Volume One, Chapter 8: Zhou's Mother Opposes Zhou Cong Marrying Jiang Yao

“Just think about it—where he lives now, in those old barracks, he has daily training and no time to be with you… Are you really sure you can endure all that, Qiao Qiao?”

In the end, Commander Ye favored Zhou Cong precisely because he thought Zhou could spend more time with Qiao Qiao.

A soldier’s time is mostly dedicated to the country.

Even Commander Ye himself spends three to four months away from home each year.

“Dad, that’s not really hardship. Brother Fu has a low rank and no quota to follow the troops. After I marry him, we’ll still live at home. Once Brother Fu is promoted to regiment commander, we can move into a two-bedroom apartment in the section chief’s building.”

“As for money, I have the inheritance left by Mom—it’s enough for me.”

Ye Qiao Qiao wasn’t worried about finances. She still had her mother’s inheritance, and with the army covering her daily expenses, her mother’s legacy would last her twenty years.

Most importantly, her mother left fixed assets.

It was just that at present, property values were low, and many places were restricted from buying and selling, which made the Ye family appear impoverished.

Of course, the main reason was Commander Ye’s frugal lifestyle, which Ye Qiao Qiao had also adopted, avoiding extravagance.

From the perspective of the indulgent Zhou family, it was poverty.

“And what about what you said, that Brother Fu has no family at home…” Ye Qiao Qiao knew Zhou Juechuan didn’t want his identity exposed, so she naturally helped keep it a secret. “Isn’t that better? Without any elders around, I’ll feel freer and happier.”

“Dad, you are our head of the household.”

“Now that you’re watching over me, I won’t be afraid of being bullied, right?” Ye Qiao Qiao smiled, biting her chopsticks.

Commander Ye chuckled. “When you say that, that kid Juechuan really does seem like a good choice.”

“I’ll meet him alone first and ask for his opinion.” Seeing that his daughter wasn’t opposed to marriage, Commander Ye felt relieved.

Marriages fail for many reasons; only the weak fear marriage.

And ironically, the kindest souls are often the most vulnerable.

In any case, he was his daughter’s support and protection—she naturally wouldn’t suffer.

Ye Qiao Qiao couldn’t help but smile quietly to herself. Of course, she knew Brother Fu was good. After her father understood, he definitely wouldn’t consider anyone else.

She nodded obediently.

——

Zhou’s mother was informed by a call from a friend working at the Intelligence Bureau that Zhou Cong’s proposal had failed. She immediately angrily summoned Zhou Cong back.

“Zhou Cong, what did you say? You broke off your engagement with Ye Qiao Qiao? Who told you to call off the engagement and return the token to the Ye family?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Looking at her son, downcast and disheveled, she roared in disbelief.

“Mom, I’m not crazy. She kissed another man right in front of me. Why shouldn’t I break off the engagement?” Zhou Cong asked angrily.

“Not only am I breaking off the engagement, I’m going to marry Jiang Yao.”

“No! I won’t allow it.”

“You dare offend Miss Ye for the sake of a nanny’s daughter? Do you even understand what you’re doing? Our family has been in business for years, but we can’t afford to provoke a commander.” Zhou’s mother was furious.

Zhou Cong, already upset by Ye Qiao Qiao’s rejection and her harsh words, grew even darker upon hearing his mother imply that marrying Ye Qiao Qiao was merely social climbing.

“Mom, Ye Qiao Qiao trampled on my dignity. Are you really willing for me to keep chasing after her cold shoulder? Even without the Ye family, I can still expand our business.” Zhou Cong’s innate pride surfaced.

“Ye Qiao Qiao is probably just angry because you’re involved with Jiang Yao and is trying to spite you.” Zhou’s mother refused to accept Zhou Cong marrying Jiang Yao.

She had more experience than Zhou Cong and fully understood the benefits Commander Ye’s status brought to their family.

“If you handle Jiang Yao, Ye Qiao Qiao will come back to you. Women are emotional—son, listen to me. Go explain to Ye Qiao Qiao. Marrying her is the priority. Once she’s your wife, if she acts out, just ignore her.”

