Free Web NovelChapter 147: Chapter 147: The Director
A few minutes later, a guard emerged. He looked at the truck driver with a grave expression and said, "Sir, you’ll need to show the proper identification. The minister of the military region’s Logistics Department will be waiting for you at the entrance to the family dependents’ compound."
"Minister?!" Wen Ci’s eyes widened.
Don’t be fooled by the title of Logistics Department Minister. Anyone who reached the rank of minister was a person of considerable influence, responsible for managing all logistical affairs for the entire military.
His military rank was the same as the other ministers, and he held real power.
"Mm." The guard checked the truck driver’s identification. Once he confirmed it was in order, the barrier at the main gate slowly rose. "You can only drive to the entrance of the family dependents’ compound," he reminded them. "The driver isn’t allowed to wander around."
Wen Ci nodded. "Got it."
Back in the passenger seat, the truck driver was breaking out in a sweat. "Miss, this military base is terrifying," he said, his voice laced with fear.
The soldiers at the guard post were all carrying firearms.
Wen Ci chuckled. "Sorry about that, sir. I forgot that a truck needs approval from a superior officer to enter the military region."
"It’s no problem." The truck driver waved a dismissive hand.
Besides, he’d already been paid. Whether or not he could actually get into the family dependents’ compound didn’t really matter to him. Reaching a fork in the road, he asked, "Which way is the family compound?"
The family compound and the barracks shared the same main gate. After a few hundred meters, the main road forked, and the truck driver noticed there were no signs.
"Straight ahead."
The truck driver drove for a few more minutes. When he saw several soldiers in uniform standing ramrod straight in front of the wide entrance to the family dependents’ compound, he swallowed hard.
"Miss, there are a lot of soldiers up ahead."
At his words, Wen Ci looked toward the gate. The middle-aged man leading the group had an extraordinary presence, and the insignia on his shoulders was different from the others’.
She felt a little nervous too.
Guided by the soldiers, the truck driver stopped the vehicle.
Wen Ci got out of the truck. Just as she was about to explain herself to the officer, she saw the Minister of the Logistics Department approaching with a warm smile. "Ah Ci," he said, "you really are the spitting image of your parents."
Wen Ci was speechless.
’Although I hate to admit it, my own biological father is also a minister,’ she thought. ’There are only a handful of ministers in the entire Beijing Military Region, so it’s perfectly normal for them to know each other.’
Wen Ci forced a smile.
"My name is Jiang Guozheng. You can just call me Uncle Jiang."
Wen Ci obediently greeted him, "Hello, Uncle Jiang."
With that, Minister Jiang’s gaze shifted to the nylon bags of clothing in the truck. "Ah Ci, do your parents not give you any spending money?" he asked.
Wen Ci shook her head. "No, that’s not it. I want to start my own business."
"This is a whole truckload of clothes. That must have cost a lot of money."
Wen Ci explained, "My husband’s childhood friend sold them to me on credit for half price..."
Seeing Wen Ci’s nervous expression, Minister Jiang softened his tone. "Uncle is just asking as a matter of routine," he said gently. "There’s no need to be so nervous."
Huh?
Wen Ci felt that something was off.
It was the way this Minister Jiang looked at her.
As if he were looking at someone else.
And what’s more, he seemed to know she was the one who’d been switched at birth.
Wen Ci tested the waters. "Uncle Jiang, I’m actually not the daughter my parents raised. You don’t have to be so formal with me."
As soon as the words left her mouth, a look of profound sympathy filled Minister Jiang’s eyes. "Uncle knows," he said. "Ah Ci, you’ve suffered so much out there."
Wen Ci was utterly confused.
’That tone, that look in his eyes, and Minister Jiang’s age...’
’Could he be my real father?!’
’Jiang and Jiang... they’re homophones.’
Wen Ci’s eyes flew wide.
