Chapter 14: Wei Tianxia’s Shamelessness

“Xiao Zhuo, if you have any grievances in your heart, you can tell me. Although I am Wei Tianxia’s leader, I can also be considered his elder. You can also call me Uncle.

Don’t hold any grudges in your heart about Wei Tianxia’s matter. You are still young, and you have a long life ahead of you. You also have Xiaojia who needs you. Life still has to go on.

If you have any difficulties or needs, you can tell me. Don’t be polite, and don’t be afraid of trouble.

I’ll have Xiao Qian take you to pack up Wei Tianxia’s things tomorrow. Today, you should just rest well first.

The pension has already been issued, divided into two parts. One part will be given to you in a lump sum to solve your immediate difficulties, and the other part will be counted as Xiaojia’s child support, given monthly until Xiaojia turns eighteen.

You can sign this now to make it effective and receive it.

See if you have any questions.”

Zhuo Le looked at He Fancheng: “Wei Tianxia is missing.”

He Fancheng was stunned for a moment, thinking it was an inquiry: “Ah, yes, he’s missing. You must think about it. There’s no hurdle in life that you can’t get over.”

Zhuo Le was silent for a moment: “Leader, Wei Tianxia is missing, not confirmed dead. I don’t want the pension.

If it’s convenient, arrange a job for Wei Xiaojia. The rented house has been returned, and the large furniture has been given away. We plan to live here from now on and not go back.”

He Fancheng twitched his ears. He thought that Zhuo Le must be too sad and was talking nonsense.

“That Wei Tianxia’s matter, whether you are willing to accept it or not, is already a foregone conclusion. Reality is cruel, and you still have to face what you have to face.

You don’t have to worry too much about your future life. We won’t ignore you.

We can arrange a job for you, and we can also arrange a school for Xiaojia.”

It was a school, not a job. How old was the child, what job?

Zhuo Le…

Wei Xiaojia was over four years old, and he could indeed go to school.

“Forget about my job, arranging a school is fine, thank you, Leader.

We also have to trouble the leader to help transfer our household registration and food rations.”

He Fancheng said it was no problem. As for the pension, Zhuo Le’s attitude was very firm and she wouldn’t take it no matter what. This was a firm belief that Wei Tianxia was not dead, and she was unwilling to accept the fact that Wei Tianxia was dead. He couldn’t persuade her any further and could only find another opportunity to talk about it.

Zhuo Le and Wei Xiaojia took Mountain King and moved into the temporary guesthouse in the camp.

Without others around, Wei Xiaojia’s puffed-up little belly instantly deflated, and he hugged Zhuo Le with red eyes: “Mommy, I miss Daddy.”

Zhuo Le pursed her lips, hugging Wei Xiaojia and gently patting him. Mountain King snuggled at the feet of the mother and son.

The next day, Qian Qian came to knock on the door with breakfast.

After a night’s sleep, Wei Xiaojia’s mood was much better.

Hearing the knock, he wiggled his little butt and got out of bed to open the door.

“Uncle Qian, my mommy hasn’t gotten up yet.”

Qian Qian looked at the high-hanging sun: “Ah, well, you eat breakfast first, I’ll wait for you outside. When your mommy gets up, come out together, okay?”

“Okay, thank you, Uncle Qian.”

Wei Xiaojia took the things and closed the door.

Qian Qian was silent for a moment, then turned around and went outside to wait.

Wei Xiaojia quietly tidied himself up, ate breakfast, and fed Mountain King.

Seeing Zhuo Le wake up faintly, he ran over quickly, his chubby paws holding Zhuo Le’s face: “Mommy, are you awake?”

Zhuo Le coaxed the little guy to sleep last night and didn’t fall asleep until midnight. Her eyelids were still a little heavy at the moment.

“Hmm, I’m awake, son, get Mommy a towel to wake me up.”

“Okay.” The short legs moved quickly, drawing water, wringing out a towel, and wiping Zhuo Le’s face.

“Mommy, Uncle Qian brought breakfast.”

Zhuo Le opened her eyelids: “Is that so? Then Mommy has to get up quickly.”

Zhuo Le had trouble getting out of bed, rolled around on the bed twice before painfully standing up.

