Chapter 28: The Punishment

In the political commissar’s office, Gu Shiqing had already explained the entire situation to Political Commissar Xu and made his stance clear: “Political Commissar, my wife was slandered without cause. I request that you deal with this matter strictly. It wasn’t easy for my wife to come and accompany me in the army. If this issue makes her upset enough to return to Hu City, I wouldn’t even have the face to keep her here.”

Political Commissar Xu, being a competent commissar, was clearly a shrewd man.

He could easily tell that Gu Shiqing had made that statement deliberately. He had previously spoken to Gu Shiqing about this exact matter, urging him to bring Lin Banxia to live with him as part of the military family.

The organization placed great importance on the family lives of soldiers. For someone like Gu Shiqing, who was already married but had no children, the organization hoped he would bring his wife to join him. It was also a way to take responsibility for the wellbeing of the soldier.

After all, being separated for long periods often led to problems in a relationship.

But this kid—he was now using this matter to “threaten” him.

Even so, Political Commissar Xu didn’t get angry. He used to think that Gu Shiqing hadn’t brought his wife over because the young couple had marital issues.

But now, based on Gu Shiqing’s actions, what issues could there possibly be? If anything, they seemed way too close.

Political Commissar Xu turned and criticized Yu Juan: “You’re a military dependent, and Comrade Lin is also a military dependent. Your husbands are out there defending the country. As military dependents on the home front, you should support each other, be united, and care for one another. How could you do something like spreading rumors about a fellow comrade? Since this is your first offense, I’ll treat it as a lesson for you. As a warning, you must first apologize in person to Battalion Commander Gu’s wife, and then write an 800-character reflection to examine your behavior…”

Just then, an orderly knocked and walked in, addressing Political Commissar Xu: “Report, Commissar. Master Li from the military dependents’ dining hall says he has something to report to you.”

Today really was lively—this matter wasn’t even resolved yet, and now someone else had shown up.

Political Commissar Xu sighed inwardly. Seeing that there were too many people in the office, he simply stepped out himself to find out what the issue was.

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Meanwhile, when Lin Banxia heard that Master Li from the military dependents’ dining hall had come to find Political Commissar Xu, she knew in her heart—this matter was in the bag.

Before coming to the commissar’s office, she had specifically asked Hou Xiufen to visit the dining hall and speak with Master Li.

If it had only been a matter of Yu Juan spreading rumors that she didn’t work or couldn’t cook, even with Gu Shiqing demanding strict handling, the punishment for Yu Juan and Zhou Shiyu wouldn’t have been too serious.

Because, although it was slander, it was indeed too trivial.

Just like what Political Commissar Xu had said—an apology in person, plus a written reflection, would have been enough.

But that wasn’t the result she wanted. So she had to make things more complicated!

Hadn’t Yu Juan initially tried to slap her with a charge of “capitalist tendencies”? That kind of accusation was far more serious than saying she couldn’t work or cook!

That was exactly why she had deliberately gone to the dining hall, to make Yu Juan and Zhou Shiyu firmly believe she was planning to host a banquet there.

She wasn’t someone who could be bullied easily. Yu Juan had messed with her, and now she had hit a wall of steel.

Sure enough, when Political Commissar Xu returned after stepping out for a short while, his expression had turned even uglier than before.

Just now, Master Li had informed him that Yu Juan had gone to the dining hall earlier that day and claimed that Gu Shiqing and Lin Banxia were hosting a housewarming banquet there. She had even tried to pin the label of “capitalist behavior” on them.

But in reality, Gu Shiqing and Lin Banxia hadn’t hosted any banquet at the dining hall at all.

Based on Yu Juan’s various actions, this wasn’t some casual misunderstanding as she claimed—it was clearly a premeditated and intentional slander and political framing. Once the accusation of capitalist behavior was thrown out, the consequences were extremely serious!

In this case, a mere apology and a written reflection wouldn’t be enough.

Political Commissar Xu’s face darkened as he addressed Yu Juan sternly: “Just now, Master Li from the dining hall reported to me that before you went to the Gu residence, you had gone to the dining hall and slandered Battalion Commander Gu and his wife by accusing them of capitalist behavior!

This incident has had a seriously negative impact. You will write an 800-character self-reflection and apologize publicly through the broadcast system to Battalion Commander Gu and his wife, Lin Banxia. In addition, after morning drills each day, you will report to the Logistics Department to clean the pigpens for three months!”

