Chapter 49

“What? It was about Captain Pan’s daughter?” A woman slapped her thigh and exclaimed, “What’s this? If it was Captain Pan’s daughter, I wouldn’t have believed it at all!”

“Exactly!”

“Exactly!”

“If my husband saw the commander’s daughter, he would have to put on a smiling face. How could anyone dare to treat the commander’s daughter with disrespect?”

As soon as everyone heard that the main gossip subject was the leader’s daughter, they immediately changed sides and began to denounce Xia Hehua.

“The Fan Family is always bad-mouthing others behind their backs.”

“Captain Pan’s daughter is only eighteen. How could she have anything with Captain Zhao? Captain Zhao must be around forty.”

“Our Captain Zhao, I dare not say anything else, but he’s an honest man through and through!”

“It’s all Xia Hehua’s nonsense.”

Xia Hehua saw the crowd turning against her, and although she wisely retreated and closed the door in time, she didn’t leave. She clung to the door like a lizard, eavesdropping.

Hearing everyone beginning to condemn her, she became anxious and angrily pounded on the door. She couldn’t help but blurt out, “What’s wrong with the captain’s daughter? Can’t the captain’s daughter have any relationships with men?”

The crowd outside fell silent.

Actually, in the village, this kind of talk wasn’t a big deal.

“What’s wrong with the village chief’s daughter? Can’t the village chief’s daughter have relationships with others?”

Typically, if the village head heard about such a dispute, he would just scold them or have his wife go up and shut the gossiping woman’s mouth. The two women would then stand face-to-face, pointing fingers and arguing.

But now, everyone had moved to the city, and this was a military compound.

When everyone was condemning Xia Hehua, Qiao Wei couldn’t even get a word in. One reason was that she wasn’t very familiar with them, and the other was that she hadn’t adapted to their common phrases and tones yet.

But at this moment, Qiao Wei spoke up.

She said sternly, “Everyone heard that, right?”

Then she said to Sister Yang, “Sister-in-law, remember who’s here today. If Captain Pan asks, we’ll have witnesses.”

“Ah, it’s just a women’s quarrel. Do we need to bother Captain Pan?” Someone came forward to mediate because they didn’t want the situation to escalate since they had spread rumors themselves before.

But Qiao Wei said, “I heard that Captain Pan’s wife isn’t well and has been recuperating in the capital. His daughter, a young girl, isn’t enjoying herself in the capital but has come all the way to our small place to join the army and serve the country. As aunties and sisters, if we hear someone tarnishing the reputation of such a good girl, how can we not speak up for her and let her live?”

Xia Hehua, who was listening at the door, couldn’t take it anymore and angrily opened the door, saying, “What are you talking nonsense about? I didn’t talk about Captain Pan’s daughter. I was talking about Yang Zhaodi’s man, who’s playing around with other women!”

Sister Yang was Yang Zhaodi.

Hearing this, Sister Yang was furious and was about to argue with Xia Hehua again.

But Qiao Wei held her back and shook her head slightly.

She said to Xia Hehua, “What you said won’t disappear just because you refuse to admit it. We were deceived by you before, but we won’t be fooled by you again.”

She took Sister Yang and left. With the main culprit identified and the truth clarified to the participating crowd, there was no need for further pointless arguments.

Xia Hehua was left fuming in place. After cursing for a while, she finally realized, “Who is she?”

She didn’t know Qiao Wei at all.

Qiao Wei remembered vividly how she bullied others in kindergarten, but Xia Hehua didn’t recognize her at all.

The original Qiao Wei really didn’t like socializing with these rural family members, so much so that many people didn’t recognize her.

But a few recognized her: “She’s Captain Yan’s wife.”

“Which Yan?”

There were many people with the same surname in the military, so they had to ask which one.

The person replied, “It’s the youngest captain in our military district.”

Suddenly, everyone understood: “Oh, him!”

“I heard he married a nagging wife?”

“…Listen to what you’re saying. Where did you see her nagging?”

Most of them were not well-educated, like Yang Zhaodi, and some hadn’t even attended school. They learned to recognize a few words from the literacy classes held by the commune.

Qiao Wei’s words carried the weight of authority, and the others couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

“I heard she’s an educated person from the city.”

“No wonder.”

“What does being educated have to do with anything? It’s none of her business! I’ll deal with Yang Zhaodi’s matters myself; she doesn’t need to stick her nose in!” Xia Hehua snapped, hopping angrily.

