Chapter 140: Xie Huaizheng’s Mother
Huang Jiqin felt her son was all grown up and had a mind of his own now.
The world was a chaotic place these days, and places like train stations were rampant with petty thieves.
To think that Xie Huaizheng would make her travel all by herself, taking a train all the way from Beijing to West State.
Huang Jiqin couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness.
Luckily, before leaving, she had gotten some advice from Zhang Jingshu. She’d changed into a set of plain clothes and put away all her jewelry.
She had hidden all her money and valuables in the innermost layer of her clothing.
Even so, the few shouts of "Stop, thief!" that rang out on the train still frightened her.
She had barely slept a wink the entire journey.
After getting off the train, she immediately bought a bus ticket to the West State Military District.
’No, this won’t do,’ she thought. ’I have to get there right away. I desperately need to get some proper rest.’
It had been a very, very long time since she had traveled far from home, let alone by herself.
She wasn’t a particularly brave person, and the journey had given her quite a few scares.
Huang Jiqin sometimes wondered, ’What exactly am I being so insistent about?’
’Is it just because I want to meet my daughter-in-law? Could there really be anything wrong with the person Xie Huaizheng chose?’
’Am I just worried that the girl is being deceived?’
’The girl is an adult now; what do I have to worry about?’
The hardships of the journey made Huang Jiqin feel that even if the person Xie Huaizheng found was awful, as long as she was a living, breathing woman, she would accept her!
And just like that, the bus swayed and jolted its way to the West State Military District.
After getting off the bus, Huang Jiqin tried to call Xie Huaizheng, but he was still in training and didn’t answer.
Huang Jiqin had no choice but to tell the signal soldier on the line, "Young man, please give a message to Xie Huaizheng. Just tell him his mother has arrived, and I’ll be waiting for him at the guesthouse."
After hanging up, Huang Jiqin knew she desperately needed to find a place to rest and sleep.
And the only place to sleep around here was the guesthouse next to the military district.
Huang Jiqin went in, got a room, and headed upstairs.
However, as she was climbing the stairs, she was so exhausted that she missed a step.
Huang Jiqin nearly tumbled down.
She let out a scream, but luckily, a hand reached out from beside her and steadied her. "Be careful."
The girl’s soft, sweet voice rang out, and in that instant, Huang Jiqin felt the fatigue in her body simply melt away.
The girl also smelled wonderful—like jasmine. It wasn’t the artificial jasmine fragrance from the vanishing creams people used.
Instead, it was like the fresh scent of jasmine flowers that had just blossomed at dawn.
When Huang Jiqin’s gaze fell upon Su Zhaozhao, she froze.
’Heavens, this girl is stunningly beautiful! Her clothes are so neat and crisp, and her face is more beautiful than any movie star.’
’She wore no accessories, her hair simply tied back in a ponytail. Her delicate features possessed a natural, unadorned beauty that seemed almost otherworldly.’
"Thank you, thank you so much, young lady," Huang Jiqin said to Su Zhaozhao with a warm smile.
’Is she from Beijing?’
Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but ask, "Are you from Beijing?"
’Besides, the woman looks unfamiliar. I’ve been living here for quite some time and have a good sense of who the other residents are.’
’This woman must have just arrived.’
"Yes, I’m from Beijing. Oh, I’ve been traveling for days, and I’m exhausted. That’s why I was so unsteady on the stairs," Huang Jiqin said.
’If it weren’t for this girl,’ she thought, ’I probably would have fallen and injured myself.’
Su Zhaozhao supported Huang Jiqin by the arm. "It’s all right, ma’am. Let me walk you to your room."
"Oh, that’s very kind of you," Huang Jiqin said, her eyes scanning Su Zhaozhao.
She couldn’t help but think back to what Xie Huaizheng had told her.
’Su Zhaozhao is from Jiang City. This girl’s accent, her looks... she seems exactly like someone who would be raised in a Jiangnan Water Village.’
’And she’s staying at the guesthouse, too.’
’Could this girl in front of me be my future daughter-in-law?’
At this thought, Huang Jiqin grew very excited.
’What should I do?’
’Is this our first time meeting?’
"Ma’am? Ma’am, is this your room?" Su Zhaozhao called out to Huang Jiqin twice, finally snapping her out of her daze.
Su Zhaozhao had already led her to the door of her room.
"Yes, this is my room. Thank you, young lady. What’s your name?"
"Ah, you can just call me Little Su," Su Zhaozhao told Huang Jiqin.
’The surname matches! It’s got to be her!’
After thanking Su Zhaozhao a few more times, Huang Jiqin took a few pastries from her luggage and offered them to her. "Thank you. These are a specialty from my home in Beijing. Please take them."
Su Zhaozhao tried to decline, but Huang Jiqin pressed them into her hands, and Su Zhaozhao felt it would be rude to refuse again.
"Well, thank you, ma’am. Are you also here to visit your son or daughter?"
Su Zhaozhao knew that most people who stayed here were relatives of the soldiers—either their wives or their parents.
’Although this woman is dressed plainly, her features are elegant and well-defined, her figure is well-maintained, and her skin looks like it’s been meticulously cared for.’
For a fleeting moment, she was reminded of Zhang Jingshu, but the two women had very different auras.
This woman was gentle, yet carried an air of sharp confidence.
"Yes, my son is a soldier here. I came to visit him."
Su Zhaozhao exchanged a few more pleasantries with her before saying goodbye.
As Huang Jiqin watched Su Zhaozhao walk away, she couldn’t have been more pleased.
Huang Jiqin thought for a moment. ’Should I just ask her directly?’
’How is her relationship with Xie Huaizheng? Was she completely sweet-talked by him into agreeing to marry him so quickly?’
Although she was Xie Huaizheng’s mother, she didn’t want to see some other family’s daughter get tricked by her son.
She had a daughter too, so she could understand the feeling.
’Once I confirm that everything is fine with Su Zhaozhao, I’ll personally witness her and Xie Huaizheng register their marriage!’
’Then, when Xie Huaizheng gets some time off, they can return to Beijing to hold a proper wedding banquet.’
In that very moment, Huang Jiqin had already planned out everything for Xie Huaizheng and Su Zhaozhao.
She was thoroughly pleased with this daughter-in-law of hers.
It was a pity Old Sir Xie hadn’t come along; he wouldn’t get to see for himself how wonderful this young lady was.
Su Zhaozhao returned to her room and looked at the pastries Huang Jiqin had given her.
She couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.
’That woman from just now... she looked a little familiar...’
She recalled Xie Huaizheng mentioning that his mother would be arriving in a few days.
’That woman just came from Beijing, she has such a refined air, and her features feel somewhat familiar... They remind me of Xie Huaizheng.’
At this thought, Su Zhaozhao shot upright. ’No way... was that Xie Huaizheng’s mother?’
’In other words, my future mother-in-law?’
Su Zhaozhao was still lost in thought when a sudden KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK came from her door.
"Su Zhaozhao, open the door! I know you’re in there!"