Xu Xinghe looked at Lian Xiao disapprovingly, frowning as she said, "Why are you talking so rudely?"
"I said something harsh?" Lian Xiao immediately retorted, "Can't you tell he did it on purpose?"
“I can see that.” Xu Xinghe turned and glared at Jiang Linchuan, grabbed the teacup on the table, and drank the tea in one gulp. “Is that alright now? Stop arguing! If you keep this up, we’re going back to the military headquarters, and we won’t be going to see the movie.”
The two of them immediately fell silent.
Jiang Linchuan secretly longed to return to the military, at least to get rid of Lian Xiao, that persistent nuisance.
But he wanted Xu Xinghe to feel more at ease, so his own unhappiness seemed insignificant.
Lian Xiao felt the same way; no matter how unconvinced he was, he didn't want to spoil her fun.
After that, everything was normal, and the meal was finally finished peacefully.
Xu Xinghe's mood gradually improved, and the three of them agreed to go buy sugar cakes together.
There were even more people on the street than before, especially near the movie theater, where there was a dense crowd of workers dressed in blue, gray, and green clothes.
When Xu Xinghe arrived at the stall selling sugar cakes, he was taken aback.
The queue stretched like a long dragon, with no end in sight.
"What's going on?" She stood on tiptoe and peered out, her bright black eyes filled with curiosity. She had never seen such a long line before.
Even in Shanghai, I've never seen such a spectacular scene.
Jiang Linchuan glanced at the crowd in line and explained, "They're probably from the factory who came to see a movie and stopped by to buy some sweets and cakes. This time, they're showing stories of heroes from the War of Resistance Against Japan."
No wonder, it's perfectly normal for factories to organize viewings of these patriotic films.
Now is a time when everything needs to be rebuilt. The country needs to unite people's hearts and minds, and the nation needs to boost morale. National and personal grievances are undoubtedly the best way to inspire fighting spirit.
Lian Xiao looked at the long queue and estimated that it would take at least an hour to get a turn. Then he looked at Xu Xinghe, who had delicate skin and had never experienced the hardship of queuing and freezing.
Without saying a word, he rushed forward, walked to the front of the line next to a worker wearing glasses, and called out, "I'll cut in line, I'll take all your sweet cakes."
The worker's eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded, "Sure!"
Only a fool would disagree to getting a free sugar cake.
But the people behind them wouldn't have it, sticking their heads out and shouting, "Brother, how can you do this? You're not just cutting in line for him, you're cutting in line for all of us! Fine, buy mine too, then I'll accept it!"
Immediately afterward, a third person poked their head out, "Me too! You cut in line, so there's now someone in front of me, and you have to pay for mine too!"
Once the commotion started, everyone else joined in the jeering.
"Count me in!"
"Me too!"
Who wouldn't want a free serving of sweet cake?
If it's not my own money, what's a little longer?
Time is money—that's a concept for the wealthy. But for ordinary people like them, time is the last thing they lack; to exchange it for free food is worth it!
Lian Xiao's face instantly darkened.
He's not short of money, but he's not a sucker either.
But these people's arguments are so reasonable that they are irrefutable.
By cutting in line at the front, he effectively created an extra person in front of everyone else.
He clenched his fists, caught in a dilemma.
The jeers and cheers from the surroundings continued to pour in, making his temples throb.
Just then, Jiang Linchuan slowly walked to Lian Xiao's side and calmly looked at the owner of the sugar cake.
The shopkeeper looked up and his face instantly broke into a bright smile. He wiped his hands on his apron and said, "Oh, isn't this Commander Jiang? You want to buy some sugar cakes? Here, I'll pack two for you for free!"
The people in line behind immediately erupted in anger upon hearing this.
A man in blue overalls complained, "Boss, we've been freezing here all day. Even if you're my relative, you can't cut in line like this!"
"Exactly! At least the other guy was willing to pay, why is this guy doing this?"
Some people echoed this sentiment, causing a small commotion in the group.
The boss slammed his hand on the table, making the sugar cakes on the iron tray shake. "What do you know! Have you forgotten about the scrap metal yard explosion? If it weren't for Commander Jiang risking his life to catch spies, it might have exploded any day now, and none of us would have escaped!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the workers in line fell silent.
When she looked at Jiang Linchuan again, the dissatisfaction in her eyes turned into awe.
This is the hero who saved the entire town!
"Oh, if only we had said it was him earlier! We were being presumptuous!"
"Commander Jiang, I'm so sorry! I'll pay for yours!"
“Commander Jiang, come to my house for dinner? My wife’s cooking is delicious. My house is right next to the scrap yard. If you hadn’t caught them, my whole family might have been in trouble.”
The tense atmosphere from just moments ago quickly turned into a lively one.
Xu Xinghe stood aside, watching in astonishment. She hadn't expected that the incident would spread so widely that the entire town knew about it.
An explosion is a major event, and it's no wonder it became a topic of conversation. But the genuine gratitude in the eyes of the people couldn't be faked.
She genuinely approves of and admires Jiang Linchuan.
Xu Xinghe raised her hand, wrapped the red scarf tightly around her neck, revealing only her bright black eyes. Her voice came through the wool, muffled as if she were holding a piece of candy, "Boss, how did you all know about this?"
"Oh dear, this concerns the lives of all of us, how could we not know! Those spies had planned it all along, intending to blow up the town center to divert the military's attention so their people could steal intelligence! If Commander Jiang hadn't taken out their hideout beforehand, our town would be gone by now!"
Xu Xinghe was busy with the investigation at the time and had no idea that such a dangerous thing would happen next.
After this incident, the military told the public the truth and exposed the identities of those spies one by one.
Now, wherever their relatives and friends go, they are criticized behind their backs.
This is the harshest warning—if one person becomes a spy, the whole family suffers!
Xu Xinghe couldn't help but steal a glance at Jiang Linchuan, who was surrounded by the crowd.
He was quietly persuading the worker who insisted on giving him money, his profile appearing remarkably composed in the sunlight.
It turns out that what he carried on his shoulders was never just the military's mission, but also the peace and tranquility of the people in this region.
He not only saved himself, but also the entire town.
The shop owner wiped his hands, put on a smile, and quickly cut two portions of sugar cake. He carefully wrapped them in oil paper and handed them over with both hands. "Here you go, Commander Jiang. Our sugar cakes should be eaten while they're hot. Quickly try them and see how they taste!"
Jiang Linchuan's tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness: "Thank you for your kindness, but I still have to pay."
After saying that, without waiting for the boss to refuse again, he took out a few banknotes from his pocket and placed them on the table.
He handed the sweet cake to Xu Xinghe, saying, "Eat it while it's hot."
The shopkeeper interjected with a smile, "Young lady, this thing also has another name: fried cake. In the past, it was a rare delicacy that only the empresses in the palace could taste!"
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