Chapter 118

The news of Lu Desheng going to the cadre school quickly spread throughout the military region. There were all sorts of rumors, the most common one being that Lu Desheng had been implicated by Lu Chuncao’s family and had fallen from grace.

And he would never recover!

After all, Lu Chuncao’s family had committed serious crimes: embezzlement, bribery, being enemy agents, stealing military merits, and rape. They were all capital offenses that deserved a bullet. Even if Lu Desheng was a commander, he couldn’t withstand having a family dragging him down. He was sent to the cadre school for reform.

“He’s so old, I doubt he’ll ever recover!”

“Whether he recovers or not, the cadre school is very hard. They have to do manual labor from morning till night. Commander Lu is so old, I’m afraid he can’t handle it!”

“My sister-in-law’s old leader at her unit went to the cadre school for labor and got sick after only half a year!”

“Sigh, children are all debt collectors. Commander Lu is such a good person, he was ruined by his unfilial daughter!”

…

Downstairs in the family building, seven or eight military wives were discussing heatedly. Some sympathized with Lu Desheng, while others were gloating.

After Ji Xianglian learned about this, she was so happy that she cooked an extra meat dish for dinner to celebrate. After she sent her complaint letter, there was no news. She thought it was hopeless, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. Old Lu had fallen from grace.

Ha ha ha… God finally opened his eyes!

Those two sluts, Ruan Qiqi and Lu Ye, let’s see how they can still act so arrogant!

Battalion Commander Xu came home from work and saw his wife smiling. He was a little surprised. Ever since Lu Ye’s crazy antics, his wife had been gloomy and had a long face at home. She hadn’t smiled in a long time.

“What’s the good news?”

Battalion Commander Xu also saw a plate of lettuce stir-fried with bacon on the table and couldn’t help but ask.

“Wash your hands and eat.”

Ji Xianglian smiled, thoughtfully poured hot water for him to wash his hands, and then went to serve four bowls of rice.

“There must be good news. Did you get a raise?”

Battalion Commander Xu was itching to know. He didn’t even feel like eating, and he kept asking.

“Commander Lu has fallen from grace. Lu Ye and Ruan Qiqi will also suffer. Let’s see how they can still act so arrogant!”

Ji Xianglian picked up a piece of meat for her husband and then for their two children. The gloating smile on her face was very obvious.

Battalion Commander Xu’s face turned cold. He slammed his chopsticks down and rebuked, “Commander Lu is a good leader. He was implicated. After the investigation is clear, he will definitely return to the military region. What do you mean by acting like it’s New Year’s Eve?”

Although he couldn’t stand Lu Ye and his wife, it didn’t affect his respect for Commander Lu. The smile on his wife’s face was too glaring.

Ji Xianglian’s expression froze, her smile stopped abruptly, and she looked at her husband in shock. For a moment, she didn’t react.

“Public is public, private is private. Our family’s conflict with Lu Ye has nothing to do with Commander Lu. Moreover, we still owe Commander Lu a favor. When you gave birth to our eldest son, my father was sick. Our family was very poor. You couldn’t even afford eggs. Commander Lu knew about it and gave me twenty yuan. Our family was able to get through the difficult time. Now that Commander Lu has fallen from grace, you are celebrating by cooking meat. Where is your conscience? Did a dog eat it?”

Battalion Commander Xu scolded harshly. He looked at his wife with disappointment and even felt a little strange.

His usually considerate and understanding wife was actually ungrateful.

“I… I didn’t know about this. I was just angry with Lu Ye. Old Xu, I know I was wrong. Please calm down!”

Ji Xianglian quickly adjusted her mood. She was flexible and immediately admitted her mistake, putting on a very humble attitude.

“I’ve told you several times. How can you forget such a big favor? There are a lot of rumors outside. Don’t get involved in it. Also, I’m going to the cadre school to visit Commander Lu in a few days. Get a gift ready!”

Battalion Commander Xu was half-believing. His wife’s memory was always good. She remembered things from before they got married. How could she forget such a big thing?

