RYEY – Chapter 226 Someone from Above Has Arrived

“Commander Liu, an order has come down from above. You are to leave the Song and Dance Troupe immediately and report to the Personnel Department of the Zhangye Textile Factory.”

A courier walked in holding a document and handed it to Liu Xiaojuan. She froze completely. Was this forcing her to demobilize? What on earth had happened to her face?

“Jiang Meili, give me the mirror.”

Jiang Meili trembled as she took a small round mirror out of her pocket. She had deliberately gone to the supply and marketing cooperative that morning to buy it—just so Liu Xiaojuan could see for herself.

Liu Xiaojuan took the mirror but didn’t dare lift it. After a long moment of steeling herself, she finally raised it and opened her eyes.

“Ah… ah… ah…”

When she saw her reflection—half human, half ghost—Liu Xiaojuan completely broke down. She hurled the mirror viciously at Jiang Meili. If Shen Ying hadn’t pulled Jiang Meili aside in time, Jiang Meili would likely have been disfigured as well.

Seeing that she had failed to hit Jiang Meili only made Liu Xiaojuan even angrier. Her eyes fell on the enamel mug on the bedside table. Without hesitation, she grabbed it, about to smash it.

The military doctors hadn’t expected such a violent reaction. They rushed forward together, several of them straining to hold her down, while another doctor quickly injected the prepared sedative.

Jiang Meili wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. She had deliberately stood still, because she knew Shen Ying would definitely pull her away. Her gamble had paid off.

Several military doctors cast disgusted looks at Liu Xiaojuan. As the head of the Song and Dance Troupe, beautiful and alluring, with a husband who was also a regimental commander stationed in Zhangye, she had long been used to acting arrogantly.

Before, they had only heard rumors. But now, seeing with their own eyes how Jiang Meili—a pretty young girl—had been frightened so badly she didn’t even know to dodge, they all began to sympathize with Jiang Meili.

“Don’t worry. She’s already been transferred away. You won’t have to be afraid anymore.”

Shen Ying whispered in Jiang Meili’s ear. At the same time, suspicion stirred in her heart. Once she got back, she would write to her grandfather and tell him about this, and see what he had to say.

Jiang Meili nodded with difficulty, then looked toward the doctors, appearing as if she wanted to speak but didn’t dare. A young male military doctor smiled at her kindly. “If you have something to do, you can leave.”

Jiang Meili glanced at Shen Ying again. After a moment’s thought, Shen Ying took Jiang Meili by the arm, and the two of them left the military hospital together.

“Meili, what exactly happened? Did you run into anyone on the road?”

Jiang Meili also looked up at the sky, as if trying hard to recall. Then she gave Shen Ying an apologetic look and shook her head awkwardly. She really didn’t know.

Shen Ying felt a little disappointed. She couldn’t tell whether Jiang Meili truly knew anything or not, but seeing how badly frightened she was, she probably didn’t.

Although Jiang Meili’s parents were also minor leaders in the military region, they had spoiled her since childhood, raising her to be overly naïve. Excessive indulgence really could ruin a child.

Listening to Li Bing’s report, Qin Daqiang felt a chill run through him. In more than twenty years as a veteran, this was the first time he had heard of something so bizarre—someone’s face being ruined without their even realizing it.

Back when Liu Xiaojuan was still unmarried, she had plenty of suitors. Though she wasn’t as pretty as Cheng Qiao, aside from Cheng Qiao, she had been the prettiest young woman Qin Daqiang had ever seen.

Time flew by. The young girl became someone’s wife, and the glow of a woman who had been cherished only made her more alluring. Who would have thought that her malice would eventually bring its own retribution?

“What kind of background does your sister-in-law actually have?”

Qin Daqiang grew wary of Cheng Qiao. Someone with such superb medical skills and such formidable knowledge of poisons—if she wanted to do harm in secret, an entire regiment could be wiped out overnight. And yet she was also their supplier of materials.

“Commander, do you know Ye Chengying?”

Qin Daqiang leapt to his feet in excitement. How could he not know Ye Chengying? He was a hero in his heart, a role model he aspired to emulate.

“My sister-in-law is Ye Jun’s disciple—his only disciple. And Ye Jun is Ye Chengying’s cousin, his only cousin. As for Cheng Qiao’s father, Uncle Cheng, his old leader was Ye Chengying.”

Joy lit up Qin Daqiang’s eyes. Such big news, and this kid had kept it hidden so tightly. Thinking of that, he gave Li Bing a hard punch—though when his fist reached Li Bing’s shoulder, he pulled back most of the force.

“If that’s the case, I’m relieved. So you’re all one family.”

Li Bing rolled his eyes inwardly. Who’s ‘one family’ with you? My sister-in-law and my brother are my family—the kind tied together even if the bones are broken.

“Report, Commander! Someone from above just called. They said they’ll be coming tomorrow to investigate the disfigurement case.”

“Investigate all they want. How would I know anything about the Song and Dance Troupe? By the way, what time are they arriving tomorrow?”

“Before lunch.”

“Damn shameless. Coming to mooch another meal. This time, give them something better—add one meat dish. Tell the mess hall to keep the portions small.”

“Yes, sir.”

Li Bing smiled. Exactly—what did the Song and Dance Troupe’s business have to do with them? But then Jiang Meili came to mind, and Li Bing’s heart sank.

“Jiang Meili did well this time. Go notify her parents to step in. Also, the marriage application has already been approved. You can’t let that young girl down, understand?”

Li Bing felt both happy and uneasy. He’d spoken too harshly that day—he wondered if Jiang Meili had taken it to heart. Sigh… if only he hadn’t been so impulsive.

He put on his cap and pedaled his bicycle toward the military compound. After hearing Li Bing’s words, Jiang Meili’s father, Jiang Hua, also began to worry. His daughter was timid by nature—what if she had been frightened badly?

The couple decided to go to the Song and Dance Troupe together the next day and stay by their daughter’s side. If anyone dared to slap false labels on her, the Jiang family wouldn’t be easy to mess with.

Ten minutes before lunch the next day, two middle-aged men walked into Qin Daqiang’s office. Qin Daqiang rolled his eyes and mocked them, “If you’d come five minutes later, wouldn’t that have been even better?”

The two exchanged a glance. Just from this blunt, straightforward manner of this rough old soldier, they could tell the matter had nothing to do with him. But then how had those troublesome villagers from Guangrong Village willingly gone off to plant trees?

“Old Qin, you’re still as hot-tempered as ever. With grain in your hands, your heart’s at ease—what’s wrong with letting us mooch a bit?”

“What do I owe you? I don’t even eat it myself—I save it all for those special forces. You know they’ve been given heavy missions lately. Look how many wounded men I’ve had here when they come back.”

Hearing this, both men fell silent, their expressions turning solemn. They followed Qin Daqiang into the small canteen. When they saw four dishes and a soup, including braised pork, their feelings grew complicated. This braised pork—it stuck in their throats.

In the afternoon, after eating and drinking their fill, the two men went to the Song and Dance Troupe. The first person they wanted to see was naturally Jiang Meili—but when they saw a couple seated on either side of her, their heads immediately started to ache.