Her arm was suddenly held firmly and the mans deep voice sounded beside her ear. Su Wan came to her senses and realized she had unknowingly walked right into the middle of the road and nearly been hit by a passing vehicle.
“Thank you” Su Wan said gratefully.
Lu Linzhou released her arm and asked. “What were you thinking about so deeply”
Many thoughts were going through Su Wans mind. Above all she kept thinking about the warning from the faint figure in the mirror telling her to beware of her second cousin by marriage and never to let her have Yaya. She now understood that the figure was none other than herself from a past life. Could it be that in that past life her daughter was abducted after she was imprisoned and Huang Yueying was the one responsible Why would she do such a thing Seeing them together today everything became clear. Huang Yueying was Lin Guodongs mistress and was acting on orders from the Lin family.
Su Wan clenched her fingers tightly her eyes flashing with cold anger. She had always treated Huang Yueying well since she married into the family. Huang Yueying parents had always favored sons over daughters giving all the best food and things to her brothers. As a result Huang Yueying had grown up malnourished and was thin and gaunt when she married. It was Su Wan who prepared nourishing herbal prescriptions for her helping her regain her health and look so much better that everyone in the village had noticed. Yet Huang Yueying had repaid kindness with betrayal and committed such a heinous act.
“Comrade Su Wan” Lu Linzhou asked with concern.
Su Wan looked up and was about to reply when she saw Lin Wenchuan walking toward them. She turned away and gave Lu Linzhou a faint smile. “I am fine. I will go get my bicycle now”
Her bicycle was leaning against the wall and Lu Linzhou vehicle was parked nearby as well. He glanced at the approaching Lin Wenchuan his expression cold and unsmiling. He did not greet him but walked straight over to Su Wan. Lin Wenchuan watched them leave together pushing their bicycles his hands clenched tightly.
He had just finished comforting Bai Wei in Hongqi Village and was preparing to return to town when someone blocked his path. It was Huang Mao the man he had hired. Huang Mao demanded five hundred yuan more threatening to expose him if he did not pay saying he had suffered greatly because of Lin Wenchuan and was now left permanently injured. Lin Wenchuan refused but Huang Mao threatened him further.
“If you do not pay I will tell Su Wan that Commander Lu is the man who saved her five years ago. Once she has Commander Lu as her protector you will be finished”
The words struck him like a heavy blow. He did not know whether it was true but if it was then Su Wan child was Lu Linzhou. The Lu family were highly respected military heroes with generations of distinguished service and great influence in the capital. Lu Linzhou mother had been an army doctor who died in the line of duty and his aunt had married Lu father becoming the matriarch of the family. According to his aunt Lu Linzhou had been injured on duty and could no longer have children. His elder brother had also died leaving only a young son who posed no threat. If this remained the case the family wealth and influence would eventually belong to his cousin and to himself. But if Huang Mao was telling the truth everything changed.
Lin Wenchuan adjusted his glasses a ruthless look crossing his face. Whether it was true or not Huang Mao could not be allowed to live. Only the dead keep secrets safely.
“Wenchuan” His mother called weakly from behind him. He turned and saw her walking from the supply and marketing cooperative pressing a bleeding wound on her forehead feeling even more agitated. He had passed by earlier and seen his father carrying a bloodied woman onto a cart and upon inquiry learned that his father was keeping a mistress and that the woman was none other than Huang Yueying. Worse still his father had been caught in the act by his mother with Su Wan and Lu Linzhou as witnesses.
“Mother you do not understand anything. Why make a public spectacle Could you not have waited until you got home If father loses his job will that make things better for you” Lin Wenchuan said reproachfully.
Zhang Guiqing felt physically wounded and heartbroken. She had hoped for comfort from her son but instead received criticism. Her husband had cheated and expected her to raise his child and now her own son took his side and blamed her. Overcome with emotion she choked and spat out a mouthful of blood before collapsing unconscious.
“Mother”
Meanwhile Su Wan and Lu Linzhou walked slowly side by side pushing their bicycles.
“Commander Lu are you related to the Lin family” She had heard Lin Wenchuan call him cousin previously and now Lin Guodong had called him nephew.
“My mother passed away when I was young. My stepmother is Lin Wenchuan biological aunt” Lu Linzhou replied calmly. “I was raised by my grandfather and have never been close to the Lin family”
Su Wan glanced at him seeing the cold detachment in his expression confirming his words. She said no more but spoke of what she had witnessed. “The woman with Lin Guodong is my second cousin by marriage. Her husband died four years ago saving two children from drowning. She found work at the county photo studio to support her family but I never imagined this”
Lu Linzhou looked surprised but said nothing his expression growing scornful. It seemed dishonesty ran in the family.
“I must be going now Commander Lu” Su Wan said stopping to say goodbye.
“I will see you safely home” Lu Linzhou replied.
“Do you not have official duties to attend to”
“Escorting you is part of my duties” He looked at her seriously. “You seem to attract trouble lately. If anything were to happen to you I would have no one to prepare my ointments or treat my injuries and the coupons I gave you would serve no purpose”
Su Wan could not help smiling. The sunlight fell softly on her face making her look radiant. Lu Linzhou quickly looked away mounted his bicycle and escorted her safely back to the brigade headquarters.
After thanking him Su Wan went to her uncle and obtained a letter of introduction authorizing her to travel to the city the following day to purchase medical supplies. After some hesitation she told her uncle about Huang Yueying and Lin Guodong. Su Zhenghua turned pale with shock his chest heaving with anger.
“Uncle please do not excite yourself” Su Wan helped him sit down and administered an acupuncture treatment to calm him.
Su Zhenghua eyes filled with tears. “How could she behave so shamefully We treated her like our own daughter. She could have remarried if she wished why must she bring such disgrace to our family”
Su Wan spoke gently. “Uncle this has already happened. What do you intend to do now”