Rumors are like rats in the sewer—once they see the light, they multiply at an alarming speed.
With Wu Guihua fanning the flames nonstop, it took less than a single day for rumors about Jiang Mian—“practicing witchcraft,” “politically problematic,” “suspected enemy agent”—to grow wings and spread throughout the entire military compound.
What was worse, a few overly radical family members who were close to Wu Guihua—and not exactly known for their intelligence—actually believed it.
Early that morning, Jiang Mian pushed open the courtyard gate to dump the dirty water.
The moment she stepped out, her foot landed squarely on a pile of rotten vegetable leaves and coal ash.
The doorway, once spotless, had been deliberately swept full of trash. Someone had even splashed filthy water against the wall, which had frozen into dark, grimy ice—disgusting to look at.
A few passing family members pointed and whispered, their eyes full of wariness and disdain, as if some dangerous beast lived inside the building.
“Pah! What bad luck.”
“I heard her acupuncture came from learning off dead people…”
“Stay farther away. Don’t get tainted by bad energy.”
Jiang Mian stared at the garbage by her door. Her fingers tightened around the enamel basin.
Oh, very good. Really very good.
This is pushing me straight to the edge, huh? Dumping trash? Splashing filth? What is this—an old-style struggle session?
Just then, the ringleader herself appeared.
Wu Guihua came strutting over, cracking sunflower seeds, her thick waist swaying, followed by several lackeys.
Seeing Jiang Mian standing there staring blankly at the trash made Wu Guihua feel so pleased it was better than eating dumplings on New Year’s Day.
“Well, if it isn’t our ‘miracle doctor.’”
Wu Guihua spat out a seed shell—right at Jiang Mian’s feet. The fat on her face quivered as she sneered mockingly.
“What’s wrong? Standing there practicing qigong? Or are you casting spells on this pile of garbage?”
The women behind her burst into shrill laughter.
Jiang Mian said nothing. She only lifted her head and glanced at Wu Guihua with red-rimmed eyes.
To Wu Guihua, that look screamed weak.
Her arrogance surged. She stepped forward, shoving her face right up close, saliva flying as she barked:
“What are you looking at? Not convinced?”
Wu Guihua crossed her arms, striking a righteous pose, deliberately raising her voice so it would carry into the house—so Huo Jingchuan could hear every word.
“Jiang Mian, know your place! Don’t think knowing a few crooked tricks lets you climb the ladder! Commander Huo was injured—confused for a moment and fooled by you!”
“I’m telling you, the masses see clearly! A country girl of unknown background like you—once the organization investigates you properly and uncovers your shady dealings, you’ll be crying then! Just wait to be kicked out!”
Every word was meant to kill—branding Jiang Mian outright as a dangerous element using evil arts to deceive a commander.
Jiang Mian took a deep breath.
The moment had come.
She loosened her grip.
Clang—!!!
The enamel basin slammed to the ground with a piercing crash, rolling several times before flipping over beside the trash pile.
Even Wu Guihua was startled.
Jiang Mian looked as if she’d been frightened out of her wits. Her body began to shake violently, her face draining white as paper.
Large tears poured down like a burst dam, soaking her clothes in seconds.
She staggered back a step, leaning against the doorframe as if it were her only support. Her voice trembled, broken, filled with despair and grievance:
“Sister-in-law… how… how can you say such things…”
“I’m innocent… I’m not an enemy agent… I didn’t use any witchcraft… I truly just want to take care of Brother Jingchuan… wuwuwu…”
The crying was pitiful and heartbreaking—enough to move anyone who heard it.
Seeing Jiang Mian in such a sorry state only pleased Wu Guihua more. She pointed at her nose and cursed:
“Keep pretending! I want to see how long you can keep this act up!”
But no one knew what was really happening inside the crying woman’s head:
Cry! Keep crying! More tears! Let your voice shake even more!Jiang Mian, you must look heartbreakingly pitiful right now—this is Oscar-level acting!Wu Guihua, you old hag, curse away. The nastier you get, the worse your end will be!
Then Jiang Mian’s inner artillery abruptly shifted direction—aimed straight at the silent man inside the house:
Huo Jingchuan! Are you dead in there?!Can’t you hear what’s happening outside?! Your wife is getting shit dumped on her head! She’s being called an enemy agent to her face!I’m your lifesaver! Your personal doctor!You’re just going to watch me get bullied?!Is your regiment commander title just for show? Or are you really so crippled you can’t handle even this?! If that’s the case, why the hell should I stay with you? I might as well pack up and leave!
Inside the house, by the window—
Huo Jingchuan sat quietly in his wheelchair, watching everything unfold through a slit in the curtain.
He saw the trash strewn across the ground.Saw Wu Guihua’s arrogant face.And finally, his gaze landed on the woman leaning against the doorframe, crying as if her heart were breaking—while internally screaming that he was “dead.”
His fingers tapped lightly against his knee.
The calm in his eyes shattered, freezing into a layer of bone-chilling cold.
Dumping shit on her head?
Calling her an enemy agent?
A dangerously cold smile curved at the corner of Huo Jingchuan’s mouth.
Very well.
AAAH! I’m going to explode! Huo Jingchuan, if you don’t come out right now, I’m going to pull out my needles and stab this shrew to death!
Listening to that final, frantic roar in his mind, Huo Jingchuan finally moved.
“Don’t rush.”
He murmured softly—to himself, to the air. His voice was light, but carried a murderous chill.
“If they’re looking for death, then I’ll grant it to them.”