B5SB -Chapter 285 Zhang Xia’s Scheme

At the entrance of the family compound

Su Nian and Zhang Xia sat at the gate, watching Zhou Ni and Chun Cao playing in the sand on the open ground.

“Zhang Xia, I helped you ask around.”

“Lan Cao’s family really is from Qingyuan Brigade.”

At the words, Zhang Xia’s breathing stalled.

She forced a smile at Su Nian. “Sister Su, did you find out anything else?”

Su Nian glanced at her and subconsciously touched her lower abdomen.

If not for the fact that they were both pregnant—and because Zhang Xia had come to her door every day begging—she wouldn’t have softened and agreed to investigate Lan Cao.

Otherwise, who would want to meddle in that couple’s messy affairs? All effort, no thanks.

“People from their brigade said Lan Cao leaves the village on every ‘ten day’ of the month.”

“Every ten?”

Zhang Xia’s eyes widened as she abruptly looked up at Su Nian.

“Sister-in-law, are you sure it’s every ten day of each month? Three times a month? You didn’t hear wrong?”

Hearing the doubt in her tone, Su Nian’s expression gradually cooled.

She lowered her gaze, a trace of displeasure flashing in her eyes.

“Yes. And she stays overnight each time, only returning early the next morning.”

When she went to Qingyuan Brigade to trade for eggs, she’d asked more than one person just to be safe. She’d even handed out quite a few White Rabbit candies to some girls who were cutting pig grass.

And now Zhang Xia questioned her—what did that mean?

“That’s not right. Except when he’s on missions, my husband has never stayed out overnight on the ten days,” Zhang Xia shook her head in rebuttal.

Su Nian lifted her eyes and looked at her impatiently. “Are you thinking too poorly of Deputy Battalion Commander Wang?”

“Who’s in such a hurry to splash dirty water on her own husband?”

Zhang Xia heard the displeasure in her tone and gave a bitter smile.

“But he really does give Lan Cao money every month.”

“That still doesn’t prove he’s having an affair!” Su Nian objected.

“If there’s nothing between them, why would he even borrow money to give her?” Zhang Xia pressed.

“You’re asking me? Shouldn’t you be asking your husband, Deputy Battalion Commander Wang?” Su Nian snapped.

Zhang Xia shook her head. “There’s not a single truthful word in a man’s mouth.”

“Asking would be useless. If I could get the truth from him, I wouldn’t have asked you to investigate for me!”

Su Nian looked at her deeply. Between husband and wife, the worst taboos were lack of communication and lack of trust.

Catching a whiff of trouble and sentencing the other party to death without solid proof.

“After all, Lan Cao lived with Deputy Battalion Commander Wang for several years. We can’t just watch her fall into a pit without helping, can we?”

“I heard her parents are lazy good-for-nothings.”

“If they couldn’t squeeze some benefits from Deputy Battalion Commander Wang, they would’ve long ago married her off to that old bachelor who beat his wife to death.”

Su Nian found herself defending Deputy Battalion Commander Wang.

Zhang Xia looked at her with displeasure and said coldly, “Sister Su, why are you speaking up for Lan Cao?”

Su Nian was so angered by her foolishness she almost laughed.

“I’m speaking up for Lan Cao?”

“Then what?” Zhang Xia’s tone was sharp, resentment flickering in her eyes.

“They’re divorced. Whether Lan Cao lives or dies has nothing to do with my husband.”

“Does he need to pity her?”

Su Nian hadn’t expected that after spending her own things to help, she’d not only receive no gratitude but even be blamed.

She couldn’t hold back her temper anymore. She shot to her feet and pointed at Zhang Xia’s nose.

“What good does it do you if Deputy Battalion Commander Wang made a mistake?”

“What good does it do you if he’s expelled from the army for misconduct?”

“Or have you already found someone new, and you’re trying to bring him down at every turn so you can divorce and run to your so-called love?”

Zhang Xia was stunned by the barrage of questions.

When she recovered, she stood up, eyes reddening, her thin body looking as though it might collapse at any moment.

“Sister-in-law, how could you think that of me?”

“I was only—”

“Ring ring!”

The sound of Gu Yihan’s bicycle bell cut her off.

She smiled at Su Nian. “Sister Su, what’s going on?”

Her gaze shifted to Zhang Xia, confusion flashing in her eyes.

A woman’s sixth sense told her Zhang Xia might be trying to set Sister Su up.

Su Nian suppressed her anger and smiled slightly at Gu Yihan. “Xiao Han, off work?”

Gu Yihan nodded with a grin. “You two keep talking. I’ll head home first.”

She pushed her bicycle, unlocked the door, and went inside.

By now, Su Nian had regained her rationality. She felt she had fallen into Zhang Xia’s trap. She gave her a cold look.

“From now on, my home does not welcome you.”

With that, she picked up Zhou Ni and slammed the courtyard door shut.

Zhang Xia’s face was pale as she bit her lip hard.

She couldn’t understand why Su Nian, who had been fine just moments ago, suddenly became disgusted with her.

But she had learned what she wanted to know.

Now she would just wait for the next “ten day,” run into Lan Cao by chance, and pin the child in her womb on her.

An hour later.

Gu Yihan had just finished cooking dinner when she suddenly slapped her forehead—she’d forgotten to feed the chickens.

She quickly mixed the feed with water and carried it to the back of the courtyard.

Instinctively, she called out, “Cluck, cluck, cluck—time to eat!”

Creak!

Su Nian pushed open the courtyard gate. Hearing Gu Yihan’s “cluck cluck,” she laughed.

Gu Yihan paused mid-motion, set down the scoop, and walked over smiling.

“Sister Su, dinner’s ready?”

Su Nian nodded gratefully. “Xiao Han, thank you just now!”

“If it weren’t for you, I might have fallen into Zhang Xia’s scheme!”

“Ah? Really?”

Without another word, Gu Yihan ushered her inside, had her sit on the sofa, then dragged over a small stool and plopped down, eyes shining.

“Sister Su, quick—tell me everything!”

Amused by her bright eyes, Su Nian smiled. “It’s about Deputy Battalion Commander Wang and his ex-wife Lan Cao.”

She recounted everything that had happened at the gate.

Gu Yihan froze.

That’s it?

She’d thought there would be some huge gossip!

Then she asked curiously, “Why didn’t she investigate herself? Why make you do it?”

“Lan Cao said her mother-in-law won’t let her leave the family compound and told her to stay home and rest during pregnancy.”

Gu Yihan felt something was off and sized Su Nian up. “Since when are you so soft-hearted?”

Su Nian sighed and pointed at her lower abdomen. “I think it’s because of him.”

“Ever since I got pregnant, I’ve been strangely sentimental and soft. I can’t stand seeing people cry.”

Gu Yihan stared at Su Nian’s still-flat belly in shock.

“You’re pregnant again?”