Chapter 14

The street office was a ten-minute walk away. With Xu Zhao’s long legs and large strides, he noticed Jiang Suihan struggling to keep up and slowed down to match her pace.

A staff member at the street office reviewed the materials Xu Zhao submitted, raised an eyebrow, and with an impassive expression, glanced at Xu Zhao and Jiang Suihan. “I didn’t expect Comrade Jiang to be so fast. To get married to this soldier comrade so quickly, it really is true that looks can be deceiving. Being beautiful means you’re capable. You decided to marry without hesitation.”

She wasn’t particularly attractive, but her family’s good conditions allowed her to marry her current husband. After years of marriage, her husband still pined for his childhood sweetheart, who was pure and pitiful. The childhood sweetheart’s husband became paralyzed in an accident, and her husband secretly sent half of his salary to the childhood sweetheart’s family.

If she hadn’t discovered it, she wouldn’t have known her husband continued to support his childhood sweetheart’s family. She was angry and forbade him from giving money to the woman. Her husband said she was too petty and minded old grievances. They had nothing to do with each other. She was so angry she almost wanted to scratch the sweetheart’s face.

Last night, she had another argument with her husband, and he nearly resorted to violence. She hadn’t slept well all night. Jiang Suihan happened to cross her path, and she particularly disliked beautiful women—those alluring foxes who tempted other men.

She seemed to detect the scent of tea.

Jiang Suihan pretended to be polite. “Please hurry, we’re in a rush. Actually, auntie, you don’t need to feel inferior. Looks are given by your parents, not your fault. The real issue is your parents’ lack of skill in giving you a beautiful face. If you must blame someone, blame them.”

She paused and gave the staff member a pointed glance. “People should not long for what they don’t have. Learn to accept your imperfect self.”

The staff member glared, looking furious: “Who are you insulting? Who’s the ‘aunt’? Did I say anything to you? You keep criticizing others’ appearances, and with your fox-like demeanor, who knows if you’ll be faithful in the future. It’s a pity for this soldier who fights bloodily on the battlefield to protect the country, only to have a wife who’s a schemer trying to seduce men.”

She cast a meaningful glance at Xu Zhao, implying that soldiers are often away on missions and sometimes don’t come home for months. It wasn’t a baseless warning; she was hinting to Xu Zhao not to bring just any woman home, lest he regret it later.

These words were extremely harsh, escalating from criticizing appearance to attacking character. If Xu Zhao didn’t understand her true nature and believed this person’s words, it could jeopardize their future.

Jiang Suihan was infuriated, gritting her teeth and wanting to retort.

Xu Zhao’s tone was icy: “Please apologize to my wife immediately.”

The staff member stubbornly refused, not believing she had done anything wrong: “Why should I apologize? She should apologize to me. She was the one who had a filthy mouth first. I won’t apologize, and what can you do about it? Don’t think that just because you’re a soldier, I’m scared of you.”

“I’m just trying to give you a kind reminder, but kindness has not been rewarded. Marrying a woman like this will bring you trouble in the future. You should investigate; this girl from the Jiang family is infamous in our area. When her father was alive, he could keep her in check. Now that he’s gone, countless men have been after her.”

“Otherwise, how do you think a young woman with no money or job supports herself and her younger brother? It’s all because of her looks, and she’s been using them to flirt around. I’m trying to remind you, but you think I’m being ungrateful.”

She simply disliked Jiang Suihan, believing that pretty women were inherently bad and only knew how to seduce men.

Her maternal family had a nephew who, after seeing Jiang Suihan once, frequently asked her to introduce him to Jiang Suihan, even wanting to marry her.

Given the current situation of the Jiang family, marrying such a woman would only bring trouble.

Though she spoke assertively, she was somewhat anxious. The soldier in front of her didn’t seem like an ordinary, poor soldier. He appeared to have some status.

She regretted her earlier impulsive words, but she didn’t lie. Before the Jiang family’s misfortune, many young men pursued Jiang Suihan. After the family’s fall, it wasn’t long before Jiang Suihan had already found a new suitor.

Tsk tsk, if it weren’t for her looks, no young man would willingly jump into the Jiang family’s quagmire, fearing being splashed with mud that couldn’t be washed off.

Jiang Suihan coldly looked at the staff member: “Fine, I’ll report to your supervisor about an employee with problematic ideological awareness who deliberately stirs up conflict among the people. You mentioned my husband is risking his life on the battlefield to protect the country.”

“And here you are, mocking and insulting him. What are you really up to? Without soldiers bearing the burden on the front lines, how could you have your current comfortable life? With such a mindset, I have reason to suspect you’ve been corrupted by Western ideas.”

The power of rhetoric in an argument is important. Jiang Suihan naturally referred to her husband, and Xu Zhao smiled slightly. The acknowledgment and protection felt quite good.

The staff member was scared but didn’t want to back down, starting to argue irrationally: “Why are you so petty? Just because I said a few extra words, you’re making such a fuss. A big man like you is so stingy, how successful can you be?”

Jiang Suihan rolled her eyes at her: “What does his success have to do with you? You live by the sea and mind other people’s business. With your way of thinking, talking about serving the people is laughable. I think you’re just a troublemaker, and not only do you look mediocre, but your mind is also a mess.”

Trying to handle a situation, she encountered a woman with a mind full of holes who attacked her personally without reason. Even if she won the argument, it felt pointless.

The staff member slammed the table, glaring angrily: “You’re insulting me!”

The commotion attracted the attention of others in the room.

Xu Zhao stepped forward and shielded Jiang Suihan: “Apologize.”

The staff member, feeling a chill under Xu Zhao’s stare and catching sight of the street office director entering, feared Jiang Suihan might indeed report her.

She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and, feeling it wasn’t worth facing Xu Zhao and Jiang Suihan together, grudgingly said, “Sorry.”

Jiang Suihan lifted her chin, looking triumphant like a victorious little hen, and walked away.

Outside the street office, she leaned against a tree by the roadside, laughing so hard she couldn’t straighten up: “Did you see her face? It was worse than a rotten egg. I’m dying of laughter.”

Xu Zhao didn’t find it particularly funny but was amused by her. His lips curved into a smile: “Don’t laugh too hard.”

“I just think people like that are cowards who bully the weak and fear the strong. Clearly, I didn’t provoke her, but she still tried to trip me up.” Jiang Suihan laughed enough, touched her right cheek, and sighed deeply, “It’s also my fault for being so pretty. It’s common to be envied and hated. I should get used to it.”

Seeing her seemingly troubled by her beauty, Xu Zhao didn’t know how to react and just silently watched her.

Jiang Suihan turned to Xu Zhao and asked, “What’s with your expression? Do you think I’m not good-looking?”

Driven by a strong urge to survive, Xu Zhao quickly replied, “You’re beautiful.”

She truly was beautiful.

Occasionally, he’d hear soldiers in the army discussing which female soldier in the arts troupe was the most beautiful, but he hadn’t paid much attention.

Once, Zhang Xiangqian pointed to a female soldier on stage and asked if she was very pretty. Xu Zhao remembered he had replied with a simple “boring.”

The troupe’s top beauty couldn’t compare to his little wife. Her smile was sweet, her dimples like cups filled with intoxicatingly sweet wine, making people want to gently poke them.

Jiang Suihan glanced at him and gave him a look that said, “You’re being sensible.”

“Sister, you’re back!” Hearing the door open, Jiang Leyun quickly ran over. He had been alone at home and felt a bit scared, so he had moved a stool to sit by the door and kept glancing at it.

Xu Zhao handed a handful of candies to his little brother-in-law, who smiled and thanked him.

Having more candy made him feel so happy. He wished Brother Xu could stay at home all the time. With him around, no one would dare to bully him and his sister, which made him feel completely safe.

Jiang Suihan put on a stern face and said, “Eat less candy. Too much candy will give you cavities, and your teeth will be full of black holes. It’ll look terrible and be hard to chew. Soon, you’ll only be able to watch us eat meat.”

The child quickly covered his mouth, “Then I’ll only eat two pieces today and save the rest for tomorrow.”

He definitely didn’t want his mouth full of black holes; that would be so ugly.

At noon, they had packed meals from the state-run restaurant, and Jiang Suihan went to heat them up in the kitchen.

Jiang Leyun, munching on his candy, squatted next to Xu Zhao and asked, “Brother Xu, where did you and my sister go? You didn’t take me with you, and I was so bored at home alone.”

Facing the little brother-in-law’s complaint, Xu Zhao shrugged, “Call me brother-in-law.”

The child was stunned for a moment, then jumped up from the ground with a look of shock on his face, “My sister married you?”

Xu Zhao’s face relaxed, his lips curling into an uncontainable smile, “Yes, we’re married now. From now on, call me brother-in-law. Remember that.”

Jiang Leyun was stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief. In just one morning, his sister had become someone else’s. The feeling of loss was so overwhelming.

He dashed into the kitchen, anxiously asking, “Sister, is it true that you and him are married?”

Thinking that Xu Zhao had tricked his sister, the child didn’t even call him brother anymore, directly using ‘him’ to refer to him.

Under the child’s expectant gaze, Jiang Suihan nodded and patted her brother’s little head, “Yes, from now on we’re a family. Isn’t it better to have someone else who loves you?”

Jiang Leyun pouted, clinging to Jiang Suihan’s leg, looking up at her with concern, shaking his head, “It’s different. When you get married, you’re someone else’s. Are you going to leave with him and not want me anymore? I’ll eat less and behave well. Please don’t leave me.”

Mom is gone, Dad is gone, and now his sister is leaving with someone else. He felt so alone and miserable!

Jiang Suihan hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe his tears, soothing him gently, “Don’t cry. Little man shouldn’t be shedding tears. Your sister won’t abandon you. You’re my real brother, we share the same last name. How could I ignore you?”

Jiang Leyun blinked, hiccupping, “Really?”

With relatives passing away and such big changes at home, the child lacked a sense of security and was afraid that his only remaining family member would abandon him.

Seeing the child’s tear-streaked face, Jiang Suihan wanted to laugh but held it in, worried that laughing might hurt the child’s feelings. She used a serious tone to reassure him, “It’s more real than gold. Our little man is the most sensible. Don’t worry, I’ve known you since you were in Mom’s belly. I’ve only known him for a few days. Of course, you are the most important. Go play now, we’ll eat later.”

Once the child went out, Jiang Suihan looked at the handkerchief in her hand and wanted to cover her face. Using a rag from the kitchen to wipe her face was making it dirtier.

**