Wei Yuanyang’s eyes felt dry, his lips parched. Even as he stubbornly resisted the soreness in his eye sockets, he could no longer maintain eye contact.
“You were kept like a dog by Liang Xin, well-fed and content, yet now you complain about your owner’s poverty.”
Liang Xin: “……”
What an analogy.
Wei Yuanyang’s face flushed crimson at the comparison.
Wang Hongyan wanted to speak but dared not look at Lu Zewei for more than a moment.
“Not convinced?”
Lu Zewei: “Just now you said you were grateful to Liang Xin for taking care of you in the countryside. Why would she need to take care of you? Could it be she really wanted to keep a dog? Isn’t it because after you finished your deceitful schemes, you looked down on her once you got into university, wanting to climb higher?”
Wei Yuanyang’s face turned even redder. “These… these matters are none of your business.”
“Fine for you to do, but not for others to mention?”
The corners of Lu Zewei’s lips curved into a smile, but his eyes remained cold: “In the past, your behavior would have been considered oppressing Liang Xin, forgetting your roots. If Liang Xin were to write a complaint letter to your university requesting an investigation, any unit leadership would take personal conduct issues in male-female relationships very seriously.”
Wei Yuanyang’s spine stiffened, his confidence completely deflating.
“Liang Xin paid you no mind and married without any hesitation.” The smile on Lu Zewei’s face vanished instantly. “Instead of being grateful, you’ve become addicted to bullying others, pushing your luck. If I were to submit this letter to your unit, accusing you of sabotaging someone else’s marriage, do you think your unit leadership would overreact and have the public security bureau arrest you directly?”
Wei Yuanyang could no longer hold his ground, his legs weakening as he took a step back.
“You can’t do that!”
Upon hearing “sabotaging someone else’s marriage,” especially a military marriage, Wang Hongyan hurriedly looked at Chief Lu. “Chief Lu, Regimental Commander Lu, Battalion Commander Lu! You can’t let Chongfeng do this! Old Wei only left this one son behind. He was a great hero who sacrificed himself for the country and the people. How can we let his son become a criminal?”
Liang Xin watched as Wei Yuanyang, terrified, clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, likely digging his nails into his palms, his face full of panic and fear.
In contrast, Lu Zewei had returned to his previous lazy, mocking demeanor, enjoying Wei Yuanyang’s distress. “Uncle Wei risked his life for years in the gunfire, all so the poor could rise up and no longer suffer class oppression. When the nation was in peril, he fearlessly volunteered to be among the first to go to the front lines and sacrifice himself. He was a true hero. So, as his son, even if you’ve engaged in class oppression against the poor, lost your conscience, and hid behind your mother…”
Chief Lu: “Chongfeng!”
Wei Yuanyang suddenly stepped forward, his eyes bloodshot, teeth clenched, as if ready to devour someone.
Lu Chongfeng looked at him with disdain. “If you were a real man, you’d use your backbone and courage to defend the nation, go to the front lines to kill the enemy and earn merits, defeat the invaders—not to bully women and then shamelessly claim innocence.”
Drops of blood fell from Wei Yuanyang’s tightly clenched fists.
Lu Chongfeng’s final mention of his father struck him deeply, each word hitting home.
His father was a great hero who fought for the liberation of the poor from oppression. He was the descendant of a great hero, yet he had used oppressive methods against Liang Xin.
He had become the very class oppressor and exploiter his father had given his life to defeat!
In Wei Yuanyang’s bloodshot eyes, a faint glimmer of tears appeared as he looked at Liang Xin.
Liang Xin’s gaze shifted from Lu Chongfeng to the doorway.
“Chongfeng!”
The guard Xiao Wei suddenly rushed in, “Someone is looking for you!”
Lu Chongfeng: “Not seeing anyone.”
Xiao Wei excitedly said: “It’s your 16th Army’s Commander Chen looking for you!”
Lu Chongfeng turned around abruptly, “Where does he want me to go?”
“He’s waiting for you in the War Department Office!”
“Go quickly.”
After saying this to his son, Chief Lu sighed and patted Wei Yuanyang’s shoulder, “Come with me to the study.”
Lu Chongfeng no longer glanced at Wei Yuanyang, instead looking at Liang Xin.
Liang Xin: “?”
Lu Zewei felt that Liang Xin understood his meaning, and hurriedly strode out.
The evening glow enveloped the Military Compound as the loudspeaker sounded the end-of-day signal.
When the signal ended, dusk had fallen.
