Chapter 252 - 231: No Choice but to Accept
Chapter 252: Chapter 231: No Choice but to Accept
After returning to the military region from Beijing, Gu Shaojun had originally planned to request leave to go to Wancheng. Instead, his very accommodating commanding officer assigned him the task of delivering documents, which would let him stay in the Wancheng area for three or four days!
Wei Zhenqing was filled with envy and jealousy. Seeing Gu Shaojun quietly reveling inside while maintaining a perfectly stern and unreadable expression drove him mad. "You’re hogging such a great thing all to yourself! If you’re that happy, couldn’t you at least crack a smile to make the rest of us feel better? This is painful to watch!"
Gu Shaojun clapped him on the shoulder. "Some good things are meant to be enjoyed alone, never to be shared. You can’t even get a sniff! You’re miserable? Good. That means I’m in a great mood!"
Wei Zhenqing: ...
’Someone please tell me,’ he wondered, ’what could have possibly turned my friend, who was always so serious, steady, and dignified, into such a jerk?’
Gu Shaojun didn’t notify Zheng Shaolian before heading to Wancheng. After arriving at the Wancheng Military Sub-Region and finishing his business, he went straight to the camp to find Zheng Shaolian. When Zheng Shaolian suddenly saw Gu Shaojun, he was startled but quickly composed himself. Thinking Gu Shaojun was there to beat him up, he adopted a fighting stance and said, "I know you’re powerful, Big Bro. How about giving me a few pointers today!"
Gu Shaojun didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry. From the first moment he saw Zheng Shaolian, he was secretly astonished. In two years, his cousin had changed a great deal. Not only was his entire demeanor completely transformed, but his physique was much leaner and more solid than before. He had clearly grown taller; his twin brother back in Beijing, Shao Jin, couldn’t compare to him now!
’This definitely isn’t just from his military training,’ Gu Shaojun thought. ’Xiao Man must have given him something!’
Every time he thought of the little lass holding up a huge peach, chasing him and urging him to eat it quickly, as if afraid someone else would see and snatch it away, Gu Shaojun’s heart would feel warm. She wouldn’t even let him share the six lotus seeds with anyone, and those six lotus seeds had turned out to be a priceless treasure, allowing his Martial Arts to break through to the third layer and increasing his Combat Power by a huge margin... ’That girl... where on earth does she get these incredible things?’
’While I was away, this kid Shaolian had the advantage of proximity. Who knows how many treasures he’s gobbled down? He even played games with me. Not long after I returned from the front line, I contacted him to ask about Xiao Man, and that kid knew the truth but deliberately hid it from me!’
Gu Shaojun was getting annoyed. A wave of irritation washed over him, and he lunged forward, kicking. Zheng Shaolian had refused to learn Martial Arts since he was a child, so the few moves he’d learned in the army were no match for Gu Shaojun, who was only testing his strength and agility anyway.
Zheng Shaolian didn’t disappoint him, managing to last for over a dozen moves before Gu Shaojun pinned him to the ground.
Zheng Shaolian protested indignantly, "I won’t accept it! I won’t! On what grounds did the girl I claimed as my little sister become your fiancée in the blink of an eye!"
Gu Shaojun chuckled. "You can’t fight fate. I was just born lucky! Now, you’d better be a good boy and protect your little sister—my fiancée. If you dare pull any funny business, I’ll deal with you, and I’ll be even harsher than I was with Shaofeng!"
Zheng Shaolian pounded the ground. "Oh, Grandma! If you already have a Zheng Shaolian, why did you have to bring a Gu Shaojun into the world, too?"
Gu Shaojun picked up his hat and plunked it on his head. "You’ve got it backward! Gu Shaojun was born before you. I’m a full two years older. You’re the one who came after! Now get up. Lead the way. We’re going to find Xiao Man!"
Zheng Shaolian: ...
