The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Committing Sin Again

Looking at the vibrant Ye Feng, Chen Yupeng felt happy for his captain. ”Captain, about Comrade Xiao Han... Even though she’s been married and divorced, a woman this open-minded and bold is a rare find.”

In the past, they had privately wondered what kind of woman their perpetually stern-faced captain would fall for.

Some guessed he’d like a gentle type, others a cute one, and still others a demure, clinging woman. No one ever imagined the captain would fall for a spitfire.

Then again, there was something really captivating about the way Han Xiaorui spoke and acted.

So much charisma!

”Yes,” Ye Feng said with a smile. ”I don’t care about her past; I only care about her present. With the current family planning policy, you can only have one child. If we get married, we can have another one. Then I’ll have three children.”

Hearing this, Chen Yupeng was filled with envy. ”I’m jealous, Captain. My wife and I have a daughter, which is wonderful, but my parents are always complaining to me that they don’t have a grandson.”

”Are they really complaining to you?” Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. ”Or are they giving Yulan a hard time?”

Chen Yupeng nodded with a sigh. ”They are. They often say Yulan’s womb is failing them because she can’t produce a son. But how can you blame the woman for the gender of the child?”

Ye Feng smiled. He hadn’t been wrong about Chen Yupeng. ”Yupeng, don’t let Yulan be mistreated. She waited for you from the time you joined the army at eighteen until you turned twenty-five. Seven full years. How many seven-year stretches does a woman have in her youth? Don’t let her down.”

”Of course I won’t,” Chen Yupeng said quickly. ”Yulan is the only one I’ll ever love. It’s just that living with them, the nagging is unavoidable. We still don’t know when my work unit will allocate housing, so we just have to endure it for now!”

Ye Feng thought for a moment. ”Have you considered buying a house? If you’re worried that having property in your name will disqualify you from getting housing from your unit, you can register it under Yulan’s name.”

”I want to, but we don’t have enough money. We’re saving up.” Chen Yupeng didn’t want his wife to be unhappy, but circumstances left them no choice but to live with his parents.

Ye Feng smiled. ”You and Yulan should go look for a house. When you find one you like, I’ll lend you the money. You can pay me back gradually from your salary. You know I’m not short on money.”

Chen Yupeng was stunned for a moment, then he smiled. ”Captain, in that case, I won’t stand on ceremony. I’ll talk to Yulan when I get back. I can’t let her be mistreated.”

”Exactly. That’s how a man should be.” Ye Feng’s voice was heavy as he thought of his mother. ”When a woman marries you, you’re the only one she can depend on, the only one whose opinion truly matters to her.”

His mother had been bullied by her in-laws, and his father, working far from home, hadn’t been able to protect her.

He was only a child back then. Life had been so difficult for his mother.

When he and Han Xiaorui got married, he would be sure to protect her.

Even though Han Xiaorui was formidable and might not need his protection, he would always be her staunchest supporter.

”I understand, Captain,” Chen Yupeng replied.

After Chen Yupeng left, someone from the work unit came and took Xiao Gu away for questioning.

Ye Feng was taken aback. ”What’s this for?”

”The bug was swapped out right under our noses, and the unit is investigating,” said the person who had replaced Xiao Gu, his voice low. ”Director Ye, you were injured the day before this happened and didn’t know about the bug, so you were the first to be cleared of suspicion.”

Ye Feng’s expression turned grave as he recalled his prior investigation and suspicions. ”Xiao Cheng, help me get to a phone. I need to report this to my superior.”

Not daring to be careless, Xiao Cheng first consulted with the doctor, then helped Ye Feng to the phone. ”Director Wang, focus the investigation on Wang Liang.”

”Why?” Director Wang was taken aback. He had a vague impression of Wang Liang, but not a strong one. The man wasn’t very competent, just lazy.

Ye Feng continued over the phone, ”I previously uncovered some suspicious activities involving Wang Liang, but I had no proof...”

Director Wang’s expression grew increasingly grim as he listened to Ye Feng’s report. After hanging up, he pulled Wang Liang’s file. The report inside was flawless, showing no problems whatsoever.

