Chapter 655: Chapter 2: Wan Chu’er vs. Jiang Kechu
In the twilight, a Jeep sped down the road.
Jiang Kechu, behind the wheel, looked utterly exhausted, with the frost at his temples adding a touch of melancholy to his demeanor.
He stared ahead, mechanically driving forward while Chen Ke’s words echoed relentlessly in his mind.
"Captain Jiang, sister-in-law... became a meal for the sharks."
"By the time it was noticed something was wrong, it was too late for rescue. There were hundreds of sharks, no way... to save... so sister-in-law was gone very... cleanly."
The more Jiang Kechu thought about it, the more his head ached, and scenes from the past flashed across his mind.
The first time they met, Wan Chu’er was barely alive, curled up under a table, lifeless, resembling a little girl abandoned by the world, making his heart ache abruptly.
At the time, he thought his sympathy stemmed from Wan Shiguo, so he felt for this martyr’s widow.
Later, he realized it wasn’t that; the first sight of her purely stirred his heart, simply feeling sorry for that little girl.
So when Wan Chu’er proposed marriage, he unexpectedly agreed to such an absurd and rude request.
Upon arriving in Beijing, he shouldered all the family’s pressures alone, striving to persuade his parents and sister to accept Wan Chu’er.
Then he received an assignment and left Beijing. Upon returning, it was a critique session from the Jiang Family, with Wan Chu’er as the target.
Jiang Lingling looked disdainful, harshly mocking her for being indiscreet, saying that Lin Jiayi kindly took her to a bar, but she seduced Lin Jiayi’s friend, leaving Lin Jiayi embarrassed.
Everyone criticized Wan Chu’er, yet she showed no fear or retreat, instead holding her head high, gaze sharp as she declared with conviction:
"With my looks, do I need to seduce anyone? Bah, someone so disgusting, I’m not like Lin Jiayi, who finds everyone appealing!"
"Jiang Kechu is ten thousand times better; I was blind to drop a watermelon and pick up a toad!"
That disdainful expression was deeply imprinted in his mind, and at that moment, he couldn’t help but laugh, feeling that he and Wan Chu’er had equally good taste. Then, in front of the Jiang family, he left with Wan Chu’er, saying he’d take her for a nice meal.
Clever as she was, she naturally perceived his trust in her; he remembered that incredulous glance she gave him, her eyes instantly becoming the brightest stars in the dark night, radiating brilliant light.
As he spent more time in Beijing, they became increasingly harmonious and intimate.
Unfortunately, good times didn’t last; he was transferred out of Beijing again, unwilling to drag her all around, he left her in Beijing, which seemed to leave a gap that time widened.
On a perilous mission, he barely made it back alive, his only concern being Wan Chu’er.
Without his protection, how could she, with no skills and such a stubborn temper, survive?
After that mission, he applied for a prolonged leave.
Returning to Beijing full of joy, only to be met with Wan Chu’er’s demand for a divorce.
"Stop it, we’re doing well. Why do you want a divorce?" he abruptly refused, frowning.
Later, Wan Chu’er intermittently demanded a divorce; naturally, he wouldn’t agree. Halfway through the leave, he returned to the unit in disgrace.
Afterward, he discovered that Wan Chu’er was self-harming!
He had no choice but to bring Wan Chu’er to his side, yet she seemed determined to leave, continuously forcing his hand through self-harm.
He didn’t understand why she wanted a divorce. Was it due to pressure from the Jiang family relatives or the ulterior motives of her so-called good friend?
They were doing well, but Wan Chu’er stubbornly insisted, "I don’t love you anymore."
Don’t love?
He didn’t believe it; it was a military marriage, and as long as he didn’t agree, the divorce couldn’t happen.
His persistence didn’t awaken Wan Chu’er; instead, it brought calamity: Wan Chu’er aborted their child!
Upon hearing the news, it struck him like a bolt out of the blue; they had a child? And Wan Chu’er aborted it?!
Infuriated, he rushed to confront Wan Chu’er, who sneered, saying, "I’ll never have a child with you in this lifetime!"
For the first time, he slapped Wan Chu’er hard, knocking her to the ground. Then he left without looking back, only to receive a call after finishing a bottle of alcohol: Wan Chu’er attempted suicide and was sent to the hospital.
In the hospital, he looked at Wan Chu’er’s pale face, watching her for an entire day and night, and agreed to the divorce once she woke up.
He gave her a fake divorce certificate, intending to buy some time, hoping Wan Chu’er would calm down.
Unexpectedly, after receiving the fake divorce certificate, Wan Chu’er directly went south, to a small town in the farthest south.
