A crowd quickly gathered, surrounding Li Yanchuan and Su Jiuyue, who stood frozen in the doorway. Fingers pointed, whispers spread, and curious eyes fixed on the pair.
Li Yanchuan’s hand was still suspended awkwardly in midair. Pulling it back looked guilty; leaving it there looked even worse. His face alternated between pale and flushed, an ugly mixture of shock and embarrassment.
“Jiuyue, what happened?”
Sister Wang, the wife of Political Commissar Zhang and Su Jiuyue’s next-door neighbor, was the first to rush over. She immediately pulled Su Jiuyue behind her and stared at Li Yanchuan with open suspicion.
Little Jiaojiao clung tightly to her mother’s leg, glaring fiercely at Li Yanchuan.
Su Jiuyue trembled all over. Tears welled up instantly as she pointed accusingly at him, her voice shaking with fear and sobs.
“Sister Wang, you have to stand up for me! He… he used my family’s key to let himself into my house. I came home and caught him inside.
“He… he started saying all kinds of shameless things. He said my husband was dead, that he would take care of us from now on… and even talked about ‘supporting both brothers’ wives.’
“When I refused, he tried to lay his hands on me! If I hadn’t run outside and called for help… I… I wouldn’t have been able to go on living!”
She covered her face and burst into tears.
The crowd erupted.
“‘Supporting both brothers’ wives’? What is this, the old feudal era?”
“Li Haichuan! Your younger brother just died, and you’re already pulling something like this?”
“You’re lower than an animal!”
“He always looked so respectable. Who would’ve thought he was this kind of scum?”
A torrent of accusations and curses crashed over Li Yanchuan like a tidal wave.
Never in his life had he been so humiliated. Cold sweat poured down his forehead as he frantically waved his hands.
“No! It’s all a misunderstanding! I never meant that! She misunderstood me! I only meant I’d help take care of their daily lives—not… not that!”
“I heard you perfectly clearly!”
Su Jiuyue raised her tear-filled eyes, her face full of grief and indignation.
“You said you’d ‘support both brothers’ wives!’
“And you even wanted to take my savings passbook and my money! Li Haichuan, my husband’s body isn’t even cold yet!
“How could you bully a widow and her child like this?”
At just the right moment, she revealed part of his true motive.
That only fueled the crowd’s fury even further.
He wanted both her money and her body. Worse still, he was preying on the widow of a fallen soldier. Every accusation struck directly at the limits of everyone’s moral tolerance.
“Move aside! What’s going on here?”
A stern voice rang out.
The crowd parted as Political Commissar Zhang strode over with a grim expression, followed by two administrative officers.
He was one of the principal leaders of the military residential compound—and also one of Li Yanchuan’s superiors under the identity of “Li Haichuan.”
“Commissar Zhang!”
As though she had finally found someone to rely on, Su Jiuyue cried even harder.
“You have to uphold justice for me!”
Political Commissar Zhang looked from the tearful Su Jiuyue to the pale, speechless Li Yanchuan, his brows knitting tightly together.
He had been nearby and had heard most of what happened.
“Comrade Li Haichuan!”
His tone was severe.
“What exactly is going on? Explain yourself! What do you mean by ‘supporting both brothers’ wives’?
“Who gave you permission to harbor such feudal, backward ideas? And you even used someone else’s key to enter her home without permission? Do you realize how serious this is?”
“Commissar… I…”
Li Yanchuan regretted everything so bitterly his intestines seemed to twist with remorse. If only he could turn back time. How had he been foolish enough to think he could still manipulate Su Jiuyue the way he used to?
When had this woman become so ruthless and decisive?
He could only force himself to offer a feeble explanation.
“I… I was only worried my sister-in-law was overwhelmed with grief and might not be thinking clearly. I was also afraid she’d be cheated because she had money, so I wanted to safeguard it for her temporarily…
“We were talking over each other, and maybe she misunderstood…
“As for the key… Yanchuan left it with me as a spare before. I simply forgot to return it…
“I swear I had no improper intentions! I guarantee it with my Party loyalty!”
“Misunderstood? So many people heard you loud and clear!”
