The Female General Dominates All After Transmigration-Chapter 50: Acting According to the Law

Ling Chengyan entered and immediately saw Political Commissar Xu Dong, alongside a fifty-something elder and a middle-aged man. She had met both before; they were the secretary and militia leader of the Longsheng Brigade.

Xu Dong greeted Ling Chengyan with a cheerful smile, "Comrade Ling Chengyan, come in, come in."

He rose, personally pulled out a chair and invited Ling Chengyan to sit. The militia leader of the Longsheng Brigade, Zhang Qingguang, took the initiative and poured a cup of tea for her.

Ling Chengyan ignored Zhang Qingguang and did not touch the tea he extended, simply following Xu Dong’s motion and sitting down on the chair, saying, "Did the Political Commissar call me for a task?"

"Hahaha, Comrade Ling Chengyan deserves accolades for such responsibility." Xu Dong laughed heartily, seemingly awkward and unable to stop smiling. "But there’s no need to be so tense. Today, I came to present an award to Comrade Ling Chengyan on behalf of the commune and the squad,"

Ling Chengyan did not speak, merely looked at him inquisitively.

Xu Dong naturally had to explain. The thirteen people caught the previous day had undergone initial scrutiny, and quite a few things were pried out from them: indeed, they were folks from the border of the two provinces, fleeing the drought. Along the way, they first stole chickens, ducks, and clothes from villagers, then escalated to stealing money and food. Passing through Shang County, they took two sheep tied in the field and stole a donkey and a cow in Ping County...and even molested a few women among the disaster victims.

Upon hearing ’women,’ Ling Chengyan’s brow slightly twitched. Fortunately, Xu Dong did not delve into details about the victimized women or mention names.

"Therefore, after deliberation, the commune leaders decided to award Comrade Ling Chengyan, who excelled in performance, as encouragement." Xu Dong summarised cheerfully.

Ling Chengyan responded indifferently, "Thank you for valuing me, leaders. However, I’d mention that yesterday’s operation was jointly completed by Zhang Wanxiang, Wu Qingyun, and I."

"Hahaha, we are aware of this situation, Zhang Wanxiang and Wu Qingyun are commendable comrades too, they will be rewarded as well."

As Ling Chengyan mentioned the two, Zhang Wanxiang and Wu Qingyun were about to express that they didn’t contribute much. Nonetheless, before they could speak, Political Commissar Xu supplemented that they would indeed be rewarded, surprising the young men who then burst into joy.

Zhang Wanxiang gaped, incredulously, "Really?"

Xu Dong, well-acquainted with such expressions from young people, nodded with a smile.

Zhang Wanxiang chuckled, turned back, grabbed Wu Qingyun, and shook vigorously, "Qingyun, did you hear? We also got rewarded, hahaha, imagine how glad my parents will be!"

Wu Qingyun could hardly bear to witness his friend’s silly demeanor, yet his own grin stretched to his earlobes.

Ling Chengyan remained calm, waiting for Xu Dong to continue. Typically, after a sweet reward comes a bitter truth.

As expected, Xu Dong became slightly uneasy under her indifferent gaze, picked up the tea mug, and took a sip.

The people from Longsheng Brigade, who had earlier stood as mere background, seemed to suddenly understand etiquette. The brigade secretary smiled and said, "Political Commissar Xu, we’ll go discuss something with Secretary Wang."

Xu Dong nodded, watched the two leave, then coughed to conceal his discomfort, and spoke, "Comrade Ling Chengyan, Comrades Zhang Wanxiang, Wu Qingyun, called you to discuss how to handle the Longsheng Brigade members from a few days ago..."

Before Ling Chengyan could say anything, Zhang Wanxiang abruptly said straightforwardly, "Commissar, we’ve got no objections. We adhere to our captain and commissar, there are laws and rules. We’ve no second thoughts about doing things by the book."

Xu Dong was left speechless, almost swearing: who said Nanli Village’s Zhang Wanxiang was a dimwit, a fool? Look at how astutely he spoke; Xu Dong didn’t know how to respond. Should he justify law-bending favoritism?

Xu Dong composed himself and was about to speak again when the door curtain lifted, and Brigade Secretary Wang Futang stepped in: "Political Commissar Xu, carrying firearms and robbing on the road was truly fatal. Our Nanli Team usually avoids trouble but won’t tolerate intimidation either. On this matter, I concur with Wanxiang and others: we support handling it lawfully, do what needs to be done." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Wang Futang, damn it, why are you so unyielding? Sending those youths to prison does you no good! What benefits do you expect Nanli Team to gain?" The Longsheng Brigade’s secretary was older than Wang Futang, so he retorted bluntly.

Longsheng Brigade’s militia leader Zhang Qingguang looked equally livid, glaring at Zhang Wanxiang and Wu Qingyun, saying darkly, "Think this through; if you send Tiger and the others to prison, Longsheng and Nanli Teams will be sworn enemies!"

Zhang Wanxiang couldn’t respond in time before Wu Qingyun seized the opportunity: "Old Secretary Wang, Captain Zhang, despite being seniors and leaders, didn’t expect such low tactical awareness. No wonder the militia could wield weapons meant for safeguarding citizens and resort to armed robbery!"

"You!" Zhang Qingguang flushed purple but could not find words to counter.

The old secretary of Longsheng Brigade glared furiously at Wu Qingyun and Zhang Wanxiang and snapped, "Fine, fine, Nanli Team really is something. Since you disregard camaraderie, don’t blame Longsheng Brigade for being ruthless." With this, he stormed off.

Zhang Qingguang shot Ling Chengyan a fierce look and followed suit.

Xu Dong hurried after them, "Secretary Zhang, Secretary Zhang... why the need for this?"

While speaking, he turned back to Wang Futang.

"Political Commissar Xu, sit." Wang Futang refilled Xu Dong’s cup, saying, "Our team always steers clear from unnecessary conflicts. I discipline the youths, and they comply willingly. Over the years, following the principle of unity has maintained smooth relations with other brigades. Longsheng Brigade, this time, indeed went too far. Some youths have hot tempers—a bit of arguing or even a scuffle isn’t a big deal. We live as neighbors; as the saying goes, ’spoons clank against the pot rim,’ it’s trivial. Once it’s over, things return to normal, and we’d still be good brothers. But they shouldn’t have wielded guns and knives intending harm. If not for the intervention of some of our village kids who restrained them, who knows what could’ve happened with weapons unwielded? These days, whenever I think about it, I’m drenched in cold sweat and sleepless... Ah, Political Commissar Xu, have a cigarette; I don’t smoke, so I’m unaware of its quality, please don’t mind..."’

Xu Dong was engaged in a heartfelt conversation with Wang Futang, only realizing as he snapped out of it that Ling Chengyan and the others had long gone, leaving just him and Wang Futang in the room.