A domineering country girl flirts with her son, and Commander Huo can't resist.

Chapter 110 A Little Interlude at the Goods Store

"Why buy them clothes? Don't Huo Dong and Huo Jie have parents? Or are they addicted to begging, thinking that as long as they ask for food, people will throw them a couple of leftovers?"

Joan remained scathing in her words.

"Qiao An, I'm talking to my son. Do you have the right to interrupt?" Liu Huying thought her second son had been relatively well-behaved over the years and was easy to control.

Even if he's an officer in the army, he still has to call her "Mom" when he gets home.

"Mom, I don't have any money. I've given you all the money." Huo Jiyun didn't spoil her, and he really didn't have any money. Almost all of his money had been used to buy timber for the family.

The last time he caught a spy, the armed forces department wrote him a letter of commendation, and he should be able to get a third-class merit, but the bonus probably won't be issued until after the new year when he returns to the unit.

In front of everyone, Huo Jiyun, a grown man, just said so frankly that he had no money.

Liu Huying was so angry she choked, "You shameless piece of trash."

"Qiao An, you're their stepmother, it's the same if you buy it."

"Hey, weren't you talking to your son? I have no right to interrupt, don't come looking for me."

Liu Huying gets angry whenever she sees Qiao An. She used to be a coward who wouldn't fight back or talk back when hit or scolded, and wouldn't dare to go west when told to go east.

Now they have money, jobs, and even their silver tongues have become impressive.

"Don't think you're so great just because you have a little money. You're only doing this because of my son's name. Working at the police station must have made you think you're so capable."

"After the New Year, I'll go to the police station and tell them that you've been speculating and profiteering in the village, and doing all that capitalist stuff."

Qiao An raised an eyebrow. "Wow, that's impressive. You actually know about capitalists. I really underestimated you."

"Don't wait until after the New Year, go now."

Those around heard the gist of the story and thought the old woman was being unreasonable, so they slowed down and watched the spectacle.

Huo Chen's eyes darted around, and his voice was clear and crisp, "Mom, how about we buy clothes for my older brothers?"

"If we don't buy it, they'll beat me and Aning up again."

"Back home, my dad bought four chickens, and Aning and I wanted to eat an egg. My aunt and my other aunt almost beat us to death."

Upon hearing this, a commotion erupted around them.

Huo Jiyun's face was as gloomy as a block of ancient ice.

When Wang Shuying saw Huo Jiyun's murderous gaze, she was so frightened that she waved her hands repeatedly, "It wasn't me, it was my sister-in-law and mother who hit me."

"What...what nonsense are you talking about?" Liu Huying punched Wang Shuyun.

"Mom and Dad, I'm scared... I don't want the new clothes anymore. Give mine to Auntie's family. Please don't hit me, Grandma, please don't hit me." Huo Ning pouted and burst into tears.

Joanne couldn't help but want to give her two children a thumbs up.

That was a divine intervention.

"Qiao An, you taught me all this, didn't you? Fine, fine! You're amazing, second son. I'm telling you right now, that bitch Qiao An is no good. If you divorce her, I'll still acknowledge you as my son!"

Liu Huying was also confused in her anxiety; she always felt that filial piety was the most important thing in the world.

Although Huo Jiyun had warned them last time, Qiao An was an outsider after all; he was someone Huo Jiyun had raised himself.

"Divorce?" Joan laughed even louder. "Do you even know what military marriage law is? Breaking a military marriage can land you in jail."

"Wha...what military marriage?" Liu Huying was completely confused.

Just then, Jiang Yushun, who was shopping for New Year's goods with his family, passed by and greeted Qiao An.

"Qiao An, Commander Huo, you're here to buy New Year's goods too?"

Upon seeing Jiang Yushun, Qiao An pulled him over. "Chief Jiang, could you talk to her about what the sentence is for disrupting a military marriage?"

Jiang Yushun had no idea what had happened, but she still followed Qiao An's lead, saying, "Usually three to five years."

"What's going on? Who's trying to ruin a military marriage? Trying to ruin you and Commander Huo? This is outrageous! This is Jinshui Town, do they have a death wish?"

"Do you think I, Jiang Yushun, am dead?"

Qiao An helped him solve a series of major cases; she was his precious treasure, and no one was allowed to bully her.

"Tell me who it is? I'll send men to arrest her right now, and she'll be eating cornbread in jail this New Year!"

Huo Jiyun took two steps forward. "Qiao An and I are husband and wife. I will not divorce her."

"Mom, you'd better think this through before you say it. Breaking up a military marriage is something even I can't stop the police from arresting. Where do you really want to spend the New Year?"

When Liu Huying saw Jiang Yushun in his police uniform, his previous unreasonable behavior had vanished without a trace.

"I...I didn't mean that. It's just that Qiao An is too domineering at home..."

At this moment, Huo Fang, who had been silent, spoke up, "My second aunt is bullied at home every day. My grandma and my mom always beat her and don't give her food."

"One winter, my second aunt had a high fever, and my grandmother still made her go to the river to wash clothes. My second aunt almost fell into the river and drowned."

"How could my second aunt be domineering?"

As soon as Huo Fang finished speaking, the people next to her started gesturing and pointing.

"What era are we living in? How can there still be such a wicked mother-in-law?"

"She's obviously one of those old hags from the village, who bullies her daughter-in-law. Now that her son is back, she's going to leech off them again."

"If my mother-in-law is like this, I'd rather die with her than let anyone else live like this."

Jiang Yushun was stunned.

This isn't right. Qiao An is a very capable person.

How could she be bullied like that at home?

Looking at Qiao An's calm expression again, Jiang Yushun still didn't believe it.

But how could a child lie?

Thinking of this, Jiang Yushun's gaze toward Liu Huying turned cold and sharp.

"Ma'am, this is a department store, not a place for you to throw a tantrum. If you're not going to buy anything, then leave now."

Liu Huying looked at Huo Jiyun for help, but Huo Jiyun didn't even look at her. He just stared straight at Qiao An with his head down.

"Mom, let's go." Huo Jiyu pulled her from the side.

Wang Shuyun couldn't stand the strange looks anymore, so she and Huo Jiyu pulled Liu Huying away.

"Director Jiang, thank you so much for earlier." Qiao An thanked Jiang Yushun, completely unaware of Huo Jiyun's heartbroken gaze.

She didn't see it, but Jiang Yushun did. He patted Huo Jiyun on the shoulder and said, "Commander Huo, although you are of a higher rank than me, you still have to call me 'elder brother' in terms of age."

"Qiao An is a good woman, you must treat her well. In the four years you were away from home, look at the kind of people she was facing every day."

Huo Jiyun felt even more guilty.

"What Jiang said is correct, I've taken it to heart."

After the little incident, Joanne was not affected at all and continued to buy clothes for the children.

While other children might only have one newly made cotton-padded jacket for the New Year, Qiao An generously bought two jackets for each child.

Huo Fang, carrying the heavy bag, could hardly believe it.

For so many years, her New Year's clothes have been altered from Shen Xiufang's old cotton-padded jackets.

She's only been at her second aunt's house for a little over a month, and she already has three new outfits.

It felt like a dream.

Huo Jiyun's eyes remained fixed on Qiao An. "Qiao An, was what the children said just now true?"

Qiao An turned around and noticed that Huo Jiyun's eyes were red, as if he was about to cry.