Lu Zewei walked out of the Military Compound’s War Department Office.
His steps were hurried yet light, the anxiety hidden in his eyes completely vanished without a trace.
Commander Chen had talked with him the entire day. From their morning meeting, they first walked in the mountains for an hour, stood atop the peak overlooking Jiangjing Martyrs Cemetery, discussed the Soviet play “Frontline,” and after learning he had watched it many times, asked for his opinion.
Lu Zewei spoke bluntly, criticizing the conservative and inflexible General Gorlov with a barrage of comments.
Commander Chen showed no reaction, and Lu Zewei immediately understood his meaning.
Back in the operations room, Commander Chen proactively shared his understanding and views on modern warfare. From the illusory nature of France’s Maginot Line to the success of Soviet blitzkrieg tactics, he not only produced stacks of foreign military materials but also brought out his academic papers submitted to military newspapers, discussing with him until they forgot lunchtime.
Commander Chen’s guard brought two meals from the cafeteria, and he continued talking with Commander Chen while eating.
When they discussed military academies behind modern warfare, Commander Chen demonstrated thorough understanding of the characteristics of military academies in developed countries, affirming his viewpoint of learning from foreign armies and believing that stones from other hills can polish jade.
This statement made Lu Zewei’s blood boil instantly.
Just as Liang Xin had said, he wasn’t a madman, nor a sick person.
He had been recognized by the highest military command leadership!
And by their own army commander!
The winter cold blew through the treetops, but Lu Zewei felt burning hot all over, eagerly heading home.
Although he was genuinely happy that his long-held attitudes and opinions had finally gained recognition from an important senior officer this day, Commander Chen was simply too talkative. After one pack of cigarettes was finished, the operations room had become like a fairyland, yet he was opening another pack, still wanting to continue their conversation.
While thoroughly enjoying their discussion, he kept thinking about Wei Yuanyang.
Wondering if he was still at home.
Wondering what Liang Xin’s attitude toward him was.
Lu Chongfeng’s steps slowed down.
Military academy reform, training reform, cadre reform – these actually fell within the purview of political work cadres. The reason Commander Chen paid attention to the words of a mere battalion-level military officer like him was still because of that quilt-mending newspaper.
The quilt mending was Liang Xin’s well-intentioned care for him.
This morning, he had thought Liang Xin wanted to take their relationship a step further, that they could make some progress, but then…
Lu Zewei’s steps grew slower and slower.
“Chongfeng!”
A figure jumped up and hooked an arm around Chongfeng’s neck.
Under normal circumstances, Lu Zewei could have twisted his arm off, but considering the newspaper used for quilt stitching had also come from this man’s hands—though initially intended to mock him—he had already exacted sufficient retaliation. Indirectly, it had even helped him gain Commander Chen’s recognition.
“Are the photos developed?”
Zheng Xiaojun’s face turned ashen. “Chongfeng, that cost me a month’s salary!”
“Not developed?” Lu Zewei said distractedly. “Forget it then. I’ll take the camera out to get them developed another day.”
“Don’t!”
Zheng Xiaojun’s arm grew sore from hooking around him and switched to draping over Lu Chongfeng’s shoulder. Finding that he nearly tripped himself while walking like that, and ultimately unable to reach properly, he could only grip Lu Chongfeng’s arm. “We’ve been friends since we were kids running around naked! If the female comrades in the Cultural Troupe find out you developed so many photos of me, how am I supposed to find a partner?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t show them until you find a partner—then I’ll gift them to your significant other.”
“…”
“You’re too cruel, Lu Chongfeng!”
Zheng Xiaojun grabbed Lu Zewei and pulled a book from his chest. “You look so gloomy, probably because things aren’t going well with your new marriage. I’m giving you this top-secret treasure. Let’s make a deal—don’t develop the photos, return my camera, how about it?”
“Top-secret treasure?”
Dusk enveloped the land. Lu Zewei glanced at the book in Zheng Xiaojun’s hand—tattered, as if flipped through countless times, wrapped in a faded book cover. “What is it?”
“I copied this until my hand swelled! Absolutely not for sharing. If it weren’t for our childhood friendship, I wouldn’t dare show you, let alone part with it.”
Zheng Xiaojun sneakily checked their surroundings. Most people had returned home for dinner by now. Lowering his voice, he said, “This book is dangerous. It must never see the light, or we’ll both be in trouble—might even lose our military uniforms.”
Lu Zewei’s expression turned serious.
Zheng Xiaojun worked as a reporter for the official newspaper under the Military Region Political Department.
