When Jiang Zhou arrived, the military wives were in the midst of a heated argument.
After leaving the command center, he had returned to his dormitory to change into a fresh uniform. His original plan was to first go to the guesthouse and escort the imposter to the station. However, as soon as he stepped out, someone delivered a message saying that his fiancée had already arrived at the military base.
He hurried over and witnessed the scene. The young soldier who had been helping Yuan Xiu with her luggage explained the situation to him.
Despite being some distance away, the young soldier hadn’t missed a single word of the conversation.
The soldier’s gaze toward Jiang Zhou was filled with sympathy. His Battalion Commander Jiang had almost been infiltrated by the enemy.
Jiang Zhou: “…Close your eyes!”
The young soldier immediately shut his eyes tightly.
Jiang Zhou’s attention was drawn to the figure surrounded by the military dependents. Seeing her profile, he reached into his chest pocket and touched the photograph he kept there.
Yes, this time it was right.
To say that Jiang Zhou had fallen in love at first sight based solely on a photograph would be an overstatement. At most, he found her pleasing to the eye, which was why he was willing to honor his father’s dying wish and accept this marriage arrangement.
After sending his reply, he had felt a sense of anticipation. After all, he was a twenty-five-year-old man, and it would be a lie to say he didn’t want a wife who suited him.
But when he saw that ‘Yuan Xiu’ through the car window, he genuinely wanted to back out. It wasn’t for any particular reason—she simply didn’t appeal to him.
The difference between the photograph and the real person was too stark; they felt like two entirely different individuals.
If asked to describe his feelings, Jiang Zhou could only sum it up in four words: one had “light,” the other did not.
Now, seeing the real person, Jiang Zhou could only think of four more words: a good match.
Feeling it was a good match, Jiang Zhou called out Yuan Xiu’s name.
“Comrade Yuan Xiu.”
Hearing his voice, both Yuan Xiu and Yuan Juan turned to look at him.
Yuan Juan had seen the photograph and recognized him immediately.
Yuan Xiu nodded. “Hello, I’m Yuan Xiu.”
The military dependents around her chimed in: “Battalion Commander Jiang is here.”
“Jiang Zhou, you’re finally here. Let me tell you…”
Only then did Yuan Xiu realize that this was Jiang Zhou.
Her childhood betrothal fiancé.
He was very handsome and tall—so tall that she had to tilt her head up to look at him. Yuan Xiu recalled a conversation she had overheard between her parents when they were still alive.
‘I’ve found a good-looking match for our Xiu Xiu.’
Her father hadn’t lied. However, this fiancé seemed a bit too robust, as if he could lift her with one hand.
What a pity…
Jiang Zhou’s gaze remained fixed on Yuan Xiu’s face, and he naturally caught the fleeting look in her eyes. He found it somewhat puzzling—what did it mean?
Yuan Juan, who had been berated by the crowd, now saw Jiang Zhou as a lifeline. She knew that with Yuan Xiu’s arrival, her impersonation could no longer be concealed. Her only hope now rested on Jiang Zhou. She believed she was no less than Yuan Xiu and was convinced that, in terms of appearance alone, she was even prettier.
Yuan Xiu stayed in the countryside every day tending to the land, facing the yellow soil with her back to the sky, looking rustic and unsophisticated. But she was different—she lived in town, hardly setting foot in the fields twice a year. Her skin was fairer than Yuan Xiu’s, her complexion better, and today she was even wearing new clothes bought by Jiang Zhou. Anyone with eyes could see she was far superior to Yuan Xiu.
It was true she had taken Yuan Xiu’s place to come to the military unit, but if Jiang Zhou had taken a liking to her and not Yuan Xiu, then it wasn’t her fault.
“Jiang Zhou.” Yuan Juan stared at him eagerly, softening her voice as she called out sweetly.
Back home, whenever she spoke like this, no male comrade could resist listening to her!
Jiang Zhou walked expressionlessly up to Yuan Juan. “Please show me your Letter of Introduction!”
Without a second thought, Yuan Juan pulled the letter from her pocket and handed it over.
Jiang Zhou opened it, glanced at it, and promptly confiscated it.
Yuan Juan watched anxiously as he tucked the letter into his own pocket. “Why are you taking my Letter of Introduction?”
Instead of answering her, Jiang Zhou turned to Yuan Xiu. “Comrade Yuan Xiu, I’ve understood the situation. Rest assured, the military will contact Xiangyang Commune regarding this matter, and disciplinary action will be taken against the person who issued this letter.”
In these times, a Letter of Introduction served as one’s identity proof when away from home. Only official units with official seals could issue such a letter—the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was no exception. Yuan Xiu’s letter had been secretly stamped with the cooperative’s seal by Yuan Xinmin.
Sending this letter back to Xiangyang Commune would only seal Yuan Xinmin’s fate more firmly.
Intercepting mail and having his own daughter impersonate his niece was already a matter of poor character.
But using an official seal to forge a Letter of Introduction was no longer just a character flaw—it was dereliction of duty.
Once this letter was sent back, Yuan Xinmin would certainly lose his job and likely be sent back to his hometown in disgrace.
Hearing that the issuer of the letter would face punishment, Yuan Juan stamped her feet in panic. “Jiang Zhou, please give the letter back to me! I’m begging you!”
Seeing that pleading was useless, she even tried to snatch it back.
Jiang Zhou raised a hand to stop her. “Comrade Yuan Juan, please mind your behavior! No physical altercations! Tomorrow morning, the military will send someone to escort you to the train station and ensure your departure. For now, please return to the Guesthouse immediately! Non-military dependents are not permitted to wander freely in the camp or residential areas!”
Jiang Zhou’s words were cold and stern. Yuan Juan had never been spoken to so harshly by a man in This Life, leaving her both frightened and resentful.
Couldn’t he see she was prettier than Yuan Xiu?
Yuan Xiu glanced at Jiang Zhou and finally understood the remark Yuan Juan had made about him in her Previous Life.
Looking at him now, he really did seem icy.
“Sister Chunmei, could you and the other sisters please escort her back to the Guesthouse? Also, inform this comrade that upon her return, she must return the clothes and photos I sent to my fiancée, as well as the fifty yuan I sent for her travel expenses.”
Sister Chunmei exclaimed in surprise, “You even sent fifty yuan for travel expenses?”
Between the money for clothes and the travel expenses, Jiang Zhou had spent nearly a hundred yuan before even meeting his fiancée—clear proof of how much he valued her.
And this imposter had the audacity to impersonate her!
Thank goodness she was exposed, or else Jiang Zhou would have spent his money marrying a fraud!
Now, Sister Chunmei found Yuan Juan utterly disagreeable in every way.
I used to find her agreeable because of Jiang Zhou, but now that I think about it, that girl is just so-so.
From Jiang Zhou’s words, Yuan Xiu uncovered a truth from her Previous Life.
No wonder Yuan Juan, after more than twenty years, took out a set of clothes for her on the very night she returned to her hometown, saying something about returning them to her.
So that’s what this “returning” meant!