Chapter 513 What Are You Thanking Me For?

Chapter 513: What’s There to Thank?

Another two weeks passed—May was just around the corner—and Wei Nan still hadn’t shown up.

Meanwhile, the factory had already announced his punishment to all staff.

Since Wei Nan’s scandal broke, Qian Wei hadn’t returned to work and eventually decided to go on unpaid leave. The factory, recognizing her innocence, approved her request.

Wei Nan wasn’t fired, so neither was Zou Yan.

Shameless as ever, she’d long grown used to rumors and gossip. In fact, she was the least affected of the three and carried on with life as usual.

Cai Xiaole was disappointed with the outcome. “That’s all?”

Jiang Yu had seen this coming.

“What else did you expect? For him to get fired?”

“He caused such a huge scandal—shouldn’t he be punished more?”

Jiang Yu laughed at her innocence. “How do you think he got into Factory No. 2 in the first place?”

“I don’t know,” Cai Xiaole shrugged. “He just randomly ended up in the PR department.”

Jiang Yu explained, “Jiao Zongyao.”

At first, she didn’t know either—but when Jiao hurried to push Wei Nan up the ranks, she figured it out. Later, after asking Director Zheng a few questions, she learned that Jiao had personally placed Wei Nan in the PR department. And not just anywhere—he was specifically assigned there.

Which meant Wei Nan had targeted her from the very start.

Jiang Yu touched her face—seemed she was the real target. Her reputation must’ve been quite something.

“With Jiao backing him, the factory won’t just fire him.”

Jiao Zongyao and Director Qian were locked in a power struggle.

Jiao had deep connections in the Textile Industry Revolutionary Committee.

Director Qian held a higher rank, keeping Jiao in check.

Though Qian was higher-ranked, he didn’t always have full control.

Cai Xiaole wrinkled her nose. These relationships were seriously complicated.

“The thought of working with him again pisses me off.”

Jiang Yu smirked. “He’s the one who should be pissed off—who cares what you feel?”

Wei Nan probably wanted to die knowing his ED was now common knowledge in Factory No. 2.

Once a player—at least he had game.

Now he had the will—but not the way.

Returning home at noon, Jiang Yu saw He Tingyue looking at their bankbook.

"Staring won’t make an extra zero appear."

He Tingyue turned to her. "Sweetheart, if I wanted to take some money out to start a business, would you agree?"

Jiang Yu froze. "You crazy?"

She reached out to feel his forehead—no fever.

"With how things are now, aren't you afraid of catching a bullet? If you get arrested, I can't get you out."

He Tingyue laughed helplessly and took her hand. "Of course I wouldn't dare start my own private business. I mean selling supplies to the government, like Sixie does."

Jiang Yu gripped his hand in return. "Why do you suddenly want to do this?"

He Tingyue explained, "I have some veteran buddies who are idle now."

It wasn’t that he was meddling—it was just that he couldn’t bear to see them like this.

Those men had risked their lives on the battlefield, and many came back disabled—some blind, some deaf, some missing arms or legs.

In theory, soldiers who made such sacrifices for the country deserved respect.

But reality was often cruel.

"When I left the army, Fang Tong was still serving. But during a border battle, he lost a leg and had to retire. He got some compensation and went back to his hometown."

But with parents to care for and kids to feed, that money wouldn’t last long.

He wouldn’t have come to ask for help if he hadn’t been desperate.

"Yangzi was a sniper—a crack shot, with countless medals. But he got blinded in one eye by a blast."

"Xiao Qi was the youngest, an outstanding scout. Don’t let his age fool you—he was quick as a whip, sharp and careful. Later, he lost an ear. Originally assigned a job after discharge, he nearly got his hand mangled in a machine due to his hearing loss, so the factory couldn’t keep him."

"And Tietou…"

Jiang Yu rarely heard him mention his army friends and had assumed he didn’t stay close with them.

Now she realized he held every one of them close.

She sat quietly beside him, listening and responding occasionally.

His words were understated, but nothing could truly capture the brutality of war or the hardships disabled veterans faced after returning home.

"So you want to organize them to source goods from different places?"

He Tingyue nodded. "I’ve done my homework. Beicheng has shortages all over. I’m not aiming big—just enough to keep them fed."

But any business, big or small, required capital.

A few grand would be needed upfront.

"Go for it then," Jiang Yu said. "We’ve got the cash, so go ahead. When your brothers come, have them crash in the empty place. Plenty of room to spare."

It crossed her mind that even so, they might run out of space.

If there's another chance in the future, she would definitely buy more houses.

He Tingyue listened to her talk nonstop, skillfully arranging everything for his comrades, and he was deeply moved.

"Wife, thank you."

Jiang Yu shot him an annoyed glance. "Thank me for what?"

"For accepting them."

He Tingyue knew full well that while he could consider those comrades his responsibility, he couldn't force Jiang Yu to share this burden.

Jiang Yu pretended to be angry, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him fiercely.

"Why so formal? You're sleeping on the floor tonight."

He Tingyue fell silent.

With Jiang Yu’s approval, He Tingyue quickly sent word to his comrades, asking them to come to Beicheng and even sending them travel money.

These men trusted He Tingyue completely. As soon as they received his message, they set off immediately.

By mid-May, the brothers had all gathered in Beicheng.

Years had passed since they last met, and memories of their days fighting side by side left a painful lump in their throats, making their eyes grow wet.

He Tingyue brought them to the courtyard in Dongmin Alley, letting them stay there temporarily.

Seeing the neat and clean house, they hesitated at the door, unwilling to step inside.

"Brother Yue, we’re simple folks—we don’t need such good accommodations. This place must cost a fortune in rent, right?"

He Tingyue patted Xiao Qi’s shoulder. "This is your jiejie’s house. She wants you to stay here, so just make yourselves at home."

Xiao Qi backed away repeatedly. "Then we absolutely can’t stay."

Honestly, even before coming to Beicheng, they had been uneasy.

After all, He Tingyue wasn’t alone anymore—he had a family now, and kids might come later.

With them adding to his responsibilities, would their jiejie resent it?

But desperate as they were, they came anyway.

From the moment they set foot in Beicheng, they hadn’t felt at ease.

Lost, helpless, and confused.