PWE – Chapter 28 Self-awareness

“Let’s talk after I’ve seen my child,” Zhan Zeyan said coolly, glancing at his commanding officer.

“That’s true — maybe that neighbor was lying,” the commander nodded, voicing his thoughts. He had heard that the neighbor often called the base — with or without reason — just to find Zhan Zeyan.

They were all rough, straightforward men, but even they could see through such obvious intentions.

That neighbor clearly had her eye on Zhan Zeyan. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be calling so often.

And since she liked him, it was possible she spoke badly about his wife in front of him. Maybe that story about child abuse was made up.

“When you get home, even if something really happened, you must talk things through properly. Don’t ever hit her. No matter what, she’s still a woman.”

The commander added this last part out of concern — just in case what the neighbor said was true, he didn’t want Zhan Zeyan to lose his temper and act rashly.

Zhan Zeyan nodded. “I know.”

“Good. You can go.” The commander waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

Zhan Zeyan saluted once more, then turned and left the office.

As soon as he stepped outside, he returned to his quarters.

His luggage was already packed, and his train ticket bought. He could leave right away.

But just as he was about to go, the duty operator from the communications room came running over, saying someone from his village was calling him.

Hearing it was a call from the village, he immediately set down his things and went to the communications room.

…

Meanwhile, at the Mu household, the family wanted Xiao Wange to stay for dinner, but she was worried about Zhao Zhao waiting back in town, so she declined.

She, Zhao Guixiang, and Taotao were planning to take the bus home, but Mu Yunhao insisted on driving them himself.

The Mu family had a car, and Mu Yunhao could drive, so he offered to take them back to town.

Considering how troublesome the bus would be, Xiao Wange agreed.

As they were leaving the Mu residence, Mu Yuncheng was also thrown out.

He stood outside the gate, clutching his luggage, his face full of resentment and unwillingness.

Suddenly, he turned toward Mu Yunhao and shouted, “Why! Why is it that ever since we were young, you always come out on top? Why is it that no matter how hard I try, I always end up like this? Why! Why!”

He shouted “why” again and again. He truly couldn’t understand it. He wasn’t worse than Mu Yunhao, but all their lives everyone only noticed Mu Yunhao, only praised Mu Yunhao.

He was like an invisible person.

He was just as talented, just as hardworking!

Mu Yunhao paused as he was about to get into the car.

He turned slightly and looked at Mu Yuncheng’s crazed expression, frowning. His voice was calm but cold: “Probably because your heart isn’t right. People with twisted hearts never meet a good end.”

Then he opened the car door and got in swiftly.

Mu Yuncheng clenched his teeth, wanting to argue again, but Xiao Wange looked at him and said indifferently, “You’ve been jealous of your brother since you were a child. You can’t stand it when others praise him. Every compliment he receives fills you with envy. That jealousy rotted your heart, blinding you to the praise you received yourself. You always believed your parents favored him, that they would leave the Mu family fortune to him. So resentment grew in you, and you turned to a vile method — raising a ghost — to kill your brother and father, so you could take everything for yourself. But Mu Yuncheng, your parents treated you both the same. You’re the one who let jealousy consume you and your heart turn wicked.”

Mu Yuncheng froze for a few seconds. Then he suddenly burst out laughing. “The same? You call that the same? My parents clearly loved him more! If they didn’t, why would they give him money to start a factory? If they didn’t, why would they send him to study in Hong Kong? He got to study in Hong Kong, and I had to stay in the provincial capital. Such obvious favoritism — you think I can’t see it?!”

Gong Nianzhen, standing at the door, felt a mix of pain, sadness, and anger.

She glared at Mu Yuncheng and snapped, “Your brother borrowed that money from us to start his factory, and he’s already repaid every cent! And when he wanted to start the factory, you refused to — if you had, we would’ve lent you money too!

“As for studying, he went to Hong Kong because he passed the exams on his own! You think we paid to send him there? He was admitted on merit — the school even waived his tuition and housing! During those years, he didn’t take a penny from us. On the contrary, he worked part-time and often sent us gifts!

“So you tell me — where’s the favoritism? If anything, we spoiled you more, because you spent far more money than he ever did!”

“Lies! You’re lying! That school in Hong Kong is so hard to get into — how could he have passed the exam? You’re lying to me!”

