RIRW – Chapter 113

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After the school term started, the village became lively again. Li Hui was extremely busy every day and didn’t have time to come home to cook anymore. So Zuo Dan took on the responsibility of cooking.

After eating two meals cooked by her, Grandma Zuo simply started coming over to cook herself every day.

“Sigh, I have two daughters-in-law and can’t count on either of them. When is my third son going to marry a good and capable wife? Just make sure he doesn’t find someone like you,” Grandma Zuo said in a disapproving tone as she cooked.

Zuo Dan thought to herself, I’m already married, and Third Uncle is still single. But she didn’t argue with Grandma Zuo. “Isn’t Third Uncle coming back this week? You should nag him a little. I’m also counting on Third Aunt to come and cook us good food.”

Grandma Zuo felt that she really should start pushing him.

Ever since she completely cut ties with her eldest son, Zuo Hongjun, she had been paying more attention to her two younger sons. She wasn’t that close to the second, but she lived with the third, so naturally, she hoped he would get married soon.

That weekend, Zuo Chengcai returned from the county town. As soon as he heard his mother going on about it again, he ran over to Zuo Dan’s place to hide.

“Oh my dear niece, just say something nice to your grandma and tell her to stop pushing me, alright?” Zuo Chengcai felt like he was going to lose his mind.

Zuo Dan was reading a book while shelling peanuts. “Uncle, didn’t you say you were looking for someone before? Why’d you stop?”

“It’s not that I stopped… I just haven’t had the chance to make a move yet,” Zuo Chengcai said as he started eating peanuts too.

Zuo Dan said, “Then go make a move! Look, your dear niece gave up her place in the kitchen for Comrade Li Suli, all for your happiness. What a great opportunity! Go after her!”

“You think she’d be interested in me? With my conditions…” Zuo Chengcai sounded a bit self-conscious. He felt like he wasn’t bad, but still far from her level. He didn’t have much education, and even his driving skills were thanks to Dandan pushing him to learn. And she was a well-educated city woman.

“Uncle, you’ve got a lot going for you. You work in the city, and maybe one day you’ll even get to move there. If she really marries you, she could go with you. And your looks… they’re not bad either.” Both my eldest and third uncle take after Grandma…

Zuo Dan looked at Zuo Chengcai with a bit of concern. “Uncle, don’t you think your hairstyle needs a change? This side part just isn’t working…”

Zuo Chengcai touched his new hairstyle. “Why not? I saw Xiao Shen style it like this and it looked great.”

Zuo Dan: “…” He’s good-looking—he’d look great even bald. Shen Yiming with this hairstyle looks like a refined young man. Third Uncle just looks… like a traitor.

“Uncle, listen to me. Go get a buzz cut. It’ll make you look sharp and proper. And I’ll have Shen Yiming bring you back a set of military gear. Once you put that on, you’ll look great. Then go talk to Comrade Li Suli and make sure she knows how you feel—don’t keep it bottled up.”

“Why not?” Zuo Chengcai asked.

“You’re barely home. How are you going to have time to play ambiguous romance games with a young woman? Make it quick—whether it works out or not, at least you’ll have an answer. Don’t drag it out.”

Zuo Chengcai thought about it and realized his niece made a lot of sense. So he said shyly, “Then you ask Xiao Shen to get me a military uniform, and I’ll go get a buzz cut. Though honestly… I still think this hairstyle looks pretty good.”

Zuo Dan popped a couple of peanuts into her mouth, already thinking about how to help her third uncle develop a better sense of style, when the phone at home started ringing.

She quickly got up to answer. As soon as she said hello, she heard Shen Yiming’s slightly tired voice on the other end, “Dandan, it’s me.”

“Shen Yiming?” Zuo Dan’s face lit up with a smile. “I called you, you know! Sister Chu said you’ve been busy.”

“Yeah, I’ve been on a trip to the capital with some officers from the military district.”

“You went all the way there?” Zuo Dan said, surprised. “That must’ve been exhausting. Comrade Yiming, take care of yourself, okay? The burden of supporting the household is all on you now.”

Shen Yiming chuckled. “Taking the train’s not that bad. It was an official trip, and I had a sleeper berth—it wasn’t tiring at all. Don’t worry, I plan on living a long life so I can take care of you until we’re old. By the way, what did you want to talk to me about last time?”

