Gu Yanxiao was unaware that right after he left, Wang Cuijuan began spreading rumors throughout the family compound.
After dinner, the family of four felt very satisfied. Xia Liang suggested going for a walk, as this visit was quite rare, and she hoped to gain a deeper understanding of her husband's daily life. The two little ones were also very excited, skipping and jumping as they took their parents' hands for a stroll.
On the way, they encountered other military wives living in the family compound. Originally, Gu Yanxiao had intended to introduce these people to Xia Liang, but when he saw the strange and inexplicable looks they gave Xia Liang, he remained silent and continued walking forward with his wife and child.
The next day, after completing his training, Gu Yanxiao did not immediately go to the family compound. Instead, he found a fellow soldier who also lived there and asked, "Have you heard any negative comments about my wife recently?" This soldier was the battalion commander of their regiment's second battalion. After hearing Gu Yanxiao's question, he replied, "I'll ask my wife when I get back. I don't know much about it." Gu Yanxiao nodded and then returned to the family compound.
Upon arriving at the family compound, Gu Yanxiao saw Wang Cuijuan again. She snorted, ignored Gu Yanxiao, and slammed the door shut as she went home. Gu Yanxiao was too lazy to bother with her either, feeling somewhat bewildered.
Upon entering the house, he saw his wife sewing buttons for him, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart, but at the same time, he felt a little helpless and heartbroken. He walked to his wife's side and said softly, "You've finally had a few days off, don't do these things. I asked you to come over because I missed you, not to have you do chores." Xia Liang smiled slightly and replied gently, "It's not hard work, I can do it easily, it's not tiring." Gu Yanxiao knew he couldn't argue with his wife, so he gently put his arm around her waist from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and quietly watched her carefully sewing buttons for him.
The next morning, the second battalion commander came to Gu Yanxiao's office and said to him with a serious expression, "Regimental Commander, I heard from my wife that Sister Wang is spreading some bad rumors about you in the family compound." Gu Yanxiao's brows immediately furrowed, and he pressed for details, "What did she say?"
The second battalion commander stammered for a long time without speaking. Gu Yanxiao clicked his tongue and said, "A grown man like you, just speak properly. Why are you hesitating?" Helpless, the second battalion commander could only tell the story: "Sister-in-law Wang said that your wife, that is, your sister-in-law, is from the countryside. In order to marry you, she used underhanded means, got pregnant, and forced you to marry her. At that time, in order to protect your future, you had no choice but to agree to marry her, but you didn't love her at all." After the second battalion commander finished speaking, he glanced at Gu Yanxiao's face. Sure enough, it was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Gu Yanxiao was almost laughing in anger. What was all this nonsense? Using tricks? He had been hoping Xia Liang would use tricks to marry him back then.
He turned and went to the brigade commander's office. The second battalion commander behind him said anxiously, "Regimental commander, please don't say that I told you!" Seeing that Gu Yanxiao had already walked far away without turning his head, and not knowing whether he had heard him or not, the second battalion commander was extremely anxious.
"Brigadier! You must stand up for my wife! She's been falsely accused and smeared for no reason. What if she divorces me because of this? If this gets out, what will people think of our family compound? They might say it's full of gossipy, backstabbing women who don't do any real work and just talk behind people's backs." Brigadier Zheng smiled, poured a glass of water for Gu Yanxiao, and comforted him, "Don't get agitated, calm down. I'll go find Regiment Commander Mao to find out what's going on."
After Gu Yanxiao left, Brigade Commander Zheng called out towards the door, "Xiao Ma, come in here for a moment." Hearing the commander's summons, Xiao Ma quickly pushed open the door and entered the room, respectfully saluting and asking, "Brigade Commander, what are your instructions?" Brigade Commander Zheng took a deep breath and slowly said, "Go to the Third Regiment immediately and ask Regiment Commander Dou to come here." Xiao Ma saluted again and answered crisply, "Yes, Commander!" before turning and leaving.
At this moment, Dou Yiping was leisurely lying on his sofa, watching a program on TV, feeling quite relaxed. However, he was completely unaware that a disaster was about to befall him, a disaster caused by his wife.
Completely bewildered, Dou Yiping stood in the brigade commander's office, his face filled with confusion and doubt. Suddenly, the brigade commander roared at him angrily: "Yiping! To defend against the enemy, you must first settle things internally. If you can't even handle things at home, you certainly won't be able to carry out your work smoothly, do you understand?" Faced with the brigade commander's sudden scolding, Dou Yiping was extremely surprised. He quickly asked, "Brigade commander, what happened?" However, Brigade Commander Zheng had clearly lost his patience. He replied irritably, "Go home and ask your wife! Until you resolve this matter properly, you'd better stay in the camp!" As soon as he finished speaking, Brigade Commander Zheng turned and left the office.
Left with no other option, Dou Yiping hurriedly headed towards the family compound. He secretly resolved to get back quickly and ask his wife what was going on. After all, if this matter wasn't resolved promptly, would he be stuck in the camp indefinitely? Wouldn't that mean he'd miss his training opportunity in two weeks? Thinking this, Dou Yiping quickened his pace involuntarily.
Dou Yiping rushed home and saw his wife, Wang Cuijuan, busy preparing dinner in the kitchen as soon as he entered.
When Wang Cuijuan saw her husband rush in so hurriedly, she couldn't help but complain, "What's wrong with you? You rushed out just now, and now you're back in such a hurry?" Dou Yiping didn't have time to explain much to his wife. He anxiously asked directly, "What have you been doing in the family compound all this time?"
Seeing her husband's anxious face, Wang Cuijuan dared not nag any longer. She replied with a puzzled look, "I didn't do anything! I just washed your clothes and cooked for you and your son as usual." The couple were both over fifty years old. Their eldest son had already gone out to work and their youngest daughter had gone to study in another city, leaving only their youngest child with them.
Seeing that his wife seemed unaware of the situation, Dou Yiping began to wonder, "Then why did Commander Zheng call me in for a talk and criticize me?" Wang Cuijuan, hearing that her husband had been reprimanded by his superior, also became anxious, eager to find out what had happened. Suddenly, she heard a burst of silvery laughter from next door. Wang Cuijuan found it incredibly annoying; they were just two girls! Spoiled like crazy.
At this moment, Gu Yanxiao was carrying his youngest daughter on his shoulders and spinning her around, and the little one was giggling excitedly.
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