A well-behaved girl was deceived while searching for her husband; she married a childless military o

Because of the bombing incident on Longcheng West Street, Qin Yuanzheng and Zhao Jiannong both went to the headquarters building for a meeting.

All troops and construction sites were checked, and no explosives were missing.

Then the problem becomes even more serious.

This means that some people in the city possess an unknown amount of explosives.

Moreover, the use of these explosives is uncontrollable.

If they dare to bomb West Street today, they might bomb other streets tomorrow.

The danger level is too high, and all the military units in the surrounding areas have to raise their alert level and begin patrolling their respective jurisdictions until the other party is captured.

After Qin Yuanzheng and Zhao Jiannong finished their meeting, they came out with people from several other battalions. All of them had serious expressions and solemn demeanor.

Zhao Jiannong said in a low voice, "It seems that our Longcheng area has also been infiltrated."

Another battalion commander frowned and said, "Why did it have to explode right when the inspection team came down? Maybe they're trying to change the world in Longcheng."

Longcheng is a major coal mining area. The military is stationed here, and they operate coal mines and build roads. There are also plans in the neighboring city to build an airport in the next few years.

If such an important city is infiltrated and its leaders are replaced by their own people, the consequences are predictable.

Zhao Jiannong added, "The key issue is that there are currently no clues, and we don't know how the other party buried the explosives on West Street. According to nearby residents, they haven't heard any noise day or night, and they don't have any enemies."

In short, it was all very strange. West Street wasn't an important street, and no leaders usually passed through there.

Qin Yuanzheng remained silent for a long time, listening to their discussion, before finally saying, "Perhaps it's because there are fewer people on West Street, and the military doesn't usually go there, making it easier for them to make their move; they're just deliberately creating a commotion to get the inspection team from above to start an investigation."

Zhao Jiannong quickly asked, "Will they go to West Street next?"

Qin Yuanzheng shook his head: "West Street has already caused a commotion, and the militia will increase patrols, so they probably won't go there again."

Zhao Jiannong: "So where do you think they'll go next?"

Qin Yuanzheng shook his head again: "It's hard to say."

The group fell silent, even though patrols had been increased throughout the city.

However, if the other party wants to cause some trouble, it's still hard to avoid.

The group parted ways with solemn expressions.

Each of them had to go back to their units to arrange their work, and Qin Yuanzheng also had to pick up his wife from get off work on time.

Moreover, the more special the situation, the more he needed to pick up Qiao Lanshu from get off work.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to feel at ease.

……

When they got off work in the afternoon, Wang Xue and Deng Weijun came to find Qiao Lanshu and wanted to take her to Yang Wenyan's house for dinner.

Wang Xue was carrying some lamb offal and radishes, while Deng Weijun was carrying some flour.

Since we were going to Yang Wenyan's house for dinner, we didn't want to go empty-handed, so we all bought some things in advance.

Qiao Lanshu was somewhat surprised to see the two of them coming to find her: "Sister, Weijun, what brings you two here?"

As she spoke, she checked the warehouse door and then locked the door to the small hut.

Deng Weijun was a little embarrassed by the question, scratching his head as he stood to the side, waiting for Wang Xue to speak.

Wang Xue glanced at him, then smiled and said to Qiao Lanshu, "What else could it be? Of course, it's about Haitang and Weijun. Originally, this was supposed to wait until the New Year, when Weijun would first go to Haitang's house to meet her parents, and then we could discuss this matter..."

At this point, Wang Xue sighed, put her arm around Qiao Lanshu's arm, and walked out side by side with him.

Deng Weijun carried the things and followed behind the two of them.

He used to talk a lot and didn't pay much attention to the distance between men and women.

He was so scared by the big-character poster from last time that he doesn't dare to get too close to Qiao Lanshu when he's out, and he doesn't dare to say much either.

Upon hearing Wang Xue's words, Qiao Lanshu asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Has something serious suddenly happened?"

Wang Xue felt a pang of sadness. She sighed and said softly, "Sometimes I think about it, and I really feel bad for Weijun. Haitang's parents are truly despicable."

Wang Haitang is Wang Xue's cousin, and Wang Haitang's father is Wang Xue's uncle.

Despite their close relationship, Wang Xue has never liked Wang Haitang's parents.

She said to Qiao Lanshu, "Originally, Haitang and Weijun got along quite well. Weijun's family was also well-off. Although his parents lived in the village, he and his sister both had urban residency, and his brother-in-law was a factory manager. He also had a stable job. With such good conditions, Haitang's parents should have been satisfied, right? But guess what happened?"

