Chapter 31: Still, I Like You

After a long silence, Commander Xu finally said, “It’s in the past now. Let’s not bring it up.”

Han Chao asked, “You’re all soldiers. The officers and troops at the military academy carry guns. How did someone manage to steal a child in broad daylight?”

Commander Xu said, “At the time, it was the double harvest season. The golden rice stalks were hanging over the flooded fields, and everyone was working tirelessly to gather the crops. Only two newly arrived sisters, Xiao Zhang and her sibling, were on duty, cooking for us at the training school. They left the child sleeping while they went to deliver food. When they returned, they saw someone running away with the baby. They couldn’t catch them, so they ran to alert us. We immediately searched the mountain overnight…”

They found the child in a hunter’s cabin deep in the mountains.

…

Because ‘Xiao A’mi’ had once beaten them, and the whip marks were similar.

So, everyone unanimously believed that ‘Xiao A’mi’ had whipped the child to death.

For years, whenever Ma Lin had a break, she would go up the mountain with a machete, determined to take revenge on ‘Xiao A’mi.’

She had become utterly consumed by this hatred. Even later, whenever she traveled for work or assignments, she would always keep an eye out for ‘Xiao A’mi,’ believing that finding the murderer and avenging her child was her sole reason for living.

Because Xu Yongyi had once said, “If A’mi really wanted to kill, she would have killed us all back then. She wouldn’t have waited two years just to kill your daughter.”

That was the moment Ma Lin immediately divorced him.

As the years went by, the rumors only escalated.

If someone slipped and broke a leg on a rainy day, they blamed ‘Xiao A’mi’ for pushing them.

If someone got drunk and fell into the reservoir, they said ‘Xiao A’mi’ had pushed them.

And whenever something went missing at the military academy, everyone unanimously pointed fingers at ‘Xiao A’mi,’ convinced that she was the thief.

The legend only grew, painting ‘Xiao A’mi’ as an unforgivable monster.

Finally regaining his composure, Commander Xu said, “But Ma Lin and I have different opinions. I don’t believe it was Xiao A’mi who killed my daughter. Ma Lin is quite stubborn—she just says things in the heat of the moment. You don’t have to take her words seriously.”

Han Chao was quite surprised. He hadn’t expected Xu Yongyi to doubt that “Xiao A’mi” was the murderer.

As for what truly happened to Commander Xu’s daughter nearly thirty years ago, Han Chao wasn’t sure.

But one thing he did know—Commander Xu’s instincts were probably right.

Han Chao stood up. “I’ll see you at the morning meeting.”

“See you at the meeting,” Xu Yongyi replied, walking Han Chao to the door. When he returned to the living room, he stared at an old photograph for a long time, lost in thought.

Thirty whole years. In truth, he had already let go of it—his work was enough to keep him going.

But Ma Lin had never moved on. She was still ready at any moment to seek revenge on Xiao A’mi. Hopefully, Xiao A’mi was no longer alive.

Otherwise, Ma Lin would never stop.

That night, Chen Yufeng not only left the courtyard door open but also kept the bedroom door wide open.

The two little girls had played so much during the day that they had fallen asleep early.

She was sitting on the bed, counting the money in her hands. She had bought a small notebook, imitating city folks, to track her expenses.

Now that the two mothers had arrived, she needed to rent a place for them since the military family quarters only allowed visiting relatives to stay for a week. She also had to buy kitchenware and clothes for them. After all, city people cared about appearances—she had to dress them well so others wouldn’t look down on them.

Now, she had 35,000 yuan at her disposal.

She planned to save 20,000 for Zhou Yafang, use 10,000 to furnish and set up the rental house, and spend the remaining 5,000 on her daughters and their two grandmothers.

Hearing footsteps, she called out, “Brother, you’re back! Come in and sit.”

Han Chao paused in the living room, washed his hands, ran a wet hand through his hair, and walked in, carrying the fresh scent of soap.

It was his first time entering the master bedroom after their daughters had fallen asleep.

“Sit down.” Chen Yufeng patted the edge of the bed.

Han Chao sat stiffly, his posture upright. His cropped hair, military-green pants, white shirt, and belt neatly divided his torso into precise sections. His fists rested on his knees, clenched.

