Jiang Si had originally planned to use this opportunity to have a proper talk with him, but seeing how effortlessly Huo Tingzhou was handling things on his own, she felt it might not be necessary after all.
By now, it was already quite late, so Jiang Si skipped the topic altogether.
“Let’s just grab some food from the cafeteria for lunch and eat at home. Afterward, you can go to the dormitory to pack your things and bring them back.”
Since they’d already gotten their marriage certificate, it was only natural for them to live together.
Otherwise, the rumors in the residential compound would spread like wildfire again.
Huo Tingzhou nodded in agreement. In fact, he had already packed most of his belongings a few days earlier.
It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes to swing by the dormitory and pick them up while getting food from the cafeteria.
After escorting Jiang Si home, Huo Tingzhou grabbed the lunchbox and hurried off to the cafeteria.
Not long after he left, Hu Meili and Xu Mingjuan arrived together.
Their departments had been extremely busy these past few days, so they only heard about the rumors circulating in the residential compound just before lunchtime.
They had intended to come earlier to comfort Jiang Si, but when they arrived, they found the door locked.
After asking around, they learned that the newlyweds had gone to the political department.
“Sisters-in-law, please, have a seat.”
Jiang Si invited them in, poured them each a glass of water, then went to her room and brought out the pre-wrapped wedding candies.
She and Huo Tingzhou had already discussed it—after hosting a housewarming banquet, they would simply register their marriage without holding another formal ceremony.
Otherwise, their friends would feel obliged to give gifts, which would be awkward.
“You’ve come at just the right time. These are our wedding candies—take some home to enjoy.”
When Jiang Si handed them the candies, the two women were momentarily stunned.
Hu Meili was the first to react. “Sister Jiang, you two got married?”
“Yes, just this morning,” Jiang Si replied with a smile.
She had Director Cao to thank for that.
If he hadn’t delivered the marriage application early in the morning and if they hadn’t rushed to register, Su Wanwan’s sentence might have been several years shorter.
After all, slandering a military family member was equivalent to defaming the military itself—the penalties were much harsher.
On their way back, Huo Tingzhou had explained it to her.
Originally, Su Wanwan might have gotten off with just three to five extra years in prison, but after today’s incident, she was looking at a minimum of ten.
If this had happened during a crackdown period, she might have faced even worse.
Seeing the faint smile on Jiang Si’s face, Hu Meili felt somewhat relieved.
“Sister Jiang, don’t pay any mind to the gossip in the residential compound.”
“Those people only dare to whisper behind your back. Once the novelty wears off in a couple of days, no one will even remember it.”
Jiang Si wasn’t bothered in the slightest. She had just started to say, “Sisters-in-law, don’t worry about me. As for Division Commander Yao—”
When suddenly, the compound’s loudspeaker crackled to life.
“That’s strange. Why would there be a broadcast at this hour?”
The women exchanged puzzled glances—this was unusual.
The loudspeakers in the residential compound usually only operated during fixed time slots.
Hu Meili had lived there for seven or eight years and had never heard a broadcast at this time.
Before they could wonder further, the announcer’s crisp, articulate voice filled the air.
[Attention, all comrades of the Revolutionary Family Residential Compound. The following is a special announcement from the Division Party Committee.]
[First, let us review the supreme directive of our leadership: “Who are our enemies? Who are our friends? This question is the foremost issue of revolution!”]
After a brief pause, the announcer continued with dramatic emphasis.
[In accordance with the latest directives, the following clarification is provided regarding the correct distinction between the national bourgeoisie and the comprador class.]
[Red capitalists, as representatives of the patriotic national bourgeoisie…]
It was then that Jiang Si realized—this broadcast seemed to be about her.
Sure enough, the moment the thought crossed her mind, the announcer’s voice rang out again:
[After thorough investigation, it has been confirmed that the family of Comrade Jiang Si from this residential compound has actively supported our Party’s work since 1938…]
At the mention of Jiang Si’s name, Hu Meili nearly jumped in excitement.
“Sister Jiang, listen! Is… is this about your family?”
Before Jiang Si could respond, Xu Mingjuan was already stammering in disbelief.
Had she heard correctly? Did the broadcast just say Jiang Si’s family had donated how much?
She nudged Hu Meili urgently. “Sister-in-law, did you hear that? Was it 200,000 jin of rice?”
“Yes, yes! 200,000 jin!”
“Keep listening—there’s more! Airplanes and artillery too! How many was it? I didn’t catch the number…”
“Neither did I!” Xu Mingjuan exclaimed.
Then, both women turned to Jiang Si in unison.
Jiang Si cleared her throat lightly. “140 airplanes and over 700 artillery pieces—but that was the combined effort of many patriotic donors, not just my family.”
Even so, the two sisters-in-law were utterly stunned.
Good heavens above!
Not to mention 140 aircraft and over 700 artillery pieces—even a single plane would cost a fortune!
In fact, it wasn’t just the two of them who were stunned. The broadcast had been heard throughout the entire residential compound, and even across the entire military district.
Most of the military families living in the compound had come from all corners of the country.
Because of this, many of them had directly or indirectly received help from the Jiang family at some point.
No one regretted their actions more than the few sisters-in-law who had gathered that morning to spread gossip.
One of them, Sister-in-law Fang, burst into tears the moment she heard the broadcast.
She had personally lived through the once-in-a-century drought that struck Shandong Province in 1958!
Before this, she had only known that the relief supplies had been donated by kind-hearted people from Hu City.
But she had never known exactly who they were.
To think it was the Jiang family from Hu City!
And what had she done?
She had survived thanks to the life-saving food provided by the Jiang family, yet today, she had led a group of sisters-in-law in slandering the child of her very own benefactors!
Was she even human?
By now, the broadcast was nearing its end. The announcer switched the background music to the familiar revolutionary anthem, "The Sea Voyage Depends on the Helmsman."
As the stirring melody swelled, the announcer declared with emotion:
"Comrade Jiang Si and her family have demonstrated their loyalty to the Party and the people through concrete actions! Over thirty years of revolutionary struggle, they have proven one undeniable truth!"
"That even those from exploitative class backgrounds can become 'red vanguards' in the construction of socialism!"
"The Fourth Division Party Committee hereby calls upon all revolutionary comrades: Always remember the teachings of our leaders! We must unite all forces that can be united and rally all those who can be rallied!"
"Finally, let us pay the highest revolutionary tribute to Comrade Jiang Si!"
With that, the fervently revolutionary broadcast came to a close.
Unbeknownst to Jiang Si, this broadcast completely reversed her reputation within the residential compound.
Even less did she know that, that very afternoon, the military district’s disciplinary committee had placed a direct call to Capital City.
Su's Father had only just arrived at his office, puzzled as to why there had been no news yet.
Suddenly, a sharp knock at the door interrupted his thoughts—
