Chapter 280: “hilarious”
“What’s the matter?” Lu Yizhou asked, puzzled.
The soldier who came to relay the message said, “I don’t know. By the way, the leader also said to bring Comrade Su.”
His gaze shifted to the dirt-streaked face of Su Yuxian.
Su Yuxian noticed and felt uneasy inside.
She tugged at the corner of her mouth, “Me? Why call me?”
“How would I know? I’m just the messenger.” The man speaking had a stern face, impassive.
Su Yuxian was secretly annoyed.
Lu Yizhou had a bad premonition and looked at Su Yuxian, “What did you do?”
“…I don’t know.” Su Yuxian looked baffled.
Her eyes flashed with anger, “I just got back from my hometown. What could I have done?”
“If you didn’t do anything, why is the leader calling for you?” Lu Yizhou countered.
Su Yuxian was speechless, “…”
“I didn’t do anything. Believe me or not, up to you.” After saying that, she handed her luggage to Old Lady Lu and walked forward.
Lu Yizhou pinched his brow, feeling exhausted.
Impatiently glancing at Su Yuxian’s back, he looked at his parents, “Mom, take Dad and Bao Zhen home first. Su Yuxian and I will come back later.”
Old Lady Lu asked with concern, “There won’t be any trouble, right?”
“Probably not.” Lu Yizhou said uncertainly, suppressing that unease.
“I knew there wouldn’t be! My son is capable; what hurdle can’t he overcome?” Old Lady Lu was proud like the village rooster, neck held high.
“My son!” Old Man Lu had the same expression, “The fortune teller said my son is the reincarnation of the God of Literature…”
Hearing this, Old Lady Lu’s heart raced in fright. She reached out to cover Old Man Lu’s mouth and vigilantly looked around.
Seeing no one, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Releasing her hand, she slapped Old Man Lu’s mouth hard twice.
“Are you crazy!” she scolded in a low voice, “What is this place? You old man, how dare you say anything. Do you want to ruin our son!”
Old Lady Lu’s aged face was fierce, “I’m telling you, if you ruin my son’s future, watch out or I’ll beat you!”
This wife’s strikes weren’t light or heavy, but they were humiliating.
Old Man Lu’s white hair stood on end in anger.
He raised his arm to hit his wife, “You’re asking for it!”
Lu Yizhou grabbed his biological father’s hand and warned, “This is the military region. Don’t start fighting.”
Old Man Lu glared at his wife and said bitterly, “For my son’s sake, next time, see if I dare hit you.”
“You hit me? You still want to hit me?” Old Lady Lu was furious.
That old man had cuckolded her, and she hadn’t sent him for reform. But he wanted to hit her? Fine, picking on the soft target.
“Try hitting me once. This is the military region; the director of the women’s committee isn’t for show. If you dare hit me, I’ll report you…”
Old Man Lu had a bad temper. Seeing his wife so arrogant, not giving face to him as the head of the family, he raised his right arm and swung at Old Lady Lu.
Lu Yizhou was about to walk away but rushed forward half a step upon seeing this, grabbing his father’s elbow again.
“What are you doing? Keep making a scene and go back to the hometown!” he said angrily.
Old Man Lu froze in place, pointing at his son and scolding loudly, “You’re chasing me back to the hometown? You unfilial son!”
“Speak louder, best if it reaches the military region leader’s ears. Then I’ll discharge and go home, and our whole family goes back to farm!” Lu Yizhou said flatly.
Old Man Lu fell silent.
He glared fiercely at his wife, “Hurry and lead the way. What are you standing there for, until nightfall?”
Old Lady Lu saw her son was really angry and didn’t dare make more trouble. She shot Old Man Lu a glare with her eyes and walked ahead to lead.
After a few steps, she turned back to her son, “Yizhou, isn’t that leader looking for you? Go on, don’t delay.”
Lu Yizhou’s mouth twitched, speechless to the point of wanting to laugh.
Now remembering he had business.
After settling family matters, he jogged toward the leader’s office.
When he arrived, he saw several somewhat unfamiliar faces in the room.
Meng Jiusi, the celebrity at the military region hospital, had been here not long and developed two very good medicines, earning leader commendation.
Why was he here?
Lu Yizhou was about to ask—
“Knock knock knock!!”
The office door was knocked on.
“Come in.” The middle-aged man at the desk said flatly.
A young man with a cold temperament and upright stature walked in.
“Gu Chenghuai? What are you doing here? I didn’t call you!” The leader-like man said irritably.
The newcomer was indeed Gu Chenghuai.
He calmly replied, “Doctor Meng is my fourth brother-in-law. If I don’t come, how do I explain to my wife?”
The speaking leader: “…”
Leader Ning sitting beside him twitched.
Could he not, with that expressionless face, say something that makes people spit their food?!
Muttering inwardly, he couldn’t help speaking for Gu Chenghuai.
“Let him stay. After all, it does concern him somewhat. Maybe he knows something.”