Just thinking of it made Zuo Dan happy. “Hehe, Comrade Li Hongbing got transferred back to the provincial capital! I bet things are really lively at their place right now.”

“No wonder Uncle Zhang mentioned someone came looking for me today. Just not sure which one of them it was.” Shen Yiming spoke as he looked at the calendar—it was already mid-month. “Comrade Zuo Dan, what have you been busy with at home these days?”

“Oh, I went to the farm to visit my grandparents. Then I helped a poor old lady get justice.”

Shen Yiming smiled with satisfaction when he heard that—good, Comrade Zuo Dan didn’t have anything pressing going on. “Comrade Zuo Dan, it’s the 14th today.”

Zuo Dan said, “It’s not like it’s a special day or anything.”

Shen Yiming chuckled. “Just a reminder—there’s less than half a month left until National Day. Oh, and I might be too busy to call you these next few days. Don’t miss me.”

“Pfft, so full of yourself. Who’s missing you?” Zuo Dan laughed and scolded him.

Out in the courtyard, Third Uncle listened to the conversation from inside, resting his chin in his hands, feeling jealous and sour. He really wanted to be in a relationship too.

No way, he had to follow Dandan’s advice and get that buzz cut ASAP.

After Zuo Dan finished her call with Shen Yiming and stepped outside, Third Uncle was already gone without a trace. She thought about it, then went back to munching peanuts and reading her book.

Meanwhile, in the provincial capital, Shen Yiming had just hung up and was about to get back to work when Chief Editor Wang called him into the office.

As soon as Shen Yiming entered, Editor Wang motioned for him to sit, his face troubled.

“Yiming, I’m finding the current tone of our newspaper a bit tricky to navigate. There’s been some unrest in various places, and it seems like there’s tension among the military district leaders too.” He handed Shen Yiming a cigarette, lit one for himself, and took a drag. “Did you get a read on anything during your trip to the capital?”

Shen Yiming didn’t light his cigarette, just held it between his fingers. “I made a trip to the capital—things are still relatively stable.”

“After such a major incident, still stable?” Editor Wang was surprised. “I heard there were disturbances in the square.”

Indeed, due to some unrest in the capital, the military district had sent a delegation, and their newspaper had assigned Shen Yiming to observe and gather intel—both to help coordinate future messaging and to avoid picking the wrong side in a shifting political landscape.

Shen Yiming said, “There’s a lot of noise, yes. But nothing has fundamentally changed yet. This thing needs time to simmer. As of now, the big picture remains unchanged.”

“What’s your take on it?” Editor Wang asked.

Shen Yiming replied earnestly, “Well, with National Day coming up, I think we should publish stories highlighting model workers and labor heroes. Even though we’re a military district newspaper, it’s good for our soldiers to learn about the lives of working people. The PLA should understand not just politics, but also the issues that affect everyday folks.”

Editor Wang puffed in silence for a moment. He understood—Shen Yiming was suggesting a balanced approach, staying neutral.

But he was a bit unwilling. If they picked the right side now, their chances of rising through the ranks could greatly improve. Just like ten years ago—those who took risks had all advanced to high positions, making others green with envy.

Shen Yiming gently tapped the cigarette in his hand. “Chief, our newspaper can’t influence the bigger picture. We’re not in a position to shift the tide. Once a clear direction emerges, we’ll still have opportunities.”

“Sigh, I wasn’t trying to stir anything up. Just hoping things stay stable.” Editor Wang sighed, then smiled. “Hearing you say the overall situation is steady puts my mind at ease.” He knew these things deep down—he just needed someone to say them out loud and clear his head.

Shen Yiming smiled too. “Chief, you worry about the nation and the people. Let the higher-ups handle state matters—shouldn’t we take care of the people’s livelihood in the meantime?”

Editor Wang nodded. “Alright, let’s run some stories on exemplary workers. We used to do that years ago—it’s been a while. The soldiers love stories with heart and character.”

Not long after, Editor Wang called a meeting with all the department heads to start preparing for the National Day special.

The staff at the newspaper were excited about the project.

Sitting at home writing all day was boring. Going to the military bases didn’t yield much—soldiers rarely talked and rarely gave them anything newsworthy. It was better to chat with the hardworking folks in factories and villages.

So off they went—some to factories, some to the countryside.