Then, as he glanced at her, his expression darkened.

“This sweater is still an old one. The girls are wearing new clothes—why didn’t you get yourself something new?” he asked.

Chen Yufeng was still wearing an old sweater she had owned for years, but she was more concerned about something else. “About the child’s death—what exactly did Commander Xu say?”

Han Chao looked straight ahead and recounted the details before adding, “Something doesn’t sit right. The child’s death doesn’t seem like a homicide. And I don’t think Zhang’s two sisters told the whole truth. I need to think this over.”

“Who are the Zhang sisters?” Chen Yufeng pressed on. She deliberately tugged at her sweater’s neckline. The sweater was old, but the bra underneath was brand new—bought especially for tonight. Though it was a little tight, she hadn’t taken it off.

The creamy white fabric pushed her curves together. Even after giving birth, she still had a full figure.

But Han Chao didn’t even glance at her. He simply answered, “Zhang Yanli and Zhang Aixia.”

That made even less sense.

Even though Chen Yufeng had a bias against Zhang Yanli, she couldn’t believe she or her sister would harm a child.

They had grown up in the same courtyard. What reason would they have to kill an innocent eight-month-old baby?

And if it wasn’t murder, was the baby supposed to have committed suicide?

How ridiculous—an eight-month-old infant, taking their own life?

Before, she had only heard bits and pieces of the story. But now, putting herself in Ma Lin’s shoes, she could understand why she had been so furious. Even so, something didn’t add up. Who would have such deep hatred for Commander Xu’s family that they’d kill a child?

Just then, Han Chao clenched his fists, looked down, then lifted his gaze again. “I’m going to bed now.”

Chen Yufeng thought to herself, Can’t this man just say, ‘Let’s sleep together in the other room?’

She deliberately said, “Go ahead, I’m going to sleep too.”

Suddenly, he reached out his hand.

His hands were rough, especially his fingertips—thick and calloused. He had fought a lot growing up, and his reflexes were incredibly fast.

Chen Yufeng flinched, thinking he was reaching for her bra. She almost sat up in shock.

But all he did was take the notebook from her hands and instruct, “Buy yourself a new sweater tomorrow.”

By the time he reached the door, Chen Yufeng figured he must have assumed she wasn’t willing and was waiting for her to take the initiative.

So she said, “Brother, buy me a cassette tape sometime.”

Han Chao stopped. “Which one? Han Baoyi’s? Ye Qianwen’s?”

Since she loved music, Han Chao had stopped by a cassette store before heading home. He had asked the shopkeeper what was popular and bought several tapes for her, picking up the names of trending singers in the process.

“Neither. There’s a tape called Still, I Like You. Make sure you get it for me.”

Chen Yufeng spoke, thinking he would understand the hint. Embarrassed, she buried herself under the covers.

But Han Chao frowned and asked, “Who sings it? That kind of thing can be turned into a song?”

“Danny Chan. He’s a famous singer from Hong Kong,” she replied.

Han Chao nodded. “Next weekend, then. That’s when I get my allowance, and I’ll have time to go out.”

This week, the entire military base was focused on cracking down on contraband—including Hong Kong-imported erotic magazines. New recruits only earned 18 yuan a month, yet some were willing to spend their entire allowance just to buy one of those magazines. Han Chao had never seen one before. Tomorrow morning, he’d be reviewing the confiscated materials with Zhao Fangzheng, Wang Shuya, and Xu Liang before launching a base-wide investigation.

Han Chao left.

Chen Yufeng was so frustrated she nearly kicked the bed.

Why was Qi Cailing’s man so suave and passionate, while hers was like this?

Oh well.

Next week, when her mother-in-law and her own mother arrived, she would move into a separate room with him.

Sharing a bed—surely, he’d take the initiative then?

He couldn’t possibly expect her to do all the work again, like she had seven years ago, right?

On Monday, it was said that approvals were being processed. By Tuesday, an orderly from the military affairs office was riding a bicycle, going door to door to deliver notifications.

After receiving the notice, everyone could go to the finance department to sign the contract and make the payment.

The lease term was ten years, but rent was collected annually—pay first, then receive the keys.

