CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70 HEART-TO-HEART

And the families involved in the buying and selling were taken to another car, handcuffed, and directly taken away.

As for the instigators, the Liu brothers, Gu Junming did not arrest them, but he knew that these two would not have good days ahead in the village. After all, it was they who initiated the trouble. If they hadn’t made a big fuss about buying people, these people wouldn’t have been brought here. After this incident, they will surely make enemies with the villagers, let them fight it out amongst themselves.

After completing this task, Yan Kai made an excuse to leave with a few people. Heading an hour forward from Xiong’er Ridge, the path led to a desolate area on the border, taking the opportunity to rescue these women, he was granted a chance to investigate along the borderline. Truly a clever person.

Knowing what he was going to do, Gu Junming said nothing much, reminding him to be careful.

Yan Kai patted Gu Junming on the shoulder, got in the car, and left.

Their action was smooth, but Sun Chan remained anxious, she hardly slept through the night. As soon as dawn broke the next day, she got up. She wanted to wait for news from Gu Junming.

From afar, she saw a military vehicle approaching, Sun Chan’s heart raced, running to the doorway.

Gu Junming also jumped out of the vehicle, and the two hurried toward each other, with only a large gate separating them. It was too early, the gatekeeper had not woken up, preventing the gate from being opened.

"Why are you out so early?"

"Was Xiong’er Ridge very dangerous?"

Both spoke simultaneously, and then laughed together through the gate.

When Gu Junming laughed, his eyes were bright and looked very good, even better than the teachers from the city who taught here in the past. Besides, that teacher was someone whom all the girls in the village later fancied.

Sun Chan said, "How are the Zhao Family people? She won’t... won’t be executed, right?"

Though she hated Zhao Xiuxia thoroughly, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy thinking about her being sentenced, having been raised by her. She only wanted to be free; if people found out, she would never return to village life.

"I let Zhao Xiuxia go. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she no longer dares to have any ideas about you."

Sun Chan’s eyes glimmered: "Really?"

"I came to find you to take you back. I’ll use this incident to completely separate your household registration from Zhao Xiuxia. From now on, you will have an independent registration. Whether it’s marriage or school, it will have nothing to do with them."

"Thank you, Deputy Battalion Commander!" Sun Chan’s eyes were filled with joy. If that’s the case, she would never have to be involved with Sun Lijuan, Zhao Xiuxia, and others again!

"Today we leave. I’ll help you with your leave, consider it as cooperating with our operation. How about inviting me for breakfast?" Gu Junming smiled at Sun Chan.

"Okay! But how do you get in?" She hesitantly looked towards the guardroom, expecting the gatekeeper to be sound asleep.

At that moment, Gu Junming grabbed the railing with one hand, climbed up a few steps, and then jumped directly over the more than two-meter-high gate.

Sun Chan was taken aback with wide open mouth, while Gu Junming shushed her: "Let’s go, eat."

Along the way, Sun Chan felt like she was almost floating, thinking about severing ties with the Sun Family, the sky seemed bluer, and everything turned better. Gu Junming looked at her happily and lightly walking, feeling gratified, this is what a seventeen-year-old girl should be like.

Eating in the canteen, Gu Junming in his military attire looked impressive, many people glanced over, curiosity in their eyes. What’s the relationship between these two?

Actually, Sun Chan felt somewhat embarrassed, she couldn’t go around explaining he was helping her, so she acted as if she didn’t know.

Gu Junming said: "Sun Chan, from now on just focus on living well, leave the rest to me. I’ll shelter you through the wind and rain."

"Huh?" Sun Chan was taken aback, looking up at Gu Junming.

Gu Junming bowed his head, eating heartily, Sun Chan felt a bit dazed, did she mishear?

Taking leave was easy, Sun Chan’s workplace was very cooperative, it was a major case, even Commander Yan’s son was involved, how could they not support it? Their employee cooperating with the investigation was expected.

Thus Gu Junming drove, taking Sun Chan back to the village, this was the first time the two were alone together for such a long time. Sun Chan was a bit nervous, but soon got used to it.

Gu Junming talked about the matters at Xiong’er Ridge: "Those who beat and caused deaths will be sentenced, while most will be released. Many women will return home, some older women are in despair, and others consider staying in the village for the sake of their children’s future; it’s all their own choice."

Listening to him, Sun Chan suddenly thought of her own origin.

Zhao Xiuxia’s words echoed in her ears: "I see it as a wild child, surely born from some girl pregnant out of wedlock, who can only leave you at the edge of a well, or else an unknown origin couple. Who’ll want you? Your origin is so poor, it’s good that I’m raising you!"

Sun Chan’s tears suddenly welled up, those abducted women were willing to stay at Xiong’er Ridge for their children, yet her parents abandoned her. Was it really as Zhao Xiuxia said, her origins were indeed rotten?

Turning the steering wheel, Gu Junming said: "Sun Chan, don’t overthink, that chaotic era saw many tragedies, in fact, I too was an abandoned child."

"Huh?" She looked up at Gu Junming.

"I was born during turmoil, my grandfather was implicated, my father was instigated, filed for divorce to abandon my mother, and led the oppression against my grandfather and uncle. She was sent to the countryside, suffered greatly, gave birth to me, but passed not long after. The family of my uncle’s old comrade adopted me; without them, I’d have starved early on."

"Don’t be sad." Sun Chan bit her lip looking at Gu Junming.

His expression was calm: "I’m not sad."

His mother and grandfather were oppressed, yet his father stood on their blood and tears to advance, even married the daughter of the provincial leader. When Gu Junming could return to the city at ten, his previous home was gone. Seeing his splendid stepmother and nearly same-aged half-brother, he left.

If not for Han Dong’s parents forcibly keeping him until he joined the military in his teens, Gu Junming would likely have ended up a farmer in the village.

Gu Zishan explained countless times, they considered the broader situation then, only those actions could save the Gu Family, he secretly protected the safety of his grandfather and several uncles. But regardless of how nicely said, his mother and grandfather had died, uncles severed ties with the Gu Family, himself, married and with children, the traces his mother left at home were nearly gone.