Chapter 15 Big News from Shangjiaqiao Brigade

Ming Leyao’s acquaintance with Cui Ying kept Pang Jianyuan awake all night—not for any other reason, but mainly because he worried that the young girl might be deceived. Although he trusted that the police wouldn’t do anything dishonest, he still couldn’t help but feel uneasy. So, right after leaving the broadcasting station, he came straight to Ming Leyao’s home.

“Uncle, you’re here.”
Ming Leyao wasn’t surprised by his visit.

“Leyao, uncle… uncle… uncle won’t lie to you. That police officer you mentioned…”
Knowing he would definitely ask, Ming Leyao told him the excuse she had prepared the night before.

“Uncle, when I was in high school, I had a teacher who studied traditional Chinese medicine. He saw I had a talent for it and taught me for three years. You know the current situation, and I didn’t want to cause trouble for him, so I never mentioned it. Yesterday afternoon, that police officer suddenly fell ill. I was raised under the Red Flag and educated for so many years—I couldn’t just stand by and watch him die in front of me, so I helped him. At the time, I only gave my name, not my address. I didn’t expect such a coincidence…”

“Oh? That’s actually a good thing. Learning a skill will benefit your future. Besides, your family background is from poor farmers; you can just say you’re self-taught.”
Pang Jianyuan genuinely felt happy that Ming Leyao had such a skill.

“Uncle, because of the custody money issue, people are already watching me. If this gets out, I’m afraid my life won’t be peaceful. Let’s wait a while before saying anything.”

“Your concern is valid. Let’s leave it be for now. We’ll deal with it later.”

After getting this answer, Pang Jianyuan didn’t stay long. Leaving Ming Leyao’s home, he thought it over, then abruptly changed direction and went straight to Fu Wencheng’s house.

Next to Fu Wencheng’s house, a small shed was being built and was almost finished. Using the excuse of an inspection, Pang Jianyuan looked around, then, while no one was paying attention, slipped into a nearby small, shabby room.

“Captain?”
“Wencheng, how’s your recovery going recently?”
“Hmm, pretty good.”
“What about the Fu family…”
“Do whatever needs to be done. From now on, they don’t need to be given light work.”

Pang Jianyuan breathed a sigh of relief. Because of Fu Wencheng, he had been trying hard to arrange light work for the Fu family, so they could earn work credits without others noticing. Now that Fu had spoken, he could finally sleep easier.

After the captain left, Ming Leyao began making medicine to clear blood stasis in her space, as well as some emergency pills, which were convenient to carry.

After a busy night, at breakfast, Ming Leyao took a vacuum-packed bag of braised meat from her space, sliced it, and put it into her dog’s bowl.

The dog’s eyes immediately widened at the smell and it dashed to its bowl. Because it didn’t slow down in time, it knocked over the bowl.

The dog whimpered pitifully.

“You’re so clumsy.” Ming Leyao laughed as she set the bowl upright. Luckily the meat didn’t spill; otherwise, the dog would have ended up eating dirt.

The dog happily took a bite of the meat, chewed quickly, and swallowed. It was so delicious that it squinted its eyes in bliss and made soft whining sounds.

Ming Leyao found this quite amazing.
Was the dog some kind of spirit? Had spending time in the space made it understand human nature? She was very curious but didn’t feel the urge to probe.

After all, it was her dog—whether dumb, silly, or understanding, obedient or not, she treated it like family.

For the next two days, Ming Leyao was busy preparing for the new school. She also went to East Village and ordered many desks and chairs. Earlier, the county school had sent over some sets of books. Ming Leyao hand-copied everything she could and for those she couldn’t, the children would have to share and swap.

Once all school preparations were done, a shocking piece of news rocked the entire production team.

Fu Wencheng’s leg injury had healed, and he had passed the military assessment to return to the army.

Everyone in Shangjia Bridge production team knew that initially the doctors had declared Fu’s leg permanently untreatable, and that he would be bedridden for life. Though they didn’t understand why, since his leg hadn’t been amputated or visibly damaged, the doctor’s words were the final say. Plus, Fu really had been bedridden for months, never coming out.

People who had once competed to introduce their daughters to him all backed off, no longer saying a word. Even Fu’s parents had driven him into this dilapidated little room to fend for himself.

Now… he was well again??
How could anyone not be shocked?

“Congratulations.” Ming Leyao heard the news and came over with twenty eggs to congratulate him.

“Thanks to you.”
“You provide the money, I provide the effort. Makes sense.”

Fu Wencheng pursed his lips tightly, not replying.
What seemed reasonable to her was deeply important to him.

The darkness, despair, and pain had poisoned his life like a toxin; at one point, he had even wanted to end his own suffering.

She had given him new life and a new purpose.
This was not something that could be dismissed as “reasonable.”

“I’ll be returning to the army in a few days for about three months of closed training. Once training is over, I’ll contact you immediately.”

“Okay…” Though she didn’t understand what he meant, it was a minor matter, so Ming Leyao didn’t think much of it.

“If anything happens in the production team, you can tell me. I will definitely help you.”

“Okay…”

“If I…”
Fu Wencheng paused. Ming Leyao looked up curiously at his shadowed face.

“Hm?”
“Never mind, it’s nothing.”
“Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now.”

“I’ll see you out.”

Fu Wencheng escorted her to the door, standing there watching her walk away, feeling a bitter sadness.

“Hey, Fu Wencheng, you’re really being kind.”
Hearing the voice of someone arriving, Fu Wencheng knew without turning who it was.

“Fu Wenli, if you can’t speak properly, then shut your mouth.”
“Heh, you jinx, I’m your big brother, how dare you talk to me like that?”
“Big brother? I remember I was kicked out of the Fu family. Fu Cangzhuo and Sun Mingzhi clearly said I’m no longer part of the family. How… how have you already forgotten in so little time? Or is it that now you see my injury healed, you regret the decision you made?”