Chapter 25: Don’t Worry About Me

Zhou Tao was also thoroughly fed up with her!

He was busy commanding troops and dealing with her constant nagging; he was exhausted and truly wanted out of the marriage.

“Divorce?” Zhang Xiuhong suddenly lost her bravado, staring at Zhou Tao with teary eyes, feeling like the sky was falling.

“Yes, divorce. I’ve had enough.”

“Zhou Tao, are you trying to force me to die?” she cried, wailing that she didn’t want to live anymore.

Everyone chimed in, urging her not to be impulsive and advising Zhou Tao to stay calm. Marriage wasn’t a game; you couldn’t just leave on a whim.

Seeing his firm and unwavering stance, Zhang Xiuhong bit her lip: “Fine, you win…”

Like a defeated rooster, she hung her head and walked to Shen Sisi, performing a perfect ninety-degree bow.

“I’m sorry, Intellectual Youth Shen. It’s my fault for being so gossipy and saying things I shouldn’t have. I’m admitting this not because I’m afraid of Yang Qiuxia, but for my family.”

“Believe me or not, I didn’t spread the rumor.”

Shen Sisi looked at her bowed head and said coldly: “Does it matter who said it? I’ve suffered, and now you’re tasting the consequences!”

“You’re just talking about divorce and wanting to die, but what about me?  Shouldn’t I have jumped into the river after being slandered?”

“Until it happens to you, you’ll never know the pain…”

Zhang Xiuhong regretted her actions, wishing she could disappear. She had wanted to see Shen Sisi’s humiliation and force her to leave the compound.  Instead, she became the laughingstock and almost harmed Shen Sisi.

Her head lowered further; she didn’t dare look Shen Sisi in the eye.

“I’m sorry… I was wrong…” This apology was clearly more sincere than before.

Shen Sisi said nothing, only sighing softly: “Why do women make things so difficult for each other…”

Zhang Xiuhong couldn’t face staying any longer and was about to leave.

Then, Gu Chengfeng unexpectedly said: “Did I give you permission to leave?”

Zhang Xiuhong froze. She had apologized; what more did Gu Chengfeng want?

Shen Sisi also took a deep breath, looking at Gu Chengfeng in confusion, wondering what he intended to do.

Gu Chengfeng said coldly: “This isn’t over yet. No one here is allowed to leave.”

Everyone was puzzled when the guard who had gone to investigate rushed back.

“Reporting, Commander, we found the man.”

Chen Wenzhong rubbed his temples: “Speak up! What does he do?”

The guard shouted: “His name is Chen Sanpi, from Lin County. He’s a truck driver, delivering furniture to Commander… Commander Gu’s house.”

Lin County, as the name suggests, is rich in timber and produces high-quality wood.  The wood furniture and carpenters there are top-notch. Gu Chengfeng had been promoted to deputy commander and recently moved into a large house, so he had ordered furniture from Lin County.

Everything matched.

Shen Sisi suddenly realized her mistake.  The driver looked fierce, had a damaged ear, and spoke roughly; she had mistakenly assumed he was a bad guy.  It was a huge misunderstanding.

Luckily, this misunderstanding led to Yang Quxia and Zhang Xiuhong turning on each other and completely breaking their alliance. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have easily admitted to spreading rumors.

The truth was out; everyone heard that he was just a driver delivering goods. Shen Sisi had never even met him, yet she was unfairly slandered.

“Your mouths… they’re deadly!”

“It’s good that Intellectual Youth Shen is strong. If she were weaker, she would have jumped into the river.”

“They ruined her reputation.  Such a great injustice can’t be easily dismissed…”

Everyone began to denounce Yang Qiuxia and Zhang Xiuhong, their anger rising.

Chen Wenzhong had never seen such a scene; his heart ached with anger.

“Alright, alright, stop arguing. I, Chen Wenzhong, apologize to Intellectual Youth Shen and everyone on behalf of my wife.”

Chen Wenzhong, a seasoned warrior, was apologizing for his wife.

Following the commander’s lead, Zhou Tao said: “I’m sorry, everyone. I’ll discipline Xiuhong and reform her!”

Zhou Tao, a strong man, was also helpless against his wife.

Shen Sisi watched, feeling a mix of emotions. She couldn’t imagine how she would feel if Gu Chengfeng apologized publicly for her one day.  She would probably collapse…

“Intellectual Youth Shen, can we let this go?” Chen Wenzhong asked directly.

Shen Sisi looked at Chen Wenzhong’s somewhat honest, dark face. He was Gu Chengfeng’s superior, so she should give him some face.  Making things too awkward would make Gu Chengfeng uncomfortable and hinder future work.

As Shen Sisi was pondering, she felt a warm hand on her back.

Gu Chengfeng whispered in her ear: “Don’t compromise yourself. If we can’t let this go, then we won’t.”

These words were like a warm current, soothing her heart and giving her strength.

Shen Sisi smiled, her bright eyes full of joy: “Okay!”

She turned her head and said bravely: “I’ll drop the charges if Yang Qiuxia and Zhang Xiuhong write me a letter of apology, explaining everything clearly, and promise not to spread rumors again. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to report them to the police.”

The written apology was tantamount to a confession. Shen Sisi held the letters; if they dared to gossip again, she would sue them for defamation.

Chen Wenzhong’s face fell at her threat.

Gu Chengfeng stepped forward, his expression cold: “The apology letters are for self-preservation.  As long as they don’t repeat their actions, these letters will remain just that…”

Chen Wenzhong gritted his teeth: “Fine, get paper and pens. Write!”

Yang Qiuxia and Zhang Xiuhong dared not resist, one crouching on a stool, the other leaning against a wall, writing their apologies.

When Shen Sisi received the letters, it was like a reassurance.

“Everyone saw this. If they dare to spread rumors again, about me or anyone else, I have the evidence…” Shen Sisi held up the letters.

Everyone cheered.  Now they wouldn’t dare gossip anymore!

Shen Sisi had not only helped herself but also the entire compound.

Everyone realized that Shen Sisi wasn’t as bad as rumored; she wasn’t just a seductress. She was intelligent and kind!

Shen Sisi didn’t know what everyone was thinking. She put the letters away and was about to find Niu Niu when she noticed bloodstains on her sleeve!

She was sure she wasn’t injured.  Whose blood was this…?

She suddenly looked at Gu Chengfeng and saw a brownish stain on his green military coat.  It was blood… fresh blood…

He was injured!!!

“Gu Chengfeng, you…”

Before she could finish, Gu Chengfeng put his index finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet.

“Take Niu Niu, let’s go home…”

Gu Chengfeng greeted Chen Wenzhong and turned, walking towards Niu Niu.

Niu Niu had been waiting impatiently, kicking her shoes everywhere.  Wearing red socks, she stood on a stone stool, playfully covering her eyes. Her dark eyes peeked through her fingers, curiously watching the crowd.

Seeing his tall figure, Niu Niu excitedly called: “Dad…”