Qiao Lanshu then asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Are her parents unhappy with Weijun and won't let them date?"

Wang Xue snorted coldly and said angrily, "That's not it, but they're demanding five hundred yuan as a bride price from Weijun, and they won't budge an inch!"

Qiao Lanshu: "..."

When Qiao Lanshu and Qin Yuanzheng got married, it seems they didn't discuss the bride price at all. She didn't even know how much the bride price was here.

Wang Xue said in a low voice, "These days, how much is a person's salary? When people in the city get married, the bride price is fifty or one hundred yuan, and then there's the 'three turns and one sound' (referring to a sewing machine, a watch, a radio, and a bicycle). If you can afford it, you buy it; if you can't, you can buy thirty-six legs. When I got married, my family asked for fifty yuan as a bride price, and also asked for a sewing machine."

Sewing machines aren't cheap; one can cost a couple hundred yuan.

But sewing machines were mostly sold to small families. These days, supply and marketing cooperatives rarely sold ready-made clothes; people would buy fabric directly and make their own clothes.

Having a sewing machine at home makes mending and sewing much more convenient.

As Wang Xue spoke, she cursed, "How can there be such heartless parents? They asked Weijun for 500 yuan as a bride price all at once. They hadn't even met Weijun. They just wrote a letter to Haitang and me, telling us to ask Weijun for it. They said that if we had the bride price, we could talk about marriage. If not, we would have to meet in person. They are clearly selling their daughter. They don't care about their daughter at all."

Qiao Lanshu was also somewhat worried when she heard this.

She glanced back at Deng Weijun, who smiled at her but didn't say anything.

Deng Weijun is probably also worried about whether or not to marry this woman; he's still weighing the options.

It's not that he has no feelings for his in-laws; even if he has deep feelings for them, he would have to think twice before making a decision.

Qiao Lanshu also fell silent, unsure of what to say.

After a while, she asked, "What did my cousin-in-law say?"

Wang Xue: "Deng Xiaozhen discussed it with me, and I asked Haitang. Haitang said she doesn't want a bride price. She has decided to go with Weijun. Now, let's go out for a meal together as a kind of witness for them. They will get their marriage certificate in a few days. Haitang said that she will contact her family after she gets married and has children."

Qiao Lanshu: "..."

The fact that the timid Wang Haitang could have such courage was truly astonishing.

Wang Haitang's parents farm in the village, and they have a son who is their precious treasure.

The son doesn't earn work points in the village; he's lazy and good-for-nothing all day long.

His parents went to work on agricultural production with the production team, so he stayed at home, complaining of aches and pains and making up nonsense. In short, he was trying to avoid labor and didn't want to work.

He's getting on in years, and it's time for him to find a wife.

His family hasn't arranged a wife for him yet.

Anyway, everyone in the village knows what kind of person he is, and nobody wants to associate with him anymore.

His parents had no choice but to look for him in other villages.

If a girl from another village wants to marry out, she must ask for a high dowry; otherwise, what would she want?

Qiao Lanshu said in a low voice, "It's good that they've thought it through. I'm just worried that there might be trouble later."

Wang Xue sneered: "Don't worry, household registration is strictly managed now. My uncle and aunt have never been to the city before. They wouldn't be able to find their way if they came. As long as I don't give them my address, what can they do?"

Wang Xue added, "What we're discussing now is that the two kids think the other is a good match and they both want to get married. So, as their older sister, we'll help them arrange their marriage in advance. Haitang won't be going back home for the New Year; she'll just say she has to work at the train station."

By next year's Lunar New Year, they might even have a child; if they want to keep it a secret, they can just keep saying they're on duty. Anyway, as long as they send their wages home, my uncle doesn't want Haitang to come home for the New Year; Haitang hasn't gone home for the New Year for two years already, and they don't want her to either.

When Haitang went home for the Chinese New Year, she didn't even have a place to sleep and had to sleep on the floor.

Her father even complained that she was wasting food by coming home, and wouldn't let her come home for meals.

Wang Xue sighed as she spoke.

As for my own younger siblings, I can only worry about them myself. What other options do I have?

The three of them talked as they came out of the food factory. Qin Yuanzheng hadn't arrived yet, so Wang Xue and Deng Weijun waited with Qiao Lanshu for a few minutes.

Not long after, Deng Weijun suddenly jogged up to Qiao Lanshu and whispered, "Sister-in-law, I think I saw Liu Weidong!"

