Chapter Sixty-Seven
Zhou Mo's plan wasn't particularly meticulous, but she was bold and outspoken. Coupled with her recent surge in popularity and the kidnapping issue stemming from public concerns, she became an overnight sensation after revealing Zhou Qinian's story during her live stream.
Countless calls flooded her phone. Zhou Mo selectively replied to a few, and blocked the rest.
Online, some people stand with Zhou Mo, condemning these heartless adults who only care about protecting their own jobs. It's so hard for ordinary people to get ahead. A person's reputation can be ruined in an instant, but to recover it requires countless trips, countless explanations, and many times of speaking out and shouting, and even growing taller, just to have a chance to make their voice heard by more people.
But Zhou Qinian was already dead.
They're blaming a dead person, taking advantage of the fact that he's dead and can't speak, that he has no one to back him up, and that he only has an innocent daughter, to bully him and the child he left behind.
Of course, the internet is always a double-edged sword; while some people support Zhou Mo, others criticize her.
Some say Zhou Mo is just using this controversy to give her disreputable father a chance to whitewash his image; these days, the internet doesn't justify whoever is the most pitiful.
The second half of the statement is also correct; being miserable is never a reason for netizens to take sides.
Fairness is the only thing that matters.
Zhou Qinian's case caused a huge uproar online, forcing Ming'an City to reopen the investigation of the case that had been brought up and then quickly put aside years ago.
Without Ning Xuzhi, Zhang Xing had no hope of promotion or climbing the ranks, but fortunately he hadn't done anything particularly heinous, so he was let off the hook during the investigation.
But after this experience, Zhang Xing became much more cautious, afraid that one day he might get in someone's way and his own petty troubles would be brought up again.
He just didn't expect that he would face such a calamity four years later.
Zhou Qinian's name reappeared in his life. In the office, he, who was usually timid and hesitant, stood up straight for the first time, swept all the documents off the table, and ignored the strange looks from others in the sunlight, his eyes fixed on the news displayed on his phone screen.
Why?
So many years have passed, why is Zhou Mo still preoccupied with such a trivial matter? Is Zhou Qinian's reputation really that important? He himself doesn't care, so why should others care for him?
Why bring this up?
He had almost forgotten.
Close your eyes, and past scenes slide through your mind like film reels.
Suddenly, Zhang Xing opened his eyes. He looked ahead in disbelief, unable to believe the memories he had just unearthed.
How could it be Zhou Qinian who saved him?
It was clearly his poor decision that led to his leg injury, turning him into a disabled soldier. His family was very poor, and he had many children. He was the second oldest and the least favored child in the family. His older brothers and younger siblings could all go to school, but he was the only one who was forced into the conscription area by his father with a cold quilt draped over him.
At that time, he had not yet learned to be jealous, to complain about fate, or to repay kindness with ingratitude.
On the day he enlisted, he met Zhou Qinian.
According to those around him, Zhou Qinian was a well-known top scholar in the area, but he did not choose to go to university. Instead, he chose to join the army. Zhang Xing thought this guy was really stupid. Of course, he should go to university if he could. Why did he choose to join the army?
Zhang Xing couldn't understand Zhou Qinian, nor did he remember when the two became close friends. Zhou Qinian was a month older than Zhang Xing, but when they stood together, they didn't look like they were only a month apart. Zhang Xing was too thin, like a monkey. Perhaps for this reason, Zhou Qinian was particularly fond of Zhang Xing.
Zhang Xing still remembers that back then, people in the class always said that Zhou Qinian, the class monitor, was biased.
Yes, Zhou Qinian not only excelled academically, but also had the best physical fitness among his graduating class.
Zhang Xing wondered again, how could someone be both a scholar and a warrior?
Later, during a conversation with Zhou Qinian, he learned that Zhou Qinian did not go to university because of his older sister. Zhou's parents favored boys over girls. Although his sister's grades were also very good and she could have gone to high school, she had to become a mother early and work outside to earn money because of him.
Zhang Xing asked, puzzled, "Then why don't you continue your university studies?"
“I don’t want her to be so tired, you know? In the army, outstanding soldiers can be recommended to go to military academy, and the tuition is completely free. I’m confident I can do it.” At that time, Zhou Qinian was tanned dark, and when he smiled, a row of white teeth were revealed. He was simple and sincere.
It seems that it was from that conversation that Zhang Xing understood what jealousy was.
Seeds of jealousy and resentment slowly sprouted in his heart. He often wondered why he wasn't born into the Zhou family. He would have been the son who was pampered by his parents and had an older sister who could earn money for him. Such a life was so good, yet Zhou Qinian could just give it up like that. Zhou Qinian must be out of his mind.
This feeling gradually changed, and his gaze was always on Zhou Qinian, even when carrying out missions. Because he wanted to follow Zhou Qinian, he resolutely entered the special forces selection. Perhaps because his jealousy of Zhou Qinian was too strong, he was actually selected.
However, he injured his leg during his first combat mission.