A handwritten copy?
Dangerous.
“Foreign materials?”
“…Yes, there’s foreign content inside.” Zheng Xiaojun hugged the book and extended his hand. “The camera for the book.”
“The camera was sent to your office by Brother Wei.” Lu Chongfeng snatched the book. “Stay away from me from now on.”
“Chongfeng, remember to return it after you finish reading!”
In the pitch darkness, Lu Zewei couldn’t see clearly. Going under a streetlight risked encountering people, so he rolled up the book, stuffed it into his uniform sleeve, and hurried home.
The living room lights were off. Though everything remained neatly arranged, he felt the calm after a storm had swept through.
Lu Zewei frowned and strode upstairs.
Liang Xin had just finished organizing her things when she heard urgent footsteps of leather shoes scraping against the floor. The moment she turned, Lu Zewei’s expression changed.
The strong scent of tobacco assaulted her with his approach.
Lu Chongfeng suddenly snatched the woven grass basket from her hands.
A rare flash of panic crossed Liang Xin’s face as she reached to grab it back, but her wrist was clamped down. Lu Chongfeng’s lower eyelids were red. “You’re married now.”
“Give me back the basket!”
“You’re married now.” Lu Zewei repeated, tightening his grip on Liang Xin’s wrist. “We’ve already obtained the marriage certificate.”
Liang Xin saw the items in the basket about to spill and reached with her other hand to catch them, only to bump against his firm chest. Rubbing her forehead, she looked at him, “Are you… having an episode?”
Lu Zewei pressed his lips tightly together, his chest feeling constricted. “I won’t have another episode. I will get better.”
Liang Xin felt a slight relief in her heart. Her mother-in-law had mentioned fearing he might hurt someone during an episode, and she had initially thought this was some new, unseen symptom. “Give me the basket.”
Lu Zewei hid the basket behind his back. “I will get better.”
Liang Xin watched helplessly as items fell from the basket. She struggled to break free from his grip but couldn’t loosen it no matter how hard she tried.
Lu Zewei watched as the rosy hue faded from her face, her eyes seeming on the verge of tears from frustration. “…Don’t go.”
“Second Sister-in-law, are you ready?”
Lu Yueji suddenly appeared at the door, seeing her second brother gripping Second Sister-in-law tightly, holding her in his arms. Most importantly, a white side-closure cotton bra lay on the floor.
Lu Yueji raised her hands to cover her eyes and hurried away. “I didn’t see anything, I saw nothing!”
Lu Zewei tilted his head, his gaze lowering to the object on the floor.
The room fell into silence.
Lu Zewei’s Adam’s apple bobbed repeatedly as he slowly looked at the basket in his hand.
Sandalwood soap, shampoo powder, cotton underwear, and the corner of something else peeking out…
Lu Zewei hurriedly averted his eyes, only to see the white bra on the floor again, then quickly shifted his gaze back to Liang Xin’s face.
Liang Xin’s expression was blank. “Can you let go now?”
The grip on her hand suddenly loosened.
Liang Xin stepped forward, bent down, picked up the bra from the floor, stuffed it into the basket, and looked up at him.
Lu Zewei’s ears were bright red, his entire demeanor becoming extremely awkward. He wanted to look at her but avoided it, his eyes darting back and forth.
“Do you want to go to the bathhouse?”
“…I’m not going.”
Liang Xin grabbed the handle of the woven basket. “Can I leave now?”
Lu Chongfeng released his hand.
Liang Xin took the basket and walked out of the room.
Lu Zewei banged his head against the wall.
The military service station bathhouse was primarily used by residents of the Military Compound.
Many homes in the compound had attached bathrooms, but the bathhouse offered large pools, showers, and tub baths to choose from.
It was completely different from a simple rinse at home. Besides, coal was expensive for home use, so family members still preferred coming to the bathhouse.
In addition to family members, female cadres from the hospital administration and female comrades from the Cultural Troupe also came here to bathe.
Liang Xin and Lu Yueji handed their bath tickets to the front desk attendant, who gave them two keys and two pairs of sandals. Lifting the heavy curtain to enter the outer changing room of the women’s bath area, they saw several young, graceful female figures emerging from the steam-filled bathing area, sighing with relief.
“Yueji, you’re here to bathe too.”
“Who’s this?”
“My Second Sister-in-law.”
“Oh~ Hello, Second Sister-in-law.”
Liang Xin calmly admired the fragrant, fair-skinned girls in front of her. “Hello.”
