Chapter 32.3

The two Qin brothers, Qin Jianming and his sibling, along with Liu Sangunzi, had been locked up for a full day and night.

People are strange—when they’re free, they don’t want to leave the house despite the cold, but once they’re confined, they long for the outside world, wanting to step out and touch the snow, to feel the freezing coldness of the snow that could numb a person.

Curled up by the fire, Liu Sangunzi looked enviously out the window.

It was already dark, and nothing could be seen, but he just wanted to look, hoping that by looking more, it would feel like he was still free.

Qin Jianming and his brother, however, had no such leisure. Their faces were grim, and especially the pain from the cane strikes on their backs made it impossible for them to sit or lie down comfortably.

“Brother, are we going to prison?” Qin Jianming had been scared for two days straight. No matter how you looked at it, he was only fourteen years old. A fourteen-year-old boy would naturally be terrified by the thought of the consequences of stealing. He had heard that prison was a terrifying place.

Although Qin Jianming spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, the young workers’ station was so empty that not only did Qin Jianming hear his words clearly, but Liu Sangunzi did too.

Liu Sangunzi shuddered and, no longer having the leisure to look out the window, lowered his head and stared at the fire in front of him.

He had never been to prison, nor had he ever stolen before.

But the amount of meat in Qin Qingman’s house was simply too much. After so long without meat, his craving for it had driven him to bad intentions.

“I… we won’t go to prison.” Qin Jianming’s voice, trembling slightly, whispered.

“Really?” Both Qin Jianming’s brother and Liu Sangunzi looked at him with hope in their eyes.

Faced with two pairs of hopeful eyes, Qin Jianming felt an immense pressure. “Qin Qingman is our cousin. She definitely won’t let us go to prison. We’re all from the same Qin family.”

The truth was, even Qin Jianming wasn’t confident in his own words.

He may have lacked confidence, but he had to say it anyway because he truly didn’t want to go to prison.

In prison, not only would they have to work and endure ideological education, but they would also lose their personal freedom. He had heard that theft like theirs would result in at least ten years of prison time (a heavy punishment in special times), and the thought of being without freedom for ten years was terrifying.

“Brother, you’re lying to me.” came a voice with a slight sob.

It was Qin Jianming’s younger brother, Qin Jianjun.

“No, I’m not lying to you. We definitely won’t go to prison.” Qin Jianming insisted.

Qin Jianjun pushed Qin Jianming hard and said, “Qin Qingman has already distanced herself from our family. She even said that, because we’re from the same ancestor, she wouldn’t let us go to prison. If the ancestor really mattered that much, our two families wouldn’t have cut off ties in the first place. Don’t lie to me. I’m not a kid anymore.”

Qin Jianming, pushed by Qin Jianjun, stood frozen for a while before he shoved Qin Jianjun back, shouting, “What do you want me to tell you? Should I tell you that what we did can send us to prison for ten years?”

Hearing the harsh reality, Qin Jianjun, unable to argue any longer, buried his face in his arms and started crying.

Liu Sangunzi, observing the infighting between the Qin brothers, looked at them with disdain.

They dared to commit a crime but couldn’t even face the consequences. What a pair of cowards.

Outside the young workers’ station, Zheng Anguo and Qian Xiangyang frowned as they overheard the conversation between the Qin brothers. How had Qin Lei’s family raised their children? It seemed like they believed the world should revolve around them. Even now, on the verge of imprisonment, they showed no remorse, instead trying to use family ties to manipulate Qin Qingman.

Such relatives were truly a headache. No wonder Qin Qingman couldn’t be bothered to even look at them.

“Secretary, I think we should keep them locked up for one more day. Tomorrow, I’ll step in and make them face the consequences themselves. We can’t let them off so easily. They need to choose to do the hardest and dirtiest jobs to atone for their crimes.” Qian Xiangyang offered, stepping forward to take some of the responsibility from Zheng Anguo.