He couldn't remember how he got hurt; he only remembered Zhou Qinian pinching his thigh to stop the bleeding, saying it was all his fault.
Without thinking, Zhang Xing replied, "Yes, it's all your fault."
Zhou Qinian did not refute.
He didn't argue. If I don't blame him, am I?!
Zhang Xing questioned himself inwardly: memories can be hidden, can be altered by oneself, but the truth cannot.
He remembered the real reason he was injured during that mission, and the whole story of Zhou Qinian's forced retirement.
He lied, saying that Zhou Qinian's decision-making error led to the injury of the team members, but that was not the case. The main reason was him. He altered the mark left by Zhou Qinian, causing the rear squad to misjudge the situation and fall into enemy encirclement. All he could think about was that if he made a contribution this time, he could replace Zhou Qinian.
Zhou Qinian will be a loser, but he will become the hero of the entire team.
But he failed.
He was the first to fall into the enemy's ambush.
The bullet pierced his thigh, and he cried out in pain. Zhou Qinian arrived quickly and, without thinking, used his own body to block the enemy's attack. That's how Zhou Qinian got the leg wound.
But fate was merciful; Zhou Qinian's leg injury was not serious, and apart from leaving a scar, it had no other impact.
Unlike him, he can no longer be a special forces soldier or a qualified soldier.
Zhou Qinian knew everything, but he still took it on.
Zhang Xing knew Zhou Qinian very well. On the day Zhou Qinian left, he deliberately asked him, "What should we do? You can't be recommended to military academy anymore."
Zhou Qinian grinned as he spoke, “After serving in the army for a few years, I’ve saved up some money. I can take the adult self-study college entrance exam, and my family won’t have to pay for my tuition anymore.”
Upon hearing Zhou Qinian's words, Zhang Xing turned and left without saying a word.
After that separation, the next time they met was when they heard the news of Zhou Qinian's death.
He listened to the sighs of those around him about Zhou Qinian. He learned that Zhou Qinian had become a respected and beloved teacher, had a beautiful and generous wife who was a designer, and had a very well-behaved daughter.
Jealousy and resentment resurfaced.
He desperately tries to curry favor with his superiors for a future he's uncertain about, while Zhou Qinian gets to have the life he's always dreamed of. Why?!
He smiled very quickly.
Zhou Qinian is dead. He's already dead. No matter how wonderful a life is, it won't be left to the dead.
But he still hated Zhou Qinian. His hatred for Zhou Qinian had never changed. He hated that Zhou Qinian died while saving someone. He hated that the scene and his feelings were the same as in the jungle many years ago. He hated... He just hated Zhou Qinian.
He hated this person, and he hated himself for not being able to be Zhou Qinian.
"Zhang Xing?...Zhang Xing?"
Zhang Xing was brought back to his senses by his colleague. He slowly pulled himself out of the emotional turmoil he had just experienced. His colleague looked at him with no concern, only a hint of reproach. "The leader will be coming to inspect in a little while. Clean up this area."
"Okay." His reply came faster than his thought process. Over the years, the words he had said most often to others were "okay," "received," "no problem," "please wait a moment," "I will do it," and "please give me another chance."
Such a sincere and heartfelt conversation had only ever happened with Zhou Qinian.
No one paid attention to Zhang Xingshan's raging emotions. They only cared that other people's mistakes wouldn't affect them. They just wanted to do their own jobs well and ignore everything else. That way, they could stay here peacefully for life. Even a secure job is only secure if you do your job well.
Ming'an City established a special investigation team for the Zhou Qinian incident. The witness testimonies from that year were all brought up, and the boy who had wronged Zhou Qinian had also gone to university. He was the first one to be found to have problems.
The boy's grades weren't good enough to get into the best high school in Ming'an, but he not only got in, he got into the honors class.
Once a breakthrough is found, it's easy to create an opening.
Little by little, tear it inwards.
Zhang Xing knew that once Ning Xuzhi was investigated, the matter would be completely out of control. Ning Xuzhi had no hostility towards Zhou Qinian because he didn't know Zhou Qinian at all, but Zhou Qinian did.
Zhou Qinian's predicament back then was orchestrated by him.
While comforting Zhou Qinian's daughter, she secretly orchestrated the sending of people to defame Zhou Qinian's reputation.
Those were days that made him incredibly happy.
Zhang Xing knew his good fortune wouldn't last, so he decided to see Zhou Mo one last time. He would settle the matter of his old friend's affairs with her son.
Lost in his thoughts, Zhang Xing suddenly had a sudden idea: how could Zhou Qinian, such a 'good' person, have such a rebellious and unforgiving daughter as Zhou Mo? She must have inherited her mother's personality. Just thinking about how Zhou Qinian's wife was domineering and Zhou Qinian was a cowardly and henpecked husband at home...
Zhang Xing laughed, feeling that he had won against Zhou Qinian.
Because he doesn't have a wife, he's not afraid of one.
Zhou Qinian was afraid, but he wasn't.
He won.
For the first time, he won against Zhou Qinian.
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