Yu Juan’s face went deathly pale. Just as she was about to argue—

Zhou Shiyu was brought in by an orderly.

Yu Juan immediately grabbed Zhou Shiyu and cried out to Political Commissar Xu: “Political Commissar, it was Nurse Zhou who told me that Battalion Commander Gu’s wife didn’t know how to cook! She lied to me! You can’t just punish me and let her off!”

On the way to the office, Zhou Shiyu had already guessed that Yu Juan had failed in her plan and dragged her into it.

Hearing Yu Juan’s words, she instantly knew she had guessed right.

Zhou Shiyu put on a shocked expression, her eyes reddening as she looked at Yu Juan in disbelief. “Sister-in-law Yu, how can you say such a thing? You were the one who insisted on questioning me about Sister-in-law Lin. You even asked whether Battalion Commander Gu and Sister-in-law Lin had marital problems. How would I know any of that?

I simply mentioned that Sister-in-law Lin’s in-laws were kind, and back in Hu City, it was always her in-laws who cooked. When I said she didn’t know how to cook, I meant it kindly, hoping you would help her prepare for the housewarming banquet. I never told you to go around spreading rumors or causing trouble!”

This fool couldn’t even handle a small matter properly, and now she wanted to drag her down too? Dream on!

Yu Juan snapped back: “Yes, you said that—but Lin Banxia clearly knows how to cook, and her food tastes great! If you hadn’t lied to me, how would I have ended up ‘spreading rumors’?”

She still believed that if Zhou Shiyu hadn’t told her those things, none of this would have happened today.

Political Commissar Xu had now fully grasped what had transpired.

He looked sternly at Yu Juan, who was still clinging to her accusations against Zhou Shiyu, and said: “Yu Juan, what Nurse Zhou told you was meant to help Comrade Lin—not to encourage you to spread rumors and cause trouble! Stop making a scene!”

After scolding Yu Juan, he turned to Zhou Shiyu and said: “Nurse Zhou, from now on, don’t go around talking about these kinds of things.

“There are too many people in the Family Courtyard. You never know which casual remark might spark some conflict. Although this incident began with what you said, your intentions were good, so the organization will not hold you accountable.”

Zhou Shiyu nodded, showing an expression of sincere acceptance. “Political Commissar, I understand. I’ll definitely learn from this and won’t make the same mistake again!”

After saying this, she glanced over at Lin Banxia and added: “Banxia, I’m really sorry for causing you trouble. I truly meant well—I never expected things would turn out like this.”

Lin Banxia looked at Zhou Shiyu, who was putting on such an act. Good intentions?

“Well, thank you so much for your ‘good intentions,’ then.” Lin Banxia deliberately emphasized the words “good intentions.”

Political Commissar Xu then turned to Lin Banxia and asked: “Comrade Gu’s wife, do you find this punishment acceptable?”

Lin Banxia was well aware that Zhou Shiyu had told Yu Juan she couldn’t cook precisely to provoke Yu Juan into stirring up trouble.

But this time, Zhou Shiyu had played smart and completely distanced herself from the situation.

Lin Banxia wasn’t satisfied that Zhou Shiyu had escaped without any punishment, but that wasn’t something she could say aloud.

She smiled and said: “Before I came to accompany my husband here, Shiqing told me that Political Commissar Xu is a principled and capable leader. He said if I ever ran into any issues in the army, I could count on the commissar to uphold justice. I didn’t expect to run into something like this so soon after arriving.

“Thank you, Commissar, for standing up for me and Shiqing. If it weren’t for your sharp judgment, who knows how far this matter would’ve escalated.”

Lin Banxia’s words were elegantly spoken. While she didn’t directly express whether she was satisfied with the punishment, every sentence praised Political Commissar Xu.

The key was that her compliments didn’t come across as flattery. They were well-reasoned and composed, neither submissive nor arrogant.

Political Commissar Xu nodded to himself internally—Gu Shiqing’s wife really knew how to talk!

Then he heard Lin Banxia continue: “But this incident has also been a wake-up call for me. Political Commissar, could we perhaps set up a Rumor Report Box in the Family Courtyard? Just like the Chairman said, ‘No investigation, no right to speak.’ In the future, if anyone wants to spread a rumor, they should submit written proof first. If not, they should face the same consequences you imposed today—all rumor-mongers go clean the pigpens!”