Super Soldier in the City

This was also his way of living for most of his life, not even worth three minutes of heated passion. Fortunately, Li Manli’s mother has lived in Huaxia for many years, she endured many hardships of this kind, and now is content with life as it is, knowing this is her fate for life. So she did not resist, as long as her daughter’s future could be better, she felt satisfied. Even though Wu Gang was often aimless, she diligently took care of the greenhouse, from planting to harvest, then selling. During this, she would also work at other people’s houses. Nowadays, wages are not low, often earning a hundred or two a day, so life gradually improved somewhat.

Unfortunately, good times don’t last long; Li Manli’s mother fell ill. She went to Mile City for two months, unable to frequently contact her mother, only borrowing a colleague’s phone weekly to call neighbors and enquire about the situation. Today, her family suddenly called, saying her mother was critically ill. This was the first time.

With her mother’s critical illness, Li Manli was naturally very anxious; otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken leave immediately to go home. But this was not what Li Manli was conflicted about at the moment. After listening to another reason, Li Yifei also couldn’t help but feel a bit angry.

A few months ago, Li Manli’s stepfather Wu Gang began touching her inappropriately, and his language became very frivolous, especially when her mother was not around; he would make some lewd moves. Li Manli had grown up, knowing some things, so she chose to work in Mile City instead of locally.

Especially after Wu Gang drank, it was even worse. Such things are shameful, and Li Manli and her mother already lived under someone else’s roof. If they made a fuss, they probably wouldn’t be able to stay at the Wu family’s home anymore.

Therefore, they must tolerate it, and could only endure, especially considering Li Manli’s mother’s status, as she was illegally staying in this country.

Li Yifei, after hearing this, was silent for a while before saying, "Let me take you home; if anything happens, I can help."

"No, no!" Li Manli’s face flushed with anxiety, she waved her hand, saying, "Uncle, that’s not what I meant; I just... I don’t know what to do. Uncle, you have other things to attend to; just drop me off ahead, really don’t want to trouble you further!"

Li Yifei then asked, "So what are you planning? If your mother’s condition is severe, she needs to go to the hospital... Once home, if your stepfather behaves the same, what will you do?"

"Mom... shouldn’t have anything serious. As for my stepfather, I’ll only stay two days, going back today and returning to Mile City tomorrow, it should be fine!" Li Manli said somewhat uncertainly. But she had already troubled Li Yifei a lot, really not wanting further bother. "Uncle, you’ve helped me a lot today, I already don’t know how to thank you, so I really can’t trouble you more."

"Alright, but I’ll still take you home; it’s not easy to find a taxi around here anyway!" Li Yifei said, this was the area just entering town, with only a few factories around, indeed not easy to find a taxi. Moreover, Li Manli might not opt for a taxi.

Li Yifei, determined to be a good friend to the end, decided to take her home.

Following Li Manli’s directions, Li Yifei spent over forty minutes driving to a village more than ten kilometers outside of Dan City. This was not a large village, and as Li Yifei drove in, several elders standing at the supermarket entrance turned to look.

Li Manli asked Li Yifei to stop the car and gratefully said, "Thank you, Uncle!"

"You’re welcome, go see your mom." Li Yifei nodded and said.

Only then did Li Manli carry the two fruits she had bought on the way back, opened the door, and got out of the car. After closing the door, she waved to Li Yifei, hesitated for a moment and then stepped forward into the alley.

Li Yifei gently exhaled, began to reverse out, turned the car, and prepared to leave when he saw an aunt approaching, waving him to halt.

"Aunt, anything wrong?" Li Yifei lowered the car window and asked.

The aunt glanced around, quietly asked, "Young man, what’s your relationship with that girl?"

"We’re friends." Li Yifei replied.

"Friends? Are you boyfriend and girlfriend?" The aunt asked.

This aunt was a bit gossipy, talking about all kinds of households, he shook his head and said, "No, we’re colleagues at her company."

"Oh!" The aunt seemed a bit disappointed but leaned closer, lowering her voice, saying, "Young man, since you’re here, don’t be in a rush to leave. That girl will encounter trouble after going back!"

"Hmm?" Li Yifei listened and asked, "Aunt, you mean Li Manli?"

"Yes, that girl. Such misfortune, she’s a nice girl; it’s a pity her mom fled from the north, she’s suffering." The aunt sighed.

This was not the time for sighing, so Li Yifei asked, "Aunt, what’s going on?"

"If you’re her friend, help stop it. Her stepfather wants to sell her! Such misery!" The aunt said, seeing someone approaching, she hastily added, "Don’t say I told you, I just felt sorry and gave a heads up. Don’t say it was me!"

