Chapter 148: Kept Man

As Su Wan walked towards the next room, she asked, “Comrade Huang, us younger folk really don’t know about the things you’re talking about. But my third brother, while he isn’t married, does have someone he fancies.”

“Your sister-in-law came looking for you, was it specifically to mention this marriage proposal? My maternal grandmother passed away many years ago, so it must have been a lot of trouble for you all to still be able to recognize us.”

Su Wan’s probing tone was obvious, but Huang Qing apparently had a one-track mind and didn’t think too much about it.

“It’s because my sister-in-law happened to run into your parents while she was out shopping and recognized them. She just came to see me and happened to recognize your third brother, which is why she brought it up with me.”

Su Wan smiled. ‘They’ve really done their homework on my family, haven’t they? They’re not even bothering with a pretense anymore. They just want my money, right?’

‘I don’t believe for a second they didn’t know we existed before. To suddenly come running over with a marriage proposal… do they really think everyone else is a fool and can’t see what they’re up to?’

“Oh, is that so? What a coincidence. But you see, my third brother is an educated man. He wouldn’t believe in that feudal superstition.”

“You should hurry and tell your sister-in-law’s younger sister to get married quickly. Don’t let my third brother hold her back. After all, while my brother may be promising, he has no sense of responsibility. He not only loves to eat, drink, and be merry, but he also loves to drink. On the surface, he looks presentable enough, but his actions are crude, and he doesn’t listen to anyone.”

“Comrade Huang, I’m only telling you this because we have a good relationship. You absolutely must not tell anyone else.”

Su Wan whispered to Huang Qing, her expression a mix of annoyance and hesitation.

Huang Qing’s jaw dropped. “…Your third brother looks so handsome. I never would have thought he was that kind of person.”

“How could he not be handsome? My third brother just wants to live off a woman, to find a well-off city girl. Otherwise, why would he be older than me and still not married? Ai, just talking about it gives me a headache for my parents.”

“What!” Huang Qing could hardly believe her ears. “He wants to live off a woman? That’s so pathetic!”

“Do you know the story of Chen Shimei? My third brother is exactly that type of man. If I didn’t know you were a good person, Comrade Huang, I would never say this. It would be so humiliating if it got out.”

Huang Qing nodded repeatedly. It was indeed humiliating. She had never seen a man who so openly wanted to be a mooch.

“Not only does my brother like to live off women, he’s a shameless, entitled mooch,” Su Wan added.

She sighed again and again. “But, Comrade Huang, your sister-in-law’s family… they must be from the Capital, right?”

Huang Qing’s breath hitched. She was a little nervous. “Comrade Su, what… what are you planning to do?”

“Actually, after thinking about it carefully, I think my third brother and your sister-in-law’s younger sister might be quite a good match. I wonder if your sister-in-law’s sister has a strong personality. If she can keep my third brother in line and make him settle down with her, that would be for the best.”

Huang Qing frowned. “Comrade Su Wan, this… isn’t this a bit inappropriate?”

“It’s actually a great idea. Why don’t you mention it to your sister-in-law? Who knows, maybe her sister will be willing.”

Su Wan was extremely enthusiastic.

With a look of resistance, Huang Qing forced a smile at Su Wan, hastily made an excuse, and left.

Su Wan narrowed her eyes at her retreating back. After returning to her room, she picked up a pen and wrote a letter for Zhang Qiu to deliver to Su Jue and her family.

She refused to believe that the Huang Family and the Zhao family were suddenly trying to rekindle old ties without some ulterior motive.

However, she was confident that with her warning, it would be practically impossible for them to take advantage of her third brother and her parents.

With the commotion caused by the Huang Family…

Su Wan, who had originally been very worried about Lu Zhengchuan, found her emotions completely disrupted.

Only now that she had some free time did she remember the matter again. According to her dream, Lu Zhengchuan was definitely being given a slow-acting poison.

Although it wouldn’t cause immediate harm, she didn’t know if it would damage his body. Unfortunately, her dream hadn’t shown her the date they made their move.

However, if Master Ji told Lu Zhengchuan the news, he would surely stop taking the medicine prescribed by that doctor named Zhou Lin.

Indeed, things were just as Su Wan had thought.

As soon as Lu Zhengchuan got off the train and into a military vehicle to return to the front lines, he received a call from Master Ji.

Master Ji didn’t say much over the phone, only mentioning Su Wan’s dream and reminding him, “Doctor Zhou Lin’s identity is definitely clean; otherwise, the army wouldn’t have dispatched her to the front lines.”

“But she did study medicine abroad before choosing to return to support our country’s medical field. Plus, the Zhou family is a dynasty of doctors. If we can’t catch her in the act, our military can’t just arrest someone without cause.”

“However, Comrade Su Wan’s warnings have generally never been wrong. You still need to be on your guard.”

Master Ji absolutely could not tolerate anything happening to Lu Zhengchuan. He was his prized subordinate. If something happened at this critical juncture, he, as the highest-ranking commander, would lose face and might even get reprimanded. If it caused any major repercussions, he could even be dismissed from his post.

Lu Zhengchuan, for his part, had unwavering faith in Su Wan’s words. There was no way his wife would try to harm him.

Therefore, when Xiao Li went to get his medicine, Lu Zhengchuan didn’t stop him, pretending he knew nothing.

He only feigned taking the medicine when it was brought to him, actually setting it aside.

Lu Zhengchuan did this for a whole month. The medicine he really needed, he bought himself in secret.

As someone who had come from the special forces, it was all too easy for him to conceal his identity and buy medicine from the outside.

Thus, when Doctor Zhou came over this day, expressing a desire to give him a physical examination, he nodded and let Xiao Li show her in.

“Doctor Zhou, thank you for your trouble. I feel that even though I’m taking medicine every day and only resting four hours, my physical condition is perfectly fine.”

Lu Zhengchuan was taking heart protection medication. With short rest times, late nights, and the possibility of strenuous activity, the load on his heart was quite heavy.

“Of course, Battalion Commander Lu.” Zhou Lin stepped forward and reached out to take his pulse.

After checking, she smiled and said, “Battalion Commander Lu, your body is indeed very healthy. But you should continue taking the medicine as a precaution.”

“No problem. Thank you for your trouble.” Lu Zhengchuan nodded, looking very busy and not paying her much attention.

Zhou Lin nodded, her expression unchanged, and turned to leave.

She didn’t notice that the moment she left, Lu Zhengchuan immediately found a reason to leave his office as well.

When Zhou Lin returned to her own office, her face instantly darkened. ‘Impossible. How can Lu Zhengchuan’s body be so healthy? The drug I gave him is addictive. He should be going through withdrawal by now.’

‘Or is it that the dose I gave him was too small, and Lu Zhengchuan’s constitution is too good, so he just flushed the drugs out of his system? Is that why this is happening?’

‘But if I increase the dose, it will be easily detected.’

Zhou Lin muttered to herself for a moment more before falling silent.

In the next room, Lu Zhengchuan heard every word. His face was grim. As he suspected, this Zhou Lin was really trying to harm him.