He wanted to cry but had no tears, his heart filled with bitter resentment. ’The heavens are so unfair! I was the one who discovered the little flower bud. I treasured how delicate and lovely it was before it had bloomed, wanting to guard it until it opened. But then a tyrant came along, and with one move, he unhesitatingly plucked my little flower away, plucked it away, plucked it away!’
Gu Shaojun and Zheng Shaolian arrived in Ping County Town just as school was letting out for the midday break. Zheng Shaolian paused for a moment at the middle school entrance and glanced out the window. Then, without a word, he drove off, heading straight for the Water Conservancy Bureau as if he knew the route by heart. Gu Shaojun, sitting in the passenger seat, shot him a glance. The hairs on the back of Zheng Shaolian’s neck immediately stood on end. He was going crazy inside, wanting to scream at his cousin: ’If you’re so capable, you do it! You drive, you find her!’
But he lacked the guts, furious but not daring to speak his mind.
A large crowd was gathered at the entrance to the Water Conservancy Bureau, from which a clamor of shouting could be heard. The car couldn’t drive directly into the courtyard, so Zheng Shaolian had to park on the side of the street. The two of them got out and walked over. Thanks to their height, they immediately spotted Xiao Man standing in the very center of the crowd, in the middle of... an argument!
Zheng Shaolian scoffed. "Look at that fighting spirit. She’s really come into her own, hasn’t she?"
Gu Shaojun, however, paid no attention to what Xiao Man was doing. He wouldn’t have cared if she were playing in the mud. He simply smiled, his gaze gentle and focused on the little lass in the crowd, silently taking her measure. ’Hm, she’s gotten taller and has filled out some, but she’s still a bit too thin. No matter, we’ll slowly get her healthier. It’s not like she has to do any manual labor, anyway.’
Xiao Man, completely unaware that her "glorious image" was being watched, pointed at a man in a black tunic across from her and said, "You do the deed but won’t take the blame! Huang Hongliang, what kind of man are you? You’re a fickle cheat who plays with people’s feelings. My sister already cut all ties with you; you two are done! How dare you still pester her? You got Lu Meiye pregnant, yet you want to use my sister as a human shield to divert the trouble, letting you get off scot-free. What a brilliant plan! Who are you trying to protect? Which one is your real wife? Don’t think everyone’s blind. Who doesn’t know that your house was full of guests the day before yesterday and that you went to the Civil Affairs Bureau with a woman? Did you register your marriage? And you hid it from Lu Meiye!"
Lu Meiye rushed out from the side, her face streaked with tears. She lunged for Huang Hongliang, grabbing at him as she cried out, "Is it true? Huang Hongliang, you actually lied to me... I’ll kill you!"
The crowd began to murmur and point. Huang Hongliang’s face was beet red as he fended off Lu Meiye and roared, "Mo Xiaoman, stop your nonsense! That’s slander!"
"Hmph! Why would I need to slander a piece of scum like you?"
"That’s right! The public isn’t blind! Everyone knows you’re a two-timing, morally corrupt piece of scum, Huang Hongliang! The evidence is concrete, why would anyone need to slander you?" Guan Ailan, standing beside Xiao Man, shouted even more loudly.
Huang Hongliang’s face was contorted with rage, but he held himself back. He shoved Lu Meiye aside and reached a hand toward Lin Liuping, who was standing behind Xiao Man and Guan Ailan. "Liu Ping, you have to believe me! Lu Meiye came looking for me, but I swear I haven’t been seeing her. I’m not that kind of person! In my heart, from start to finish, there’s only been you! You’re the one I really want to marry. I visit you several times every month, you know I do!"
Lu Meiye staggered a few steps before catching her balance. Sobbing, she was utterly heartbroken by his words and rushed forward again, crying, "Secret meetings several times a month! Lin Liuping, and you still dare to say you didn’t seduce my man! You’re a sales agent! You use your job as an excuse to hog the brigade’s phone, calling him every single day! What man could resist that! Lin Liuping, you hussy! You’re shameless! He was supposed to be your cousin-in-law... I’m pregnant! I’m begging you, please have mercy, don’t steal my man!"
