Chapter 103 Tonight
Gu Qiuhan's tense expression relaxed and he patted his sister's shoulder: "It's okay, Yueyue, you did very well, very calm."
Gu Qiuyue's tense nerves also relaxed, and she felt a thin layer of sweat on her back.
She took out the warmed letter of invitation, and her face finally lit up again: "Mom, brother, I didn't have time to tell you just now, look at this!"
She handed the letter to her mother and brother.
"New Wind Magazine?! They're asking you to write a serialized novel?!" Xu Qin covered her mouth in surprise after reading the contents, tears of excitement welling up in her eyes. "My daughter has made it big! She's really made it big!"
Gu Qiuhan took the letter and read it carefully. A genuine smile of pride appeared on his resolute face. He patted his sister's shoulder. "Great! Excellent! Yueyue, I knew you could do it! 'Reflecting the struggles and spiritual growth of new rural women in the early days of reform and opening up'... This idea is a perfect choice! You should write it, write it well, and use your pen to capture the spirit and energy of the new women of our time."
This huge affirmation and opportunity, like a strong light, completely dispelled the haze brought by Bai Xiaolian.
Gu Qiuyue's heart was filled with strength, all her fatigue was swept away, leaving only high morale. She shared her initial ideas with her mother and brother, and the images of women who struggled, fought, and awakened in the fields and changes gradually became clear in her mind.
Home, this warm harbor, once again gave her the most solid support and the courage to move forward. Writing is not only her career, but also a trench for her to fight against the filth of the world, protect the purity of her heart, and make a strong voice of the times.
The topic naturally returned to the lingering shadow - Bai Xiaolian.
The smile on Gu Qiuhan's face faded, and his expression turned stern again. "Yueyue," he said in a low voice, "Just before those two from the security department arrived, I received a call."
Gu Qiuyue and Xu Qin both looked at him, their hearts tightening.
"I asked a reliable old comrade in the area to help check it out." Gu Qiuhan's eyes were sharp.
"Bai Xiaolian has hooked up with a distant cousin named Diao San who's involved in gang activities in the west of the city. He has some influence and has gathered a few unemployed vagrants under his command. They engage in speculation and profiteering, and help others settle disputes. He has a very bad reputation." His tone was filled with undisguised contempt.
"Besides," he paused, his eyes growing darker, "Bai Xiaolian has been suddenly a lot more financially comfortable lately, and has been acting even more arrogantly than before. I'm afraid she's gotten some 'outside money', or has someone backing her up."
"The most important thing is," Gu Qiuhan lowered his voice, a hint of coldness in it, "my comrades have heard that Diao San, or through one of Diao San's 'middlemen', seems to have been secretly inquiring about the specific unit number and station location of Shi Yu and his troops... Their purpose is unclear, but it's sneaky and definitely not well-intentioned!"
Gu Qiuyue's heart suddenly sank.
Inquiring about Shi Yu's troops? This was far more serious than simple slander and rumor-mongering. What were Bai Xiaolian and the people behind her trying to do? A chill ran down his spine.
This wasn't just revenge against her personally; it extended its fangs even further to Shi Yu, who was far away in the military camp! Was this an attempt to completely destroy her support, or was there something else going on?
Seeing his sister's face turn pale instantly and the flash of anger in her eyes, Gu Qiuhan held her arm soothingly: "Don't be afraid, Yueyue. With me here, they can't make trouble.
"How dare they target the soldiers? They're really tired of living! I have to get to the bottom of this matter and find out what kind of monsters are behind this."
He stood up suddenly, his brows condensed with thunderous anger and the iron-blooded determination of a soldier: "I have to make another call immediately and inform the old leader of the army. This matter must be taken seriously."
Gu Qiuhan strode towards the old-fashioned black dial telephone on the chest of drawers. He had just picked up the heavy receiver, and before his fingers even touched the dial—
“Ring, ring, ring!!!”
A rapid, sharp telephone ring suddenly and madly exploded in the Gu family's main room, which had just returned to peace. The sound was so harsh that it seemed to carry an ominous omen.
Gu Qiuhan frowned and quickly put the receiver close to his ear: "Hello? It's Gu Qiuhan."
Quick and clear words came from the other end of the phone. Gu Qiuhan listened quietly, and the expression on his face quickly solidified and froze at a speed visible to the naked eye. The knuckles of his fingers holding the receiver turned slightly white because of the force. His eyes were as sharp as a knife drawn from its sheath. With shock and a heavy storm of impending rain, he suddenly turned to Gu Qiuyue.
"...Is the news accurate? Okay, I got it, I'll deal with it right away!" He said in a deep voice into the microphone and hung up the receiver heavily.
The air in the main room seemed to be sucked out in an instant, leaving only the busy tone left after the phone was hung up, buzzing in the dead silence.
Gu Qiuyue's heart was in her throat, and a strong sense of uneasiness gripped her.
Gu Qiuhan took a few steps to stand in front of her. His tall figure was filled with an unprecedented aura of murderous intent, and his voice was as low as thunder:
"Yueyue, I just received urgent news. Bai Xiaolian and that Diao San... they might take more direct and dangerous actions against you or Shi Yu. The target is clear: tonight!"
Gu Qiuhan's words, as low as thunder, exploded in the deadly silence of the hall—"Tonight!"
Every word was like an icicle, piercing Gu Qiuyue's eardrums and heart. A chill instantly shot up from her feet to her head, and her blood seemed to freeze. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. The pain forced her to suppress the scream that threatened to burst out of her throat.
"Tonight? What do they want to do?!" Xu Qin's face was pale, and her voice trembled uncontrollably. She subconsciously grabbed her daughter's arm, as if this could protect her.
Gu Qiuhan's eyes, sharp as a hawk's, swept across the terrified faces of his mother and sister. The iron-blooded determination and resoluteness of a soldier instantly overwhelmed the panic in the room. He didn't say anything extraneous and acted as fast as lightning.
"Mom, when Dad comes back, you immediately bolt the gate from the inside and check all the windows." He spoke very quickly and gave clear orders, "Yueyue, come with me!" He grabbed Gu Qiuyue's cold wrist and strode towards the phone on the chest of drawers.
His movements were steady and powerful, with a reassuring feeling.
Gu Qiuyue was pulled by him, almost jogging to keep up. Her panicked heartbeat miraculously found a trace of support under her brother's powerful and calm aura. She forced herself to calm down, her brain working rapidly -
Bai Xiaolian and Diao San, would they dare to strike tonight? Was their target her? Shi Yu? Or both? What forces could they mobilize? The school? Family? Or something more sinister?
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