Chapter 50: The Results Are Out

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Results Are Out

This was also why soldiers were lost from time to time.

In truth, contrary to what Su Wan thought, even if Political Commissioner Lin hadn’t believed her and just assumed she was overly worried about Lu Zhengchuan, he would have arranged for someone to check anyway. After all, in the border region of Lin Province, there were a great number of landmines. For the soldiers’ safety, it was worth investigating, even if it turned out to be a futile effort.

It was already eleven o’clock when Su Wan returned to the family compound.

Zhang Qiao had just escorted her to her front gate when they saw Zheng Zhizhi standing there.

But Zhang Yun didn’t open the courtyard gate. Only her furious voice could be heard from inside. "Go away! I’m not seeing you. You make me sick!"

"Xiao Yun, how can you say that? My older brother is in prison. Can’t you forgive me now?"

"It was just a miscommunication. I didn’t understand what was really happening, and that’s what caused the misunderstanding."

"From now on, let’s just be direct with each other. We can still be good friends, can’t we?"

Su Wan listened with a neutral expression. Zhang Yun had never factored into her life’s plans, so she wasn’t concerned about whether she would be swayed by Zheng Zhizhi again.

However, Su Wan’s mood instantly brightened upon hearing that Zheng Hai was in prison.

She walked over in just a few steps, ignoring Zheng Zhizhi completely, and called out to Zhang Yun inside the courtyard, "Xiao Yun, open the gate."

"Sister-in-law, you’re back?" Zhang Yun was startled, her voice jumping. As she pulled open the gate, she looked at Su Wan with a guilty expression.

"Yes. Comrade Zhang Qiao, thank you for escorting me today. I have a simple lunch prepared, please come in." Su Wan invited Zhang Qiao to stay for lunch.

Zhang Qiao hesitated, but seeing the smile on her face, he gave a reserved nod. "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

Su Wan beckoned for him to follow her into the courtyard.

Zheng Zhizhi, having been ignored the entire time, stomped her foot in a fit of pique and reached out to grab Su Wan.

But Zhang Qiao, reacting more quickly, blocked her way.

Zhang Qiao frowned at her. "What do you think you’re doing, Comrade? Comrade Su Wan is pregnant. Are you trying to hurt her?"

"Ow, ow, ow! Let me go!" Zheng Zhizhi cried, struggling to free her wrist.

Zhang Qiao released her and positioned himself in front of Su Wan, protectively, as if ready to fend off an attack at any moment.

From behind him, Su Wan simply stared coldly at Zheng Zhizhi.

Provoked by Su Wan’s stare, Zheng Zhizhi’s eyes narrowed. Her gaze flickered between Su Wan and Zhang Qiao. "Su Wan, Lu Zhengchuan just left on a mission, and you’re already fooling around with another man?"

"What do you think he’d say if he found out?"

Zhang Qiao’s expression darkened. He snapped, "Comrade Zheng Zhizhi, if you continue to spread such slander, the military will force you to write a self-criticism and then expel you."

"You wouldn’t want that kind of humiliation, would you?"

Zhang Qiao’s last, unhurried sentence hit a nerve. Zheng Zhizhi’s face flushed red. She shot Su Wan a furious glare and huffed, "Just you wait, Su Wan. I refuse to believe your luck will last forever."

She turned on her heel and stormed off in a huff.

Su Wan ignored her impotent rage and treated Zhang Qiao to lunch.

Zheng Zhizhi stormed all the way back to the family quarters assigned to Liu Lang, located at the far end of the compound.

It was noticeably smaller than Su Wan’s home.

Liu Lang was sitting in the courtyard, washing his military uniform.

He didn’t even look up as Zheng Zhizhi walked past.

Zheng Zhizhi immediately backtracked, deliberately stomping past him to make a racket.

Liu Lang still didn’t react.

Zheng Zhizhi suddenly flung the yarn bag she was carrying into the washbasin in front of him.

SPLASH! Water from the basin, suds and all, splashed onto him.

