Chapter 42.3

The two discussed how to plant the vegetables harmoniously. But the sudden sound of knocking on the door shattered this harmony.

Ruan Mingfu glanced toward the door and saw Lu Yang’s annoying face.

The smile she had on her face immediately disappeared.

“Why is he here?”

“It’s probably about what happened yesterday,” Xie Yanzhao said as he put away the hoe. “I’ll go check. If you don’t want to see him, you can go inside.”

Ruan Mingfu frowned. “Lu Yan injured you. Why should we see him…”

As soon as she finished speaking, Ruan Mingfu noticed people peeking around and even her sister-in-law pretending to pass by.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

The family compound wasn’t much different from a rural village.

Especially since Xie Yanzhao and Lu Yang were the center of attention. News of their fight had spread, and everyone, even the army wives and the big shots in the camp, were curious.

Moreover, Ruan Mingfu felt uneasy with the way these people looked at her.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it just felt uncomfortable.

Xie Yanzhao cleaned the dirt from his hands and then opened the door.

Outside, Lu Yang was carrying a lot of things.

When his gaze fell on Xie Yanzhao’s injured arm, he gave an awkward smile.

“Commander Xie, how is your injury?”

“It’s nothing serious,” Xie Yanzhao turned his body to let Lu Yang in. “Don’t worry about it.”

He closed the door, shutting out the curious gazes.

“Come in and sit.”

Ruan Mingfu didn’t have a good attitude towards the Lu family.

But her upbringing prevented her from being openly rude. She could only snort coldly.

Sitting in the living room, Lu Yang had an embarrassed look in his eyes. “Commander Xie, it’s indeed Lu Yan’s fault…”

Before he could finish, Ruan Mingfu spoke up.

“Of course it’s his fault,” she said with a tight expression and anger in her eyes. “Lu Yan was like a mad dog, biting people everywhere. If your family can’t control him, can’t you at least put him on a leash?”

“Today he dares to pull a gun. Does that mean he’ll be killing people tomorrow?”

“Oh, wait, he was already planning to kill. It’s just that my Old Xie is skilled and managed to dodge in time.”

The more Ruan Mingfu spoke, the angrier she got, and in the end, she was utterly merciless.

Seeing Ruan Mingfu’s verbal assault, Xie Yanzhao couldn’t help but smile.

Lu Yang’s embarrassment deepened.

He spoke with difficulty, “I know that Lu Yan was indeed wrong in this matter.”

“What do you mean by that?” Ruan Mingfu frowned and looked over. “According to what you said, my old Xie is the culprit?”

Lu Yang: “…”

Damn, this conversation is going nowhere.

The smile in Xie Yanzhao’s eyes grew more pronounced.

“At the time, we agreed that once the compensation was settled, the grievances between the Ruan and Lu families would be cleared,” Ruan Mingfu continued. “I believe I’ve upheld my end of the bargain. But how have you handled it?”

“Your parents have been spreading rumors and tarnishing the Ruan family’s reputation.”

Lu Yang reflexively rebutted, “Impossible.”

“Why is it impossible?” Ruan Mingfu looked at him. “Someone told me this directly. Do you want me to read their exact words to you?”

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Lu Yang’s eyes.

Ruan Mingfu pressed on, “Now Lu Yan has injured Old Xie. You Lu family members are so capable, why don’t you go to heaven?”

Lu Yang: “…”

He was seeing for the first time how the seemingly delicate Ruan Mingfu could infuriate someone so effectively.

However, Lu Yang wasn’t just here to apologize.

He braced himself and said, “I sincerely came to apologize.”

He knew Lu Yan was impulsive, but he hadn’t expected him to be this reckless.

With this incident, not just Lu Yan but even Lu Yang himself would face trouble.

Xie Yanzhao remained unperturbed, “I accept your apology.”

Lu Yang: “…”

Indeed, they were a couple, both equally infuriating.

But some things needed to be said.

“Commander Xie, I know my approach might seem presumptuous,” Lu Yang’s embarrassment was almost palpable. “But I still hope you can forgive Lu Yan. He’s young and shouldn’t be ruined over this.”

Before Xie Yanzhao could respond, Ruan Mingfu couldn’t hold back.

“Lu Yan is not my or Old Xie’s child. Why should we care if he is ruined?”

She was absolutely furious, and it showed.

Ruan Mingfu let loose on Lu Yang, leaving him in a difficult position, yet unable to express his anger due to his need for their favor.

“Comrade Ruan, I know it’s Lu’s family’s fault. Please, name any conditions you have. I only hope you can let Lu Yan off.”

Ruan Mingfu was about to speak when Xie Yanzhao interjected calmly.

“We cannot help with this matter,” he said. “The outcome of Lu Yan’s case will be judged fairly by the military.”

Lu Yang grew anxious.

He was afraid the military would give a fair judgment, which is why he had come to Ruan Mingfu and Xie Yanzhao.

