“The future commander’s residence?” Wang Yuexi was stunned. No matter how slow his reaction was, he realized the status of the young couple next door.
It was no wonder that even though Wang Fugui was the president of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, he still rushed over so anxiously in the middle of the night.
And Brigade Commander Zhang Xiaoman, who usually did not enter the stronghold at night, also suddenly came to their neighborhood.
Like the others, Wang Yuexi was also very curious about where their future commander had disappeared off to after attacking the Zhou Consortium.
Hu Xiaobai and the neighbors were gossiping about this. Even Wang Yuexi and the other men in the Policy Research Office would also talk about this topic during their free time at work.
Some people said the future commander had gone to carry out other, more important missions, while others said that he did not enjoy wielding authority. They figured he did not want to take Commander Zhang’s role, so he decided not to come back.
There were all kinds of speculation, but no one guessed Ren Xiaosu had already returned to the Northwest and was hiding right under everyone’s nose.
Hu Xiaobai stood anxiously at the entrance of her house. She waved at Wang Yuexi with all her might. “Come back here. Why did you run over there?”
She had not heard what the soldiers said, but she was worried something might happen if Wang Yuexi got too close to them.
Wang Yuexi walked back to his house and quietly watched the soldiers who had placed the surroundings of their neighbor’s residence under heavy security. Hu Xiaobai whispered, “Who are they? Why are they here in the middle of the night?”
“It’s the future commander.” Wang Yuexi said in a low voice, “They’re here for the future commander.”
Hu Xiaobai raised her voice in surprise. “The future commander?! What future commander?”
Her voice boomed like a sudden clap of thunder, which all the nearby neighbors heard!
A woman poked her head out and said, “Xiaobai, I heard you mention the future commander? Is he here?”
Looking at the crowd in the yard downstairs, just the military off-road vehicles parked there numbered at least a dozen. Vehicles from the Northwest Chamber of Commerce were parked there as well, so it was a grand sight to behold.
Hu Xiaobai asked Wang Yuexi softly, “What on earth is going on? What did those soldiers say? I think I saw Brigade Commander Zhang just now?”
“That was Zhang Xiaoman, and those soldiers are from the 6th Combat Brigade. You can tell by just looking at their shoulders.” Wang Yuexi sighed and said, “When I walked over just now, a soldier told me that the future commander’s residence is next door, so I’m not to approach it. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Wang Yuexi watched as his wife’s jaw dropped. He quickly covered her mouth with his hand and said, “Don’t shout! Aren’t you afraid the others will find out what’s going on?”
Hu Xiaobai said in disbelief, “The future commander is next door? I’ve been criticizing the future commander for being a lazy bum every day?”
Wang Yuexi said with a gloomy expression, “That’s the case, isn’t it? Now that I think about it, with the status of our future commander, why would he even need to work? The entire Yunsu business belongs to him, so even if he spends his entire life being lazy, he can’t spend all his money. Damn you, woman, you’re way too much! You kept saying the future commander was a lazy bum and that you felt bad for Ms. Xiaojin. Look at what happened now! Who knows if the future commander will take this matter to heart?”
Hu Xiaobai looked at Wang Yuexi. “Don’t blame me. You’re the one who sacked the future commander from his job.”
When Wang Yuexi heard this, he could even feel his liver starting to hurt.
Goddammit!
Hu Xiaobai muttered, “But they’re so rich. Why did they go to the market and sell peaches and potatoes?”
“Can’t he live life?” Wang Yuexi said, “By the way, have you ever noticed what he usually does?”
“Reading, that’s about it. When I went to the market with Ms. Xiaojin, he was also just reading books.” Hu Xiaobai said, “But I don’t think he’s been reading much in recent days. All he does is randomly wander around the market. I heard about that from Mrs. Liu.”
“Wandering around?” Wang Yuexi wondered.
“Mhm, he went to every stall and asked them about the prices of vegetables, rice, and noodles every day. That’s all he ever does,” Hu Xiaobai said.
Wang Yuexi fell silent. If this were before, he would also think the person was really a lazy bum. But if his status as the future commander was confirmed, Wang Yuexi would have to think deeper.
“It looks like the future commander has also noticed the change in the food prices.” Wang Yuexi said firmly, “He’s concerned about the food shortage that’s coming to the Northwest.”
Hu Xiaobai said with a smile, “That’s what I thought! How could the future commander of our Northwest possibly be a lazy bum?”
Wang Yuexi looked at his wife silently. ‘That isn’t what you said previously.‘
While he was pondering things, the sound of car engines came from Anning East Road again. All the onlookers turned in that direction to see who it was this time.
Tonight, there was not a moment of peace on Anning East Road.
A convoy of black off-road vehicles sped over and appeared in everyone’s sight. When Wang Yuexi saw the vehicles, he recognized them. “Those vehicles are from the black market. It’s Zhou Yingxue.”
This convoy looked much more fearsome than the earlier ones. Every vehicle was a full-sized SUV with an unusually large and wide front body.
When the convoy came to a stop, Zhou Yingxue, who was dressed in a purple qipao, got out of the vehicle in high heels. The Eight Vajras followed close behind.
Before Zhou Yingxue reached the entrance of the residence, her voice drifted over. “Master!”
With that, all onlookers could confirm that the person living in this house was indeed the future commander of the Northwest.
In that instant, Ren Xiaosu’s reputation as a lazy bum changed. Everyone started discussing and saying, “What a low profile the future commander has kept…”
When Zhou Yingxue heard the noisy chatter around her, her eyebrows twitched. She ordered Wang Yuchi and the others, “Go tell them not to stop watching. Is this something they should be standing around to watch?”
As soon as the maidservant opened her mouth, the fearsome mob boss aura of hers could be felt.
As she walked to Ren Xiaosu’s residence, the soldiers of the 6th Combat Brigade did not stop her as they knew who she was.
But before she could knock on the door, she heard Ren Xiaosu’s voice come from inside. “Stay outside and reflect upon yourself!”
The maidservant’s expression darkened. She stood outside the door in anger and muttered under her breath, “I came to see you in the middle of the night, yet you’re making me stand out here as punishment?! Did I set up this black market for myself? It was all for you, Master! Seriously?!”
As she complained, the maidservant looked at Wang Yuexi and Hu Xiaobai before saying amiably, “You two are his neighbors, right? When did he move here?”
“About a month ago,” Wang Yuexi answered.
Zhou Yingxue looked at Wang Yuexi. “Eh, why do you look so familiar?”
“I’m Wang Yuexi from the Policy Research Office,” Wang Yuexi introduced himself.
“Oh, I remember now. When the black market opened for business, you also sent a flower basket. When you have time, come visit the black market.” Zhou Yingxue said with a smile, “Hey, you two! Come over and tell me what he’s been up to recently.”
The sudden commotion completely disrupted the peace in the old military neighborhood. News of the future commander secretly living in Stronghold 144 quickly spread to every corner of the stronghold within ten minutes.
Their future commander was finally back!