Chapter 163: Change

　　On the second day after Gu Hanshen led the soldiers to dig out the murder and burial site of the Xiao Chengping brothers, Jiang Youtao and Fu Shaohua went south to Shencheng together.

　　Their train tickets were sleeper berths that Fu Shaohua's father Fu Wenyan bought through his connections. As it was summer, they didn't bring much food with them, and their luggage consisted only of some spare clothes.

　　There were as many people on the train as ever.

　　After getting in the car, Jiang Youtao asked Fu Shaohua: "How are your brother and sister-in-law preparing for the exam? Are they confident?"

　　The college entrance examination in 1978 was held in July, just over half a year after the one in November 1977. This was the closest college entrance examination in the history of New China.

　　Fu Shaohua's brother and sister-in-law Fu Shaoguo and Jian Rou have been preparing for more than half a year.

　　"They are very confident." Fu Shaohua was kept at home by his brother these days and did nothing but tutor them in their lessons. If they still couldn't pass the exam, his brother might as well give up the exam and concentrate on work at home.

　　Jiang Youtao was relieved: "That's good."

　　She has known Fu Shaohua for four years, and she is not tired of Fu Shaohua yet. She gets along very well with the people in the Fu family. If nothing unexpected happens, she and Fu Shaohua should be able to get along forever.

　　Fu Shaoguo and his wife are living a good life, and they are happy too.

　　Fu Shaohua sat down on Jiang Youtao's bed: "Tao'er, I ran into Han Yanqing last night. He said he was going to marry Weiwei."

　　Last night, Fu Shaohua met Han Yanqing at the entrance of the public toilet. He had just come out of the courtyard house he bought. He said he was here to watch the decoration. Fu Shaohua didn't believe a word. It was already past eight o'clock in the evening. The decoration workers had gone home long ago. What was he here to watch? To watch ghosts decorate for him?

　　Fu Shaohua reasonably suspected that Han Yanqing came to show off to him, and he had evidence.

　　Jiang Youtao nodded: "I know."

　　Fu Shaohua looked at Jiang Youtao's pretty face, and when the words "when will we get married" came to his lips, he couldn't say them.

　　He was not a fool. He had been with Jiang Youtao for so many years, and he knew a little about her thoughts. She was somewhat averse to marriage. This was still the case even after she had gotten along with his family.

　　Fu Shaohua reached out and pushed the hair that had fallen to Jiang Youtao's eyes away: "Old Han said that he would ask me to go with him to pick up the bride. You must make it very difficult for him and let him know that marriage is not that easy."

　　Fu Shaohua said this viciously.

　　Jiang Youtao knew that Fu Shaohua didn't want to talk about this at first, but when he didn't bring up that topic, Jiang Youtao felt more relaxed. She felt that she was still young and it was too early to enter the palace of marriage now. Although she may be label as a little bit of a scumbag, Jiang Youtao had no plans to get married.

　　She was happy that Fu Shaohua changed the subject: "Okay, I understand."

　　Fu Shaohua saw Jiang Youtao smiling, so he smiled too.

　　He thought, he was still young, only in his twenties, and it wouldn't be too late to wait a few more years until he was at the age of Han Yanqing right now before getting married. Why should he force Jiang Youtao?

　　It takes two days and two nights to take a train from the capital to Shanghai. Jiang Youtao was bored and kept opening the window to her little world.

　　The ability of Gu Hanshen and others is unquestionable. After the breakthrough, they went deeper into the investigation of Xiao Chengping and his brother. At the same time, everything Xiao Chengping did since he joined the army was also laid out in front of Captain Xu.

　　This information is extremely detailed, including all of Xiao Chengping's contributions to suppressing and seizing his comrades at the time.

　　The army is not a completely pure land. There is less intrigue than in local areas, but it is not uncommon. There are quite a few people like Xiao Chengping in the army. Leaders usually allow and support healthy competition. Xiao Chengping went too far.

　　But what's even more outrageous is why Xiao Chengping was so blatant, but no one discovered what he did?

　　Captain Xu once again hated the so-called 'halo of the protagonist'. The more he came into contact with it, the more he hated it.

　　It would be fine if the protagonist was a good guy, as the protagonist's halo would only make him luckier. But if the protagonist was a bad guy, then he's screwed, as the protagonist's halo would be his best cheating weapon.

　　With this cheating tool, it can cloud people's consciousness and crush their IQ.

　　Captain Xu thought of the mission Xiao Chengping had to take on before his promotion and closed his eyes.

　　The soldiers of their republic can die on the battlefield or on the training ground, but they should never, ever die at the hands of their comrades.

　　Captain Xu opened his eyes, put on a serious face, packed the information, and set off for the military headquarters.

　　What Xiao Chengping did was enough to get him court-martialed.

　　While driving, he glanced at himself in the rearview mirror. His hair had grown a thin layer of fuzz. The shampoo that Jiang Youtao gave him was indeed very useful.

　　Now Captain Xu likes to touch his head whenever he wants, but today, the newly grown hair can no longer arouse his joy.

