CHAPTER 352: CHAPTER 354: OFFER HELP WHEN UNNEEDED, EITHER MALICIOUS OR THIEVISH

Wasn’t it a matter of conscience, facing her own mother, Liu Haihua didn’t dare to bring it up.

She didn’t know she was not pregnant yet. If it was Wang Xueyong’s child, a surge of excitement flowed through Liu Haihua’s heart, but if it was that Niu Pizi’s, she immediately felt sick.

Just thinking that even if it was Wang Xueyong’s child, but Wang Xueyong had already taken a wife, Liu Haihua felt sad again.

Mrs. Liu watched her daughter, her face a mix of worry and sorrow, shock and joy, her expressions changing unpredictably, and she decided not to interfere.

Liu Haihua sat for a while, said nothing, and left.

Thus, for several days, Liu Haihua lived in worry, the period she had been hoping for never came.

Knowing she was truly pregnant, Liu Haihua went directly into town and happened to encounter Wang Xueyong and Gao Guihua. Watching Wang Xueyong and Gao Guihua walk together, they weren’t too close, but seemed to be exchanging tender looks, like a couple in the sweetness of newfound marriage.

Liu Haihua couldn’t help but feel jealous, thinking that the child in her belly might be Wang Xueyong’s, and wondering whether Gao Guihua’s frail body could bear a child. At that moment, Liu Haihua harbored a vicious hope: that Gao Guihua wouldn’t be able to conceive.

Then Liu Haihua suddenly decided she wanted to keep the child.

Liu Haihua stopped working, sponging off her family for meals every day. Liu Haiguo and Mrs. Liu didn’t mind, but Feng Ying was very unhappy.

But Liu Haihua didn’t care whether Feng Ying agreed or not, as long as her mom and brother had no objections, it was fine. Mrs. Liu had only these two children, naturally, she wouldn’t deny Liu Haihua food.

Liu Haiguo, although sometimes clashing with Liu Haihua, and the siblings not always having the best relationship, were twins after all. His own sister, Liu Haiguo wouldn’t fuss over this.

Even after hearing Feng Ying’s complaints, Liu Haiguo thought she was petty. It’s just one more mouth to feed; his own sister, they could afford it.

"But she doesn’t work at all, and nowadays we’re busy every day, fretting over production issues, and there she goes, caring about nothing, unconcerned with anything, just knowing to eat and eat," Feng Ying expressed her dissatisfaction.

Liu Haiguo frowned, "You women are just petty, making a fuss over a meal. Haihua’s grown up, you don’t have to worry about her, and it’s not like you’re the one cooking."

Feng Ying was frustrated.

Xia Xiao went to see Ge Liang every night, only coming home to sleep.

One morning, Wang Xueyong rode his bicycle to the Gao family’s house, excitedly saying, "Uncle, Auntie, Jiaxing sent a telegram."

"Really?"

Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong both were delighted. Xia Xiao, who had been inside the house, couldn’t help but rush out upon hearing Wang Xueyong’s words.

Wang Xueyong looked at Xia Xiao, startled, and greeted, "Good day, sister-in-law."

Xia Xiao forced a smile, and Zheng Xianghong blocked Wang Xueyong’s path, asking, "What did Jiaxing say in the telegram, and when did you start working at the post office?"

Wang Xueyong replied, "It’s not me, it’s my sister who works at the post office."

Hearing this, Xia Xiao felt depressed. Wang Yuncai had actually taken a job at the post office, and had intercepted the telegram.

Zheng Xianghong also paused, would all their family’s future telegrams with their son have to go through the Wang siblings?

The joy on Zheng Xianghong’s face also faded a bit, Wang Xueyong handed the telegram from Gao Jiaxing to Zheng Xianghong.

On it were just a few simple words: "Safe, don’t worry."

"How can we write back without an address?" Gao Guoqiang said.

"You can send a telegram; it’s not expensive to send a telegram now, 3 cents a word."

