Chapter 31: Fortune and Misfortune are Intertwined

Li Qiang felt a heavy weight pressing on his heart.

As an ordinary person, he had no room for negotiation in front of a powerful figure like Zhao Chengyu.

He could only take it one step at a time, hoping things would develop in a positive direction.

Li Qiang's mood was like the weather before a storm, sometimes stifling and oppressive, sometimes howling and volatile, unpredictable and volatile.

As a veteran who had spent many years in the army, he was well-versed in dealing with superiors.

A man like Zhao Chengyu, every step he took was carefully calculated; he would never bestow favors without reason.

His attention to Li Yaqin was probably not just because she had saved someone.

The value Li Yaqin brought far exceeded that of caring for a child.

But how much help this "favor" would actually bring remained to him.

After all, in the eyes of those powerful figures, he was nothing more than an insignificant soldier.

"Who should I arrange to take care of my wife and child?"

Li Qiang frowned, weighing the options in his mind.

Names flashed through his mind, then he crossed them off one by one.

Li Yuehua was out of the question.

The events of the past had created an irreparable rift between her and Li Yaqin.

Asking her to care for the new mother and baby would likely only backfire.

It seemed he could only try to find a solution from Panpan's family.

Li Qiang sighed inwardly, his brow furrowing even more deeply.

He recalled his visit to Panpan's family home two years ago: the dilapidated mud-brick houses, and the weathered faces of his in-laws.

They were honest, hardworking farmers, toiling in the fields year-round, barely making ends meet.

They probably couldn't offer any real help.

Li Qiang clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He had to make a decision quickly.

Zhao Chengyu's request to see Li Yaqin was both an opportunity and a test.

He seemed to see a glimmer of hope, yet it was shrouded in a thick fog.

He couldn't let this opportunity slip away; even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, he had to brave it.

"These past few days..."

Li Qiang paused, images of his wife, Li Panpan, and his sister's interactions flashing through his mind.

He keenly sensed that Li Panpan didn't seem close to Li Yaqin.

It was an unspeakable distance, though Li Panpan concealed it well, Li Qiang could still feel it.

Perhaps, the thoughts between women are inherently complex and difficult to understand.

Li Qiang sighed.

He had no intention of delving deeper, nor could he change anything.

The most important thing now was how to seize this opportunity and secure a better future for himself.

A muffled rumble of thunder boomed on the horizon.

A fierce wind howled, and a torrential downpour ensued.

Li Qiang's heart gradually cleared.

He seemed to see a road leading to the future stretching out beneath his feet.

This road might be rugged, might be bumpy, but he had to walk it.

For his family, for himself.

The dark sky cracked open, and the sound of raindrops pounded into everyone's hearts.

The gale, carrying torrential rain, relentlessly battered the windows, making a "pitter-patter" sound.

Inside, the dim oil lamp struggled to dispel the darkness, but it seemed so weak.

Li Qiang stood by the window, watching the raging wind and rain outside, his brow furrowed.

As the pillar of the family, he was used to shouldering all the problems himself.

This sudden change caught him off guard.

Li Qiang turned around and saw his wife, heavily pregnant, moving with difficulty. A pang of pain shot through him.

He quickly went over and took Li Panpan's arm.

"Don't move around, be careful."

Li Panpan looked up at her husband's furrowed brow, her heart pounding.

Although her husband was usually taciturn, he was more decisive than anyone else.

Li Qiang sighed, helped Li Panpan to a chair, and sat down beside her.

"It's good to have a job, it's good to have a job!" Li Panpan rubbed her hands excitedly.

In this era, a job meant a secure livelihood, a guarantee for the family's future.

Looking at his wife's excitement, Li Qiang felt an even heavier weight in his heart.

Zhao Chengyu's olive branch seemed tempting, but what lay hidden behind it was unknown.

He had to be cautious, proceeding step by step.

After all, Zhao Chengyu was a high-ranking figure in the military region, wielding considerable power; he wouldn't bestow favors without reason.

There was definitely something fishy going on.

But he had to take the bait that was offered to him.

"Panpan, don't be too happy yet," Li Qiang said in a low voice. "This isn't as simple as it seems."

Li Panpan's smile froze. Looking at her husband's serious expression, her heart began to pound.

"Dad, you...you mean..."

Li Qiang nodded.

"Commander Zhao wants to see Yaqin; he definitely has his purpose."

