Yuan Yaqing was very pleased with her plan. She knew something had happened to Lü Yuzhi that night, though she did not know the exact time. For now, all she could do was pray for darkness to fall quickly and for the people on the train to die.
Cai Jinhua saw Yuan Yaqing slowly returning from outside and shouted loudly, “Yuan Yaqing! Why are you dawdling at the door? My son is busy at the hospital, and you’re just standing there!”
Yuan Yaqing rolled her eyes, thinking, You old hag, it’s all your fault that Xu Zhicheng is so busy.
She lowered her voice. “Mom, I’m telling you, Lin Xun is about to get into big trouble!”
Cai Jinhua did not believe her. At that moment, Xiao Wang’s voice came from nearby. “Sister-in-law, Commander Huo requests your presence at the military office!”
The Xu family lived close to the Huo residence. Yuan Yaqing clearly heard this and almost jumped for joy. “See! Something happened to the Huo family! Lin Xun is doomed!”
Cai Jinhua’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
Yuan Yaqing laughed. “Lü Yuzhi is dead!”
Meanwhile, Lin Xun, following Xiao Wang toward the military office, was tense. According to yesterday’s dream, the accident was supposed to happen at night. Now that it was dark, Commander Huo suddenly asking for her presence made her heart race.
“Xiao Wang, do you know why the commander wants me?”
Xiao Wang shook his head. “The commander received a call and his expression changed. The division commander even came over, then he sent me to find you.”
Lin Xun froze.
Has his expression changed? Did something happen? Could it be related to Lü Yuzhi…
The more she thought, the paler she grew. Before she could ask more, Xiao Wang stopped and knocked on the door. Commander Huo’s voice came from inside: “Come in.”
Xiao Wang nodded to Lin Xun and left.
Lin Xun pushed the door open, about to ask, when suddenly she was caught in a firm, warm embrace. Commander Huo held her tightly.
She did not know how long he held her, until his hoarse voice sounded above her head: “Lin Xun, thank you. Truly, thank you…”
Lin Xun hurriedly asked, “Is it about Mom—”
“Yes, she just called me.” Commander Huo noticed her cold hands, hurriedly helped her sit on the sofa, and handed her a cup of hot water. “Are you cold? Warm your hands.”
Lin Xun had no intention of warming her hands.
“What happened to Mom? Tell me quickly!”
That morning, after Lin Xun had called the station, the leadership immediately sent people for an emergency inspection. The wind and snow were heavy, and the area was large. Staff worked all day, and only after dark did they locate the damaged tracks.
Not wanting to waste time, the staff immediately called the station. Once leadership received the news, the six o’clock train was halted, and even Lü Yuzhi’s train stopped in time.
When the train arrived at the station, Lü Yuzhi called Huo Yanzhou, briefly explaining the situation. She wanted to thank Lin Xun, but too many people needed to call her, so she ended the call quickly, promising to contact her once back in Beijing.
Since hanging up, Commander Huo’s mind had been blank. Seeing Lin Xun now, he regained composure.
“So, you had Mom leave early because of that dream last night?”
Lin Xun nodded. “The dream was terrifying. I kept thinking ‘better safe than sorry,’ so I wanted to be cautious.”
Huo Yanzhou held her hand tightly, breathing heavily, his gaze solemn. “Thank you. Truly, you are a benefactor to the Huo family.”
He could not imagine what would have happened to Lü Yuzhi, to himself, and to the Huo family if things had gone wrong.
Lü Yuzhi had said she liked Lin Xun at first sight. At that time, Huo Yanzhou thought it was just a pretext to encourage their marriage. But now he realized that from the incident with the farm sheep to this, Lin Xun had saved Lü Yuzhi twice.
Either of those situations going wrong could have dragged the Huo family into disaster.
Yet Lin Xun appeared, saved Lü Yuzhi, and became his wife…
For Commander Huo, a staunch materialist, it was impossible not to wonder if his wife was a fairy sent by heaven, placed to prevent the Huo family from total ruin.
Seeing his slightly reddened eyes, Lin Xun felt grateful. “As long as Mom isn’t mad at me.”
“She won’t be. How could she be mad? She probably wishes she could make me leave so you could be her own daughter.”
Huo Yanzhou added, “But I hope you tell me everything from now on, okay? Even about dreams. No matter what happens, we’ll figure it out together.”
Looking into his earnest eyes, Lin Xun nodded. “Okay!”
But Huo Yanzhou had another reason for calling her. “The station called. You notified them, didn’t you?”
Once the problem was detected, the station called the military district. The wedding yesterday meant most of the district knew Lin Xun, so the post office quickly confirmed her identity. This was why the division commander came to see Huo Yanzhou and wanted Lin Xun there.
In the division commander’s office, Lin Xun explained:
“After my mother-in-law left, I remembered hearing something about the railway on the train. I thought ‘better inspect thoroughly than risk missing anything,’ so I called the station.”
