Chapter 125 Shifting the Battleground: Caring from the Pressure to Marry

Chapter 125 Shifting the Battleground: Caring from the Pressure to Marry

She and Cheng Lanzhou were already preparing for a divorce, so why was he still publicly claiming to be married? They've clearly moved to a new place, so why bother?

Driven by intense curiosity, she pressed on: "What else have you heard?"

Seeing her eagerness to ask, Dr. Xu followed up, saying, "I overheard the soldiers in the camp talking about it a few days ago. They said his sister had gone to talk to him, and the word 'divorce' came up in the conversation. That's when everyone found out that he had been married before."

"I see."

Jiang Yutang's eyelashes trembled slightly, her thoughts already drifting to the other side.

Dr. Xu, oblivious to her odd behavior, continued, "Cheng Lanzhou is young and promising, and with such good looks, it's not surprising that he got married so early. It's just that everyone is inevitably curious about his wife, who has never shown her face."

Jiang Yutang remained silent and did not reply, mechanically moving forward.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Dr. Xu turned to look at her: "Don't you feel it's a pity? Actually, there are quite a few good young men in the camp. There's no need to focus on those who are already married."

Jiang Yutang widened her eyes and quickly waved her hand: "It's not what you think. I just feel a little surprised, that's all."

Dr. Xu smiled slightly, noticing her embarrassment, and changed the subject, saying, "I'm only a few years older than you, there's no need to use honorifics."

"Yes!" Jiang Yutang nodded with a smile.

The two returned to the clinic together and continued to organize the medicines and register the medical records as usual, as if the incident had never happened.

When she returned to her tent in the evening, she told her family about her encounter with Jiang Huaiyu at the military camp that day.

Upon hearing that Jiang Huaiyu was doing well in the military camp, Madam Yun breathed a sigh of relief and said with a look of reassurance, "Fortunately, Huaiyu is a cheerful and hardworking child."

Jiang Yutang had a fruit candy in her mouth, and her right cheek was bulging out in a round shape, like a greedy little hamster.

She recalled Jiang Huaiyu's narcissistic and smug appearance, and a bad idea popped into her head.

She deliberately frowned and said with feigned distress, "By the way, Father and Mother, my third brother was talking to me about finding a good match today. He said that he stays in the military camp every day, surrounded by soldiers and weapons, all men. Even if he wants to get married, there's nowhere for him to meet girls."

Jiang Shengan paused in his tea-drinking motion before slowly speaking, "That is indeed a problem."

Seeing her family members lost in thought, and Jiang Sumin looking completely unconcerned, she smiled and continued adding firewood.

"Third Brother also said that he was most worried about Fourth Brother, saying that Fourth Brother was completely clueless about matters of the heart. It makes sense, Fourth Brother has more opportunities to meet women than Third Brother, but he has never found someone he likes."

Jiang Sumin's hand trembled as he peeled the candy, and he glared at her, shouting, "What does this have to do with me?"

Jiang Songzhi put down the book in his hand, frowned and echoed, "Fourth brother, now our family has finally settled down in Danzhou, and we will probably live here for a long time, perhaps even for generations. You two are not young anymore, it is indeed time to think about settling down, so that the house will have more warmth and life."

Seeing that the battle had successfully shifted to Jiang Sumin, Jiang Yutang playfully stuck out her tongue at him.

It's time for him to experience the pressure of being "forced to get married".

Jiang Sumin was so angry that he chewed the candy, making a "crunching" sound, but he couldn't find the words to refute her.

Mu fed the broken candy to Xiaoxiao, who was drooling, and stared blankly at the tent roof, suggesting, "Mother, since we're looking for them, why don't we keep an eye out for them in the embroidery workshop? The girls there are all reliable and hardworking; we can get to know them well after spending some time with them."

Madam Zhu, supporting her pregnant belly, chimed in, "Yes, Mother. Danzhou is a remote place, and the women are mostly found in embroidery workshops and farmland outside the city. The girls in the farmland are exposed to the wind and sun, while the girls in the embroidery workshops are skillful and meticulous, so they are more suitable."

