Qiao Yuewei sneered coldly. “You mean that just because you saw Qian Xiao’an come to my house, it means we have some affair?”
“Then if I see him at your house tomorrow, does that also mean the same?”
“Does it mean that whenever any male comrade goes to your house, he’s having an affair with you?”
“By your logic, is anyone in this world innocent?”
Qi Danfeng lifted her chin. “Don’t twist my words and play with concepts! I’m talking about what I saw.”
She claimed to be an innocent young lady, and yet Qiao Yuewei dared to turn things around and slander her.
The sisters-in-law nodded. “She’s right. Just because a man comes to the house doesn’t mean there’s a problem.”
By Qi Danfeng’s logic, would they not even be able to speak to anyone at home or on the street?
“Why so worked up? I’m just following your logic—can’t handle it when it’s applied to you?”
“Sister-in-law, when there’s a delivery for the company, shouldn’t someone come to notify us?”
Wang Hongmei nodded. “Right, anyone who happens to see it will come and notify.”
Qiao Yuewei nodded. “Exactly. Yesterday Qian Xiao’an came just to tell me a delivery arrived. There was a lot of stuff, so I asked him to help carry it. Is that wrong? Do I have to report such a trivial matter to you, Comrade Qi Danfeng? Does the military district have such rules?”
“You’re a comrade in the arts troupe, but you don’t do your work properly. What’s with watching our housing compound every day, fishing for rumors?”
“Director Wang, Qi Danfeng is spreading rumors about me and Qian Xiao’an. I hope the military district can properly deal with this behavior. I need an explanation!”
Wang Hongmei nodded. “Don’t worry, Qiao Yuewei. The military district will investigate and give you an explanation. No one who stirs up trouble will be spared!”
“Yes! I trust you, Director Wang!”
Qi Danfeng was furious. What was going on? Qiao Yuewei had just cleared herself? And Wang Hongmei—her favoritism was too obvious!
“Director Wang, what do you mean? I saw it with my own eyes! I’m not lying!”
“Enough, Danfeng. Stop talking,” Fang Yuanyuan pulled her back.
She had no evidence at all—just empty words. Who would be convinced?
If she truly wanted to get Qiao Yuewei, why didn’t she speak up yesterday? Like that silly Fang Guihua, wasting the opportunity.
“Sorry, Director Wang. Danfeng meant well. Since it’s a misunderstanding, I’ll have her apologize to Comrade Qiao.”
Qiao Yuewei waved her hand. “Wait. If an apology worked, why would we need the police? When a bad person is caught, a ‘sorry’ would suffice?”
Qi Danfeng shoved Fang Yuanyuan away. “Apologize? When did I ever say I’d apologize?”
She glared at Qiao Yuewei. “You say there’s nothing, so there’s nothing? Call Qian Xiao’an for a confrontation! Show evidence that there’s nothing shady between you!”
Today, Qiao Yuewei would not walk away unscathed. Rumors were like knives; people didn’t care about the truth. Qi Danfeng wanted to make Qiao Yuewei leave the military district!
She was cunning, but she had chosen the wrong target.
“Fine! Let me make it clear: if I’m innocent, then this military district exists with me, not you!” Qiao Yuewei pointed at Qi Danfeng.
“Why? You think just because you’re Captain Qin’s fiancée, you can do whatever you want?”
“Wrong!” Qiao Yuewei smiled. “Not fiancée—wife.”
Fang Yuanyuan’s eyes widened. What? They were already married?
Qi Danfeng’s face darkened, but Fang Yuanyuan probably wouldn’t mind that Captain Qin was remarried.
In principle, whoever makes a claim should provide evidence. Qiao Yuewei ignored her. But if she were falsely accused of having poor morals, it wouldn’t just make her life difficult; it would affect Qin Xingye as well.
Qin Xingye squeezed Qiao Yuewei’s hand, his expression cold and hard. “Comrade Qi, you’ll be responsible for every word you say.”
Qiao Yuewei glanced at him, lips curling slightly.
Everyone could see that Qin Xingye was protecting her.
Qi Danfeng lifted her chin. “Of course. Everything I said is true.”
“Fine. No need to call Qian Xiao’an. Even if he said you were wrong, you’d just claim he’s covering for himself. How about this: we swear in front of heaven! If I, Qiao Yuewei, have the moral failings you accuse me of, may I die by divine thunder! And you…”
Qiao Yuewei pointed at Qi Danfeng. “Qi Danfeng, do you dare swear that you saw anything between me and Qian Xiao’an? If not, may you meet a terrible end!”
Qi Danfeng mumbled, “I couldn’t see anything—you were inside the room.”
“So you saw nothing at all!”
“Rumors really do rely solely on words!”
“Qi Danfeng!” He Qiurong had just dropped her youngest at school and heard Qi Danfeng’s words.
Rolling up her sleeves, she ran over and scolded her, pointing at her nose. “Qi Danfeng, what nonsense are you talking? I saw your comrade Xiao Chen go into your room yesterday—did you do something inappropriate in there?”
Weiwei (Qiao Yuewei) was still too honest. There was no need to be polite with a foul-mouthed, wicked person.
“Mrs. He, how can you scold her?”
He Qiurong put her hands on her hips, sneering. “I scold her—so what? Do you dare make up rumors about me? You think Weiwei’s easy to bully because she just arrived in the military district?”
The sisters-in-law exchanged looks. Qiao Yuewei was not someone to bully; she had almost broken Fang Guihua’s hand before!
Qi Danfeng shrank back. “You’re being unreasonable!”
He Qiurong had been in the military district for over ten years; Qi Danfeng didn’t dare argue with her.
“You’re all biased toward her!”
He Qiurong laughed. “That’s because Weiwei is likable. Some rotten people can’t stand to see others happy, so I’m happy to side with her.”
Qi Danfeng’s face flushed from the scolding.
“Ah, Qiu Rong,” Wang Hongmei pretended to stop her, secretly giving her a thumbs-up.
Dealing with someone like Qi Danfeng really required He Qiurong.
He Qiurong patted Qiao Yuewei. “Weiwei, don’t bother with her. I know what kind of person you are.”
Qiao Yuewei smiled gratefully. “Thank you, sister-in-law.”
Qi Danfeng stomped her foot. Qiao Yuewei had only been here a few days, yet she had won over both Commander Jiang’s wife and Commissioner Zhao’s wife. This woman was formidable.
Qiao Yuewei looked at Qi Danfeng. “Wanna swear?”
“I heard that those who falsely accuse others go to hell with their tongues pulled out.”
Qi Danfeng stiffened her neck. “Superstitious nonsense!”
The sisters-in-law exchanged glances. They had heard such words from Qiao Yuewei before—who would take it seriously? The fact that Qi Danfeng didn’t dare swear was telling.
“Director Wang, I report that Qiao Yuewei is spreading superstition!”
The sisters-in-law: “…”
“Enough!” Wang Hongmei said impatiently. Qi Danfeng seized every word to escalate, but had she spoken a single truth?
“Qiao Yuewei, I’ve clarified the situation. No need to go to the office. You two newlyweds can go back and rest.”
The newlyweds had just registered their marriage yesterday. Meeting someone like Qi Danfeng early in the morning was just bad luck.