Mu Yuncheng refused to accept it. He didn’t want to admit that his brother was better than him.

He screamed hysterically, his face twisted with madness.

Old Lady Mu shook her head and grabbed Gong Nianzhen’s hand, silently signaling her to stop. Mu Yuncheng’s heart had already turned rotten; reasoning with him was useless. No matter what they said, he would just think they were deceiving him.

Xiao Wange shot him a cold glance and couldn’t be bothered to waste more words. She opened the car door and got in.

Zhao Guixiang and Taotao didn’t even look at him as they entered from the other side.

As the car was about to leave, Gong Nianzhen and Old Lady Mu rushed up, peering through the car window.

“Comrade Xiao, if we ever need help, can we come to you? Can we visit you in Danshui Village?” Old Lady Mu asked cautiously, afraid she might refuse.

Xiao Wange smiled. “Of course. If you ever encounter any supernatural problem you can’t solve, come find me.”

“Oh, good, good!” Old Lady Mu beamed with relief and joy. Xiao Comrade’s words meant that they were on friendly terms now — to have a connection with someone so powerful was truly wonderful.

“Yunhao, drive carefully. Don’t go too fast and scare Comrade Xiao,” Gong Nianzhen said happily, glancing at Xiao Wange before turning to her son.

Mu Yunhao nodded. “Don’t worry. I drive steadily.”

After a few more farewells, the car finally pulled away.

Watching it disappear, Old Lady Mu sighed. “Why did Comrade Xiao have to be married? If she weren’t, Yunhao could try to court her.”

“Mom…” Gong Nianzhen gave her mother-in-law a look and shook her head. “Comrade Xiao is extraordinary — almost like a deity. Yunhao is just an ordinary man. How could an ordinary man ever deserve someone like her?”

She was self-aware enough to know her son wasn’t worthy. A girl like Xiao Wange — at best, her son could only carry her shoes.

Old Lady Mu nodded. “You’re right. She’s far too powerful. Yunhao doesn’t match her. But that man she married — what kind of person must he be? He must be incredible too, right? Otherwise, how could he deserve her?”

Gong Nianzhen helped her into the house. “He must be. Otherwise, Comrade Xiao wouldn’t have married him.”

Meanwhile, outside the gate, Mu Yuncheng tried to follow them inside, but the maid blocked him and slammed the door shut in his face.

He frowned deeply, staring at the closed door.

Then Daoist Qu suddenly grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into a nearby alley.

After losing ten years of his lifespan earlier, Daoist Qu blamed it all on Mu Yuncheng. If not for him, he wouldn’t be in this miserable state.

So once they were in the alley, Daoist Qu started beating him viciously.

Mu Yuncheng had a cruel mind but weak fists; he couldn’t fight back. All he could do was curse and shout, swearing at Daoist Qu’s ancestors for eighteen generations.

…

Mu Yunhao’s car reached the town in less than two hours.

Following Xiao Wange’s directions, he stopped right outside the Shi family’s gate.

Zhao Zhao ran out the moment he saw the car. Seeing his mother step out, he rushed toward her. “Mommy!”

Xiao Wange quickly opened her arms. When he reached her, she scooped him up and held him tight. “Zhao Zhao, were you good while staying with Sister Jin Zhu?”

Zhao Zhao nestled into her embrace and nodded earnestly. “I was! I’ve been very, very good!”

She patted his head and kissed his forehead. “Mm, my Zhao Zhao is such a good boy.”

Mu Yunhao stepped out of the driver’s seat. Watching the mother and son embrace, his gaze softened. Then he asked, “This is Comrade Xiao’s son?”

His eyes lingered on Zhao Zhao — the boy looked about three or four years old, yet Comrade Xiao herself looked no more than eighteen or nineteen. Did that mean she had given birth at fourteen or fifteen?

Xiao Wange glanced at him and smiled. “Yes, this is my son, Zhao Zhao.”

Then she introduced them. “Zhao Zhao, this is Uncle Mu Yunhao. Say hello to Uncle Mu.”

Zhao Zhao looked at him, then smiled sweetly. “Hello, Uncle Mu.”

He slipped from his mother’s arms, touched the car door, and said, “Is this Uncle Mu’s car? It’s so pretty!”