Chronicle of the 70s-Chapter 371 - 348: New Year’s Reunion Part 3

Mr. Li also furrowed his brow, and only after sipping some tea did Qin Xi shake his head and say, "Impossible, something must have held him up, he should be fine."

Just as Li Xianglu was about to nod, the sound of the doorbell rang out. Old Geng, having had his fill, was embracing a tea bowl and drinking when he quickly threw on a coat and went out. It wasn’t long before hurried footsteps were heard, and the door was opened—it was Leng Qing entering.

However, Li Xianglu saw that Leng Qing had only put on a sweater and returned, her face red with cold.

Li Xianglu was startled and quickly handed over her own cotton-padded jacket. Leng Qing’s face was so red from the cold that her expression was unrecognizable as she put on the jacket.

Su Yan then directed Old Geng and Hu Zi to cook a bowl of ginger brown sugar water in the kitchen. They hurriedly got Leng Qing into bed to stay warm; in such cold weather, one could freeze through.

Without speaking, Leng Qing let everyone shove her into the room she frequently stayed in. Once inside, Li Xianglu gave Qin Xi a glance, signaling her to take the children to sleep first, while she herself sat beside Leng Qing.

Shortly after, Hu Zi came in with the ginger soup. Leng Qing’s nose started to run as soon as she encountered the heat, and she sniffled, drinking all the ginger soup.

Li Xianglu took the bowl from her and filled a foot basin with water before saying, "Come and soak your feet."

Leng Qing looked at Li Xianglu and quietly took off her socks, revealing her red feet, and placed them in the basin. Li Xianglu turned to get a washcloth for the feet, but when she returned, she saw Leng Qing with her head lowered, tears dripping into the basin—Leng Qing was crying.

Li Xianglu let out a sigh, fetched a washcloth for the face, and handed it over without a word.

Leng Qing took it and wiped her eyes, which were already red, indicating she had cried before.

Li Xianglu pulled up a stool and sat opposite Leng Qing, asking, "What exactly happened?"

Leng Qing sniffed and let out a sigh, "I want a divorce."

What! How could it be so sudden, and to start with a divorce? Nonetheless, she asked, "What happened exactly? Is it because my third brother bullied you? You tell me, and I’ll deal with him!"

Leng Qing gave a bitter smile, shook her head, and said, "It’s not his fault. It’s mine. It’s all my own wishful thinking, and then I still dared to hope for things that others can’t give."

This was cryptic—what did she mean by hoping for things others can’t give?

Just as Li Xianglu was about to inquire what had happened, a knock on the door came, and Li Xianglu paused before asking, "Who’s there?"

Li Jianqing’s voice came from the other side, "Little sister, it’s me!"

Her third brother was here. Li Xianglu turned to look at Leng Qing, only to see her turn her head away, making it impossible to discern her expression.

Li Xianglu didn’t understand what was going on between the two, so she got up and opened the door. Li Jianqing appeared at the entrance, clad in a military overcoat, cradling a lady’s blue overcoat and a scarf hat in his arms—obviously, these items belonged to Leng Qing.

This wasn’t the time for pleasantries or reminiscing. Li Xianglu opened the door and said to Li Jianqing, "Third brother, what on earth is going on between you and Leng Qing? Why did you let her run back here in a sweater alone in the middle of the night? If there’s a problem, can’t you just talk it out nicely?"

Li Jianqing, chastised by his sister, blushed and stammered, wanting to speak but was uncertain what to say after glancing at Leng Qing.

Seeing this, Li Xianglu also didn’t know what to say. After all, she was unaware of the specifics of the situation, so she just said, "Alright, the two of you, as husband and wife, should talk it out properly." Then, turning to the downcast Leng Qing, she added, "Sister-in-law, I’m going to leave first. If you have something to say, talk to my third brother. Keeping it in won’t let others know, and you’ll still suffer."

With that said, she left first.

After Li Xianglu left, she didn’t walk away immediately, but tiptoed to eavesdrop by the window.

She heard Li Jianqing ask, "Why do you want a divorce?"

Leng Qing didn’t speak.

She then heard footsteps, followed promptly by the sound of the door being flung open. Li Xianglu quickly raised her head, gave an awkward smile, waved her hand, and left.

The door was closed again, and Li Xianglu shrugged her shoulders, not at all embarrassed by being caught eavesdropping, and hurried back to gossip with Qin Xi.

After a thorough discussion between the couple, with the children fast asleep, they lay breathless on the bed. Li Xianglu then got up, drank a large cup of warm boiled water, and said, "Leng Qing said she wants to divorce my third brother."

Qin Xi took the tea bowl from his wife’s hand and after a sip, frowned and said, "Why get a divorce if everything’s fine?"

Li Xianglu shook her head, indicating she didn’t know the reason, but Qin Xi added, "Indeed, I did notice that something was off between your third brother and Leng Qing."