Chapter 7: Comrade Lu Zhoushan Sacrificed Himself for the Safety of Others

After speaking, Zhao Minghua went back to her room.

Wang Shufen was so angry she was stomping around the house. What kind of people were these? Not a single one was willing to wash the dishes. Well, she wouldn’t wash them either.

In the end, Gu Qiangwei couldn’t stand it anymore and ended up washing them herself.

But Gu Qiangwei didn’t care about their petty squabbles. After leaving the house, she went to the place where she had agreed to meet Su Qingshuang.

She met Su Qingshuang successfully.

The two of them started discussing business matters.

“I told you before that I want to start a clothing business,” Su Qingshuang said as she invited Gu Qiangwei to sit. “It’s because my mom used to be in business, so I have some resources and contacts in this field. That’s why I want to go into this line of work too.”

“I also went to college, and my major was fashion design, so I can be the designer.”

“I want to find someone to work with, someone good-looking, to try on the clothes and help with visual appeal.”

“To put it bluntly, I want someone to start a business with me, someone who can model and do a bit of everything—it’s going to be tough.”

“The reason I invited you is because you really are good-looking, and you’re slim, so clothes should look great on you.”

“You’d be my model, and I’d design clothes tailored just for you. If the effect is good, we’ll move into mass production.”

Su Qingshuang continued explaining her vision, and Gu Qiangwei nodded in agreement.

They had cooperated this way in her previous life too. Back then, Gu Qiangwei didn’t want to take advantage, so she started out just working for Su Qingshuang.

Only after she had some money did she buy in as a partner.

At the time, Su Qingshuang even offered to lend her money to invest, but she felt it wasn’t right.

So she started by working for her.

From that point on, Su Qingshuang had a very favorable impression of her, and the two of them became close friends.

In this life, Gu Qiangwei had gotten quite a bit of money from the old couple. Since the startup costs were low, she could share the burden with Su Qingshuang from the beginning.

She was determined to invest from the start.

“I understand your idea. Since the initial investment isn’t much, why don’t we go fifty-fifty—split the shares evenly?”

Gu Qiangwei spoke up. After listening, Su Qingshuang nodded. “No problem! That’s what I was thinking too.”

“But…” Gu Qiangwei hesitated for a moment. “If anyone asks later, just say I’m working for you. I can’t let my in-laws know about this for now.”

“I just got married, and my in-laws are keeping a close eye on my money. If they find out I invested with you, they might get other ideas.”

After she explained the situation, Su Qingshuang nodded. “I understand.”

“My mom always tells me, a woman must have her own career—only then will she have the courage to fight fate, no matter what happens.”

“I think your idea is great. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I’ll just say you’re working for me.”

After the two finished their discussion, Gu Qiangwei let out a sigh of relief.

“Next, we need to plan a bit more. I still need to find a suitable shop location.” The two began discussing the details.

Once they were mostly finished, Su Qingshuang said she would contact Gu Qiangwei once she found a good location.

“Actually, I think Longting Street is pretty good!”

Gu Qiangwei offered a suggestion. Longting Street was indeed good—because that’s where their shop had been located in her past life.

“There’s decent foot traffic there, and lots of new shops opening. Plus, aren’t they building houses in that area? It might be a good place for future development.”

“You might want to consider it.”

Hearing that, Su Qingshuang thought it made sense. “I’ll go check it out. Once I find a good shop location, I’ll let you know.”

“Alright.”

After they finished talking, Gu Qiangwei left.

Back at home…

Wang Shufen still didn’t want to wash dishes. But the house was a mess, and with summer heat, there was a sour stench indoors that she couldn’t stand.

Left with no choice, she washed the dishes herself—grumbling all the while about how Gu Qiangwei wasn’t a good wife. Her son was off on a mission, and Gu Qiangwei wasn’t lifting a finger at home.

How could someone bring a woman like this into the family?

She complained all afternoon, and in the evening, Gu Qiangwei returned.

As soon as she opened the door, Wang Shufen started nagging again, “You didn’t wash the dishes yesterday, and not this morning either. The house reeked all day!”

Hearing this, Gu Qiangwei raised her eyebrows. She had done it on purpose—Wang Shufen would always end up washing them anyway.

Still, she put on an act. “I was just too tired yesterday, and I had to make breakfast this morning, then go out job hunting. I really don’t have that much time!”