She rinsed her mouth, ate breakfast, changed her clothes, and went out with Wei Xiaojia and Mountain King.

Qian Qian was waiting outside by the stone bench, almost turning into a望夫石.

“Sister-in-law, you’re here.” He hurried to greet them when he saw them.

Zhuo Le looked apologetic: “Sorry, I kept you waiting.”

“It’s nothing, nothing, shall we go now?”

Zhuo Le nodded.

Wei Tianxia’s dormitory was in the collective dormitory building. He was high-ranking, so he lived in a single room.

But the inside was as simple as a mud hut.

A bunk bed, with a quilt issued by the unit on top, a cabinet for storing things, and the cabinet contained clothes issued by the unit, a set of combat uniforms, and a set of regular uniforms.

Then there was an enamel basin with all the paint peeled off, a chipped tea mug in the basin, a bald toothbrush, and a towel that was rotten into strips of cloth.

Apart from that, there wasn’t even a speck of dust.

Zhuo Le…

She looked at Qian Qian blankly. Had this place been looted?

Qian Qian smiled awkwardly: “Wei Battalion was usually very frugal. He used things as long as they could be used, and if they couldn’t be used…” he used other people’s.

Yes, he often used other people’s things, such as soap, shampoo, and toothpaste.

He also conveniently used other people’s towels, lunch boxes, and kettles…

Fortunately, the unit provided three meals a day, otherwise, I really wouldn’t dare to imagine.

Listening to Qian Qian’s unfinished words, Zhuo Le’s hands trembled uncontrollably. She had a bad feeling.

Wei Tianxia, that big guy, didn’t seem like he could grow up by starving.

But he didn’t look like he could afford to support her in this impoverished state.

So…

“How much was Wei Tianxia’s monthly allowance?”

Qian Qian blinked. Could it be that Wei Battalion was hiding private money?

“Uh… all kinds of things added up, it should be one hundred and twenty-three.

Wei Battalion often performed meritorious service, so he had a lot of bonuses.”

Wei Battalion was gone, and Qian Qian thought that it would be better to tell the truth, otherwise, wouldn’t it be a waste if no one knew about Wei Battalion’s hidden private money?

Zhuo Le’s heart skipped a beat. The rule she set for Wei Tianxia was that he would keep half of his monthly allowance and send half home.

Wei Tianxia said that twenty was the most he could spend in a month, and the unit provided food and lodging, so there was no place to spend money. She thought about it and agreed.

So every month, Wei Tianxia sent her one hundred and fifty back, and she assumed that his salary was one hundred and seventy.

As a result, the dog thing didn’t keep a penny and even scraped together one hundred and fifty.

Where did the money outside the allowance come from?

Faced with a room full of poverty and the embarrassment on Qian Qian’s face, she guessed that Wei Tianxia must have done something shameless.

Stealing a dog yesterday and pinching pennies today, Zhuo Le felt suffocated. What about her face?

How many shameless things did Wei Tianxia do behind her back?

“Did Wei Tianxia ever borrow money from you?” Zhuo Le asked guiltily.

Qian Qian was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hand: “No, no, Wei Battalion never borrows money.” He only borrowed things. Wei Tianxia was already famous for borrowing things, and everyone in the entire camp had been borrowed from by him.

Zhuo Le met Qian Qian’s evasive gaze and didn’t dare to ask any further.

Forget it, forget it, ignorance is bliss.

“Son, pack up your dad’s quilt and clothes.”

“Okay.”

Wei Xiaojia worked happily, the little man was very quick, tearing open the bed sheet as a wrapping cloth, throwing two pieces of clothing inside, and packing it together with the thin quilt.

Mountain King went over, and Wei Xiaojia put it on its back, done.

Qian Qian was silent.

“That sister-in-law, it’s almost lunchtime now. Are we going to the cafeteria for lunch, or are you going back to the guesthouse first and I’ll send it over to you?”

Zhuo Le thought for a while: “Let’s go to the cafeteria together, I haven’t seen what the camp’s cafeteria looks like yet.”

“Okay, let’s go, it’s a good time to go now, there aren’t many people.”