The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 168 - 167: A Fight at the First Meeting

"I don’t like the way you’re looking at me. I hear you’re a cop? You want to find a place and spar?" Wang Qiming challenged.

Xue Xingzhou snorted. "And I hear you were a soldier?"

"What? Scared?"

"Let’s go."

The moment he spoke, Zhang Qian grabbed his arm, her eyes filled with worry.

Xue Xingzhou patted her hand. "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."

Who would have thought that two blood relatives would be challenging each other to a fight the very first time they met?

Shitou and Little Chen were confused. They’d been listening for a while but couldn’t understand how a few exchanged words had led to a fight.

He Lang had heard from Xue Yue about Li Wanqing bringing her son to their home, and he wasn’t happy about it either. Now, looking at Wang Qiming and Li Wanqing, his expression was also hostile.

When Li Wanqing heard her son was going to fight Xue Xingzhou, she froze for a second before a gloating expression took over.

’As for that Xue Xingzhou, he’s arrogant and conceited. I’ve disliked him for a long time. It wouldn’t be a bad thing for him to be taught a lesson.’

’Li Wanqing was very confident in her son. He’d spent years in the military; no matter how you looked at it, he was more than capable of teaching a country boy like Xue Xingzhou a lesson.’

The group found a clearing with few people around.

The two locked eyes for a few seconds before Wang Qiming made the first move.

Zhang Qian squeezed Xue Yue’s hand tightly. Xue Yue was nervous too. Even though Wang Qiming was discharged, he had genuinely served in the military. He wouldn’t be all talk and no action.

They traded blows, and after a few rounds, an excited Shitou said to He Lang, "Is your brother-in-law always this good?"

Shitou only knew that Xue Xingzhou worked at the Public Security Bureau; he had no idea his moves were so swift and decisive. He was beyond impressed, even cheering when he saw a brilliant exchange.

’The more Li Wanqing watched, the more she felt something was off about Xue Xingzhou. It was almost unnatural. How could a young man from the countryside have such incredible skills? Even at the Public Security Bureau, he’s probably just a nobody.’

What they didn’t know was that Xue Xingzhou’s specialty was close-quarters combat—specifically, modern 21st-century fighting techniques. On a real battlefield, he might not be a match for Wang Qiming, but in a hand-to-hand fight, he could win with ease.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Xue Xingzhou sent Wang Qiming flying with a kick. Blood trickled from the corner of Wang Qiming’s mouth.

Wang Qiming stumbled back a few steps to steady himself. He frowned, wiped the blood from his mouth, and narrowed his eyes at Xue Xingzhou.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?"

Xue Xingzhou just looked at him calmly. "Are we still fighting?"

"Bring it—" Wang Qiming charged forward with his fist out, but Xue Xingzhou spun him around and pinned him directly to the ground. Unable to break free, Wang Qiming slapped the ground, signaling his surrender.

Before Xue Xingzhou could let him go, Li Wanqing rushed over and started beating him with her purse.

"Let him go! You let him go right now! How dare a country brute like you lay a hand on my son!"

Xue Xingzhou stood up and raised his arm to block, the purse smacking against his forearm.

Zhang Qian couldn’t resist stepping forward. "You were the ones who wanted to fight, and now that you’ve lost, you’re the ones being sore losers? Do you think we’re just here to be pushed around?"

Li Wanqing turned to her, displeased. "And who do you think you are? You think you have the right to speak to me?"

Xue Yue shot back, "Then who do you think *you* are? Why wouldn’t my sister-in-law have the right to speak to you? You go on and on about how you look down on us, yet it was my brother who just knocked your son flat."

"Exactly. Sore loser," Zhang Qian added.

Gasping for breath in anger, Li Wanqing pointed a finger at Xue Yue and the others. "No breeding! No manners!"

"Is that all you know how to say? Can’t you come up with something new?" Zhang Qian said with a smirk.

"You—"

"Enough. Let’s go."

Xue Xingzhou didn’t want to waste any more words on them.

Li Wanqing sneered at them. "What’s there to be so proud of? You were raised by my family’s maid. You reek of the lower class. Do you really think coming to Beijing City and getting a house makes you one of us? You’re completely delusional."

Xue Yue sneered. "We have no desire to become people of Beijing City. If everyone here is as arrogant and rude as you, then we’re frankly embarrassed for you."

’So, the mask was finally off. She didn’t have to carry that burden anymore. It seemed her and her brother’s fate with relatives was truly a shallow one. From now on, they wouldn’t have to worry about what people like them had to say.’

Wang Qiming remained silent, his expression complicated as he watched them.

After the others were a good distance away, Li Wanqing turned on Wang Qiming, complaining, "What was that? You couldn’t even beat a country bumpkin like him? And to think you spent years in the army. You’re a disgrace to me."

Wang Qiming gave a bitter smile. He hadn’t expected Xue Xingzhou to be so skilled. ’It seems getting into the People’s Public Security University was no fluke,’ he thought. ’This brother and sister aren’t ordinary people.’ His opinion of them was starting to change.

"Let’s go home."

Li Wanqing said angrily, "Go home? What for? We came all this way for a nice meal, and they completely ruined it. I’m still hungry!"

Wang Qiming sighed. "Alright, we’ll go back and eat then."

Only then was Li Wanqing satisfied.

’But she was still thinking, ’I was humiliated today. I’ll get them back for this one day. No one has ever dared to speak to me like that.’’

On the way back, Shitou and Little Chen sidled up to Xue Xingzhou in perfect sync, asking him for fighting tips as they walked.

"Brother Xue, teach us a move or two!"

"Uncle Xue, I want to learn too!"

Xue Xingzhou pushed them both away slightly. "Don’t crowd my wife."

He said, taking Zhang Qian’s hand.

Shitou and Little Chen exchanged a glance and sidled closer again.

He Lang noticed Xue Yue was in low spirits and asked her softly, "What’s wrong?"

Xue Yue forced a smile. "I just thought... my mother had one living relative left in this world. I never expected it to end up like this. I’m so confused now. Weren’t they blood sisters? Why does it feel like there’s some deep-seated hatred between them? I really don’t get it."

He Lang said casually, "Relationships are all about affinity. Maybe you just don’t have that connection with them."

’Maybe so,’ Xue Yue told herself, trying to find some comfort.

Xue Xingzhou and Zhang Qian stayed at Xue Yue’s place for a little while before leaving. Zhang Qian wanted to head back for her afternoon nap.

When He Lang tried to give Daya some money, she jumped back, frantically waving her hands.

"Uncle, I can’t take this. You already send money to my mother every month. If I take more money from you, I’ll feel too guilty."

"Daya, the money for your mother is separate from this. This is a bonus for you. You work so hard every day, and we’re all very grateful."

Daya just shook her head. "I don’t find it hard at all. Back home, I did much more work than this and still couldn’t eat my fill. I feel very fortunate now. Uncle, I’m not taking this money. Besides, there’s nothing I need to buy. Auntie already buys me everything."

Seeing how determined she was, He Lang had no choice but to take the money back. "Alright then. But if you ever need anything, you must let us know."

Daya nodded. "I will."