Lu Yueji had already started taking off her sweater, removing her clothes piece by piece while chattering nonstop with the female comrades unlocking their lockers.
Liang Xin observed the bathhouse environment.
Places frequented by military personnel maintained much higher hygiene standards than ordinary bathhouses. The interior was spotlessly clean on all sides. Before coming, she had heard her mother-in-law say the military service station bathhouse was disinfected daily to prevent the spread of germs. It had even received awards and recognition in counterpart competitions.
She wasn’t concerned about hygiene; it was simply that it had been too long—she couldn’t even remember how long—since she had undressed completely in front of others.
Lu Yueji, who had practiced dance since childhood and changed clothes multiple times a day by stripping down, turned around and saw Liang Xin still sitting there. “Second Sister-in-law, why haven’t you taken off your clothes yet? Did you get dizzy from the heat as soon as you came in?”
“Not dizzy.”
Liang Xin unbuttoned her padded jacket one button at a time.
“Thump!”
Lu Chongfeng was banging his head against the wall when something suddenly fell out of his sleeve. Looking down, he realized it was the book Zheng Xiaojun had given him earlier.
In the past, banging his head against the wall couldn’t truly alleviate his pain, and now it didn’t ease the restless discomfort that made him want to scratch his ears and cheeks. Lu Chongfeng picked up the book from the floor and walked over to sit in the single armchair by the window.
Holding the book, his gaze fell on the spot where the white object had dropped earlier.
What had he been doing just now?
Lu Chongfeng pinched the Jingming acupoint a few times, the roots of his ears still flushed red.
He opened the book cover, intending to distract himself, but the next second, he threw the entire book away.
With a “smack,” the book landed on the floor. The pages, worn out from being flipped through countless times, had lost their elasticity and lay limp, revealing an illustration: a black-and-white woodblock print of the male protagonist peeping at a neighboring woman bathing.
In the image, the woman sat in a bathtub, completely undressed and uncovered.
The man crouched on the roof, peering down stealthily.
Lu Zewei’s chest heaved slightly from the shock. The spot where the book had fallen happened to be exactly where the white bra had dropped earlier.
In an instant, he thought of Liang Xin going to bathe.
Then he recalled the woman in the bathtub from the illustration.
The next moment, he hurriedly shut his eyes.
Little did he expect that closing his eyes would make the imagery even more impactful.
Liang Xin stepped out of the concrete pool, her skin like freshly fallen snow and congealed lard, shrouded in a faint mist of steam. She carefully descended the slippery steps and leaned over the edge of the pool.
Beneath her slender, lotus-root-like arms, full, soft mounds swayed. Her narrow waist curved inward, and her peach-like bottom arched slightly.
Lu Yueji stood behind her holding a scrub cloth, unconsciously swallowing hard. Though she didn’t know why she was doing it, she couldn’t stop.
“Oh, my heavens!”
A woman who had chosen a tub bath, sitting in an aluminum basin, witnessed the scene and exclaimed in admiration, “For the first time in my life, I regret not being a man!”
Lu Yueji turned around curiously, “What about men?”
Liang Xin said, “It’s cold.”
“I’m coming!” Lu Yueji stepped forward with the scrub cloth and first poured a basin of water over Liang Xin.
Droplets cascaded down her slender waist, and the rosy hue on her snow-white back spread like mist.
Lu Yueji couldn’t help swallowing hard again, reminded of soft, sweet, glutinous cream cakes. “Second Sister-in-law, I think I’m getting hungry from washing you.”
“Then scrub faster. We can go home and eat after you’re done.”
“There’s nothing at home that I want to eat.”
“What do you want to eat?”
“I want tangyuan—white, soft, glutinous rice balls.”
“We have glutinous rice flour at home. We can knead the dough, shape the tangyuan, and cook them when we get back.”
Hearing this, Lu Yueji scrubbed with even more vigor. But soon, as she applied more force, the full, soft mounds swayed even more intensely. Her hands grew weak, feeling as if she couldn’t continue. “Second Sister-in-law, I’m thirsty.”
Liang Xin stood up and took the scrub cloth from her hand. “Then rinse off quickly, put on your clothes, and go to the front desk for some water.”
Lu Yueji didn’t refuse. She was indeed suddenly parched. She scooped a basin of water from the pool and poured it over herself.
Liang Xin glanced over, thinking how fitting it was for a dancer—even the simple act of holding a basin showcased the beauty of the human form through slender yet powerful muscle lines, every inch of her physique nearly perfect.