Wang Xue's ears perked up, and she immediately asked, "Liu Weidong? Which Liu Weidong? The one who caused trouble at the food factory before?"

Deng Weijun nodded, pointed to an alley across from the food factory, and said to the two of them, "I just saw him pass by over there, limping, looking rather comical."

Longcheng is only so big; you often run into acquaintances when you walk down the street.

Moreover, Liu Weidong was someone Deng Weijun was specifically looking to keep a close eye on.

Wang Xue sneered, "His leg's already crippled, what's he doing out here? Didn't they say he just got out of the police station? It hasn't been long, and he's already out partying again?"

Deng Weijun whispered, "Sister, sister-in-law, should I secretly follow him and see where he goes?"

I always felt that Liu Weidong wasn't doing anything good.

Although Qin Yuanzheng said he would have someone keep an eye on Liu Weidong.

But an explosion had just occurred in the city, and Qiao Lanshu didn't know if Qin Yuanzheng had sent anyone over.

So she whispered, "Why don't we go take a look together?"

She also wanted to know why Liu Weidong had come out at this time.

It's the dead of winter, and it even snowed lightly today. It gets dark early, and it's cold outside.

Aside from working people, who would want to go out?

Why not just lie on the kang (heated brick bed) at home, eat some sunflower seeds, and chat with your family?

Wang Xue was also thinking that since they were going to Yang Wenyan's house for dinner later, she was worried that Deng Weijun might not be able to show his face if he went alone.

She said, "Okay, let's go together, and then we'll go to Director Yang's house together later."

Qiao Lanshu thought that she would go and take a look for a while, which would probably only take about ten minutes, and she could come back to find Qin Yuanzheng later.

Qin Yuanzheng is probably too busy today, so he won't be coming over so early.

The three of them ran together toward the alley Liu Weidong had walked through.

It's a little past 5:30 in the afternoon, not even 6 o'clock yet. The sun has already set, and it's getting dark.

The alley Liu Weidong walked through was quite secluded and rarely used by people.

There were hardly any people around. Occasionally someone would pass by, but no one paid any attention to Li Weidong.

Liu Weidong walked down the street with his hands tucked into his sleeves, wearing a cotton hat with ear flaps and a thick black cotton coat. His hands were in his pockets.

He usually drives out, but now that Liu Zhengxing has taken his car away, and his leg hurts so much that he can't ride a bicycle, he has to walk out.

Delivering one order today and another the day after tomorrow, earning 100 yuan per order, is equivalent to three months' wages for an average worker.

After wandering around for a while, Liu Weidong ended up at the entrance of the train station.

There were many people around the train station, so Qiao Lanshu and her two companions no longer needed to act furtively.

The three of them stood across from the train station, watching Liu Weidong talking to a man who was bundled up tightly at the station entrance.

Then, the two of them walked side by side into a small alley.

Deng Weijun wanted to follow, but Wang Xue stopped him, whispering, "We can't go any further, or they'll find us."

Qiao Lanshu stared at Deng Weijun the whole way, feeling that he was carrying something in his pocket.

People here like to tuck their hands into their sleeves when they walk.

The main reason was to save fabric. Many cotton-padded jackets didn't have pockets, and even if they did, the pockets weren't lined with cotton; it was just a thin layer of cloth, which was quite cold.

It's warmer to keep your hands inside your sleeves.

But Liu Weidong had kept his hands in his pockets the whole way.

What was in his pocket?

Why was that man so excited when he saw Liu Weidong?

Wang Xue pulled back the anxious Deng Weijun and the curious Qiao Lanshu.

As she walked back, she said, "Alright, we really can't go any further. It would be troublesome if we were discovered. Liu Weidong has powerful connections, so we mustn't confront him head-on."

Qiao Lanshu knew this, of course, so she silently followed Wang Xue back.

Deng Weijun said, "Sister, I'm going to pick up Haitang. You and your sister-in-law go back. See you at my cousin's house later."

Wang Xue nodded: "Okay, you go ahead, I'll take Xiao Qiao home first."

As she spoke, Wang Xue said to Qiao Lanshu, "Your Qin Tuan should have arrived at the factory gate by now. You should go back and find him quickly, otherwise he'll probably worry about you again if he doesn't see you."

Everyone at the food factory already knows how much Qin Yuanzheng cares about his wife.

Qiao Lanshu was eager to talk to Qin Yuanzheng about Liu Weidong, so she and Wang Xue jogged back to the food factory.