Chapter 23: Distrust

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Distrust

"I’m done wasting my breath. Lu Zhengchuan, if you don’t punish them, we’re getting a divorce." Su Wan couldn’t be bothered to argue with them anymore.

The evidence was right here. Whether they were punished or not, to put it bluntly, came down to Lu Zhengchuan’s attitude.

Lu Zhengchuan looked at the two women. "You’re coming with me to the office to see the leadership."

Zheng Zhizhi’s face fell. She had thought that with Zhang Yun to cover for her, Lu Zhengchuan would surely let it go.

But things had gone completely beyond her expectations.

Lu Zhengchuan called over two young soldiers and had them take the two women directly to the office.

Zhang Yun was so scared she started crying on the way.

But no one tried to soothe her, and no one offered any comfort.

Su Wan, as the victim, and Zhao Qing, as a partial witness, also followed them to the leadership’s office.

「Half an hour later.」

Master Ji and Political Commissioner Lin heard Lu Zhengchuan’s report in person, then looked over at the two crying women, Zhang Yun and Zheng Zhizhi.

Master Ji looked at Su Wan and asked, "Comrade Su Wan, how did you know they had swapped your letters?"

"I happened to overhear it by accident before I came to the base." Su Wan was calm and composed under questioning, not flustered in the slightest.

Seeing her demeanor, Master Ji nodded. "I see. And the reason you didn’t mention it when you first arrived at the base was...?"

"Because I was worried that my husband, Lu Zhengchuan, really was involved with Zheng Zhizhi. But I didn’t want to wrongly accuse him, so after arriving at the base, I planned to investigate thoroughly before saying anything." Su Wan’s excuse came to her instantly.

After saying this, she felt Lu Zhengchuan’s gaze fall upon her.

She pretended not to feel it, keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead on Master Ji.

"I didn’t..." Lu Zhengchuan couldn’t help but start to explain.

Master Ji shot him a glare and waved his hand, stopping him from speaking further.

Lu Zhengchuan’s lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing.

Master Ji looked at Su Wan with a kind expression. "Comrade Su Wan, since you are the victim, how would you like to see these two punished?"

"Just handle it according to the regulations. If you do something wrong, you have to bear the consequences." Su Wan didn’t back down.

Master Ji nodded. "In that case, you two will be considered equally guilty. A written self-criticism, a demerit, and a public reprimand. I hope you will not make this mistake again."

Zheng Zhizhi’s face went ashen.

She had never imagined things would escalate to this point.

"Sir, I..."

She wanted to say more, but when she met Master Ji’s cold, imposing gaze, she couldn’t get another word out.

In her heart, however, a deep hatred for Su Wan took root.

Su Wan was very satisfied with this punishment. ’It means Master Ji is a good leader, and... Lu Zhengchuan has chosen to give up on Zheng Zhizhi.’

But she didn’t fully trust Lu Zhengchuan.

She still hadn’t gotten to the bottom of the watch issue.

"Now that this is settled, you can all go back. Xiao Lu, you handle the fallout from this." Master Ji entrusted the matter to Lu Zhengchuan.

He was clearly trying to protect Lu Zhengchuan, patting his shoulder and saying, "Don’t you let us and Comrade Su Wan down. And don’t just focus all your energy on your missions. Your family is important too."

"Understood, Sir." Lu Zhengchuan gave a military salute and accepted the admonition.

Su Wan’s brow furrowed slightly. ’It seems Lu Zhengchuan really is highly valued.’

’If I try to divorce Lu Zhengchuan for no good reason, I’m afraid no one will support me. Instead, they’ll just think I’m causing trouble.’

’Looks like I can’t let this opportunity pass.’

"Sir, I have something else to report," Su Wan suddenly spoke up.

The few people who had been about to leave all stopped in their tracks.

Zheng Zhizhi looked at her suspiciously.

Su Wan ignored everyone’s stares, lowered her eyes, and said, "I’m reporting Lu Zhengchuan for giving Zheng Zhizhi an expensive watch."

