Chapter 13: Exposing his true colors and getting him expelled from the army

“Mom, don’t get too excited, let’s go inside and talk.” After saying that, Tang Wanning looked at Tang Huaixu. “Xiao Xu, go lock the front door.”

In the main hall, looking at the three people staring straight at her, Tang Wanning nervously swallowed. If anyone didn’t know better, they might think the whole family was holding a tribunal. She gathered her thoughts before speaking.

“Dad, Mom, little brother, whatever I say next, you must not shout. This matter has to stay secret for now.”

Hearing their daughter (or sister), the three exchanged glances and then solemnly nodded.

“Just now, I went to the brigade office restroom and suddenly heard Grandma’s exclamation. I thought something had happened to her, so I hurried over. Just as I reached the doorway, I heard her say, ‘Zhenhua, you’re not dead?’”

Hearing this, Su Meijuan sprang to her feet. “Wanning, what did you say?”

Tang Dehou and Tang Huaixu were also stunned by the news, but before they could react, they heard Su Meijuan’s exclamation. Before she could even say the name “Xu Zhenhua,” Tang Dehou quickly covered her mouth, and Tang Huaixu pressed his mother back into her chair.

After this series of actions, Su Meijuan remembered her daughter’s earlier warning and instantly calmed down. After signaling her husband to let go, Su Meijuan stayed silent. She knew the matter wasn’t over; otherwise, Wanning wouldn’t have reacted this way upon hearing that Zhenhua was still alive.

Seeing her mother calm down, Tang Wanning continued, “I couldn’t hear the voice on the phone, but I picked up quite a bit from Grandma’s words. Xu Zhenhua isn’t dead. The woman he’s about to marry is pregnant, and the wedding will take place in three or four days. By the way, on the phone, Xu Zhenhua repeatedly told Grandma not to tell anyone besides Grandpa that he’s still alive.”

Tang Dehou’s face turned dark as ink. Su Meijuan gritted her teeth in anger. “That bastard! How could he do this to you? How dare he!”

As she cursed, tears welled up in her eyes. “My poor Wanning, why is your life so hard? How did you end up with such a cursed man?”

Seeing her mother’s sorrow, Tang Wanning hurriedly comforted her. “Mom, don’t cry. I’m fine. It’s better I found out early that he’s this kind of person, so I won’t waste any more time on him. Don’t worry—since he dared treat me like this, I won’t let him off easy. He will pay for what he’s done.”

Tang Huaixu’s veins bulged on his forehead, his voice cold as ice. “Sister, how do you plan to make this scumbag pay?”

Tang Wanning thought for a moment, then slowly said, “I plan to do this… and then that…”

Su Meijuan decisively said, “Fine, let’s do it this way. I’ll go with you!”

Tang Huaixu agreed immediately. “I’ll go too.”

Tang Dehou didn’t speak but looked at his daughter with hopeful eyes, clearly wanting to support her.

Seeing this, Tang Wanning felt a pang of emotion. It felt so good to have family backing her. Her voice choked as she said, “Mom, it’s fine with just the two of us. Dad and little brother, you two stay at home.”

Seeing her daughter take only her, Su Meijuan felt like she had been injected with adrenaline. “Yes! Lao Tang, Xiao Xu, you two stay home and watch the house. Mom and daughter will handle this. The military is all about rules. It’s easier for us women to deal with it. If they don’t play fair, I’ll make a scene—I won’t let them lay a hand on a woman!”

“Mom, it takes at least five to six hours by train from the county to the military district. With so many people on the train, how can Dad and I feel safe?” Tang Dehou agreed with his son.

But Tang Huaixu suddenly added, “Why don’t I go with you? I can protect you on the way.”

Tang Dehou thought: …this brat, I really misjudged you, even over your own dad.

“No.” Su Meijuan exuded authority. “With me around, I’ll see who dares touch my daughter!”

Tang Huaixu tried to argue, but Su Meijuan made a final decision. “Fine, that’s settled. I’ll go make lunch first. Xiao Xu, after lunch, go to the county and buy two train tickets for tomorrow to the military district.”

Although Su Meijuan had never been there, she was concerned because her son-in-law was stationed there. She knew the train from the county to the military district runs twice a day, so as long as tickets aren’t bought the same day, they should get tickets for the next day.

Tang Wanning stood up. “Mom, I’ll help you.”

“No need, go back to your room and rest. Your dad is here,” Su Meijuan patted her daughter’s hand. “If you’re bored, you can pack some clothes or something.”

“All right.”

Back in her room, Tang Wanning packed a few clothes. She remembered that in her previous life, the Xu couple took the train the next morning. They had planned to leave this afternoon, but there wasn’t enough time.

Also, since they would be gone for several days, she had to arrange things at home before leaving. That way, she could go out without worrying. She also feared that Xu family items might mysteriously disappear overnight. Even if no one at home noticed, who knew if she, sleeping alone in the Xu house, might be harmed?

Although the possibility was low, Tang Wanning didn’t want to take any chances. Besides, since she wouldn’t be staying at the Xu house that night, any missing items couldn’t be blamed on her. Furthermore, tomorrow was the day the Xu couple would leave. Even if there was a theft at home, the missing son and grandson would matter more to them than any items.

After the family had lunch, Tang Huaixu was sent by Su Meijuan to buy train tickets. Tang Wanning had nothing to do, so she wanted to go into the mountains to earn points.

But before she even left the front door, her mother stopped her.

“Wanning, we still have lots of wild vegetables at home. Why do you want to go into the mountains again?”

Seeing her mother’s worried expression, Tang Wanning smiled helplessly. “Mom, you don’t think I’m going up there to end my life, right? Don’t worry, it’s just a damn man. He’s not worth me dying over. If he were really dead, I’d gladly mourn him for a lifetime. But he’s not dead, and he deceived me. Now I just want to expose his true nature in front of his superiors and comrades, so he can be expelled from the military. That’s the only way to relieve my anger.”