Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Persuading the Regiment Commander

Besides, the Culture Troupe really did bring a lot of joy and laughter to the compound.

Anyone else in his position would have helped, too.

“Mm.”

Lu Xiao grunted in agreement, pulled over a stool, and sat down, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“The document says ’reorganization,’ not ’disbandment.’ That’s our opening. We have to find a way to pry that crack open wider.”

He looked at Su Tang. The worry in her eyes was plain to see.

“Lin Qian and the others… especially Lin Qian, her household registration is here. If she’s dismissed, she’ll have nowhere to go.”

Lu Xiao paused, then added, “Chang Jia mentioned before that he wanted Jianqiu to join the Culture Troupe. Jianqiu is an excellent musician. If we can make that happen, it might be a good pretext.”

Su Tang’s eyes lit up. “You mean… have Jianqiu join, and then…?”

“Mm-hmm.” Lu Xiao nodded.

“’Reorganization’ can be interpreted as adjusting the personnel structure—bringing in new blood while retaining the core members. Those like Lin Qian who are highly skilled should naturally stay. Jianqiu has a special talent, so she can be considered a new addition.”

“This way, the framework of the Culture Troupe remains, and its nature hasn’t changed. It’s just a personnel optimization.”

He said it so casually, but Su Tang knew how much convincing and how many risks it would entail.

“Will… will that work? Would Director Zhao agree?”

Su Tang was still a little worried.

Lu Xiao’s lips curved into a confident smile. “We can try. The Director hates it when his subordinates cause trouble. He must be fuming after hearing about today’s commotion.”

“I’ll go talk to him. I’ll argue that a smooth transition that preserves a necessary propaganda force is better than a forced disbandment that could cause an even bigger mess. He might just listen to that reasoning.”

He looked at Su Tang. “Besides, I have you, don’t I?”

“Me?” Su Tang froze.

“If I mess it up, won’t I have to come home to a lecture from my wife?”

Lu Xiao made a rare joke, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

His teasing made her face flush, and the weight in her heart inexplicably lightened.

She shot him a playful glare. “Get out of here! Who’s going to lecture you? I’m worried about you… Don’t butt heads with him too hard. You know Director Zhao’s temper…”

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Lu Xiao stood up and stretched his shoulders. “Honey, can you heat up something for me to eat? I’ve been running around all night, and I’m starving.”

“I already saved some for you. It’s keeping warm on the stove!”

Su Tang quickly got up and went to the kitchen.

She knew Lu Xiao was always reliable. Since he said he had a plan and was willing to explain so much to her, it meant he was truly working on a solution.

She trusted him.

A short while later, Su Tang came out with a bowl of steaming dough drop soup, topped with a poached egg.

Lu Xiao didn’t stand on ceremony and began to slurp it down.

Su Tang sat beside him, watching him eat. She said softly, “Lin Qian was terrified today. She cried several times. It would be wonderful if she could really stay…”

Lu Xiao swallowed the food in his mouth and gave a muffled but clear “Mm.” “I’ll do my best.”

Lu Xiao was up at the crack of dawn the next day.

Su Tang woke up too and groggily found his crispest military uniform for him.

“So early?”

Su Tang rubbed her eyes.

“I want to catch the Director after his morning run and before breakfast. It’s easier to talk to him then.”

Lu Xiao said as he buttoned his uniform.

Su Tang didn’t ask any more questions. She just stood on her toes and adjusted his collar. “Be careful what you say.”

“I know.”

Lu Xiao squeezed her palm. The warm touch settled his heart.

Lu Xiao left.

Su Tang wasn’t sleepy anymore either. She tidied up, planning to go to the infirmary early to check on Xiao Zhou and Lin Qian.

In the infirmary, a kerosene lamp was still lit, casting a dim light.

Xiao Zhou was on an IV drip. Her fever had subsided a little, and she was sleeping fitfully.

Lin Qian was slumped over the side of the bed, also asleep, her eyelashes still wet with tears.

Su Tang tiptoed over and felt Xiao Zhou’s forehead. Thankfully, her temperature had gone down.