The military families could finally ride the wave of reform and opening up, seizing the opportunity to improve their lives.

Though the rental fees weren’t high—the cheapest being just 200 yuan per year—military salaries were generally low. Taking out such a lump sum at once wasn’t easy for many.

Mrs. Bao received the notice on Tuesday morning and went to handle her retirement from the military in the afternoon. Due to the large-scale troop reductions, those who opted for voluntary retirement without job placements, like her, had their applications approved quickly. However, the severance pay was deferred.

This left Mrs. Bao in a difficult position. She had chosen retirement to venture into business, yet now, with the military cutting her off without financial support, what was she supposed to do?

Fortunately, she was a local. Realizing she couldn’t rely on military funds, she went back to her parents’ home to borrow money.

Chen Yufeng, worried that someone else might take the shop she wanted, carried 600 yuan with her at all times, waiting for the orderly to arrive.

She wasn’t too concerned when Wednesday passed without notice. But by Thursday, as no word had come, she grew anxious.

Though she didn’t like Ma Lin, she refused to believe that Ma Lin would deliberately obstruct her rental just because of Zhang Yanli.

When there was still no notice on Thursday, Chen Yufeng decided that if she didn’t receive one by the next day, she would go directly to the military affairs office to confront Ma Lin.

The next morning, while walking her daughters to school, Mimi suddenly shouted, “Mom, look! That’s a motorcycle! Wow, it looks like it’s flying—I love it!”

A sleek Harley-Davidson motorcycle zoomed past them. The rider was a stylish young man in a leather jacket and green military trousers. Riding behind him was Qi Cailing, holding up a set of keys, her voluminous wavy hair billowing in the wind.

So, Qi Cailing had already received her keys, while Chen Yufeng’s shop had yet to be approved?

“Mom, I’m definitely going to learn how to ride a motorcycle when I grow up! I’m off to school—bye!” Mimi waved excitedly.

Chen Yufeng was about to head straight to the military affairs office when someone suddenly called from behind, “Chen Yufeng?”

It was Ma Lin. She was carrying a black leather briefcase and holding a set of keys in her hand.

With four stars on her shoulder, she was the very image of the female soldier Mimi admired most.

“Good morning, Director Ma,” Chen Yufeng greeted her.

Ma Lin looked a bit exhausted. Though she was speaking to Chen Yufeng, her gaze remained fixed in the direction of the preschool.

Under the warm June sun, a group of chubby-cheeked children entered the classroom. Some were blowing bubble gum, others tooting little toy trumpets. A girl with newly tied hair ribbons proudly showed them off to her friends.

Mimi, who only had Wang Jiajia as a close friend, greeted her with a playful punch. In return, Wang Jiajia tugged on Mimi’s ear.

Tiantian, meanwhile, clung to a little girl she was particularly close to.

“This restaurant is yours now,” Ma Lin said, handing the keys to Chen Yufeng. “The contract is with me. Let’s go inside and take a look.”

Chen Yufeng had only seen the building from the outside and had never been inside. It was a standalone structure, rumored to have been a classified intelligence office during wartime, responsible for decoding various electromechanical codes. It had only been converted into a restaurant in recent years.

The first floor had four tables—sturdy but filthy.

The back area was just as grimy. Though it had running water, a gas stove, and a large freezer, the place was covered in dust, with food waste flowing everywhere. Three dishwashing sinks stood in the corner, but the entire space was a mess, littered with broken plates and bowls, reeking of rot and grease.

“My younger brother-in-law once leased this restaurant,” Ma Lin explained. “But he’s not the responsible type. After running it for a while, he just abandoned it. It’s quite dirty—you’ll have to clean it yourselves.”

The second floor had five private dining rooms. The tables and chairs were in good condition, but everything was coated in grime. The wallpaper was peeling, and cobwebs covered the corners. One touch left your hands greasy with accumulated dust.

The third floor wasn’t connected to the second by an indoor staircase. Instead, an external staircase led up from the back of the building. It was an attic-like space with several small rooms, which seemed to have been dormitories for former staff. A few old-style solid wood beds remained.

