A ripple of snickers went through the crowd, and Hu Lili's face flushed red to the roots of her ears.
She stole a glance at the people around her, then steeled herself, determined to teach Su Tang a lesson today.
"Su Tang, if you've got a death wish, why drag Lu Xiao down with you?"
"Do you have any idea how many years he spent in the Northwest to get to where he is today?"
Hearing Hu Lili change the subject, Su Tang raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.
"Hu Lili, where are you going with this?"
"Weren't we talking about this book?"
Looking like she was enjoying the drama, Su Tang even held up the book and gave it a little shake.
Seeing this, Hu Lili glared at Su Tang and snorted. "Don't get cocky. I'm going to find someone who understands Russian right now."
"No need to look."
Just then, Zheng Jinxin walked out of the service station.
A few people who recognized Zheng Jinxin greeted her, calling out, "Nurse Zheng."
Hearing this, Su Tang turned to glance at Zheng Jinxin.
She wore a well-tailored work uniform, her short hair braided and pinned up at the back of her head.
Her fair skin set her apart from the others, and she exuded an intellectual sort of beauty.
Standing next to Su Tang, however, she was somewhat overshadowed.
"Lili, you've truly wronged Comrade Su this time. This book is the Russian edition of *Mao's Selection*."
Zheng Jinxin spoke gently, and her smile was infectious.
Everyone in the Northwest family compounds had been cared for by her at some point, so her words carried a lot of weight.
Seeing Zheng Jinxin take Su Tang's side, Hu Lili grew displeased.
"Nurse Zheng, you'd better take a good look. Aiding and abetting is a crime, too."
Hu Lili's hands clenched into fists, her expression showing she wouldn't back down.
Su Tang couldn't be bothered to argue with Hu Lili any longer. Today, she was determined to make Hu Lili understand who she was dealing with.
"Then let's go. Weren't you going to report me? Are you going to do it here?"
She turned to leave, but Hu Lili reached out to grab her. Su Tang dodged with a wave of her hand.
"Where are you going?"
"To the leadership's office. To find a proper place for you to report me."
Su Tang's dismissive, utterly unconcerned expression actually made Hu Lili's heart pound with fear.
"Not going? Oh, so you were just making things up to slander me?"
Seeing Hu Lili hesitate, Su Tang's face took on a mocking tone. "Hu Lili, are you trying to get me killed?"
"You're slapping this huge political label on me without any regard for the truth. You'll be the ruin of me."
With that, Su Tang covered her face and started crying, "Everyone, come quick! It's murder!"
This rapid-fire combo was so fast that no one in the crowd had time to react.
Hu Lili was even more stunned. 'Su Tang really has the nerve to stoop to this…'
"Hu Lili, Nurse Zheng already said it's not the kind of book you claimed it was."
"We all trust Nurse Zheng's word. Hu Lili, you've really caused a lot of harm."
Voices of accusation rose one after another, and Hu Lili, her face pale, began to back away.
Zheng Jinxin walked to Hu Lili's side and steadied her trembling arm at just the right moment. "Lili, don't worry. We're all comrades. Let's talk things out slowly."
Her words were meant to mediate, but they also subtly pulled Hu Lili closer to her, separating her from the encroaching crowd.
"I…"
Hu Lili couldn't utter a word for a long time. She was afraid of being held responsible; after all, if there was trouble, neither she nor her brother would be able to stay here.
Su Tang wiped the corner of her eye with her fingertip. Seeing that the tide had turned, she finally spoke.
"I already said it. As long as you apologize to me, I won't pursue this matter."
Since coming to the Northwest, Su Tang had never intended to cause trouble.
Her background was special, and everyone was eager to find something to use against her.
If something were to happen to her now, it wouldn't just implicate Lu Xiao, but also her parents far away in Shanghai.
But this Hu Lili just wouldn't let her go, seeming as if she wouldn't rest until she'd driven her out of the family compound.
So this time, using Hu Lili's slander as an opportunity, Su Tang had to let them know that she was no pushover.
Anyone who wanted to bully her would have to think twice.
"Hu Lili, hurry up and apologize to Su Tang."
Hu Lili bit her lip, unwilling to do something so humiliating.
It was an older woman, afraid that Hu Lili might actually get kicked out over this, who spoke up.
After all, her son was still in Hu Lili's nursery.
"S-sorry."
After saying it, Hu Lili turned and ran away, crying.
Humiliated twice in one day, she probably wouldn't show her face for the next few days.
With that apology, Su Tang didn't say anything more, and the crowd dispersed.
Su Tang looked at Zheng Jinxin and said, "Nurse Zheng, you really helped me out today. I'll have to get Lu Xiao to bring you a couple pounds of brown sugar to thank you some other day."
Her words were ostensibly thanks, but she deliberately and clearly enunciated the name "Lu Xiao."
The tips of Zheng Jinxin's ears grew slightly hot. As she lowered her gaze, her eyelashes cast a shadow like a butterfly's wings on her eyelids.
"Comrade Su, please don't say that. Captain Lu protects our country, so we on the home front should be even more united."
As she spoke, she pulled a small tin box from her pocket.
"The infirmary handed out some osmanthus candy yesterday. You should try it."
Su Tang looked at the box and knew it couldn't have been cheap.
But this kind of candy wasn't available in Shanghai at all.
The popular candies in Shanghai were all imported. The original owner of her body had eaten things like White Rabbit Creamy Candy and Russian chocolate.
Su Tang reached out, took it, and thanked her again.
"I'm heading back too. Shall we go together?"
Zheng Jinxin discreetly sized up Su Tang, who nodded and agreed.
'Su Tang had seen through Zheng Jinxin long ago.'
'Her goal was the same as Hu Lili's; they both liked Lu Xiao.'
'The only difference was that Hu Lili was direct and her intentions were easy to guess.'
'Zheng Jinxin was different. She hid her thoughts too deeply.'
'She seemed to be on her side, but in reality, getting closer to her was just an excuse to visit her more often.'
The two walked side-by-side toward the family compound. Zheng Jinxin began to explain, "Actually, Lili isn't usually like this."
"Maybe it's because Captain Lu suddenly got married..."
"Lu Xiao submitted his marriage application a year ago. We've been married for a year, Nurse Zheng."
Su Tang cut Zheng Jinxin off before she could finish.
Hearing this, Zheng Jinxin's grip on her bag tightened.
"I forgot. Please don't mind me."
Su Tang looked at Zheng Jinxin with a faint smile. "Nurse Zheng, you have such a good memory, remembering even when Lu Xiao got married."
Her words held a hidden meaning, and Zheng Jinxin frowned slightly.
A gust of wind swept past, swirling the dry leaves by the roadside into the air before they settled back on the ground.
The two continued walking, silence spreading through the air, with only the sound of their footsteps.
Zheng Jinxin was the first to break the stalemate, trying to ease the tension. "Comrade Su, the Northwest isn't like Shanghai. If you need anything in the future, just let me know. I can help out a little."
Her tone was gentle, filled with just the right amount of concern.
Su Tang turned to look at her, the smile on her lips not reaching her eyes.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Nurse Zheng, but Lu Xiao and I are living a stable life, so we don't really need anything. I just didn't expect so many people here in the Northwest to have their eyes on him."
Her tone shifted, the remark a seemingly unintentional jab at the other woman.