Chapter 87: Being a Backer

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Being a Backer

"Qin Yao, are you hurt? I think I saw you get kicked just now," Su Wan said in a low voice.

But no matter how quietly she spoke, He Rong’s senses were sharp, and he heard every word.

He stared at the two of them, his gaze anything but friendly.

Qin Yao felt his stare, her brow furrowed slightly. She ignored him completely and gave Su Wan a small smile. "I’m fine. It’s just a minor scrape. This happens all the time during training at the station."

As she spoke, she dusted off her pant leg. She clearly paid He Rong no mind, dismissing him as if he were a complete stranger.

"Wanwan, are you done with your shopping? Is there anything else you need? Is there anything I can help with?" Qin Yao asked with concern.

Su Wan shook her head. "We’re all set. Lu Zhengchuan and I have bought everything we need. We’re about to leave the county town and head back to the military compound. Here are my addresses—one for the compound and one for the Capital School. If you want to get in touch, you can write me a letter."

Su Wan felt she and Qin Yao really clicked, so she took the initiative to give her contact information.

Qin Yao was pleasantly surprised. A demure smile touched her lips as she carefully accepted the paper. "Okay, I’ll definitely write to you when I have time."

"Oh, by the way, do you have a minute to wait? I brought some fermented tofu for you from my place. It’s at the station. I made it myself. You can take it home with you."

Qin Yao scratched her head as she remembered, looking at Su Wan anxiously.

Without giving Su Wan a chance to refuse, she turned and ran toward the police station, shouting over her shoulder, "Wanwan, I’ll be really quick, ten minutes at most!"

"Hey—" Su Wan started to call after her.

But in the blink of an eye, Qin Yao had disappeared around the corner.

"I was just going to ask you to give Qin Yao a ride back to the station. Making her run all the way there is so tiring," Su Wan said to Lu Zhengchuan.

She knew Qin Yao’s offer to give her the fermented tofu was sincere, so she had no intention of refusing her kindness.

Lu Zhengchuan said, "She’s in good shape. A short distance like this is no problem for her."

Su Wan rubbed her belly, her eyes filled with a trace of envy. "After the baby is born, I want to start training too. I’d like to get stronger."

She usually spent most of her time in the village studying, with very little left for training or exercise. Her physical fitness couldn’t hold a candle to Qin Yao’s; she wasn’t even as fit as Xu Yan, who was a soldier in the art troupe.

Lu Zhengchuan rubbed her lower back and helped her into the car, readily agreeing, "Of course. I can coach you. I’ll make sure you avoid any improper techniques..."

The two of them chatted softly about sweet, everyday things.

He Rong stroked his chin, lost in thought.

After stowing all the packages in the trunk, Xiao Li turned to get into the driver’s seat.

When he saw him still leaning against the car door, he asked curiously, "Captain He, aren’t you hurt? Should I take you to the hospital to get that bandaged before we head back?"

"No need. Head straight back to the base." He Rong had changed his mind; he wasn’t going to the guesthouse anymore.

After he spoke, he looked up and gave Xiao Li a meaningful glance.

Xiao Li approached, confused, and gave him a military salute. "Captain He, is there something you need?"

"What’s the story with that policewoman, Qin Yao?"

He Rong had come to the right person. Since Xiao Li worked for Lu Zhengchuan, the first thing he’d done upon arriving in the county town was go to the police station to learn about the Liu Family’s case. Naturally, he’d also taken the time to learn about the officers handling it.

"Comrade Qin Yao? She’s a local from Yun Province. Her hometown is in the next city over, Hong City. She comes from an ordinary family, but she got into the police academy on her own merit. After graduating, she was assigned here to the Song County Police Department."

He Rong raised an eyebrow. "An ordinary person. No wonder she’s so bold."

"Captain He, please don’t give Comrade Qin Yao a hard time. She was just doing her job by the book. You’re a bigger person than that. An ordinary person can’t afford to make a single mistake. Please, whatever you do, don’t report her." Xiao Li looked worried, hesitating as if he wanted to say more.

He Rong scoffed at his words and glanced back at him. "Is that really what you think of me?"

Xiao Li immediately flashed a placating grin. "Heh heh, Captain He, no, no, not at all! You’re the soul of magnanimity."

He Rong let out a dry laugh and clapped him on the shoulder. "Just get in the car. Enough nonsense."

"Heh heh, yes, sir!" Xiao Li snapped a crisp salute and followed him into the car.

True to her word, Qin Yao returned in under ten minutes. She handed Su Wan two jars of fermented tofu that looked absolutely delicious.

Qin Yao left as soon as she’d delivered the gift, as she had to get back to her patrol.

Su Wan and the others then returned to the base.

When they arrived at the bachelor officers’ quarters, He Rong got out of the car.

Su Wan thought for a moment, then called out to him, offering a box of protein powder. "Mr. He, please take this. Qin Yao is my friend, so I’d like to apologize on her behalf."

He Rong paused mid-step. He glanced at the protein powder in her hand, then pushed it back toward her. "If you really want to show your gratitude, give me the fermented tofu. A thank you with her gift would be far more sincere."

Su Wan had thought he was refusing the gift, but she never expected him to set his sights on the fermented tofu Qin Yao had made.

She gave He Rong a strange look, then averted her gaze before he could get unnerved by her stare and handed one of the jars to him.

He Rong took a jar of fermented tofu and left.

From the driver’s seat, it dawned on Xiao Li. "Isn’t Captain He injured?" he asked. "You’re not supposed to eat spicy food while you’re recovering, are you?"

Lu Zhengchuan wasn’t worried in the slightest. "How can you be so sure he’s going to eat it?"

Xiao Li was speechless. "...Good point."

Su Wan rubbed her brow. "I hope Captain He doesn’t cause any trouble for Qin Yao. Then again, Qin Yao is no pushover, so I’m not too worried."

"Don’t worry, Wanwan," Lu Zhengchuan said, patting her back reassuringly. "Old He isn’t the type to resort to petty, underhanded revenge. Besides, this was just a minor incident. He won’t say it out loud, but he actually appreciates Comrade Qin Yao’s integrity."

Su Wan’s worries were somewhat assuaged.

That evening, Su Wan took out the fermented tofu for dinner. Her eyes lit up with the first bite. She hadn’t had much of an appetite, but to her surprise, the tofu stimulated it.

Seeing her eat with such gusto, Lu Zhengchuan also picked up a steamed bun and spread some of the fermented tofu on it.

The moment he tasted it, he understood why even Su Wan, despite her pregnancy, was enjoying it so much. It was genuinely delicious.

It was fragrant without being overpowering, spicy without being searing, and the saltiness was perfectly balanced.

As Su Wan ate, an idea began to form. ’I think this fermented tofu Qin Yao makes could absolutely be sold in the Capital.’

’If it were packed in glass jars, it could easily keep for a month. You might not even need to ship it to the Capital; it would probably sell out right here in town.’

Hearing her already scheming about ways to make money made Lu Zhengchuan’s heart ache a little.

’It’s because I don’t earn enough money,’ Lu Zhengchuan thought, reproaching himself.

Su Wan could tell what he was thinking in a single glance. She didn’t sense any real insecurity from him—perhaps he was just being dramatic. Amused, Su Wan decided to play along with his act.

She reached out and patted Lu Zhengchuan’s shoulder. "Don’t blame yourself. The only reason I can focus on making money so peacefully is because I have you to rely on."

Lu Zhengchuan looked at her, wanting to say something but holding back. He’d almost fallen for that load of bull.