"You... you bastards! Who stole your man? That despicable, shameless lowlife? I wouldn’t want him if you gift-wrapped him for me!"
Lin Liuping was flushed to the roots of her hair, trembling with rage. She had only come to the county town to bring Xiao Man some food from Grandpa and Grandma. She never expected to run into Huang Hongliang and Lu Meiye at the entrance of the Water Conservancy Bureau. This despicable couple was in the middle of a loud, messy argument, surrounded by a crowd. The moment Huang Hongliang saw Lin Liuping, he immediately began to pester her, telling everyone that she was his true love and Lu Meiye was just a shameless home-wrecker who had ruined their relationship. As the onlookers’ attention shifted to her, Lin Liuping frantically tried to explain, but she found herself trapped in their ugly affair, unable to get away. It was then that Xiao Man, Guan Ailan, and Mo Linghui returned from school and jumped in to help her curse out Huang Hongliang and Lu Meiye.
Lin Liuping hated that she wasn’t a good speaker and didn’t want her younger sisters to be criticized because of her. She desperately wanted to rush forward and give that despicable couple a few kicks, but Xiao Man, Guan Ailan, and Mo Linghui held her back firmly. The three younger girls warned her that Lu Meiye kept insisting she was pregnant. If they touched her now and she really was pregnant, it would be a disaster if she tried to blame them for a miscarriage. Besides, Lin Liuping was officially dating Squad Leader Xiao Zhao now. The army had just sent a letter to the village for a background check. This was a critical time; she couldn’t afford to get into trouble over scum like this!
"Lu Meiye, you’re the shameless one! You’re the one who stole someone else’s boyfriend! You successfully seduced Huang Hongliang, you must be so proud of yourself, huh? And now you have the nerve to play the victim! Fine, you like him so much? You can have him! That Huang Hongliang is a fickle cheater who toys with women’s feelings anyway. He’s no good, which makes him a perfect match for you. You two are a truly despicable pair. What’s there to be unsatisfied about?"
Guan Ailan shouted, stepping forward to give Lu Meiye a shove and keep her away from Lin Liuping.
Seeing Lu Meiye try to use the momentum to fall to the ground, Xiao Man shot forward and hauled her back upright with one hand, giving her no chance to pull any stunts.
’In my past life, Lu Meiye married Huang Hongliang without a hitch. Why haven’t they managed to get married in this life? Instead, that scumbag Huang Hongliang got the chance to relentlessly pester Lin Liuping, right up until Liu Ping and our uncle beat him up in public. Only then did he finally stop going to Gongdao Village. But then he started dating another girl, and their families have already met to discuss marriage. Huang Hongliang’s parents work at the Water Conservancy Bureau, and since I live here too, I know all about it.’
’In this life, Lu Meiye was destined to be dumped by Huang Hongliang. Today, Xiao Man, Guan Ailan, and Mo Linghui had jumped into the fray and made a huge scene on purpose. The goal was to maximize the fallout and expose Huang Hongliang for who he really was. A morally corrupt scumbag who played with people’s emotions didn’t deserve to live in peace.’
Several people emerged from the courtyard gate. Xiao Man recognized them as leaders from the Water Conservancy Bureau, and among them was Huang Hongliang’s father. The leaders spoke in bureaucratic tones, advising the onlookers to disperse, while taking turns to lecture Huang Hongliang. He was, after all, the son of one of their own employees. Father Huang quietly reprimanded his son, then shot a gloomy glare at Xiao Man. ’How can this little girl be so tactless?’ he thought. ’She’s living in our bureau’s housing, yet she dares to openly slander people like this.’
Xiao Man met Father Huang’s gaze nonchalantly. ’Like hell I’m scared of him,’ she thought. ’It’s not like I’m living in *his* house.’