Chapter 1018: Please do not approach
After dinnertime, a convoy of vehicles suddenly sped out of the garrison base at Stronghold 144 and headed straight for the stronghold nearby.
The strongholds in the Northwest did not shut their gates at night anymore. The garrison troops changed shifts and allowed anyone to pass through as long as they didn’t carry any prohibited items, be they refugees or stronghold residents.
A large number of patrolling troops and Public Order Division officers were also within the stronghold to maintain peace and order.
To maintain internal security, police hotlines were even set up in the Northwest. As long as someone called to report a case, the stronghold’s administrative center would guarantee that officers from the Public Order Division would get there within 15 minutes to resolve matters.
The security forces had already received a call from the garrison troops. When they saw Zhang Xiaoman’s vehicle, they immediately let it through. However, nobody could understand why Brigade Commander Zhang would suddenly enter the city when it was late into the night.
In the past, Zhang Xiaoman would not have entered the city at this time.
Zhang Xiaoman sped into the stronghold, but there were others who drove even faster than him.
Hu Xiaobai was sitting in Ren Xiaosu’s house and nagging, “I didn’t want to say it last time, but I really can’t hold it in any longer today. Xiaomi, don’t you know how to feel sorry for Ms. Xiaojin? Do you know how tiring it is for her to carry such a large basket of potatoes to the market herself? As for you, you lost your job after just one day!
“It’s not like I want to poke my nose into this matter either, but look, everyone is really concerned for Ms. Xiaojin. Doesn’t it make your heart ache to see her suffer?”
Off to the side, Yang Xiaojin pursed her lips and held back her laughter. Hu Xiaobai looked at her angrily. “You’re way too indulgent of him. If you didn’t spoil him, he wouldn’t be so lazy!”
Ren Xiaosu patiently explained, “It’s like this, Mrs. Hu. We still have some savings, so I don’t think it’ll be a problem for me to stay like this for a while longer.”
Hu Xiaobai raised an eyebrow. “What? Do you intend to sit around until your savings dwindle? More importantly, you aren’t even doing anything at home every day while Ms. Xiaojin is working hard out there. I think she probably already has calluses growing on her hands!”
Hu Xiaobai went over to grab Yang Xiaojin’s hand. However, she was stunned, because Yang Xiaojin’s palm and fingers were as smooth and soft as ever. There were no calluses on them.
Yang Xiaojin said with a smile, “Mrs. Hu, you don’t have to worry so much. We’re aware of our situation. He’s really very capable, but he just wants to rest for a while.”
Hu Xiaobai was a little annoyed. “Whatever, forget it! I’m the one who’s being nosy here.”
Hu Xiaobai started to walk out. “You two are still young. You don’t know how much money you’ll have to spend in the future.”
Seeing that Hu Xiaobai was going back to her house, Ren Xiaosu and Yang Xiaojin walked her to the door.
But before Hu Xiaobai could enter her own house, she heard the sound of engines roaring on Anning East Road. It sounded like people were speeding down the street.
The sudden clamor made many of the neighbors poke their heads out of their windows in curiosity. Hu Xiaobai also stopped in her tracks in confusion to see what was going on.
Then Hu Xiaobai watched in surprise as a black convoy turned from Anning East Road into the old military neighborhood and headed straight for them.
Hu Xiaobai got anxious. She banged on her front door. “Old Wang! Old Wang! Come out and see what’s going on! Don’t tell me that someone found out about your corruption and bribery at the administrative center? Are they here to arrest you?!”
Wang Yuexi opened the door angrily and said, “What nonsense are you rambling about? I didn’t embezzle or take bribes!”
Wang Yuexi discovered that the black convoy was almost at their doorstep. The vehicles in the convoy were all luxury cars.
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Wang Yuexi was surprised. Hu Xiaobai might not know where these vehicles came from, but how could he not know them when he dealt with these people daily?
This was the convoy of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce. Why were they looking for him in the middle of the night?
However, the convoy did not drive up to the entrance of his house. Instead, it stopped right in front of Ren Xiaosu’s residence!
What was going on? Wang Yuexi could feel his mind spinning.
When a car door opened, a well-dressed middle-aged man got out of the vehicle and ran enthusiastically towards “Lü Xiaomi” next door.
“President Wang?!” Wang Yuexi called out in confusion.
Wang Fugui turned around and looked at Wang Yuexi. “Eh, Director Wang, you’re here too? Sorry, but I have something urgent to attend to. Let’s chat another day.”
Ren Xiaosu also looked at Wang Yuexi and greeted him with a smile. Then he said to Wang Fugui, “Let’s go in and chat.”
With that, Ren Xiaosu and Wang Fugui entered the house together with schoolteacher Jiang Wu.
The door closed, leaving behind Wang Yuexi, Hu Xiaobai, and the onlookers whose heads were sticking out of their windows.
Hu Xiaobai was stunned. “Old Wang, did you just call him President Wang?”
“That’s right, he’s the president of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, Wang Fugui.” Wang Yuexi said, “President Wang lives in Stronghold 144, but he hasn’t headed out much recently. Why has he come all the way here today? What kind of person is that Lü Xiaomi? Didn’t you say that he’s just an uncultured nobody?”
Hu Xiaobai muttered, “They resorted to selling peaches in the market, so how could they be anyone important? Which big shot would go to the market to set up their own stalls to sell things? But why do you think President Wang is here? Could our next-door neighbor really be important people?”
“How would I know?” Wang Yuexi said, “But Wang Fugui lives in seclusion. Whoever can make him pay a personal visit must not be ordinary. I saw his eager expression just now, so they probably have a very close relationship.”
As they were talking, the sound of engines came from Anning East Road again.
When Wang Yuexi saw the convoy that drove into the neighborhood, his jaw slowly dropped in surprise. The vehicles that arrived this time were all green military off-road vehicles!
Whoever dared to drive such vehicles in the Northwest were definitely from the Northwest Army. Moreover, from the looks of it, it was someone very high-ranking too.
When Zhang Xiaoman got out of the vehicle, Wang Yuexi questioned again, “Brigade Commander Zhang?”
Zhang Xiaoman glanced at Wang Yuexi. “Who are you?”
Zhang Xiaoman was not as smart and empathetic as Wang Fugui. He had forgotten many of the people he met in the stronghold. Although Wang Yuexi held an important position now, there were still two rank levels between him and Zhang Xiaoman.
“Oh, I’m Wang Yuexi from the administrative center’s Policy Research Office,” Wang Yuexi introduced himself.
Zhang Xiaoman nodded. “Oh, I remember you. Can I ask you something? Does a young couple live at this house?”
Wang Yuexi nodded blankly. “Yes.”
Zhang Xiaoman became excited. “This is the place. Wang Yun, you’ve done a great deed this time. Hahaha, we’ve been waiting for him for so long, but who could have expected our boss to be hiding right under our noses all this while?”
Knock, knock, knock. Zhang Xiaoman walked over and knocked on the door. Wang Yuexi walked over to try to ask what was going on, but he was stopped by a heavily armed soldier of the Northwest Army. He said politely, “I’m sorry, but this is a military order. Please do not approach the future commander’s residence.”