But he didn’t think too much about it. He told Ji Xianglian to prepare a gift.

The old leader had fallen from grace. He definitely had to go visit him.

“Old Xu, the situation is unclear now. Why don’t you go later?”

Ji Xianglian was anxious. Now is a sensitive time. Everyone is watching. This stupid fool of hers is rushing to take sides. He’s really asking for trouble!

“What’s unclear about the situation? Commander Lu is upright. How could he make a mistake? After the investigation is clear, he will definitely come back. Sending charcoal in winter is more valuable than giving flowers in spring. Prepare the gift. Why are you talking so much?”

Battalion Commander Xu harshly scolded.

Ji Xianglian had to agree. She hated the Lu family even more. She wished Lu Desheng would die in the cadre school!

The atmosphere in the Xu family was very heavy. The Zhou family on the same floor had even lower pressure.

Battalion Commander Zhou had a dark face. He glared fiercely at Shang Lehua, gritted his teeth and cursed, “How did I marry such a jinx of a wife? Your head is full of straw. Ji Xianglian used you as a gun. You charged into battle, doing all the things that offend people. She got promoted and a raise, and she’s so happy. My deputy battalion commander position is gone. It went to Peng. You damn it, can’t you learn from Wang Shuhua? She knows how to get along with people. She managed to get her husband a deputy battalion commander position. Grass… I really want to beat you to death!”

The more Battalion Commander Zhou cursed, the angrier he got. He raised his fist. Shang Lehua was so scared that she covered her head and cried for mercy.

The two children huddled in the corner, hugging each other and crying.

Compared to these two families, the Peng family on the first floor was much more festive.

Although the promotion documents hadn’t been issued yet, Battalion Commander Peng already knew the news. His deputy battalion commander position was a sure thing.

He also knew that it was Lu Ye’s support that got him the deputy battalion commander position. Otherwise, it would have been Battalion Commander Zhou’s.

If he couldn’t be promoted this time, he would probably have to retire and go back to his hometown next year. His wife and children might never be able to eat commercial grain. Lu Ye was a great benefactor to their whole family!

“We have to thank Deputy Regiment Commander Lu and his wife. When we get meat tickets, buy more meat, make some dumplings and send them to Deputy Regiment Commander Lu. Also send some local specialties from our hometown.” Battalion Commander Zhao instructed.

“Isn’t that a little too light? Why don’t we get some expensive gifts?”

Wang Shuhua felt it wasn’t appropriate. How could a little food represent her gratitude? Lu Ye and his wife were their family’s benefactors!

“They have seen all the good things. There’s no need. Just get some local specialties. We’ll remember this favor in our hearts. We have to tell the children to repay them later!”

“Okay, I’ll prepare them.”

Wang Shuhua nodded in agreement. She looked around the crowded house and couldn’t help but smile, “After the documents come down, will we be able to get another room?”

“Not only will we get another room, but you and the children will be able to eat commercial grain. Then I’ll ask around and get you a job.”

“It’s like a dream. Old Peng, let me pinch you!”

Wang Shuhua pinched her husband’s waist hard. Hearing her husband gasp, she finally believed it was true. She laughed until tears came out.

Finally, this day has come!

The next day, the family building downstairs had a different scene. Those who used to flatter Shang Lehua turned around and started flattering Wang Shuhua.

Wang Shuhua didn’t want to cause trouble for her husband, so she hid in the house and tried to avoid them.

Shang Lehua also refused to see anyone. Her husband beat her black and blue, and she didn’t even dare to go out to buy groceries, afraid of being laughed at.

During this time, the most talked about in the family building was Wang Shuhua and Ruan Qiqi. They praised Wang Shuhua and watched and gloated over Ruan Qiqi, but no one dared to provoke her.

Ruan Qiqi was unaffected. She still went to work and came home every day, drinking tea and reading newspapers. Her work life was too leisurely. She could do this for a hundred years.

But these past two days, Ruan Qiqi’s work mood had been affected. She discovered that her hot water had been poured out, reducing her eight cups of tea a day to four. She was very upset!