Chapter 128 isn't entirely fake either; the heartache is real.

"What's wrong, Uncle Le?" Jiang Wanqiu asked curiously upon seeing this.

"Try it, this wine doesn't taste right," Chief Le said, pouring her another small glass.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqiu also picked up her wine glass, brought it to her nose to sniff, and then took a small sip.

The moment the liquor entered her mouth, her delicate brows furrowed, and she immediately declared, "Uncle Le, this is fake liquor."

"Fake liquor?!" Already furious because his precious music score had been burned, he slammed his fist on the table upon hearing this. "Damn it! I personally approved the funds for the logistics department, not a penny less, and they dare to try to fool the entire military region's leadership with fake liquor!"

Just as he was about to have an outburst, a violent coughing sound suddenly came from the next table.

The person at the table hurriedly asked, "Old Wang, what's wrong?"

The leader known as "Old Wang" coughed until his face was red. He didn't answer his companion, but turned to Le Fuhua behind him and said with a forced smile, "I say, Chief Le, this isn't very fair. We can understand that the military region is short of funds, and we can just stop doing these superficial things. Why are you trying to fool people with counterfeit goods?"

Upon hearing this, Chief Le hurriedly asked, "You also noticed something was wrong with this wine?"

"What kind of alcohol is this? I'm telling you, this cigarette is fake!"

Chief Le was even more bewildered: "Old Wang, you must be joking."

"Tsk, what are you talking about?" He pointed to the cigarette between his fingers. "I've been smoking this cigarette for almost thirty years. I can tell if it's real or fake with just one puff! There's definitely something wrong with your cigarette!"

So even the cigarettes are fake?!

Chief Le slammed his fist on the table again: "The liquor is fake, the cigarettes are fake! Then what's real tonight?!"

Le Yunyun thought for a moment, then muttered softly with a hint of uncertainty, "It's definitely true that your sheet music was burned."

Upon hearing this, Chief Le felt completely lost, and he no longer had the strength to slam his fist on the table.

Seeing this, Yue's mother glared at her daughter, "Yunyun, say less. Your father is getting old and can't take a fuss."

Realizing she had misspoke, Le Yunyun stuck out her tongue and secretly made a face at Jiang Wanqiu, who had been silent beside her.

Just then, a figure carrying a wine glass walked over gracefully.

"Commander Le, Happy New Year!"

The newcomer was He Xiaoman, her face plastered with a fawning smile. But when her gaze swept over Jiang Wanqiu beside Chief Le, the corner of her mouth involuntarily twitched, and a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.

Chief Yue looked up, frowning as he sized her up: "Who are you?"

"Commander, my name is He Xiaoman." He Xiaoman quickly introduced herself. "These drinks and cigarettes tonight are a small token of our family's appreciation. There were bandits in the mountains before, and thanks to the comrades from the military region, our factory's goods were not stolen. This is just a small token of our gratitude so that the soldiers can have a good New Year."

She spoke eloquently, then abruptly changed the subject, mentioning her personal affairs: "My younger brother has always admired soldiers and dreams of joining the military region in the future to serve the country..."

"Wait a minute," Chief Le interrupted her, "You just said that your family bought all these cigarettes and alcohol?"

He Xiaoman was delighted, thinking that the other party valued her family's "contribution," and nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes! We were just thinking of not letting the military region spend money, so we paid out of our own pockets to ask people to buy good things from outside."

After she finished speaking, she quickly added, "Commander Le, you don't know, my younger brother trains at home every day to try and get into the army. If there's a suitable position in the military region in the future, do you think he could..."

Chief Le understood. Wasn't this just exchanging something for a future?

But this was the first time in his life that he had encountered someone who dared to openly bribe him with fake cigarettes and alcohol!

Isn't this just treating these old guys like fools?

“There are no suitable positions in the military region at the moment,” Commander Le coldly refused. “Moreover, Comrade He, I want to tell you that the most important qualities for a soldier are loyalty and integrity. If you’re already thinking about taking this crooked path of cheating and shirking before even joining the army, what will become of you once you actually become a soldier!”

He Xiaoman's smile froze instantly.

What's going on? This is completely different from what Du Wenxiu told her! Wasn't it agreed that the leaders would buy into this?

She panicked and blurted out, "Commander Le, how can you accuse me of cheating! I spent several thousand yuan on these cigarettes and alcohol! That's almost half a year's income for our factory! I..."

It would have been better if she hadn't said anything; to Chief Le, her words sounded like a complete lie.

Counterfeit cigarettes and alcohol, how much are they worth? Several thousand yuan! Are you kidding me!

"Someone come here!" Chief Le, too lazy to waste any more words with her, directly shouted, "Go and call Old Du from the logistics department over here! I want to ask him how he manages his people and how he reviews the goods!"

Meanwhile, on stage.

Bai Weiwei's theatrical performance had just ended, and the audience applauded enthusiastically. She bowed contentedly as she left the stage, her face beaming with undisguised pride.

Judging from the expression on the judges' faces, she's definitely going to be the winner of this year's performance!

However, as soon as she returned backstage, the smile on her face froze.

The atmosphere backstage was strange. Several soldiers in military uniforms were rummaging through drawers and cabinets with serious expressions, as if they were searching for something.

Bai Weiwei's heart skipped a beat. Before she could ask a question, she noticed a soldier picking up her cloth bag from the corner and preparing to open it.

