wanted to refuse Elder Liu’s granddaughter from visiting.