Chapter 29: The Rumor Report Box

With the introduction of the “Rumor Report Box.” Zhou Shiyu could no longer resort to using rumors as a means to manipulate others and achieve her goals through indirect confrontation.

“Good! That’s a great suggestion!” Political Commissar Xu immediately nodded in approval.

“We’ll do as you say. I’ll have someone install the ‘Rumor Report Box’ in the Family Courtyard right away.”

Conflicts caused by rumor-mongering had been quite frequent in the Family Courtyard before this. His wife often told him that so-and-so had gotten into a quarrel with someone again today, and someone else had spread gossip about another person the day after.

There had been a mountain of such petty matters.

The key issue was that while these incidents were too small to merit strict disciplinary action, ignoring them altogether was not an option either.

Lin Banxia’s suggestion was simply excellent. By setting up a “Rumor Report Box.” anyone who dared to spread baseless rumors in the future would be subject to severe punishment. That would surely put a stop to all the backbiting and gossiping!

The more Political Commissar Xu thought about it, the more he liked the idea. His gaze toward Lin Banxia was full of admiration.

He turned to Gu Shiqing and said: “Battalion Commander Gu, your wife is really impressive—very capable!”

Across the entire Family Courtyard, there were few military wives who received praise from the political commissar for being capable. Lin Banxia was one of the first!

Had it been someone else, they would probably have acted modest at this point, but Gu Shiqing wore a proud expression, glanced at Lin Banxia, and said without a hint of humility: “Banxia is indeed very capable.”

His words made Political Commissar Xu glance over at him again and notice the admiration and pride in his eyes for his wife.

Having been through much himself, Political Commissar Xu easily understood what that meant.

This kid had clearly been thoroughly tamed by his wife!

Was this really the same Gu Shiqing from before?

It was good that the young couple had such a strong relationship, but as a soldier, one couldn’t lose one’s dignity either.

He made a mental note to talk to Gu Shiqing about this next time.

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After stepping out of the commissar’s office, Gu Shiqing spoke with a tinge of guilt: “Banxia, I’m sorry. It was my mishandling of things that made you go through this so soon after arriving on base.”

The man’s usually stern face was now full of remorse.

But Lin Banxia looked entirely different—her face was radiant with joy like someone who had just received good news.

She chuckled and said: “What’s there to be sorry about? This wasn’t your fault, and didn’t you already make your stance clear?”

What Gu Shiqing had said back then had made all the military wives on site envious.

In this era where male chauvinism was the norm, for him to say those things had already put him ahead of many men.

As she spoke, Lin Banxia lifted her head, raised her hand to pat Gu Shiqing’s shoulder, and mimicked Political Commissar Xu’s tone with a light cough: “Well done. You deserve praise.”

Seeing her like this, Gu Shiqing couldn’t help but burst into laughter, a smile spreading across his face.

As long as she hadn’t become disillusioned with life in the military, that was all that mattered.

“Come to think of it, I should be thanking Yu Juan and Zhou Shiyu.” Lin Banxia said smugly, lifting her chin. “They knew I was new here and went out of their way to give me a chance to make a name for myself. Now that we have this ‘Rumor Report Box,’ let’s see who dares talk behind my back again.”

Trying to go against her? She should take a good look at her own ability first!

Gu Shiqing looked at Lin Banxia’s charmingly smug expression and simply found her adorable.

He recalled how, when the orderly had reported that Master Li from the military family dining hall had something to report to Political Commissar Xu, the commissar had immediately changed his attitude toward Yu Juan and Zhou Shiyu.

He asked: “Banxia, was that thing with Master Li something you arranged in advance?”

Lin Banxia gave him a playful ‘you caught me’ look and nodded. “Of course. Didn’t I tell you yesterday that Sister Hou told me Yu Juan was planning to use our housewarming banquet at the dining hall to accuse us of promoting capitalist extravagance?

I simply turned her own trick against her. I made time to visit the dining hall and asked Master Li about how the meal distribution works there. But Yu Juan jumped to conclusions, thinking I went to plan a banquet there. She tried to use that against us.”

If Yu Juan hadn’t taken the bait, then the blame wouldn’t have landed on her.

But unfortunately for her, she had walked right into it—so she had to suffer the consequences.

“Hmph, she was the one with malicious intent. I just returned the favor using her own methods.”

She never harmed others unless they harmed her first.

But if someone dared to cross her, she would make sure they regretted it.

After speaking, Lin Banxia pouted slightly and shot Gu Shiqing a ‘you scared yet?’ look. “I’m someone who holds grudges. Anyone who messes with me won’t have an easy time of it. You’re no exception.”

But Gu Shiqing wasn’t the least bit afraid.

He gave Lin Banxia a look of admiration. “That trick of luring the enemy into your trap? Well played.”

He felt reassured knowing his wife had ways of protecting herself.

Seeing Yu Juan walking ahead of them, Lin Banxia turned to Gu Shiqing and said: “Wait here for a bit. I want to go say a few words to Yu Juan.”

“You don’t need me to go with you?” Gu Shiqing asked, slightly worried.

Yu Juan had just been disciplined, and if Lin Banxia approached her now, he was afraid she might act out of line.

“No need. I can handle it myself.” Lin Banxia gave him a reassuring look.

If Yu Juan tried anything, she had her own ways of dealing with it. But that wasn’t why she was going over—she wasn’t looking to stir up trouble.

When Yu Juan saw Lin Banxia coming, she was immediately furious, gritting her teeth. “What are you doing here? Haven’t you laughed at me enough already?”

“Laughed? I saw you getting played by Zhou Shiyu, so I came to remind you not to believe everything people say. Don’t end up being used like a knife without even realizing it. The relationship between me and Zhou Shiyu isn’t nearly as good as she makes it seem.”

After saying that, Lin Banxia turned around and walked away, leaving Yu Juan standing there in deep thought.

She wasn’t the only one who knew how to play the game of using others as tools—Lin Banxia could do the same.

Zhou Shiyu had tried to use Yu Juan to spread rumors, but Lin Banxia had flipped that strategy back around.

This time, only Yu Juan received disciplinary action. Yu Juan had already felt the punishment was unfair. Yet Zhou Shiyu had phrased things so cleverly, as if her suggestion had genuinely been to get Yu Juan to help.

But now, Lin Banxia had plainly told Yu Juan that she and Zhou Shiyu were not on good terms.

The rest—Yu Juan would have to figure out for herself.