The brazen attitude of the new neighbor was something Cheng Su could barely stand. She asked Qi Taiguo about the gossip, wondering how someone like Song Cheng, who seemed to have a bit of a tough-guy demeanor, ended up with such a wife?
Qi Taiguo laughed and said, "You know how it is with soldiers, especially those who just enlisted. How many years can they actually go home? How many of them have the chance to marry out of love? If itâs not through matchmaking, then itâs an arranged marriage by the family. Thatâs how it was for Platoon Leader Song too."
"An arranged marriage?" Cheng Su realized. No wonder the pairing seemed a bit off.
"Song Cheng is the quiet type, and when he was newly transferred, I heard bits when people were asking about his family. I heard that when he got married, he couldnât even go back home. His grandfather was seriously ill and worried about the grandsonâs marriage, hoping the marriage would bring good luck to his health, so the family brought in a bride for him. Later, when Song Cheng returned home on leave, they completed the wedding rituals," explained Qi Taiguo.
Cheng Su gaped, "They brought in a bride just to bring good luck? Did it work?"
"That I donât know, how could I pry into peopleâs personal family affairs in detail?" Qi Taiguo chuckled.
Cheng Su said, "Itâs not that Iâm being petty or anything, but just interacting today, I found Sister-in-law Song to have an exceptionally thick skin, really quite blunt!"
"Weâre all neighbors, youâll see each other coming and going. Since they just moved in, try to get used to it first. If you really canât get along, just interact less," Qi Taiguo pondered and added, "Platoon Leader Songâs wife has always been in the countryside, so she might not have much experience. Now sheâs living in the city, she probably doesnât know the rules. Since youâre neighbors, if her heartâs not bad, maybe you can give her some pointers."
Cheng Su said, "How do I give pointers? She even openly talked about how her kids came to be, just short of giving the details."
Qi Taiguo chuckled internally, "Donât you and Hualing also talk about private matters sometimes?"
Cheng Su teased him, "Thatâs because weâve been neighbors for years, who would just meet someone new and babble indiscriminately?"
"Alright, alright, she hasnât read as many books as you have, and doesnât have much knowledge. Be a little more tolerant," Qi Taiguo gently squeezed her soft hand.
Cheng Su tried to pull away but couldnât, she just blushed as he held her hand, scolding, "Itâs not even dark yet, what are you up to?"
Qi Taiguo turned to his side and said, "Do you really have to wait until itâs dark? Canât a couple be playful anytime?" With a pitiful tone, he added, "I miss you!"
Cheng Su was terribly embarrassed and gave him a light punch, "Knock it off, what kind of trashy books have you been reading that make you act like this when you get back?"
"Really, if you donât believe it, feel it," Qi Taiguo took her hand and guided it under his crotch.
Sure enough, it was hard.
Cheng Suâs face turned as red as blood, and catching a glimpse of her son watching, she hurriedly pulled her hand back, exclaiming, "Youâre asking for trouble, the kid is watching you!"
Qi Taiguo peeked over to see the boy staring with his big dark eyes and couldnât help but wail, "Letâs have him sleep with his grandmother tonight!"
Cheng Su found it amusing, "Even if he sleeps with my mother, what can you do? My mom said for this postpartum period, itâs best to make it forty-five days long, the longer the better!"
"Heavens help me!" Qi Taiguo immediately screamed as if life had no meaning, making Cheng Su laugh heartily. Though he couldnât do much, Qi Taiguo didnât let it go and took the opportunity to enjoy holding her hand, paying no mind to their wide-eyed son watching.
Qi Xiaoqi watched his parents fooling around, feeling quite hurt, sighed and gazed at the ceiling, wishing someone would take him to sleep with his grandmother. These two were damaging the pure hearts of the countryâs young flowers!