If it had been the original woman, when Yang Jianming asked her these questions, she might have swallowed her anger for Cheng Yifeng’s sake, returned to her miserable daily life, and pretended she didn’t know about Cheng Yifeng’s mess with Gu Yuxuan.
But Wen Yining was no longer the original woman.
She was a transmigrator from the future, a woman with ideas far ahead of this era.
Her gaze was steady as she looked at Yang Jianming, her tone serious: “Am I correct in understanding that, in your eyes, the future of your soldiers is more important than their character?”
Yang Jianming’s expression hardened at her words. He was about to deny it when Wen Yining continued: “Is this how you educate the minds of your soldiers? How can you trust someone who cannot even respect his family, marriage, or wife to be loyal to the country and the people?”
Wen Yining leaned forward and withdrew her documents from his hand, her expression cold as she said, “If Cheng Yifeng’s career is ruined, it’s because of his greed and selfishness, not me. I came here to divorce him to protect my own interests. He can’t pretend to have it both ways—enjoying my efforts and my labor, letting me care for his parents, while secretly forming a new family with the woman he likes. That’s not right.”
“If the political commissar insists on protecting such a scoundrel, then I will have to report higher,” Wen Yining said, putting her documents away and turning to leave. “There will always be someone who can stand up for me.”
“Stop right there,” Yang Jianming frowned and called after her. “You young comrade, you seem gentle, yet your temper is so sharp!”
Wen Yining’s face remained expressionless. His question had left a poor first impression.
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t stand up for you. I was just asking a question. How do you know I would protect Cheng Yifeng? You shouldn’t jump to such conclusions,” Yang Jianming said, pointing to the sofa across from him. “Sit down and tell me.”
“I’ll stand,” Wen Yining replied.
Normally, as a political commissar, Yang Jianming was loquacious, but facing Wen Yining, he was at a loss. “I’m straining my neck just looking at you. Sit down, will you?”
Only then did Wen Yining sit.
Yang Jianming poured her a cup of hot water and asked, “You said Cheng Yifeng has another family with a capitalist heiress in the army?”
Wen Yining sipped the water and nodded. “Yes. You, as a commissar, should be even more aware of his actions than I am.”
Seeing her return the question to him, Yang Jianming twitched his lips. “He did apply for a family quarters, but his rank wasn’t high enough, so the logistics department didn’t approve it.”
“Even if they did approve, he couldn’t have moved in,” Wen Yining scoffed. “You know better than I do how tense things are outside. Cheng Yifeng wanted to hide Gu Yuxuan in the compound to protect her from outside trouble, but she wouldn’t pass the political review. So he concealed her identity, keeping her in a nearby village. I don’t know the exact details of how he hid her.”
“I’ll have this investigated. If true, Cheng Yifeng will face appropriate discipline,” Yang Jianming said, taking a sip of water. “But some things can’t be taken solely from your word. Divorce isn’t trivial—it could affect a soldier’s mental state. I’ve already called Cheng Yifeng here.”
“Some matters must be discussed face-to-face. If it’s a misunderstanding, explain it and continue your life. A soldier fighting for the country and the people outside wants nothing more than a peaceful family at home.”
Yang Jianming, true to his role, spoke carefully: “If he really wronged you, the army won’t let you suffer in vain. We will make sure justice is done.”
Wen Yining gave a cryptic smile. Justice, in her mind, wasn’t that simple. If truth were told, Cheng Yifeng might be in for a rough time.
Soon, Cheng Yifeng arrived.
“Reporting!” He stood at the door in his training uniform, saluting the commissar with all the formality of a soldier.
Wen Yining let out a mocking laugh, her ridicule fully apparent.
Seeing Wen Yining seated opposite the commissar, Cheng Yifeng’s eyes flashed with malice. This woman dared to track him down to the army? He would make her regret coming.
He masked his emotion and approached Yang Jianming respectfully. “Commissar, did you call for me?”
Yang Jianming nodded toward Wen Yining. “Your wife says your marriage is in name only. You married her so she could care for your parents at home. Meanwhile, you have another family in the army with your childhood sweetheart. Do you admit this?”
Hearing this, a flicker of panic crossed Cheng Yifeng’s eyes, but he quickly masked it and denied, “Reporting, Commissar, I do not admit it.”
Yang Jianming smiled gently. “I heard your childhood sweetheart comes from a capitalist family?”
Cheng Yifeng’s expression remained neutral. “Reporting, Commissar, Yuxuan is not truly a capitalist heiress. Though she is the biological daughter of the Gu family, she was only recently recognized. She has no real bond with her birth parents. She grew up with her adoptive parents, good comrades of the working and peasant class, and was raised in the socialist family, receiving proper socialist education.”
“I helped her because I did not want a good comrade to be labeled because of her background.”
Wen Yining listened to Cheng Yifeng’s weak excuses and found it laughable. She had already exposed everything, yet he couldn’t admit the truth—he wasn’t even a real man.
Yang Jianming studied the two of them. As a commissar, he had both a sharp tongue and a discerning eye.
Wen Yining wasn’t lying—she genuinely wanted a divorce.
Cheng Yifeng’s reaction, however, was complicated. Not everything he said was false, but some of it was a mix of truth and lies.
Seeing Yang Jianming remain silent, Wen Yining spoke first: “Fine. I’ll give you both a proper opportunity to nurture your relationship—just divorce me.”
Cheng Yifeng’s face darkened. “Don’t talk nonsense. Marriage is serious. Divorce isn’t something that can just happen!”
Wen Yining looked at him carelessly. “If you could marry me, you can divorce me. As long as you agree, we can get the divorce certificate tomorrow morning. Then you can help whoever you want, however you want.”
Cheng Yifeng scowled and snapped, “Stop talking! I will not agree to divorce. And don’t speculate about Yuxuan and me—spreading rumors would damage her reputation.”
He hadn’t expected Wen Yining to come to the army and demand a divorce, taking it all the way to the commissar.
He had planned to use Wen Yining’s identity for Gu Yuxuan anyway—she stayed at home, no one had seen her. He would claim Gu Yuxuan was Wen Yining, and no one could know the difference.
But now Wen Yining had come straight to the army, ruining his plan.
Divorce was out of the question—if she left with Yao Yao, who would care for his parents back home?
Yang Jianming sighed at Wen Yining. “There’s an old saying: better to demolish a temple than a marriage. Since Comrade Cheng refuses to divorce, you two need to talk it out. If you really can’t come to an understanding, come back to me.”
Wen Yining snorted. “So this is the commissar’s idea of getting me justice?”