I was reborn after my cousin stole my life.

Chapter 87: Rumors

With Teacher Shen, a real and proper teacher, guiding Yuan Xiu through her studies, her learning progress indeed accelerated significantly.

Actually, Teacher Shen didn't quite understand why Yuan Xiu insisted on learning knowledge according to the textbook's pace. She had a certain cultural foundation, and if she wanted to improve her cultural level, she could have done the same by reading some books that improved cultural literacy.

At least in Teacher Shen's opinion, it's more useful than reading textbooks.

Yuan Xiu couldn't say that it was because of the upcoming college entrance examination, so she could only make up an excuse that she wanted to go to high school but didn't have the opportunity.

"Teacher Shen." Now Teacher Shen really became her teacher. "Could I have some of the extra test papers from the school exams to do? I want to know how well I'm doing in my studies."

"Also, are there any ways to speed up my studies? I want to finish learning all the high school material this year."

Teacher Shen frowned: "The test paper is fine, but is it really necessary to rush things by learning three years' worth of material in just one year?"

Yuan Xiu nodded: "It's urgent. After the baby is born, there won't be much time left. You know, I still have to learn traditional Chinese medicine from Doctor Liu."

"Right now, learning traditional Chinese medicine is definitely more important for you, since you're going to be a doctor in the future."

After thinking for a moment, Teacher Shen said, "How about this, I'll make a study plan for you, marking out the key points for each grade and subject. You can just study the important parts and leave the others for now."

Yuan Xiu's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Teacher Shen!"

After thinking for a moment, she asked again, "If I study like this, will I be able to do the questions on the test?"

Teacher Shen smiled and said, "Of course!"

Yuan Xiu: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Teacher Shen!"

……

Yuan Xiu visited Commissar Wang's house more and more often. As time went on, people inevitably started gossiping, saying that she was going to curry favor with Teacher Shen, hoping that Teacher Shen would whisper in Commissar Wang's ear so that Jiang Zhou could be promoted in the future. They even said that Jiang Zhou was about to be promoted.

Jiang Zhou is indeed getting promoted to deputy regimental-level officer and will become the regimental chief of staff. This is not a secret in the army; many officers know about it. It's just that the official document hasn't been issued yet, so no one has said anything.

Jiang Zhou didn't care about this, but Yuan Xiu didn't want her problem to affect him or cause people to gossip about her behind her back.

He got promoted based on his own abilities and shouldn't have gotten involved in some messy rumors.

She went directly to the parents' committee to find Wu Yufen.

"...I went to see Teacher Shen to learn about culture. She was kind-hearted and helped me. If you're talking about flattery, why would you flatter someone like that? The person being flattered ends up wasting time and effort helping the person who flattered them. Anyone with a brain can figure that out."

"I could have let it go, I didn't care about these things at first, but when I thought about it, I realized that what they were saying was wrong. By saying that, they were clearly questioning the fairness of our military and the character of our officers! Whether our military promotes someone or not, in their mouths, it's all just a matter of whispering in someone's ear."

"If word gets out, what will people think of our military officers?"

"I originally wanted to explain to everyone myself, but then I remembered what you told me when I first arrived: if anything happens, go to our military spouses' organization for help. You also said that we military families should do a good job in logistical support and not let small things affect the camaraderie between the men. The army is one family, we are all relatives..."

Wu Yufen nodded in satisfaction: "Little Yuan, it seems you've taken my words to heart."

Yuan Xiu sighed, "But the rumors circulating in the compound are really affecting the relationships between our relatives!"

Wu Yufen slammed her hand on the table solemnly. "I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly! The nature of this is simply too egregious!"

Actually, there had been plenty of gossip and rumors circulating in the compound before, but this was the first time someone like Yuan Xiu had gone directly to the parents' committee and said such a long thing.

Wu Yufen was quite satisfied, which showed that she had done her job well.

This is a good sign.

That very day, she began investigating who had spread the rumor.

As an elderly resident of the compound, she has her own way of dealing with these issues; wherever people gather, these topics inevitably come up.

That afternoon, she caught the people gossiping outside the service center.

"Who told you all this nonsense? Do you even know the consequences of saying such things?!"

Wu Yufen can be quite intimidating when she has a stern face.

When she questioned the military dependents on their faces, they immediately confessed.

I heard it when I was in the bathroom.

"I was at the market, and several people were chatting."

Wu Yufen: "Who's chatting? Give me their names!"

After receiving the names, Wu Yufen immediately took the list and went to find the people.

She asked one person after another, and soon found out who had started the rumor.

……

"I went grocery shopping today and heard that Battalion Commander Jiang is going to be promoted."

At the Zhou family dinner table, Aunt Zhou and Zhou Lei chatted idly, "Is it true or false that Battalion Commander Jiang is going to be promoted? He's so young, could he really be going to be promoted?"

"Mother, please don't ask that. We can't say anything until the official document is issued." Zhou Lei glanced at Yuan Juan. He had let it slip a few days ago when he was sleeping, mentioning to Yuan Juan that the rumors circulating outside probably weren't spread by her.

"I won't gossip about it outside." Aunt Zhou could tell that this was probably true. "This Battalion Commander Jiang is capable. I told you to get on good terms with him, and look at you now..."

As she spoke, she gave Yuan Juan a disgruntled look.

Zhou Lei's silence indicates a bad situation.

Yuan Juan rolled her eyes inwardly. So, they're blaming her again!

"Haven't you heard? Jiang Zhou got promoted because Yuan Xiu kept trying to curry favor with Political Commissar Wang's wife. It was Political Commissar Wang's wife who whispered in his ear. Otherwise, how could he have gotten promoted? He got it through connections!"

Zhou Lei immediately retorted sharply, "Don't talk nonsense! Whether someone of Jiang Zhou's rank gets promoted is a decision only the army commander can make, what does it have to do with Political Commissar Wang! If your words get back to the troops, I'll be punished again!"

Aunt Zhou glared at Yuan Juan: "What nonsense are you talking about? Haven't you ruined your man enough already?!"

Yuan Juan pouted: "It wasn't me who said that."

"Don't spread rumors if you didn't say them. Just listen to what people are saying and don't chime in." Zhou Lei thought for a moment and asked her, "You didn't go around spreading what I said that night, did you?"

Yuan Juan's eyes flickered. "No, I didn't say anything. I had forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it."

Aunt Zhou's heart pounded: "What did you say to her?"

Zhou Lei glanced at Yuan Juan: "She didn't say what it was, just mentioned that Battalion Commander Jiang was promoted..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the closed door, and Wu Yufen's voice rang out: "Is anyone home?"

"..."