After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

The rain was still falling, and because of the change in wind direction, the rain was pouring down onto the eaves even more recklessly.

Qin Lie released his hand, the cold touch of their brief moment of clasping still lingering in his palm.

He stepped aside, making room for half of the doorway.

"Come inside."

These two words were spoken dryly, without any warmth of hospitality, purely out of a sense of obligation.

Mu Wenbin folded up the still dripping black umbrella. The umbrella had a sturdy frame and a taut canopy. Even when folded, its exquisite craftsmanship was evident, making it stand out from the tattered oil-paper umbrellas by the wall next to him.

The air inside the room was already damp and stuffy from the downpour, and now, with the man's intrusion, it felt even more cramped.

Li Dongye stood beside the octagonal table, the towel he had dropped still lying on the ground.

He didn't pick it up, nor did he look at Mu Wenbin. He just stared intently at a small puddle of water on the ground, his jaw clenched tightly.

"What, don't you recognize me?" Mu Wenbin stood in the center of the main room, not in a hurry to sit down, but first scanned the room from beginning to end with the kind of gaze that scrutinizes a criminal.

Everywhere you look, there is poverty and rudimentary conditions.

The plaster had peeled off, revealing the blackened adobe bricks underneath. A few strings of dried chili peppers and garlic hung from the roof beams. The only appliance was probably the television set that had been repaired countless times.

Mu Wenbin frowned, his expression one of utter disdain, which he made no attempt to conceal.

"You live in a place like this?"

This was said to Li Dongye.

Li Dongye raised his head, his reckless attitude returning. He smirked and said, "What's wrong with this kind of place? This kind of place has people around, unlike some places that are all glitter and glitter, like tombs for the living dead."

"That's true." Mu Wenbin said calmly, clearly not wanting to argue with him.

Jiang He sat in the corner, unable to bear such a tone, and immediately threw the watermelon rind on the ground with a crisp crack.

"So you're the ones who bullied my fourth brother, aren't you? If you think this place is shabby, then get out. Nobody's begging you to come in." Jiang He raised his chin, his face full of undisguised malice. "This is my home. Nobody's begging you to come in."

Mu Wenbin turned his head and glanced at Jiang He.

It was a completely unequal gaze.

It's like a grown male lion watching a wolf cub that has just learned to bare its teeth.

He wasn't angry, nor did he show any emotional fluctuation. He simply withdrew his gaze and looked at Qin Lie again.

"Is this how you treat your guests?"

Qin Lie walked to the octagonal table and pulled out a long bench.

The stool legs rubbed against the ground, making a harsh "creaking" sound.

"Sit down." Qin Lie pointed to the bench.

Mu Wenbin glanced at the bench. Although the wooden surface had been wiped clean, it was covered with a layer of greasy stains that couldn't be washed off due to its age, and the edges were badly worn.

He stood still, his hand unconsciously reaching into his pocket, as if he wanted to take out a handkerchief.

Qin Lie didn't indulge him. He sat down first, took a cigarette from the cigarette case on the table, and said, "You think it's dirty? Then stand."

Mu Wenbin paused, pulled his hand out of his pocket, and sat down expressionlessly.

"Would you like some water?" Qin Lie asked.

"Warm water." Mu Wenbin used his words sparingly.

Qin Lie turned to look towards the kitchen. "Qingqing, pour me a glass of water."

Lin Qingqing responded and went into the kitchen, picking up the thermos.

The enamel mug in my house has been used for many years. The white enamel rim around the rim has long been chipped off, revealing the black iron inside, and some parts are even rusted.

Those rough-looking guys usually don't care about drinking water, but this guy...

Lin Qingqing hesitated for a moment, then took the large enamel mug with "Serve the People" printed on it and poured half a cup of water into it.

She carried the water out, trying to walk as quietly as possible.

"Drink water."

Lin Qingqing placed the cup in front of Mu Wenbin.

Mu Wenbin's gaze followed the hand that was being pushed upwards.

It was an exceptionally beautiful hand, with long, slender fingers and neatly trimmed nails that had a faint pink hue. The wrist was delicate, and the skin was as white as the finest mutton-fat jade, creating a stark contrast against the dark tabletop.

Above that was a face that was stunningly beautiful even without makeup. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from her recent activity, a few strands of damp hair clung to her forehead, and her eyes were watery.

Mu Wenbin's gaze lingered on her face for three seconds.

He hadn't really looked at this woman closely before in J City, and it wasn't until all the messy things happened that he realized Mu Yunqi considered her family.

She's definitely a femme fatale.

His gaze was so sharp that Lin Qingqing felt uncomfortable and instinctively shrank closer to Qin Lie.

Qin Lie reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her behind him and blocking Mu Wenbin's view.

Qin Lie tapped the table, his tone unfriendly, "The water's over there."

Mu Wenbin withdrew his gaze and fixed it on the enamel mug.

"Not drinking?" Qin Lie raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not thirsty," Mu Wenbin said calmly.

"What a fucking troublemaker," Qin Lie cursed, standing up and walking into the kitchen.

A moment later, he brought out a glass.

That was the only glass in the house, and no one would use it normally. Qin Lie rinsed it three times with hot water, wiped it clean, poured a glass of boiling water, and placed it in front of Mu Wenbin.

