Chapter 24 (Chapter 24) A Masterful Cunning
Zhou Xiaomei was filled with deep regret. Having been reborn, she was confident in her memories of her past life and her foresight, believing she could seize every opportunity and manipulate everyone. But she never imagined that Jiang Suining, whom she had easily controlled and who was weak and easily bullied in her previous life, would be completely transformed in this life! Not only had she changed from her former gentle and submissive nature to a strong and decisive one, but her words were also as sharp as knives, never forgiving anyone who was in the right!
Jiang Suining's marriage to Lu Ye was originally part of her carefully planned scheme. After all, her original plan was to use Jiang Suining as a springboard to get closer to Li Guodong more naturally. However, she gradually discovered that things were developing like a wild horse, completely deviating from her intended path.
In her past life, there was never such a distressing incident as her father forcibly cutting her hair! If this sudden change hadn't thrown her into disarray, she wouldn't have run away from home in such a panic, and wouldn't have been so eager to find Li Guodong before Jiang Suining returned to the island.
The difference between her offering herself up and meeting him legitimately through Jiang Suining's introduction is like night and day. She had originally planned perfectly, that through Jiang Suining's connection, she could naturally and respectably marry Li Guodong. But now, she has become the one who has submitted to him, forcing Li Guodong to marry her. This has made her feel inferior in front of Li Guodong, and she has less confidence in her words and actions.
But Jiang Suining, whom she looked down upon, was living a prosperous and thriving life. Lu Ye, who in his past life wouldn't even give her a second glance, was now seemingly bewitched, his heart completely devoted to Jiang Suining! How could she not hate him? She hated him so much that her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys ached terribly!
If it weren't for the bone-deep jealousy and resentment gnawing at her, she wouldn't have acted as if she had caught Jiang Suining walking side by side with an unfamiliar male officer, chatting and laughing, and she wouldn't have been so eager to spread those vile rumors as if she had caught something huge.
Speaking of this, Zhou Xiaomei calmed down and thought about it carefully, but she was still confused. She vaguely felt that something was wrong. During this period, she had been focused on how to win over Li Guodong and those troublesome stepsons, and had not paid attention to Jiang Suining's changes. Today, after calming down and thinking about it carefully, she realized that Jiang Suining in this life was completely different from the one in the previous life!
In her past life, Jiang Suining was almost always obedient to her, a fool who would still help her count the money even after being sold out. But in this life, Jiang Suining seemed to have harbored great and inexplicable hostility towards her from the very beginning. Although she couldn't produce any solid evidence, upon carefully recalling the series of unpleasant things she had encountered after arriving on the island, it seemed that Jiang Suining's shadow was subtly behind each and every one of them.
Could it be that she was reborn too?!
This terrifying thought exploded in Zhou Xiaomei's mind like a thunderbolt, but she immediately and forcefully, almost fearfully, denied it. No! Impossible! Rebirth, such a rare and inconceivable event that defies fate, is a miracle for even one in ten thousand people. How could God allow everyone to experience it? She stubbornly believed that since God had chosen her, Zhou Xiaomei, and given her the advantage of knowing the future, He could never have chosen anyone else! Even if He had to choose a second person, it could never be Jiang Suining!
Yes! It absolutely couldn't be Jiang Suining! Zhou Xiaomei refused to believe it, even more unwilling to accept this guess. This thought made her feel dizzy and lightheaded. She desperately told herself: I am the darling of heaven, the only lucky one! It can only be me! Jiang Suining's change must be because of Lu Ye! She dared to be so arrogant and oppose me because she relied on Lu Ye's power and confidence! It must be like that!
Zhou Xiaomei inwardly sneered, her venomous gaze hidden behind her thick bangs as she secretly glared at Jiang Suining not far away: Don't be too happy yet! We'll see! Before long, my Guodong will definitely make a name for himself and get promoted! As for Lu Ye, recalling some vague rumors from her past life, a malicious smile curled at the corner of her lips. He'll eventually leave the army! Let's see how long you can be so arrogant!
A mixture of deep-seated resentment and a fleeting, illusory sense of exhilaration about the future gnawed at Zhou Xiaomei's teeth, making them grind so hard they seemed about to break. Finally, she was forcibly taken to the military region's broadcasting room, practically half-carried by two stern-faced soldiers, one on each side.
"Commander Zhang," Jiang Suining said, turning to Commander Zhang as Zhou Xiaomei was being taken away, and asked in a calm tone, "Can the broadcasting system in our military region be controlled by district?"
“Sure,” Commander Zhang seemed to see through Jiang Suining’s intentions at a glance and asked directly, “Which area’s loudspeakers do you want to turn off?”
“I think that Zhou Xiaomei’s apology to me was ultimately a private dispute,” Jiang Suining explained. “Playing the apology in the family compound and the labor protection factory area where the rumors spread the most is enough to clarify the facts. There’s no need to make it known to everyone in the entire military region, which would have a bad influence.” She was considering the life-and-death friendship between Lu Ye and Li Guodong that they had forged on the battlefield, and she didn’t want to go too far because of a conflict between women, making things awkward for the two men in the future.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate for the brothers to untangle this knot themselves after Lu Ye returns from his mission, since those foul words mainly spread within the family compound and the labor protection factory.
Commander Zhang immediately understood Jiang Suining's intention to prioritize the overall situation, and his eyes revealed undisguised admiration. This young woman, so young, yet so thoughtful and tactful in handling matters! "Alright, we'll do as you say. Just turn on the loudspeaker in the family compound. As for the labor protection factory, I'll have the guard go over and communicate with Director Song in a bit."
"Thank you for your understanding, Commander Zhang," Jiang Suining quickly said.
Commander Zhang waved his hand, signaling the guards to urge Zhou Xiaomei to begin as soon as possible.
***
Pushed into the broadcasting room, Zhou Xiaomei, amidst extreme shame, anger, and panic, strangely calmed down.
This moment of calm was followed by a greater fear gripping her. If this apology were broadcast over the loudspeaker, she would lose all face and dignity in this family compound! How could she ever hold her head up again? And what about Li Guodong? Though gentle by nature, he valued camaraderie above all else, and he and Lu Ye were like brothers. If he knew about the despicable things she had done behind his back, ruining his good brother's wife's reputation, how would he view her? Would he still tolerate her as he did now?
The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. Her face turned ashen, her legs trembled violently, and she could barely support herself. Only at this moment did she truly feel regret, regret that was so profound it made her heart ache!
However, it was too late for regrets. Urged on by the soldiers' stern gazes, Zhou Xiaomei trembled as she took the hastily drafted apology letter from Commander Zhang and, her voice trembling with tears, read it aloud, word by word, into the cold microphone:
These days, rumors spread like a plague in the family compound. Many women who didn't know the truth pointed at Jiang Suining and would roll their eyes and spit on her when they met her on the street, or gather together to whisper and talk about her with harsh words.
At that moment, everyone heard Zhou Xiaomei's apology suddenly coming over the loudspeaker, and everyone was stunned. After a moment of deathly silence, the crowd came to their senses and immediately erupted in a cacophony of curses, accusing Zhou Xiaomei of being malicious, despicable, and deserving of getting mouth ulcers from spreading rumors!
Although Jiang Suining was a newcomer to the factory, Director Song was deeply impressed by her, especially after learning that she had made key suggestions in the research and development of waterproof cloth. He was even more impressed with her. Although he did not say it outright, he thought highly of this young comrade who had ideas and abilities.
He had heard rumors about Jiang Suining in the factory these days and was disappointed. Now that the truth was out and he learned that it was Zhou Xiaomei who was maliciously spreading rumors, he was even more disgusted with this troublesome woman. He had someone prepare the broadcasting room in advance and waited there himself.
“Zhou Xiaomei! You're a military wife! How could you do such a thing?! How dare you do such a thing?! Spreading rumors, slandering others, ruining someone's reputation! Putting aside your status as a military wife, even if you were an ordinary woman, don't you know how much damage such rumors can do to a woman's reputation?! As a military wife, instead of setting an example and upholding the image of military families, you lead the way in doing such a despicable thing! You've not only lost your conscience, you have a serious problem with your moral character! How can someone with your character be worthy of being a military wife! You're bringing shame to our unit! You're disgracing all military wives!”
When he was young, Director Song had a fiery temper and was easily angered. Now that he is older, his blood pressure is high, and the doctor has repeatedly told him not to get angry. But today he was really angry. In addition, he was familiar with Lu Ye and Li Guodong. Seeing their wives fighting like this, he was heartbroken and disappointed, and couldn't hold back for a moment.