　　It was a weekday and working hours. All the military leaders were there. Captain Xu had a special position, so the information he submitted was immediately delivered to the leaders' desks. After reading the information, everyone had a brief meeting. After Captain Xu left the military, a group of soldiers carrying wooden carts went to the Zhongcheng District Public Security Bureau in a menacing manner.

　　Xiao Chengping has not slept well during this period, and he dares not sleep during the day. The pain as if being torn and pricked by needles on his body is getting stronger and stronger. Yesterday, the pain only occurred once every few hours, but today, the time has been shortened to once every two hours, and the pain duration is getting longer and longer.

　　Xiao Chengping could hardly bear it any longer. He drank the bitter coffee that he bought at a high price from a foreign exchange store to make himself feel better.

　　Xiao Chengping didn't pay much attention to the fact that soldiers came to their unit. At that time, soldiers often worked together with the police to handle cases, and it was not a new thing for soldiers to come to the police station. He just thought it was another big case.

　　In the past, Xiao Chengping would have gone to the director to show his presence and strive for the right to jointly handle the case with the police. Their director admired him very much, and he had also received the favor of Xiao Chengping's father, so he valued Xiao Chengping very much.

　　In the years since he retired from the army and joined the Public Security Bureau, he has participated in the investigation of many cases.

　　If nothing unexpected happens, he should be transferred to the serious crime squad by next year.

　　By gaining experience in the serious crime squad, he will be able to climb to a leadership position in a few years, and then enter the General Administration.

　　As Xiao Chengping fantasized about the future, his whole face softened, and there was even a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth, as if he had already seen the day when he would be in a high position and have great power.

　　Just then, the group of soldiers came to Xiao Chengping's office, and the pain came again. Xiao Chengping's face twisted for a moment.

　　The leading soldier entered the office, looked around, and asked, "Who is Xiao Chengping?"

　　In the envious eyes of his colleagues, Xiao Chengping stood out from the crowd. In this office, there was no one with a higher position than him.

　　"Comrade, I am." Xiao Chengping endured the pain. He felt that the reason these soldiers came back to find him must be because the director recommended him. Xiao Chengping decided to invite the director out for a meal in the evening. There was a restaurant in Xicheng District with good food and good-looking waiters. They were all girls in their 18s and 19s, the director's favorite age.

　　Besides, those girls are very well behaved, and you can settle the matter by giving them some money and buying some things.

　　The leading soldier looked Xiao Chengping up and down, then showed him a piece of paper: "Xiao Chengping, there is a confidential mission in 1972. Now we need you to accept the investigation. Please come with us."

　　The mission in 1972 was the one in which Xiao Chengping betrayed his entire team.

　　There was no trace of guilt on Xiao Chengping's face.

　　His ability is not as good as his former teammates, but in terms of meticulousness, he is the best in the team, otherwise the captain would not have asked him to prepare the retreat route.

　　"Okay." Xiao Chengping had been mentally prepared. The Jinling Military Region had lost so many generals at once, causing the level of the special team to be lower than that of other military regions. It was foreseeable that he would be repeatedly reviewed.

　　Xiao Chengping has a very high psychological quality. He has described the mission to the inspection department dozens of times and is familiar with the procedures.

　　The only surprise for Xiao Chengping was that six years had passed. The last review was before he retired from the army, which was more than three years ago.

　　Why does it take so long to be reviewed?

　　Xiao Chengping didn't show any expression on his face, but in fact his heart was full of doubts.

　　When Xiao Chengping was taken away, the Zhongcheng District Public Security Bureau was in an uproar. People who knew Xiao Chengping and those who didn't were all discussing the matter.

　　The director was restless in the office. He felt something was wrong, so he called Xiao Chengping's eldest brother. After listening to the director's call, Xiao Chengjun said, "Old Zhao, you know that our Chengping had a special job in the army. It's very common for special forces to come to verify the content of previous missions. Don't worry too much."

　　He don't know what the director said on the other end. Xiao Chengjun hung up the phone with a smile. After hanging up the phone, Xiao Chengjun's expression immediately fell.

　　He put down his pen and sat in the office for a while. He stood up and was about to go outside, but before he left the office, he was taken away by people from the Military Joint Discipline Inspection Commission. At this moment, Xiao Chengjun's mood sank to the bottom.

　　Over the years, officials taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission have almost no chance of returning safely.

　　His downfall became a fact. Xiao Chengjun was no longer worried about anything else but his paralyzed old mother.

　　The day after Xiao Chengping and his brother were taken away, Jiang Youtao and Fu Shaohua arrived in Shencheng smoothly. Compared with four years ago, Shencheng had not changed much, and Jiang Youtao took Fu Shaohua to the Ying family.

　　The Ying family's home is not much different from before, but the window grilles on the windows and the lanterns hanging under the eaves all express joy.

　　Since June, Hao Juxiang had been counting the days and would go to the village entrance every morning, noon and evening. This time she came at the right time, as Jiang Youtao and the others had arrived at the same time.