Recently, the military district was evaluating salaries, and there were a few spots for salary increases. Among those selected for evaluation, there were her husband, as well as others, but also Yang Zhaodi’s husband, Zhao Dongseng.

Because Xia Hehua had pushed Sister Yang, causing her to almost miscarry, she lost her job. Later, the military also didn’t arrange a new job for her, which led to her losing an income. She felt it was all Yang Zhaodi’s fault and harbored a grudge against her.

A person who can’t sleep in the same bed with two kinds of people. She was like this, and her husband was a talkative person too.

When they returned home at night, they gossiped about the comrades who were selected for evaluation. Among the gossip, one of them was, “Do you know Captain Pan’s daughter enlisted in our military district? I saw Zhao smiling at her like a flower today.”

This was just a small part of his gossipy chatter. Besides Zhao, he also spread rumors about others.

However, Xia Hehua had old grievances with Sister Yang and knew that the evaluation spots were limited. Since Captain Zhao and her husband were competing, she simply replaced “Captain Pan’s daughter” with “the newly arrived female soldier” and took it to the public toilet to gossip with others.

After a few people heard her, Sister Yang heard about it at the market.

When they heard what she said, they exchanged glances.

Actually, if only Sister Yang had come today, they would have thought that the matter would end with a quarrel between the two women. But Captain Yan’s wife spoke with such authority that they had a bad feeling.

They didn’t want to get involved in this matter and silently signaled each other. No one responded to Xia Hehua’s words, and they scattered.

Furious, Xia Hehua stood at her door and spat several times.

But when her husband came home in the evening, she didn’t tell him about it.

She was used to quarreling in the village and didn’t take this matter seriously. If she mentioned it, she would only invite more scolding. What was the point? She wasn’t stupid.

She didn’t mention it at all.

Captain Pan was completely unaware.

But some other cadre’s wives had already heard about this from their own wives. The smarter ones said, “Don’t get involved.”

A woman asked, “But what if it gets to Captain Pan, and we’re asked about it?”

The man said, “What? You want to lie to Captain Pan for that trash from the Fan family?”

“But we can’t.” The woman said, “She once twisted our child’s arm.”

In another part of the old family area, after dinner, Captain Zhao and his wife, along with Yan Lei and Qiao Wei, discussed this matter.

“She said that in those exact words,” Qiao Wei said. “I think you can directly relay this to Captain Pan.”

Before, she was purely approaching this matter from a standpoint of self-interest.

Captain Zhao had a good relationship with Yan Lei, and Sister Yang was really a good person, while the other party was unknown. So, of course, Qiao Wei had to stand with the people she was close to.

But Xia Hehua had crossed a line by spreading malicious rumors about someone’s sister at Captain Pan’s house, which directly crossed Qiao Wei’s bottom line.

Qiao Wei was now emotionally invested in the matter.

“She really said that?” Yan Lei asked.

Sister Yang quickly responded, “Many people heard it.”

Qiao Wei added, “And I made my sister-in-law note down who was present. Isn’t that right, sister-in-law?”

Sister Yang counted on her fingers, “The Lin Family, the Li Family, the Sun Family, and another Sun Family…”

Captain Zhao and Yan Lei exchanged a glance.

“In that case, I…” he began.

Yan Lei stood up and said, “I’ll come with you.”

Both men stood up.

Qiao Wei was slightly surprised, “Are we going now?”

Yan Lei said, “Since it involves someone’s daughter, it’s better not to discuss it in the office. Let’s talk privately.”

Sister Yang asked, “Are we going to Captain Pan’s house?”

Captain Pan held such a high position, and Sister Yang was a bit nervous.

“Yes,” Yan Lei said. “You’re coming with us.”

Sister Yang said, “Huh?”

Qiao Wei stood up and said, “Let’s go, sister-in-law. Xia Hehua spread rumors about someone’s daughter, and these two big men find it hard to speak up. We have to do it.”

Sister Yang could argue with Xia Hehua for hours, but when asked to face a leader, she became nervous.

“Sister-in-law, you need to speak up,” Captain Zhao said. “We’ll rely on you later.”

Sister Yang hurriedly agreed, “Yes, yes, you can rely on me.”

Qiao Wei promised, “Okay.”

