Chapter 214 The Finale
In late autumn in Beijing, night falls exceptionally early. A gust of wind blows, swirling up fallen leaves and carrying a sense of desolation.
The pedestrians on the street were all hunched over, hurrying home.
Jiang Wanqiu stood by the roadside, looking at the huge pile of things on the ground with a troubled expression.
She thought for a moment, then stopped a passing cart driver, gave him two yuan, and asked him to take the heavy load of rice, flour, and candy back to the little villa.
"Sir, please take your time. Someone is waiting for you at home."
After seeing the cart off, Jiang Wanqiu was left with only a delicate little leather bag.
She tightened her cashmere coat, feeling her mind in turmoil, and didn't want to immediately take a car back to face that empty bed.
"Let's walk back, it's only two stops away," she muttered to herself, thinking she could also get some fresh air and clear her head.
To get back to the villa from the department store, you have to walk through an old residential area with a street lined with plane trees in the middle.
Today, Jiang Wanqiu wore a beige cashmere coat that was perfectly tailored at the waist, paired with a pair of lambskin shoes rarely seen these days, and a red scarf around her neck. Under the dim streetlights, she looked exceptionally stylish, exuding an air of wealth that stood out starkly against the surrounding gray walls and earthen tiles.
As I walked, there were fewer and fewer people around me.
Once we entered that sycamore-lined street, several streetlights were broken, making the light intermittent.
"Da, da, da..."
The sound of leather shoes stepping on the bluestone pavement was particularly crisp.
Suddenly, Jiang Wanqiu frowned.
She keenly sensed that there seemed to be another voice behind her.
The sound was very soft, as if the footsteps were deliberately lowered, but it still did not escape her ears in the quiet street.
Jiang Wanqiu's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously quickened her pace.
"Shh, shh, shh..." The footsteps behind him quickened, like treading on fallen leaves.
She stopped abruptly, and the sounds behind her vanished instantly. Only the whistling of the wind through the treetops remained.
Jiang Wanqiu didn't dare to turn around. She felt a chill run down her spine, and her palms instantly broke out in a cold sweat. She gripped the small leather bag tightly in her hand.
Someone is following us!
Jiang Wanqiu's heart jumped into her throat. Before she could decide where to hide, three figures emerged from the shadows in front of her.
These three were quite unserious, wearing the most flamboyant bell-bottoms of the time, with legs so wide they could sweep the floor, and their hair was so long it covered half their eyes.
The leader tilted his head, a cigarette butt he'd picked up from who-knows-where dangling from his mouth, and his thieving eyes were fixed on Jiang Wanqiu. Finally, his small eyes settled on the small, obviously valuable handbag in her hand.
"Hey, young lady, all alone?" The leader exhaled a smoke ring, the cheap tobacco smell making Jiang Wanqiu feel nauseous.
The three people formed a triangular shape, completely blocking the road.
Jiang Wanqiu suppressed her panic, took a step back, hid her purse behind her back, and said sternly, "Get out of the way! My husband is a regimental commander in the military region. His car is waiting for me up ahead. If you want to cause trouble, go ahead and try!"
She tried to intimidate him with her status, but the leader of the thugs wasn't afraid at all. Hearing this, he exchanged a glance with his two henchmen and laughed even more unrestrainedly.
"Commander? Oh my god, you scared me to death." The leader spat his cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it out with his toe, and took two steps closer with a smirk. "Who around here doesn't know? The man in that little white building hasn't shown up for almost half a year. Girl, don't pretend. Either he's dead out there, or he doesn't want you anymore. Feeling lonely on this long night?"
Since things had come to this point, there was no point in bluffing anymore. Jiang Wanqiu stopped talking nonsense, turned around abruptly, and ran towards the main road.
But she was wearing heeled leather shoes, which looked good when she walked normally, but were a burden when she was trying to escape.
"Trying to run?"
The skinny thug who looked like a monkey reacted the fastest, rushing forward in two steps and grabbing Jiang Wanqiu's coat sleeve.
"Help! Someone help!" Jiang Wanqiu shouted at the top of her lungs.
But this place was just an abandoned corner of a park, and it was nighttime. Apart from the sound of the wind, who would answer?
"What are you yelling about! You're asking for it!" Skinny Monkey yanked hard, and Jiang Wanqiu twisted her ankle, staggering and falling to the ground, her handbag flying out of her hand.
The thug didn't even glance at the bag on the ground. He and another person grabbed Jiang Wanqiu's arms on either side and dragged her into the nearby grove of trees.
