Accidentally entered a high gate

The next day, after breakfast, Minister Wang rode his bicycle to the educated youth office to ask the director which village Ma Lifeng had been assigned to.

Why did Minister Wang ask the director of the educated youth office? First, he genuinely didn't know which village Ma Lifeng had been assigned to. Second, he wanted to tell the director that Ma Lifeng was under his protection.

After clarifying the situation, Minister Wang chatted with the director of the educated youth office for a few more minutes before going to find Ma Lifeng.

After being sent to the countryside, educated youth were generally only allowed one day of rest.

Ma Lifeng has been in the countryside for five days and should participate in labor now.

So, when Minister Wang entered the territory of Yanhe Brigade and saw several newly arrived educated youths learning to work, he shouted loudly, "Ma Lifeng!"

Newly arrived educated youth are easy to identify.

Minister Wang waited for Ma Lifeng to look up at him.

As a result, everyone in the field looked up at him...

Minister Wang's eyelids twitched involuntarily. Could it be that Commander Ma's brother had gotten into trouble in just a few days?

The battalion commander and the militia captain both knew Minister Wang.

The militia captain's surname was Xu, and his given name was Dazhuang.

Xu Dazhuang recognized Minister Wang and walked over with a hoe. "Hello, Minister! Minister, are you looking for Ma Lifeng?"

Zhang Wenzhong also came over. "Good morning, Minister!"

"Hello! Is Lifeng sick because he's not used to the new environment?"

Xu Dazhuang: "No. Ma Lifeng got married the day before yesterday."

Zhang Wenzhong: "In our village, weddings allow for a three-day break."

marry?!

Minister Wang almost lost control of his expression. "Oh, I see. I thought he fell ill because of the change in environment, which is why he didn't come to work. Where is he now? I'll go see him."

Xu Dazhuang: "His wife is going back to her parents' home today, so he should be at his mother-in-law's house right now."

Zhang Wenzhong: "Would you prefer me to take you, or Dazhuang?"

"Dazhuang, right? Besides visiting Lifeng, I also want to learn about the training of the militia in your village."

"Then Dazhuang will take you there. Dazhuang, give a proper report."

"Hey!" Dazhuang handed the hoe to Zhang Wenzhong. "Minister, this way."

"Hmm." Minister Wang pushed his bicycle and followed Xu Dazhuang towards the Zheng family's house, smiling as he asked, "What's Lifeng's wife's name? Did Lifeng know her before he went to the countryside?"

"No." Xu Dazhuang recounted what had happened.

Minister Wang was speechless when he heard that Ma Lifeng had not only gotten married, but also insisted on living in that infamous haunted house.

Ma Lifeng was teaching Zheng Chunfang, Zheng Xinhua, and Zheng Jianhua how to ride bicycles when Xu Dazhuang led Minister Wang in from the doorway.

Ma Lifeng smiled as soon as he saw Minister Wang. Luckily, he acted quickly. "Brother Wang, you work here?"

If Ma Lifeng hadn't gotten married and hadn't had to live in a haunted house, Minister Wang would definitely be very happy. Now… "Do you still remember Brother Wang?"

"Of course I remember. My older brother was very saddened by your retirement due to injury."

Minister Wang smiled. "Come with me, I have something to ask you."

"Okay." Ma Lifeng said this to Zheng Fugui, Tian Erya, Zheng Daniu, and Li Guiying, and then followed Minister Wang out.

Minister Wang went straight to where Ma Lifeng was currently living.

As Ma Lifeng opened the door, he said with a smile, "Brother Wang, you know this house too?"

"As the head of the armed forces department in this county, it's natural for me to have a thorough understanding of the situation here. Don't you know this house is a notorious haunted house?"

"I know. When the captain saw that I insisted on staying there, he found an old lady and told me about the house."

"So you're still staying there?"

"I don't believe in that."

Minister Wang wanted to say that it was also unlucky, but he didn't know if Ma Lifeng would take it too seriously.

After entering the house, Minister Wang sat down and immediately looked at Ma Lifeng, asking, "Why are you married so soon after you arrive? Were you forced into it?"

