Chapter 42: Tricked into Marriage

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Tricked into Marriage

The young soldier jumped in fright.

Lu Zhengchuan gestured for him to continue.

The young soldier composed himself and continued, "Among the reports was one from the Yang County police station. It said that while attempting to apprehend the suspect, Zheng Hai, they discovered he had already left his production brigade and was heading to the military base."

"The police are requesting that the military apprehend the suspect, Zheng Hai."

Lu Zhengchuan’s gaze fell on Zheng Hai. "He is the suspect, Zheng Hai," he said coldly. "I didn’t expect him to deliver himself right to our doorstep."

"Men, take him away for interrogation!" Master Ji couldn’t be bothered to waste words on someone destined for prison.

If it weren’t for the sake of his favored subordinate Lu Zhengchuan’s reputation, he wouldn’t have wasted so much time on this verbal spat.

The worse the Zheng family’s reputation became, the better Lu Zhengchuan’s would naturally look.

Once word of Zheng Hai’s actions today got out, plenty of people would speak up for Lu Zhengchuan without the military needing to offer any explanation.

Zheng Hai completely deflated.

His face alternated between pale and ashen.

Especially when he thought about the backup plan he had prepared—it was completely useless now.

"Sir, wait."

Aunt Liu had been waiting for a long time. Seeing that Zheng Hai was about to be taken away, she quickly spoke up. "Sir, there’s one more thing that needs your attention."

"What is it?"

Master Ji was quite patient.

"It’s about Lieutenant Liu Lang. Zheng Hai was just running his foul mouth, claiming that Lieutenant Liu—the man engaged to my daughter, Liu Xiangju—is *also* engaged to his sister, Zheng Zhizhi."

"I have to get to the bottom of this. You have to understand, we’ve already prepared the wedding banquet. My daughter is getting married in a week! I don’t want to wrongly accuse my future son-in-law, but I also won’t allow any possibility of Xiangju being bullied."

Aunt Liu said forcefully.

"Something like that happened?" Master Ji’s expression turned grim. Liu Lang was a lieutenant, an officer. If an officer under his command were involved in marriage fraud, wouldn’t that be a slap in his face?

"Men! Go and bring comrades Liu Lang, Liu Xiangju, and Zheng Zhizhi here."

Zheng Hai’s brow twitched when he heard Liu Lang’s name.

Su Wan noticed. When Liu Lang walked in, she watched him discreetly.

When Liu Lang saw Zheng Hai, his pupils contracted. Though he quickly returned to normal, Su Wan still caught it.

Lu Zhengchuan’s peripheral vision was always on Su Wan. Seeing her stare at Liu Lang, he couldn’t help but press his thin lips together, even though he knew she had her reasons.

"Sir." Liu Lang gave Master Ji a military salute.

Master Ji nodded grimly and looked at Zheng Hai. "Zheng Hai, is this the Liu Lang you said is engaged to your sister, Zheng Zhizhi?"

Zheng Hai looked up at Liu Lang and nodded nonchalantly. "That’s right, Sir. It’s him. I’d recognize Liu Lang even if he were burned to ashes. There’s no way I’m mistaken."

"Impossible!" Aunt Liu lunged at Liu Lang in a fury and slapped him across the face.

Liu Lang’s rather handsome face swelled and turned red. A flash of pain crossed his eyes, but he didn’t struggle, letting Aunt Liu hit him.

Only after Aunt Liu had vented her anger did Lu Zhengchuan step in and pull her away.

By then, several scratch marks had appeared on Liu Lang’s face.

When Liu Xiangju walked in, the first thing she saw was Liu Lang’s scratched-up face.

"Comrade Liu Lang, how did you get hurt...?" Liu Xiangju walked up to him, but before she could finish her concerned question, Aunt Liu pulled her back.

"You silly girl! You’ve been conned and you don’t even know it, and you’re still worried about this scumbag!" Aunt Liu said, angrily patting her on the back.

Liu Xiangju was confused.

Bruised and swollen, Liu Lang had a melancholic air about him, which made Liu Xiangju’s heart ache for him.

