Such a Rude and Noisy Woman

"Hey, Rachel, "

Hiram acknowledged her presence. He looked at her face and felt the tension mounting. The cigarette in his hand had already burnt to its butt. He had forgotten to smoke.

Rachel looked at him as he stood outside the playing area. She hadn't heard anything, but she felt something was wrong with him.

"What is going on with you, Hiram?

Are you hiding something important from me?"

Hiram seldom revealed his true emotions. He was always calm. He never allowed anyone to discern what was going on in his mind. However, now Rachel had a suspicion that something terrible had happened and he was trying to cover it up. Was that just her instinct?

"Yes, yes. There are lots of things about me that you don't know about. I can tell you one by one if you're interested, honey." Hiram smiled at her. He reached out and placed his hands around her shoulders. Together they walked towards the house.

"What do you mean by saying there are lots of things I don't know about?

I don't care the least bit about the things that happened before we got married. I just care about the things that are related to us, understand?"

Rachel murmured. It sounded like Hiram was holding something from her and it concerned their relationship. She wondered if something had happened and it went unnoticed by her. She was baffled.

After having dinner at the Rong family's house, they were heading home. Rachel thought it was still early at night and decided to go to the hospital instead. She wanted to see her mom. She also brought her something delicious to eat.

Hiram wasn't going to work for the past two days, and his phone was constantly ringing. He had told his fellows not to call him after eight in the evening, even if the sun had risen again in the night.

They didn't want to risk their job. Thus they had to call him before eight to ask his opinion on business-related matters.

When they arrived at the hospital, Hiram was busy answering his work calls, so he went to the garden outside. He needed some time outside to deal with the matter at hand.

Rachel didn't wait for him. She went straight to Fannie's ward. She wanted her mom to taste the food she had brought before it got cold.

raised her hand to knock on the door, she heard someone talking inside. Did mom get a visitor? She figured she should wait for

is married into

the news, but I couldn't believe it. Is it really true? You agreed to marry your daughter into the

elder than her mom. It seemed that the woman was an acquaintance of her mom. But the conversation sounded

it's improper, don't worry about it. Do you know that Hiram and Rachel are getting along very well now?" Her

about what happened twenty

with Rachel and Hiram! Please let it go. It doesn't matter and do not mention it again, please!" Fannie spoke rashly,

sure? Fannie, don't lie to

confused and decided to go inside. She opened the door pretending she hadn't heard anything, and said, "Evening, my dear mom. I was worried you'd be asleep. I brought you something special to eat. Hey,

relaxed. She felt surprised to see Rachel yet she smiled at her. She said, "How did you come here at this hour, sweetie? Why do you take so much trouble? I'm fine, and I'm not hungry yet. You have

We used to hang out a lot when we were young. You can call her auntie. She heard that I

nodded her head and smiled at

But then I got married and moved to some other place. I don't come back very

in XH Village. Every girl blushed at the sight of him, and every girl

You're still young and beautiful." Rachel smiled at

am supposed to go back home early tomorrow morning. Take good care of yourself. I must go now." The woman said to Fannie. Then she turned to

your auntie out for me, Rachel."

asked, "Auntie, do you share the same family name with

the same family name. Other families, including the Rongs, had moved

the same family. Ok, don't bother to accompany me further. Take good care of your mom. Good luck, and see you." She waved her hand to

watched her going out of her sight. She got lost in her thoughts. After

He had finished his call and was talking with Fannie while peeling an apple at the same time. He saw Rachel and continued to

Fannie

turned her head towards Hiram. He was cutting the peeled

held the apple slice but didn't put it in her mouth. She turned to her mom and opened her mouth but stopped on second thought. She asked finally, "Mom, did the woman who left just now grow up with

"Yes, we grew up together. Two brothers

late. Both of you should go home and rest. I'm fine now and don't worry about me. Just