"Ah!"
"Dongguo!"
Qu Chuning was thrown aside, while Shi Zhenzhen rushed forward to grab Lin Dongguo's hand, blowing on it with heartache!
Thud!!!
With the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground, Qu Chuning felt as if all the bones in her body were shattered. She wanted to move, but even breathing caused her pain!
"Stop!"
A deep, stern voice cut through the air, and the crowd immediately fell silent. Then, a tall, upright figure emerged from behind the crowd, holding a marriage certificate in his hand. The certificate was sizable, bearing quotes from the great leader.
"Why is this big shot here? Nothing good ever happens when he's involved!"
"Lin Dongguo and his wife are in for it now. Even the Chief of Staff wouldn't be able to help them. Just wait and see!"
"You all watch; I don't dare to. What if he sets his sights on us next? That would be disastrous!"
Ignoring the murmurs, Xi Muzhou strode directly toward Lin Dongguo and the others. Seeing Qu Chuning lying on the ground in agony, he called out to the orderly standing at the door, "Come in!"
Thinking they were going to carry her away, Qu Chuning struggled to her feet despite the excruciating pain. Blood began to trickle from her elbow, and she could feel the warm liquid flowing over her skin. But she couldn't care less and immediately protested, "I'm not leaving! Comrade, Lin Dongguo deceived me. You're his superior, and I demand an explanation for this…"
As she spoke, her lips trembled. She was in so much pain—her dislocated arm hurt, her numerous abrasions stung, and for a moment, her entire body ached.
Xi Muzhou sighed. He had intended to have the orderly take her to the clinic, but seeing her condition, he didn't dare force the issue.
"Your marriage certificate!" Xi Muzhou handed the document to Qu Chuning.
At his sudden appearance, those who knew his identity quietly stepped back, afraid of attracting his attention.
Just as Qu Chuning reached for the certificate, Xi Muzhou abruptly withdrew it.
Lin Dongguo swallowed nervously. A faint smile played on Xi Muzhou's lips, but his eyes held no warmth, sending chills down everyone's spine.
Everyone knew Xi Muzhou's identity—not only was he the Regimental Commander, but he was also the head of the Inspection Team, renowned for his impartiality and ruthlessness. His arrival instantly created an atmosphere of tension.
"Regimental Commander Xi, about this matter… it happened during a mission three years ago. My mother was worried I wouldn't return, so she forced me to marry her…"
After Lin Dongguo finished recounting the story, Shi Zhenzhen immediately apologized to Qu Chuning with such sincerity that, had Qu Chuning not known her true nature from her past life, she might have been fooled.
"If the marriage certificate is fake, then your assault just now was real, wasn't it? Come with me!"
As soon as Xi Muzhou finished speaking, several soldiers rushed in—all members of the Inspection Team.
Seeing this, Lin Dongguo panicked. "Regimental Commander Xi, I didn't mean it just now! I didn't realize… she bit me, so I…"
Xi Muzhou glanced at the soldiers beside him, and they immediately understood, stepping forward to restrain Lin Dongguo.
"Deputy Battalion Commander Lin, don't worry. We never wrong the innocent, but we never let the guilty go unpunished! Now, come with me for questioning!"
Hearing this, Lin Dongguo instinctively turned to look at Shi Zhenzhen.
Seeing that Lin Dongguo was about to be taken away, Shi Zhenzhen panicked and rushed forward to stop them!
"No, you can't take him away! This matter isn't really that serious. Given the circumstances at the time, it was just to comfort the elderly. Please let him go!"
Xi Muzhou looked coldly at Shi Zhenzhen: "Comrade Shi Zhenzhen, as someone who knows the law, you're aware that obstructing official duties carries consequences, right?"
Which military district wasn't afraid of the Inspection Team? Never mind that Lin Dongguo was merely a Deputy Battalion Commander—even if it were Shi Zhenzhen's own father, Chief of Staff Shi, they wouldn't hesitate to investigate!
Shi Zhenzhen wiped her tears and then rushed over to Qu Chuning, kneeling before her: "Comrade, comrade, I apologize on Dongguo's behalf. We were wrong, we'll make it up to you. I beg you, please don't pursue this, alright? No matter what, you're fellow villagers. I'm kneeling, I'll kowtow to you, is that okay?"
Qu Chuning stared fixedly at Shi Zhenzhen's face. In her past life, this wildly arrogant face had made her seem like dirt on the ground. She still remembered Shi Zhenzhen's smug look through the door crack right before she died—the child she had carried for ten months and painstakingly raised was clinging intimately to Shi Zhenzhen, sweetly calling her "Mom."
Today, this noble face was kneeling and begging before her!
Xi Muzhou frowned slightly, thinking: Surely she won't be swayed by a mere kneeling? But he was a man of few words and said nothing.
Qu Chuning was in too much pain to bother with Shi Zhenzhen. She only wanted to know what punishment Lin Dongguo would face. "Sir, Lin Dongguo…"
"No need to worry about that. We always uphold fairness and justice. Please rest assured!" Noticing the blood seeping from the wound on Qu Chuning's arm, Xi Muzhou thought it rare to see a female comrade endure so much. Her ordeal reminded him of some long-buried memories. After a moment's hesitation, he asked Qu Chuning: "Should I have an orderly take you to the clinic?"
Qu Chuning met Xi Muzhou's gaze. She wasn't foolish—the fact that those people were so afraid of this man proved his authority. Hearing his assurance, she felt relieved. The scrapes on her body were minor, but her hand truly hurt terribly.
Seeing that they were ignoring her, Shi Zhenzhen grew desperate and grabbed Qu Chuning's dislocated arm: "Comrade, aren't you afraid your family will find out about you framing Dongguo like this? No matter what, you two are still nominally husband and wife…"
"It hurts!"
Qu Chuning's face contorted in agony. Xi Muzhou's expression darkened like ink as he directly kicked Shi Zhenzhen's hand away!
Clutching her dislocated arm, Qu Chuning's eyes blazed with hatred: "I thought you were as pure as a white lotus, but it turns out you knew everything! Even if the marriage certificate was fake, back in our hometown, I was his wife, Lin Dongguo's wife! Meanwhile, you, as the daughter-in-law, unwilling to care for the elderly at home, conspired with Lin Dongguo to pull this stunt. Aren't you afraid of karma?"
Shi Zhenzhen's actions were despicable, and her words were even more disgusting. She knew they had once been nominally married—so why hadn't she refused to marry Lin Dongguo? Clearly, Shi Zhenzhen was fully aware yet still went through with it!
Qu Chuning was too agitated, and coupled with Shi Zhenzhen having grabbed her arm earlier, she was in so much pain that cold sweat dripped down continuously. A metallic taste lingered in her breath as she swayed unsteadily, nearly collapsing to the ground.
"Comrade, you're injured! Let us take you to the Clinic first!"
A doctor in a white coat entered with two nurses, intending to escort Qu Chuning to the Clinic. Qu Chuning was in too much pain, exhausted from days of travel and further agitated by today's events. She couldn't hold on any longer—her vision went black just as the doctor caught her.
Before losing consciousness, Qu Chuning thought to herself, "The unit is truly wonderful. I'm injured, and instead of going to the Clinic, the doctors and nurses come to me."
Shi Zhenzhen gritted her teeth, watching Qu Chuning and Xi Muzhou leave. She was so furious she could almost hear her teeth grinding. Getting involved with Xi Muzhou meant trouble—he was like a rock in the outhouse, stubborn and unyielding! No, she had to come up with a plan.