“Alright, leave it to you to handle this.” Zheng Anguo said, patting Qian Xiangyang’s shoulder before heading home.

After watching Zheng Anguo leave, Qian Xiangyang gave a few instructions to the militia guards at the young workers’ station and then returned home.

For those who refused to repent, it was best to let them suffer a bit more.

Back at the Qin family, the household had become lively and warm again with Qin Qingman’s return. Meanwhile, Wei Ling was engaged in a confrontation with Colonel Wang Chengping.

When Wei Ling returned to the station, he immediately reported the situation in the mountains to Colonel Wang Chengping. He explained the likelihood that the wolf pack would soon relocate and even mentioned the origin of the bear hide.

After hearing Wei Ling’s report, Colonel Wang Chengping immediately ordered a regiment to enter the mountains and mark the safety lines around Wenquan Lake. This would ensure the safety of the people. His division would also send additional patrols into the mountains every day, ensuring that the people would have a lively and prosperous New Year.

Once the official business was taken care of, Wei Ling naturally brought up his marriage application.

Looking at Wei Ling eagerly waiting for him to stamp the document, Wang Chengping, with a calm demeanor, subtly asked, “Wei Ling, does your family know about your marriage?”

“Report, Colonel, marriage is a personal matter. In line with the Chairman’s instructions, my partner and I are in a free romantic relationship.” Wei Ling instantly sensed something was off in Wang Chengping’s words. Considering Wang Chengping’s relationship with his own father, he looked at him with suspicion.

Wang Chengping: …You’re asking me about your marriage, and you’re using the Chairman’s authority to pressure me? You’ve really gotten too bold!

“Colonel, hurry up and stamp it, I’m waiting to take my wife to register for our marriage.” Wei Ling urged again, growing anxious about the delay.

Wang Chengping, who had already promised Wei Ling’s old comrade-in-arms, was clearly conflicted. He glanced at Wei Ling, who was cold-faced but had a gleam in his eyes, and muttered, “Wei Ling, Comrade, speak properly. What do you mean ‘wife’? You haven’t even registered yet, calling her that is disrespectful to the female comrade.”

Wei Ling, sensing where this conversation was headed, knew exactly what Wang Chengping was implying.

He immediately dropped a bombshell, “Colonel, I’ve already shared a bed with her. She’s definitely my wife for this life. Calling her ‘wife’ one day earlier doesn’t matter. Hurry up and stamp it; this is what it means to be responsible for her.”

“What!”

Wang Chengping, who had been thinking of ways to stop Wei Ling, stood up in shock.

He never imagined that Wei Ling would be so bold—already sharing a bed with a female comrade before even registering their marriage. His mind went blank, and he nearly fainted.

“Colonel, there’s no bed in the cabin up in the mountains. I only made a simple bedding. I’m in agreement with Qin Qingman Comrade, and we’ve mutually decided on lifelong commitment. We didn’t care for any customs and slept on the same bedding.” Wei Ling quickly explained to Wang Chengping.

Wang Chengping breathed a sigh of relief. At least it wasn’t what he feared.

“Colonel, as a man, I must keep my promises. Qin Qingman Comrade trusted me to lie down with her on the same mat, and I can’t betray her trust. I can’t tarnish the reputation of a soldier of the people.” Wei Ling spoke with such righteous words, as though Wang Chengping opposing him would be a betrayal to the people and the army.

Wang Chengping was left speechless by Wei Ling’s firm stance.

“Well, I haven’t verified Qin Qingman Comrade’s background and personal information yet.” Wang Chengping tried to resist one last time.

“Colonel, coincidentally, I had already informed the Political Department before I went on my mission. They’ve already completed the investigation. Here’s the report. I brought it with me.” Wei Ling said, pulling a document out of his pocket and handing it over to Wang Chengping.

Wang Chengping: …Old comrade, I can only help you this much. It seems like your son is more capable than I am.

Having no other choice, Wang Chengping finally stamped his approval on Wei Ling’s marriage application.

The bright red stamp looked particularly beautiful.