　　Four years have passed, and Jiang Youtao has changed a lot. Even if she sent the photos back, Hao Juxiang could not imagine what she looked like now.

　　Jiang Youtao saw her from a distance and ran over quickly: "Grandma."

　　Hao Juxiang squinted her eyes and saw Jiang Youtao's face, which was almost familiar to her daughter. She quickly responded, "Hey, hey, hey. Tao'er, Tao'er is back?"

　　"It's me." Jiang Youtao walked closer, and Hao Juxiang put her arms around her shoulders and held her in her arms.

　　After a long time, Fu Shaohua had been waiting by the side for a long time before Hao Juxiang regained her good mood.

　　Jiang Youtao took the initiative to introduce the two: "Grandma, this is the person I wrote to you about. His name is Fu Shaohua, and he is from the capital."

　　Fu Shaohua called her grandma respectfully.

　　Hao Juxiang looked Fu Shaohua up and down, then nodded: "Shaohua, what a nice name."

　　The three of them walked towards home while talking. They met many villagers on the way. Hao Juxiang told everyone she met that this was her granddaughter and her grandson-in-law.

　　Because of their outstanding looks, they received a lot of compliments along the way.

　　Ying Dexing and Ying Chaorong were carpenters in the yard. When they got married this time, all the furniture in the house was made by Ying Dexing and Ying Chaorong.

　　In order to show the importance of this marriage, Ying Chaorong also went to a department store in Puxi to take a look at the fashionable furniture in the mall.

　　The Ying family had already prepared rooms for Fu Shaohua and Jiang Youtao.

　　The bed was full of the smell of the sun, and the furniture in the room exuded a faint scent of pine oil.

　　After finishing her meal, Jiang Youtao lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep.

　　This time, Jiang Youtao had a dream. She dreamed of Jiang Youtao.

　　She stood in the void, bowed to Jiang Youtao, said thank you, and then walked away. At the end of the road she was walking on, the silhouette of a woman was waiting for her.

　　The original owner walked over, and they held hands and slowly walked into the void.

　　Jiang Youtao opened her eyes. The sun was shining brightly outside and the room was very hot and stuffy. A cool breeze blew out from the open window.

　　Jiang Youtao felt lost.

　　She hugged the pillow: [ Tongzi, the original owner is really gone, right? ]

　　Jiang Youtao traveled through time and space to the body of the original owner, but she asked the system whether the original owner had been reincarnated. The system did not tell her, but Jiang Youtao always felt that the original heroine might not have been reincarnated yet, and she was living somewhere in this world.

　　But as time went on, she gradually forgot the existence of the original owner.

　　Jiang Youtao dreamed of the original owner today, and it seemed particularly real to her.

　　The melon-eating system said: [ Yes, she has been reincarnated. In her next life, she will have a happy family and a happy life. ]

　　Jiang Youtao nodded: [ That's great. ]

　　Jiang Youtao woke up and looked out the window. Fu Shaohua was learning carpentry from Ying Chaorong in the yard.

　　Jiang Youtao walked out and Hao Juxiang waved at her under the eaves. Jiang Youtao walked over and Hao Juxiang pulled her into the house, then took out a green plaid skirt from the closet.

　　"I made this for you. Try it on to see if it fits you. If not, I'll make some alterations for you. It's hot this year, and there are a lot of girls wearing skirts outside. Your aunt went shopping in the city a few days ago and bought this fabric. It will definitely look good on you."

　　The plaid dress is made of pure cotton with chemical fiber inside, which makes it soft yet tough. The skirt has a large lotus leaf collar. Jiang Youtao fell in love with it at first sight.

　　"I'll try."

　　When Jiang Youtao put it on, Hao Juxiang looked it up and down for a long time and said, "It looks good. It really looks good."

　　Hao Juxiang was very happy: "In the past two years, our area has also developed. Did you see people building houses in the fields over there on the way here? They are building a factory. When the factory is built, they will recruit workers from our neighborhood first."

　　"The land occupied by the factory belongs to our team. The state has provided subsidies. The money was distributed to each family last month. We are now well-off."

　　"Your uncle has some carpentry skills. He got an order from a gift box factory in Puxi and carved a high-end gift box for them every month. It's a small one, about the size of my palm." Hao Juxiang stretched out her hand to gesture: "After applying wood wax oil and carving some flowers on it, it can be exported abroad. Your uncle is rich now, and he bought a wheelchair for your grandfather with his first salary."

　　"Your aunt is doing well too. She is now a construction worker. She has performed well, and the leader of the factory said that when the factory is built, he will let your aunt work there."

　　"Her mother-in-law is praising her now, and no one dares to offend her."

　　When talking about the changes at home, Hao Juxiang's eyes were filled with joy.

　　Things are getting better and better at home. The son who has never been married is getting married, and the granddaughter who has always been owed is now a college student and has found a suitable partner. Her life is complete.

　　The sunlight cast a layer of light on her figure. Jiang Youtao listened to her quietly, feeling warm in her heart and with a smile on her face.