He interrogated him personally and discovered that Wang Liang could recite the contents of the report verbatim.

The fact that it was a perfect match was precisely what made it abnormal.

It was as if he had memorized it beforehand.

Although Wang Liang hadn’t confessed, Director Wang started investigating his movements, following the trail.

Sure enough, he found a lead.

He also discovered that just the day before yesterday, Wang Liang’s uncle had delivered a large crate to a foreign freighter.

After various methods were employed, Wang Liang confessed everything.

By now, the device had likely already reached a foreign country and was unrecoverable.

Wang Liang’s uncle—who was also Zhang Lili’s uncle, Vice Director Liu—was arrested, and an entire organization was rooted out.

Yang Jianming, who was up for a promotion to associate professor, was also placed under investigation because his wife’s uncle, Vice Director Liu, had pulled strings for him.

Forget the professorship; he’d be lucky to escape the whole ordeal unscathed.

The investigation confirmed that Yang Jianming was not involved, but he was implicated due to his close association with Vice Director Liu.

The project he was leading was shut down, leaving Yang Jianming with only his teaching duties at the university.

With no subsidies, Yang Jianming likely wouldn’t be able to apply for any new projects for the next three years.

When he got home, Yang Jianming took his anger out on Zhang Lili, and a huge fight broke out.

Zhang Lili had a spoiled temper to begin with. When her husband turned on her the moment her uncle got into trouble, the shock sent her into premature labor.

In the middle of the night, Wu Cuicui brought her daughter, Yang Minmin, over to Han Xiaorui’s.

Hearing the knock on the door, Han Xiaorui grabbed a flashlight and shouted, ”Who is it?”

Wu Cuicui quickly answered, ”Xiao Rui, it’s me, Sister Cuicui.”

Hearing the urgency in Wu Cuicui’s voice, Han Xiaorui hurried to open the door. ”Sister Cuicui, what happened?”

Wu Cuicui’s eyes were red with fury. ”It’s a total disaster! The city police called and said Yang Jianming hit Zhang Lili, causing her to hemorrhage and go into premature labor. My second aunt-in-law got so distressed she had a stroke and was also taken to the hospital.”

”Zhang Lili’s parents reported it to the police, so Yang Jianming was arrested. Xiao Rui, my husband and I need to go with Second Uncle to the hospital. Can I leave Minmin with you and Xiao Jing? Please watch her for me.”

Han Xiaorui quickly agreed. ”Of course, Sister Cuicui. Don’t you worry, just leave Minmin with me. You and your husband go comfort Uncle Yang. He’ll get through this.”

Wu Cuicui nodded again and again, extremely grateful. ”Thank you, Xiao Rui. Minmin, you be good and listen to Auntie Xiao Rui and Auntie Xiao Jing.”

”I will, Mom. You, Dad, and Second Great-Uncle, please take care,” Yang Minmin said, waving to her mother.

Han Xiaorui closed the door and bolted it from the inside.

”Minmin, how about you sleep with Auntie Xiao Jing tonight?” Han Xiaorui already shared her bed with her two daughters, so there was no more space.

Yang Minmin nodded. ”Okay. I like Auntie Xiao Jing.”

Just then, Han Xiaoqing came out, wrapping a robe around herself. Once she understood what had happened, she took Yang Minmin’s hand with a cheerful smile. ”I like you too, Minmin. Do you need to use the restroom?”

”Yes!” Yang Minmin giggled, happy to be sleeping with Han Xiaoqing that night.

Whenever Pingping and An’an went to play with Yang Minmin, Wu Cuicui would always prepare special snacks for them and treat them very well.

Once, when Yang Minmin was playing outside with Pingping and An’an, she heard some boys calling them ”little idiots.” She immediately grabbed a stick and charged, beating the rascals until they yelped and scattered.

When Pingping and An’an woke up in the morning and saw Sister Minmin, they didn’t want to go to the hospital for their lessons anymore.

Han Xiaorui was in the middle of making pan-fried buns. ”Hurry and wash your faces and brush your teeth. Breakfast is ready.”