Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Tang Zhenye’s Good Intentions, Making the Newspaper

On the way home, Xu Huai’an recounted his past experiences in detail.

His journey had been anything but easy, and Gu Qinghuan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him.

Liu Guifang’s favoritism wasn’t anything new—it had been that way since they were children. Like so many second-borns in the world, he seemed destined never to receive his parents’ love.

Fortunately, being neglected and disliked never made him give up on his own life.

He fought for the opportunity to join the army himself. That year, a defensive war broke out between China and India, and the country was recruiting heavily.

Everyone was worried about being sent to the front lines—no one wanted to walk into danger.

But he simply couldn’t survive at home anymore. There was a famine, the harvests had failed, he did the most work but ate the least, and Liu Guifang would have taken food out of his mouth to give to the younger kids if she could.

Even under those circumstances, he chose to enlist. At least in the army, he could finally eat his fill. Later, he stayed with the frontline troops—units always on high alert, ready to go into combat at a moment’s notice.

You could say it was the army that raised him, that gave him the right outlook on life and values. No wonder he seemed so upright and principled.

It was rare for the two of them to have a moment alone like this. Xu Huai’an wished he could lay his whole heart bare for her—he truly loved her deeply.

Gu Qinghuan understood his feelings, but this wasn’t some casual romance you could just try out and break up if it didn’t work.

Xu Huai’an was the kind of person who, once he made up his mind, would be committed for life.

She was afraid that if she gave in but couldn’t promise him anything definite, she’d only end up hurting him. So she pretended not to notice his feelings.

But she had to admit, after spending these days together, Xu Huai’an had become someone special in her heart. He wasn’t like the men she’d known before.

Most men and women in later generations weighed pros and cons in relationships and marriage, always calculating gains and losses.

Xu Huai’an’s feelings were pure and selfless—he expected nothing in return, never cared about what he might lose or gain.

Sometimes she wondered if he’d latched onto her out of gratitude for saving his life. If that was the case, it really wasn’t necessary.

But the burning sincerity in his eyes couldn’t be faked. She even felt that if she gave in just a little, he’d swallow her whole.

So the two of them returned home, both a little awkward.

—

Unlike their tender moment, Tang Zhenye returned to his place and immediately told Xiao Liu to look into Zhong Luoning’s situation.

At dinner, he didn’t say anything outright, but as long as the facts checked out and matched what Xu Huai’an had told him, he would definitely help.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Xu Huai’an, but he never took just one side of the story at face value—that was his way of handling things.

This good habit had helped him avoid many hidden dangers and open attacks over the years.

Early the next morning, Xiao Liu came back with a report.

“Chief, as you instructed, I asked around the Xu family’s neighborhood. The neighbors’ stories were all basically the same, so the facts are confirmed.

They said several people saw what happened that day—Zhong Luoning was tied to a chair inside, and the scene was… obscene, to say the least.

Someone even saw a child fall from upstairs and get caught by a young man driving a tricycle.

The family next door said they’d seen Xu Jianguo bring women home, acting intimate—not just once or twice.

I also went to the police station. Early this morning, they’d already let Xu Jianguo go. That bastard…

Chief, those people on the Revolutionary Committee are out of control—really despicable!” Xiao Liu couldn’t stand it, his voice full of righteous anger.

Tang Zhenye sighed. The world was like this now—society was twisted and deformed. When would things finally get better? He didn’t know.

Even a young woman like Gu Qinghuan could see the bigger picture. Without her, Xu Huai’an probably wouldn’t be where he was today.

If they’d never met, so be it. But since they had, he had to help if he could.

No matter what, Tang Zhenye was determined to get involved in this matter. The only question was how—he had no real power in Beijing, and no one would listen to him.

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

“Ring, ring!”

“Who is it?” Fang Zhihai answered the phone, sounding tired. His son had acted up again last night, keeping the whole family awake. They’d just gotten to sleep.

“Old Fang, it’s me—Tang Zhenye!”

“Old Tang? What’s up? I’ll tell you now, I don’t have time to hang out today. I’ve been run ragged lately, and I need to spend time with my family.” His son’s illness was giving him a headache—he wasn’t in the mood for socializing.

“I’m calling to help with your headache. Remember yesterday I told you I ran into an old subordinate on the street? He’d suffered from mental issues after the war, too.

I met with him last night and asked about his condition. Guess what?”

“Old Tang, come on, don’t keep me in suspense. Just tell me!” Tang Zhenye had piqued Fang Zhihai’s interest.

Tang Zhenye smiled like a fisherman reeling in a catch. “I only knew he’d been sick for over two years. I didn’t realize that after returning home, he developed the same symptoms as your son.

