“Song Mingyuan, let me make one thing clear—you don’t have the qualifications to negotiate with me. If you don’t return my things, there’s no point discussing any of your conditions.”
Wen Xi strode to the door and pulled it open. “Now, all of you, get out immediately. We’ll wait for the military district’s investigation results.”
“Don’t think that just because I’m a woman you can bully me at will. Without solid evidence, do you think I would have come all the way to the military district and still be allowed to stay?”
Song Mingyuan’s heart pounded at her uncompromising attitude. He couldn’t tell what other evidence she might still have.
Being scolded and driven out like a stray dog again and again made his expression shift constantly—black one moment, green the next, changing faster than a chameleon.
“Comrade, why are you so angry?” Liu Hui frowned as she looked at Wen Xi, her tone reproachful. “With this attitude, you’re only escalating the conflict. It won’t help solve anything at all.”
Wen Xi let out a cold laugh. “Auntie, if you don’t know how to speak, you can just keep your mouth shut.”
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As a middle school teacher responsible for educating and nurturing students, Liu Hui was always treated with respect and flattery. When had she ever been spoken to like this?
And by a dark, fat so-called “capitalist young lady” at that—who even called her “auntie”!
In rural areas, only older women were called auntie. Was this fat woman mocking her age? She was only in her forties—not even fifty!
Liu Hui trembled as she pointed at Wen Xi. “You, you—”
“What ‘you you’?” Wen Xi interrupted sharply. “Since you’re all here, that means you’re admitting Song Mingyuan committed marriage fraud. That makes your whole family accomplices.”
“Now you’re the ones at fault. What’s wrong with me taking back what belongs to me? What’s wrong with demanding compensation for his fraud?”
Feeling guilty, Liu Hui’s face turned red and white in turns. After a long struggle, she finally forced out: “That’s not how it is at all! Even if there was an engagement, that was feudal arranged marriage—it’s not allowed in the new society.”
Seeing things about to escalate again, the long-silent Jiang Commander finally spoke in a deep voice.
“Mingyuan, return the items to Comrade Wen first.”
With his father-in-law speaking, Song Mingyuan reluctantly took out two boxes and a thick envelope.
Jiang Yuting’s eyes turned red, like a rabbit’s, staring fixedly at them without blinking.
Nearly five thousand yuan in watches and cash—just like that, handed over to this fat, ugly woman.
Wen Xi accepted them and checked them one by one.
She first opened the watch boxes. The familiar timepieces lay inside. She took them out carefully, checking for any damage or scratches.
In decades to come, these would become discontinued classic models, worth millions each. As a couple’s set, their value would only be higher.
They looked brand new, likely barely worn.
Satisfied, she put them back into the boxes, then took the envelope and, in front of all four people, began counting the money note by note.
Every bill passing through her fingers made Jiang Yuting’s heart ache.
She had never held so much money at once in her life.
And now it was all going to this fat woman.
Exactly three thousand yuan.
Wen Xi put the money back into the envelope and casually stuffed it into her pocket. “The watches and money are fine. Now let’s talk about the newspaper apology.”
“Comrade Wen, do you really have to go this far? This will ruin Song Mingyuan!”
Commander Jiang cleared his throat and continued, “The country invests a great deal of manpower and resources in training a soldier.”
“Comrade Song Mingyuan is an outstanding soldier. He has shed blood and sweat for the nation, risked his life many times, and earned numerous merits to reach the rank of deputy battalion commander.”
Wen Xi crossed her arms and sneered. “Commander Jiang, are you planning to abuse your power and shield him? As expected—your own people protect your own people.”
“Not shielding him!” Commander Jiang’s expression stiffened, then returned to normal. “I simply cannot bear to see an excellent soldier lose his future because of a mistake.”
“Heh.” Wen Xi’s sarcasm deepened. “So righteous and noble on the surface, but in reality just trying to make a big issue small and a small issue disappear.”
“I used to think you were a fair and upright leader. Turns out you’re just like this.”
“Isn’t it because you’re afraid Song Mingyuan’s misconduct will affect your family’s reputation and your daughter’s prospects?”
“I can only say—you’re a good father. As for being a military leader? I can only laugh.”
“Comrade Wen!”
Commander Jiang’s face turned dark with anger.
Before this, he had heard she was sharp-tongued, but he hadn’t expected her to show him any respect at all.
However, as a seasoned leader, he quickly controlled his emotions and spoke calmly.
“Comrade Wen, if you leave the military district and return to Yunling County immediately, I can arrange a job for you—a temporary position at the county supply and marketing cooperative.”
“You know very well that every job is tightly controlled. There are countless people waiting for positions like this.”
“Even a temporary job pays eighteen yuan a month. After working for some time, you can be promoted to permanent staff with higher wages.”
“As a young woman, with a job and money, you can support yourself. I can also introduce you to a suitable young man with good prospects, ensuring your future is secure. How about that?”
Commander Jiang and his family believed this was already a very generous offer—stable work, a good husband, and a worry-free life.
They were confident she would accept.
Even Liu Hui added, “Comrade Wen, as women, we only want a stable and happy life. A job is our foundation.”
“With a job, you won’t be bullied by your in-laws. You can control your own life. A newspaper apology is just a few words—what do you really gain from refusing?”
“There are so many people outside who can’t even get jobs. You should be grateful.”
“If you’re still not satisfied, my husband and I can adopt you as our goddaughter. When you marry, we’ll prepare a generous dowry for you.”
To show sincerity, she even reached out to grab Wen Xi’s hand.
Wen Xi tucked her hands behind her back, avoiding her greasy touch, and looked coldly at the hypocritical couple.
“What if I refuse?”
“A temporary job at a supply cooperative with eighteen yuan a month—you think that can send me away? Don’t forget, I’ve seen the world before.”
“And ‘promotion after some time’? How long is ‘some time’? Half a year? A year? Or longer? Maybe you could just fire me whenever you want.”
“And introducing me to a ‘good man’? If he’s so good, why didn’t you introduce him to your own daughter? Or are you just trying to keep me under your control?”
“Commander Jiang, Teacher Liu—how do two respectable people manage to speak such shameless, self-righteous nonsense with mouths that are still warm?”
“I can’t believe this. Your little scheme is so obvious it’s practically hitting me in the face.”