Seeing that Mu Xiaocao was heading toward the Political Commissar’s office, Liu Guoqiang panicked.
He grabbed Mu Xiaocao by the arm and said, “Mu Xiaocao, don’t blame Lili. That five hundred yuan… I’m the one who took it and used it.”
Upon hearing this, Hu Lili immediately let out a sigh of relief.
She looked at Mu Xiaocao with a wronged expression.
“I didn’t touch that money. Brother Qiang said he had an urgent use for it, so he took it.”
Though she said this, Hu Lili still felt very uncomfortable in her heart.
She had mentioned wanting to buy a television many times, but Liu Guoqiang had always ignored her. Yet the moment this bitch arrived, he gave her so much money? Hadn’t he said he didn’t like Mu Xiaocao!
Where did he even get that much money!
Mu Xiaocao sneered.
Liu Guoqiang was certainly going to great lengths to clear Hu Lili’s name.
“Liu Guoqiang, a soldier isn’t allowed to lie.”
Meeting Mu Xiaocao’s dark, heavy gaze, Liu Guoqiang felt a sudden, inexplicable wave of unease.
“That money… I really did take it.”
“Do you dare to swear on the uniform you’re wearing? When Hu Lili entered the house, there was clearly no one there. How did you take the money right in front of her?”
One lie requires countless more to sustain it.
During that time frame, Liu Guoqiang was still in training, and many of his comrades could testify to that. Unless, of course, he could be in two places at once.
Liu Guoqiang took a deep breath and handed the lunch box in his hand to Hu Lili.
“Go back and eat first. There are sweet and sour ribs inside, your favorite.”
Hu Lili looked at Liu Guoqiang with eyes full of grievance. Sensing the mocking looks from the crowd, she didn’t reach for the lunch box immediately.
Liu Guoqiang’s gaze darkened.
“You eat first. I’ll take Xiao Cao back.”
Staying here would only lead to more embarrassment.
Under the pressure of everyone’s stares, Hu Lili finally reached out.
But then Mu Xiaocao swung her hand, sending the aluminum lunch box flying. The sauce splashed all over Hu Lili.
“Oh, my apologies. My hand slipped. However, wasting food is quite shameful. Comrade Hu, remember to pay back the money, and remember to finish every bit of that food. Otherwise, your Brother Qiang will be heartbroken.”
Hu Lili couldn’t hold it back any longer, and tears began to fall.
“Mu Xiaocao, I admit I was wrong. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched your things without permission… but… but you’re taking things too far…”
Mu Xiaocao sneered.
“Bullying you? I’d be afraid of getting my hands dirty. Half of everything Liu Guoqiang owns belongs to me. Did he get my permission when he used my money to buy you food and clothes?”
“Enough!”
Liu Guoqiang grabbed Mu Xiaocao’s arm, his tone cold and somber.
“Come back with me!”
Mu Xiaocao shoved him away.
“What, do you want to commit domestic violence against me now? I’m telling you, if Hu Lili doesn’t pay back the money, I’ll sit right in front of her door and never leave.”
She meant what she said.
She would sit here all afternoon and wait for Commissar Wang to start work, then she would go find him.
Didn’t Liu Guoqiang say he had submitted a Divorce Application? Since he submitted it himself, the divorce proceedings should move even faster.
Looking at the shameless Mu Xiaocao, Hu Lili was so angry she nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
She stiffened her body, turned, and went inside, sitting on the edge of the bed and gasping for breath.
Ever since she was a child, because of her parents, she had been a little princess doted on by everyone. She had never suffered such a humiliating disgrace!
True, she had touched the woman’s chest, but she hadn’t moved a single one of her things. Why was she being so relentless?
But where was Mu Xiaocao’s necklace? Where had she hidden it? Why hadn’t she seen it around her neck just now?
She didn’t want to be suppressed by a woman from the countryside.
She had been as beautiful as a jade carving and lively since childhood. When she grew up, her parents let her choose the profession she loved most and didn’t force her to learn this or that.
Later, through a colleague’s introduction, she met her significant other, Fu Lei. Fu Lei was handsome, and his family background was on par with hers; she was very satisfied.
But after one year of marriage, Fu Lei died heroically while on a mission. And she, unable to withstand the grief and shock, lost their child and her home. Her parents-in-law were transferred to another Military District after their son’s death and cut off all contact with her.
During that period, she was in agonizing pain. Until she met Liu Guoqiang.
She had forgotten who Liu Guoqiang was, but during the year Fu Lei was still alive, Liu Guoqiang had constantly bought her gifts and sent her things. She had accepted them all. She had thought Liu Guoqiang was just showing her special attention to curry favor with Fu Lei.
Only later did she realize that Liu Guoqiang was an old classmate from that small county town where she had been a transfer student when she was thirteen. Back then, she had been aloof and pure, completely ignoring her classmates.
She never expected that after Liu Guoqiang arrived at the Northern Military Region, he would recognize her at a glance and show her such meticulous care.
She was very satisfied with how well Liu Guoqiang treated her. However, she was still unwilling to accept that he had such parents, a disabled brother, and a bedridden grandmother. She didn’t want to suffer alongside Liu Guoqiang.
Mu Xiaocao was eventually dragged home by Liu Guoqiang.
Hearing the loud slam of the door, Mu Xiaocao clicked her tongue twice.
“Hu Lili’s Brother Qiang, take it easy. Rage is bad for your health.”
Liu Guoqiang took several deep breaths and exhaled slowly before his heart felt a bit less stifled. He stared coldly at Mu Xiaocao, who was sitting calmly on the sofa munching on an apple.
“You’ve really developed some skills. Where did you get five hundred yuan? Doesn’t your heart ache from slandering Lili like that?”
“Why would it ache? If she hadn’t snuck into my room to rummage through my things, how could I have come into such an unexpected windfall? Liu Guoqiang, don’t think you’re such a saint. I’ve said it before: this is what I deserve. Whether it’s Hu Lili or you, you have to compensate me. Come to think of it, I even asked for too little. If I’d known, I would have said two thousand.”
But if she asked for too much, she feared people wouldn’t believe it.
Liu Guoqiang’s liver ached with fury, but he couldn’t do anything to Mu Xiaocao. He could only say with bloodshot eyes, “Have you ever thought about the consequences of framing Lili like this?”
“She’s a thief and she isn’t afraid of being struck by lightning, so what consequences should I fear? Sending me to a Military Court? Liu Guoqiang, have a little sense. The only reason I didn’t call the police was to save face for you both. I’m telling you, all I want is a divorce. Your application should be approved soon, right? When the time comes, once you and Hu Lili scrape together five hundred yuan for me, I’ll leave this place immediately.”
“Stop bringing up divorce every time you speak! Mu Xiaocao, do you think the world will stop spinning without you?”
Mu Xiaocao laughed.
“I don’t know if the world will stop spinning, but I do know that without me, Mu Xiaocao, your household will stop functioning.”
In her past life, just one month after she left, the waste from that bedridden grandmother had almost smeared across the entire kang bed. If she and Liu Guoqiang divorced, that old woman would suffer greatly.