According to him, he was so out of control he hurt people, and his family had to tie him to the bed for over a year. Only in the last few months did he suddenly get better.

When I saw him yesterday, he was mentally stable, looked healthy—obviously fully recovered.”

Fang Zhihai was amazed. If his son could just live a normal life, get married, have kids, and be at peace, he’d be grateful.

“Old Tang, did you ask how he got better? Some kind of folk remedy?”

“Well, that brings us to his wife. According to Huai’an, when he was at his worst, his family arranged a marriage for him.

It was his young wife who took care of him, tried everything, and little by little helped him recover his mind and break free from his restraints. Eventually, he returned to normal life.

This time…”

Before Tang Zhenye could finish, Fang Zhihai interrupted, “So you’re saying I should find a wife for my Zhengping too?” That didn’t sound very reliable!

Tang Zhenye rolled his eyes—Old Fang was always joking around.

“I’m not done! They just happen to be in Beijing now, planning to see a psychologist for a complete cure.

My idea is, you should try both approaches for Zhengping.

On one hand, you have a living example right in front of you—ask for advice, follow their methods, got it?

On the other, bring in the psychologist too—more options.

Maybe Zhengping will get better?”

Fang Zhihai thought it made sense. If someone who’d been tied to a bed could recover, there was no reason Zhengping couldn’t.

Learn! He had to learn!

“I’ve taken him to a few psychologists—supposedly top experts—but it was useless. Tried Chinese medicine too, nothing worked.

But what you’re saying sounds promising. You have to introduce us—as soon as possible!”

“No problem, but they’re in the middle of their own troubles right now, so they might not have time to help you!” The fish was hooked.

“What trouble?” Fang Zhihai asked.

“It’s nothing big—just something you could fix with a word.

But for them, it’s a huge deal. If you’re willing, could you take care of it? Then I’ll have an easier time asking them for help.” Tang Zhenye said with a smile.

“So that’s what this is about! Tang Zhenye, you sly old fox!” Fang Zhihai realized what was going on and pretended to be annoyed.

“Haha, if I could do it myself, I wouldn’t bother you.

But I’m not exaggerating—this is a real case. Once you meet them, you’ll see.

They’re both good people. Last night, they told me a lot about their treatment methods and asked me to pass them on to you—maybe they’ll help.

I just thought you should meet and get a deeper understanding.”

Fang Zhihai was silent for a moment. “Old Tang, I trust your character, so don’t let me down! What’s the matter? Tell me.”

Tang Zhenye briefly explained what had happened.

Fang Zhihai was furious, though Tang Zhenye couldn’t see it.

“These little punks—unbelievable! Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Tell them to wait for news!

And don’t forget—after it’s done, the introduction!” He emphasized the last two words.

Tang Zhenye laughed, “No problem. Thanks for your help.”

Actually, they’d been friends for years. This wasn’t really a quid pro quo—if Fang Zhihai hadn’t helped, Tang Zhenye would have found another way.

It just so happened that Fang Zhihai and Xu Huai’an needed each other, and Tang Zhenye was happy to build a bridge between them, to give Xu Huai’an a broader path.

If his wife really could help cure Fang Zhengping, the Fang family would owe them a lifelong favor.

Tang Zhenye truly had their best interests at heart.

But Xu Huai’an and Gu Qinghuan didn’t know any of this yet.

—

Early in the morning, Gu Lanting suddenly burst in holding a newspaper.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at school? Why are you back?”

Gu Lanting excitedly waved the newspaper, “Sis, look! You’re in the newspaper! On the front page!”

In those days, having a family member in the newspaper was like being on national TV in later generations—a real source of pride. No wonder Gu Lanting was so excited.

Gu Qinghuan had a pretty good idea what it was about. She’d only ever been interviewed by a reporter once, on the train to Beijing.

If this were modern times, such news would have gone viral on video sites overnight.

But now, it had taken so long just to get published. She couldn’t help but marvel at how slow information spread back then.

“Don’t make such a fuss. Behave yourself,” Gu Qinghuan said, pretending to be calm.

“Sis, aren’t you excited? You did a good deed and made the newspaper! If my classmates find out, they’ll be so jealous!” Lanting shouted excitedly.

“Uncle, what does it mean to be in the newspaper?” Little Beibei tugged at Lanting’s pants.

“It means you did something amazing, and everyone will admire you. Now you have a hero for a mom! Isn’t that awesome?” Lanting coaxed.

“Yay! Hero mom, so cool!” Beibei cheered loudly.

Dabao also looked at Gu Qinghuan with admiration.

Only Youran was confused and didn’t understand what was going on.

The reporter who interviewed Gu Qinghuan was probably a rookie at the newspaper. The article was simple and straightforward, but full of practical tips on preventing child abduction—maybe that’s why it made the front page, because the topic was so relevant and helpful for people to recognize traffickers.

