Chapter 52.1

Looking at Wang Chengping’s suspicious and angry face, the seasoned Political Commissar Zhang truly didn’t know how to explain himself. As he was trying to think of a way to cover up the situation, Wang Chengping noticed the note left on the desk by Wei Ling.

Now, there was no need to make up any more lies.

Political Commissar Zhang’s old face turned slightly red, and he explained, “Old Wang, you can’t blame me for this. I originally came to get a document, but the dumplings smelled so good. I couldn’t resist tasting one, and once I started, I couldn’t stop.”

He wasn’t lying; that was indeed what happened.

Wang Chengping, angrily pinching a dumpling and stuffing it into his mouth, immediately knew why Political Commissar Zhang couldn’t control himself.

The dumplings were even more tempting to eat than they smelled.

“Old Zhang, you’ve gone too far. You’re supposed to be a disciplined political commissar.” Wang Chengping said, quite upset.

Seeing that Wang Chengping was bringing up grand principles, Political Commissar Zhang couldn’t help but retort, “Old Wang, don’t be so petty. It’s just a few dumplings. You’ve often gone to my office to snatch food. Haven’t you eaten everything I have in there? You can eat my stuff, but I can’t eat yours?”

“This isn’t the same! These dumplings were specially made for me by Wei Ling’s wife. It’s a gift from a younger person to an elder.” Wang Chengping refused to admit he was being petty.

Normally, Political Commissar Zhang could talk circles around the soldiers when it came to ideological education, but when faced with Wang Chengping’s twisted logic, he truly wasn’t his match. Since he knew he hadn’t done things properly, he could only apologize.

“Old Wang, I’m sorry. The dumplings smelled so good. I wanted to control myself, but I couldn’t. When your sister-in-law comes, I’ll have her make you a special batch of dumplings.”

Political Commissar Zhang’s wife was coming to see him in a few days, so only then could he make such a promise.

Seeing that Political Commissar Zhang was even willing to have his sister-in-law make him dumplings as an apology, Wang Chengping really couldn’t keep holding the stolen dumpling incident against him.

Feeling both exasperated and pitying, Wang Chengping finished the last fried dumpling in his lunchbox and said, “Wait a minute. If Wei Ling really came to deliver dumplings, he wouldn’t only bring them for me. What about your share?” As soon as the words left his mouth, Wang Chengping looked at Political Commissar Zhang with a hint of suspicion. “Old Zhang, you didn’t hide your portion to eat it all by yourself tomorrow, did you?”

“Am I really that kind of person?”

Political Commissar Zhang was so furious at Wang Chengping’s words that he nearly spat blood, but he also had some doubts.

If Wei Ling were delivering something, it was impossible for him to only bring it for Wang Chengping. He had always treated Wei Ling well, and Wei Ling would never do something as unfair as that.

Without further hesitation, Political Commissar Zhang stood up and headed towards his office.

If Wei Ling had also brought him dumplings, and they were as delicious as they smelled, there was no way he would share them with Wang Chengping. After all, Wang Chengping had already grumbled at him for a long time, and the apology had been made—he wasn’t going to let that apology go to waste.

Political Commissar Zhang’s mind was already working through these thoughts when Wang Chengping, with a sudden glint in his eyes, immediately guessed what he was planning and quickly followed him out.

In this situation, Political Commissar Zhang really couldn’t say, “Old Wang, stop following me.”

If he had said that, Wang Chengping would have definitely held a grudge, thinking it was deliberate.

With no other choice, Political Commissar Zhang could only lead Wang Chengping into his office and start searching through everything, but found nothing.

At this point, Wang Chengping couldn’t help but curse Wei Ling in his mind.

How could someone be like this? To send dumplings and not give any to the division political commissar—was he asking for trouble?

Of course, Wang Chengping knew that Political Commissar Zhang wasn’t petty, but Wei Ling’s actions were indeed inappropriate, and they could easily provide someone with ammunition to attack him.

Rubbing his chin, Wang Chengping glanced at the lunchbox in his arms, which was now covered in grease, and motioned for the guard standing outside to come in.

“Chief, please give your orders.” the guard saluted upon entering the office.

“Where did Wei Ling go?” Wang Chengping asked the guard.

“He seems to have gone to the logistics department.” the guard wasn’t entirely sure, but he could roughly deduce Wei Ling’s direction from his departure. He also knew that Wei Ling had previously asked the logistics department for help.

“Old Zhang, let’s go. Let’s head to the logistics department and take a look.”

As soon as Wang Chengping heard, he knew that Wei Ling had gone to find Hong Wei.

Wei Ling had a good relationship with Hong Wei, and if there were any extra dumplings, it was very possible that Wei Ling would have given some to Hong Wei.

“Old Wang, this might not be appropriate.” Political Commissar Zhang, knowing what Wang Chengping was planning, hesitated a bit.

Chasing after a meal—it really wasn’t something that would make the political commissar look good.

Wang Chengping saw Political Commissar Zhang’s hesitation, but he didn’t push him. He tucked the lunchbox into his arms and directly headed toward the logistics department. He had only eaten a few dumplings, and now that he had tasted the flavor, he wouldn’t rest until he got Political Commissar Zhang’s share.

If Old Zhang wasn’t going, all the better—he would get to eat it all himself.

Wang Chengping hurried off toward the logistics department, while Political Commissar Zhang, watching his retreating figure, felt uncomfortable. The smell of the fried dumplings kept swirling in his mind, and each swirl felt like an overwhelming temptation.

In the end, Political Commissar Zhang couldn’t stand it anymore. He reluctantly followed behind Wang Chengping.

It hadn’t been long since Political Commissar Zhang had rushed off when his guard returned, holding a large lunchbox.

Looking at the empty office, the guard’s gaze shifted to the soldier standing by the door.

“They went to the logistics department.” the guard informed him without hesitation.

“Why?” The guard was a bit puzzled. The political commissar needed something, he could simply send a note to the logistics department to pick it up—why did he have to go himself?

Could it be something urgent?

As the guard thought this, he grew anxious.

He was the political commissar’s personal guard, and it was his job to run errands like this. If there was any delay with official business, it would be his responsibility.

In the anxious gaze of the guard, the soldier looked at the lunchbox in his hands and said, “Dumplings.” Having stood guard outside the office, he had, of course, known where the political commissar and Colonel had gone.

This wasn’t a secret, so there was no need to hide it from the political commissar’s personal guard.

The guard, just returning from the logistics department, glanced at the lunchbox in his hands and immediately guessed the reason. He quickly rushed off to the logistics department.

The colonel had sent dumplings to the political commissar. However, since the political commissar’s lunchbox wasn’t in the office, the colonel had asked him to take the lunchbox to Director Hong at the logistics department to be filled with dumplings. He had just finished and was hurrying back when he realized he was a step too late.

If the political commissar really went to ask the colonel for his dumplings, it would be terribly embarrassing.

The guard moved quickly through the snow, but what he didn’t expect was the determination of the two ‘chiefs’ when it came to food.

After a few minutes of chasing, the young, strong guard was unable to catch up with the two older men, both in their fifties or sixties.

As he neared the logistics department, the guard finally spotted Wang Chengping and Political Commissar Zhang. Just as he raised his hand to call out to them, another figure appeared in his line of sight.

Upon seeing Wei Ling, the guard lowered his hand and squatted down.

Then, he silently began to step back.

Forget it, Colonel Wei Ling was favored by both chiefs, and as an outsider, he decided not to get involved.

The guard quietly retreated.