Cheng Ran said this calmly. He never thought that the matter of taking advantage of someone's kindness would happen to him one day, but this was the only way he could think of that would satisfy both parties.
"I remember you said you'd repay me even if you were my slave. Does that still stand?"
"Of course it counts!" Du Ming immediately chimed in, but a hint of worry quickly appeared in his eyes. He tentatively asked, "Commander, is there some important task you've assigned me? Don't worry, I'd do anything for you, even go through fire and water, without batting an eye!"
Du Ming expressed his determination. After nearly a year of training in the army, he had long since developed a set of values that were completely different from his brother Du Heng. However, at this moment, he was unaware of what he was about to face.
Seeing Cheng Ran's serious expression, he stood up and patted him on the shoulder.
"Fine, I only have one request: go back and tell your brother to stay away from my wife, Jiang Wanqing! Starting tomorrow, if I see him near my lover again, I'll skin him alive and make sure he doesn't get away with it!"
Cheng Ran's tone was very serious; he wasn't joking at all. Du Ming just couldn't understand what this had to do with his brother, or why...
He swallowed hard, his body stiffening slightly. "Commander, I... I may ask, but my brother and sister-in-law seem to be working quite well together, so why..."
"Hmph, go back and ask your brother about this, see if he dares to tell you what he's done!"
Du Ming's lips moved, but when he met Cheng Ran's angry gaze, he dared not ask any more questions.
Otherwise, he had no doubt that Cheng Ran would spar with him in the next second.
He didn't understand the matter, and it left a knot in his heart. After Cheng Ran left, he couldn't concentrate on his work.
Fortunately, he had almost finished his tasks and submitted his preliminary work. He then asked his superiors for leave, citing that he was feeling unwell and needed to go home to rest for the night.
He rarely goes home unless he's on a regular day off, but today he has to go back; otherwise, he won't feel at ease.
The Du family has only two sons: Du Ming, his parents, and his older brother. His parents are getting old, and his older brother, having made some money, decided to send his parents to a suitable place to retire. So, usually, it's just the two brothers at home.
In the past, when he came back, the house was quiet and deserted. But today, as soon as Du Ming stepped inside, he felt that the atmosphere was unusual, heavy, and deathly silent.
Du Heng sat on the chair in a disheveled state, slapping his head and muttering to himself with a worried expression.
"What do I do... what do I do now... the money I got is gone..."
He was so engrossed in his own emotions that he didn't even notice when Du Ming returned. He was startled when Du Ming walked up behind him.
"Brother, what are you doing?"
"ah!"
Du Heng turned around, almost jumping up, and for the first time, he lost his temper with Du Ming for no reason.
"Are you a ghost?! You walk without making a sound? Why are you back at this hour? We didn't cook for you today. Go back to the army. Your brother needs to calm down. Don't come back for the next few days. I'm so worried!"
"Brother, what are you worried about? Is it related to Commander Cheng? Or is it related to my sister-in-law Jiang Wanqing?"
Du Ming asked directly. He was a straightforward person by nature, and seeing his brother like this, he had no intention of probing. He just wanted to know the truth as soon as possible. It would be best if the misunderstanding could be cleared up. If it couldn't be cleared up, he would have to fulfill his promise to Cheng Ran. As the younger brother, he had to restrain his older brother's behavior. If word got out, he would be considered a strange person.
"Who told you that! Don't talk nonsense!"
"Brother, are you still going to lie to me! Commander Cheng already told me to warn you. If you hadn't done something, why would he be so angry! He's my savior, and you said he's a benefactor to our family, so why did you provoke him..."
"What do you know!" Du Heng interrupted him. "I just said one wrong thing, and that brute wanted to hit me. I apologized, but he wouldn't calm down no matter what I said. What could I do? I didn't say anything wrong. I just spoke the truth. And you're blaming me?"
Du Heng's current state is like a "what's the use" attitude, and he seems to be taking his anger out on others. Du Ming has never seen his brother so unreasonable before, and he stares wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Brother, when did you... when did you become like this? Are you still the brother I know?"
The eldest brother is like a father, and Du Heng has been practicing this saying for many years. Together with his parents, he has tolerated him, raised him, and nurtured him into adulthood. Du Ming keeps all of this in his heart.
However, Cheng Ran's life-saving grace could not be denied, and he would not blindly protect his family without knowing the truth; he needed to know exactly what had happened.
"What do you want me to say? I just told Cheng Ran not to hold Jiang Wanqing back. He's a cripple now... Did I say something wrong?"
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. If he had known it would turn out like this, he would have been more assertive back then. If such a capable woman as Jiang Wanqing could have come to his side, he could have accomplished anything, not just in the south, but also in the north, east, and west of Xinjiang!
"Brother! I thought you just said something wrong, I didn't expect you to be so awful! Commander Cheng was injured while saving me, how could you be so ungrateful! No wonder he was so angry, it really is your fault!"
Upon hearing his brother's explanation, Du Ming nearly fainted.
"Hmph, he did save you, but we also said we would compensate him. He didn't want the money, so who can you blame?"
"You...you're utterly unreasonable! I'm warning you, don't bother Commander Cheng and his wife again. He said your cooperation with Sister-in-law Wanqing is over. Starting tomorrow, if he sees you in front of them again, he won't let you off the hook!"
These words finally came out of Du Ming's mouth; his eyes were red, filled with both grievance and helplessness.
"I refuse to believe it. A mutually beneficial and win-win situation can be prevented by someone who has absolutely no influence..."
"Stop right there!" Du Ming grabbed him, his tone becoming more forceful. "If you dare to go looking for Sister-in-law Wanqing again, I'll disown you as my brother. I don't have a brother as disgraceful as you!"
"What did you say?"
"I'm telling you, put your work aside for now. Your parents have arranged a marriage for you, so you need to get busy. Don't force me to do anything too outrageous to you!"
"Well, you've grown wings now..." Du Heng couldn't believe he was being scolded by the younger brother he had raised. He was about to teach him a lesson when he was restrained and unable to move. "Let go of me! I'm your brother!"
"Precisely because you are my brother, I cannot let you make the same mistake again!" Du Ming gritted his teeth. "Winter is coming soon. I will tell Mom and Dad that I want another person in the family before the New Year. You should marry my sister-in-law as soon as possible and stop interfering in other people's family affairs!"
"Good, very good! Du Ming, you really are my brother!" Du Heng's eyelids twitched with anger.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