“If you guys don’t want to look for work, then at least do some housework. I can’t be the only one working myself to death, right?”

“How about this, Mom and Dad—why don’t you both go job hunting too? That way, I won’t be so tired, and I can help out more at home.”

As soon as she said that, Wang Shufen shook her head.

She wanted to argue more, but Gu Qiangwei didn’t even bother responding and went straight into her room.

Wang Shufen was speechless.

She stared at Gu Qiangwei’s back with growing resentment.

Before the wedding, Gu Qiangwei had seemed polite and helpful around the house. But now, it looked like it had all been an act.

She really wasn’t a good wife!

It hadn’t even been that long since the wedding, and now that her son was away on a mission, her true colors were showing.

Truly infuriating!

She had no idea when her son would return. But once he did, she’d make sure to tell him all about the kind of woman he had married!

Gu Qiangwei didn’t want to deal with them. Over the next few days, she went out every day, and each night claimed she couldn’t find work.

Wang Shufen and Zhao Minghua were getting more anxious by the day. They were surviving on scraps, drinking thin porridge every day.

Their stomachs growled constantly.

Most of the time when Gu Qiangwei went out, she was actually surveying the market so she could share useful info with Su Qingshuang.

Occasionally, she’d meet up with her too.

Whenever they met, they’d briefly discuss business plans, then eat together and chat.

Gu Qiangwei always ate her fill outside, and when she returned home, pretended she wasn’t hungry.

Zhao Minghua finally had enough.

After just one week, one morning, Gu Qiangwei made some porridge and pickles to eat.

Suddenly, Zhao Minghua slammed the table. “No, we can’t keep living like this! What’s going on with the Public Security Bureau? They haven’t even given us an explanation!”

“Aren’t they supposed to serve the people? I’m going to go ask them if they can find the thief for us!”

“If they can’t find the thief, they should at least help us! If things keep going like this, our whole family’s going to starve!”

Seeing Zhao Minghua’s furious expression, Gu Qiangwei arched an eyebrow.

“It’s true, you should go ask the Public Security Bureau for an answer.”

She fanned the flames casually. After all, everything was hidden in her space. With no broken doors or windows, and no witnesses to the so-called theft, how could the police possibly find anything?

Let Zhao Minghua go. At least it gave him something to do. Otherwise, he was just a freeloading leech at home.

Still… it had already been a week. Based on her past life, the news of her husband’s death should have arrived by now.

Why hadn’t he died yet?

She was just waiting for him to die so she could leave without guilt.

Gu Qiangwei grew more anxious. The sooner the news arrived, the sooner she could leave.

What was going on with Lu Zhoushan?

Why was the news taking so long?

Just as she was thinking that, Zhao Minghua and Wang Shufen were talking when a knock came at the door.

Gu Qiangwei’s eyes lit up immediately.

They’re here!

She was a little excited but quickly suppressed it. Pretending nothing was wrong, she got up and opened the door.

Wang Shufen and Zhao Minghua were puzzled too.

Since their house had been completely robbed, no one had visited them. Even the neighbors had stopped talking to them—afraid they’d be targeted by thieves too.

Wang Shufen hadn’t had much luck borrowing anything either.

Fortunately, they had two sons in the military, or the neighbors wouldn’t have lent them even a cooking pot.

So who was it?

Wang Shufen felt nervous.

She had told people she’d return what she borrowed once her sons came back.

But there was no one home now with money to repay anyone.

Were debt collectors already showing up?

Gu Qiangwei opened the door. Standing outside were two soldiers in uniform, holding a box.

Seeing the box wrapped in a red flag, Gu Qiangwei already guessed what this was about. Still, she asked politely, “May I ask who you are?”

“Hello, comrade. We are Lu Zhoushan’s fellow soldiers.”

“We’ve come today with some news,” one of them said with a heavy expression. At the noise, Wang Shufen and Zhao Minghua came up behind Gu Qiangwei.

They had no idea what the box was for and were full of questions.

It was wrapped in a red flag—it looked strange.

“Please speak,” Gu Qiangwei said.

The two soldiers exchanged glances. One of them lowered his head and said:

“This latest mission was extremely dangerous. Comrade Lu Zhoushan… sacrificed himself to protect his fellow soldiers.”