Zhou’s mother’s consolation gradually calmed Zhou Cong.

“Mom, first we have to get Yao Yao out of this mess.” Zhou Cong frowned.

“Go comfort Ye Qiao Qiao first. I’ll inform your father on this side.” Zhou’s mother said.

As long as her son didn’t marry Jiang Yao and was only helping to rescue her, she was happy to support him and not let him be unhappy.

Zhou Cong frowned, somewhat unwilling, but thinking that Ye Qiao Qiao’s choice of another man was just to spite him, he felt relieved.

——

That night, Commander Ye stayed up all night angry after reading the files on Zheng Yunshuang, Jiang Yao, and Zhou Cong.

Early the next morning, without even eating breakfast, he had his guard drive him directly to the Intelligence Bureau, still fuming.

Zhou Cong had waited all night in the lobby, equally sleepless. Seeing Commander Ye enter, he sprang up and hurried to greet him.

“Uncle Ye, I…”

“Hmph.” Commander Ye snorted angrily, not sparing him a glance, and turned into the office.

Zhou Cong was immediately stopped by the guard beside him.

“I know Commander Ye… I just want to say a few words.”

“Who doesn’t know the leader? This is the military, not a playground for nonsense. Take another step forward and you’ll be dealt with according to regulations!” the guard, Xie Wu, coldly rebuked him.

Zhou Cong’s face darkened. Xie Wu had always treated him courteously before; this coldness was unbearable.

Commander Ye truly turned his back on him!

Someday, when he became successful and paid more taxes to the state, the country would have to show him respect. Then, he would make Commander Ye regret underestimating him today.

Zhou Cong took several deep breaths to suppress his resentment.

He waited another hour in the lobby.

At times he worried about Jiang Yao suffering inside; at others he was displeased with Ye Qiao Qiao’s stubbornness.

But after his third request to see Jiang Yao was rejected, he abruptly turned and left the Intelligence Bureau, heading to see Ye Qiao Qiao.

Ye Qiao Qiao had just received milk delivered to her door by a dedicated soldier, and her scheduled groceries had arrived.

She ate the steamed buns left by guard Xie Wu in the kitchen along with the milk for breakfast.

She planned to go to the old barracks later to give Fu Juechuan a thank-you gift and congratulations.

She hadn’t forgotten that the day before, she heard Fu Juechuan had received a first-class merit award.

Just as she was ready to leave, she heard knocking and soldiers standing guard outside talking to someone.

She went to the door and asked, “Who is it?”

“Qiao Qiao, it’s me.” Zhou Cong’s voice was hoarse from a sleepless night, his face dark and ringed with heavy shadows.

When Ye Qiao Qiao opened the door and saw his appearance, she recalled how, in their previous life, although married for ten years, he had never shown such anxious emotion for her. Clearly, his ‘true love’ was Jiang Yao.

Ye Qiao Qiao thought to herself how blind she had been in the past, deceived by his gentle facade.

“What do you want?” she asked coldly.

Zhou Cong was displeased with her attitude but came today to negotiate peace.

“Qiao Qiao, I know you made your dad lock Jiang Yao up because you’re angry at me.”

“If you’re willing to let her go, I’ll marry you and take you home. I’ll also send Jiang Yao abroad.”

Zhou Cong thought he was being very sincere, though his tired expression made him look forceful and impatient.

Ye Qiao Qiao hadn’t expected Zhou Cong to be so presumptuous. Judging by his expression, he truly believed this.

“You don’t really think I still have feelings for you, do you?”

Zhou Cong didn’t answer, but the confident look on his face said it all.

Ye Qiao Qiao laughed bitterly. “Jiang Yao stole my identity and seal and ruined my reputation. I would never release her.”

“Get lost!”

Her cold rejection made Zhou Cong’s eyes redden with anger.

He reached out to grab her.

Ye Qiao Qiao instinctively jumped back.

Unaware of the threshold’s position, she squatted down hard on her backside and immediately heard a crack from her ankle.