pjbooks Chapter 150 Rumors
Chapter 150 Rumors
No one knew what she had just witnessed, but her appearance was noticed by a few gossipy women.
The news first spread among Aunt Zhang. She was squatting by the vegetable patch picking green beans when she saw Lin Chuxue passing by. She leaned over and whispered, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Lin Chuxue's lips trembled, and she didn't finish her sentence, only managing to utter half a sentence in a murmur:
"...I saw Lin Baoya go into the grove with a man..."
These words were like a spark that landed in a dry pile of firewood.
In less than half a day, the news spread like wildfire throughout every household in the residential area, from the clotheslines and laundry tables to the kitchen stoves.
When Bao Ya went to the hospital to deliver lunch at noon, she felt something was off the way. Especially when she arrived at the ward, people didn't greet her like they used to; instead, they deliberately avoided her gaze.
"Bao Ya, where did you go this morning?"
Jiang Tao couldn't help but ask, afraid that something might happen and he wouldn't be able to explain it to his younger brother. He knew how much his third brother valued his wife.
He had even planned to have his third brother come and pick her up when he had some free time.
"They went to the grove. What's wrong?"
Bao Ya assumed he already knew about it, so she didn't hide it from him and told him about the progress.
"Didn't they send anyone with you?"
Before Jiang Tao could ask any more questions, Fang Mingda quickly took over the conversation. He felt there was some misunderstanding. This girl was always honest and straightforward; it was impossible for her to be like what they were saying.
"Wang Xiao, Qi Jianjun, and Wang Muchen. Wang Muchen was fine to lead the way, but Wang Xiao insisted on dragging me along."
Hearing her say that, the two of them were relieved. It was probably just some gossipy sister-in-law who saw it and went around spreading rumors.
Before they could even relax, a loud voice suddenly shouted from the doorway:
"What? Wang Xiao really dragged you to the woods? He's such a jerk! Girl, don't be scared, I'll take you to find the boss."
Sun, the battalion commander's sister-in-law, overheard something on the way and said that Lin Baoya had gone into the woods with someone. When she got to the door, she heard Baoya say that Wang Xiao had taken her there. She got angry and started to drag Baoya to find the leader.
"Oh, sister-in-law, it's not what you think."
"Sister-in-law, calm down and let her finish speaking."
"Xiuyun, let go! Don't make things worse."
Battalion Commander Sun also rushed over to pull his wife away. Sister-in-law Xiuyun looked indignant. There were all sorts of things being said in the room. People from other wards also came over to watch the commotion. Some even ran up to Baoya, greeted her briefly, and then turned and left.
In an instant, the room descended into chaos. Bao Ya felt that everyone was acting strangely.
"What exactly happened? Explain yourself!"
Bao Ya couldn't stand these lunatics and yelled at them.
The roar echoed through the ward, the noisy chatter abruptly ceased, and even the wind blowing through the window seemed to pause for a moment.
All eyes in the room were fixed on Bao Ya, some with surprise, some with curiosity, and some with amusement at the prospect of something good happening.
Xiuyun's sister-in-law's hand, which was holding her wrist, froze in mid-air. Most of the righteous indignation on her face faded, leaving only a bit of awkwardness.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Battalion Commander Sun pried open his wife's fingers and whispered a plea:
"Look at you, you believe everything you hear, without even asking around."
"I did go to the grove this morning, along with Wang Xiao, Qi Jianjun, and Wang Muchen. We were looking for something. Who told you I went into the grove with anyone?"
Bao Ya frowned as she looked at Sister-in-law Xiuyun and asked, without a trace of guilt on her face.
Sister-in-law Xiuyun, feeling embarrassed, rubbed her hands together and looked awkwardly at Baoya:
"Oh dear, Baoya, I was being reckless. I only heard from gossip that you went into the woods with someone. I was just worried you'd get hurt."
Many people outside are saying that you went into the woods with a man…
One? There were clearly three, no, two and a half, how did it become one? Did that person see it or not?
She hadn't offended any of the women in the military region; even Old Mrs. Zhang next door was staying in her room. Who would spread such gossip?
Bao Ya didn't say anything more, she just sat on the low stool, resting her chin on her hand and staring blankly.
"Bao Ya, what are you planning to do?"
Sister-in-law Xiuyun leaned closer to Baoya and asked her a question, and the others in the room also looked in her direction.
"Let's go to the grove twice more."
"You want to lure that person out?"
Fang Mingda also came over to ask. He was able to get out of bed now, but his ankle was still in a cast and he needed crutches to walk.
"How about I go with you?"
He thought for a moment and added, and Bao Ya gave him a disdainful look at his limp leg. "You're a man, even if you have a limp."
Fang Mingda: I've been rejected...
As Bao Ya left the hospital carrying her net bag, she felt a chill on the back of her neck, as if a pair of eyes were glued to her back.
She turned around abruptly—
At the end of the road, the shadows of a few old locust trees swayed. In the distance, the chimneys of the family compound emitted bluish-gray smoke. Groups of military dependents carried vegetable baskets home, their laughter and chatter carried on the wind. But then, there was nothing there.
Is it just my imagination?
"Bao Ya!"
A shout suddenly came from behind, startling Bao Ya. She instinctively gripped the net in her hand tighter. When she turned around, she saw Qi Jianjun wearing a military green uniform with mud stains on his trouser legs, running towards her.
"Are you off work?" Bao Ya composed herself and asked in a low voice.
"Yeah, I just got back from training and I'm on my way to the cafeteria for lunch."
Qi Jianjun ran up to her, catching his breath, and glanced at her tense face. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Bao Ya shook her head, and only relaxed a little after glancing behind him and seeing that no one was there. "Did you need something?"
"It's nothing urgent," Qi Jianjun scratched his head, his eyes crinkling into a smile, "I just want to tell you something—have you met Sanmao yet?"
"Sanmao?" Bao Ya was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled. "Isn't he stationed in the south? He's not here."
Sanmao is the third son of his maternal uncle's family. Si Mao's older brother is named Su Jingrui. He has been in the army for four years and has not been home in those four years.
"He'll be rotating over next week!" Qi Jianjun said with a hint of excitement. "Then you'll get to see him."
"Really? That's great!"
Bao Ya's eyes lit up, but then she remembered the rumors and quickly suppressed her smile, then said to him:
"Oh right, I think I forgot something. Let's go to the grove again tomorrow afternoon. I'll tell Wang Xiao later."
She didn't deliberately lower her voice when she spoke, hoping that the person following her could hear her clearly so they could go to the grove together.
Qi Jianjun's smile remained unchanged as he nodded calmly, continuing her sentence, "Okay, I'm free tomorrow afternoon."
"And also," Bao Ya said, staring into his eyes, emphasizing each word.
"Don't wait at that intersection yesterday. There are too many people coming and going, you'll be too conspicuous. Once you're inside, find a place to hide. I have a feeling someone's following me today."