That must be why the article was featured so prominently."

"Chapter 146: Negotiating with Xu Li

The photo captured Gu Qinghuan’s calm and radiant smile, making anyone who saw it feel as if a spring breeze had brushed past.

Zhong Luoning leaned over to take a look as well. “Our Huanhuan is so beautiful.”

“Haha, this reporter really knows how to take pictures…” Gu Qinghuan was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly remembered something.

“That’s right, the reporter! How could I have forgotten about him?

Xu Huaian, do you remember that reporter Xu Li who interviewed me when we first arrived in Beijing? He said he was from the People’s Daily and even left us his contact information!

Talk about a pillow when you’re sleepy—this is perfect timing! Why bother looking for another newspaper? Let’s go find him first. If we can get our story into a People’s Daily column, let’s see who still dares to protect Xu Jianguo.”

“Sounds good. I think the address is still in your bag. Let’s go check it out.”

The two of them acted immediately, quickly tidying up and heading out to find him.

Luckily, Zhong Luoning was still at home to look after the children. The little ones were all well-behaved, and Yoyo always listened to her mother, so it wasn’t much trouble.

With that, Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huaian felt at ease leaving the three kids in her care as they headed out.

Recently, Xu Li had been riding high. Ever since he came back from his business trip and handed over the article he’d written based on the material he’d accidentally photographed at the train station, things had been going his way.

The editor-in-chief immediately recognized the educational value of his piece and decided to run it on the front page.

In all his years at the paper, Xu Li had always been assigned marginal stories, his articles relegated to the corners of the pages. He’d never really had a chance to take center stage before!

His colleagues were green with envy.

The editor-in-chief had started to value him, praising his keen eye for stories from everyday life. He’d already gotten a raise, and a promotion seemed just around the corner.

For today’s big story, he’d stayed up late the night before, working with the printing department to finalize the layout before finally heading home to rest. Naturally, he overslept the next morning.

He was humming a tune, getting ready to go to work, when he ran into Xu Huaian and Gu Qinghuan, who had come looking for him.

His lucky star! Xu Li’s eyes lit up when he saw Gu Qinghuan. “Comrade Gu, long time no see! What a pleasure!”

Xu Li eagerly reached out to shake her hand, his eyes sparkling. He wasn’t married yet, and had zero resistance to a woman like Gu Qinghuan, who combined beauty and brains.

It was just a pity she was already married.

Xu Huaian didn’t like anyone coveting Gu Qinghuan. Without missing a beat, he reached out and shook Xu Li’s hand firmly. “Reporter Xu, a pleasure.”

Don’t think he hadn’t noticed the way this reporter was looking at Gu Qinghuan.

Xu Li sighed inwardly, a bit disappointed, but kept his expression neutral. “Did you two come to see me today? Is there something I can help with?”

Gu Qinghuan didn’t notice the undercurrents between the two men.

“Reporter Xu, could we find somewhere to sit and talk?”

Xu Li glanced at his watch. “Could you wait a moment? I need to go in and take care of something first. Let’s meet in the little park out front in ten minutes.”

Gu Qinghuan had no objections.

The two of them strolled slowly toward the park, discussing how best to negotiate with him to maximize their advantage.

Meanwhile, Xu Jianguo, who had just been released from the police station, was stewing at home, unable to swallow his anger.

He quickly used his connections at the Revolutionary Committee to find out Gu Qinghuan’s address.

Xu Jianguo rounded up a few Red Guards he knew and planned to go cause trouble for them.

Xu’s mother and father, after their son’s recent arrest, had become fearful. They realized that no matter how powerful Xu Jianguo was, he couldn’t cover the sky with one hand. They urged him to let it go, divorce Zhong Luoning, find another woman, and live a good life—maybe have another son or daughter.

They were getting old and didn’t want any more trouble.

But Xu Jianguo wouldn’t listen. All he could think about was revenge.

Gu Qinghuan and Zhong Luoning had landed him in the police station for two days, ruining his reputation and dignity. He had to get even.

He was no longer the small-time nobody who used to grovel and curry favor just to climb up the social ladder.

After putting down the phone, Fang Zhihai thought for a moment and made another call.

“Chen Jiadong! What’s going on over there? I just got a report—you let go of a scoundrel who’s been causing trouble? Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“Leader! I had no choice. The Revolutionary Committee was pressuring us to protect Xu Jianguo. We didn’t dare go against them,” Chen Jiadong said, aggrieved.

He was really caught in the middle, stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“Damn the Revolutionary Committee! I think they’re the real lunatics—never doing anything decent, always stirring up trouble.

Don’t worry about them. I’ll handle those bastards at the Revolutionary Committee. You just follow procedure—do what needs to be done!

