Chapter 5: Shi Qingqian’s Composition Issue

When Xu Huai’an returned, Chen Chen was sitting with his legs crossed, wearing a gossip-filled expression.

“Old Xu, how’d it go? Comrade Shi didn’t dislike you, did she?”

Xu Huai’an looked at Chen Chen’s nosy face with a trace of helplessness, but the corners of his mouth curved up unconsciously.
“No. Qingqian… she accepted my proposal.”

Chen Chen’s eyes widened, and he slapped his thigh hard.
“Well, I’ll be damned! Old Xu, you finally did something right for once. My task from Old Liang is finally complete. All my smooth talking wasn’t wasted. When you two get married, you better give me—the great matchmaker—a few extra toasts!”

“You won’t be short on drinks.” Xu Huai’an smiled as he handed him a slip of paper. “Tomorrow morning I’m taking Qingqian back to the village. This is her family information. Help me call the commander and get it reviewed quickly.”

“Can’t even wait, huh? Alright, leave it to me.” Chen Chen took the note.

The next day, Commander Liang received Chen Chen’s call and was genuinely stunned.

Commander Liang had long been worried sick about Xu Huai’an’s marriage. As regimental commander of the 19th Regiment of the Southern Military District, Xu Huai’an threw himself entirely into military work, never settling his personal life. Watching Xu Huai’an toil away day after day with no one by his side to care for him made Liang secretly anxious.

He had privately spoken to Xu many times, urging him to consider his lifelong happiness. But Xu always brushed him off with the excuse of heavy military tasks and lack of time. Liang had introduced many women, even some pretty girls from the art troupe, but Xu wasn’t interested in any of them. Commander Liang could only worry in silence.

This time, Xu went home on leave with Chen Chen, and Liang had ordered that Xu must find a suitable wife. But honestly, Liang hadn’t held out much hope.

So when he got Chen Chen’s call saying Xu not only had someone in mind but was planning to bring her home, Liang’s joy was indescribable. He could already imagine Xu Huai’an’s future happy life, and the stone weighing on his heart finally dropped.

He immediately ordered an investigation into Shi Qingqian’s background. He could even picture Xu in his sharp military uniform, standing beside his beautiful bride, a smile of relief spreading across his face.

But then came the surprise: Shi Qingqian’s uncle’s family turned out to have been landlords. Even though ties were cut, that background was enough to taint her social status. If Xu married her, his own career might be implicated.

Xu Huai’an was his most valued subordinate—this was not an outcome Liang wanted.

He sank into deep conflict. He didn’t want Xu’s future harmed by marriage, but neither did he want to break apart this hard-won love.

“What’s wrong, Old Liang?” Political Commissar Wen Shucheng walked in to find Liang pacing the office, face full of conflict.

Liang sighed and told him everything.
“What do you think we should do?”

“Shi? That surname isn’t common.” Wen immediately paid attention. “Let me see this comrade’s file.”

Liang handed him Shi Qingqian’s background check. Wen read carefully, his expression growing strange.
“There’s no information here about her father?”

“I found that odd too. We couldn’t dig up anything about him, only a name—which she herself told Xu. Aside from that, just some rumors saying he disappeared more than ten years ago and is likely dead.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Even if his whereabouts are unknown, there should at least be records of his job and life before he vanished. Rumors alone don’t cut it.”

The two men exchanged a look and understood instantly. If even they couldn’t find anything, there were only two possibilities: either the man never existed, or he was a classified figure whose information was sealed.

“Old Liang, remember there was someone who had a son—disappeared over ten years ago too.”

“You mean…? That’s impossible!”

“Not necessarily. The world works in mysterious ways. Let’s not act rashly. I’ll make a call.”

Wen left in a hurry, only returning half an hour later.

“Well, Old Wen?” Liang asked anxiously.

Wen laughed.
“No wonder you value Xu so much. The boy isn’t just capable—he’s lucky as hell. Comrade Shi is that man’s granddaughter.”

“Are you sure?”

“From the way he spoke, almost certainly. But I’ll still send this file up to Jinghai.”

“That’s good. Once her identity is confirmed, Xu’s marriage report can be approved.”

Wen shook his head.
“My advice? Approve the report immediately—make the rice into porridge before it’s too late. If it’s confirmed she really is his granddaughter, this marriage won’t happen otherwise.”

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Meanwhile, back at the guesthouse that night.

Shi Qingqian was thinking about how she’d leave for Xi Province with Xu the next morning. The belongings and money left behind by the original host’s father had been entrusted to Wang Xiuqin, supposedly for her care. But over the years, Wang squandered the money while mistreating the original host.

The original host was a pushover. Miss Shi was not.

Dark night, strong wind—the perfect time to stir things up.

She quietly rose, adjusted her clothes for ease of movement, and slipped into the silent street. Only the wind occasionally whispered through the night.

Her steps light, she headed toward the house.

Once nearby, she carefully scanned her surroundings. Finding nothing unusual, she vaulted lightly over the courtyard wall.

Using the original host’s memories, she made her way toward Wang Xiuqin’s room. At the door, she pressed her ear against it. Inside, steady breathing—Wang was sound asleep.

She pushed the door slowly. The hinge gave a faint creak, making her heart leap into her throat. She froze, waiting tensely. After a long moment of silence, she moved again, slipping inside.

The room stank unpleasantly. Shi Qingqian wrinkled her nose.

By the faint moonlight, she searched carefully. Finally, beneath a loose floorboard under the bed, she found Wang’s stash of private money.

She was an expert at finding things. Back in the day, sparring with her father, he’d scatter her allowance throughout their massive thousand-square-meter home. She always managed to find every last cent. Compared to that, this little room was child’s play.