Yun nodded repeatedly, agreeing, "That's the only way."

The women chatted animatedly, completely ignoring Kang Suk-min's protests.

Jiang Sumin stood up angrily, sticking out his neck and saying, "I don't want to just find anyone! I only like women who are talented and can be chatted with."

"Ouch!"

Jiang Yutang deliberately mimicked his tone, saying sarcastically, "Fourth Brother spends all day with account books and abacuses, I didn't expect his standards for a partner to be so high."

Jiang Sumin's face turned bright red at her words, and he stammered in defense, "I... I didn't mean that, I meant... I meant we're in love!"

Jiang Shengan put down his teacup and advised in a serious tone, "Fourth brother, our family is now in exile and convicted. It would be extremely difficult to find you a daughter from a respectable family to marry into our family."

Silence fell instantly inside the tent.

Jiang Yutang realized she had gone too far and nervously observed Jiang Sumin's expression.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Sumin lowered his eyes and looked at the wooden plank under his feet. His usual defiant demeanor disappeared, replaced by a hint of dejection and resignation.

After a long silence, he pursed his lips and softly replied, "I understand, Father."

Jiang Yutang suddenly felt a pang of sadness. She thought back to the days when everyone in the Grand Tutor's mansion was arrogant and haughty, but now they could only bow to reality.

Seeing him like this, the others felt sorry for him but were also truly helpless.

Jiang Yutang stood up to smooth things over, jokingly saying, "Fourth Brother, don't worry! There are quite a few literate girls in the embroidery room. Let's take our time. Maybe one day when Danzhou becomes wealthy, some merchants will move here with their wives and daughters."

She uttered unrealistic words of comfort, grabbed Jiang Sumin's arm, and pulled him outside.

"Come on, Fourth Brother! I've been busy at the military camp all day and didn't eat enough for dinner. Come with me to the kitchen and get another bowl of rice."

Jiang Sumin was being dragged outside by her, muttering "Are you a good-for-nothing?" but he didn't resist.

The commotion in the tent was dispelled considerably by the noise. Jiang Shengan looked at the two figures as they walked away and shook his head helplessly.

In the now quiet tent, Jiang Shengan suddenly asked, "Second brother, judging from the current situation in Danzhou, how long will it take for it to develop?"

Jiang Jiuze remained silent for a long time, then sighed heavily and slowly shook his head.

Seeing this, Jiang Shengan's eyes darkened, and he replied softly, "I see..."

The expectation in his eyes gradually faded, and his words were full of helplessness and melancholy.

On the other side, Jiang Yutang and Jiang Sumin had just stepped into the kitchen when they saw a familiar figure in front of them.

"Dr. Xu!" she called out.

Dr. Xu turned his head and saw that it was her. A faint smile appeared on his originally calm face, and he nodded with pursed lips.

Seeing that Dr. Xu was also carrying an empty lunchbox, Jiang Yutang jokingly asked with a smile, "You haven't eaten enough either?"

Dr. Xu shook his head, his voice gentle: "It wasn't me, it was me... My younger brother hasn't eaten yet, so I'm here to get him some."

"You have a younger brother?" Jiang Yutang asked in surprise, having never heard Doctor Xu mention it before.

"Hmm." Doctor Xu hesitated for a moment, then asked as if he had mustered up his courage, "I don't live far away, in a nearby cabin. Would you like to come and sit with me for a while?"

Jiang Yutang pointed to Jiang Sumin beside her and asked with a smile, "This is my fourth brother. Can he come along?"

Doctor Xu's gaze fell on Jiang Sumin. This man was handsome, with bright and intelligent eyes. Unlike Jiang Huaiyu, whom he had met in the military camp, he had a kind of indifference.

Jiang Sumin nodded slightly: "Jiang Sumin."

When their eyes met, Dr. Xu noticed that the other person's brows furrowed slightly, as if he was somewhat uncomfortable.

She raised her hand and scratched her neck, her voice soft: "Y-yes."