"We little people are like ants in his eyes. He could crush us with a flick of his wrist."

Li Panpan's face turned pale, and she gripped Li Qiang's hand tightly.

"Then...what should we do? Yaqin...Yaqin, she..."

Li Qiang took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"The most important thing now is to find someone to take care of you and the baby." He paused.

Li Panpan lowered her head, touching her prominently pregnant belly, her eyes dim.

Her husband was right.

But, in this compound, who doesn't have a bunch of children?

Who has the time to take care of her?

Li Qiang felt a pang of guilt seeing his wife's dejected expression.

He held Li Panpan's hand tightly.

"Don't worry, leave this to me. I'll definitely find someone."

Li Qiang considered the situation. Most of the people in the compound were military dependents; they saw each other frequently, and their relationships were generally okay.

But there were very few who could actually help.

Li Qiang knew that this couldn't be rushed, but it couldn't be delayed either.

Li Panpan's pregnancy was progressing rapidly, and she could give birth at any moment. He needed to find a reliable person to care for her as soon as possible.

Sister Wang had many children and couldn't even take care of herself.

Sister Liu was free, but her mouth was sharper than a knife; she might say something nasty.

Aunt Zhang was kind-hearted, but she was old and in poor health…

Names flashed through Li Qiang's mind, only to be rejected one by one.

Li Qiang scratched his head in frustration.

"If all else fails, we'll have to try to find a solution from your family."

Li Panpan's face darkened further.

Thinking of this, she felt even worse.

She did have relatives on her mother's side, but they were all poor relatives, eager to take advantage of her situation. They wouldn't genuinely help.

Li Qiang understood his wife's concerns and sighed.

"Panpan, don't worry, leave this to me."

"Even if I have to turn this whole compound upside down, I'll find suitable people to take care of you and the child."

Li Panpan forced a smile and nodded.

But she knew in her heart that this wouldn't be so easy.

Suddenly, Li Panpan slapped her forehead.

Suddenly, Li Panpan slapped her forehead.

"That's right, the news of Yaqin saving the child has probably spread throughout the compound by now." Li Panpan's tone was somewhat complicated.

She remembered that she had previously been quite critical of Li Yaqin; now it seemed that she had been judging her with a petty mind.

Li Qiang frowned, then realized what was going on.

He wondered, if Zhao Chengyu and his group had released the news, what did Zhao Chengyu want to see Li Yaqin for?

Li Qiang frowned. "This...it spread so fast?"

"Of course!" Li Panpan scoffed, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

"The compound is so small; even the smallest things can become a huge scandal, let alone something as big as Yaqin saving someone."

"Besides, it's not like it's some kind of shameful secret."

Li Qiang fell silent.

The faster this news spread, the worse it would be for them.

Although Zhao Chengyu had extended an olive branch, he was still weighing the pros and cons. If this news came out, it would imply he had no connection to the Zhao family.

Who would believe it? Even he himself didn't believe it.

After all, the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind.

The Zhao family has made quite a few enemies, and he'll be the one to take the fall.

Li Yaqin, a girl from the countryside, has suddenly become the most popular person in the compound; countless people are envious.

"Dad, do you think this news...spreading so quickly, could it be related to Commander Zhao wanting to see Yaqin?"

Li Qiang shook his head, his brows furrowing even more deeply.

It's hard to say. That old fox Zhao Chengyu, who knows what he's up to?

"I hope...I hope I'm just overthinking it." He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Li Panpan looked at her husband's worried expression, her heart also filled with anxiety.

Her husband carried a heavy burden on his shoulders.

He not only had to support his family, but also establish himself in the army.

“Dad, don’t overthink it. Things will work out in the end. There’ll always be a way.”

Li Qiang nodded, saying nothing. He looked out the window; the rain was still falling, the wind was still blowing, and the sky remained overcast.

His heart, like the weather, was heavy.

The dark sky was torn open, and the rain, like beads from a broken string, pelted the ground.

Water splashed everywhere, making the ground muddy.

Suddenly, he heard hurried footsteps outside the courtyard, accompanied by heavy breathing.

Sweat soaked her forehead, a few strands of hair clung to her cheeks, and her once neatly combed hair was now disheveled.

Her face was filled with anxiety and deep guilt.

In the courtyard, Li Yaqin sat on a small stool, holding a book.