“These beds are quite old,” Ma Lin noted. “Back when this was an intelligence office, people on night shifts who couldn’t go home would sleep here.”

She tapped her foot against the floor and added, “The flooring up here was specially treated for soundproofing.”

Chen Yufeng hadn’t expected that behind the building’s simple exterior lay a space with such an unexpectedly sophisticated touch.

Then, Ma Lin abruptly changed the subject. “Yanli has a strong bias against your family. I’d like to apologize on her behalf.”

The apology sounded more like an attempt at mediation, and Chen Yufeng had no interest in accepting it.

Instead, she asked, “What about the rent? Should I go to the finance department to pay now?”

Ma Lin pulled out a receipt. “Today, the finance department is distributing allowances to all non-commissioned officers and below—the queue is ridiculously long. I’ve already paid your rent for you. Just reimburse me.”

After waiting an entire week, Chen Yufeng had been boiling with frustration. But with Ma Lin handling things this way, she couldn’t stay angry.

She had been carrying the money with her all along, ready to pay at a moment’s notice.

Taking out six crisp 100-yuan bills, she handed them to Ma Lin. “Please count it.”

Ma Lin took the money without checking it, then spoke in a gentler tone. “Back when Yanli got involved with your father, your parents were still married. It was a terrible thing to do. She intends to apologize to your mother someday. But personally, I believe that a man who can cheat during marriage is a man with poor character. Leaving him was the right decision. You should feel relieved for your mother, don’t you think?”

Zhang Yanli now despised Chen Fanshi and was seriously considering divorce.

And Ma Lin had always looked down on men like Chen Fanshi.

Chen Yufeng had no desire to discuss the matter. She had already filed a lawsuit against Chen Fanshi, and soon he would receive a court summons.

As for Zhang Yanli, she only needed to clarify one thing: “Director Ma, I have no familial ties to Aunt Zhang. I’m opening this restaurant, and I do not welcome her or any of her family members as customers. Please relay that message to her.”

“I will,” Ma Lin assured her. “She has also promised me that she won’t trouble you again.”

Then, Ma Lin suddenly raised her hand in a salute. “I give you my word on that.”

Chen Yufeng was a little taken aback, feeling both startled and embarrassed. She could only hope that Zhang Yanli was worthy of the guarantee Ma Lin had given on her behalf.

Now that she had successfully rented the restaurant and her two mothers were about to arrive, it was time for Chen Yufeng to start tidying up the place.

Locking the restaurant’s front door, she was just about to leave when she noticed Ma Lin standing by the iron fence of the kindergarten.

It was morning exercise time, and the children were all hopping and skipping outside, following their teacher’s lead.

Most kids were simply going through the motions, but Mimi stood out the most—her eyes were wide like copper bells, and every movement she made seemed as if she were practicing martial arts. She had the shortest legs, yet she jumped the highest. The boys next to her stared at her in awe.

Ma Lin’s nose turned slightly red, and her cheeks flushed. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her face and explained, “I have a weak constitution, and the restaurant was too dusty—it triggered my allergies.” Then, she added, “My daughter was just like your Han Mi. She was mischievous and full of energy. People say babies start turning over and crawling at certain stages, but she was crawling by three months old. If we placed her in the yard, she’d be off running everywhere.”

According to Han Chao, Ma Lin’s daughter had been taken by Xiao A’mi when Zhang Yanli and her sister were delivering food to everyone.

But Chen Yufeng could prove that Wang Guoguo had been in Guihua Town at the time.

And then there was that jade pendant—how had Wang Guoguo gotten her hands on it? That was still a mystery.

That jade pendant was a problem.

Even if they could prove that she hadn’t harmed the child, stealing Commander Xu’s jade would still be seen as an immoral act.

Because of this, until she got to the bottom of the jade pendant situation, Chen Yufeng decided not to bring up her mother-in-law’s arrival with Ma Lin.

Although she found the whole situation absurd, she couldn’t help but ask, “I heard that the only witnesses were Zhang Yanli and her sister. Did you ever doubt them?”

Bias makes people blind, and while Chen Yufeng didn’t believe Zhang Yanli and her sister would harm an innocent eight-month-old baby, was it really possible that Ma Lin had never questioned them?