"Xiangju, I’m sorry. I can’t marry you. I have to marry Zheng Zhizhi." Liu Lang lowered his eyes, taking the initiative to apologize to Liu Xiangju.

Liu Xiangju looked bewildered, her cute, round face showing an understanding nature as she forced a smile. "Comrade Liu Lang, you’re joking with me, right? Aren’t we getting married in a week?"

"My parents still won’t agree to me marrying you. They arranged a marriage with the Zheng Family in the county town and even paid the five-hundred-yuan bride price. You’ll only suffer if you marry me. I’m sorry for wasting so much of your time." Sincerity and pain mingled in Liu Lang’s eyes.

Hearing this, Liu Xiangju sniffled and stepped forward to grab his sleeve. "Comrade Liu Lang, are you in some kind of trouble? Tell me. This is a new era; we don’t do that old song and dance about parental orders and matchmakers’ words anymore."

"If you don’t want to marry the person your parents arranged for you, you can tell the leadership." ℯℯ𝘭.

Liu Xiangju bravely stood up for herself.

’At that moment, Su Wan felt that Liu Lang wasn’t good enough for Liu Xiangju. Whatever difficulties Liu Lang was facing, with a weak-willed and indecisive personality like his, he was bound to fail in the long run. She couldn’t help but look at Lu Zhengchuan, mentally comparing him to Liu Lang. Lu Zhengchuan was rational and decisive from start to finish. Even in the matter with Zhang Yun, he hadn’t let his judgment be swayed by his aunt, an elder.’

The thought was fleeting. When she noticed Lu Zhengchuan looking at her, Su Wan quickly averted her gaze.

Lu Zhengchuan stared at her for a long time, so long that Su Wan could barely stand it before his intense gaze finally withdrew.

Su Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

No one noticed their small interaction.

Meanwhile, Zheng Zhizhi had also arrived.

Hearing that Liu Lang was going to marry her, she shot a quick glance at Lu Zhengchuan and, with an aggrieved expression, said, "Sir, I may have made a mistake, but the engagement my parents arranged has nothing to do with me. I’m innocent too. You can’t blame me for stealing Comrade Liu Xiangju’s marriage, can you?"

Su Wan was used to Zheng Zhizhi’s playing-the-victim act and could immediately tell she was trying to shirk responsibility.

"You, innocent? None of you in the Zheng family are any good! The brother’s a hooligan, and the sister is shameless!" Aunt Liu’s temper flared as she pointed at the two siblings and started cursing them out.

Zheng Hai raised his hands, saw the handcuffs, and his face darkened. He decided to use his feet instead.

He tried to kick Aunt Liu.

Quick as a flash, Lu Zhengchuan kicked him in the shin.

"ARGH... HISS..." Zheng Hai bent over, grimacing in pain.

Su Wan saw it and couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.

’She wasn’t fooled; Lu Zhengchuan had done that on purpose.’

Her laughter drew Lu Zhengchuan’s attention. He looked over, and upon realizing what she was laughing at, he cleared his throat in embarrassment.

Master Ji shook his head helplessly. Of course he knew that kid Lu Zhengchuan had done it on purpose.

But he turned a blind eye, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing.

"Ma’am, I’m of the younger generation. How could I possibly defy my parents’ wishes? My brother was just worried about me. If he acted rashly, I apologize on his behalf. But as for marrying Liu Lang, I think it’s best to respect the Liu Family’s decision. It’s not like I’m begging Liu Lang to marry me; he’s the one insisting on it."

"You all know the village rumors about the five-hundred-yuan bride price and the sewing machine. That all came from when Liu Lang originally proposed to me. Because he suddenly went incommunicado on a mission, and because exchanging letters was difficult, the Zheng family and the Liu Family never finalized anything. That’s why all that gossip started spreading in the village. I can’t control what other people say."

Zheng Zhizhi’s methods were clearly more sophisticated than Zheng Hai’s.

In just a few words, she had completely absolved her family of any blame.