Volume One, Chapter 18: Was It She Who Reported Me?

She seemed to know what Huo Tingxiao wanted to say. Her first reaction was that she didn’t want to be lectured again. Instinctively, she wanted to say, “I’m going to see the old man next door about his illness.” But before she could speak, she saw the man turn his head and glare at her darkly. She took a deep breath and turned to walk inside.

“Huo Tingxiao...” Her words caught in her throat as she met his grim, deathly gaze.

“Remember what I said last night, or I’ll send you straight back to Xiaoqingshan Village!” he warned.

Shen Qingran smiled faintly, standing two or three meters away from him. “Alright.”

She no longer wanted to explain. What business was it of his what she thought? Watching him leave with his belongings and quilt, she calmly packed up the medicinal ingredients for the stew, carefully writing the instructions on a note.

She placed everything outside Qin Dahai’s fence and called out, “Comrade Qin, this is the dietary therapy recipe I prepared for Grandpa Qin’s stomach illness. Follow this, and I’ll leave the ingredients at the door from now on. Remember to use the clay pot for the stew.”

“I have to go out for a bit now. Please help me tell Grandpa Qin.”

Qin Xiangbei watched her hurried figure disappear and sighed. He had just seen Huo Tingxiao storm off in anger and felt some sympathy for Shen Qingran.

Carrying the items inside, Qin Dahai was reading the newspaper.

“From next door?” he asked.

“Yes, Comrade Qingran sent it. It’s dietary therapy.”

Qin Dahai slowly took off his glasses and looked at the neat handwriting.

“Her writing reflects her character. That girl’s not a bad one. From now on, that kid will have to endure some hardships.”

Father and son, for once, found common ground on something.

“I think so too.”

“All right, if you’re free, hurry back to the research institute. You’re just in the way here. When you’re home, that girl won’t dare to come over.”

Qin Xiangbei was puzzled.

“Dad, you smelled her cooking meat yesterday—don’t tell me your old ailments are acting up again?”

Qin Dahai’s shoe sole flew through the air.

“When did you start bossing me around, you little punk? Get lost, get lost!”

Qin Xiangbei clicked his tongue twice. “Fine, you’re right. Once I finish your pork tripe soup, I’m off! Don’t drink or eat recklessly anymore, got it?”

Qin Dahai grumbled discontentedly, “I know, you nag like an old woman.”

—

Meanwhile, Shen Qingran walked briskly toward the political commissar’s office. She wanted to thank the commissar and also praise Sister Chen Hong. She thought that the commissar must have secretly helped her since she had confidently said, “It will definitely get better.” She was someone who never forgot a favor.

But she found out the commissar wasn’t there. So she handed her letter to the commissar’s secretary and left the building.

She really was unlucky; nothing had gone smoothly since she transmigrated. Why was it so hard to find a job?

Huo Tingxiao happened to be at the division headquarters and saw her leaving.

What was she doing here?

Arriving at the division commander’s office, the orderly greeted him.

“Commander Huo, you’re here. The division commander and the political commissar are waiting for you in the office.”

Huo Tingxiao lightly knocked on the door. “Reporting!”

“Come in.” A deep, strong voice came through, and Huo pushed the door open.

Peng Dehou looked up, smiling as he brought a teacup to the sofa. “Don’t stand there—sit down and talk.”

“Political Commissar Yu, he’s here. Let’s start.”

Huo Tingxiao sat up straight, eyes fixed on the two men opposite.

“Xiao Huo, your report was handled by Political Commissar Yu yesterday, but today we called you here about another matter.”

Huo Tingxiao’s handsome face darkened slightly, puzzled. “Division Commander, what matter?”

Yu Hewei smiled, maintaining his usual sly expression.

“This matter can be big or small—it depends on how you handle it.”

Huo Tingxiao was momentarily stunned, listening as Yu continued.

“We received a report claiming that your marriage was forced because you were drugged at the time.”

“If that’s true, we can represent you to explain the whole situation to higher-ups. If accepted, your marriage could be declared invalid.”

“Xiao Huo, what do you think?”

Huo Tingxiao looked at Yu Hewei’s words with mixed feelings. There was a hint of temptation. If he agreed now, he could preserve his reputation.

But if he truly agreed, Shen Qingran would surely be sent back to Xiaoqingshan Village, and her reputation would be destroyed.

Would he destroy her for his own sake?

He hesitated.

Though she was vain and scheming, she didn’t deserve that.

He couldn’t treat a comrade like that.

Moreover, if the Shen family caused trouble again, could his own parents bear it?

His family was at a critical moment, recalling to the city.

They couldn’t withstand any storm.

All these thoughts flashed through his mind.

He clenched his fist until his palm hurt.

His gaze grew steady, and a resolute look passed over it.

“Political Commissar, I married of my own free will. No one forced me. My marriage to Shen Qingran is genuine and valid.”

Peng Dehou chuckled like a laughing Buddha. “Old Yu, I told you, this guy’s stubborn—he must have married willingly.”

Yu Hewei smiled.

“That’s good. Then the report is handled. I’ll have the women’s director give some lessons to those army wives, so they stop spreading rumors and damaging comrades’ feelings.”

He looked at Huo Tingxiao with disapproval.

“You kid, the report’s false, the rumors are false, but you not going home is true, right?”

“Don’t think because the commanders protect you, I won’t punish you. I’m ordering you to move your things back from the dorm immediately!”

“If I hear again that you don’t go home and neglect your family’s rear, you won’t escape discipline!”

Peng Dehou nodded repeatedly. “I agree with Commissar Yu. You’d better move back.”

“All right, all right, you say what you want. Matter’s settled. I have a meeting in the city this afternoon, so I’m off.”

Only Huo Tingxiao and Peng Dehou remained in the office.

“Take half a day off this afternoon to settle family matters. Your father’s side should be nearing the final process—don’t let anything go wrong.”

“Roger that!”

Huo Tingxiao left the office, his eyes deep.

Someone had reported him?

Besides Xiaoqingshan Village, only his family knew about the drugging.

Huo Tingzhou and the others wouldn’t.

Only one person knew.

Shen Qingran herself.

Could it be her who reported him?