The Jeep pulled into the gated military compound just as the morning bugle rang out. To Lin Xi, the rows of gray brick dormitories and the pristine training grounds felt like a fortress. In the 1980s, this was the heart of power a place where a single word from an officer could change a person's destiny.
Gu Shaozheng hopped out of the vehicle, his boots clicking sharply on the asphalt. "Stay behind me. If anyone asks, you're a witness for the railway case. Don't mention the cooking, and don't mention the three hundred yuan."
Lin Xi nodded, her eyes sharp. She understood the game. In this era, "private business" was still viewed with suspicion by some, and a girl carrying that much cash was a magnet for trouble.
They hadn't walked fifty yards toward the administration building when a group of young women in colorful, high-collared dresses approached. In the center was a girl who looked like she had stepped off a propaganda poster for "The Ideal Youth."
She had porcelain skin, braided hair tied with silk ribbons, and a pair of shiny black leather shoes that stood out against the dusty ground.
Lin Jiaojiao. The "Golden Phoenix" of the Lin family.
Lin Jiaojiao's smile froze when she saw the disheveled figure walking beside the man of her dreams. Her eyes raked over Lin Xi's dirt-streaked face and the oversized, borrowed coat.
"Brother Shaozheng!" Lin Jiaojiao's voice was like syrup. She stepped forward, ignoring Lin Xi entirely. "I've been waiting for you. My father sent some premium Longjing tea from the city, and I wanted to..."
She stopped mid-sentence, her gaze finally landing on Lin Xi. Her eyes widened with a mix of horror and fake concern. "Xi... Xi'er? Is that you? Oh heavens, what happened to you? Did you run away from your wedding? The whole village is looking for you! They said you... you hurt Auntie and stole money!"
The surrounding soldiers and women began to whisper. In an instant, the atmosphere turned hostile.
"Stole money?" Gu Shaozheng's voice was a low warning, his eyes cutting to Lin Xi.
Lin Xi didn't shrink back. She took a step forward, placing herself directly in Lin Jiaojiao's personal space. She was shorter and thinner, but her aura was that of a mountain.
"Cousin," Lin Xi said, her voice calm and chilling. "I'm surprised you're so worried about the wedding money. After all, it was meant to pay for your 'administrative fees' at the university, wasn't it? I didn't realize the price of your education was my life sold to a drunkard."
Lin Jiaojiao turned pale. She hadn't expected the "stupid" Lin Xi to speak so clearly, let alone in front of Gu Shaozheng. "I... I don't know what you're talking about! I'm here for a youth seminar! You're being hysterical because you're guilty!"
"Guilty of what?" Lin Xi smirked, tilting her head. "Guilty of not wanting to be a human sacrifice for your leather shoes? Or guilty of knowing that the 'premium tea' you're holding was bought with the grain my father left for me before he passed?"
"You!" Lin Jiaojiao raised a hand as if to slap her, her "kind" facade cracking.
Snap.
Gu Shaozheng caught Lin Jiaojiao's wrist in mid-air. His grip was like a steel vice. "This is a military compound, not a village market. Lin Jiaojiao, if you have a personal dispute, take it outside the gates."
"But Brother Shaozheng, she's a criminal!" Lin Jiaojiao whimpered, tears springing to her eyes a classic move.
"She is a witness in a state security matter," Gu Shaozheng said, his voice dropping to a dangerous level. "Anyone who interferes with her is interfering with my investigation. Do I make myself clear?"
Lin Jiaojiao flinched. She had spent months cultivating an image of a gentle, intellectual beauty to catch Gu Shaozheng's eye. Now, because of this "muddy crow" Lin Xi, he was looking at her with cold disgust.
"Yes... I understand," Lin Jiaojiao whispered, pulling her hand back.
As Gu Shaozheng led Lin Xi away, Lin Xi leaned in close to her cousin's ear. "Enjoy the tea, Jiaojiao. Because from now on, everything you took from me... I'm taking back. Starting with your reputation."
The Internal Conflict
Once they were inside the quiet corridor of the office building, Gu Shaozheng pinned Lin Xi against the wall with his gaze. "You have a lot of enemies for a nineteen-year-old."
"In this world, if you don't have enemies, it means you're still a slave," Lin Xi replied, not intimidated by his proximity.
Gu Shaozheng felt a strange tug in his chest. He had met many women daughters of generals and elegant scholars but none had this fierce, burning independence. She was like a wild horse that had just broken its lead.
"I've arranged a bed for you in the guest quarters," he said, straightening his coat. "But don't think Lin Jiaojiao will stop there. She's the daughter of the County Magistrate's secretary. She has influence."
"Influence is just a tool," Lin Xi said, a hungry look in her eyes. "And in the 80s, the strongest tool isn't a title. It's the economy. Once I have the money, her father will be the one knocking on my door."
Gu Shaozheng let out a short, rare bark of a laugh. "You're arrogant."
"I'm a chef, Commander. We don't survive kitchens by being humble."
[Cliffhanger Hook]
Just then, a frantic soldier ran down the hall. "Commander! The delegation from the Southern Province has arrived early! The head chef has a gallbladder attack, and the kitchen is in chaos. They're expecting a banquet in two hours to sign the trade agreement!"
Gu Shaozheng's face darkened. This was a critical diplomatic moment. He looked at the chaos, then slowly turned his head toward Lin Xi.
Lin Xi was already rolling up her sleeves, a confident, predator-like smile playing on her lips. "Two hours? Give me three kitchen assistants who can chop vegetables fast, and I'll make sure those Southerners sign that contract before the dessert is served."
Gu Shaozheng hesitated for only a second. "If you fail, I can't protect you from the consequences of impersonating staff."
"Then it's a good thing," Lin Xi said, walking toward the kitchen, "that I never fail."