Chapter 83: Offering a Job

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Offering a Job

Su Wan’s pupils constricted. She realized He Rong must have investigated her before coming—otherwise, how would he know she was worried about Gao Qiang?

Gao Qiang hadn’t made a move in the last few days, but Su Wan wasn’t naive enough to believe the woman was generous or forgiving.

"What weapon do you need me to research?" Su Wan didn’t commit right away.

She had to consider if she could even do it.

"This." He Rong took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Su Wan.

Su Wan reached out and took it, seeing a design schematic for a type of landmine.

"This is..." Su Wan trailed off, shocked and uncertain.

"Don’t worry. I got this from abroad. I also have some fragments of this type of landmine recovered from the battlefield. You can take a look. If you can manage to reverse-engineer it, all the better."

’So he wants me to thoroughly study foreign technology and replicate the weapon.’

This sort of reverse-engineering was common practice in the country.

It’s just that...

"This requires official research authorization. I’m going to be a university student, after all, so everything has to be done by the book." Su Wan didn’t want to create any trouble for herself. ’I’m willing to do the research, but I don’t want to be reported halfway through or, worse, arrested for illegal activities.’

’Besides, she had her own particular ways of working and hated being interrupted.’

’Of course, she wouldn’t voice her real reason. Using her university enrollment as an excuse was sufficient.’

He Rong nodded. "I understand. Once you agree, I’ll handle the paperwork for you. It’s fine if you wait until it’s approved to begin your research."

Since he’d gone this far, and since it would also neutralize the threat from Gao Qiang, Su Wan had no reason to refuse.

"Alright, I’ll do it."

He Rong gave her all the materials, already trusting her implicitly.

Su Wan took the documents and couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Mr. He, can your family really stop the Gao family from bothering me?"

Gao Qiang’s father was a regimental commander, which meant she was from a high-ranking cadre family—far more powerful and influential than Su Wan’s.

Su Wan wasn’t naive. Even back in the village, people treated you with more respect if you had influential relatives, and that was even truer in the city.

"Of course. I don’t think I told you, did I? My dad is Mr. Gao’s direct superior," He Rong said with a confident lift of his eyebrow.

"Don’t you worry about a thing. If the Gao family still manages to give you trouble, then I’m completely useless."

That was a strong statement, and it was enough to put Su Wan’s mind completely at ease.

"Okay, then I’m counting on you, Mr. He."

Having gotten his confirmation, He Rong stood up, not lingering. "I’ll be going now. You get some rest."

He Rong left.

Su Wan waited for a while, but when Lu Zhengchuan still hadn’t returned, she lay down on the bed. She drifted off before she knew it.

When she woke up the next morning, she saw Lu Zhengchuan sleeping beside her.

Su Wan yawned, rubbed her eyes, and sat up. "What time did you get back last night?"

"Almost midnight." Lu Zhengchuan sat up with her.

"Is everything settled?" Su Wan asked.

"Yeah, it was about a mission for the unit." His words implied he couldn’t elaborate further.

Su Wan understood when it came to official business.

"Mr. He made me a deal last night." After a moment’s thought, Su Wan decided to tell Lu Zhengchuan about it.

A smile touched Lu Zhengchuan’s lips. He was clearly pleased that she told him everything; it was a clear sign that she cared for him.

"I had no idea Mr. He came from such a prominent family. He’s helped us solve our problem with the Gao family," Su Wan said happily.

She didn’t notice the shadow that passed over Lu Zhengchuan’s eyes.

He pursed his lips. "I’ll work hard to get promoted, too."

"That’s not necessary. Your safety is what’s most important," Su Wan said, meaning every word. She was more worried about him getting hurt than about him risking his life for military honors.

’He has to stay alive for me and our child to have a complete family.’

Lu Zhengchuan glanced at her a few times, looking as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.

"I’m hungry. I want some congee and steamed buns."

"I wonder if the state-run restaurant has soy milk and steamed buns today."

Lu Zhengchuan got up and put on his uniform, straightening his collar and lacing up his boots. He walked to the door. "Wash your face with the water from the thermos. I’m going downstairs to clean up. We can go to the state-run restaurant for breakfast when I’m done."

"Okay."

Lu Zhengchuan went downstairs.

Not only did Su Wan wash her face, but she also sat at the mirror to weave her hair into a fishtail braid. She then changed into a simple, long white dress.

Downstairs.

Lu Zhengchuan had just finished brushing his teeth at the sink and was splashing water on his face, which he hadn’t yet wiped dry.

A familiar voice called out.

"Battalion Commander Lu."

"Uncle Lu."

Liu Guosen and his son, Liu Shu, had found him. Liu Guosen smiled as he greeted him, "Did you two rest well? Shall we have breakfast together?"

His eagerness to repay their kindness was obvious.

Lu Zhengchuan used the towel around his neck to wipe the water from his face, then turned to look at the father and son. "You’re here so early?"

"We’re staying at this guest house too, actually. We arrived in the early hours of the morning; there wasn’t any room for us at the police station," Liu Guosen explained with a smile.

"Then go ahead and wash up. We can all go for breakfast in a little while."

Seeing Lu Zhengchuan agree, Liu Guosen beamed, showing a set of big white teeth. "Great, great!"

"Uncle Lu, where’s Sister Wanwan?"

Hearing this form of address, Lu Zhengchuan glanced at him. "You call me Uncle, so you should call Wanwan Auntie."

Liu Shu’s face flushed. "But Sister Wanwan is so young," he said.

Lu Zhengchuan’s expression soured. "Are you saying Wanwan and I don’t make a good match?" he asked, unable to help himself.

Liu Shu started to speak again, but Liu Guosen quickly clamped a hand over his son’s mouth. "Battalion Commander Lu, my boy doesn’t know how to speak properly," he said apologetically. "It’s obvious that you and Ms. Su Wan are a perfect match."

Just as Su Wan finished getting ready and stepped out, she saw the three of them.

When she learned they would all be having breakfast together, Su Wan readily agreed.

As soon as they got to the state-run restaurant, Liu Guosen insisted on ordering, absolutely refusing to let Su Wan pay for the meal.

Su Wan picked out her favorite steamed buns and soy milk from the food on the table, a look of pure satisfaction on her face.

Noticing her happy expression, Liu Guosen stood up and raised his cup of soy milk to toast them. "Ms. Su, Battalion Commander Lu, I truly owe you both for saving my life and my son’s life."

"I’ve prepared a thank-you gift for you, and you must accept it."

As he spoke, Liu Guosen produced a thick envelope. It was obvious without even looking that it was stuffed with money and ration coupons.

’A sudden windfall!’ Su Wan thought.

"I know that for people like you, money isn’t everything. After all, my salary is nothing compared to your allowance, Battalion Commander Lu. But I have to do something to repay you for saving our lives."

"I also have a job opportunity with a transport team. Here’s the letter of introduction. All you have to do is arrange for someone to take this letter to any branch of the Qingyang Clam Paste Factory."

Su Wan’s interest was piqued. ’If I remember correctly, there’s a branch of the Qingyang Clam Paste Factory in the capital of Yang Province. It’s a huge factory, employing over ten thousand people. A job as a driver for their transport team would be a top-tier position.’

Her thoughts immediately went to her older brother, who was still farming back home.