Seeing the woman in front of her, tormented by a cruel mother-in-law yet still with bright, clear eyes, Shen Shujiao never expected that in this life, she would meet Qin Qingtang.
Although Qin Qingtang in front of her was still very thin, the big exercise had just started, and Old Lady Chen hadn’t yet unleashed severe torment on her.
Qin Qingtang wasn’t as emaciated and pitiable as in the previous life, making her heart ache to see her.
So when she saw Qin Qingtang, Shen Shujiao only thought that this woman had uniquely beautiful eyes, without recalling the tragic story she had witnessed in her past life.
Since fate had allowed them to meet a year earlier this time, Shen Shujiao felt she should help this devoted yet pitiful woman.
“My son is serving in the army on Guifan Island in Yan Province. He told me that their regiment commander is called Chen Zhihong. He said he lost his memory and can’t remember his family. During holidays and festivals, he would secretly cry because he misses home,” Shen Shujiao lowered her voice and said.
Chen Zhihong, who has a lovely son and is holding the commanding officer’s daughter? He wouldn’t miss home at all!
Shen Shujiao deliberately painted Chen Zhihong as pitiable to push Qin Qingtang to resolve to go to the army and find him.
The sooner she sees that scumbag’s true face, the sooner she can escape the suffering.
Qin Qingtang’s eyes immediately grew moist. “It’s him. It must be him. He cares about home the most. Every letter he wrote me had tear stains—I knew he wouldn’t die in the war. He must have just forgotten the way home.”
“I think before this is confirmed, you shouldn’t tell your mother-in-law, so as not to let her down,” Shen Shujiao advised.
Qin Qingtang quickly nodded. “Aunt, you’re always so thoughtful. You’re right. Before confirming that Zhihong is still alive, I can’t let her know.”
“I’ll inform my son about your situation. Once you arrive at the military district, you can find my son. His name is… Huo Zhoubai. He’s a regiment commander, so you might not get to see him directly. Let my son take you in; you can sneak a look from afar to see if he’s your husband,” Shen Shujiao flicked her tongue as she spoke.
Husband instantly becomes son—Huo Zhoubai, far away in the capital undergoing interrogation, sneezed violently.
“Comrade Huo, are you alright? If you’re unwell, we can take a break.”
“No, please continue.”
Seeing Huo Zhoubai’s deep dark circles, the examiner couldn’t help but say, “Comrade Huo, you haven’t slept for two days and nights. We can rotate shifts; your body…”
“I’m fine. I just want to prove my loyalty to the organization as quickly as possible. No matter how tough or exhausting, I can endure it. Please continue!” Huo Zhoubai said without hesitation.
That sneeze just now—it must be his Jiajiao thinking of him.
She’s alone in Shanghai and must be very scared. He needs to finish the investigation quickly and get to his Jiajiao as soon as possible to accompany her.
On this side, Shen Shujiao didn’t know the efforts Huo Zhoubai was making to see her sooner. Her heart was only filled with a sense of guilt toward him.
Husband turned into son—Huo Zhoubai would probably be turning green with frustration if he knew.
But there was nothing she could do. Chen Zhihong is the regiment commander. If Qin Qingtang went straight to him in the army, he would quietly deal with her to avoid trouble.
Once she and Huo Zhoubai go to the army together, with his help, Qin Qingtang’s personal safety would be guaranteed.
Tears streamed down Qin Qingtang’s face. “Aunt, you’ve thought of everything. Thank you so much.”
“My son might be on a mission. When you arrive at the barracks, if you don’t find my son, wait a few days. You must wait for him to help you—don’t act on your own to find Chen Zhihong. After all, he’s amnesiac. If you approach him directly, you’ll be treated as a suspicious enemy operative.”
Qin Qingtang nodded.
“Aunt, thank you. You’re my benefactor!” Qin Qingtang said and tried to kneel to Shen Shujiao.
Shen Shujiao quickly stopped her, speaking softly, “It’s not certain yet. Don’t thank me for now. It’s getting late; I’m heading back.”
Before leaving, Qin Qingtang packed the vegetables Shen Shujiao had previously picked into a bag, insisting that Shen Shujiao take them.
Shen Shujiao refused at first, then let it go.
She felt she deserved the vegetables Qin Qingtang gave her.
After leaving the village for a while, Shen Shujiao slipped into a cornfield by the roadside, entered her space, and emerged transformed into a little girl wearing a yellow Bragi dress, black shoes, and two braids.
The sky was still bright, and during this crackdown period, Shen Shujiao had nothing to worry about regarding safety.
Leisurely strolling under the sunset, she slowly walked to the city.
After a busy day, Shen Shujiao treated herself, ordering three dishes and one soup at a state-run restaurant and enjoying a hearty meal before returning home.
Back at home, she noticed something familiar hanging on her front door.
It was a food box from Uncle Zhang’s family.
It was already dusk. Shen Shujiao looked around and saw a shadow quickly slip behind the fence of the front house.
Although the figure moved fast, Shen Shujiao, as if endowed with clairvoyance, caught a glimpse of the face in that fleeting moment.
It was Uncle Zhang’s eldest son, Zhang Dazhuang.
A warm feeling surged in her heart. She didn’t go out to meet him and took the food box inside.
In the living room, Shen Shujiao opened the food box; the aroma of the dishes wafted up.
Braised pork ribs, stir-fried cured meat with garlic shoots, stir-fried gourd, and loofah egg soup—clearly a lavish meal specially prepared by Aunt Zhang to thank her.
Shen Shujiao transferred the dishes to her own plates, washed the bowl and put it back, then wrote a note, placed it in the box, and hung it back on the door.
Zhang Dazhuang, after seeing Shen Shujiao hang the box on the gate, sneaked over after ten minutes.
Opening the food box, he saw the note:
“Brother Dazhuang, go back. If you linger outside, it will only arouse suspicion, making it seem like you’re helping me pass messages. This would endanger both you and me. Tell Uncle Zhang I know your intentions, but our friendship has ended; it’s better not to contact each other anymore.”
Reading the note, Zhang Dazhuang felt a pang in his chest.
He had also worked in Shen’s father’s shop for several years. Later, when the situation became unstable, Shen’s father sold many of his shops and found him a stable job in a factory.
He was truly grateful to the Shen family.
Afraid that lingering outside would bring trouble to Shen Shujiao as the note said, he took the food box back.
After Zhang Dazhuang left, in a car parked at a distance, Shen Xueman looked at Li Changzhu beside her.
“Captain Li, you believe what I said now, right? If Shen Shujiao didn’t have money, how would a dismissed former steward dare to contact a capitalist lady at such a critical time? The Shen family’s assets are far more than what Shen Shujiao turned over; she and her former steward are plotting to transfer assets.”
“What the beauty says, I naturally believe. Don’t worry, I’ll have someone secretly monitor Shen Shujiao. When the time is right, I’ll take her down and make her hand over all her assets,” Li Changzhu said lewdly, pressing Shen Xueman onto the car seat, his mouth reeking of smoke as he kissed her.
Chapter complete.