Chapter 41.1

Ruan Mingfu was momentarily stunned.

Rumors?

“What rumors?” Ruan Mingfu’s beautiful brows are knitted together. “What have they been saying?”

Gu Yilin on the other end of the line, finally spoke up.

“They’re saying you’re shameless, that after their second son looked down on you, you clung to their eldest son instead,” Gu Yilin continued, noting Ruan Mingfu’s deepening breaths, “Lu Yang is polite and reasonable, so he didn’t want to be too harsh.”

“They said they spent a thousand yuan just to get rid of you.”

“And that your parents were sent down for re-education and there’s no hope for their return, so you’re relying on pimping to make a living.”

“…It’s so harsh that I feel embarrassed to continue.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Her face turned red with anger.

Damn bastards!

“Who said this?”

The angrier she became, the calmer her face looked.

“Who else?” Gu Yilin answered directly. “Of course, it’s that shameless couple from the Lu family. Half of Haicheng knows about it!”

She had called home and heard it from her mother.

Gu Yilin felt quite pleased with herself.

She had done such a big favor for her plastic friend, and she deserved gratitude.

Ruan Mingfu pursed her lips, her beautiful eyes brimming with fury.

Damn it!

Lu Yang spoke so nicely before, took the compensation, and then severed ties with the family. Now this kind of betrayal—what does it mean?

The Ruan family’s ancestral home is still in Haicheng.

They will have to live in Haicheng someday.

The Lu family’s backstabbing has tarnished the Ruan family’s reputation, and it will be hard to maintain their dignity in the future.

“I understand,” she said with fire in her eyes. “Thank you for letting me know.”

She hung up the phone.

Gu Yilin on the other end pouted, a bit dissatisfied.

Then she thought—

Could her plastic friend be planning to confront the Lu family?

Surely she wouldn’t be so impulsive?

Gu Yilin’s eyes widened.

Her plastic friend’s temper was indeed unpredictable.

Damn!

Unfortunately, with them being miles apart and Gu Yilin having no means to intervene from the military camp, she could only stomp her feet in frustration.

After hanging up, Ruan Mingfu took a deep breath to suppress her anger.

Damn the Lu family!

As Ruan Mingfu stepped out, a soldier at the gate called out to her.

“Sister-in-law, there’s something for you at the gate.”

“Thank you.”

Ruan Mingfu forced herself to calm down and thanked him.

The soldier scratched his head and looked a bit embarrassed.

“You’re… you’re welcome.”

The package was sent by Gu Yilin.

It was a large sack, piled up like a small mountain. Ruan Mingfu looked at it, stunned.

Was her plastic friend rich and had nowhere else to spend her money?

“Sister-in-law, please sign here.”

Ruan Mingfu signed where indicated and asked, “Can I take it now?”

“Yes.”

The pile of stuff was so high it reached Ruan Mingfu’s thighs, towering and bulky.

Neither carrying it horizontally nor vertically seemed feasible.

Seeing this, the enthusiastic young soldier said, “Sister-in-law, let me help you carry it.”

“Thank you so much,” Ruan Mingfu’s eyes brightened. “It won’t interfere with your duty, will it?”

“No, it won’t.”

He scratched his head and smiled, showing a big white smile.

It wasn’t far from the family compound, but walking would still take seven or eight minutes. If Ruan Mingfu, who was delicate, had to carry it herself, she’d probably not make it back before sunset.

At this time, it was just the mid-morning hour.

The annoying kids went to school, the annoying roommate went to the army, and the sisters-in-law were the only ones at home. It was not time to make lunch yet, so they gathered in groups of three or four to chat.

When they saw Ruan Mingfu pass by with a large bag, several military wives had expressions like they were suffering from toothaches.

“This new daughter-in-law, I don’t know where she’s from, but she sure knows how to spend. Even if her family has a mountain of gold, it’ll run out.”

“I heard she’s from Haicheng.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the military wives gasped.

“That’s a big city.”

“I heard people from there are really rich, wearing fancy dresses and wristwatches… How can Commander Xie’s salary support such a wife?”

“That’s not all. I heard she has to eat big meals with fish and meat every day, and her dresses never repeat!”

“Wow—how much money must that cost?”

Hearing this, the military wives’ faces scrunched up as if they were spending the money themselves.

They wished they could split every penny in half, unlike Ruan Mingfu, who spent lavishly.

“Did you see all the things she bought just now? She even had to get someone to carry them for her.”

“Wang Manman has met her match now…”

Wang Manman was also a military wife in the compound.