Aren’t they always organizing protests and putting up big-character posters? Well, give Xu Jianguo the same treatment. He’s a homewrecker who’s ruined his own family—scum, worse than an animal.”

Fang Zhihai’s words gave Chen Jiadong the confidence he needed.

“With your backing, I feel much better. I’ll follow the rules to the letter, don’t worry.”

Fang Zhihai made another call, this time to put pressure on the Revolutionary Committee.

And just like that, the matter was settled.

Gu Qinghuan, unaware that Tang Zhenye had already helped them resolve the issue with a single phone call, was still negotiating with Xu Li.

Gu Qinghuan wanted to use Xu Li to expose Xu Jianguo’s scandals and ruin his reputation.

“Comrade Gu, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but you know that the People’s Daily usually reports positive news. Stories about family ethics like this aren’t really suitable for us. I doubt the editor-in-chief would approve it.

Besides, this isn’t just any family dispute—it could easily touch on political issues. The Revolutionary Committee might come after us,” Xu Li said honestly. He didn’t dare touch this hot potato.

“Reporter Xu, this story is a double-edged sword. If used well, it could be a huge boost for you.

I have solid evidence of Xu Jianguo’s misconduct—irrefutable proof.

I’ve even thought of the headline for you: ‘Why Does the Revolutionary Committee Harbor Homewreckers and Oppress the People?’

Seeing is believing. With this evidence, you can become champions of justice. I believe this would greatly enhance the People’s Daily’s influence.

This is a win-win situation!” Gu Qinghuan spoke eloquently, pulling out all the stops.

And it had to be said—Xu Li was extremely tempted.

He hadn’t spent years at the paper for nothing; he had a sharp news sense, even if his writing skills were a bit lacking.

He knew that if this article was done well, it could have a huge impact. The first paper to take on the Revolutionary Committee would be remembered by the public.

And it really was a sure win. He’d seen those photos—they were shocking and appalling.

“Comrade Gu, here’s the thing—I don’t have much say. I’ll have to discuss this with the editor-in-chief and get back to you,” Xu Li said, unable to promise anything despite his interest.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t push him for an immediate answer, but applied subtle pressure: “Of course, that’s only right. But I’d appreciate it if you could make a decision quickly—this is urgent. I’ve already contacted a few other newspapers for this afternoon. Whoever is willing to report objectively will get the story.”

The implication was clear: she wasn’t desperate for his help.

Xu Li immediately became anxious and took a photo from her.

“Comrade Gu, do you have a phone? If not, just give me your address. As soon as I have an answer, I’ll come find you. Could you hold off on contacting the other papers for now? I’ll do my best to make this happen,” Xu Li said, more determined than ever not to let this juicy story slip away.

Seeing that he’d taken the bait, Gu Qinghuan finally relaxed.

“Alright, but you have to be quick. Get back to me before 2 p.m.” She gave him the address of the villa and then left.

Xu Li immediately took the photo to his editor-in-chief.

Xu Huaian looked at Gu Qinghuan in amazement.

He’d never realized how skilled she was at negotiating—just a few words and Xu Li was dancing to her tune, the entire conversation under her control.

And Xu Li was a reporter, no less.

“What? Impressed by my skills? Piece of cake! Haha, don’t worship me—I’m just a legend,” Gu Qinghuan said, striking a playful pose.

Xu Huaian smiled indulgently.

Their original plan had been to test the waters with several newspapers, but since they’d run into Xu Li—and the People’s Daily was the best option—they decided to put all their eggs in that basket for now.

With that settled, they hurried home.

Zhong Luoning was still ill, and there were three children at home. They couldn’t help but worry.

After receiving the call, Chen Jiadong discussed with his team what excuse they could use to bring Xu Jianguo back in. Having just released him, it would look bad to arrest him again so soon.

This moment of hesitation gave Xu Jianguo his chance.

He gathered five or six Red Guards he was close to, and under the banner of criticizing the bourgeois reactionary line, swaggered over to Gu Qinghuan’s villa.

The Red Guards wore green military caps and uniforms, belts with ammo pouches, and carried copies of the Chairman’s Quotations. They looked utterly ridiculous.

Over the years, they had wantonly attacked and smashed up government offices, factories, and labeled veteran revolutionaries, intellectuals, and even leaders as reactionaries, stirring up the masses to denounce and humiliate them.

People on the street scattered in fear as they passed, while the Red Guards only laughed harder, feeling all the more powerful.

Bang! Bang!

The violent pounding on the door startled Zhong Luoning inside, making her jump like a startled bird. She was all too familiar with this kind of hostile knocking."

"Chapter 147: Villains Attack, Xiao Zhuo the Hero Rescues the Beauty