As she said this, she slammed her hand on the table in anguish.
"Poor Huaichuan, an innocent war hero, was schemed against by her!"
The secretary turned his gaze to Lin Yao, his tone heavy.
"Comrade Lin Yao, is what Comrade Zhou Shuhua said true?"
Lin Yao seemed to have been waiting for these words, and tears streamed down her face like beads falling from a broken string.
She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, her shoulders shaking, crying so hard that her face was streaked with tears, her voice choked with sobs, full of grievance.
"Commander, what Aunt Shuhua said is all true! Huaichuan and I grew up together and have always had a very good relationship. Huaichuan was especially good to me. When I was little, I loved to eat sour plum powder and fruit candy, and he would always buy me lots of them instead of eating them himself. I... I always thought we would get married, but who knew... who knew Zhou Qiqi... she used such despicable methods... sob sob..."
She raised her tearful eyes and looked in the direction of Shen Huaichuan.
"When I saw them hugging that day, I felt like the sky had fallen, but I couldn't ruin Huaichuan's future! He's so outstanding, if he were to be tainted by a scandal, his life would be ruined! I had no choice but to step aside and let them be together! I thought, Qiqi, after all, her reputation is ruined too. It's not easy being a woman. As long as Huaichuan is okay, I... I don't mind suffering a little..."
Her performance of "understanding the greater good" and "enduring humiliation" coupled with her pitiful appearance was truly convincing.
The secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the other investigators' eyes softened noticeably, even showing a hint of sympathy.
"Comrade Xu Shu, what about you?"
The secretary's gaze then turned to Xu Shu.
Xu Shu rubbed his hands together and said with his head hanging down.
"Commander, Director Zhou is right. At the time, Zhou Qiqi said she couldn't live without her reputation ruined and begged me to help her find Commander Shen to 'take responsibility'. I... I was used by her!"
"Commander! My brother is right!"
Xu Zao jumped out impatiently, her sharp voice sounding particularly jarring in the conference room.
“Zhou Qiqi was a troublemaker in the village! Taking advantage of her looks, she hooked up with my brother but refused to settle down with him! Once she got to the provincial capital, she became even more arrogant! She hooked up with Commander Shen and then dumped my brother! She’s an ungrateful wretch! Commander, you must do us justice!”
The three of them, one crying, one regretting, and one being fierce, wove a net that completely trapped Zhou Qiqi, and it actually looked quite convincing.
At this moment, Zhou Shuhua slammed her hand on the table and gave a heartfelt summary.
"Commander! Comrades! What Zhou Qiqi has done is a calculated scheme, a shameless act that takes advantage of soldiers' kindness and sense of responsibility! She is ruining the reputation of our army and disgracing the sanctity of military marriage!"
"I implore you, sir, for the sake of the army's honor, to uphold the morale of the military, and to maintain discipline, you must deal with Zhou Qiqi severely! She must not be let off lightly!"
The conference room fell silent. All eyes were on Zhou Qiqi, some scrutinizing, some doubting, and some simply looking down on her.
The secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission had eyes like a hawk, pressing down heavily on Zhou Qiqi, his voice carrying an oppressive force that made it hard to breathe:
"Comrade Zhou Qiqi,"
He deliberately emphasized the word "comrade," yet it conveyed a cold sense of distance.
"Do you have any explanation for Comrade Zhou Shuhua and the situation reflected by these witnesses?"
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