Chapter 23: The Scum’s Demise

Xie Jinyu had only given her contact information to Zhan Xinyue. When she heard there was a phone call for her, the first person who came to mind was Zhan Xinyue.

"Changzheng, I'm going to take the call. The food is all prepared; just put it on the table when you're ready."

Seeing Xie Jinyu trot out of the small courtyard, Ye Changzheng hurriedly called out after her, "Xiaoyu, don't run too fast. Slow down."

Hardly had Xie Jinyu left when Auntie Wei arrived. "I was planning to come early to help, but has Xiaoyu already finished everything?"

Seeing his wife so capable, Ye Changzheng felt immense pride. He said in a relaxed tone, "Auntie, you’ll have to taste Xiaoyu’s cooking in a moment."

Auntie Wei asked readily, "Is there anything else I can help with?"

"Auntie, Xiaoyu has done it all. Just sit down and have some melon seeds."

No sooner had Auntie Wei sat down than Gu Siyuan arrived. "Ye Changzheng, it really is different now that you have a wife."

In the past, there were three regiment commanders on Endless Island, and two of them were bachelors. The courtyards belonging to those with families were filled with vegetable patches, while their two yards were overgrown with all sorts of weeds. But now? Ye Changzheng had started a family. The weed-choked yard had been reclaimed into neatly ordered rows of vegetables.

A bachelor's room had no frills—as long as it was a place to sleep, it was enough. But Ye Changzheng’s courtyard had undergone a massive transformation; curtains now hung in the windows. On the table, a canned fruit jar held a chili plant, plucked from someone’s field—red and green, bursting with wild charm and a unique flavor. Books were visible everywhere. Some watercolors and calligraphy were even pasted on the white walls. The once-vacant room, filled only with furniture, had become warm and beautiful due to the arrival of Ye Changzheng's wife.

"Gu Siyuan, being single in the past was just 'existing,'" Ye Changzheng said, patting Gu Siyuan on the shoulder. "Now, this is called 'living.'"

Auntie Wei chimed in, "Regiment Commander Gu, what kind do you like? Shall I introduce someone to you?" Seeing how much Ye Changzheng's life had changed, Gu Siyuan felt a flicker of envy.

"He likes pretty ones," Ye Changzheng joked.

Gu Siyuan reached out and punched Ye Changzheng’s arm. "Don't talk nonsense."

***

Ye Changzheng tossed a coconut to Gu Siyuan. "Help me with this; the kids will want a drink later."

"Alright."

Xie Jinyu ran breathlessly to the public telephone. "Hello?"

Zhan Xinyue said with pleasant surprise, "Xie Jinyu, I have big news to tell you!"

Xie Jinyu had a faint intuition that it might be about the whistleblower letter she had written. "What is it?"

Zhan Xinyue said mysteriously, "I heard from the educated youth in the village that the village secretary has been arrested. It sounds like he’s going to be executed."

"Really?" A wave of joy washed over Xie Jinyu. Without the village secretary backing Lu Qianjin, he would never have an easy life again. "What exactly happened?"

"I heard that the village secretary had used his position to cause deaths in the past, and he was hiding a lot of stolen goods." Zhan Xinyue recounted the events in Yuejin Village one by one. "Lu Qianjin was also involved in the killings and the assault of women. However, it seems he didn't directly cause the deaths, so he might only face a few years in prison. At first, the village secretary took all the blame, but Chen Wanru, desperate to return to the city, found the investigation team and reported Lu Qianjin."

Xie Jinyu’s primary concern was, "Did Chen Wanru get to go back to the city?"

"Chen Wanru is pregnant with Lu Qianjin’s child, and they’ve already registered their marriage. How could she return to the city? She’s living at the educated youth dormitory now."

In her previous life, Xie Jinyu had not known the dark secrets of the Lu family at first. To the Lus, she had always been an outsider. It was only through the lens of her past life that she learned of the various crimes committed by the village secretary’s family. She knew clearly how much effort the Lu family had spent to keep her trapped in Yuejin Village. Later, fearing their crimes would be exposed, Chen Wanru and Lu Qianjin had tried to harm her repeatedly. She had simply been lucky enough to evade their plots. Unfortunately, even the best luck eventually runs out.

"Enough about them, what about you?"

Zhan Xinyue was silent for a long moment before saying, "I’m getting married."

"Xinyue, is your fiancé good to you?" Xie Jinyu had read interviews with Zhan Xinyue in her previous life and knew why she had risked everything to head south.

"He’s quite good," Zhan Xinyue said, her tone noticeably less cheerful than before. She added softly, "Xie Jinyu, I won’t be inviting you to the wedding, so please send your blessings from afar. Also, I want to be the godmother to your child!"

Xie Jinyu tried to lighten the mood. "I’ve heard that if you become a godmother, you’re supposed to share your good fortune with the child. Are you sure you want to?"

"I am. I’ve made up my mind to be this godmother!"

Xie Jinyu reminded her, "Zhan Xinyue, three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere. If he treats you poorly, kick him to the curb! And make sure to keep studying. In this world, everyone might betray you, but the knowledge you gain never will."

"I know. I’m hanging up now. Take care of yourself."

***

"Alright, I’ll wait for your letter."

Learning that the village secretary would be executed and Lu Qianjin would be imprisoned, Xie Jinyu felt immensely gratified. With the village secretary—the key figure—gone, Chen Wanru would never be able to steal someone else's university spot. With a criminal record, Lu Qianjin would never enter the military. From now on, she and those pathetic wretches belonged to two different worlds.

Dinner was set for six o'clock. As soon as Xie Jinyu reached the gate, Ye Changzheng walked over and draped his arm around her shoulders with a strong sense of possessiveness.

"Gu Siyuan, this is my wife, Xie Jinyu." Ye Changzheng then introduced the other, "Xiaoyu, this is Gu Siyuan."

Gu Siyuan had never expected that the village girl Ye Changzheng married would be so delicate and moving. However, looking at Ye Changzheng’s home now, it was clear she wasn't an ordinary village girl.

"Hello, Comrade Xie."

Gu Siyuan usually left early and returned late, so this was his first time meeting her face-to-face. If one had to describe Xie Jinyu with a flower, she would be like an orchid blooming in a quiet mountain forest.

"Why call her 'Comrade Xie'? Call her sister-in-law," Ye Changzheng said naturally. "I’m older than you."

Gu Siyuan followed suit gracefully, "Hello, sister-in-law."

"Regiment Commander Gu, please make yourself at home."

The orange sun slowly dipped into the west, and the lights in the small courtyard were turned on. Two tables were set up in the yard—one for those drinking and one for those who were not. After the guests were seated, Ye Changzheng introduced each of them to Xie Jinyu.

Seeing Ye Changzheng holding a wine glass while Xie Jinyu had coconut juice, Wei Aoshuang said teasingly, "Sister Xiaoyu, shouldn't you at least have one glass of wedding wine?"

Auntie Wei glared at Wei Aoshuang and whispered, "Can't you keep your mouth shut while you eat?"

Ye Changzheng didn't change Xie Jinyu's glass because of Wei Aoshuang's comment. "Logically, Xiaoyu should drink a little today, but since she is pregnant..."