Lin Fengxia wiped her tears. “I lost the money.”
“It was my oversight. I’m writing an IOU right now.”
Wenxin let out an “Ah.” “You really can’t find it?”
Lin Fengxia nodded, her whole face scrunched up.
She lowered her head. “It’s gone. Qin and I looked several times, but we couldn’t find it.”
“I clearly put the money away properly, but now it’s missing.”
Qin Jianguo thought for a moment, then looked at Wenxin. “Why are you here?”
Wenxin tugged at the girl beside her. “The two of us wanted to come together to ask Comrade Lin for a cup of tea.”
Lin Fengxia forced a smile. “Okay, I’ll prepare it right away.”
Qin Jianguo stopped her. “No need to prepare it.”
“There was an accident today, and your mood isn’t good. You should relax for a bit first.”
Lin Fengxia touched the corner of her eye. “I’m fine, and it’s just making tea.”
She turned to pick up the kettle.
Qin Jianguo moved faster and took the kettle, looking at Wenxin and Zhang Xiaohua.
“You saw for yourselves, Comrade Lin is in a bad mood today. You two should go back first.”
Wenxin sighed. “Alright, we came at a bad time.”
“Comrade Lin, losing the money isn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”
She grabbed Zhang Xiaohua to leave, but Zhang Xiaohua shrugged off Wenxin.
“Hehe, losing money? I think you just swallowed it yourself!”
Zhang Xiaohua stared at Lin Fengxia, her gaze so intense it seemed like she wanted to see right through her.
Lin Fengxia’s expression shifted slightly. “I’m sorry, the money really is lost. I didn’t swallow it.”
Zhang Xiaohua: “Are you trying to say there’s a thief in the base?”
“Even lies need a decent excuse!”
Lin Fengxia explained, “I’m not lying.”
She frowned at Zhang Xiaohua.
Zhang Xiaohua suddenly felt a strong hostility toward her.
Wenxin tugged at Zhang Xiaohua’s sleeve. “Zhang Xiaohua, what nonsense are you saying!”
“I know Comrade Lin’s character. Don’t speak recklessly, and you have no proof.”
Wenxin then looked at Lin Fengxia, her face full of apology. “Comrade Lin, I’m really sorry.”
“Xiaohua speaks her mind too quickly. Don’t mind her harsh words.”
Lin Fengxia felt uneasy inside.
She didn’t take the money, yet it mysteriously disappeared, and she was already anxious.
Now Xiaohua’s slander left her speechless.
Qin Jianguo’s expression turned stern. “Comrade Zhang, you may eat carelessly, but you cannot speak carelessly.”
“I know Comrade Lin’s character well. She would never misuse public funds!”
Qin Jianguo’s tone was unusually firm.
Zhang Xiaohua’s pupils slightly shrank. “Qin, she lost the money, and you’re defending her!”
“She—”
Zhang Xiaohua was flustered, and Wenxin quickly stopped her. “Xiaohua, you have no proof! Qin is right!”
Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t finish her words, her mouth opening and closing as she glared at Wenxin.
“Wenxin, why do you have to be so kind all the time?”
“Don’t judge people by appearances!”
Her words had an implied meaning.
This matter originally wasn’t Lin Fengxia’s fault, yet she didn’t dare speak up.
Qin Jianguo walked over to Lin Fengxia and said gently, “Don’t blame yourself. It was just an accident.”
“The money wasn’t a large sum anyway. I’ll cover it; you can repay me later.”
Lin Fengxia weakly nodded. “Okay, thank you, Commander Qin.”
Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes turned red with anger.
Everyone knew Commander Qin was strict and usually gave little chance for mistakes to be corrected.
Yet he treated Lin Fengxia completely differently.
Zhang Xiaohua’s jealousy surged.
Lin Fengxia had just arrived at the base, yet she could receive such care from Commander Qin!
Why?!
The more Zhang Xiaohua thought about it, the angrier she became, her entire face twisting.
Wenxin noticed her mood and tugged at her sleeve, whispering, “Xiaohua, calm down first.”
Zhang Xiaohua had already lost reason and shook off Wenxin.
“Wenxin, are you also suspecting Lin Fengxia?”
“Don’t be so weak! The money for the cultural performance was collected bit by bit by everyone!”
“If Lin Fengxia lost it, that’s her responsibility. Why let her off!”
Zhang Xiaohua glared at Lin Fengxia. “Maybe you hid the money in your wallet and are pretending to look for it!”
“Ugh, disgusting!”
Lin Fengxia remained calm despite Xiaohua’s slander.
Some people’s malice has no reason.
She didn’t need to let Zhang Xiaohua’s baseless accusations affect her mood.
“Zhang Xiaohua, you have no evidence. This is slander.”
Zhang Xiaohua put her hands on her hips. “Then check all your pockets and wallet!”
Wenxin stopped Zhang Xiaohua and apologized to Lin Fengxia.
“Fengxia, I’m sorry. Don’t be angry.”
“Maybe check your pockets or wallet? Maybe it’s really there.”
Lin Fengxia thought for a moment. She had been searching the corners of the room but hadn’t specifically checked her pockets.
She first looked through her clothes she had changed out of, but there was nothing.
Zhang Xiaohua then pulled all the clothes from Lin Fengxia’s wardrobe.
Qin Jianguo scolded, “Zhang Xiaohua, what are you doing?!”
“Stop immediately!”
Zhang Xiaohua didn’t listen and started checking the pockets.
Just as Qin Jianguo moved to stop her, Zhang Xiaohua froze.
She slowly took an envelope out of Lin Fengxia’s pants pocket.
A look of triumph flashed across Zhang Xiaohua’s face. “Lin Fengxia, still denying it?”
She handed the envelope to Qin Jianguo.
“Commander Qin, look!”
Qin Jianguo looked at the envelope, then opened it to check the money inside.
It was indeed the envelope he had given Lin Fengxia.
Lin Fengxia looked utterly incredulous.
“Impossible!”
She had never taken the clothes from the wardrobe out, so how could the money have been there?
Zhang Xiaohua tossed the pants to Lin Fengxia’s feet.
Lin Fengxia picked up the pants. She had worn them two days ago, and they had already been washed.
“Now see how you explain that!”
Zhang Xiaohua was elated.
Lin Fengxia looked at Qin Jianguo, wanting to say it wasn’t her.
Qin Jianguo understood her thoughts from her eyes.
“I believe you.”
Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes widened in anger. “Commander Qin, the evidence is clear. Why do you believe her?”
Qin Jianguo said, “I trust Comrade Lin’s character. This was a misunderstanding. It must be—”
He glanced meaningfully at Wenxin and Zhang Xiaohua.
Zhang Xiaohua’s expression instantly changed. “Commander Qin, do you really think I did it on purpose?!”
“I have no enmity with Lin Fengxia. Why would I slander her?”
Zhang Xiaohua’s voice rose.
Qin Jianguo: “I didn’t say anything.”
Wenxin covered Zhang Xiaohua’s mouth and quickly apologized to Qin Jianguo and Lin Fengxia.
“Xiaohua was just worried about the money. I apologize on her behalf first!”
“Don’t be angry!”
She bowed sincerely.
Without waiting for Zhang Xiaohua to struggle, Wenxin hurriedly pulled her out.
Once outside, Zhang Xiaohua shook off Wenxin.
“Wenxin, why are you defending Lin Fengxia?!”