“Commander Xie, you’ve also experienced youth,” Lu Yang pleaded. “Lu Yan is not inherently bad. I will make sure to teach him properly and prevent him from causing trouble for you again.”

Such shameless words could really be spoken.

Ruan Mingfu stared at him as if seeing Lu Yang for the first time.

Where was the righteous soldier she had met before?

Has he been replaced?

“If he really wants to cause trouble for us, does he dare?”

Ruan Mingfu looked at him and suddenly smiled.

“Your Lu family is indeed shamelessly consistent,” she said with fire in her eyes. “You want us to swallow the bitterness and have leniency towards Lu Yan, and still… how shameless can you be?”

By the end, Ruan Mingfu was so angry she laughed.

Lu Yang’s eyes flashed with anger, but he concealed it well.

“… I can offer compensation.”

“You’re mistaken,” Ruan Mingfu said, looking down at him. “We don’t lack any money.”

She had a wealthy husband, after all.

Moreover, the Lu family had only recently become affluent. The entire family’s wealth might not even be worth a box of dried fish.

Ruan Mingfu was genuinely curious about how shameless Lu Yang could be to say such things.

“You should understand that your brother’s mistakes are subject to military court judgment,” Xie Yanzhao said in a deep voice. “I cannot assist you.”

Stealing weapons from the military and injuring people… such behavior is extremely severe.

The higher-ups and the entire military would not let it go easily.

Even if someone had shot Lu Yan on the spot, they wouldn’t have been held responsible.

Lu Yang felt disheartened, realizing how things had escalated.

If he had known it would come to this, he might as well have not come to the military. Maybe seeking mercy from the local influential figures might have resolved things…

After a long silence, Lu Yang said, “I understand. Thank you.”

Ruan Mingfu frowned, about to say something, but Xie Yanzhao stopped her with a hand gesture.

After Lu Yang left, Ruan Mingfu finally voiced her displeasure, “Why are you being so nice to him?”

She thought he deserved a good scolding!

Xie Yanzhao sighed, “Chasing a dog into a dead-end isn’t wise. Given Lu Yan’s actions, he deserves at least ten years. Lu Yang failed to manage the firearm properly and will face multiple penalties.”

There was no need to add to the cruelty of the situation.

Ruan Mingfu stared at him as if meeting him for the first time.

“Old Xie, I find you surprisingly crafty.”

Xie Yanzhao’s eyes darkened, “I can be even craftier if you want to test it.”

Ruan Mingfu jumped three meters away like a cat with its tail stepped on.

Afraid of what further shameless things the dog man might do, she hastily left.

Watching Ruan Mingfu’s flustered retreat, Xie Yanzhao shook his head with a smile.

Only when she reached the yard did Ruan Mingfu heave a sigh of relief.

She pouted in dissatisfaction.

The bastard was rude and threatened her.

“Comrade Ruan.”

Ruan Mingfu was about to head back to give the man a piece of her mind when she heard someone call out to her. She looked over to see Li Xiaoyue, who was pregnant, standing by the fence of her house.

“Oh, it’s Comrade Li.”

Li Xiaoyue greeted her with a warm smile.

“Comrade Ruan, I heard that Commander Xie was injured. Is he alright?”

“He’s fine,” Ruan Mingfu thought for a moment and added, “The injury isn’t serious. He’ll recover soon.”

Li Xiaoyue nodded. “That’s good to hear.”

The two women weren’t very familiar with each other, so the conversation quickly faltered.

To avoid an awkward silence, Ruan Mingfu asked, “Comrade Li, since you just moved here, are you adjusting well to the new surroundings?”

The couple had moved in a few days ago. Apart from the first day, when they came over, Ruan Mingfu hadn’t seen much of them since. She was curious to run into her today.

“It’s alright,” Li Xiaoyue responded gently, as was her nature. “It’s a bit remote here, which makes it inconvenient to get around. But the military hospital is nearby, so that’s convenient for me.”

She patted her large belly as she spoke.

Ruan Mingfu felt a bit startled.

She was about to say something when a voice came from a distance.

“Xiaoyue…”

Footsteps approached, and Ruan Mingfu saw the person clearly.

It was a woman in her forties or fifties, dressed neatly with meticulously arranged hair, giving off an impression of sophistication. However, her face bore two deep lines, indicating that she was not to be trifled with.

Li Xiaoyue turned around. “Mom, I’m talking with Comrade Ruan. Let me introduce you…”

“Enough. Don’t bring any unsavory characters to meet me.”

The older woman looked Ruan Mingfu up and down with disdain. “She looks quite unrefined. Why are you chatting with her? It’s so hot outside. Hurry up and come inside to rest, or you’ll tire out my grandson.”

The woman was very forceful, and Li Xiaoyue could only offer an apologetic smile.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

She was almost laughing out of anger.

Miss Ruan had never been so openly disdained in her life.

Damn!

…

On a farm in the frontier, a refined-looking middle-aged man walked into a dilapidated house carrying a large package.

Although his clothes were shabby, they did not diminish his elegance.

“Wife, there’s a letter from our daughter!”