“Good! Excellent awareness!” Commander Chang slammed the table and stood. “Lin, you did well! Many people today are afraid of responsibility. They ignore things that don’t concern them. That mindset is unacceptable!”
Earlier, Commander Chang could not understand why Huo Yanzhou married a divorced wife. Now he saw that Lin Xun was perceptive and responsible. Few in the residential area matched her.
Lin Xun blushed under such high praise.
Commander Chang continued: “Director Zhang at the station said you must be formally commended. Not only will the station send awards, but the military district will report and praise your deeds!”
Lin Xun was stunned. She waved her hands. “No, no need. It was just a phone call.”
Her greatest honor in her previous life had been speaking under the national flag as a student representative. Now the recognition was at the military district level, an unprecedented number of people.
“Why not? If not for you, disaster would have struck!” Commander Chang said. “The station and we want your example to show the importance of responsibility. A society that avoids responsibility cannot progress, nor can a nation develop. You fully deserve this honor!”
Even leaving the office, Lin Xun was dazed. She had never expected a small act of initiative to bring such a huge reward.
Awards were secondary. The most important recognition was the public praise by the military district. Nowadays, even factory commendations are highly prestigious. A commendation at the military district level was extraordinary.
Thinking about future job prospects, Lin Xun was even happier.
She turned to meet Huo Yanzhou’s smiling gaze. “You’re happy?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Of course. Among all the regiment commanders, only my wife received such high recognition. How could I not be happy?”
Hearing him call her “wife” on that handsome face made her heart race. But thinking that married couples often address each other that way, Lin Xun quickly calmed down.
Commander Chang was efficient. Early the next morning, the military district began broadcasting her commendation.
Unaware of this, Yuan Yaqing was at the residential area, embellishing the story.
“Can you believe it? Lin Xun is too much. Director Lü treated her so well, and she sent her away. What if something had happened on the snowy, stormy road?”
Hoping to tie Lü Yuzhi’s death to Lin Xun, Yuan Yaqing went around gossiping all morning.
Soon, a crowd gathered in the open space of the residential area.
“I didn’t expect Lin Xun to look pretty but be so malicious, even toward her mother-in-law!”
“Exactly! No wonder Doctor Xu divorced her. A woman like this is a household disaster!”
“If anything had happened, the Huo family would have suffered because of her!”
Yuan Yaqing stood among the crowd, unable to hide her smile.
Everything was ready. Now everyone knows Lin Xun’s ‘misdeeds.’ Once Lü Yuzhi’s death news arrived, Lin Xun’s reputation would be completely ruined.
At that moment, the loudspeakers overhead sounded.
In the Northwest, extreme weather meant loudspeakers usually warned people not to go out.
This time, however, the announcement was different. It first mentioned Lin Xun’s notification to the station, then extensively praised her:
“On behalf of the Military Commission and the train station, we strongly commend Comrade Lin Xun! All comrades should learn from her responsible and proactive spirit, treat the collective as home, take initiative in bearing responsibility, and contribute to society and the nation!”
To ensure no one missed it, Commander Chang had it broadcast three times. Afterward, the entire military district was filled with Lin Xun’s name.
The residents were stunned, then quickly realized: “So, Lin Xun having Director Lü leave early was not sending her away but saving her life?”
“Indeed! If not for Lin Xun, the train to Beijing could have met with disaster. She might be a lucky star! The Huo family, so unlucky, could have been wiped out, and she comes along and immediately averts disaster!”
“Don’t forget, my mom was on that train too! Lin Xun saved her. She’s our family’s lucky star, our lifesaver!”
Many passengers returning from Qixian were relatives of the military families. Upon hearing the broadcast, they rushed to Lin Xun’s home, carrying gifts—mutton, canned goods, biscuits filling the entrance.
Seeing this, Lin Xun was shocked. After learning why, she smiled. “Sisters-in-law, you are too kind. I really only helped a little. I can’t accept these gifts.”
“Xiao Lin, thanks to you, my family owes you a great debt. If you ever need help, come to me anytime!”
“Me too! Sister-in-law, your cotton-picking skills are excellent. I’ll send you a thick quilt tomorrow!”
Everyone was joyful, while Yuan Yaqing stood dumbfounded.
Why didn’t Lü Yuzhi die? How did Lin Xun know about the railway problem?
Could Lin Xun, like her, have been reborn?
Impossible! If Lin Xun were reborn, how could she have divorced Xu Zhicheng, a man who adored his wife and would become the future richest man?
Thinking of Xu Zhicheng, Yuan Yaqing calmed herself. No matter how celebrated Lin Xun was now, Lü Yuzhi had survived. Old Master Huo (the patriarch) would soon die. Once he passed, the Huo family’s status in Beijing would be precarious.
And she only needed to firmly grasp Xu Zhicheng for endless future wealth.
Suddenly, someone ran up. “Do you know? The military hospital’s Xu Zhicheng has been suspended pending investigation!”