Chapter 23

Cheng Jingmo entered the kitchen to start cooking, and Yu Xiangyang, fearing he’d be scolded, also went in to help.

Cheng Jingmo started the fire, washed the pot, added water, and began cooking the rice.

Yu Xiangyang took the eggplants and bok choy to the faucet in the small courtyard to wash the vegetables. The more he thought about it, the more it didn’t make sense.

After quickly finishing washing the vegetables, he ran into the kitchen and lowered his voice, “Cheng Jingmo, do you think my sister might like you?”

Cheng Jingmo was putting the cooked rice into the steamer, preparing to steam it. He paused for a moment, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Tch!” Yu Xiangyang looked at Cheng Jingmo’s somber expression and said discontentedly, “My sister likes you, and you’re not happy about it?!”

Cheng Jingmo placed the steamer into the pot and went to stoke the fire, “She won’t like me.”

Yu Xiangyang looked guilty, “She hated you in the past, and that’s my fault! But you’ve been together for a while now. She knows you’re a good person.”

“How do we cook these clams?” Cheng Jingmo changed the subject.

Coming from a mountain village, he had never seen the sea before he was seventeen and had no idea how to cook seafood.

“Stir-fry them, I’ll do it.” Yu Xiangyang said, “You go pick some peppers and scallions from the courtyard.”

In the small courtyard, Cheng Jingmo had planted three pepper plants, two tomato plants, two cucumber plants, and a small patch of scallions.

Dinner was quickly prepared: a large bowl of stir-fried clams, a dish of braised eggplant, a dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a bowl of bok choy soup, and a steamer of rice mixed with corn grits.

The four of them ate heartily. After dinner, Yu Xiangnian cut off a large section of bananas for Yu Xiangyang to take home.

With a large family at home, she wanted to make sure everyone got a few bananas.

Yu Xiangyang returned home, told his parents about what had happened that day, and then headed back to the army base.

Yu Jiashun, eating the bananas sent by his daughter, felt immense happiness. “Bananas from my daughter taste sweeter!”

Zhao Ruozhu was even more pleased. “Old Yu, let me tell you, your daughter has finally come around. In a few months, Cheng Jingmo will truly be your son-in-law!”

Yu Jiashun scoffed lightly, “That boy, taking all that unfair treatment without saying a word and letting my daughter handle it!”

Zhao Ruozhu shook her head disapprovingly, “Old Yu, think about it. Cheng Jingmo became a deputy commander at such a young age. Doesn’t he know what to fight for and what to endure? This was a well-thought-out decision!”

With this reminder, Yu Jiashun understood Cheng Jingmo’s thoughts.

As his son-in-law, there were certainly rumors about Cheng Jingmo relying on his father-in-law’s connections. If he didn’t accept the army’s handling of this situation, people would say he was using his father-in-law’s influence to avoid responsibility.

Moreover, if he didn’t accept the punishment, this matter would inevitably reach Yu Jiashun. Yu Jiashun would definitely seek justice, which would again lead to accusations of favoritism. Cheng Jingmo didn’t want to make things difficult for Yu Jiashun.

Additionally, the leaders knew that Cheng Jingmo was being unfairly blamed. Once the issue blew over and the punishment was lifted, it wouldn’t affect his future.

Zhao Ruozhu said, “Our silly daughter doesn’t think things through so thoroughly, always charging ahead! But this is good too. Cheng Jingmo won’t have to take the punishment, and their relationship is strengthened!”

Yu Jiashun peeled another banana. “That boy has deep thoughts!”

Zhao Ruozhu then voiced a concern, “I’m just worried that Cheng Jingmo might not be sincere towards Nian Nian. Our silly daughter might be sold out and still help count the money.”

“He wouldn’t dare!” Yu Jiashun slapped the table. “I’d shoot him!”

“Alright, alright, who are you going to shoot!” Zhao Ruozhu said. “This matter will definitely reach you. Have you thought about how to handle it?”

“I know.”

Back at the family quarters.

Yu Xiangnian broke off two bananas and handed one to Cheng Jingmo. “Try the bananas you picked that caused all this trouble.”

Cheng Jingmo took the banana but placed it on the table. “Comrade Yu Xiangnian, don’t be so impulsive in the future. I can handle my own affairs.”

Yu Xiangnian raised an eyebrow, “Are you blaming me for meddling?”

“No, one disciplinary action doesn’t really matter, but what you did makes everyone look bad.”

Yu Xiangnian lazily peeled the banana, feeling unhappy. “It doesn’t affect you, but it affects my mood. Happy now?”

Cheng Jingmo: “…”

At that moment, Xiao Jie ran in and whispered something in Cheng Jingmo’s ear.

Yu Xiangnian heard snippets like “waiting for you” and tapped her fingers on the table. “Is it because I didn’t buy a membership that I can’t hear?”

Cheng Jingmo and Xiao Jie: “…”

“Who is waiting for him?” Yu Xiangnian asked Xiao Jie. “Are you treating me like an outsider?”

Xiao Jie shook his head and honestly explained, “It’s Dr. Wu from the infirmary. She asked me to tell Uncle to meet her outside the family quarters gate. She has something to discuss.”

That woman must have heard about today’s events and was up to something again.

“That’s right, Aunt didn’t buy you those meat buns for nothing,” Yu Xiangnian said and then asked, “Did Dr. Wu tell you to keep it a secret from me?”

Xiao Jie nodded honestly.

Yu Xiangnian looked at Cheng Jingmo with a sweet smile. “Go on! Your Dr. Wu is waiting for you!”

Cheng Jingmo felt that her smile was a bit eerie and asked Xiao Jie, “Did she say what it was about?”

“No, she didn’t.”

Yu Xiangnian chimed in, “Why don’t you go and find out? Don’t keep her waiting.”

Cheng Jingmo: “…” Yu Xiangnian had been acting very strange lately, and he couldn’t figure out what she was thinking.

After a moment of thought, he stood up. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

Yu Xiangnian gritted her teeth and smiled. “Go on.”

As he walked away, she casually threw the banana peel at Cheng Jingmo’s back. Cheng Jingmo stopped and turned around, looking surprised.

“Oh dear! I accidentally threw the banana peel at you,” Yu Xiangnian said with that same smile, waving him off. “Go on, go on.”

Cheng Jingmo turned again, and Yu Xiangnian kicked over the stool he had been sitting on.

Cheng Jingmo stopped once more and turned around.

Yu Xiangnian kept smiling. “I accidentally knocked over the stool. Why haven’t you gone yet?”

Cheng Jingmo was puzzled. Yu Xiangnian was telling him to go, but she was also expressing her discontent. What did she mean?

“Do you want to come and find out what it’s about?” he asked tentatively.

Yu Xiangnian’s eyes curved like crescent moons, and she said sweetly, “Would it bother you if I went too?”

“No, it wouldn’t.”

Yu Xiangnian tried to act reluctant, but couldn’t hide her smile. “Alright then, I’ll go and see what it’s about.”

The two of them walked side by side toward the gate.

In the family quarters, there was a large playground. After dinner, it was the busiest time, with children playing games, women chatting while making shoes or knitting, and men smoking and talking.

Seeing Yu Xiangnian and Cheng Jingmo walking out together, everyone’s attention turned to them.

“Lately, I haven’t heard the shrew yelling. Are those two finally living a good life together?”

“Right, I heard from my man that the shrew went to argue with the military district leaders for Deputy Commander Cheng!”

“But Dr. Wu still hasn’t found a partner yet!”

“…”

Just as they were about to reach the gate, Yu Xiangnian suddenly reached out and grabbed Cheng Jingmo’s hand.