To be fair, although Director Song's words were very harsh, he didn't use a single swear word from beginning to end. He was reprimanding her based entirely on reason and principle. However, Zhou Xiaomei grew up in an environment where her father constantly beat and scolded her with foul language. Her father's mouth was so foul that he would insult people, even his own daughter.
Zhou Xiaomei had been numb to the foul language she had heard for over a decade. She hadn't taken Director Song's righteous reprimand to heart at all, even finding it insignificant. But ever since she resolved to escape that den of wolves, she had secretly vowed never to live such a life of being beaten and abused again! Today's incident already made her feel incredibly wronged, and now, with Director Song's harsh reprimand, the anger that had just subsided surged back to her head, instantly burning away all her reason!
"Zhou Xiaomei!!"
A furious, thunderous roar erupted from behind, instantly interrupting Zhou Xiaomei's impending outpouring of profanities! She shuddered in fright, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, and froze on the spot.
He... how did he get here?! Zhou Xiaomei panicked completely and instinctively wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in, but when she met Li Guodong's eyes, which were almost spitting fire, her feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, and she couldn't move an inch.
Li Guodong pushed through the crowd, grabbed Zhou Xiaomei's arm with such force that it hurt her. He pointed at her nose, his lips trembling with anger, his face flushed, his chest heaving, unable to utter a single word.
In her past life, Zhou Xiaomei was Li Guodong's neighbor for decades. In her memory, he was always a gentle and humble man with almost no temper. She had never seen him blush, let alone get so angry that he lost his composure.
She was filled with overwhelming regret. Forget about saving face now, she gripped Li Guodong's hand tightly, tears welling in her eyes. Her voice trembling with sobs, she pleaded, "Guodong! Guodong, don't be angry! I know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! I... I'll never do it again! I'll apologize right now! I'll apologize to Director Song! I'll apologize to Sui Ning! Please forgive me this time!"
Based on her observations from her previous life, Li Guodong is the type of person who responds better to gentleness than force. Right now, she is completely in the wrong, and the only way out is to admit her mistake and give in, which might leave her with a chance to turn things around.
Sure enough, seeing her soften her attitude and tearfully admit her mistake, Li Guodong's extremely angry expression eased slightly. However, he still forcefully pulled his hand away, not even glancing at her again. He quickly walked up to Factory Director Song, bowing deeply with a face full of guilt and apologizing: "Factory Director, I'm sorry! It's all my fault! I didn't manage my family well, letting her do such a shameful thing, causing trouble for you and the factory! I..."
Standing behind Li Guodong, Zhou Xiaomei quickly took over the conversation upon seeing this, bowing deeply to Factory Director Song with exaggerated remorse: "Factory Director Song, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault! I'm uneducated, I don't know how to speak, I acted foolishly! I didn't know what was good for me! Please forgive my foolishness! I bow to you in apology!" As she spoke, she bowed even lower.
By this time, a number of employees who had come to see what was going on had gathered in twos and threes inside and outside the broadcasting room, pointing at them and whispering among themselves.
Factory Director Song was truly still upset. Seeing that Li Guodong had personally apologized and was sincere, if he continued to make a fuss, he would only appear petty.
Although he was still feeling incredibly frustrated, Director Song finally sighed heavily, waved his hand, and said wearily, "Never mind... never mind! I'm just an outsider after all." He also lost interest in watching Zhou Xiaomei apologize over the loudspeaker. He briefly instructed the person in charge of the broadcasting room, then put his hands behind his back and hurriedly left this place that had been bothering him.
Feeling guilty, Li Guodong quickly chased after her, trying to appease her with kind words. Zhou Xiaomei also tried to slip away, but was stopped again by the dutiful soldiers. She could only resign herself to her fate and sheepishly walk to the microphone to deliver her second public apology at the labor protection factory.
Jiang Suining truly hadn't expected Zhou Xiaomei to be so "brave," daring to throw a tantrum at Director Song in the labor protection factory. It seemed Li Guodong wasn't completely muddle-headed; at least he could distinguish right from wrong and knew his wife was in the wrong. He shouldn't risk creating a rift with Lu Ye just to protect Zhou Xiaomei.
But she knew in her heart that after this incident, her relationship with Zhou Xiaomei was irreconcilable and there was no possibility of reconciliation. However, she wondered if Lu Ye and Li Guodong, who had once been brothers who had stood back to back on the battlefield and entrusted their lives to each other, would eventually part ways because of the feud between the two women. This cast a faint shadow of worry over her heart.
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