Chapter 143 Trouble

Su Meng watched Su Mianzhi and Cheng Wangshu enter the room together, shrugged dejectedly, turned back to A Da's side, and helped check the ribbon-cutting arrangements and the guest list.

"Uncle, whose relative is this Liu Cuihua? How should we arrange her seating?"

Back when the equipment was delivered to the factory, A-Da and the others had already prepared a list of guests to be invited to the banquet and carefully sorted out their relationships to make it easier to arrange seating on the day.

Ah Da was so busy that he didn't have time to rest. When he heard Liu Cuihua's name, he frowned. "It seems that this person is not on our banquet guest list."

I've verified all the family members' identities several times; there's no mistake. Go find them…”

He looked around but didn't see anyone familiar with the military region or the Zhou municipal government.

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out from behind, "There is no such person in our military region, and I don't know any officials with that name either."

None of the three main Zhou municipal officials who were invited today brought their families.

They also invited five people who were once "wealthy" like the Su family—now factory directors.

This was Su Meng's clever idea; they even brought their families along.

"Should I go check it out?"

Su Meng and A Da looked at Nie Ronghua at the same time, their brows furrowed in exactly the same way.

Nie Ronghua exuded righteousness, saying, "I am in charge of today's security work, and I don't want any mistakes or accidents to happen."

Ah Da nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, Commander Nie."

Nie Ronghua nodded almost imperceptibly, his expression visibly relaxing.

He relaxed his clenched fingers one by one and said calmly, "We are not enemies. I hope everyone is doing well."

He gave Su Meng a meaningful look, then turned away swiftly.

Just as I reached the door, I almost bumped into a figure rushing in recklessly.

"Comrade! Please be careful." He pointed out seriously with a stern face.

The person who came was wearing a patched-up floral shirt over faded dark blue trousers, and his cloth shoes had a hole in them, revealing his black toenails.

Her gaze swept over the badge on Nie Ronghua's shoulder, and she muttered under her breath, "The same star as my Zhenhua's. I thought he was some high-ranking official. Move aside!"

She thought she was speaking softly, but how could Nie Ronghua, a battle-hardened regimental commander, not hear her?

Moreover, ever since she barged in, the entire room has been silent, staring at her with curiosity.

Those who were nearby almost all understood.

"So she's the grandmother of Commander Huo Zhenhua."

Commander Huo's monthly allowance of a few dozen yuan, plus the bonuses from missions, should amount to a considerable sum. How could he allow his family to live in such poverty?

"Didn't she deny that she was a daughter of the Su family? How dare she show her face here?"

The old woman had very sharp ears, and immediately jumped up and scolded the person who had just been cricketing at her, "I don't admit it, but she's stuck to my Zhenhua anyway."

Everything in her house belongs to me, Zhenhua.

Since her family is hosting a banquet, I should sit at the head of the table.

Everyone: "..."

Holding the guest list, Su Meng's eyes were deep and thoughtful. She suddenly recalled their first meeting, when she had told the sentry, "My name is Liu Cuihua, and I'm from southern Hunan..."

I don't know who added her name.

She picked up her pen and heavily underlined the three characters "Liu Cuihua," writing, "She came uninvited and disrupted public order. Commander Nie, please handle this according to the rules."

Tch! People like that are really... stupid!

She recalled what Huo Zhenhua had said that day: "My family members are all easy to get along with. My mother is the village's women's director, and my father is a primary school teacher."

He never said that his grandmother would be such an extremely funny and eccentric person.

She chuckled to herself, realizing how naive she had been. Fortunately, it wasn't too late.

She thought she needed to carefully consider whether Huo Zhenhua was worth getting to know better.

Nie Ronghua beckoned over two soldiers and invited several family members of military region officials.

When the old woman saw that she was surrounded, her droopy eyelids trembled a few times, her pupils contracted, her eyes flickered, and she scanned her surroundings.

Panic and fear flashed in his eyes.

But then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she yelled at Su Meng, "That Su Meng, right?"

If you want to be with my Zhenhua, then immediately arrange a seat of honor for me, prepare new clothes, and return all the money my Zhenhua has given me.

I came all this way for your sake, and look at how you behave!

They ignored me and left me hungry and dressed in rags. Isn't this a disgrace to Zhenhua?

With your limited judgment, even if Zhenhua is temporarily infatuated with you, it won't be long before he divorces you.

Su Meng frowned and glanced at her, knowing that on such a joyous day, it was not wise to argue with someone so unlucky.

She gripped the pen tightly and forcefully crossed out Liu Cuihua's name again.

But she didn't argue with her, and Liu Cuihua wouldn't let it go.

Seeing that a large crowd had gathered, he clapped his hands and shouted, "Everyone, come and see!"

That girl from the Su family is shameless. She knows my Zhenhua has a fiancée, yet she still tries to woo him.

Is she being shameless, acting like a pervert? Should she be drowned in a pig cage? ......

Su Meng staggered in anger, her body trembling, tears welling up in her eyes.

Ah Da's face was gloomy. He quickly rolled up his sleeves and said, "Damn it! Did I give her too much face?"

"Whether she's the King of Heaven or the King of Hell, I'm going to take her down today."

Su Meng bit her lip tightly, trying to stay calm and rational. She grabbed Ah Da and said in a sob, "Uncle, a good man doesn't argue with a woman! The eyes of the masses are discerning, and there are leaders around."

When Commander Tang, Director Jiang, Su Mianzhi, Cheng Wangshu, and others came out, they saw the old woman being dragged and pulled out of the gate by several military wives.

Su Mianzhi's face was ashen. He strode over and put his arm around Su Meng's shoulder. "Xiao Meng, we can't let this happen to us."

Even if we don't get married, we can't step into a fire pit.

"Dad's here, you'll always have a home."

Su Meng bit her lip, a thin line of blood spreading across her pale lower lip.

A teardrop clung to her eyelashes, just like the teardrop at the corner of her eye, stubbornly refusing to fall.

Her fair face was tense, and the piece of paper she was holding trembled slightly.

Her pitiful and aggrieved appearance was like a rose after a storm, broken yet tragically beautiful.

Director Jiang frowned and ordered Nie Ronghua, "Investigate this thoroughly."

It's impossible for a woman to come all the way from her hometown, thousands of miles away, on her own; someone must be stirring up trouble.

Whoever it is, they will be severely punished.

From the moment the old woman entered, Nie Ronghua stood like a poplar tree, keeping her two meters away from Su Meng.

He didn't turn around to look at Su Meng, but he could hear her breathing heavily and her gasping for breath. His eyes were filled with a dark, turbulent energy, hiding boundless coldness and overwhelming anger.

At this moment, he hated his own incompetence and stupidity, to the point that he had no right to stand by Su Meng's side and give her support.

He silently made a note of Huo Zhenhua's name.

Before Director Jiang could finish speaking, he snapped to attention and saluted, "Yes, sir! We will definitely complete the mission."

He was finally able to openly and legitimately help her.

He treated finding out who was behind the old woman as his most urgent task.

Everyone silently observed, never expecting that the leaders would value Su Meng so much.

Some people who secretly talked about Su Meng quickly shut their mouths.

Cheng Wangshu glanced at the guest name tags silently, picked up the ones Su Meng hadn't finished writing, casually pulled out a stool, took out a pen from his suit pocket, and silently began writing.

Su Meng was about to stop her when Su Mianzhi pulled her away, saying, "Go and rest for a while."

Everyone had different thoughts upon seeing Cheng Wangshu's actions.

Their gazes shifted subtly between the Su family members and Cheng Wangshu.

What they are doing is...