Everyone with a task began wrapping up their home affairs and getting ready to travel. Shen Yiming stayed behind a few more days to wrap up some paperwork. During his recent trip to the capital, he’d gathered some intel that couldn’t be published but still needed to be summarized for internal reporting.

At lunch, once most of the office had cleared out, he picked up a wedding photo on his desk. Looking at Zuo Dan’s smiling face and her two dimples, he couldn’t help but smile, pressing a kiss to the picture.

“Yiming, someone’s here to see you,” came the familiar voice of Uncle Zhang from outside.

With a composed expression, Shen Yiming carefully put the photo away and stepped out.

“It’s another female comrade—short hair, pretty sharp-looking,” Uncle Zhang said, describing the visitor.

As he handed him a cigarette, Shen Yiming asked, “Was it the same one from last time?”

“Nope, last time she was really pretty—I mean, she looked proper and presentable. Yiming, I’ve told them all you’re married.” Uncle Zhang liked Zuo Dan and wanted to help out discreetly while she wasn’t around—he couldn’t let Shen Yiming get led astray.

Shen Yiming shoved the whole pack into Uncle Zhang’s hand and smiled. “Thanks for looking out, Uncle Zhang.”

“Oh, you’re too polite.” Uncle Zhang beamed with delight.

At the entrance, Shen Yiming spotted Li Hongbing.

Uncle Zhang immediately ducked to the side to smoke, keeping a close eye on them, just in case the female comrade got handsy or tried something inappropriate—he’d seen it all in his day.

On her side, Li Hongbing looked slightly nervous as she saw Shen Yiming approach. “Comrade Shen Yiming, no wonder you didn’t accept my help back then—you managed to get back to the city on your own.”

Shen Yiming responded coldly, “I don’t accept unearned favors.”

“I heard you and Zuo Dan registered your marriage? That was such a mistake. Her mother’s background is problematic—if you want to get promoted in the future, it’s definitely going to be an issue,” Li Hongbing said righteously.

Shen Yiming replied, “Promotion is not something I’m concerned about.”

“Shen Yiming, why did you fall for her? You… you knew how I felt. Our beliefs are the same. Her father is even the brigade leader—I’m definitely going to report this. If the Revolutionary Committee decides to investigate, they’ll find something. Zuo Dan will drag you down.”

“Let’s not even talk about Zuo Dan for now. Comrade Li Hongbing, our beliefs are not the same. Did you not know? Comrade Wei Guohua was brought down by your father. Do you think you and I could possibly think alike?” Shen Yiming’s expression darkened.

Li Hongbing’s face froze. She’d heard of Wei Guohua’s connection to Shen Yiming. “You… you and him are close? And what does this have to do with my father?”

Shen Yiming replied seriously, “Regardless of how close we are, blood ties are still blood ties. As for whether your father was involved—you can ask him yourself. Comrade Li Hongbing, I won’t comment on whether Comrade Li Jianghe handled that matter well or not. But what I will say is that the conflict between us is serious. Even without Comrade Zuo Dan, our beliefs would never align. Don’t shift the blame onto her—you’re just avoiding the real issue! I always thought you were a responsible comrade. Now I see, all you know how to do is blame others. Comrade Li Hongbing, please don’t come looking for me again.”

With that, he turned stiffly on his heel and walked away, clearly furious.

Li Hongbing tried to chase after him, but Uncle Zhang stepped in to stop her. “Miss, this is a provincial military unit—outsiders aren’t allowed in casually.”

Biting her lip, Li Hongbing stormed off in a huff.

Back at the provincial party compound, she stormed into her house, kicking the door open. Liu Lili had just opened it and was immediately shoved aside.

Liu Lili fell to the floor.

Seeing this, Li Jianghe frowned deeply. “What are you doing? Coming home and starting a fight? This is your home!”

“This is still my home?” Li Hongbing shouted. “Looks more like that vixen’s house!”

“Jianghe, don’t fight with her. She’s still a child,” Liu Lili said as she got up, rubbing her shoulder.

Li Jianghe snapped, “She’s older than you—what child? She’s just being ridiculous.”

“Oh, so you know she’s about the same age as me, and you still went for someone like her?” Li Hongbing’s eyes reddened with anger as her father berated her in front of Liu Lili.

Li Jianghe was too furious to reply. What, was he supposed to go find someone older?