"It's new, nobody's used it." Qin Lie sat back down. "The well water's been boiled, it won't poison you."

Mu Wenbin stared at the glass, the rising steam blurring his cold, hard face. After a few seconds, he reached out and grasped the glass.

Li Dongye, who had been leaning against the table without saying a word, couldn't help but sneer when he saw Mu Wenbin's behavior: "If you think this place is dirty, you can just turn around and leave. Nobody's stopping you."

"Now that I'm here, I can't possibly go back empty-handed." Mu Wenbin took a sip of water; the temperature was just right, but he still frowned. "If I take you back, I'll naturally leave."

"I'm not going back." Li Dongye was upset and stubborn. "I'm called Li Dongye now, not Mu Yunqi. I can't stand living in that grand Mu family compound. I'd rather stay in this pigsty."

Mu Wenbin placed the cup on the table and said gently, "I know you've been wronged, but nothing is insurmountable. Come back with me, and I'll give you whatever you want."

"Mr. Mu's words are interesting."

Gu Qiangying slowly stood up and walked to the table. Unlike Qin Lie, he was not rough and was also calm and composed.

"Qingshan Village is remote; even if someone knows the name, they probably wouldn't be able to find the way. Mr. Mu, you must have put in a lot of effort to drive all the way to your doorstep." Gu Qiangying tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "How did you get here? Were you checking household registrations? Or tracking your movements?"

"We brothers know my fourth brother's temper better than you do. If he hadn't been so frustrated, he wouldn't have run back like this. Now that you're here, you think you can just take him away with a few words..."

Gu Qiangxing chuckled lightly: "Mr. Mu, I don't understand what you mean."

Mu Wenbin turned to look at Gu Qiangying.

The gazes of the two intelligent men met in mid-air, and Mu Wenbin narrowed his eyes.

He noticed the man with glasses when he came in.

Although he looked refined, this person was neither humble nor arrogant. He was neither aggressive nor easygoing, and he seemed difficult to deal with.

"If I want to investigate, there's nothing I can't find out," Mu Wenbin said arrogantly, without denying it.

"That's right." Qin Lie lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and blew the smoke towards Mu Wenbin. "The Mu family has connections everywhere; investigating a few of us commoners is child's play for them. But Young Master Mu, haven't you forgotten something?"

Qin Lie pointed to the door with a cigarette between his fingers. "If you want to take Lao Si away, shouldn't you ask me first?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Mu Wenbin stood up, his height almost matching Qin Lie's. The two stood face to face, like two mountains about to collide.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the yard, accompanied by the sound of mud splashing.

"Brother Qin Lie! Brother Qin Lie!"

A young man in a straw raincoat stumbled into the yard, covered in mud and looking terrified. It was Shuanzi, the village chief's son.

"What's wrong?" Qin Lie grabbed him and helped him up.

"The road...the road has collapsed!" The village chief's son gasped for breath, pointing towards the village entrance. "A whole swath of earth from the back mountain has come down! It's completely burying the road out of the village! The rocks are as big as millstones, we can't move them at all!"

The expressions on the faces of the people inside the room changed instantly.

Qingshan Village is remote, with only one dirt road in and out.

"Is it serious?" Qin Lie asked in a deep voice.

"It's serious! It's really serious!" The village chief's son wiped his face. "My dad sent me to tell you all that you absolutely mustn't go to the mountain pass these next few days. And... and if this rain doesn't stop, our whole village is going to be in trouble."

After saying that, he hurriedly rushed into the rain to deliver the message to the next house.

Mu Wenbin's face instantly turned ugly.

He had taken leave to come out this time; there were still a lot of things waiting for him to handle in the military.

The original plan was to kidnap Li Dongye and bring him back quickly.

did not expect……

Qin Lie closed the door, turned around and looked at Mu Wenbin sitting at the table. Seeing Mu Wenbin's frustrated expression, he felt inexplicably better.

"Chief of Staff Mu," Qin Lie exhaled a smoke ring, a smile finally appearing on his lips, "it seems even the heavens want you to stay. For the next few days, you'll just have to make do with squeezing into this 'pigsty' with us."

"But let me make this clear from the start: we don't support idlers in our family. If you want to eat, you have to work."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation in his heart.

He straightened his collar, regained his cold and hard demeanor, and turned to look at Qin Lie.

"First, I won't take advantage of anyone; there are supplies on the vehicle."

Mu Wenbin looked coldly at Qin Lie and corrected him word by word: "Secondly, you really are oblivious to what's going on around you. I've already been promoted to deputy commander."

Qin Lie raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, my apologies."

"Deputy Commander Namu, I'm sorry to trouble you tonight. After all, we only have a 'pigsty' here, not a headquarters."

……

A few points to clarify:

1. Boss Mu has an official love interest, and there are still a few chapters before he arrives on the battlefield. He and Qingqing have no other relationship, and no relationship has been found between these people yet.

2. Mu Laoda's upbringing was quite repressive, which led him to enjoy watching plays as an adult. The way he acted when he first met Li Dongye in J City was mainly because he didn't expect what would happen later.

3. Mu can be a bit arrogant at times, and can be annoying at others, but he's really capable when it matters.