One of the guests leaned out halfway, excitedly about to announce “The man is here,” but was met with Lu Shaotang’s cold, piercing gaze.

He immediately felt like he was being stared at by a predator.

The man was trembling all over.

Lu Shaotang gave him a look, and the man quickly backed away, closing the window tightly and sitting down on the ground in fright.

Oh my, why does that man have such intimidating eyes?

They’re like those of a wolf or a tiger.

Seeing Chen Yanming and the team at the top of the wall, Lu Shaotang knew time was of the essence.

He took out a notebook and a pen from his pocket, scribbled a few lines, and then tapped on the window.

The man, shivering, cautiously stuck half of his head out, “Pardon, spare me.”

Lu Shaotang passed the folded note through the window, “Please give this to my wife. Her surname is Lin.”

The man nodded vigorously, “Understood, understood.”

Lu Shaotang gave one last deep look at his wife’s window, then quickly walked towards Chen Yanming and the others at the top of the wall.

He leaped over the wall and walked away.

Chen Yanming and his team quickly caught up.

Chen Yanming looked at Lu Shaotang’s slightly pursed lips, “Brother Lu, why didn’t you stay with your wife a bit longer?”

Lu Shaotang: “I’ve said everything I needed to.”

Chen Yanming smirked, “Actually, I could lead the team to Qizhou. You can rest here for a couple of days.”

Lu Shaotang: “No need.”

Chen Yanming couldn’t help but ask, “… Brother Lu, what happened? How did you get caught in such a situation…”

Lu Shaotang: “Shut up!”

Chen Yanming’s shoulders shook with suppressed laughter, while another teammate, trying to avoid trouble, lagged behind and pretended not to hear anything.

In the room, Sister Lu Da was still spinning around with excitement.

Even though she hadn’t seen him, knowing that Third Brother was still alive was the happiest news.

Once she felt a bit dizzy from spinning, she sat down, clapping her hands and said, “How wonderful! Father became a barefoot doctor, I became a tractor driver, and now Third Brother has returned.”

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Lin Shu answered and saw a man with four pockets, so she asked what was the matter.

The man’s voice was still trembling, “Comrade Lin, your husband left you a letter.”

Even though Lin Shu logically knew that Lu Shaotang was her husband, the term “your husband” made her face turn red again, as she hadn’t experienced married life after dating and getting a marriage certificate.

Sister Lu Da rushed over, asking repeatedly, “Did you see my Third Brother? Where is he?”

The man pointed outside, “He left… climbed over the wall and left.”

Oh my, what kind of person is this? Coming and going like the wind.

Unable to find out more, Sister Lu Da thanked him and closed the door.

The two sisters-in-law began to read the letter.

After Mrs. Lu Da passed the tractor driver exam, she also started learning to read and write.

In the evenings, Old Lu would even tutor her.

When she opened the paper, the calligraphy was so forceful and vivid that it seemed to penetrate the page.

It was clearly the handwriting of “Chen Yanming.”

Lin Shu thought: ‘The clown is me, I guess. My parents are sure he’s alive, but she’s convinced he’s dead.’

The letter said he was busy with work and would only be able to return home after some time, but he would definitely be home for the New Year.

It ended with a message for her parents and family, with a special emphasis on sending kisses to Tiantian and Panpan.

Lu Da was so happy she clapped her hands, “This is great news! Our in-laws, Tiantian and Panpan must be thrilled.”

Lin Shu: “Sister-in-law, he still has work to do. Let’s keep this a secret for now.”

Lu Da: “Don’t worry. It’s just between us. I won’t even tell my family.”

After they calmed down, they went to the tractor factory to gather some news, only to find that many police officers and soldiers in uniform had moved in.

Lu Da found her car repair teacher, Master Huang, who told her that the broadcaster Xiao Yang had been arrested.

She turned out to be a class enemy!

Master Huang angrily said, “This sly enemy agent became our broadcaster and used her job as a cover to send telegrams to the enemy. Fortunately, our people are competent and managed to capture her immediately.”

He was even a bit gloating.

Xiao Yang was popular in the factory because of her looks, and many male colleagues were close to her.

Now they were in trouble.

Those who had close relationships with her were all examined on the spot, and those with problems were directly taken away.

Accountant Zhu, a director, a deputy factory director, and a section chief were all taken away.

“Our tractor factory is going to undergo a major shake-up,” Master Huang said, quite pleased.

Lin Shu smiled and said, “Master Huang, you’ll surely be promoted. Becoming a workshop director is definitely within your reach.”

Master Huang was also very happy: “Thank you for your kind words. That would be wonderful.”

The two then asked Master Huang to check on Yao Naiwen, who had no issues with his neck and was cooperating with the investigation in the office.

Lin Shu and Lu Da returned to the guesthouse first.

In the evening, Lu Da fell asleep immediately, but Lin Shu couldn’t sleep.

First, she thought about Xiao Yang and the enemy agents, then about Lu Shaotang’s knife, and finally about what happen earlier.

Eventually, she felt a surge of heat all over her body and began to reflect on herself.

Was she too easy to talk to?

She clearly didn’t want him to come in, so how did he manage to get in?