Captain Pan lived in the new district’s compound, in a more inner location.

The rank of a captain meant a two-story building. Although the appearance of this building seemed very rustic to Qiao Wei, it was still a two-story building, which was quite prestigious in this era.

And there were guards.

Captain Pan was a bit surprised to see Yan Lei and Captain Zhao coming together, along with their families. But he knew that his subordinates wouldn’t randomly visit without reason.

There must be something important.

He instructed the guard to bring some tea.

Qiao Wei was disappointed when she saw Captain Pan’s house.

She had hoped to see a sofa, but instead, there were common Chinese-style benches, which were typical in rural areas. In the future, such Chinese-style sofas would be adorned with luxurious cushions, but in Captain Pan’s house, there were only three thin square cushions on the wooden bench, making it quite uncomfortable.

It was indeed a time of hardship.

Captain Pan kindly asked them, “What’s the matter?”

Yan Lei said, “Let my wife tell you.”

Captain Pan glanced at her. He had seen this girl when Yan Lei got married. She was quiet and reserved. He hadn’t seen much of her since then. After the new compound was built, they all moved here. Some of the more enlightened ones, like Yan Lei, stayed in the old family area and were rarely seen.

But Captain Pan had always known that Yan Lei’s wife had a bad reputation.

Men also gossip when they gather together, especially Yan Lei, who was married and ate at the canteen every day. There were always people talking behind his back.

But today, Captain Pan felt that Yan Lei’s wife was different from what he had heard.

This comrade had very bright eyes, and she didn’t seem flustered in front of him at all, unlike Xiao Zhao’s wife, who was so nervous she didn’t know where to put her hands.

When Yan Lei asked her to speak, she leaned forward slightly and said, “Captain, it’s like this…” and then explained the whole process clearly.

Captain Pan was well aware of the quality of the family members. But this time, it involved his daughter.

Fortunately, his daughter lived in the barracks; otherwise, she would have been furious if she had heard it.

After Qiao Wei finished speaking, she noticed that Captain Pan’s expression hadn’t changed at all. He was a leader who was very good at controlling his emotions.

Of course, being good at controlling emotions didn’t mean he didn’t have any. As a father, how could he not be angry when someone spoke ill of his daughter? She could still sense his suppressed anger beneath his calm exterior.

“We originally came to clear Captain Zhao’s name,” she said. “But I didn’t expect her to say such things in public. It’s too harsh.”

“I told Sister-in-Law Zhao on the spot to remember who was present. Everyone is sensible; Xia Hehua is just someone who can’t keep her mouth shut, but everyone won’t spread rumors.”

“But it still affected your daughter, so I came to report to you.”

It was best for a woman to bring up this matter.

If Captain Zhao himself spoke, although he was on the right side, it might give people the impression that he cared too much or was a tattletale.

Coming from a woman could weaken this impression and strengthen the fact that he was the victim.

“You did well,” Captain Pan said. “Who was present?”

Everyone looked at Sister Yang. Sister Yang had stumbled all the way there, but she had managed to remember everything.

Captain Pan nodded, “This kind of atmosphere is very bad. Cadres must control their family members well, otherwise it will give the public a negative impression of the troops.”

Yan Lei and Captain Zhao both nodded, “Yes.”

Captain Pan praised the two of them, “You both did well.”

He smiled kindly at the family members, “Comrade Xiao Qiao, Comrade Yang are also very good, with the spirit and demeanor that military dependents should have. Keep it up and set a good example for everyone.”

Qiao Wei smiled, “Thank you, we will.”

Sister Yang followed suit, “Definitely, definitely.”

Captain Pan escorted them to the door and then returned to sit on the hard wooden sofa.

The tea had cooled, so the guard added hot water for him.

Captain Pan blew on the steam, “Yan Lei’s wife is not bad.”

The guard smiled, “I think so too. Why do people always say she’s bad? Isn’t she doing well?”

“Perhaps it’s because the tree attracts the wind and invites jealousy,” Captain Pan shook his head and took a sip of tea.

“Is Xiao Yan applying for a job for her?”

“Yes.”

“You keep an eye on it. If there are any good positions available, prioritize her.”

“Understood.”

Captain Pan took another sip of tea and raised his eyes, a storm brewing within them.

His precious daughter had been slandered right under his nose. What father wouldn’t be angry?

“Go and fetch Fan Shigui for me.”