He scowled. “What are you making a fuss about now? You’ve got a perfectly good job, and yet you skip work for days just to raise hell at home.”

Li Hongbing glared back at him. “Dad, let’s leave everything else aside—why did you go after Wei Guohua? You knew he was Shen Yiming’s biological father. You’ve destroyed my friendship with him!”

“What do you mean, go after him? I was doing my job.”

Li Jianghe’s face turned red with rage. His own daughter arguing with him for an outsider—accusing him. After all these years in power, he’d never been treated like this. And now she was throwing a fit just because she didn’t approve of his marriage!

Hearing Li Jianghe admit it, Li Hongbing realized Shen Yiming had been telling the truth—her father really had played a role in what happened to Wei Guohua.

And because of that, Shen Yiming now resented her.

“Dad… is there any way to reverse what happened to Wei Guohua?” she asked. She knew her father could pull strings.

Liu Lili frowned and said, “How can it be reversed? That would reflect badly on your father.”

“Did anyone ask for your opinion?” Li Hongbing snapped.

“You’re the one who should shut up!” Li Jianghe roared. “Even Liu Lili knows this would harm me, and you still have the nerve to bring it up? Get out! Go back to work!”

“Dad, so now you’re going to listen to her and not to me, is that it?” Li Hongbing shouted, pointing angrily at Liu Lili.

Li Jianghe said nothing, his face dark and stormy.

Liu Lili walked over to Li Jianghe and gave Li Hongbing a faint smile.

“Get out of here!” Li Hongbing exploded. She stormed over, trying to grab Liu Lili, but Li Jianghe stepped in and stopped her.

“Dad, you’re still defending her? You’ve really been completely bewitched by her!” Li Hongbing fumed, glaring at them both. Then she stomped her foot and turned to run out the door.

As soon as she left, Liu Lili said, “Hongbing may not be a bad person, but she really needs to work on that temper. Throwing a tantrum just because of some feelings she’s holding onto—that’s not right.”

Li Jianghe had just vented his anger, and now that Hongbing was gone, his temper had cooled. “It’s fine. She’s got a temper like mine—quick to blow up, but she’ll come around.”

Hearing this, Liu Lili’s eyes glinted slightly, and she smiled. “You’re right.” Seeing he was still in a bad mood, she added, “Go rest for a bit. I’ll read in the study for a while, and later I’ll cook for you.”

Having just lost his temper, Li Jianghe now felt tired. “Mm. Wake me up a little early, I’ve got a meeting later.”

After several busy days, Shen Yiming finally wrapped up the follow-up work from his recent trip to the capital. He then prepared to head out to the countryside to collect materials for the National Day special project.

As he was leaving work and heading home, the gatekeeper, Uncle Zhang, brought him a package. “Comrade Yiming, it’s from that pretty young lady again. She didn’t stay long—just left this with me when she heard you weren’t around, and said to make sure I gave it to you.”

Shen Yiming nodded. “She’s a fellow educated youth who returned to the city with me. She knows I’m going to the countryside to visit my fiancée, so she asked me to bring something to the people back there.”

“No wonder. I was wondering why she still came by even after hearing you were getting married,” Uncle Zhang said with a laugh.

Shen Yiming chuckled, “We all just got back to the city—it’s hard not to worry about the folks still out there. If she brings me anything next time, please help me keep it safe. Since she entrusted it to me, it’d be bad if it got lost.”

“Of course. I’ll definitely keep it safe for you,” Uncle Zhang promised.

Back home, Shen Yiming opened the package. Inside were some old clothes, and wrapped within them was a stack of documents and records—old files that had long been sealed away.

After going through the materials, it was already late at night. He locked everything in a cabinet, glanced at the photo on his nightstand, and finally went to bed, content.

The next morning after breakfast, his grandmother brought out the gifts she’d prepared—fabric for Zuo Dan’s family. She knew rural folks didn’t lack food, but materials like this were always needed.

“Stay a few extra days while you’re there,” she said. “Spend some time with Dandan’s parents. Don’t go marrying their daughter and then treat it like it’s nothing.”

Shen Yiming obediently agreed.

His grandmother then asked, “Did you tell Dandan?”

Shen Yiming smiled. “Nope. Gonna surprise her.”

“You young people, always looking for trouble where there isn’t any,” his grandmother said with a cheerful laugh.