Old-style apartment buildings, with the balcony serving as the kitchen.
Chen Mianmian stood at the cutting board, facing the window glass.
Even though she couldn’t see him, she could already feel his icy, bone-chilling gaze.
It was Zhao Lingcheng, standing outside the window.
Chen Mianmian forced herself to stay calm, took a sip of milk powder, set down the bowl, and blurted out, “I came back to rest for the sake of the baby.”
Standing on tiptoe, making her entire belly visible, she added, “Back in November last year, I nearly had a miscarriage from being so angry at you. I lost so much blood. Thankfully, our baby was strong enough. Look, in just two more months, she’ll be able to meet you.”
She knew Zhao Lingcheng would definitely be suspicious and bring up her period.
Beating him to the punch, she quickly mentioned the threatened miscarriage, blocking whatever he was about to say.
She still wanted to pin the blame on him, saying she almost miscarried because of him—just to see if he’d be scared.
Zhao Lingcheng was indeed stunned, didn’t say a word, nor did he dare to refute her.
Chen Mianmian picked up the milk powder and took another sip, smiling as she said, “Come on in, I’ll cook us a meal.”
Just then, Niuniu started wriggling again, making quite a ruckus—turning over in her belly.
She made her mother’s belly shake, wriggling and squirming.
Chen Mianmian took the chance to stick her belly out even more, searching for Zhao Lingcheng’s figure.
“Look, the baby is saying hello to her dad.”
Zhao Lingcheng finally spoke again, “I’m working overtime.”
He actually wasn’t looking at the window, nor at his ex-wife’s prominent pregnant belly.
He was staring into the pitch-black night sky, suspecting this was all just a nightmare, wishing he could wake up as soon as possible.
Chen Mianmian pressed on, “So when will you come home?”
She added, “I have something very important to discuss with you. We really need to sit down and talk.”
Zhao Lingcheng’s tone was icy, “I don’t know.”
Then, “Goodbye.”
Chen Mianmian chased after him down the corridor, “Tomorrow morning, I’ll get food ready and wait for you?”
But by the time she got out of the apartment building, all she saw was a tall figure in the distance, disappearing around the corner.
At the entrance to the family compound, the guard on duty saluted.
“Hello, Zhao Gong.”
Zhao Lingcheng was startled awake, finally realizing this wasn’t a nightmare—his ex-wife had really come back.
Memories he thought were dead kept attacking him, making it impossible to focus on work or figure out how to handle this situation.
Thinking back, even though their marriage had been an accident, he once looked forward to love.
Seeing the two patches of highland red on the girl’s cheeks, he thought looks didn’t matter—her soul was interesting enough.
The first time she caught a Xiaxia, he’d secretly admired her, thinking she was quite capable.
But soon, he couldn’t take it anymore.
To save money, she replaced all the toilet paper with old newspapers.
She even used his treasured vinyl record as a scraper for butchering Xiaxia, just because it was handy.
The eggs, fine flour, rice, and oil his work unit gave out—she took all of it back to her mother’s home, leaving him with only corn stalks and wild greens to eat.
At first, she’d pitifully ask if she could give her extra clothes to her younger brother.
Later, she got used to it—like bandits raiding a village, taking whatever she saw.
Worst of all, his mentor had personally entrusted him with Angong Niuhuang Wan, a life-saving medicine.
When she found out, and saw it locked in his desk drawer, she pried open his beloved desk and took it away, offering it up to her own mother.
Even so…
They were husband and wife after all, and he hadn’t resisted turning uncooked rice into cooked rice.
So when she stormed back to her mother’s house in a huff, he took time off work just to coax her back.
But he saw with his own eyes, Wei Cuiyun laughing and chatting as he gave her a ride home on his motorcycle.
Even after the divorce, he happened to run into her at Quancheng Hospital—she was washing clothes, while Wei Cuiyun sat there with his legs crossed, grinning.
So, even though everything was supposed to be over, the chapter closed, how did things end up like this again?