While pouring tea for Minister Wang, Ma Lifeng laughed and said, "Who can force me? My eldest brother is a commander, and my second brother is in the Ministry of National Defense."

"That?"

Ma Lifeng recounted what had happened.

Minister Wang: "..."

Minister Wang really doesn't know what to say.

Minister Wang drank a cup of tea, put down his belongings, said, "If there's anything, go to the Armed Forces Department to find him," and then rode away on his bicycle.

A certain military region.

Ma Lifeng's elder brother, Ma Lihan, also known as Commander Ma, was studying a document issued by the Central Military Commission when the phone on his desk rang. Ma Lihan picked it up. "Feed?"

The secretary's voice came through the microphone. "Commander, Minister Wang Zhiheng from the county's armed forces department is looking for you. Are you available?"

"Turn around."

"Yes."

Ma Lihan thought Wang Zhiheng just wanted to tell him which brigade his younger brother had been assigned to after being sent to the countryside, what the atmosphere was like in that brigade, and whether the brigade leader would deliberately make things difficult for the educated youth. But...

After hanging up with Minister Wang, Ma Lihan told Ma Lixing about Ma Lifeng's marriage. Ma Lixing was Ma Lifeng's second elder brother.

After hearing this, Ma Lixing was speechless. He knew his younger brother didn't like hardship, but he didn't expect that his younger brother would marry a country girl and take care of him as soon as he went to the countryside.

Ma Lixing rubbed his forehead. "I'll talk to Father tonight."

"Hmm." His father would find out sooner or later. It's better for them to tell him themselves than to find out suddenly from someone else. "Before we tell him, let's ask Dr. Yang's father how he's been feeling lately?"

"I know. Don't worry."

In the evening, after getting off work, Ma Lixing first asked Dr. Yang before going to his parents' place to find his father.

Ma Lifeng's father is named Ma Jingshan, and his mother is named Su Jingyu.

When Ma Jingshan and Su Jingyu saw their second son arrive, they assumed he was just taking some time out to have dinner with them. However, after dinner, their second son lingered and refused to leave.

Seeing that his second son was still trying to dawdle, Ma Jingshan said directly, "Do you want me to bring your mistress back? Let me tell you, you'd better give up on that idea. You've spoiled her rotten."

Ma Lixing touched his nose. "I didn't mean for you to bring your mistress back."

Ma Jingshan didn't believe it. "Then why are you lingering here?"

"Um... I heard from Dr. Yang that your blood pressure has been well controlled lately?"

What does that mean? "Did the mistress cause trouble in the countryside?"

"no."

"Then why did you specifically ask Dr. Yang about my blood pressure?" His eldest and second sons, his eldest and second daughters, and his grandchildren had never caused him any worry. It was only this youngest son who caused him worry every single day.

"Well, you've always taught us brothers that men should be responsible, right?"

Snapped!

Ma Jingshan slammed his hand on the armrest. "Spit it out! Get to the point!"

"Um... how could you be so rude?"

Ma Jingshan glared at his second son. "Do I need to put on airs in my own home? Are you going to talk or not? If not, get out of here."

"What? The mistress is an eyesore."

What?! "The mistress blinded someone?"

"No. The mistress... she didn't close the door when she was taking a shower. She thought no one was home and just went in."

Snapped!

Ma Jingshan raised his hand and slapped his second son. "So what if someone saw you naked? Why are you saying it's an eyesore? You've made me misunderstand. Does your mistress want you to build her a house in the countryside?"

"No. You teach us men to be responsible. Shouldn't we be responsible for the mistress who offends someone's eyes?"

"Take responsibility for what? They're all men... Wait! The person who barged in was a girl?"

"Um."

"And then the mistress started clinging to him?"

"It's not about shirking responsibility, it's about taking responsibility."

"Responsibility my ass!" Ma Jingshan stood up angrily and paced around the room several times. "I shouldn't have let him go to the countryside! I should have kept him by my side and watching him! I'm bringing him back right now! So he can't do whatever he wants in the countryside!"