“My goodness!”
The elder sister sitting in the aluminum bathtub exclaimed in admiration again: “For the first time in my life, I feel I’ve wasted being a woman!”
Liang Xin gathered the soap and shampoo powder, picked up a towel to barely cover her chest, and hurried out of the bathhouse.
Lu Chongfeng gritted his teeth, cursing Zheng Xiaojun countless times in his mind. His knuckles turned red as he clutched the book, flipping through it while searching for a suitable hiding spot, yet nowhere felt appropriate.
This book not only contained handwritten transcriptions of the most explicit sexual descriptions from foreign literature but also featured erotic art from the Ming Dynasty and Japan.
The artist employed a two-dimensional painting technique, exaggerating the organs to stand out. At first glance, one didn’t see people but the connected parts of two figures; the second glance focused on their expressions.
Lu Zewei broke out in a cold sweat. He flung the floor-to-ceiling windows wide open, the curtains dancing in the chilly wind, yet the palm holding the book remained scorching hot.
Spotting Liang Xin from the balcony in the distance, carrying a straw basket with her black hair cascading loosely as she walked back, Lu Zewei felt even hotter. He scanned the entire room, shifting things around, and finally locked the book in the bedside cabinet.
Just as he closed the drawer, Liang Xin entered holding an enamel basin, placing the clothes from the straw basket to the side.
Lu Zewei turned to look at her. Beneath her damp strands of hair, her cheeks were slightly flushed, radiating the warmth of a recent bath. As the wind blew, her every movement filled his nostrils with the rich scents of sandalwood and jasmine. His Adam’s apple, restrained, bobbed lightly.
“Why are the windows open so wide?”
Liang Xin walked over and closed the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Your body needs gradual recuperation. Don’t stand in the draft dressed so lightly—you’ll catch a chill.”
No response.
Liang Xin turned to look at Lu Zewei, who suddenly seemed to have developed a case of hyperactivity. Though not making any grand gestures, his hands and feet never stilled—shifting as if there were a nail in his shoe or lice on his head, fidgeting in front of the bedside cabinet.
Recalling the incident before her bath, she wondered: Had he not recovered after all this time?
Liang Xin removed her thin cotton jacket.
The moment Lu Zewei’s gaze swept over her, he immediately averted it. “What are you doing?”
Liang Xin’s hand paused as she looked at his jumpy reaction. “…What are you doing?”
Lu Zewei took a few steps back, ran a hand through his hair, then stuffed his hands into his pants pockets. “Broad daylight… I mean, late at night—why are you taking off clothes?”
“…”
Liang Xin suddenly stood up and stepped toward Lu Zewei, one pace at a time.
Lu Zewei retreated step by step, his eyes lowered to her flawless face—the delicate upturned nose, small cherry lips, a neck as smooth as polished jade, the woolen sweater clinging to her form, outlining her full curves… Lu Zewei abruptly halted.
“Move aside.”
Lu Zewei: “?”
Liang Xin stared at him blocking the doorway. “Are you really not having an episode?”
Lu Zewei: “…”
“Where are you going?”
Liang Xin suddenly reached out to touch his forehead. Though slightly warm, his temperature was normal. “Where could I go? We’re already married.”
Lu Zewei: “That day we got the marriage certificate, you were unhappy. Was it because of Wei Yuanyang that you had no choice but to marry?”
Liang Xin was slightly taken aback. “When was I unhappy?”
Lu Zewei’s face darkened. “Is it really because of him?”
What kind of logic is that?
Liang Xin turned back and sat on the bed, picking up a thin cotton jacket to drape over her shoulders.
“My illness won’t take long to recover from, and it won’t recur in the future.” Lu Zewei slowly followed her to the bedside and suddenly declared, “I’m better than him in every way!”
Liang Xin looked up, seeing his sullen face and arrogant expression, and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Lu Zewei’s expression grew even darker.
“You could say it’s because of him, but not for him.” Liang Xin said, “Marrying you—the bigger reason was because of the chicken.”
Lu Zewei fluttered his long lashes, his pitch-black eyes filled with confusion. “…Chickens?”
“I co-raised six chickens with classmates. The brigade misinterpreted the Dazhai spirit and explicitly forbade households from raising more than five chickens. Our chickens were confiscated. Second Sister-in-law feared I’d be criticized and imprisoned, so she arranged for me to come to your home for a matchmaking meeting.”
Liang Xin thought for a moment. “Yueji wants to eat tangyuan. I said I’d come back to knead glutinous rice flour and roll tangyuan. Should I go down?”