A child ran straight into Zhao Lingcheng, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Zhan Zhan?”
Xiao Zhanzhan held up a piece of Animal Hide.
“Blind Blind Pelt! I just showed it to my dad, and he kept praising it!”
Zhao Lingcheng turned and left at once, but Zhan Zhan chased after him, asking, “Uncle, didn’t Xiaxia give you a piece?”
Zhao Lingcheng had no patience for children, and said coldly, “No. Go home!”
He had to finish his report first—the Commissar was still waiting to see it.
Then he’d go research the issue of threatened miscarriage.
If the child was his, he’d certainly take responsibility.
But he’d never remarry.
Absolutely not.
After using pit toilets, having a flush toilet—even a squatting one—made Chen Mianmian feel incredibly grateful.
Most people now used newspaper in the restroom, but at Zhao Lingcheng’s home, there was actual toilet paper!
Heaven knows how excited Chen Mianmian was to find toilet paper in the bathroom.
Wandering into his bedroom, she was shocked to find that his desk and bed were both made of rosewood.
His mattress was a thick wool felt—she tried it, and it was so comfortable!
There was a piece of calligraphy on the wall, reading, [Bowing low, willingly a servant to the children], signed Zhao Jun.
Zhao Jun was Old Zhang, one of the first old air force pilots sent abroad to study aviation in the 1920s.
Looking around, Chen Mianmian thought to herself, who would’ve thought—
Niuniu’s father really knew how to enjoy life.
She didn’t dare sleep on Zhao Lingcheng’s comfortable big bed, so she slept on the narrow little bed in the small room.
The next morning, she went to the cafeteria early to get breakfast.
Everyone else outside was eating Corn Bun, but here there were White Steamed Bun—she wanted the steamed bun.
But when she asked for one, the cafeteria auntie rolled her eyes.
“No more steamed buns, only Corn Bun.”
She saw Chen Mianmian was paying with cash, so the auntie pulled the Corn Bun back.
“We only accept Special Supply Coupon.”
Sun Bingyu appeared behind Chen Mianmian at some point.
“Lingcheng didn’t leave you any Voucher?”
Chen Mianmian replied, “He’s too busy and forgot.”
She added, “I’ll just go to the Hospital cafeteria—they serve outsiders.”
Sun Bingyu handed her a steamed bun.
“The Hospital is three kilometers away—just eat mine for now.”
She pulled over another woman.
“Her chilblains still haven’t healed, even now.”
Chen Mianmian recognized her from memory.
“Liu Dajie, it’s already April and you still have chilblains on your feet?”
Liu Dajie’s husband worked in the Political Office.
She also gave Chen Mianmian a steamed bun, saying, “Your belly isn’t that big.”
She added, “The Hospital can’t cure it, but I heard there’s a folk remedy—wear shoes made from Blind Blind Pelt, and it’ll be completely cured.”
Sun Bingyu chimed in at the right moment, “She won’t take your hide for free. She’ll pay.”
Liu Dajie said, “Money’s not an issue. Just give me two pieces of your hide.”
Yesterday, Chen Mianmian had given Sun Bingyu two pieces on purpose—to spread the word and sell them.
She’d pay off the debts of the supporting female character herself, and the hides were just right for that.
With word of mouth, new customers had already arrived today.
She didn’t know how long she’d be staying here, so it was best to sell the hides quickly.
Chen Mianmian deliberately said, “Oh, I was planning to turn all those hides in to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in a few days, exchange them for an Honorary Certificate.”
Liu Dajie immediately took out five yuan.
“Save two pieces for me.”
Sun Bingyu said, “Turning them in is honorable, but you get no money. Wouldn’t it be better to get some cash?”
Chen Mianmian pretended to hesitate.
“I have over a hundred hides. Liu Dajie can have two, and I’ll turn the rest in. They’re no use just lying around anyway—sooner or later, the bugs will eat them up. Might as well exchange them for an Honorary Certificate to hang at home.”