"We're a bit short on cash lately, so we're just borrowing some money to get by. If you don't have any money, your presence is fine too!"
The rough hands pinched Jiang Wanqiu painfully through her clothes. She struggled desperately, kicking her legs wildly, and one of her high heels stomped hard on the skinny man's instep.
"Ouch, damn it!" the skinny monkey cried out in pain, enraged and slapping him across the face.
With a crisp "snap".
Jiang Wanqiu felt a burning pain in her cheeks, a ringing in her ears, her head was knocked to one side, and blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
Before she could catch her breath, the three men had dragged her deep into the park and shoved her onto a dilapidated bench.
The leader pulled a switchblade from his pocket, snapped it open with a "click," and flashed its cold light near Jiang Wanqiu's face.
"Behave yourself! If you move again, I'll make a flower bloom on your pretty face!"
Jiang Wanqiu froze, too afraid to move, tears welling up in her eyes.
The leader used the tip of a knife to lift Jiang Wanqiu's chin and said viciously, "Take off all your valuable jewelry! Also, I heard your family is very rich? If you don't want to be disfigured, you'd better call home and have someone send two thousand yuan! If you're short even a penny, I'll slash your face!"
Jiang Wanqiu glared fiercely at the group, her mind racing as she considered how to respond.
Just then, two blinding beams of light, like sharp swords, suddenly tore through the darkness of the forest and shone straight towards us!
Immediately following was the roar of a car engine, so close it seemed like a wild beast bursting from its cage.
"Damn, what is that?!" The three thugs were blinded by the bright light and instinctively raised their hands to block it.
Before they could even react, something happened.
"Bang!"
A deafening explosion shattered the night sky.
Gunshots rang out in the distance.
The leader of the thugs trembled in fear, and the switchblade in his hand clattered to the ground.
A military green jeep sped through the grass and came to a stop before the passenger door was pushed open.
The bodyguard, Xiao Zhang, jumped out of the car, gun raised and smoking, and roared at the three men, "Don't move! Put your hands up!"
The three thugs had never seen anything like this before, and their legs went weak on the spot.
At that moment, the back door of the jeep was suddenly pushed open.
A foot wearing a black military boot stepped onto the ground covered with fallen leaves, and then a tall, imposing figure stepped out of the car.
Zhao Wenchang's face was so gloomy it could drip water, and his usually calm eyes were now bloodshot, exuding a murderous aura that seemed ready to devour someone.
He didn't give those thugs a chance to speak, and strode forward, kicking them.
"Bang!"
The kick landed squarely on the leader of the thugs' chest, the sound of bones breaking clearly audible. The thug didn't even groan; he flew two meters away like a rag doll, crashing heavily into a tree trunk before sliding down and lying there like a dead dog.
The remaining two thugs were terrified. Just as they were about to move, Zhao Wenchang grabbed them with his backhand, his movements so fast that they couldn't even see them.
Two crisp "crack" sounds were heard, the sound of the joint being forcibly dislocated.
"ah--!"
A piercing scream instantly echoed throughout the park. Zhao Wenchang's attack was extremely ruthless; it was a killing move he brought from the battlefield—clever and efficient, yet each strike was fatal.
After dealing with these few scoundrels, Zhao Wenchang didn't even glance at them again, turned around and strode to the bench.
He ripped off his military overcoat and wrapped it tightly around Jiang Wanqiu, who was disheveled and shivering, before pulling her into a tight embrace.
The familiar scent of tobacco mingled with the cool night breeze wafted towards her—the scent she had longed for day and night.
"Wow--"
Jiang Wanqiu froze for a second, and then all her grievances, fears, and forced strength completely collapsed at that moment. She gripped Zhao Wenchang's shirt tightly and burst into tears.
"Why did you take so long to get here...why did you take so long to get here!"
She cried as she pounded her fists into Zhao Wenchang's chest, venting her fear and anxiety of the past few months.
"Do you know how scared I was... do you know..."
Zhao Wenchang let her hit him, not flinching even once. He lowered his head, his rough lips repeatedly kissing the top of her head, over and over again:
"I'm sorry... I'm here, Wanqiu, I'm here."
Xiao Zhang and several guards who arrived later quickly brought the scene under control and dragged the three thugs who were still groaning on the ground to their feet.
Zhao Wenchang raised his head and coldly swept his gaze over the three men:
"Xiao Zhang, take it back and hand it directly to the security department."
“I need to know all the information about their ancestors for eighteen generations, and…” Zhao Wenchang paused, his eyes sharp as knives, “who gave them the audacity to touch my family members?”
After Zhao Wenchang finished speaking, he bent down, put one hand under Jiang Wanqiu's knees and the other hand around her back, and picked her up horizontally.
Still shaken, Jiang Wanqiu instinctively hooked her arms around his neck and buried her face in the cold, hard military overcoat.
The jeep drove incredibly fast, yet remained remarkably stable.
Before long, the car stopped at the gate of the small villa. The house was brightly lit, and the front door was wide open.
Inside the main room, Ma Jinhua, Zhao Shan, and Zhao Xiaohua were anxiously pacing around the telephone.
The old lady kept glancing towards the door, muttering, "What time is it? Why haven't they come back yet? Could they have fallen in the dark?"
Just then, footsteps came from the doorway.
As everyone looked up, they saw Zhao Wenchang stride in, radiating coldness, his arms tightly holding Jiang Wanqiu. Jiang Wanqiu was wrapped in an oversized military overcoat, revealing only her pale face and disheveled hair.
This scene startled the whole family so much that their hearts skipped a beat.
"Oh my God!" Ma Jinhua's hand trembled, and the cane in her hand fell to the ground with a "clatter." She trembled as she tried to move forward, "What happened? What's wrong? Wanqiu, where are you hurt?"
Zhao Shan and Zhao Xiaohua were also terrified and quickly surrounded them.
Seeing the old man so frightened, Jiang Wanqiu felt bad and was about to say that he had fallen when Zhao Wenchang spoke first.
"Mother, it's alright. I ran into a few thugs on the way who tried to block my path, but I've already dealt with them. Wanqiu was just a little frightened, but she's not hurt."
"A thug? Oh my god, that heartless bastard!" Ma Jinhua cursed angrily. "How can there still be such a scoundrel in this world!"
"Alright, Mother, it's alright now." Zhao Wenchang didn't explain further, and carried Jiang Wanqiu straight upstairs. "I'll take Wanqiu back to her room to rest first. Aunt Wang, could you please make her a bowl of calming soup, and make sure it's hot."
He gently placed Jiang Wanqiu on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and reached out to tidy up the messy hair at her temples. He said in a low voice, "Lie down for a while. I'll go downstairs to say a few words and then come back up."
Jiang Wanqiu nodded obediently.
He hurried downstairs and out of the small villa's gate. In the courtyard, the guard, Xiao Zhang, stood ramrod straight, with two jeeps that had just arrived parked beside him, and several heavily armed soldiers waiting for orders.
Zhao Wenchang stood on the steps, lit a cigarette, took a puff, and the embers flickered in the night.
“I want more than just their statements,” he said in a low voice. “Who ordered them? Where do they hang out? Do they have any accomplices? Find out everything. Also, starting today, add two mobile sentry posts within a five-kilometer radius of the compound. I don’t want to see any shady characters around here again.”
"Yes, Commander!" Xiao Zhang saluted and left to carry out the order.
After dealing with these trivial matters, Zhao Wenchang stubbed out his cigarette, stood in the cold wind for a while to dispel the smell of smoke, and then turned and went upstairs.
Pushing open the bedroom door, the dim light from the bedside lamp cast a warm glow. Jiang Wanqiu, holding a bowl of hot soup brought by Aunt Wang, leaned against the headboard, her eyes red and fixed on him.
Zhao Wenchang's heart softened, and he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to hold her somewhat cold hand.
Looking at the man who had been missing for more than three months, Jiang Wanqiu felt a surge of grievance again.
She sniffed, put the bowl on the bedside table, and asked, "Where have you been for the past three months? You haven't even called. I thought... I thought you didn't want us anymore."
Looking into her tearful eyes, Zhao Wenchang felt a deep sense of guilt.
He sighed and rubbed her hand against his stubble-covered face. "What nonsense are you talking about? This is no ordinary mission."
He paused, then explained earnestly, "This is the selection of the 'King of Soldiers' for the entire military region. It's a closed-door training camp, and all communications have been cut off. Moreover, this is also in preparation for the large-scale military exercise at the end of the year. The higher-ups said that only those who come in first place in this assessment are qualified to make demands."
"Make conditions?" Jiang Wanqiu was taken aback.
“Yes.” Zhao Wenchang looked at her intently. “I did everything I could to get first place, just so I could apply to the organization for this two-week special leave. I was thinking that Xiao Shitou’s 100-day celebration was coming up, and it would be too hard for you to handle it all by yourself, so I had to come back.”
