Chapter 76: At Worst, He’ll Be Stripped of His Rank and Sent Home to Farm

“You… you…” Old Mrs. Lin was furious.

She had been scolded until she was thoroughly humiliated, couldn’t win the argument, and was in excruciating pain. So, she plopped down on the ground, throwing a tantrum and rolling around.

“Aiya! This is outrageous! You people from the Military District compound think you’re so great! My son is a Deputy Battalion Commander, and you dare bully us like this!”

Passersby couldn’t help but stop to watch the commotion.

He Xiulan watched coldly, not the least bit afraid.

Back when she followed her husband fighting the Japanese devils, what big scenes hadn’t she seen?

This was nothing.

“No need to throw a tantrum here. If you really think you’ve been wronged, how about I help you write a letter to report it? I’ll truthfully inform the Chiefs about how your family bullied my daughter and granddaughter, and let them decide who’s right and who’s wrong.”

Old Mrs. Lin’s crying stopped abruptly.

“If that’s still not enough, you can go kneel at Tiananmen and escalate it further. I’ll keep you company all the way!”

Old Mrs. Lin choked up.

He Xiulan smiled, effortlessly deflecting the situation: “No need to worry too much. Since you think you’ve been wronged, the leaders are fair and will surely uphold justice for you. Even if they learn about all your dirty deeds, at worst, your son will be stripped of his rank and sent home to farm. It’s no big deal!”

Old Mrs. Lin slumped to the ground with a thud, like a chicken with its neck wrung, falling silent.

She opened her mouth, too frightened to speak.

This old lady was too formidable, too sharp-tongued.

Every word struck her vital points.

“Mom! What are you doing here!”

Lin Zhiguo, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, grabbed her tightly, his face pale with fear.

He truly hadn’t expected that after just a moment of inattention, his mother had caused trouble again.

Lowering his voice urgently, he said, “Mom! Are you crazy? This is Commander Liu’s mother! Her son is the highest-ranking officer in the Military District! Her husband is still an official in Beijing and hasn’t retired yet! How dare you provoke her?”

Old Mrs. Lin swallowed hard, finally truly frightened.

The old lady’s words earlier weren’t just empty threats.

She really had the power!

Looking at He Xiulan’s imposing demeanor and sharp gaze, Old Mrs. Lin didn’t dare delay any longer. She scrambled up awkwardly and was dragged away by her son in disgrace, not daring to utter a single word.

“Grandma is amazing!” Tongtong clapped her hands, her little face full of admiration.

He Xiulan raised her eyebrows proudly, patting the little girl’s head: “Good girl, if she bullies you again in the future, just tell Grandma, and Grandma will deal with her!”

“Okay~” Tongtong agreed sweetly, tugging at He Xiulan’s sleeve to signal her to bend down.

He Xiulan didn’t know what the little girl was up to, but she bent down anyway.

Tongtong hugged her face and gave her a loud kiss.

Her voice was soft and crisp: “Thank you, Grandma~”

Oh, this sweetheart!

He Xiulan’s heart melted, and she couldn’t stop smiling.

“Good child, hurry to class now. Grandma will make you something delicious tonight!”

He Xiulan said with a smile.

Only then did Tongtong obediently wave goodbye to He Xiulan, holding Brother Muchen’s hand and skipping off to school.

He Xiulan picked up her vegetable basket and happily went grocery shopping.

When Yu Wanqin returned from work in the evening and heard about what happened during the day, she felt both lingering fear and gratitude.

Holding He Xiulan’s hand, she said, “Godmother, thank you.”

He Xiulan waved her hand: “No need to thank me! Tongtong is my own granddaughter! Let’s see who dares touch her!”

She then asked with a smile, “By the way, the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. What are your plans, you two? Why not come to my place to celebrate and have some fun!”

Yu Wanqin was about to answer when Tongtong’s eyes lit up. “Yay!”

The System had never celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival before!

Besides, she had so many delicious mooncakes of all kinds in her space—she just hadn’t found the right opportunity to bring them out…

Perfect!

She immediately hugged her mother’s leg, pleading softly, “Mommy! Mommy! Let’s go buy mooncakes at the State-run Restaurant! Tongtong wants to eat mooncakes! And we should buy some for Grandma He, Godfather, and Aunt Lan too!”

