He looked at her with a half-smile, half-sneer.
“Really? But what I’ve heard is quite different. Everyone says it was your son who kept harassing Comrade Wen, which is why Team Leader Tian punished him by sending him to the reservoir to do hard labor.”
Wang Dafen immediately panicked inwardly and silently cursed those gossiping women for actually telling this to Lu Shian.
She coughed twice and stubbornly said, “How could that be? Everyone in the brigade has been deceived by Wen Qianqian. My son is the real victim here. Comrade officer, you’re sharp and perceptive—you’ll definitely see her true nature better than others…”
Before she could finish her stream of accusations, she suddenly found herself falling to the ground for no clear reason.
Lu Shian had somehow released the hand that had been supporting her, and with a quick kick of his right foot, he sent her straight to the ground.
“Whether Comrade Wen is good or not, I know for myself. It’s not your place to judge! Slandering a military marriage is a serious crime. Comrade, are you trying to get yourself sentenced?”
His voice was stern, his brows sharp and cold. The aura around him was so intimidating that anyone looking at him would feel afraid.
A crime… sentenced?
Wang Dafen shivered instinctively, even forgetting the pain from being kicked.
She had only said a few words—how could that count as interfering with a military marriage? And if she really got sentenced, what would happen to her son?
Her whole body was messy and disheveled, the sickle wound on her leg pale and festering, and blood still trickling from her chin. She swallowed hard, trying to argue.
She had lived her entire life in the countryside, freely spreading rumors about whoever she wanted. At most, she’d get pulled by the hair and beaten once—she had no idea that lying to a soldier could have such serious consequences, and she immediately panicked.
But then she suddenly thought—Wen Qianqian wasn’t even married to him yet. How could this be considered interfering with a military marriage?
And besides, if a soldier hit a civilian, that would also bring him trouble if word got out.
Just as she was about to make a scene, hoping to gather people’s attention, Lu Shian dropped another bombshell.
“Your leg was cut by a blade, but you still managed to walk thirty li this morning to send your son to the reservoir. Yet the moment I arrive, you suddenly can’t stand and need someone to help you. I think I should take you to Team Leader Tian and check whether you’re an enemy agent hiding among the masses!”
Without waiting for her reaction, Lu Shian grabbed the back of her collar and dragged her straight to Tian Yougen.
After hearing the situation, Tian Yougen flew into a rage.
“Wang Dafen! What were you trying to do blocking Comrade Lu like this?! If your thoughts have really been corrupted by the enemy, I’ll send you straight to the Public Security Bureau for a bullet!”
He had already been frustrated over Jiang Yue’s sudden disappearance, and now Wang Dafen’s family kept causing trouble—he felt like more gray hairs were sprouting by the day.
Wang Dafen had never seen such a scene before and burst into tears, hurriedly explaining, “Team Leader, my family has lived here for generations. I’ve never even left the county, how could I be an enemy agent? I stopped Comrade Lu because, because…”
Her face burned with shame; she couldn’t bring herself to say the rest.
Everyone around was watching the show. They all knew she was at most foolish and malicious, not an enemy agent—but no one stepped forward to defend her. They were all waiting to see her embarrassment.
From the crowd, Wen Qianqian spoke up calmly, her tone sharp and mocking:
“You stopped Lu Shian just to spread rumors about me, what else could it be?
You and your son are really something. Your son harassed me and got sent to the reservoir, so now you’re holding a grudge and slandering me in front of my fiancé. You say I flirt with men everywhere? I think the dirty-minded ones are the ones who see everything as dirty.
The Ma Laizi from the neighboring brigade, your daughter’s ex, and even your maternal uncle—weren’t they all seen coming out of your house…”
A nearby Tian Jinbao muttered, feeling like he had heard this kind of thing somewhere before.
And the people who had been falsely accused yesterday—like Zhang Sifeng—were already furious. They rushed forward and started beating her while cursing:
“You filthy dog, you made up all your rotten lies and dumped them on us! Beat this shameless old woman to death…”
The crowd turned chaotic. Team Leader Tian eventually gave up trying to control it and let them be.
He realized that unless Wang Dafen was properly taught a lesson, Comrade Lu probably wouldn’t let this go.
In the end, Wang Dafen was beaten until she was screaming in pain, and when she was finally pulled away, she looked utterly miserable, like someone dragged out of a stinking ditch.
Tian Yougen then turned to Lu Shian and said, “Comrade Lu, you’ve seen the situation. Wang Dafen was born and raised here and definitely isn’t an enemy agent. What do you think…”
Lu Shian walked over to Wen Qianqian’s side, standing beside her with a calm expression.
“This is my first time here, I’m not familiar with the brigade, and I thought she might be an enemy agent, so I kicked her once.
Since she isn’t, there’s no need to send her to the police station. But her slander of Comrade Wen can’t just be let go.”
Team Leader Tian immediately understood—whether this matter could be resolved depended on Wen Qianqian.
Without waiting for anything else, he kicked Wang Dafen and ordered, “Apologize to Comrade Wen!”
Wang Dafen had already been thoroughly beaten and no longer dared to be stubborn.
Reluctantly, she said, “Comrade Wen, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been spreading rumors about you. I was wrong. Please don’t take it to heart. I won’t do it again.”
She tried to leave quickly, but Wen Qianqian said coldly, “Too quiet. I didn’t hear you. Was that even an apology?”
Team Leader Tian sighed heavily—he knew she was truly furious now.
With a dark face, he ordered again, “Apologize properly! Louder!”
Surrounding people whispered and laughed at her, and Wang Dafen felt utterly humiliated.
She closed her eyes and shouted:
“Comrade Wen, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have made up rumors about you. I won’t dare again! If I do, may I suffer a horrible death!”
Everyone was shocked at how harsh her oath was—she must really be scared now.
But Wen Qianqian just sneered and said, “Is your life even that valuable? Who cares whether you live or die. I heard your apology—but I don’t accept it.”