Marriage in the 1970s: The Political Commissar's Contract Wife

When Zhilin returned home and opened the door, he saw Fang Chu already waiting for him inside, her eyes questioning.

"Big brother, how is it?" Fang Chu asked, getting up.

Zhi Lin took off her coat, her brows furrowed, and shook her head: "Shen Shan... he really shouldn't know. His reaction was natural, not like he was faking it."

Fang Chu paused for a moment, then offered what seemed to be the most reasonable explanation: "Her mother... really broke her leg?"

"It's true," Zhilin affirmed. "The timing and the reason match up, and Shen Shan's lingering fear and relief when he talked about it didn't seem like acting."

"What a coincidence." Fang Chu's voice lowered, and those three words contained too much doubt and chill.

"It's precisely because it's all too coincidental that it seems abnormal!" Zhi Lin chimed in, her tone resolute. "She came, offered you shoes, and you refused; not long after, you fell for her at the wedding banquet; then Zhi Xia had her accident, and you were forced to marry her; and then her mother 'coincidentally' broke her leg at that very moment, giving her a perfect reason to leave immediately! This whole series of events is interconnected, and the timing is incredibly precise!"

Fang Chu walked to the window and looked at the festive scene outside, but his heart felt cold.

He turned to Zhilin and asked the chilling question that had been lingering in their minds:

"How did a young girl in her early twenties, fresh from the countryside, manage to accomplish so many seemingly impossible things all by herself without any help? Stealing medicine, drugging, seizing opportunities, creating alibis, and even using a real family tragedy as a perfect excuse to leave..."

This is completely beyond the capabilities and cunning of an ordinary young woman.

Zhi Lin's expression was also unusually solemn. He slowly exhaled, "I don't know... that's why it's so terrifying." This kind of unknown is more unsettling than a clearly identified enemy.

A more dangerous thought even flashed through Fang Chu's mind. He lowered his voice, a hint of disbelief in it, and said, "Brother, do you think... she might not be just an ordinary country girl at all? Could she be... a spy sent from over there?"

Zhilin immediately dismissed this alarming guess: "No. If she really were that kind of person, her goal wouldn't be as simple as drugging you and forcing you to marry her. If she were a spy, you would already be disgraced, and might even have leaked secrets. Zhixia would have no chance of marrying you safely."

Even after ruling out the most extreme possibilities, the remaining reality remains shrouded in mystery.

Fang Chu rubbed her temples in frustration: "Then... could it really just be... a series of damn coincidences?"

Zhi Lin looked at him, remained silent for a long time, and finally could only give a powerless answer: "I don't know."

Silence fell over the room.

The faint sound of children's laughter coming from outside the window only made the atmosphere inside the room seem even more somber.

After thinking for a long time, Zhi Lin looked sharply at Fang Chu and changed the direction of the investigation:

"Fang Chu, think carefully. From childhood to adulthood, whether in the compound or in the army, have you ever made any real enemies? Not the kind of petty squabbles, but deep-seated hatred, the kind that would want to destroy you completely."

Fang Chu leaned against the table, arms crossed, and upon hearing this, he smirked, revealing a roguish, cold smile:

"Enemies? From childhood to adulthood, I've always settled scores on the spot. I'd fight them, or find another way to get revenge, and then... at least on the surface, we'd shake hands and make peace, and things would go back to normal. That's what my dad taught me: to be 'magnanimous,' but not to suffer a loss."

Zhi Lin had heard of Fang's "philosophy of dealing with people," and he pressed further, "That doesn't count superficial relationships. Are there people who, while outwardly agreeable, secretly despise and loathe you, and... also have connections and influence in the military, capable of orchestrating such a scheme?"

Fang Chu suppressed his cold smile, his brows furrowing slightly as he pondered seriously. After a long pause, he hesitantly uttered a name:

"Li Junjie... that's one. But," he then shook his head in self-doubt, "he doesn't seem like the type to resort to such underhanded tactics. Although that kid and I have never gotten along since childhood, he's generally upright and straightforward, and he confronts me directly if he has any grievances. Besides, he's in the Air Force; it's a different branch of the military and a different system. His reach... shouldn't be that far, to be able to precisely target me with drugs."

"Li Junjie?" Zhi Lin noted down the name. "What exactly is your grudge against him?"

Fang Chu's face showed a hint of helplessness and absurdity: "There's no deep-seated hatred. It's just... he likes Yunyun, but Yunyun doesn't like him. He thinks Yunyun likes me, so he's disliked me since we were little and always goes against me in everything."

"Yunyun?" Zhilin immediately grasped the key point, her eyes turning serious as she stared directly at Fang Chu. "And you? Do you like that Yunyun?"

Fang Chu met Zhi Lin's scrutinizing gaze and answered without the slightest hesitation, her eyes clear and firm:

"Big brother, I only love Xiaxia. From the beginning until now, it's only her. To me, Yunyun is just like Li Yunxiao and the others—a childhood friend, a friend, nothing more."

Zhi Lin stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly judging the truthfulness of his words, before slowly speaking, her tone carrying an undeniable warning:

"You'd better remember what you said today. If you dare to like someone else, I'm sorry Xiaxia, but I'll risk losing this uniform to make Xiaxia divorce you and leave you with the child!"

Fang Chu was not angry at the threat; on the contrary, she felt a warmth from Zhi Lin’s unreserved protection of her sister.

He straightened up, his tone more solemn and committed than ever before: "Brother, don't worry. That day will never come."

"That would be best!" Zhi Lin rubbed his temples, looked at Fang Chu, whose figure seemed somewhat tense, and said:

"Alright, Fang Chu, stop standing there thinking. It's no use for the two of us to speculate here. We'll just be racking our brains."

Fang Chu's face showed a hint of resentment, but mostly calmness. He knew Zhi Lin was right.

Zhi Lin walked up to him, his tone regaining its usual calm and decisiveness, and began to plan the next move:

"Go back first and spend time with Xiaxia. She needs you the most right now. Don't let her notice anything amiss and worry. Leave Shen Xing to me."

He paused, his eyes sharp. "I'll find a reliable person to go to Shen Shan's hometown and investigate thoroughly. We'll find out the time and cause of his mother's broken leg, and whether it's really as he says. We'll also... find out about Shen Xing's background back in her hometown."