"This is what the watch looks like. Lu Zhengchuan bought it at the supply and marketing cooperative in Qingchuan County. The witnesses are Xiao Li and the salesclerk who was there at the time." Su Wan handed a realistically drawn and colored picture to Master Ji.

Political Commissioner Lin couldn’t help but take a second look at the drawing.

A flash of amazement crossed his eyes. At the same time, he stroked his chin, looked at Su Wan again, and suddenly asked, "This is a drawing? Comrade Su Wan, did you draw this?"

"Yes, Political Commissioner." Su Wan nodded. Fearing they wouldn’t believe her, she added, "Zheng Zhizhi wore this watch in the village. A lot of people know about it."

"The watch?" Lu Zhengchuan was a little surprised. Especially when he got a clear look at the watch in the drawing, he abruptly turned to Su Wan, his fist clenching at his side. "Su Wan, when did you start having doubts about the watch?"

"After I came to the base. If Xiao Li hadn’t mentioned it, I would have never known that you were the one who bought the watch on Zheng Zhizhi’s wrist."

Su Wan was also feeling resentful.

She had deliberately chosen this moment to make her move so that Lu Zhengchuan could no longer hide his relationship with Zheng Zhizhi.

"So you had doubts, but instead of coming to ask me, you chose to believe an outsider?" Lu Zhengchuan’s eyes turned red. Anyone could see he was furious.

Su Wan pursed her lips. ’I don’t know what kind of act he’s putting on.’

A flicker of delight flashed in Zheng Zhizhi’s eyes. ’I never expected Su Wan to be so stupid. To actually doubt and question Lu Zhengchuan... isn’t this a blatant show of distrust?’

’So there was already a crisis of trust between them!’

’If only I had known... I wouldn’t have been in such a rush.’

In that instant, Zheng Zhizhi felt a renewed sense of hope.

She turned, knelt before Master Ji, and burst into tears. "Sir, you have to stand up for me! I’ve been wronged! Brother Lu gave me that watch. I just accepted it. That can’t be a crime, can it?"

"I certainly did not give you that watch." Lu Zhengchuan was angry with Su Wan and turned his back on her, but he couldn’t stop himself from speaking up to clear his name after hearing what Zheng Zhizhi said.

Master Ji’s face darkened. "Xiao Lu, what exactly is going on!"

"I bought that watch, but I bought it for my wife, Su Wan. I don’t understand how it became something I bought for Comrade Zheng Zhizhi."

Zheng Zhizhi just cried softly.

Su Wan was filled with distrust for Lu Zhengchuan.

The suspicion in her eyes made Lu Zhengchuan’s thin lips press together even more tightly.

"How can you prove it?" Master Ji’s face was stern. He clearly didn’t intend to let this slide. If something like this wasn’t clarified, the rumors could be enough to ruin Lu Zhengchuan.

"Xiao Lu, if you can’t prove your innocence, I can grant you leave to go back and handle this properly. Come back to the base when it’s settled."

"If you really are entangled with Comrade Zheng Zhizhi, then I’ll have no choice but to suspend you from your duties for now."

After saying this, Master Ji began to observe the three women present.

Su Wan.

Zhang Yun.

Zheng Zhizhi.

Su Wan showed no reaction, remaining perfectly calm.

Zhang Yun’s face was deathly pale.

Zheng Zhizhi’s expression changed.

Master Ji took in the reactions of all three women and had already drawn his own conclusions.

Zhang Yun dropped to her knees with a THUD. "Sir, it... it was my fault. I was the one who gave the watch to Zhi Zhi. I... at the time, because Zhi Zhi was corresponding with my cousin, I thought my cousin liked her. In his letters to my dad, my cousin never explicitly rejected Zhi Zhi, so I thought she had a chance."

"I have never exchanged any letters with Comrade Zheng Zhizhi!" Lu Zhengchuan roared, his face livid with fury. "No matter where a letter is sent from, the military can easily trace it!"