"What are you doing!" She rushed forward, snatched her cloth bag, hugged it tightly to her arms, and demanded sharply, "Who gave you permission to rummage through other people's things!"

A tall figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

It's Zhao Wenchang.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression cold and stern, his deep eyes fixed on Bai Weiwei, exuding an invisible sense of oppression.

"I'm investigating who set fire to the sheet music."

Upon hearing this, Bai Weiwei breathed a sigh of relief and raised her chin even higher: "It's just a broken score, burn it and that's it. Is it really necessary to make such a fuss? Battalion Commander Zhao, even if Jiang Wanqiu is your wife, this is not the way you should stand up for her. This is an abuse of power!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenchang's lips curled into a faint smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes, making it appear exceptionally cold.

He stared at Bai Weiwei and explained to her, "First, that score doesn't belong to Jiang Wanqiu; it belongs to Chief Yue."

"Secondly, Chief Le's most treasured possession was burned in public, which angered him and led him to order a thorough investigation."

"Therefore, I am not abusing my power; I am acting under orders."

The music score by Chief Music?!

Bai Weiwei's mind went blank for a moment, and she was completely stunned.

That tattered sheet music... it was actually Chief Yue's treasured collection?!

Who does Jiang Wanqiu think she is? What gives her the right to borrow Chief Yue's sheet music?!

Her mind was in turmoil, but her face was drained of color, her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.

She's really messed up!

Seeing her terrified expression, Zhao Wenchang's suspicions were confirmed. "Comrade Bai Weiwei, now, please come with me."

"I...I won't leave! What right do you have to take me away! What do you want to do!" Bai Weiwei screamed, clutching the cloth bag, her voice filled with bravado but her heart filled with fear.

Zhao Wenchang sneered and slowly took out a small square box from his military uniform pocket.

It's a match.

His long, strong fingers held the box of matches printed with the word "Botou," and he gently shook it, one beat at a time, in front of Bai Weiwei's wide, terrified pupils.

Bai Weiwei's heart skipped a beat, and her hand instinctively reached for her canvas bag, but she quickly pulled it back as soon as her fingertips touched the rough fabric.

This seemingly obvious attempt to conceal something did not escape Zhao Wenchang's sharp eyes.

"What do you mean by this?" Bai Weiwei still wanted to play dumb.

Zhao Wenchang's thin lips curled into a smile: "I found this on the corner of the stage not far from where the sheet music was burned."

He took out a half-burnt matchstick.

"And just now, the orderly found the same matches in your bag. Comrade Bai Weiwei, now, is there anything else you want to say?"

Bai Weiwei was unwilling to admit it so easily and tried to argue, "Coincidence! There are plenty of people in the world who use Botou matches! You're framing me!"

Zhao Wenchang had no intention of wasting words with a woman, and simply nodded to the orderly behind him: "Take her away."

When Zhao Wenchang led his men over, Minister Du of the Logistics Department was standing in front of Chief Le's desk with his head down, looking like a schoolboy who had made a mistake, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Commander Le's face was flushed, and his powerful voice resounded throughout the room: "Our military region is poor and short of funds, but we haven't reached the point where we need others to help us! It's not shameful to serve simple meals to our superiors! We don't need to use other people's money to subsidize the military region! What you're doing is disorganized and undisciplined!"

Minister Du was completely dumbfounded. He clearly remembered that he had instructed the purchase of ordinary Fenjiu, but how did it turn into Moutai on the table?

A person instantly came to mind.

He had been so busy with the performance these past few days that he hadn't had a moment to spare, and his good-for-nothing son, Du Wenxiu, surprisingly offered to help him out a few days ago.

He was pleased, thinking his son had finally grown up and become sensible. To train him, he entrusted him with some responsibilities, including purchasing drinks for entertaining guests.

Who would have thought that this kid would cause such a huge mess!

"Sir, I... I meant well, I wanted the leaders to have some good wine..." Minister Du said weakly, wiping his sweat.

"Good wine?" Commander Le laughed in anger. "So you're trying to fool us old folks with fake Moutai and fake Zhonghua?!"

Hearing this, He Xiaoman was shocked and rushed forward: "Impossible! Commander, this is absolutely impossible! I spent real money, several thousand yuan! How could I possibly buy you fake liquor?!"

Commander Le, too lazy to listen to her explanations any longer, waved his hand and ordered the guards beside him: "Go! Take out all the unopened cigarettes and alcohol in the logistics warehouse and return them to this Comrade He intact! Don't keep a single penny!"

Then he said to Minister Du, "Old Du! You go back and write me a three-thousand-word self-criticism! Hand it to my desk first thing tomorrow morning! As for your punishment, we'll discuss and decide on it at the military region meeting! Go and receive your punishment yourself!"

"Yes, sir!" Minister Du stood with his legs together and gave a military salute.

He led the distraught He Xiaoman out, who was still muttering behind him unwillingly, "Minister Du, you have to believe me, my cigarettes and alcohol really can't be fake, I've definitely been scammed!"

Minister Du stopped abruptly at the warehouse door, turned around and stared intently at her, his suppressed anger finally erupting: "You got scammed? I think you're just dishonest! At such a young age, instead of thinking about walking the straight path, you're thinking about using gifts to build connections! Now that you've been tricked with counterfeit goods, you deserve it!"

These words completely ignited He Xiaoman's resentment and anger. She had spent money and put on a smiling face, only to end up pleasing neither side!