Chapter 47

It was also the first time Shen Man had heard about that cruel past regarding the Shen family's ancestors.

Her eyes filled with tears involuntarily; it wasn't from grievance, but from pride in her surname Shen and being a descendant of the Shen family.

"I'm sorry."

A soft apology sounded, followed by another, and another.

The people at the scene who had just harbored malice, regardless of gender, all bowed and apologized in Shen Man's direction.

Qian Honglu's complexion was visibly ugly, panicked, and deathly silent.

He knew that his military career was finished from this moment on.

Regiment Commander Han had no tolerance for sand in his eyes!

He had committed a major taboo!

"Alright everyone, I know you didn't intentionally speculate maliciously about me just now; you were just bewitched by someone. On behalf of my ancestors and elders, I forgive your rashness."

Shen Man stepped forward gracefully, nodded slightly, and addressed the matter as it stood.

Didn't that Deputy Regiment Commander Qian want to use public opinion to suppress Brother Jiang Ye?

Then it wouldn't be excessive for her to pay him back in his own coin, right?

"Thank you to this leader, and thank you to Political Commissar Ji for clearing my ancestors' names."

"Mm, you're welcome. You are the descendant of someone with meritorious service; you shouldn't be slandered.

In the future, in the family compound, if you encounter anyone who doesn't know their place, you can have your Jiang Ye come find me at any time."

Regiment Commander Han's attitude was very surprising; those who knew him knew he had never been this amiable.

Let alone being so protective of a little girl.

"Thank you, leader."

Shen Man did not refuse, nor was she overly modest; she gracefully accepted the other party's goodwill.

As for Jiang Ye, he appeared expressionless, but in reality, he was secretly delighted.

Your Jiang Ye.

This wasn't the first time he had heard someone say that.

His little girl could solve her own troubles and could even defeat the person causing the trouble without drawing a blade.

This kind of capability, in his past life, would have been perfect material for a matriarch.

There wasn't a shred of wariness in his heart, only overflowing pride and affection.

How many more sides of his little girl were there that he hadn't seen?

"Everyone, disperse. The social is about to start; why haven't you gone to find your seats yet?"

Political Commissar Ji spoke appropriately to disperse the onlookers.

He was smiling on the surface, but inside he was cursing Qian Honglu's brainless behavior.

How much effort and hard work had he put into today's event?

It was almost ruined by this thing!

Once the official business was done, he wouldn't let the other party off easily...

Regiment Commander Han took a deep look at Shen Man, as if looking through her to cherish the memory of an old friend.

"Let's go."

"Received."

Everyone ignored Qian Honglu and left directly with the top leader.

Because they all knew in their hearts that Qian Honglu exposing Shen Man's "identity" in front of everyone was actually targeting Regiment Commander Jiang.

Now that he had failed to steal a chicken and lost the rice, and had even been "remembered" by the leader, what future could he talk about?

"Ding-a-ling."

Jiang Ye didn't spare half a glance for Qian Honglu either; those who commit many injustices are doomed to self-destruction.

Even he had only learned of his little girl's identity through the documents after the political review.

Through what channel did Qian Honglu know?

He didn't need to take action; someone would naturally deal with such a person.

"Manman, get on the bike."

"Okay."

The afternoon breeze was clearly filled with the scent of flowers and warmth.

But Qian Honglu felt a chill spreading from the soles of his feet; he was finished.

A little time had been wasted, but it didn't hinder their main business.

When Shen Man and the others arrived at the seaside fully equipped, the tide had already receded.

Unnamed seabirds were landing on the stone walls not far away, occasionally pecking at shellfish.

The water puddles were of varying depths, with ripples spreading out; the seawater in the puddles was much clearer today than yesterday.

Shen Man picked a spot and began using tongs to poke into the crevices under the rocks.

This was what Xiao Hai had taught her yesterday: when you see a hole spitting bubbles, don't rashly dig with your hands; it's best to use tongs to test the depth first, and if there's something there, then slowly wear gloves to dig it out.

Listen to advice, and you'll be well-fed.

Shen Man poked and poked, feeling like she had hit something hard that was still moving.

She guessed it was a crab-like sea creature, since it had a shell.

"Let me."

Jiang Ye examined the bubbles surging from the hole and helped the little girl rest to the side.

He inserted his gloved fingers into the hole, explored slightly, and quickly pulled them out.

On his index finger was a crab brandishing its claws, as big as a palm; it wasn't small.

"Ah, we won't be empty-handed today!"

Shen Man happily extended the empty bucket; a great start!

If there's one, there's two; there were four hours left this afternoon, enough to have a good time!

"Meow."

Tangyuan poked its head out of its owner's bag, acting spoiled:

Owner, I want to eat fish.

"Is Tangyuan craving fish?"

Jiang Ye threw the spoils into the plastic bucket, looking at the person and cat before him with eyes full of doting.

He thought to himself, sure enough, pets take after their owners.

"Meow."

Owner, the big boss is the roundworm in your stomach!

"It's a cat's nature to like eating fish; let's see where there are fish?"

Shen Man ruffled Tangyuan's head; what was it saying? Brother Jiang Ye was definitely not a roundworm in her stomach!

Roundworms, what a disgusting creature!

Jiang Ye touched the stubble on his chin, always feeling that a flash of disgust had crossed his little girl's eyes.

When he got back to the dormitory tonight, he'd find a razor!

Before, he hadn't thought about finding a partner, so living roughly didn't matter.

Now that he had a partner, it wouldn't be good if he poked her delicate cheeks when he wanted to kiss her.

"Brother Jiang Ye, come quickly, I see a palm-sized little fish; come over and see what kind of fish it is, can it be eaten?"

"Hey, coming."

On this side, Jiang Ye was accompanying the little girl he liked to catch seafood by the sea, having a great time.

On the other side, the matchmaking social at the military compound entrance was getting on track.

Out of over five hundred people, one hundred and fifty-three pairs were successfully matched!

That is to say, over three hundred men and women successfully found partners.

Among them, one-third were at the rank of company commander, deputy battalion commander, battalion commander, or deputy regiment commander.

According to the regulations of the family compound allocation system in the military, this one-third of people could move into the allocated family compound to live with their partners—oh no, their new wives—after holding the collective wedding.

The buildings in the family compound were all built of cement and steel, five stories in total, with two households on each floor, each with two rooms and a living room.

There were two stoves in the hallway, and faucets supplied tap water for half an hour in the morning and evening.

The first floor was not for living; it was divided into men's and women's baths, each connected to a latrine, which was a flush toilet.

Overall, compared to the old, broken-down courtyards seen everywhere, the family compound apartment area was the ideal residence for all military wives.

As for the other two-thirds who had taken a liking to each other, but the men had not yet reached the rank required for family compound allocation, they could only keep working hard, first dating, getting engaged, and getting married, and then move into the family compound and be allocated housing once the men's ranks were promoted later.

There were also over two hundred people who, for various reasons, didn't see eye to eye, or one liked the other but the other didn't like them back.

Just like that, at four o'clock, Political Commissar Ji announced that this matchmaking social had come to a successful conclusion—

To be held again on another day next year!

Some were happy because they got what they wanted, while others were sorrowful because their efforts were in vain.

And there were others who had long since been invited to the interrogation room to have tea...