Sun Bingyu slapped her thigh.
“Let me help you call more people.”
Liu Dajie also rushed off, contacting her friends and telling them to hurry over and grab some hides.
When Chen Mianmian got home, she made milk powder first, then ate two White Steamed Bun in one go.
When she left home again, there were already seven or eight family members waiting outside her little room.
This was hunger marketing—if she said the hides would be gone in a few days, the ones getting anxious wouldn’t be her, but the buyers.
She opened the door and bravely went in first; the others all followed.
At first, everyone just wanted two pieces and picked through them carefully.
Chen Mianmian said at the right time, “If you use this hide to make a mattress, it works wonders for rheumatism. My mom used it herself.”
Sun Bingyu quickly grabbed three pieces.
“I’ll make a mattress for my mom too—her arthritis is serious.”
Chen Mianmian deliberately added, “Don’t take too much, everyone. I still want to turn some in for honor.”
Liu Dajie immediately grabbed four pieces.
“I’ll make a mattress too, to help Old Zhang’s chronic cold legs.”
As soon as she started, everyone else followed suit, afraid they’d miss out if they were too slow.
Afraid Chen Mianmian would change her mind and not sell, they stopped being picky about size—whoever grabbed one paid right away.
Each hide was two yuan, and in no time, she’d sold 48 pieces, netting 96 yuan.
Once everyone left and she counted again, there were still 56 pieces left—she could sell those slowly.
At noon, while she was making noodles, two more family members came and bought six more hides—another 12 yuan.
Zhao Lingcheng still hadn’t come home, but Chen Mianmian wasn’t worried.
Because by the timeline, Quancheng Public Security Bureau should be sending a notice soon, reporting on the case of Xu Cigang and Chen Jinhui.
He might avoid her because he disliked her or suspected Niuniu’s parentage, but he’d definitely be interested in the case and happy to discuss it with her.
After a nap, she got up to go find Xiaxia Meat.
It was said that was the real treasure—she wanted to see if she could turn it into cash as well.
Usually, people who hoard things are messy and unhygienic, which is annoying.
But not the supporting female character—her mouse hides were hung up neatly, and the room where she stored meat was also clean and tidy.
But in this room, there was only a big kang bed and a large jar on the floor.
Where was Xiaxia?
Just as Chen Mianmian entered, Sun Bingyu came in too, smiling.
“The meat is probably spoiled by now.”
As a neighbor, she often saw Chen Mianmian storing meat, so when she saw the door open today, of course she came to join the fun.
Meat couldn’t be stored as long as hides. In her mind, the meat should have gone bad long ago.
There was a jar on the floor, with a lid, and a stone pressing down on top.
Chen Mianmian couldn’t move it alone, so she called Sun Bingyu to help, and together they lifted it off.
As she opened the jar, Sun Bingyu exclaimed, “It smells so good!”
Chen Mianmian smelled it too—a rich aroma of meat.
But this jar must have been pickled by the supporting female character before the divorce, and it wasn’t Xiaxia, but Wild Boar Meat.
It was sealed under a layer of snowy white fat.
Using a spoon to dig through the fat, Chen Mianmian fished out a fist-sized chunk of meat.
The fatty part was translucent, the lean part pink, all wrapped in white fat.
Sun Bingyu started drooling on the spot.
“What beautiful Pickled Jar Meat!”
At the same time, someone finally knocked on the door of Zhao Lingcheng’s office.
He’d finished his overtime long ago, but refused to go home, hiding in his office to read.
Zhao Hui had called over a dozen times—he hadn’t answered any of them.
Qi Political Commissar came to see him, but he ignored him too.
But this time he opened the door, because the case report from Quancheng Public Security Bureau had been delivered by the security section.
Delivered along with it was the Longines Watch that had been swapped for a Seagull Shell.
Just as Chen Mianmian expected, after skimming the case file, he headed straight to the family compound to find her.
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