Chapter 7 – Lu Jinyuan Goes on a Mission

Ran Jinnian hummed a tune all the way home.

Lu Jinyuan had returned to the military district, so for now, it was just her and her mother-in-law at home.

She would be following Lu Jinyuan to live with the army eventually, but for the time being, she could only stay here.

Her mother-in-law worked every day, so she spent her time at home cleaning, cooking, and keeping things in order—life was plain and simple.

Still, since her parents’ home was so close by, she didn’t feel lonely even after getting married.

A few days later—

The Public Security Bureau posted a notice:

Recently, the Public Security Bureau has arrested five profiteers. These people completely disregard the country and the Party, brazenly challenging the interests of the state. This is a serious economic crime. They will be publicly paraded at the grain station tomorrow at 9 a.m.

The whole town was buzzing about it.

Ran Jinnian didn’t even need to go see the notice at the Public Security Bureau—her ears were practically calloused from hearing about it.

Although she was fairly certain that Song Zihan had been caught, she wouldn’t feel truly at ease until she saw him with her own eyes.

The next day—

Ran Jinnian went to the grain station early.
Profiteering was a major crime these days, and in an era with little to no entertainment, events like this drew huge crowds.

Plenty of people had arrived even earlier than she had.

She found a good spot and waited for over an hour before someone shouted excitedly:
“They’re here! They’re here!”

Her spirit jolted, and she immediately looked up.

Four men appeared, escorted by the public security officers. Around each of their necks hung a large placard with the words “Profiteer” in bold characters, along with their names.

Their faces were full of fear, unease, and dread.

The instant Ran Jinnian spotted Song Zihan, her mind went blank for a moment—stunned for a few seconds.

Then—

Her heartbeat suddenly sped up, her blood boiled, and the suffocating resentment she’d been carrying evaporated in an instant.

The grudges between her and Song Zihan from her previous life seemed to dissolve into nothing at that moment.

The grain station was packed tight with people. The four men were shoved roughly onto the platform, their heads bowed low.

Some people even picked up rotten vegetable leaves and stones to throw at them.

“These profiteers are the parasites of socialism, the enemies of the people’s interests, the fellow travelers of the bourgeoisie!”

“Down with them!”

The crowd shouted loudly in unison.

Ran Jinnian felt no sympathy for the other three—they were all snakes and rats from the same nest, and they even had blood on their hands.

But since she had no evidence, this was the only way to deal with them.

Standing on the high platform, Song Zihan looked down at the riled-up crowd. Some of those faces had once bought things from him at low prices.

He never expected that they would turn on him so quickly.

He tried to speak in his own defense, but his voice was swallowed by the noise.

Ran Jinnian, having seen him with her own eyes, knew that even if he avoided the death penalty, labor reform was unavoidable.

She no longer felt like watching, so she turned to leave.

Song Zihan’s gaze swept over the crowd and suddenly landed on her.

He shouted her name excitedly.

But Ran Jinnian strode forward under the sunlight, not hearing him—or perhaps simply refusing to. Even if she had heard, she wouldn’t have looked back.

Southern Military District

As soon as Lu Jinyuan returned, two of his friends came to greet him.

Song Mingyi and Lin Beixiao each handed him a red envelope.
“We were both away on missions during your wedding. These have been ready for you for a while.”

“Thanks.” Lu Jinyuan put them away—he’d give them to his wife when she came.

Song Mingyi grinned and hooked an arm around his neck.
“You just went ahead and got married—what’s going to happen to our bachelor’s club now?”

Lu Jinyuan gave him a cool look, and Song Mingyi awkwardly withdrew his arm, though his mouth still ran off:
“So your little childhood sweetheart is really that amazing, huh? Enough to keep you hung up on her all this time?”

“You didn’t brush your teeth today?” Lu Jinyuan’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Your mouth stinks.”

Song Mingyi: “…”

“Why provoke him? You know he’s protective,” Lin Beixiao chuckled.

“When his childhood sweetheart comes to live with the army, I want to see just how beautiful she is—beautiful enough to make him ignore all the army’s beauties.”

Song Mingyi snorted.

“Captain Lu,” a duty soldier ran over, “Political Commissar Yan wants you in his office immediately.”

Lu Jinyuan headed there at once.

Inside—

A middle-aged man sat in the chair, and behind him stood a young woman in a red plaid dress.

Her hair was in two neat braids, her almond-shaped eyes glistened with water, her figure was slender as a willow branch, and her face pure and delicate.

She was Yan Qingxue, the political commissar’s daughter, star performer of the cultural troupe, and recognized beauty of the military district.

At the moment, she was massaging her father’s back.
“Dad, just let me go along, please.”

“Nonsense. This mission is too dangerous—it’s not a game,” Political Commissar Yan scolded, though his tone wasn’t harsh.

“Commissar, Captain Lu is here,” came a voice from outside.

Hearing that Lu Jinyuan had arrived, Yan Qingxue’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Send him in,” Commissar Yan said, waving his daughter aside.

The moment Lu Jinyuan stepped in, Yan Qingxue’s gaze fixed on him with open infatuation.

He didn’t seem to notice. Saluting the commissar, he said, “Commissar.”

“Jinyuan, you’re back,” Yan Qingxue greeted warmly, moving closer.

Lu Jinyuan took a step back to widen the distance. “Commissar, what are your orders?”

“You’ve come back just in time—there’s a mission that needs your support.” The commissar handed him a file.

As soon as Lu Jinyuan heard the word mission, he opened the file. His expression grew more serious with each page.
“Commissar, how long will this mission take?”

“It’s a tough one. At the shortest, half a year; at the longest, a full year.” The commissar folded his hands together.

Lu Jinyuan hadn’t expected to be sent out again so soon.

Thinking of his fiancée waiting for him, he hesitated.
“Commissar, I just got married. My wife is still at home waiting for me to bring her here.”

Hearing this, Yan Qingxue’s bright expression dimmed.

The commissar’s face hardened.
“Lu Jinyuan, in times of national crisis, which is more important—family or country?”

Lu Jinyuan straightened his back and raised his hand.
“I will not fail the country’s trust.”

“This mission is dangerous. Be extra careful,” the commissar warned, though he knew Lu Jinyuan’s capabilities.

“Yes, sir.”

“When the mission is done, bring your wife straight to the military district. I’ll waive the usual application process for you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lu Jinyuan gave a wry smile inwardly—he’d be gone for half a year or more.

Would his wife resent him for it?

“All right, register and set out.” The commissar waved him off.

“Yes, sir.”

Yan Qingxue pouted. “Dad, if you won’t let me go, fine—but then don’t let Jinyuan go either.”

“Nonsense,” the commissar tapped the desk, though his voice held no real anger. “You’re spoiled rotten.”

Seeing she couldn’t sway her father, Yan Qingxue hurried out to chase after Lu Jinyuan.

But he was already gone.

After registering, Lu Jinyuan wrote a note to Lin Beixiao:
“I’m heading out on a mission right away. Send a telegram to my home for me.”

Lin Beixiao nodded. “Got it. Take care of yourself.”

Sometimes missions came so suddenly that they had to ask comrades to send telegrams home in their place.

Lu Jinyuan took a deep breath.

He had to finish the mission as quickly as possible, shorten the separation, and bring his wife to the military district.