Chapter 29

Liao Hong was silenced by Xu Nuo’s sharp retort and couldn’t think of a comeback.

Her brother was the regiment’s political commissar, while Lu Chen was his work partner—one focusing on military affairs, the other on politics.

That was no low-ranking position!

There were quite a few in the compound with higher ranks than her brother, but those people were much older, and their children were older than her.

Besides, she worked in the compound’s health clinic, taking care of minor ailments, and everyone treated her politely.

This young girl clearly was new here and definitely not the daughter or granddaughter of any leader.

Ba Ba, the young newlywed wife of a company commander, didn’t know who she was, so she acted arrogantly, not putting her in her eyes.

“All right. Since you know who my brother is, I don’t need to say more, right? You have to pay for the vase!”

Liao Hong was determined to use her brother’s status to bully the smaller one today.

This watch had cost her a lot, entrusted to someone to buy—it was an imported Longines watch, and it had cost her 300 yuan.

Now it was broken like this—she would never let it go!

“No compensation,” Xu Nuo refused decisively. “You bumped into me, and instead of compensating me, you’re trying to extort me! And another thing, you’re using your brother’s position to bully me and expect me to give in! Which unit is your brother in? What’s his position? I’m reporting him right now for condoning your bad behavior.”

These few words hit Liao Hong’s weak spot. Her arrogant attitude instantly collapsed.

She was speechless for a long moment.

Seizing the opportunity, Xu Nuo turned to the staff at the service center: “You all saw what happened. It was clearly her who bumped into me! If she doesn’t compensate me for the vase today, I’ll report this to the military.”

Most of the staff were also military wives.

One of them, surnamed Tong, was called Aunt Tong by everyone; she was the wife of Brigade Commander Zhang.

Seeing the two young women arguing at the door, she came out from behind the counter to mediate.

“I saw the whole thing just now. This can’t be blamed on this young lady here. Liao Hong, when will you fix your careless habit? Hurry up and pay for the vase!”

Liao Hong was very reluctant. She stomped her foot, “Aunt Tong, this isn’t all my fault, right? I have losses too! I’ll pay for the vase, but she’s not asking to pay me for the watch? At least pay half the price!”

“Aunt Tong, thank you for coming out to mediate! I’m not asking for the vase anymore; I admit defeat! I’m going to report this to the regiment now and see if they’ll discipline her. If her brother doesn’t handle it, I’ll report to higher-ups.”

Hearing Xu Nuo say “report,” Liao Hong was both angry and anxious.

She wasn’t afraid her brother would scold her, but worried her behavior would harm his reputation and cause him to be punished by superiors.

“What are you waiting for? Pay up!” Aunt Tong reminded her. “Aren’t you afraid this will get to Lu Chen’s ears? What if he dislikes you then?”

“All right, all right, I’ll pay!” Liao Hong angrily fished five yuan from her pocket and handed it to Aunt Tong. “Please get her two vases!”

Only then did Aunt Tong nod approvingly. “That’s how it should be.”

Aunt Tong turned back to the counter to get the vases.

Xu Nuo picked up the things she had dropped and casually placed them on the counter nearby.

Seeing a broom and dustpan in the corner, she took them to clean up the broken glass.

“Oh no, you don’t have to. We’ll do it.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t hurt your hands!”

Several other military wives also came out from behind the counter and helped clean up.

“I’m sorry for troubling you all,” Xu Nuo said as she accepted the vases Aunt Tong handed over, thanked her again, and then left the service center.

As soon as she left, the military wives started whispering among themselves.

“That young lady must be new here. I’ve never seen her before.”

“Ba Ba is whose company commander’s wife? I heard the armored battalion’s Iron Company Commander got married last month, and his young wife moved here with him. Could this be her?”

“We’ve been so busy talking about the vases, we forgot to ask who she actually is.”

Aunt Tong saw Liao Hong pouting and looking like she wanted to cry, so she comforted her: “It’s just a watch. Just get someone to replace the glass cover, and it’ll be fine. No need to be so upset.”

That remark made Liao Hong’s eyes well up with tears.

“This was a gift for Regiment Commander Lu… giving someone a watch with a replaced glass cover as a gift?”

She regretted it deeply. It would have been much better if she had just given the watch to Lu Chen directly!

Why did she get so impulsive and rush to buy colored cellophane at the service center? Even without wrapping, the gift would have been presentable.

Aunt Tong’s expression changed slightly as she said, “Back when Xiao Lu wasn’t married, it was understandable to pursue him. But now he’s married. If you keep giving him watches, that’s not appropriate.”

Liao Hong really did cry for several days after Lu Chen got married.

But when she heard his wife was the childhood fiancée from a rural mountain village—one of those godforsaken places—she let it go.

Such a woman could never be worthy of Lu Chen.

She was sure Lu Chen had no feelings for that woman and only married her to honor the engagement.

A loveless marriage would never last.

What kind of person was Lu Chen? He was like a pine tree on the mountaintop, like a bright moon shining upon the world—someone untouchably high and noble.

How could he possibly care for a woman who worked the land day in and day out?

Divorce was inevitable.

But Liao Hong couldn’t reveal these thoughts. Aunt Tong was a very proper person; if she knew, who knew how she’d judge her?

“This was meant as a wedding gift for him!” Liao Hong lied.

Aunt Tong didn’t doubt her, seeing how pitiful she looked, and felt even more sympathetic.

“Oh, child, remember this: a forced melon never tastes sweet!”

After sending Liao Hong off, the service center quieted down for a while.

Talking about Xu Nuo, Aunt Tong found her interesting.

“Who knows whose big daughter or young wife she is, but she sure knew how to handle Liao Hong. That mouth of hers is pretty sharp!”

“Exactly!”

“Hahaha! Looks like Liao Hong finally met her match.”

Evening fell.

Liao Qing and Lu Chen were on their way home from work, passing by the service center.

Liao Qing stopped and said, “I’m going inside to buy two bottles of soda. My wife loves this stuff! It’s hot these days, and without a drink, she can’t eat properly.”

“I’ll wait for you,” Lu Chen said.

“Wait for me? Aren’t you coming in to see your new wife? You just got married—don’t you want to make her happy?” Liao Qing asked.