After a brief moment of embarrassment, Shen Zhouzhou quickly composed herself and prepared for the conversation that lay ahead.
“My name is Shen Zhouzhou. I believe you’ve already guessed my situation. I was drugged.”
A sharp glint flashed in her eyes as she spoke.
“My vicious stepmother and my cousin joined forces to drug me. They planned to have someone violate me, ruin my reputation, drive me out of the family, and steal my job. I knocked that man unconscious and escaped while I had the chance. Then I ran into you. As for what happened afterward, you already know.”
“Comrade Shen Zhouzhou.”
The military valued decisiveness, precision, and efficiency. Chu Yunli spoke in a deep, steady voice.
“My name is Chu Yunli. I’m from Beijing, twenty six years old, unmarried, and I don’t have a girlfriend. I’m currently serving in the Jilin Provincial military as a deputy regimental commander. My grandparents and parents all live in Beijing. I have an older brother who is already married, and a younger sister who is still in school. As for what happened between us, I will take full responsibility.”
As he spoke, he handed his military identification to Shen Zhouzhou.
“So?”
A sly smile curved Shen Zhouzhou’s lips as her gaze swept over the small red booklet in his hand.
Meeting her eyes, Chu Yunli stood even straighter.
“I’m in good health. I don’t smoke, and I don’t drink. My monthly allowance is one hundred and twenty eight yuan, and after we get married, every penny will be handed over to you.”
“If you agree, I’ll submit a marriage application immediately and apply for family housing as well. Then you can come live with me at the military base.”
Direct! No unnecessary beating around the bush.
No empty sweet talk.
Shen Zhouzhou froze for a second.
Deep down, she wanted to tell him that what had happened between them had been consensual under the circumstances, and that he didn’t need to take responsibility.
But this was 1975, a very different era.
This was not a time that allowed her to be overly idealistic.
Back then, whether it was food, clothing, housing, or travel, everything required proof of identity. Without a letter of introduction, people could barely go anywhere. Combined with the planned economy, even the smallest misstep could easily get someone labeled with a political accusation.
Looking at her reflection in Chu Yunli’s deep eyes, Shen Zhouzhou suddenly smiled like a cunning little fox.
After avenging the original Shen Zhouzhou, she had no intention of staying here forever. Since she had no long term plans anyway, and the man before her was both outstanding and blessed with such an impressive physique, she would hardly be the one losing out.
She might as well marry him.
If something unexpected happened in the future, they could always divorce.
What Shen Zhouzhou didn’t know was that during her silence, Chu Yunli had mistaken it for hesitation. His heart sank, and a trace of disappointment that he could not quite hide appeared on his face.
He had already prepared countless words to persuade her.
Before he had the chance to say any of them…
Suddenly…
Shen Zhouzhou reached out, hooked a finger around his collar, pulled him closer, and planted a quick kiss on him.
This woman…
She was truly enchanting.
Chu Yunli took a deep breath, suppressing the warmth surging through his heart.
“Alright.”
“But, Comrade, I don’t know how to do anything.”
She actually knew plenty, but she had no intention of becoming someone’s servant. She wasn’t the self sacrificing type, so she preferred to make things clear from the beginning.
The moment Chu Yunli heard her words, afraid she might change her mind if he hesitated, he blurted out immediately,
“A wife is meant to be cherished. Once you marry me, you won’t have to do anything. You’ll come with me to the military base, and you won’t have to live with my parents either.”
Oh?
He certainly knew the right things to say.
Definitely extra points.
A bright smile spread across Shen Zhouzhou’s face, leaving Chu Yunli momentarily spellbound.
Chu Yunli’s face remained calm, but the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed the joy he was trying to hide.
“However, I have one condition.”
She looked at him seriously.
“I always repay every grievance. They dared to scheme against me like this. If I don’t return the favor with a proper gift, I’d be letting myself down. Give me a few days. Once I’ve dealt with them, I’ll go to the military base with you.”
