Qiao Weiguo’s face darkened. This child truly could not tell the good from the bad.
"She is suitable."
Just then, someone interrupted. Both Shi Qingqing and Qiao Lanlan looked toward the man who had spoken, their expressions intriguing. Shi Qingqing’s was a mix of curiosity and amusement, while Qiao Lanlan’s was one of disdain and annoyance.
"Who are you?" Qiao Weiguo looked at the man, feeling a sense of familiarity.
Lu Heng stepped forward, coming to a stop right beside Shi Qingqing. "Uncle Qiao, I am Lu Heng."
Shi Qingqing was 1.7 meters tall, yet she only reached Lu Heng’s chest. The man must be at least 1.9 meters tall. The Qiao family was clearly taken aback; they had only ever seen photos of Lu Heng, never the man himself. In the photos, Lu Heng wore a military uniform and looked young, having been photographed just after joining the service. Today, he wasn't in uniform, and he appeared much taller and broader, his features even more firm and hardened by time. It was no surprise the Qiao family hadn't recognized him immediately.
"You are Lu Heng?" Qiao Weiguo asked in surprise, watching Lu Heng walk up to him.
Lu Heng took the initiative to shake Qiao Weiguo's hand. "It is I. My grandfather asked me to come and visit you during this leave."
Qiao Weiguo’s face was full of enthusiasm. "You came all this way, and you didn't even write to let us know so we could have picked you up."
"It was a last-minute decision. I just arrived today. I intended to stop by the hospital to pick up some medicine before visiting, but I unexpectedly ran into you, Uncle Qiao." Lu Heng’s posture was rigid, his words concise.
Qiao Weiguo felt a sudden awkwardness. "So... you saw everything?"
Lu Heng replied politely, "My grandfather and Grandfather Qiao arranged a marriage between me and the Qiao granddaughter. In my view, since this comrade is the Qiao family’s true daughter, the Lu Family naturally hopes that she is the one to fulfill the engagement."
Lu Heng had no fondness for the girl the Qiao family had raised for eighteen years. The way she had looked at him earlier... it gave him the gut feeling that if they were forced together, no good would come of it.
The Qiao family was now in a difficult position. The eldest son of the Qiao family said to his father, "Dad, we can't do this! If Lanlan isn't the one who marries into the Lu family... perhaps our family and the Lu family will turn from in-laws into enemies."
Although he hadn't insulted Shi Qingqing directly to her face, Shi Qingqing wasn't a fool. She snapped back immediately, "May I ask, do you know me? Are we familiar with each other?"
The eldest son of the Qiao family frowned. "I know you are our biological sister, but in terms of understanding, I know Lanlan's character better. I cannot risk Brother Lu Heng’s lifelong happiness; having Lanlan marry into the Lu family is the safest bet."
"You don't know me, yet you open your mouth to say that my marrying Lu Heng would make our families enemies. That is an insult to my character and slander against my reputation!" Shi Qingqing’s face lengthened, her expression stern. "Comrade, please apologize! Otherwise, I will call the police and ask the security comrades to grant me justice!"
The eldest Qiao brother was stunned. He had only spoken his inner thoughts; how had it become slander, and why was an apology necessary?
"I will reiterate: although I share blood ties with you, I do not know you, and you do not know me." Shi Qingqing’s gaze was icy, her tone cold. "I don’t care what you intend to do, and you would do well to stop running your mouth about what I do. It was Shi Lanlan who wanted to swap this marriage; don't try to pin that on me."
Anyone swept by her gaze felt a chill run down their spine. For a moment, no one dared to reply. Even Shi Jingye only furrowed his brows. He was puzzled; how had Shi Qingqing suddenly changed into a different person? He wasn't curious about what had been said between Shi Qingqing and Lanlan, but rather what Lanlan had said to Shi Qingqing that had caused such a sudden shift in personality. Everyone else felt that the current Shi Qingqing was unnervingly intimidating, and they wanted nothing to do with her.
Seeing this, Shi Qingqing turned and left. She needed to take advantage of the fact that the Shi family was still at the hospital to go back and retrieve her household registration.
Lu Heng watched her slender back for a moment, then said to Qiao Weiguo, "Uncle Qiao, I will visit your home tomorrow." Without waiting for Qiao Weiguo to urge him to stay, Lu Heng strode away.
At the hospital entrance, Lu Heng caught up with Shi Qingqing.
"Comrade Qiao Qingqing."
He called out to her. Shi Qingqing turned around, alert. "Is something the matter?"
Lu Heng walked up and stood before her, extending a hand. "Let us be acquainted properly. I am Lu Heng, the man engaged to the Qiao family, and I am a soldier." He did not elaborate on his unit or rank. With the current volatile political situation, spies and agents were everywhere, and regulations forbade the casual disclosure of such information.
Shi Qingqing—no, she should be called Qiao Qingqing now—did not hesitate and reached out to shake his hand. Seeing that Lu Heng held no hostility, Qiao Qingqing softened her sharp edges.
"Comrade Lu Heng, hello," she said, calm and steady.
Lu Heng could sense that she wasn't as resistant or hostile toward him as she had been toward the Qiao and Shi families in the hospital. He spoke with gravity: "My grandfather’s intention is that he hopes my fiancée and I can register our marriage as soon as possible. Counting the time for reporting and approvals, I am worried my leave won't be long enough. I would like to ask your opinion: do you genuinely consent to this marriage?"
Qiao Qingqing frowned slightly. Was she willing to marry Lu Heng? Even though this was the engagement the Qiao family had arranged, if she insisted on refusing, there was nothing they could do to her.
Qiao Qingqing lifted her eyes to look at Lu Heng, her gaze profound. "Comrade Lu Heng, if we marry, to what extent are you willing to go for me, your wife?"
Lu Heng looked into her eyes with sincerity. "As a soldier and a descendant of the Lu Family, if we become revolutionary partners, I will have only one wife for the rest of my life. As long as you do not betray the country, the Party, or the people, whatever you wish to do, I will be your most steadfast support."
Hearing this, Qiao Qingqing was lost in thought. She did not doubt Lu Heng’s promise. In her past life, after Lu Heng married Shi Lanlan, although they lacked affection, Lu Heng still fulfilled his responsibilities as a husband. Even after the Lu Family was exonerated, Lu Heng had worked hard to give his wife a good life. Even when Shi Lanlan was being ambiguous with wealthy heirs, Lu Heng had been willing to give her the choice.
Qiao Qingqing could see that Lu Heng felt no love for Shi Lanlan, only duty. This sense of responsibility alone was enough to make Lu Heng proactively distance himself from other women and work tirelessly to provide for her. From this perspective, marrying Lu Heng was a viable option. As for the disaster looming over the Lu Family, with her presence, it was not entirely without a chance of turning things around...
In just a few minutes, Qiao Qingqing had considered much. She had made her decision.
"Comrade Lu Heng, I am willing to marry you."
Marrying Lu Heng was largely a calculation of pros and cons. To take her revenge, she needed a backer. The Lu Family standing before her was the only "upper-class" connection within her reach for the next few years. Shi Lanlan feared the Lu Family’s downfall simply because, with her limited vision and ability, she was powerless to change anything.
Qiao Qingqing was different. In her past life, she had fought with her own hands, climbing the social ladder step by step. She understood the complexities of the power struggles and internal secrets of this era. The process of the Lu Family’s decline happened to be within the scope of her knowledge.
Calculating carefully, there was only half a month left until the day Lu Heng was framed.