Chapter 374: Are You Avoiding Me?

"Halt. Who are you?" A guard blocked the two as they tried to barge onto the base.

They were both startled.

Fu Mingya grew timid and shrank behind Old Mrs. Fu.

Old Mrs. Fu puffed out her chest and glared at the guard, thoroughly displeased.

"What’s your problem, soldier? What’re you yelling for? Trying to scare an old lady like me? If you frighten me into sickness, are you going to take responsibility for it?"

The guard remained impassive. "This is a military base. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted entry. State your names and your purpose."

"I’m looking for Xu Zifeng! That damned wretch! Her own father-in-law passed away, and she didn’t even come home for the funeral. Of course I’m here to demand an explanation!"

The guard didn’t recognize the name.

Just then, Fu Mingya peeked out from behind Old Mrs. Fu and spoke quickly, "Comrade, we’re looking for Fu Mingxue. This is her paternal grandmother, and I’m her cousin."

"Oh, right, that Xu Zifeng you heard about is my grandmother’s daughter-in-law. She’s also Fu Mingxue’s mother—my aunt."

"And Qin Wenhao is my cousin’s husband. We’ve come all the way from our hometown to find my cousin and her husband."

She rattled off the connections in a rush.

The guard didn’t know who Xu Zifeng was, but how could he not recognize the name Qin Wenhao?

He was just about to tell them to wait while he went to ask, when another voice spoke first. "You’re Fu Mingxue’s grandmother and cousin?"

"That’s right, I’m that little—" Before she could spit out the word ’bitch,’ Fu Mingya gave her sleeve a sharp tug.

Fu Mingya cut her grandmother off. "This is my cousin Fu Mingxue’s paternal grandmother. My grandfather passed away, and neither my aunt nor my cousin came. My grandmother got worried that something might be wrong, so she came to check on them."

Anger was still written all over Old Mrs. Fu’s face.

But hearing what the girl said, she understood the implication and could only give a stiff nod. "Yes, that’s right. I was worried about them. Why else wouldn’t they come back for my old man’s funeral?"

Director Xie looked at the pair and knew at once that they were here to cause trouble.

But he figured that if he left them here, they weren’t likely to just leave on their own.

They would surely cause a huge scene.

That would look bad.

So, he said, "Why don’t you come inside with me."

Hearing this, Old Mrs. Fu narrowed her eyes at him. "And who are you? Are you my grandson-in-law’s superior?"

Director Xie replied, "Just follow me inside for now."

Fu Mingya tugged on Old Mrs. Fu’s sleeve again. "Grandma, let’s just go inside first."

With a look of indignation, Old Mrs. Fu had no choice but to follow him inside.

She was certain the man was Qin Wenhao’s superior.

Director Xie didn’t take them toward the family housing area. Instead, he led the pair directly to his office.

"Please wait here. I’ve already sent for someone, who should be here shortly. By the way, Comrade Fu Mingxue is away on a work trip, and Qin Wenhao is out on a mission. Neither of them is on the base at the moment."

The moment Old Mrs. Fu heard this, her voice jumped an octave.

"What? Neither of them is here? Then why did you bring us in? Did they know I was coming? Are they deliberately hiding from an old woman like me?"

Director Xie was dumbfounded.

"No, they’ve been off the base for over two weeks. However, Fu Mingxue’s mother is here. She’ll be over in a moment."

Fu Mingya quickly interjected, "Grandma, it’s fine if Aunt is here. It’s the same thing."

She had come here hoping to stay, not to make an enemy of her aunt.