NOVPUB54: Chapter 42: The Second Enemy
54 -42: The Second Enemy
Everyone in Building 10 wasn’t the type to ignore advice.
Aside from the confused expressions on the faces of Zhang Qian and Zhuang Nanyang, the two naively brave youngsters, everyone else exchanged glances and agreed with Chu Guodong’s suggestion.
Since their parents had no doubts and were very thankful for Captain Chu’s reminder, Zhang Qian and Zhuang Nanyang didn’t say much more and planned to return home that night to ask their parents.
Having decided not to ask for too many supplies, the people from Building 10 no longer waited at the scene for all the resources to be cleared out.
After all, it was cold and freezing; rather than stay outside getting cold, it was better to go home early and rest.
The past several days had been exhausting for everyone.
After greeting Chu Guodong, Gu Yanzhi left with everyone from Building 10.
Before they left, Chu Guodong reminded those from Building 10 who had participated in the ice-breaking to remember to go to the Songshan District Government the next day to collect their rewards and to think about what additional benefits they might want.
He would help them hint and inquire about it tomorrow.
On the way back, everyone was very happy, chatting and joking along the way.
Regardless of whether they got any additional benefits tomorrow, the substantial supplies that would be enough for everyone to sustain themselves for a year and a half were a rich reward.
The nearly month-long effort had not been in vain.
“What’s this up ahead?”
As they passed a row of commercial buildings, a convoy blocked their way back.
The convoy comprised 8 or 9 trucks, with a black sedan with a red star in the middle.
The convoy stopped right in the middle of the road, occupying the entire street, and the people from the vehicles were nowhere to be seen, uncertain where they had gone.
“Who are these people?”
The group planned to slip past the convoy to return to the city.
Just as they reached the last truck, a group of soldiers, in military uniform and with guns in hand, appeared out of nowhere and stood at the end of the vehicles, their guns pointed at everyone.
“Sorry, sorry, there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“We just want to pass through here to return to the city,” Uncle Zhang stepped forward, placed the axe in his hands on the ground, raised his hands, and repeatedly explained.
“We are escorting an important leader; please step back.
You may proceed after we leave,” the leading soldier examined the group with a weary look but didn’t seem to think they were bad people and calmly instructed without expression.
“Alright, we’ll step back now,” Uncle Zhang didn’t forget to pick up the axe he had placed on the ground and retreated several hundred meters with everyone else.
When Uncle Zhang bent down to pick up the axe, the soldiers became very nervous, their guns all aimed at Uncle Zhang.
If he made any other move, they were ready to shoot him like a sieve at the first sign of trouble.
Indeed, Uncle Zhang had no ill intentions; faced with such a scene, even his arms trembled as he picked up the axe, quickly taking everyone to retreat.
As he turned to leave, Uncle Zhang’s steps seemed calm, but those familiar with him could sense his nervousness.
Not just Uncle Zhang, except for the Gu Yanzhi family of three, everyone felt unnerved by so many guns pointed at them, wishing they could grow wings and swiftly fly away from this dangerous place.
After watching the people from Building 10 retreat to a safe distance, the leading officer waved his hand to lower the guns.
Still, he kept a sharp eye on everyone from Building 10, who obediently stood afar without daring to make any extra movements, speaking in whispers as if they were thieves.
After a while, the convoy made another move.
A man dressed in a black down jacket and wearing a leather hat emerged from a building on the roadside under the escort of a group of people and got into the black sedan in the middle.
From a distance, upon seeing this man, Gu Yanzhi uncontrollably shivered, her hands clenched into fists, biting her lower lip hard with her upper teeth, and a strong sense of hatred burst forth from her eyes.
Song Zhao immediately noticed Gu Yanzhi’s distress and reached out to grasp her clenched fist, subtly moving to cover her from behind and shielding her from everyone else’s view.
Song Zhao’s thumb rubbed on Gu Yanzhi’s hand, conveying a sense of comfort.
Seizing the moment Gu Yanzhi’s fist relaxed, he quickly slipped his hand into hers, grasping her tightly to prevent any more self-harm.
Fortunately, Gu Yanzhi managed to contain her emotions well by the time the convoy left, and they could continue walking; aside from Song Zhao and Gu Yanlin, no one could tell that Gu Yanzhi had lost control.
The rest of the journey home was quiet, and everyone silently returned to their respective homes.
Upon returning home, Gu Yanzhi still wasn’t in a great mood, plopping down onto the sofa and hugging a pillow as she immersed herself in her thoughts.
Song Zhao silently drew Gu Yanzhi into his embrace, patting her back rhythmically to soothe her.
Only when Gu Yanzhi’s emotions had stabilized and she showed a smile that seemed both sorrowful and happy did Song Zhao softly ask.
Gu Yanlin sat on the adjacent sofa, his ears perked up, also wanting to hear the answer.
Song Zhao’s words were not complete, but the two present knew what he meant.
Gu Yanzhi momentarily went silent, then nodded.
“Yan Lin, sit down,” Gu Yanlin, still carrying the impulsiveness of youth, immediately stood up from the sofa, eager to chop the man into pieces right then and there, but he sat back down after Gu Yanzhi scolded him sternly, sitting on the sofa seething.
Song Zhao, who had always been good-tempered in front of the two, now gripped Gu Yanzhi’s hand tightly, his own fist clenched so hard that his nails dug into the flesh, reminding himself to stay calm.
He was not without hate, but he knew the disparity between enemy and ally was too great right now; it was necessary first to understand the situation before planning the next move.
Thinking about the suffering Gu Yanzhi had endured in the past, Song Zhao wished he could endure it in her place, his heart filled with tenderness for her.
“Let’s plan for this matter in the long term,” Gu Yanzhi finally said, having calmed her emotions and regained composure.
The man’s identity was quite secretive.
Even up to her successful revenge in her previous life, she had only known that the man’s surname was Yan, that everyone called him Mr.
Yan, and he was the heir to a powerful family in the capital with great influence.
Beyond that, she could find out no more.
In her previous life, she had succeeded in her revenge by exploiting an opportunity, taking advantage of his residual feelings for her to lure him to a derelict building, where she set off an explosive to avenge herself.
“I understand,” Gu Yanlin calmed down as well, realizing his impetuosity; without understanding their enemy, it wasn’t yet time to seek revenge.
Besides, seeing that the man was protected by many soldiers, his status and position were likely not low.
Going in rashly, unprepared, would simply be offering himself up on a platter, accomplishing nothing, and potentially alerting the enemy.
Everyone was in a poor mood, so they skipped dinner and went to their rooms to rest.
As soon as she returned to her room, Gu Yanzhi kissed Song Zhao fiercely, venting the emotions she had been suppressing.