Yu Wanqin looked at her daughter’s expectant little face and nodded with a smile. “Alright, tomorrow is my day off. Mommy will take you.”

Today, she had received Lin Zhiguo’s salary, along with quite a few ration coupons.

Coincidentally, Gu Yanbin drove over to deliver some things to He Xiulan, all sent by Liu Zhenjun from Jingshi.

His business trip this time had been quite long, and he probably wouldn’t make it back for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

He Xiulan didn’t seem as disappointed as she used to be.

After all, she now had her daughter and two little grandchildren to keep her company.

She chuckled and said, “Perfect! Let Wanqin and the kids celebrate the festival with this old woman!”

Tongtong happily shook her little head. “Dad Gu, we’re going to buy mooncakes tomorrow.”

Gu Yanbin raised an eyebrow, glanced at Yu Wanqin, and immediately offered, “I’m free tomorrow. I can drive you to the city.”

Afraid that Yu Wanqin might refuse, he added, “I happen to have some errands to run in the city too.”

Tongtong’s eyes sparkled as she decisively agreed, “Deal!”

Yu Wanqin couldn’t say anything else and could only nod in agreement.

After returning home, when Gu Jingnan and his brother found out, they clamored to tag along.

Although Si Muchen remained quiet, his eyes conveyed his intentions clearly.

So the next day, Gu Yanbin drove Yu Wanqin and the three children to the city.

This scene happened to be witnessed by Lin Zhiguo, who was on his way to visit his brother in the hospital.

Watching his wife and daughter sitting in another man’s car, laughing and chatting, Lin Zhiguo felt as if a jar of vinegar had been overturned in his heart—sour and furious. He thought Yu Wanqin was truly unfaithful, flirting around outside!

His eyes darkened as he turned and walked away.

Upon reaching the city, Gu Yanbin dropped them off at the entrance of the state-run store and went to attend to his own matters first.

Although autumn had arrived, the sun was still scorching.

Yu Wanqin put a small straw hat on each of the children.

Tongtong held Brother Jingnan’s hand with one hand and Brother Muchen’s with the other, skipping happily beside her mother.

All three children were good-looking, dressed neatly and cleanly, drawing the attention of passersby.

“Mommy, we need to buy lots and lots of mooncakes! For Grandma He, for Aunt Lan’s family, and for Godfather!” Tongtong counted on her fingers, her little voice filled with excitement.

“Alright, we’ll buy them all!” Yu Wanqin replied with a smile.

Her monthly salary was now 160 yuan, and with Tongtong helping her secure Lin Zhiguo’s salary, she had much more financial flexibility.

When they arrived at the state-run store, it was bustling with people coming and going.

Yu Wanqin first bought a new set of clothes for each of the three children.

Gu Jingnan got a little military uniform and was so thrilled he wanted to change into it right away.

Si Muchen received a dark blue overalls set, which made his small face look even fairer and more delicate.

Tongtong’s outfit was a beautiful light blue corduroy pinafore dress, paired with a white blouse with a ruffled collar. Once she put it on, she looked like an exquisite doll.

The adorable appearance of the three little ones made the saleswoman auntie unable to resist taking a few extra glances, praising them repeatedly.

“Oh, Sister, you are truly blessed—each of your children is more handsome than the last!”

Yu Wanqin was also quite pleased: “Thank you.”

She paid and was about to leave with the children when Tongtong tugged her toward the women’s clothing section, picking out a goose-yellow Bulaji dress.

“Mom! You should buy new clothes too!”

Yu Wanqin had initially said that since she wore a white coat every day, there was no need to buy new clothes.

But faced with her daughter’s determined gaze, she gave in.

The new dress had a slender waist, outlining her perfect figure and making her fair, delicate face appear even more radiant.

Yu Wanqin had never worn such a bright color before.

Standing in front of the mirror, she still felt a bit unaccustomed to it.

But Tongtong clapped her little hands, her dark, sparkling eyes filled with admiration: “Mom is so pretty!”

Gu Jingnan also came over: “Auntie Yu, you look even better than the movie stars on posters.”

Si Muchen didn’t say anything, just nodded in agreement: “Yes!”

Yu Wanqin felt a bit embarrassed by the children’s praise, her cheeks flushing pink.

“Beautiful!”

Suddenly, a man’s deep, magnetic voice sounded from behind.