The elderly lady turned around and left, and Li Yifei pondered for a moment before moving his car to the side of the road to avoid blocking traffic. He then pushed the door open and got out, walking back.

If what the lady said is true, then he really needs to take a look, not for anything else but because he stumbled upon this incident.

Wu family, in the newly built tile-roofed house, there are a total of two rooms, commonly known as east and west rooms. The east room houses Wu Gang and Li Manli’s mother, while the west room belongs to Li Manli. The house, just two years old, naturally looks quite new, and it was initially kept quite clean thanks to Li Manli and her mother. However, her mother fell ill recently, leaving the house in disarray, as Wu Gang wouldn’t tidy up. In his view, it’s useless for a man to clean the house, although he himself is quite useless already.

Today, several people came to the house, all friends of Wu Gang’s, some from nearby villages and others from the town. These people were drinking and carousing at the Wu family all morning. By noon, Wu Gang went to buy food, and the group drank again. Due to her illness, Li Manli’s mother struggled to help prepare lunch before heading to the west room to lie down. She’s only in her thirties but looks like she’s in her fifties, especially after falling ill, appearing even more haggard.

Wu Gang, with a flushed face from drinking, took out a few decks of cards, and the group started gambling!

"Old Wu, when is that cheap daughter of yours coming back? We’ve been waiting all morning." After playing dozens of rounds, the man sitting opposite Wu Gang, in his thirties, wearing suit pants below and a suit jacket above, said impatiently.

Wu Gang stubbed his cigarette in the ashtray, exhaling a thick smoke cloud. He didn’t rush to respond but instead forcefully threw down a few cards before saying, "Don’t worry, I called in the morning. She’ll be back today."

"Alright, I’ll wait a bit longer, or else..." The man said, retracting his lazy expression, and glaring at Wu Gang, said, "You know what I’ll do!"

"Hey, I said she’ll be back. Don’t worry, we’ll play a few more rounds, and she should be back!" Wu Gang quickly said.

The man chuckled, glanced at the others, and whispered, "You said it. If I don’t see her today, you’ll have to take some heat."

"Come on, what are you saying? How could that be? We always keep our word, you can count on it, she’ll be back today for sure!"

"Heh!" The other man coldly laughed, threw down a few cards, and said, "Did that Korean agree too?"

"Her? What does she know? What I say goes. She’ll have to agree, whether she wants to or not. Besides, a man should marry off his daughter, and I’m her father. She’ll marry whoever I say!" Wu Gang, though speaking so, kept his voice low, seemingly worried that Li Manli’s mother in the next room would hear.

"You know the consequences of playing with me."

"Brother Wang, you’re kidding, right? We wouldn’t handle things like that. Trust me, it’s all set, no worries!" Wu Gang promised, patting his chest.

Li Manli, carrying some fruit, walked into the yard. Seeing two cars parked at the gate and a few motorcycles in the yard, she frowned, glanced back, hesitated for a moment, but still walked in.

"Yo!" The man who had just spoken was facing the window. As soon as Li Manli came in, his eyes lit up, he threw down the cards in his hand, propped himself up, and said, "Old Wu, your daughter is back!"

Wu Gang was also pleasantly surprised upon hearing this, tossed his bad cards, and sighed in relief. If Li Manli didn’t return, he would have lost even more today—having already lost over three hundred just now. His luck was not on his side, so better not play anymore.

Li Manli saw several men standing in the room, of various ages, but all looking at her in a less-than-normal way. Li Manli softly called, "Uncle, I’m back!"

"Lili is back, good, good!" Wu Gang rubbed his hands and smiled, clearly with a hidden meaning in his words.

"Old Wu, let your daughter in!" Wang Feng said, tugging at Wu Gang’s clothes, pulling him aside. Wu Gang was pulled aside but didn’t move away, blocking the doorway, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Li Manli, licking his lips. Wang Feng praised, "Developed well, a little beauty."

What kind of elder comments on a junior like that, so frivolously? Li Manli took a step back, distancing herself a bit. She knew Wu Gang’s friends were no good, so she wouldn’t respond to them. Seeing the man blocking the doorway not budging, Li Manli said, "I need to check on my mom!"

"Your mom just took medicine and fell asleep, don’t wake her." Wang Feng answered for Wu Gang, then chuckled, saying, "Come in here, chat with your brother for a bit, and wait for your mom to wake up!"

"Uncle!" Li Manli lifted her head, looking over the crowd towards Wu Gang, and said, "I want to see my mom!"

"Didn’t your Brother Wang just say, your mom just took her medicine, later, her health is not good these days, don’t disturb!" Wu Gang bluffed, though he didn’t even know if Li Manli’s mother had eaten lunch and didn’t care about it.