In the military compound residential area, because of Song Hongmei’s exaggerated gossip, rumors about Zhou Weidong and his sister spread more and more wildly.
After all, there was little entertainment in this era, and people relied on gossip about families to pass the time.
Of course, there were still some people who sided with Zhou Weidong, believing that nothing improper could exist between biological siblings, and that it was simply Song Xuezhi overthinking.
Among them was a young woman in the compound, Mao Xiaohong, who got along well with Zhou Yuwei and was in a similar situation herself.
Most importantly, Mao Xiaohong had once had feelings for Zhou Weidong. Unfortunately, he already had a fiancée.
Mao Xiaohong had also come from a rural area to seek refuge with her elder brother, who was a battalion commander and quite a bit older. This time, his wife had just given birth to their third child and was too busy, so he asked Mao Xiaohong to come help out.
In other words, she was basically being used as a live-in helper.
However, in return, her sister-in-law promised to help her find a partner within the military.
But now, the scandal involving Zhou Weidong and his sister affected Mao Xiaohong the most.
She felt that ever since the gossip spread, even her sister-in-law looked at her differently, and sometimes her brother treated her like a thief, even suggesting sending her back to the countryside.
What, did they think she would seduce her own brother?
Mao Xiaohong found it both ridiculous and absurd. Who would ever be interested in their own biological brother?
“I think it’s Song Xuezhi who’s trying to break off the engagement and is deliberately slandering Captain Zhou!” Mao Xiaohong said as she hung up her laundry and chatted with a friend.
“Exactly,” her friend agreed. “Captain Zhou only helped treat his nephew’s heart disease. She’s just being selfish and making a fuss over nothing, demanding to break off the engagement. It’s really unreasonable…”
Mao Xiaohong pouted. “What’s wrong with a brother helping his sister? It’s not like he’s helping some random woman outside. Having a sister like her must be a curse for Zhou Yuwei…”
Her friend, aware of her feelings for Zhou Weidong, teased her with a smile, “If they break off the engagement, wouldn’t that be your chance?”
“What are you talking about…” Mao Xiaohong pretended to be shy and pushed her friend lightly. After a moment, she couldn’t help but say with longing, “If I married Captain Zhou, I wouldn’t be as unreasonable as Song Xuezhi. I wouldn’t object to him helping his nephew’s medical bills.”
A man like Captain Zhou—young, handsome, and outstanding—was rare even in the entire military.
When Mao Xiaohong first arrived at the compound, her sister-in-law had mentioned introducing her to someone, and she immediately set her eyes on him.
Her own brother was already over thirty and only a battalion commander, while Zhou Weidong was so young yet already a regiment commander—his future was limitless.
Song Xuezhi was too short-sighted, only caring about immediate gains and failing to cherish such a good man.
Right now, Zhou Weidong couldn’t afford his nephew’s surgery, but marrying him would surely mean a good life in the future.
“So you’re actually more suitable for Captain Zhou… go for it,” her friend encouraged.
Mao Xiaohong’s cheeks turned slightly red.
Meanwhile, Song Xuezhi knew nothing about any of this.
If she did, she would probably say: go ahead and marry him then.
There were actually still people eager to take in such “garbage” in this era.
Only by experiencing it firsthand would one understand what it was like to marry a man obsessed with his sister.
Hopefully, after Mao Xiaohong actually married Zhou Weidong, she would still be able to smile.
That day, when Song Xuezhi got off work, she was blocked at the alley entrance by Zhou Weidong, who was holding a bag of fruit candies.
“What are you doing here?” she immediately became alert and looked at him coldly. “Here to return my money?”
“Uh…” Zhou Weidong looked embarrassed and scratched his head. “Xuezhi, can we talk about the money in a couple of days? That’s a large sum—I can’t gather it that quickly.”
Song Xuezhi nodded. “Fine. If you can’t, I’ll go to your military unit tomorrow and ask your leaders. I believe Commander Li will give me justice.”
“You!” Zhou Weidong frowned. “Can’t you give me a few more days?”
She raised five fingers. “At most five days.”
He didn’t respond and instead peeked behind her, then handed her the bag. “Has Mom come? I haven’t met her yet.”
“Don’t call her ‘Mom.’ You’re not worthy,” she said sharply.
“Xuezhi, I know I was wrong,” Zhou Weidong said, his face somewhat haggard, softening his tone. “The surgery for Yizi went smoothly, and Yuwei has found a job, so I don’t need to help her for now. I’ll return to the unit tomorrow and work hard. I’ll give you all the money I earn in the future…”
Clearly, he thought the problem between them was money.
Looking at him, she let out a cold laugh.
“Then pay back my dowry money first!”
Empty promises—who would believe them?
Zhou Weidong rubbed his face, his expression lonely.
After Yizi fell ill, he truly understood what it meant that a single cent could cripple a hero.
Their relationship had once been good, but now it was falling apart because of money.
“I’m sorry, Xuezhi.”
Hearing this long-lost apology, she froze for a moment. Memories of their past flashed through her mind.
Before Zhou Yuwei appeared, he had indeed treated her well—writing letters every week, sending her his allowance, buying her gifts from trips, even saving money for months to buy her a dress she couldn’t afford.
But those memories only flickered briefly and did not shake her resolve.
“I know you’re lying. We never actually registered the marriage. The higher-ups only gave us a one-month observation period.”
She closed her eyes. “Let’s end this peacefully.”
Zhou Weidong reached for her wrist, but before he could touch her, an enamel lunchbox struck his hand. It was still warm with cabbage and vermicelli stew.
“Get lost!” she pushed him away.
“Xuezhi, listen to me…” he tried again, but suddenly the sound of a broom scraping the ground exploded from the alley entrance.
“Help! A soldier is harassing a woman!” Song Hongmei rushed in with a broom, furiously hitting his military trousers with it. “My daughter has been bullied by you like this and you still dare to cling to her? Have you no shame?!”
Laundry sheets flapped in the wind, revealing the excited face of Aunt Zhang from the neighboring alley.
As Zhou Weidong stumbled backward, he knocked over a coal stove. Coal balls rolled into a drain, splashing black water onto his shoes.
“Mom!” Song Xuezhi hurriedly tried to stop her mother. “Your heart…”
“I’d rather die here today than let this beast go!” she shouted, swinging the broom again.
“Mom, you misunderstood me…” Zhou Weidong tried to explain while dodging, fruit candies scattering everywhere.
At that moment, bicycle bells rang at the end of the alley. Mao Xiaohong stood frozen with her basket.
She saw the regiment commander she admired being chased by a furious woman, his military cap tilted crookedly on his head.
“Break off the engagement right now!” Song Hongmei grabbed his collar insignia. “Otherwise I’ll go straight to your commander’s office and ask how many years a military man gets for marriage fraud!”