Sister Wang spat on the ground.
“‘Safeguard her money?’ You’re her elder brother-in-law. What right do you have to keep her money? Who knows what you were really planning!”
“Exactly!” the crowd echoed.
Political Commissar Zhang’s expression darkened even further.
This kind of incident would have a terrible impact if it spread.
He fixed Li Yanchuan with a stern gaze.
“Regardless of whether you misspoke, your improper conduct and the disturbance you’ve caused are facts.
“Now hand over the key.”
Grinding his teeth, Li Yanchuan slowly reached into his pocket and took out the key that had originally belonged to “Li Yanchuan.” Even his fingers trembled.
Su Jiuyue snatched it away and clenched it tightly in her palm.
“And another thing,” Political Commissar Zhang continued.
“Go home and write a thorough self-criticism. Submit it to my office tomorrow.
“The organization will seriously review both your ideological problems and today’s incident.
“And right now, apologize to Comrade Su Jiuyue.”
Under countless contemptuous stares, Li Yanchuan felt every gaze lash against him like a whip.
Blood rushed to his head as overwhelming humiliation threatened to drown him.
Grinding his back teeth together, he forced the words through clenched jaws.
“I… I’m sorry, Sister-in-law. I… failed to think things through and spoke inappropriately.”
Su Jiuyue turned her face away without responding.
Her shoulders continued to tremble faintly, making her appear fragile and deeply wronged.
After comforting Su Jiuyue for a few moments and ordering the crowd to disperse, Political Commissar Zhang left with a dark expression.
The onlookers gradually drifted away as well, still discussing the incident.
But the way they looked at Li Yanchuan had completely changed.
He stood there motionless, feeling cold all over.
It was over.
His reputation was ruined.
Even if he could continue living under Li Haichuan’s identity, how could he ever hold his head high in the military again while carrying the stain of trying to molest his younger brother’s widow?
Lost and dejected, he turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Su Jiuyue’s voice came from behind him.
The tears were gone.
Only icy calm remained.
Li Yanchuan stopped but didn’t turn around.
“Comrade Li Haichuan,” she said slowly, emphasizing every word,
“From now on, unless it’s absolutely necessary, stay away from my house.
“My daughter and I don’t need—or want—your ‘care.'”
His back stiffened.
His fists clenched so tightly they cracked audibly.
In the end, he didn’t dare say another word.
Keeping his head down, he fled in disgrace.
Only after his miserable figure disappeared around the corner did Su Jiuyue finally relax the tension in her back.
She lowered her head and looked at Jiaojiao, who was still clutching the hem of her clothes, her tiny face pale with fright.
The child had clearly been terrified by everything that had just happened.
“Don’t be afraid, Jiaojiao.”
Squatting down, Su Jiuyue gently wiped the tears from her daughter’s face before brushing away the remnants of her own.
She forced a reassuring smile.
“The bad man is gone.”
Jiaojiao nodded earnestly.
“I’m not scared anymore, Mommy. When Jiaojiao grows up, I’ll help you beat up all the bad guys!”
Fresh tears streamed down Su Jiuyue’s cheeks.
Having been given a second chance at life, revenge was only half her purpose.
The other half was this precious child.
She wanted Jiaojiao to grow up healthy, happy, and safe—not to lose her life because of that heartless father who was nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
After a moment, Su Jiuyue wiped away her tears.
Looking into her daughter’s clear, innocent eyes, she said softly,
“Don’t worry, Jiaojiao. As long as Mommy is here, no one will ever take what’s ours.”
Jiaojiao nodded vigorously before suddenly looking toward the entrance of the compound.
Following her daughter’s gaze, Su Jiuyue noticed an olive-green military jeep parked by the roadside.
The window was rolled halfway down, revealing the sharply defined profile of a stern-faced man.
He looked to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old.
The two gold stars on his shoulder boards gleamed brightly beneath the afternoon sun.
His eyes were fixed on the direction Li Yanchuan had fled, his brows slightly furrowed.
Huo Tingxuan?
Su Jiuyue’s heart skipped a beat.
Why was Commander Huo here?