As he spoke, Zhao Wenchang, as if by magic, pulled a small red velvet box from his inner pocket and gently opened it.
A golden medal of merit, first class, gleamed brightly under the light.
He placed the medal into Jiang Wanqiu's hand and closed her fingers: "Wife, I risked my life to get this so that I could come back to see you at this time. These past three months, when I was lying in the ravine, I missed you so much that I was going crazy."
Jiang Wanqiu looked at the military medal in her hand; it felt heavy. Then she looked at the man's noticeably thinner face, with prominent cheekbones, yet with an even more resolute expression, and the resentment in her heart vanished instantly.
Tears welled up in her eyes again: "But you can't just leave without any news at all..."
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhao Wenchang leaned closer, pulled her into his arms, rested his chin on her shoulder, and said with a hint of smugness, "And I have good news for you, I've been promoted too. The report hasn't been officially released yet, but it's a done deal. From now on, Zhao Wenchang will be even more capable of protecting you, and no one will be able to bully you anymore."
That night, Jiang Wanqiu slept exceptionally soundly, dreaming of that military overcoat that smelled of tobacco.
The next day was a bright and sunny day.
Firecrackers crackled and red ribbons hung high in front of Beijing's largest hotel. Little Stone's 100-day celebration was a truly grand affair.
Zhao Wenchang, dressed in a crisp military uniform with gleaming epaulets, stood at the door welcoming guests, holding Xiao Shitou, who was wearing a red bib. Jiang Wanqiu, dressed in a well-tailored red cheongsam, stood beside him, looking radiant and beautiful. Her hair partially concealed the scars on her face, but with her happy smile, no one would care about that minor imperfection.
The banquet was filled with distinguished guests.
Even Minister Cui, who is rarely seen, made a personal appearance. The old leader patted Zhao Wenchang on the shoulder and, in front of a hall full of guests, praised him with a strong voice: "Good lad! You're first in the assessment again! If our military region had more pillars of the nation like Zhao Wenchang, how could we not realize our dream of a strong military!"
Upon hearing this, the way the guests looked at Zhao Wenchang changed; it was now a genuine expression of awe.
Then, Le Yunyun arrived. She was dressed fashionably, and two assistants followed behind her, carrying two large suitcases.
She pulled out a thick stack of documents and a wad of cash in front of everyone, and announced loudly with a beaming smile: "Today is a good day for Little Stone. As his godmother, I don't have much to give him. This is the dividend for the new season of 'Gentle Paradise,' and a longevity lock for Little Stone. Our Wanqiu is not only the wife of the troupe leader, but also a real rich woman in Beijing!"
These words left the somewhat snobbish ladies present speechless. Power and money—Jiang Wanqiu's life was just too good!
The 100-day celebration came to a lively end, the guests left, and the family returned to their small villa.
Looking at the mountain of gifts piled up in the room, and Little Stone's rosy cheeks from sleeping, Ma Jinhua sat on the sofa, beaming from ear to ear, wiping away tears as she exclaimed, "Our Zhao family has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Life is finally looking up again!"
In the stillness of the night, the old lady carried Little Stone into the house to sleep.
Inside the bedroom, Jiang Wanqiu was removing her makeup at the dressing table. Zhao Wenchang came out after taking a shower and gently hugged her from behind.
In the mirror, the man is tall and robust, while the woman is petite and delicate.
Zhao Wenchang looked at the two of them in the mirror, buried his head in her neck, took a deep breath of her fragrance, and said softly, "Wife, pack your luggage."
Jiang Wanqiu stopped what she was doing and turned around in surprise: "Packing your luggage? Where are you going? You... are you going back to the team?"
A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.
Zhao Wenchang chuckled softly, his eyes full of doting and anticipation: "What are you thinking? You're not going back to the team this time. Leave the child with your parents and Aunt Wang tomorrow, and then we'll go."
Where to?
“Let’s go south and see the sea.” Zhao Wenchang kissed her earlobe. “We’ve been married for so long, but we haven’t had a proper trip together. Just the two of us, let’s make up for our honeymoon. For the next two weeks, I’m not Commander Zhao, and I don’t have any missions. I’m just your man, Jiang Wanqiu.”
Jiang Wanqiu was stunned. Then, two red clouds rose on her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with surprise.
She turned around, wrapped her arms around Zhao Wenchang's neck, and looked at this man who was both tough and tender, a sweet smile appearing on her lips.
The moonlight outside the window is just right; the future is still long.
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