Unable to rest easy, he sent Chen Ke to check on her and arranged for someone to protect her.
...
"Captain Jiang, sister-in-law found a job, working as a laborer in a small factory."
"Captain Jiang, sister-in-law works very hard, and her life is also quite monotonous, mostly shuttling between the rental apartment and the factory every day."
"Captain Jiang, there’s a man in the small factory showing sister-in-law some affection. Don’t worry, I’ve already managed to get him out of the way."
"Captain Jiang, sister-in-law harshly rejected a man who confessed to her today. Do you know how she did it? She actually said: I’m not interested in effeminate men."
...
"Captain Jiang, sister-in-law is going to sea in two days. Should I stop and disrupt it?"
When he received this message, he even thought that Wan Chu’er going to sea was a good thing, as she would finally not be cooped up like a nun all day. He laughed and said, "No need, let her relax a bit."
...
She swam towards the shark with such determination!
Did she not think about him at all?
Chen Ke carefully led the pale and unwell Jiang Kechu onto the yacht, then they sped towards the area where Wan Chu’er had her accident.
"Captain Jiang, we’re here."
Chen Ke called out twice before Jiang Kechu opened his eyes. His sunken eyes filled with torment flickered as he sat up from the deck and looked towards the sea. He had just dreamt of Wan Chu’er, dreamt of her smiling at him from afar, just like she did during their best times together.
"Captain Jiang, the shark school appeared around here, and sister-in-law was also here..."
Jiang Kechu slightly waved his hand, stopping Chen Ke from saying more. He stood up and looked at the undulating sea, which seemed deep enough to swallow everything. His heart ached unbearably.
Suddenly, a sparkling green light caught his eye.
"Bring that thing up," Jiang Kechu’s vision blurred a bit as he stared for a long time but still couldn’t see clearly. Instinctively feeling it was important, he asked Chen Ke to arrange for it to be retrieved.
It took Chen Ke and his men quite some time to find what Jiang Kechu was referring to. It was a green jade token about the size of a thumb.
Jiang Kechu closely watched the jade token in his palm, remaining unresponsive for quite a while. But Chen Ke knew this jade token must be very important to Captain Jiang, most likely related to sister-in-law.
Jiang Kechu naturally knew this jade token.
Several years ago, when he was dining with Wan Chu’er at an old restaurant, he went out to get her a drink and coincidentally ran into an old superior. The old superior, known for being strict and eccentric, surprisingly responded to his greeting.
"Who did you bring?" the old superior asked oddly.
At that moment, taken aback, Jiang Kechu honestly answered. The old superior impatiently took out this jade token from his pocket and threw it to him, "Give this thing to your wife."
Jiang Kechu asked confusedly, "Why?" Even though he greatly respected this old superior, he was also unwilling for Wan Chu’er to accept gifts from others.
The old superior sneered, "I’m about to die soon, wanted to give something to someone I find pleasing. Do I need to explain to you?" After speaking, he turned and left the store.
The big guy beside him hesitated and then said to Jiang Kechu, "This is the first time the old man has given something to a stranger. It’s your wife’s fortune."
Fortune?
Having heard the word ’fortune’, Jiang Kechu handed the jade token to Wan Chu’er. Who knew the usually indifferent Wan Chu’er, quite impatient with staying various jewelry, surprisingly liked this jade token a lot? She even happily hung it around her neck without asking where it came from.
Now, the jade token remains, but the person is gone.
"Captain Jiang!" Chen Ke exclaimed in shock as he saw Jiang Kechu coughing up blood into his palm and collapsing.
After a month of recuperation, Jiang Kechu felt something was not right with his body. He quietly took the jade token, which he always kept close, and left for the Southwest.
During a previous mission, he met a man with somewhat special abilities in the Southwest.
Inside high walls in the Southwest, an old man with a face full of wrinkles studied Jiang Kechu’s jade token for a long time, then sighed, "There’s even a sliver of soul in this. This jade token is indeed quite intriguing."
Jiang Kechu asked expectantly, "What can I do for her?"
This old man owed Jiang Kechu his life. In the end, Jiang Kechu implored him to perform rites for Wan Chu’er, hoping she could gather her soul and reincarnate soon, wishing her a good birth in the next life, with both parents, a happy family, and a life without worries...
The old man exhausted his energy performing the rite, and after finishing, he forced himself to drive Jiang Kechu away.
"From now on, we’re even. Go! Don’t die in my territory."
Jiang Kechu forced a smile, left the Southwest, returned to Beijing, had three confidential talks with his father, made all the arrangements, and then succumbed to his old injuries and passed away.