“Let her stay hungry.”
Lu Zewei pulled out the chair by the writing desk and sat facing Liang Xin. “Raising chickens in the countryside carries the risk of imprisonment?”
Liang Xin nodded. “It was close. Because you submitted a marriage report, the Political Department sent a background check request about me to our commune. The commune director happened to deliver the message in time, so I married you.”
“So it wasn’t because of Wei Yuanyang?”
Not because she was heartbroken over him and didn’t care who she married?
Lu Zewei watched Liang Xin’s reaction intently, his expression tense.
Liang Xin replied slowly, “I’m making tangyuan.”
Lu Chongfeng: “…”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Eating tangyuan late at night is hard to digest. She’s a dancer—she won’t eat it. Stop thinking about her.”
“Then let’s sleep.”
Liang Xin yawned, took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, lifted the quilt, and rolled into her spot. As she turned, her fitted padded jacket hugged her waist, accentuating the curve of her hips. When she lifted her left foot to adjust the quilt, an image of a couple’s pose flashed before Lu Zewei’s eyes—an artistic exaggeration of the position, but what left a deeper impression was the taut arch of her foot.
Lu Chongfeng’s breathing quickened. He glanced at the bedside drawer, then turned his back to Liang Xin on the bed.
After calming himself, Lu Chongfeng turned back to face her under the covers. “Wei Yuanyang treated you like that. Why didn’t you ever think about getting back at him?”
“You mean reporting him to the school?” Liang Xin closed her eyes. “Why would I want a fly buzzing around me?”
A fly?
This metaphor was usually reserved for someone detestable.
Lu Zewei’s lips twitched.
“Besides,” Liang Xin opened her eyes, “Wei Yuanyang didn’t just go work as a cadre elsewhere—he’s a university professor. His stepfather is also a military academy instructor and the head of the Political Department there. Starting this year, 70-80% of the cadres sent down to Huaihua Commune have been recalled to their original posts. The commune sends people to join the military every year—they’d be falling over themselves to curry favor with him. If my words carried any weight, my chickens wouldn’t have been killed.”
Lu Zewei asked curiously, “Do you really enjoy raising chickens?”
Liang Xin: “…”
“What does that have to do with liking to raise chickens?”
Lu Zewei sat back on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on Liang Xin’s face. “It sounds like you were very attached to those chickens.”
Liang Xin rolled over to face him. “If I reported him, do you think he’d go to your father and ask him to help reassign his job?”
Lu Zewei: “…Definitely.”
“Would your father help?”
“Even if the marriage arrangement falls through, out of respect for Uncle Wei, he’d probably take it seriously.”
Liang Xin fell silent.
Before getting married, she hadn’t reported him to the school because she wanted to live a peaceful life. If she had reported him and Wei Yuanyang returned empty-handed, and assuming the commune didn’t value him, he would inevitably linger around her every day. If the commune did value him, he would become a commune cadre leader, and wouldn’t that be her creating trouble for herself?
The marriage happened unexpectedly quickly.
She soon realized she had been dragged into a new plot.
She had considered sending him back to Huaihua Commune.
But she could also see that Chief Lu and Wei Yuanyang’s father shared a deep bond. She feared that if she reported him, even if the marriage fell through, she might unintentionally boost his career.
“So, you…” Lu Chongfeng ran his hand through his hair in frustration, “You have no feelings for him anymore? You dislike him?”
Liang Xin’s gaze slowly moved from his refined features and chin to the collar button below his Adam’s apple.
Lu Chongfeng broke into a light sweat under her stare.
Liang Xin: “If I had feelings for him, why wouldn’t I report him and have him sent back to Huaihua Commune?”
The conversation had circled back again.
Hearing this, Lu Chongfeng’s lips curved into a wide smile.
He understood.
On weekends, the Lu family’s house was usually filled with visitors, rarely experiencing quiet moments.
Early in the morning, Liang Xin washed her clothes and hung them to dry on the room’s balcony. To avoid embarrassment, she specifically covered her bra with a cotton undershirt.
Standing on the balcony, she saw guard Xiao Wei carrying loads of pork in both hands, placing them in a large aluminum basin. Then he emerged from the living room again, holding four roosters and two hens. An unfamiliar uncle wearing a striped towel on his head and a blue jacket carried two silver carp weighing about seven or eight jin each, placing them in another aluminum basin.
“Liang Xin, you and Chongfeng come down quickly. Relatives from our hometown are here.”