Being busy with work wasn't an excuse, nor was failing to notice Zhou Chunping and his friends' harsh treatment of Zhao Yunxiang. Over the years, had Zhou Zhixin been attentive, he would have discovered some clues. Zhao Yunxiang's cautious approach to the Zhou family was enough to alert him. But what about him? He simply assumed the Zhou family wouldn't harm his wife and children, missing many opportunities to uncover the truth.
The resistance of honest people is the most terrifying. Just like Zhao Yunxiang, who endured for as long as she could, only to explode when she could no longer endure. Zhou Zhixin knew that if it weren't for his father-in-law, Zhao Qingshan, mediating, his marriage to Zhao Yunxiang would have ended just like Zhao Guohui's. Without Yunxiang and their child, what good would Zhou Zhixin have achieved in the army? Everyone in their life longs for someone to cheer them on. For Zhou Zhixin, the happiness of Zhao Yunxiang and her child was everything in his life.
It was the first time for Zhao Guohui and Zhao Yunxiang to stroll around Qingshan City. Along the way, they asked several old men and women on the street before they finally found the place.
Qingshan City's No. 1 Department Store is a five-story building covering approximately 6,000 square meters. Its floor is smooth concrete, and its exterior walls are strewn with small white pebbles. Just looking at its exterior gives it the impression of being a prestigious place.
Jiefang Street is Qingshan City's main street, home to the First Department Store, as well as large state-owned stores like the Food Company and Bicycle Shop. Jiefang Street sees a constant flow of people throughout the day. While not overcrowded, it's certainly bustling.
Before Zhao Yunxiang and the others entered the department store, they saw a group of people rushing towards them, led by a few old ladies in their fifties and sixties.
Perhaps seeing Zhao Yunxiang and the others standing in front of the door, an old lady called out, "Big sister, hurry in! There will be wool supplied for export and domestic sales at 2 pm. No tickets are needed, it's first come, first served!"
Huh? Zhao Yunxiang's eyes lit up. Grabbing Zhou Jiasheng's hand, she followed the old lady into the department store. Zhao Yunxiang had been planning to buy a few pounds of wool, and she happened to find some cashless items. Since she had plenty of money, she had no problem buying.
Zhao Guohui and Zhou Zhixin exchanged a smile as they watched Zhao Yunxiang's excited back. Women are like that. Even the most gentle of gentlewomen can transform into fierce Tyrannosaurus Rexes when shopping. It can't be helped. In this era, supplies are scarce, and everything depends on supply. Even if you have tickets and money, if the department store doesn't have the item, you still can't buy it. The rush to buy these scarce goods upon their arrival is commonplace for the residents of Qingshan City.
Zhao Guohui and Zhou Zhixin followed the crowd into the department store. Zhao Yunxiang and Zhou Jiasheng had already run in. They couldn't just sit there and do nothing.
Suddenly, a short gray-blue figure rushed towards Zhou Zhixin.
"Be careful." Zhou Zhixin stopped and helped the man. The man was wearing a large gray cotton-padded jacket and a dog-head hat on his head, which covered most of his face, revealing only a pair of slightly narrow eyes.
Why do these eyes look familiar? Is it someone I know? Zhou Zhixin wondered to himself.
The man smiled at Zhou Zhixin and said, "Thank you, brother." After that, he patted Zhou Zhixin twice and said, "Brother, there's dust on your clothes. Let me pat it off for you."
After saying this, the visitor did not stop and ran out in a hurry.
The voice was clear yet a little hoarse. Was it a woman? Was she familiar to me? And was she even helping to dust off the mess? Zhou Zhixin was stunned.
Zhao Guohui ran forward a few steps and didn't see Zhou Zhixin catching up. When he turned around, he just saw the man slapping Zhou Zhixin.
"Brother-in-law, what's wrong?" Zhao Guohui quickly ran back to Zhou Zhixin and asked.
"It's nothing. That person almost bumped into me." Zhou Zhixin's thoughts were still immersed in the pair of familiar slender eyes. Seeing Zhao Guohui asking, he opened his mouth and told him what had just happened.
Hitting someone? Why is this so strange? Everyone was running into the department store, but this person didn't enter the building and ran so fast. It doesn't seem right!
"Brother-in-law, check if your wallet is still there?" Zhao Guohui couldn't help but remind Zhou Zhixin when he saw that his bulging trouser pockets were deflated.
Zhou Zhixin's face changed when he touched his trouser pocket. His wallet was indeed gone. Just now, when Zhao Yunxiang entered the department store, Zhou Zhixin had secretly touched his pocket and it was still there.
Zhou Zhixin's wallet held only twenty yuan, along with his officer ID, a one-inch photo of Zhao Yunxiang, and a two-inch photo of his family of four. The money was gone, but the ID, along with the two photos, had been with him throughout his years in the army. Whenever he had free time or faced difficulties, he would pull out the photos of Zhao Yunxiang and the children and look at them. Seeing them always gave him the strength to overcome any challenge, no matter how great.
Zhou Zhixin's monthly allowance was 25 yuan. During this visit, he bought some gifts for his family and kept the remaining 20 yuan, intending to give it to his wife, Zhao Yunxiang, when he got home.
As soon as Zhou Zhixin arrived home, he heard Wu Jinfeng calling the police to arrest Zhao Yunxiang. Zhao Yunxiang and Zhou Zhixin were furious, and she returned to her parents' home. Later, Zhao Yunxiang and Zhou Zhixin engaged in a cold war, and Zhou Zhixin offered her money, but she refused to take it.
Zhou Zhixin had no choice but to keep it for himself, intending to force Yunxiang to accept it before leaving, even if he had to force it. Today, when he went to the department store, Zhou Zhixin quickly put the money in his trouser pocket. If his wife liked anything, Zhou Zhixin would pay for it. As a grown man, wasn't the reason he earned money to let his wife and children spend it happily?
Now, the man bumped into Zhou Zhixin and took his wallet away.
Zhou Zhixin was completely irritated. He'd heard of people having their wallets stolen before, but he'd never experienced one himself. Zhou Zhixin was a soldier, always in uniform or casual military attire, so wallet thieves usually avoided him.
Today, Zhou Zhixin had changed into the casual clothes Zhao Yunxiang had made him for the Lunar New Year because he was visiting the Wen family. Wen Yunlong was the deputy commander of the Southeast Military Region, which also governed Zhou Zhixin's unit. To avoid being mistaken for a brazen visitor trying to build connections, Zhou Zhixin had changed his clothes.
Unexpectedly, after changing into casual clothes, someone touched his wallet in the street. This was a great humiliation for Zhou Zhixin as the deputy battalion commander of a reconnaissance battalion.
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