The leader, rebutted by Gu Chenghuai and unsure how to retort, irritably said, “Stay if you want, stand aside. We didn’t ask you, don’t speak.”
Gu Chenghuai gave his fourth brother-in-law a look and sat in the corner.
Zhaozhao would definitely ask when she comes; he had to watch carefully, not missing a detail!
Seeing Gu Chenghuai, Lu Yizhou didn’t even want to speak.
But he had to.
His gaze subtly glanced over Su Yuxian.
He finally asked, “Leader, what exactly is going on?”
Hearing Lu Yizhou get straight to the point, Gu Chenghuai raised his brows in surprise.
This guy could speak without beating around the bush.
He thought he couldn’t!
The short-tempered leader slapped a letter on the table.
His sharp, eagle-like black eyes fixed on him.
“Look at this letter. Familiar handwriting?” His tone was forceful and stern.
Su Yuxian, seeing that letter, her pupils shrank, right foot stepping back half a step.
This letter…
Finally knew what that ominous premonition was!
Lu Yizhou took the letter and, seeing the handwriting, instinctively looked at Su Yuxian.
He quickly withdrew his gaze.
He read the letter word by word.
The more he read, the uglier his face became. By the end, it was frosty.
His hand clenched into a fist, crumpling the letter into a ball of waste paper.
Leader Ning stood up, grabbing Lu Yizhou’s wrist with one hand and prying open his fingers with the other to retrieve the letter, tone grave.
“This is effective evidence that Comrade Su Yuxian maliciously targeted Comrade Meng Jiusi, intentionally undermining our military unity. Be careful not to destroy it.”
Su Yuxian thought inwardly, this is bad.
She hurriedly shook her head in denial, “Not malice. I’m not familiar with Doctor Meng. Why target him? Leaders, you’ve misunderstood.”
“Clink!”
The sound of the enamel mug placed on the table.
The short-tempered leader eyed her scrutinizingly, “Not malicious? I don’t think so. The wording in your letter clearly shows malice.”
“You knew Doctor Meng didn’t want further ties with his previous unit, yet you wrote a letter specifically exposing his address. If not deliberate, what is it!?”
The military region leaders were all battle veterans. With stern faces, their presence was intimidating.
Su Yuxian trembled, teeth clenched.
“…I really didn’t mean to.” She knew her actions could be big or small. If mishandled, it would affect her man, which she absolutely didn’t want.
So she couldn’t admit it.
No matter what, couldn’t admit!
At the critical moment, Su Yuxian’s mind turned quickly.
“I didn’t know Doctor Meng didn’t want contact with his previous people. I was just being kind. I happened to learn that Doctor Meng’s ex-wife has been looking for him and their two sons, but couldn’t find them no matter what, so I…”
She decisively bowed to Meng Jiusi in apology.
“Really sorry. Look, I truly didn’t know. You’re magnanimous, don’t hold it against me. Just consider me… meddling.”
Bowing to Lin Zhao’s brother, Su Yuxian felt inwardly stifled, but in this environment, not apologizing honestly meant she couldn’t retreat unscathed.
She endured.
Meng Jiusi stepped aside, “I don’t accept.”
“You—!” Anger appeared in Su Yuxian’s eyes.
“Thud thud thud!” The hot-tempered leader tapped the table a few times.
Unpleasantly:
“He’s the victim. It’s normal not to accept your apology. What are you angry about? Where do you think you are? Really spoiled!”
Su Yuxian lowered her head, not daring to speak.
Inwardly muttering that none of these military region men were normal, none cherished the fairer sex.
Deserved to be single!
The several leaders in the office were mild toward Meng Jiusi, the victim.
“Comrade Meng, the matter is fully investigated. It was indeed Comrade Su Yuxian who sent the letter causing trouble. Whatever demands you have, feel free to make…”
Lu Yizhou wanted to strangle this troublemaker Su Yuxian. Because of that room incident, the leaders’ impression of him was already bad enough. He wanted to be invisible, waiting for a big merit to soar. Who knew this woman would bring such big trouble.
His straight shoulders slumped.
He apologized for his wife, “I didn’t manage my wife well. Sorry. Whatever compensation, Comrade Meng, just say. As long as I can do it, I’ll fully satisfy.”
Su Yuxian was a soldier’s wife, without work or status. She just wrote a letter without real consequences; the military region truly couldn’t do much to her.
Moreover, considering Lu Yizhou’s noble and selfless profession, Meng Jiusi didn’t want to make things hard.
Not making hard didn’t mean letting it slide lightly.
He said, “My peaceful life with my two sons was shattered, turning us into the family courtyard’s laughingstock for a full half month. You must compensate us for mental damages.”
The concept of mental damages, Meng Jiusi had heard from Zhaozhao.
Perfect to use here.
“…Mental, damages?” Lu Yizhou looked bewildered.
“Yes, Comrade Su’s actions caused huge mental trauma to our family. Must compensate mental damages.” Meng Jiusi said seriously.
“Compensate, we will.” Lu Yizhou just wanted to settle this quickly.
“How much?” he asked.
Meng Jiusi stated a number.
Hearing it, Su Yuxian shrieked, “Three hundred yuan?!! Gone mad poor?!!!”
Lu Yizhou also thought three hundred was too much.
This was lion’s mouth wide open.
Taking him for a fool.
Meng Jiusi’s expression unchanged, eyes flatly on Lu Yizhou, showing resolve.
Not a penny less.
Lu Yizhou saw such determination in those pitch-black eyes.
“What nonsense, demanding three hundred yuan…” Su Yuxian was still roaring.
“Shut up.” Lu Yizhou bellowed with red face and thick neck, eyes very gloomy.
Su Yuxian shut up like a cicada in winter.
Lu Yizhou looked at Meng Jiusi, almost gritting teeth, “I’ll compensate. Will pay you soon.”
After settling this, dragging the spendthrift woman, he quickly left.
His face, his competitiveness, his dignity… all utterly destroyed today.
All Su Yuxian’s fault.
Gu Chenghuai must be laughing at him.
Damn it!
Thinking this, the force on Su Yuxian’s arm increased.
“Hiss, hurts, lighter.” Su Yuxian couldn’t hold back.
Lu Yizhou stopped, gloomily looking at her, “The money paid out, you have to repay. If you can’t, no more meals from now on!”
After the harsh words, he turned indifferently and soon disappeared.
Su Yuxian’s face paled, regretting meddling.
“Where do I get money to repay? Sell me and still can’t.”
She walked very slowly, somewhat not daring to go home. If her parents-in-law knew she caused the family to pay three hundred, they’d beat her to death!
Her mood chaotic, Su Yuxian began resenting Meng Jiusi and the military region leaders, thinking they weren’t good people, swindling her family’s money.
The few remaining in the office didn’t know Su Yuxian had imagined them as great villains, cursing them inwardly in various ways.
Meng Jiusi didn’t lack money and hadn’t wanted Lu family’s money.
After Lu Yizhou and Su Yuxian left, he said to the leaders, “The so-called compensation… I want to donate it, hoping it’s used for the life and education support of martyrs’ orphans.”
Three hundred wasn’t a small amount.
A sacrificed soldier’s pension was about that much.
Two leaders who thought Meng Jiusi demanded too much now felt it wasn’t much upon hearing he’d donate the compensation.
This was a comrade with affection, righteousness, and great love.
The several leaders stood and saluted him.
This salute was for those comrades’ orphans.
“Thank you!” Leader Ning said, “Rest assured, every penny will go to those children.”
Meng Jiusi returned the salute, smiling, “I believe it.”
–
Lin Zhao still didn’t know the restless Su Yuxian had pitted her brother.
The one in the same carriage with her was also an accompanying military wife, with her sister-in-law and seven-year-old younger son.
Coincidentally, their destinations were the same.
The two families were very happy, as they could help each other on the way.
A simple example: going to the toilet, someone watched the kids, no need to worry and not dare squat long for big business.
“Yu Baoheng Bao, I’m going to see if there’s boxed meal. You two stay put, no leaving the carriage, got it?”
After several meals of dry rations, the two kids were listless. Lin Zhao planned to change their taste.
Heng Bao sat straight, “Is there meat?”
“How would I know? Wait, if there is, I’ll buy for you.” Lin Zhao said.
She looked at the passing military wife, “Sister-in-law Tong, I’m going to buy food. Watch my two for me.”
Sister-in-law Tong was a rural military wife, straightforward temperament, agreed readily, “Go ahead worry-free. With me watching, they’ll be fine.”
Lin Zhao thanked her and left the carriage.
Passing one person after another, following the voice toward the train attendant.
“Boxed meals, boxed meals. Notify here if needed.” The female train attendant carried a big basket of boxed meals, calling loudly in the carriage.
“Comrade, what kinds?” Lin Zhao asked.
People these days were thrifty; not many bought boxed meals. Seeing someone buy, the conductor was especially happy.
“Potato stewed pork, meat slice stir-fried green peppers, stir-fried cabbage. Which one, comrade?” she asked enthusiastically.
“One potato stewed pork, one meat slice stir-fried green peppers.” Lin Zhao said casually.
The passengers in the carriage looked at her in shock.
Where’d this big spender come from?! Buying two meat dishes at once.
Lin Zhao pretended not to see the surrounding gazes.
Paid with money and ration coupons, got the meals, headed back to the berth.
Returning was another test, having to sidestep through gaps between people now and then.
Lin Zhao struggled back when suddenly she saw a very distinctive face.
Mole between brows, medium build, skin tone whiter than average, looked ordinary and unremarkable, but on closer look, those eyes had a seductive charm.
This was—the human trafficker who contacted Diao Tuozi, the one called Sister Xia.