Liu Lang stared at the soaked yarn bag in the basin before finally looking up. His expression was calm. "Your yarn bag is wet."

"So what if it’s wet? I don’t like yarn bags anyway. They’re not fashionable at all, and it’s embarrassing to be seen with one," Zheng Zhizhi said, lifting her chin haughtily. "As it happens, I saw a beautiful leather bag at the supply and marketing cooperative. You’re buying it for me."

"We aren’t married yet," Liu Lang reminded her.

Zheng Zhizhi flew into a rage. "Liu Lang, don’t forget we’re already engaged and my family has taken your money! And whether your little brother stays out of prison depends on whether my second brother rats him out! Besides, everyone in the army knows we’re about to be married. We’re even living together, and you’ve already submitted the marriage application. You want to dump me? Don’t even think about it!"

"Oh." Liu Lang’s expression remained indifferent. "So if you marry me, I have to give you spending money?"

"What’s that supposed to mean!" Zheng Zhizhi’s expression changed drastically. "You dare refuse to hand over your salary?"

"If you dare hold out on me, I’ll raise hell in the compound!" Zheng Zhizhi said, fuming.

Hearing this, Liu Lang just watched as she dropped her pretense and revealed her true colors. He sneered inwardly. ’With a criminal for a brother, Zheng Zhizhi will never pass the political review for the marriage application. There’s no way I could possibly marry her.’

’Too bad I’m not going to tell her that.’

"Then go ahead and raise hell," Liu Lang replied. He casually took her yarn bag out of the basin, set it on the ground, and went back to washing his uniform.

Furious, Zheng Zhizhi stormed into the house. But the more she stewed, the angrier she became. She packed her bags and left for her village that very day.

-

「Early the next morning.」

Su Wan had just woken up when Xiao Li arrived.

He had brought breakfast with him. "Sister-in-law," he said, "Political Commissioner Lin wants you to come see him after you’ve eaten."

"Political Commissioner Lin?" Su Wan paused in the middle of washing her face and looked up at him.

Xiao Li nodded. "That’s right, Political Commissioner Lin. I asked him what it was about, but he wouldn’t say. He seemed quite happy, though, so I’m guessing it’s good news."

Su Wan immediately forgot about breakfast. She changed into a blue dress, combed her hair, and got ready to go see Political Commissioner Lin.

Xiao Li quickly stopped her. "Sister-in-law, don’t rush. Political Commissioner Lin needs to eat breakfast too. He won’t even be in his office if you go now."

Su Wan stopped. Heeding his advice, she turned and went back to the living room, where she finished her breakfast of soy milk and steamed buns.

"Xiao Yun, please look after Sister-in-law Zhao. Just follow yesterday’s process for making the bases. I’ll be back later," Su Wan instructed her.

Zhang Yun nodded quickly. "Okay, Sister-in-law."

"Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I definitely won’t have anything to do with Zheng Zhizhi again," Zhang Yun declared once more.

Hearing this, Xiao Li grew tense. "Zheng Zhizhi came looking for you, Sister-in-law? When?"

"Yesterday at noon," Zhang Yun said quietly. She felt a pang of guilt, thinking that Zheng Zhizhi had come to deceive her again because she was such a pushover, and now it was affecting Su Wan’s life.

Xiao Li frowned. "Sister-in-law, it must be because Zheng Hai went to prison. He was sentenced to six years. I heard that many people involved in the black market in Yang County were exposed this time. Do you think Zheng Zhizhi might be trying to get revenge on you?"

"She wouldn’t dare." Su Wan thought it was more likely that Zheng Zhizhi just wanted to get under her skin. She hurried Xiao Li along. "Let’s not talk about that now. We should go see Political Commissioner Lin first."

She couldn’t rest easy until Lu Zhengchuan’s situation was resolved.

Su Wan soon arrived at Political Commissioner Lin’s office.

The very first thing Political Commissioner Lin said was a word of praise. "Comrade Su Wan, thank you for the warning. We did, in fact, detect a landmine under that intersection."