The next day,
By the time Shen Nanchu woke up, the sun was already high in the sky, and Pei Zhengnian had long since disappeared.
The system's voice sounded at the opportune moment, "Good morning, Host! Did you sleep well last night?"
It always went offline at crucial moments.
It was a system with a strong sense of boundaries.
"Not bad!"
Shen Nanchu elegantly yawned.
She felt quite comfortable, anyway. As for whether Pei Zhengnian was comfortable or not...
A mischievous smile curled at the corner of Shen Nanchu's lips.
She really wouldn't know.
After Shen Nanchu got up and had breakfast, Niu Aihua's voice called out from outside the courtyard,
"Sister Nanchu, are you home?"
"Yes, I am."
Shen Nanchu opened the courtyard gate, and Niu Aihua walked in, looking very anxious.
"Sister-in-law, what's happened?"
"Don't even ask. Do you have water at home? Let me have a drink first."
"Yes."
Shen Nanchu poured Niu Aihua a cup of plain boiled water.
Niu Aihua drank two or three cups in a row before catching her breath.
"Sister Nanchu, let me tell you, something big has happened."
"Lin Yining scratched Deputy Regimental Commander Zhang's face."
Shen Nanchu wasn't very surprised.
After all, when Lin Yining didn't go on stage for self-criticism last night, Shen Nanchu had anticipated that the couple was bound to have a quarrel.
However, what Shen Nanchu hadn't expected was that Lin Yining would be so fierce.
Niu Aihua took another big gulp of water.
"Just now, that couple got into a fight right downstairs in the family housing building."
"Though, you can't really call it a fight; it was more like Deputy Regimental Commander Zhang getting beaten up alone."
"Lin Yining always seemed so gentle and soft, who would have thought she could be so ferocious? She straight up scratched Deputy Regimental Commander Zhang's face."
Shen Nanchu frowned.
This wasn't going as expected!
Logically, shouldn't they have fought last night?
Why were they making a scene at the entrance of the family compound so early in the morning?
Moreover, Lin Yining cared deeply about face; how could she possibly embarrass herself in front of so many people?
It has to be said, Shen Nanchu guessed correctly.
Political Commissar Liao's office.
Hu Ailan, the director of the Family Committee, was also present.
Zhang Zhengye and Lin Yining, the husband and wife, sat far apart, one on the east side and one on the west side.
Zhang Zhengye looked somewhat disheveled.
There were several red scratches on his face and neck as well.
All courtesy of Lin Yining.
Lin Yining, on the other hand, was completely unharmed.
At the time, aside from blocking Lin Yining's tantrum, Zhang Zhengye hadn't fought back.
Political Commissar Liao and Hu Ailan looked at the couple, who seemed like sworn enemies, their eyes filled with helplessness.
In the end, it was Hu Ailan who spoke first.
"Tell me, what is this all about?"
"Zhang Zhengye is having an affair behind my back," Lin Yining was the first to shout.
"Lin Yining, you're talking nonsense," Zhang Zhengye was furious.
"Me, talking nonsense? You dare do it but not own up to it." Lin Yining's voice grew shrill.
As the couple was about to start arguing again, Hu Ailan quickly intervened.
"Everything needs to be based on solid evidence. Lin Yining, do you have proof that Comrade Zhang Zhengye has been unfaithful?"
Evidence again?
Everything requires evidence.
Lin Yining even looked at Hu Ailan with resentment in her eyes.
"If Zhang Zhengye isn't having an affair, then what's the deal with those two dresses he bought?"
Lin Yining glared at Zhang Zhengye,
"Those two dresses aren't even my size."
There's such a thing?
Hu Ailan and Political Commissar Liao both looked at Zhang Zhengye.
Zhang Zhengye was so angry his chest hurt.
He really felt he was blind back then to have taken a fancy to a woman like Lin Yining.
"Lin Yining, I bought them for you."
"Hah~~~ For me? They're not even my size, and you bought them for me? Do you take me for a fool?"
Lin Yining's eyes were full of sarcasm.
"You have the guts to cheat but not the guts to admit it?"
"Who the hell is cheating? I bought them for you to use to apologize!"
Zhang Zhengye roared.
Who was he doing all this for?
Not sleeping all night, going straight to the county town, waiting for the department store to open, grabbing two dresses the moment it did, all so Lin Yining could properly apologize to Shen Nanchu.
And what happens? This foolish woman scratches him up without even asking for an explanation.
"Hah~~~"
Lin Yining sneered.
"I've never seen anyone give clothes as an apology gift."
"If you're having an affair, just admit it, Zhang Zhengye. Don't make excuses for yourself."
Zhang Zhengye was practically going mad with rage.
He had told the clerk at the department store that he was buying them as a gift.
As soon as that clerk heard him say it was for a woman, she immediately pulled out the two new dresses that had just arrived.
She even said that giving these was sure to please, and could smooth over even the biggest argument.
It was because of the salesclerk's words that Zhang Zhengye bought them, and he bought two at once, spending a good amount of money.
Who was he going through all this trouble for?
"If I were having an affair, would I openly bring these dresses home?"
"Use your brain."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yining's anger flared even higher.
"Are you saying I have no brain?"
"Aren't you?"
Zhang Zhengye retorted,
"If it weren't for that anonymous letter you pulled, would any of this have happened?"
"Making a mistake is one thing, but not having the guts to admit it is another."
Lin Yining, burning with rage and shame, wanted to rush over and give Zhang Zhengye a few more scratches.
Fortunately, Hu Ailan stopped her.
...
Just after Shen Nanchu finished hearing the gossip about Lin Yining and her husband and saw Niu Aihua off, Pei Zhengnian returned.
"Come on, let's go to the Political Commissar's office."
"It's not about the Zhang Zhengye couple, is it?"
Shen Nanchu guessed right on the mark.
"That's right."
By the time the Shen Nanchu couple arrived at Political Commissar Liao's office,
The Zhang Zhengye couple were already at a tense standoff.
Seeing Shen Nanchu, especially meeting Shen Nanchu's seemingly all-seeing eyes, Lin Yining felt as if she had been stripped naked, seen clearly from the inside out.
She shot Shen Nanchu a glare, then turned away petulantly.
Political Commissar Liao explained the entire cause and course of the incident to Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu.
After listening, Shen Nanchu's mouth twitched.
This Zhang Zhengye was really something else.
Wanting to apologize to their couple, he actually bought two women's dresses.
What kind of blockhead would do such a thing?
Pei Zhengnian was also rendered speechless.
He hadn't even bought clothes for his own wife yet, and here Zhang Zhengye had beaten him to it.
Pei Zhengnian shot a couple of icy glares Zhang Zhengye's way.
"You certainly know how to pick gifts!"
Political Commissar Liao had a real headache.
What kind of mess was all this!
He didn't want to deal with this nonsense anymore; he would cut the Gordian knot and settle it today.
"The root of this matter is Comrade Lin Yining's mistake."
"Comrade Lin Yining, since you fail to recognize your error, I will penalize you according to the relevant regulations."
"You will compensate Comrades Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu with one month's salary."
"Do you accept?"
Lin Yining remained silent.
Wanting a whole month of her salary? In your dreams.
Lin Yining's strategy was simple: stay silent, what can you do to me anyway?
Seeing Lin Yining like this, Zhang Zhengye immediately knew what she was thinking.
He quickly spoke up.
"I agree."
"We'll pay the money."
...