And almost pushed her against the wall!

She was clearly afraid of him, so why did he come closer instead of backing off?

He came closer, and she clearly should have pushed him away, but instead… she let him continue?

In that moment when he blocked her, she was really terrified…

When he rubbed her head with his large hand, it felt as if her grandmother’s rough hands were doing it, which made her suddenly stop feeling scared.

Instead, she was annoyed by him messing with her hair.

Was she a child?

She originally wanted to give him a lesson, to show him what she was capable of, and make him aware of her strength.

A man who ran away three days after their wedding and didn’t come back for years wasn’t someone she could easily forgive.

She should at least take this opportunity to put some demands on him or lay down some rules.

But… before she could say a word, he…

How could a man be like this!

How could this man be like this!

Next time, absolutely not.

Next time he appears in front of her, she absolutely must not let him kiss her so easily.

After not seeing him for years, there’s bound to be some unfamiliarity and distance, right?

They should at least spend some time getting to know each other again, right?

How can he just come up and kiss her?

Does he think he’s a teddy bear or something?

Just wait.

Next time, she won’t let him kiss her at all.

She’ll make him stay far away.

The next morning, Yao Naiwen bought buns and oil cakes and came to see Lin Shu and Lu Da.

Lu Da: “Comrade Yao, is your neck alright?”

Although Yao Naiwen was scared enough to nearly wet his pants at the time, he acted nonchalant here.

He touched his neck and smiled, “It’s fine, see, it’s scabbed over. Fortunately, Comrade Lin Shu distracted her, or I might have been in real trouble.”

He was a victim but also made a contribution by helping catch the enemy agent, so the factory leadership had praised and comforted him.

Lin Shu smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Comrade Yao, you have a long life and great fortune.”

Yao Naiwen was very pleased and asked if they had rested well and eaten breakfast before continuing with the photo shoot for the promotional posters.

After the photo shoot, Yao Naiwen took them to the factory’s Revolutionary Committee office, where the municipal and city police departments were still conducting follow-up investigations.

Yao Naiwen emphasized Lin Shu’s role in distracting the enemy agent during Xiao Yang’s arrest.

“Comrades, if it weren’t for Comrade Lin Shu’s quick thinking to divert the enemy’s attention, my life…” he touched his neck, “would have been in real danger.”

The joint investigation team from the city’s Revolutionary Committee and police department recorded the matter.

A municipal police officer recognized her and said with a smile, “Comrade Lin Shu, you’ve done it again! You must be one of this year’s outstanding individuals in the city.”

Lin Shu: “Comrade Police, I didn’t do anything special.”

Police Officer: “Previously, in Qing County, you played a crucial role in uncovering the Zhou family and Wang Jie, along with Aunt Fang.”

“Nope.”

Lin Shu modestly said, “That’s because my mother-in-law has a sharp sense of smell. I’m just a bystander.”

The term “bystander” was new and everyone laughed.

Two police officers were responsible for taking notes and asked Lin Shu to repeat what she had said at the time.

Lin Shu’s cheeks visibly reddened, and she coughed to cover her embarrassment. “I was so nervous at the time that I forgot.”

Yao Naiwen immediately added, “Comrades, I remember clearly. Comrade Lin Shu spoke with profound love for her husband, which was very touching.”

Thinking about her exemplary husband who had sacrificed so much, everyone’s smiles faded, and the previously cheerful atmosphere turned somber.

After the note-taking, Yao Naiwen unapologetically applied for extra labor fees for Lin Shu and Sister Lu Da.

Originally, they would have received sixteen yuan each.

But now, he managed to get eighteen yuan and ninety cents for one of them, and work clothes and a pair of yellow rubber shoes for the other.

Lin Shu didn’t need the clothes, so she took a larger size for her mother-in-law.

He also gave Lin Shu a stack of manuscript paper and a fountain pen, encouraging her to write reading notes and pursue writing.

In the warehouse, there were Mid-Autumn Festival welfare items for the staff, but they wouldn’t be distributed until the fifteenth of August.

Yao Naiwen also applied for these for the two of them.

Each received a bucket of soy sauce, a bottle of vinegar, and a bottle of sesame oil.

This trip, Lin Shu and Sister Lu Da came back laden with goods.

They felt they had made a huge profit.

After lunch, Yao Naiwen wanted to send the two of them back to the village, but Lin Shu wanted to visit her second sister’s house.

She decided to stay the night and leave the next day.

Just as the jeep was leaving the tractor factory, Wei Lan happened to ride up on his bike.

He had been out in the countryside for surveillance yesterday and came back today.

He heard from Wei Ling that Lin Shu had come to the city to the tractor factory for a photo shoot yesterday, but she might have already gone home.

Wei Lan came over with the hope of seeing her, and it was a coincidence that he knew some colleagues who worked here, so his visit had a legitimate reason.

To his surprise, he saw Lin Shu at the entrance of the tractor factory.

His disappointment was that Lin Shu and Sister Lu Da were in a jeep that passed right by him.

Lin Shu didn’t notice him.

Lin Shu was entirely preoccupied with thoughts of her second sister and didn’t have the time to notice anything else.