As soon as Wang Xueyong finished speaking, Zheng Xianghong exclaimed in alarm. Three cents a word wasn’t expensive? It was expensive.

Moreover, the main issue was involving the Wang family when sending a telegram made Zheng Xianghong unhappy.

"Did you come by yourself? Where’s Guihua?" Zheng Xianghong asked.

"I came on my own. Guihua is at home. With a bicycle, it’s convenient for me to come. Uncle, Auntie, don’t be strangers with me. Rest assured, from now on if you want to send a telegram to Jiaxing or receive one from him, you can always come to me."

Xia Xiao was outright disgusted and couldn’t understand what the Gao family saw in Wang Xueyong, with his intrusive ways.

Xia Xiao went straight back to her room. Seeing Xia Xiao leave without saying goodbye, Wang Xueyong said to Zheng Xianghong, "Is sister-in-law unhappy? It might be hard for Jiaxing to receive letters where he is now, so telegrams might be more convenient. Besides, Jiaxing is busy now and can only send a few words."

"It’s nothing, your sister-in-law is pregnant now and thinking too much," said Zheng Xianghong.

After hearing what Zheng Xianghong said, Wang Xueyong was taken aback, then smiled and said, "So Uncle, Auntie, you have a telegram to send to Jiaxing? I can send it for you on my way back."

"No need for that. As long as he is fine," Gao Guoqiang was about to say something when Zheng Xianghong shook her head.

"Is that so? Well, I’ll be heading back then," said Wang Xueyong.

"Wait a minute," Zheng Xianghong still gathered some vegetables to give to Wang Xueyong to take back home. "We grew these ourselves, take them home to eat."

"Thank you, Auntie," replied Wang Xueyong without any pretence, and then he rode his bicycle and left.

As soon as Wang Xueyong had left, Gao Jiazhi came in from outside and said, "Mom, Dad, I just saw Wang Xueyong. What was he doing at our house?"

Zheng Xianghong said, "Jiaxing sent a telegram. Look, it’s here."

Zheng Xianghong showed Gao Jiazhi the telegram, and Gao Jiazhi said, "It’s from the Lixian post office. It’s from before Jiaxing went to the small island. He has reached the army."

Zheng Xianghong’s face was a bundle of anxiety as she talked to Gao Jiazhi about Wang Xueyong, "What kind of person is he? Why do I find him so annoying?"

"He means well," Gao Guoqiang said.

"Means well my foot," retorted Zheng Xianghong.

Sun Yuhua spoke up directly, "Unwarranted kindness leads to suspicion of ulterior motives."

"Exactly. He seems like a caring young fellow, but why does my heart feel so uneasy?" Zheng Xianghong said.

Gao Guoqiang fell silent; as long as his son was safe, that was what mattered.

As for Wang Xueyong, Gao Guoqiang couldn’t appreciate him. This young man seemed to be about the same age as his son but was too profit-driven and scheming, which Gao Guoqiang didn’t like.

But now that Wang Xueyong had married Gao Guihua and become related to the family, they couldn’t offend him, nor could they push him away. And with him acting as if he was doing them a favor and being helpful, they couldn’t reject him anymore.

Gao Jiazhi said, "Although I think our family doesn’t have much that’s worth his trouble, we still should be careful. Dad, remember the matter with Ge Lai, Wang Xueyong is also getting involved in that. He’s now in contact with Liu Haiguo and his siblings, and before Jiaxing left, he told me to be wary of him."

Gao Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong nodded in agreement.

Xia Xiao came out and said, "Mom, Dad, I’m thinking of going to the provincial city tomorrow. I’ll go with my sister and Yan Hao, so you don’t need to worry."

Zheng Xianghong asked, "What happened, you’re going to the provincial city?"

Xia Xiao shook her head and didn’t say much. She didn’t know how to explain. Was she going to say that she planned to send a telegram to Jiaxing in the provincial city?