Just as she was about to drape a piece of clothing over Lin Qian, Lin Qian startled awake.

“Sister Su Tang…”

Lin Qian’s voice was hoarse, her eyes swollen like walnuts. “Deputy Battalion Commander Lu… did he go?”

“Yes, he went.”

Su Tang nodded, keeping her voice very soft. “Don’t worry. When Lu Xiao handles things, he’s reliable.”

Lin Qian looked at Su Tang’s calm face. There was no perfunctory reassurance in her eyes, only absolute trust in her husband.

That trust was like a small matchstick that, with a soft PFFT, reignited a faint glimmer of hope in Lin Qian’s cold, despairing heart.

“Sister Su Tang.”

Lin Qian sniffled, her voice trembling with hope. “Do you think… I can really stay?”

Su Tang looked at the gradually brightening sky outside. ’Lu Xiao has probably met with the Director by now.’

She squeezed Lin Qian’s cold hand, her tone calm yet powerful.

“Lu Xiao said he’ll do his best.”

She paused, her gaze firm. ’He said he’ll do his best, which is his way of not overpromising. But I know he can do it.’

Lu Xiao strode through the early morning mist, his steps long and steady, heading straight for Director Zhao’s home.

He knew the Director’s unshakeable routine: a run at six, breakfast at home at six-thirty, and at his office by seven sharp. It was now six-forty, the perfect time to intercept him.

Sure enough, just as he reached the gate of the Director’s small courtyard, he saw the man returning from his run, a towel draped around his neck, covered in sweat.

“Director!”

Lu Xiao snapped to attention and gave a standard military salute.

The Director’s surname was Zhao. He was in his early fifties, with a burly build, a square face, and thick eyebrows that gave him an imposing air even when he wasn’t angry.

He glanced at Lu Xiao without breaking stride. “Lu Xiao? So early. Is something urgent?”

His voice was booming, carrying the vigor of his morning exercise.

“Yes, Director. It’s about the Culture Troupe. It’s extremely urgent.”

Lu Xiao followed half a step behind him, getting straight to the point.

Director Zhao grunted and pushed the door open to enter his house.

The Director’s wife was just placing congee and steamed buns on the table. Seeing Lu Xiao, she greeted him with a smile, “Xiao Lu, you’re here! Have you eaten? Why don’t you join us?”

“No, thank you, Sister-in-law. I’m here to report to the Director about some work,” Lu Xiao said quickly.

Director Zhao sat down, picked up his bowl of congee, and took a loud slurp before looking up at him. “Go on. What’s wrong with the Culture Troupe? I heard things got pretty ugly last night.”

“The political instructor called first thing this morning to complain. Said someone was making threats with a weapon?”

His tone was flat, but his gaze was as sharp as a knife.

A chill went down Lu Xiao’s spine. Knowing he couldn’t evade it, he decided to tell the whole truth. “Reporting to the Director, there was indeed a disturbance. The trigger was the news spreading that the Culture Troupe was to be disbanded. The young women couldn’t accept it and became emotional.”

“As for the weapon… it was a wooden prop sword used for rehearsals. Comrade Xiao Zhou had a high fever at the time and lost control of her emotions. She picked it up, but no actual harm was done. She was stopped and sent to the infirmary.”

He paused, observing the Director’s expression, then continued, “The instructor’s handling of the situation was also a bit hasty and almost escalated the conflict. After I arrived, I managed to stabilize the scene, and everyone has returned to their dorms.”

Director Zhao snorted coldly and broke off half a steamed bun. “Hmph! Utterly lawless! The official disbandment order hasn’t even been issued, and they already dare to cause a scene? And with a sword? Have they thrown all their ideological training to the dogs?”

“I think the instructor was right. With this kind of attitude, disbanding them is the cleanest solution!”

He took a big bite of the bun, his cheeks bulging.

Lu Xiao knew the Director was just venting, but also testing him.

He straightened his back even more. “Director, a direct disbandment might lead to even bigger problems.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep