Chapter 2

Yu Xiangnian went to the kitchen to cook noodles, while Cheng Jingmo was still in the bedroom. He checked the stability of the cabinets and wardrobes again to ensure they wouldn’t topple over no matter how hard they were pulled.

The women didn’t leave; they stayed to see what kind of noodles Yu Xiangnian could cook.

Fortunately, in the three days since Yu Xiangnian had arrived, she had figured out how to use this type of stove.

First, she struck a match from the stove and lit the dry pine needles, then added a few thin dry sticks on top.

In no time, the dry sticks caught fire. Yu Xiangnian then added a few thicker dry sticks, and the fire on the stove was well-lit.

The women exchanged glances.

It’s just starting a fire; they didn’t believe Yu Xiangnian could cook noodles!

They watched as Yu Xiangnian washed the pot, put some water in it, and then ran out to the small yard to pick a tomato and two small green onions, which she washed and brought back inside.

When the water in the pot boiled, Yu Xiangnian blanched the tomato in the water for a while, then took it out, peeled it, and cut it into small pieces.

The women were shocked!

Peeling a tomato? They just washed and ate them!

Yu Xiangnian then put a spoonful of lard in the pot. When the oil was hot, she added two eggs to fry, then added the tomato and stir-fried for a while before adding water to simmer.

The aroma of eggs filled the room, making everyone take a couple of extra deep breaths involuntarily.

However, they thought to themselves that this shrew wasn’t cut out for frugal living, using two eggs and a large spoonful of oil just to cook a bowl of noodles. At this rate, she’d deplete the household’s supplies!

Yu Xiangnian poured the tomato and egg soup into a large bowl, added more water to the pot, and boiled the noodles.

When the noodles were cooked, she transferred them to the large bowl, sprinkled chopped green onions on top, and a bowl of appetizing noodles was ready.

Smelling the aroma, everyone swallowed their saliva.

Yu Xiangnian placed the bowl of noodles on the Eight Immortals table and called out to Cheng Jingmo, who was still busy in the bedroom, “Cheng Jingmo, the noodles are ready, come out and eat.”

When Cheng Jingmo came out, the halo above his head was gone.

He was also taken aback by the sight of the noodles.

He hadn’t refused Yu Xiangnian’s offer to cook because he didn’t want to embarrass her in front of everyone.

He had expected plain boiled noodles, but the dish looked colorful and appetizing.

He sat at the table without showing much emotion and took a small bite.

The flavor was incredible, so delicious that he couldn’t help but take a big mouthful.

This was the first time he had tasted something cooked by Yu Xiangnian, and it was unexpectedly delicious.

But hadn’t her family said she was useless with housework?

And for the past six months, he had seen with his own eyes that Yu Xiangnian never went into the kitchen, always eating out.

He looked up in confusion and saw the curious expressions of the women.

“Ladies, would you like to try some?” he offered politely.

The women wanted to eat but waved their hands, “You eat, you eat, we’ve already eaten.” Then they swallowed their saliva again.

Cheng Jingmo lowered his head and finished the bowl of noodles in five minutes, not leaving a drop of soup.

With his actions, Cheng Jingmo demonstrated that the noodles were very tasty, leaving the women a bit disappointed.

Yu Xiangnian felt smug inside.

In the three days she had been living there, these military wives had avoided her like the plague, looking at her with disgust and fear.

Surely, they had cursed her behind her back many times!

As she was feeling proud, a woman walked in through the door, with a dark gray halo floating above her head.

Yu Xiangnian was puzzled; what was the relationship between this woman and Cheng Jingmo that she also had a halo?

The women greeted the newcomer warmly, “Doctor Wu, what brings you here?”

Dr. Wu smiled kindly at everyone, “I was at the family quarters treating someone and heard that Deputy Commander Cheng was injured, so I came to see if I could help.”

Cheng Jingmo was injured?

Yu Xiangnian looked at Cheng Jingmo in surprise, but his attention was entirely on Dr. Wu, who was walking toward him.

His expression remained unchanged. “It’s just a minor injury, already treated at the military hospital. No need to check it.”

Dr. Wu didn’t insist. “It’s good that it’s taken care of. I was startled when I heard. You need to be more careful on your missions.”

The women began to whisper among themselves, perhaps intentionally loud enough for Yu Xiangnian to hear.

“Don’t you think it would have been better if Deputy Commander Cheng had married Dr. Wu? She knows how to care for him.”

“Exactly. I heard they were talking about marriage before, but it was that shrew’s father who went to the military district leaders and forced Deputy Commander Cheng to marry her.”

“Marrying such a shrew, what’s the point? She doesn’t do any housework and won’t even let Deputy Commander Cheng touch her!”

“······”

Yu Xiangnian understood. Cheng Jingmo and Dr. Wu were in love, but it was the original Yu Xiangnian’s father who broke them up, forcing Cheng Jingmo to marry Yu Xiangnian.

No wonder, in an era where marriages were arranged by families, other households could live normally, but Cheng Jingmo and the original Yu Xiangnian had been married for so long yet still treated each other like strangers.

It turned out that both had someone else in their hearts!

While the original Yu Xiangnian’s father’s actions were indeed wrong, the behavior of these two was too brazen.

In such a conservative era, Cheng Jingmo, a married man, had his former lover visiting under the guise of checking on his health as soon as he returned!

Neither of them considered her, the rightful wife, at all!

Yu Xiangnian decided to “return the favor” to these two.

“Dr. Wu, it’s just as well you’re here. Could you check on me?” she said, sitting “weakly” on a bench by the table.

Dr. Wu approached the two, her voice gentle. “Comrade Yu, what’s wrong?”

Yu Xiangnian replied, “I’ve been feeling nauseous for days, can’t eat, and my head feels heavy.”

The women were shocked, internally cursing: This shrew really has been unfaithful!

Dr. Wu’s eyes flashed with concern, and she asked, “Do you remember when your last menstrual period was?”

Yu Xiangnian furrowed her brow and thought for a moment. “Over a month ago, I think. Mine is usually irregular.”

“What exactly is wrong with me?” She looked naive and clueless.

“Well…” Dr. Wu cleared her throat. “You might be pregnant.”

Yu Xiangnian first looked stunned, then playfully punched Cheng Jingmo’s chest with a small fist, lowering her head shyly. “Cheng Jingmo, it’s all your fault…”

The women were so shocked their mouths hung open!

This shrew is pregnant with Deputy Commander Cheng’s child? But weren’t they saying she wouldn’t even let him touch her?!

Even Dr. Wu stared wide-eyed at Cheng Jingmo, whose face flashed with shock and anger.

Yu Xiangnian really had cheated on him!

He could endure Yu Xiangnian’s arrogance, laziness, and unreasonable behavior, but if she had been with another man…

He would let them be together!

The women hadn’t yet recovered when Yu Xiangnian sent them away. “Everyone, please go back. Cheng Jingmo and I need to discuss the child’s situation.”

Before leaving, Dr. Wu gave Cheng Jingmo a deep look, which he didn’t notice, but Yu Xiangnian did.

She casually curved her lips in a slight smile, seeing the women out and closing the door behind them.

“Cheng Jingmo, though our marriage was arranged by our families and there’s no affection between us, you can propose a divorce, but you can’t cheat!”

Yu Xiangnian’s gaze was frank and righteous, completely different from her earlier shy demeanor.