The office director thought of the recent rumors and couldnât help but laugh. "Youâre worried about Living Yama, arenât you? Donât worry blindly, is Living Yama such a shortsighted person? Youâre overthinking it."
Li Bin felt a bit embarrassed and gave an awkward smile, "Isnât it because Iâm afraid that Living Yama, being so honest, might be deceived?" He was really shocked by the entirely baseless rumors.
"Not at all!"
"Then why have the rumors been so unpleasant recently? Itâs stirring up a storm throughout the city."
"I think someone is deliberately framing him."
"Why are you so sure?"
The office director looked around to make sure no one was at the door and whispered, "Let me tell you a secret, you also came from the Northern, have you heard of the Su Family?"
Li Bin was startled, then said admiringly, "Of course, we are at the Southern Border Rescue Field, and President Su Jiang is our direct leader."
"Sheng Ningâs true identity is President Suâs niece, the old leaderâs own granddaughter. Do you think the Su family would let their own people do such things?"
"No!" Li Bin shook his head seriously, President Su was his idol, a hero he admired. He had deep respect for such a family from the bottom of his heart.
"Then arenât you reassured now?"
"Reassured, Iâm very reassured." As Li Bin thought of his good brother having found such a wife, he couldnât help but feel happy for him.
His brother was doing well, and that put his mind at ease.
**********
It wasnât just Li Bin who was affected by the rumors, but also Xu Xianxiong and Zhao Lanzhi. Recently, when villagers saw them, they would show a very strange smile.
Because of this, Xu Xianxiong had fought a few fights, which utterly infuriated Zhao Lanzhi.
"Do you know how old you are? You still think youâre a young man? Always resorting to fighting with others, do you think our familyâs reputation in the village isnât bad enough?" Zhao Lanzhi said while rubbing medicinal alcohol on Xu Xianxiong.
"Itâs because I was provoked! If they dare to talk about my daughter-in-law, itâs like they are slapping my sonâs face, and slapping my sonâs face is no different from slapping my face," Xu Xianxiong glared, but became sheepish upon meeting Zhao Lanzhiâs gaze.
"Wife, I was wrong, itâs my fault. I shouldnât have resorted to violence."
"Do you realize that now?" Zhao Lanzhi pressed harder with her hand, causing Xu Xianxiong to grimace in pain.
"I realize now. The next time someone tries to slap my face, I shouldnât resort to violence. I should just keep a little notebook and secretly write it down, and let Qigang handle it himself when he gets back," Xu Xianxiong trusted his sonâs ability to handle fights immensely, knowing that if his son decided to get involved, it would be resolved in minutes.
"Why do you need to take notes in a little notebook? Are you too old to remember even this?"
Xu Xianxiong chuckled, "There are too many people, I really canât remember without a notebook!"
Zhao Lanzhi couldnât help but frown, finished applying the alcohol, helped Xu Xianxiong put his clothes back on, and then sat down on the kang.
"Whatâs wrong, wife?"
"Iâve been thinking, all this fuss isnât good for Ningningâs reputation." Her son was a rescue hero, her pride.
They couldnât let people poke their backbones.
"Wife, do you believe what theyâre saying outside too?" Xu Xianxiong said sternly, sitting upright, and took on an admonishing tone, "Comrade Zhao Lanzhi, I must criticize and lecture you! Your thinking is very dangerous, do you know? How can you casually believe the nonsense from the outside? As a member of the proletariat revolution..."