“I have a week’s leave here. Will that be enough? Do you need my help?”
One hand tucked into his pocket, his affectionate gaze never left her face.
“Yes.”
The more people they had, the better. Together, they’d make those scumbags regret ever crossing her.
“Let’s think this through first. Since they dared to drug me today, they’ve definitely planned to come back later and catch us in the act to destroy my reputation.”
Shen Zhouzhou led Chu Yunli into the room next door, where Wang Popi was still lying unconscious on the floor.
She crouched down to check his pulse and breathing. After confirming he was still alive, a cold smile appeared on her lips.
“Perfect. This saves us the trouble of going to find him.”
Chu Yunli glanced at the unconscious man on the floor before looking back at the mischievous gleam in Shen Zhouzhou’s eyes.
“What are you planning to do?”
“First, tie him up. Wake him up and give him a good beating. Then when they come to catch us in the act, we’ll let them turn on each other.”
As soon as Chu Yunli finished tying Wang Popi securely and tossed him aside, Shen Zhouzhou returned carrying a basin of water and splashed it directly onto his face.
“Which bitch threw water on me?”
The moment Wang Popi woke up, he began cursing loudly.
“Stuff something into his mouth.”
“I’m the one who’s going to beat you, you filthy hooligan! How dare you hit me? How dare you try to molest me? Who gave you the guts? Do you even know who you’re dealing with?”
She cursed as she beat him mercilessly.
Her years of taekwondo training before transmigrating had certainly not been wasted.
Of course, every blow landed where it wouldn’t leave visible marks. Otherwise, Li Hongxia might later accuse her of forcing a confession through violence.
The beating left Wang Popi with tears and mucus streaming down his face. With his mouth stuffed shut, he couldn’t even scream, only letting out muffled whimpers as he struggled pitifully.
Watching Wang Popi’s miserable state, Chu Yunli could not help feeling a chill run down his spine. For a fleeting moment, he was almost grateful he wasn’t the one being beaten.
“Is there anything you need me to do?”
“You don’t need to do anything. When they arrive, all you have to do is play the role of a military officer who stepped in to help someone in danger.”
A crafty smile appeared on Shen Zhouzhou’s face.
“I’ll take care of everything else.”
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
“It’s here,” Li Hongxia said. “I saw her sneaking into this house with a man.”
At that moment, muffled “Mmm! Mmm!” sounds drifted out from inside.
“So they’re really having an affair. How shameless! I can’t believe they’d do something so disgraceful!”
“Shen Zhouzhou, you little bitch! Get out here!”
Li Hongxia’s shrill voice rang out as loud kicks pounded against the door.
With a loud crash, the door burst open.
Shen Yong, Li Hongxia, Shen Fangfang, and several neighbors rushed inside.
The first thing they saw was Wang Popi tied up like a dumpling on the floor, desperately making muffled noises through the gag in his mouth.
Everyone froze.
This was nothing like what they had expected.
Li Hongxia exchanged a glance with Shen Fangfang. Seeing Shen Zhouzhou sitting calmly on a stool, with a tall man in a crisp military uniform standing beside her, both of them were instantly alarmed.
“You unfilial daughter! Instead of coming home, you’re fooling around outside. I, Shen Yong, don’t have a shameless daughter like you!”
Shen Yong roared furiously.
Standing beside him, Li Hongxia pretended to wipe away tears, her voice thick with fake emotion.
“You’re still an unmarried young woman. How could you fool around with a strange man in a place like this? What will people say if word gets out? Where will your father’s dignity go? Where will the Shen family’s reputation go? Come home with Mother. I won’t blame you. It’s all my fault for not looking after you properly and letting bad people lead you astray…”
As she spoke, she stepped forward, reaching out to grab Shen Zhouzhou.
Anyone who didn’t know the truth would have believed she was genuinely a loving mother.