She had an arrogant attitude, always looking down on others. When the other military wives tried talking to her, she acted indifferent and aloof. Over time, no one bothered with her.

She didn’t have a good reputation in the compound.

But Wang Manman was a teacher and only came back on weekends.

“This new daughter-in-law is really beautiful.”

“Commander Xie must have married her for her looks!”

“What’s the use of being pretty? A wife should be hardworking and diligent.”

“Exactly. If my son dares to marry such a ‘vixen,’ I’d break his legs!”

“You’re just saying that—you wouldn’t dare touch your precious boy.”

“Why wouldn’t I…”

Ruan Mingfu had no idea about the gossip these women were spreading.

Even if she did, she wouldn’t care. Let them talk. It’s not like their words would take a chunk of flesh off her.

“Thank you, just leave it in the yard.” Ruan Mingfu hurried inside and poured a glass of water. “You must be tired. Here, drink some water.”

When it came to these things, Ruan Mingfu knew how to be considerate.

The young soldier smiled awkwardly before accepting the cup and downing it in one gulp.

“Thank you, sister-in-law. I’ll be heading back now.”

“Hey, wait!”

Ruan Mingfu grabbed a handful of candy from somewhere and stuffed it into the young soldier’s hands.

“These are the wedding candies from my marriage. Please, have some.”

The young soldier, who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen, still had a youthful face.

He was even younger than her.

Upon hearing this, the soldier hesitated but then accepted the candy.

“Thank you, sister-in-law!”

“Thank you for what?”

Xie Yanzhao walked in from outside, just in time to see Ruan Mingfu talking with the young soldier. The way she was looking at the boy—was that… sympathy?

He walked over and stood beside the young soldier, his mere presence exuding an intimidating aura.

The young soldier straightened up instantly, eyes bright and back as straight as a rod.

“Hello, Commander!”

Xie Yanzhao nodded. “You may go.”

As if meeting his idol, the young soldier’s eyes sparkled. Even as he ran out the door, he kept turning back to sneak glances at Xie Yanzhao.

Ruan Mingfu found the whole thing amusing.

“You’re quite popular in the military.”

At first, she thought the young soldier was eager to help her because of her unique beauty.

Who would’ve thought it was all because of Xie Yanzhao?

Turns out, she had been overthinking it.

Xie Yanzhao didn’t say anything, but his gaze landed on the pile of items beside her. “What’s all this?”

“Gu Yilin sent them over,” Ruan Mingfu replied. “I have no idea what’s inside.”

“Let’s bring them in.”

Xie Yanzhao effortlessly lifted the bag in one hand.

Ruan Mingfu was stunned.

That pile of things wasn’t light at all, but this man picked it up like it was nothing, as if he were lifting a chick. His muscular arms bulged, straining against the fabric of his sleeves… no wonder she could never escape his grasp.

Thinking about the way his hands clamped around her waist… Ruan Mingfu’s face flushed a little.

Gu Yilin had really sent a lot of stuff.

There were all kinds of food and supplies—she truly went out of her way. Ruan Mingfu would never have thought of all this on her own.

“What’s this?” Ruan Mingfu picked up a fabric-like item and asked Xie Yanzhao, “Have you seen this before?”

It was a square piece of cloth with fringed edges. The fabric was soft and skin-friendly, with good quality.

Was she supposed to make clothes out of this?

Ruan Mingfu rummaged further, finding quite a few more pieces. They were all in light colors.

What kind of clothes could be made from palm-sized fabric? Maybe a patchwork quilt?

She looked at the fabric again.

Could it be… for wiping the table?

Xie Yanzhao picked up a can of baby formula from the bottom of the pile, his eyes flashing as he said in a low voice, “These are diapers.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

The moment she heard those words, she tossed the fabric aside as if it had burned her hands.

“Wh-what? Why would she send these?”

She had just managed to avoid Sister Lin’s nagging about having kids, and now her so-called plastic best friend was meddling too?

Ruan Mingfu gritted her teeth.

Next time, she would definitely knock some sense into that fake friend of hers!

Xie Yanzhao’s eyes darkened, and he gave her a casual look. “You don’t like kids?”

“What’s so good about them?” Ruan Mingfu shuddered as she recalled the chaos caused by bratty kids during family reunions. “They’re noisy and drive you crazy with all their chattering.”

Xie Yanzhao heard this and pursed his lips.

However, Ruan Mingfu didn’t notice.

Her plastic friend’s package was filled with all sorts of things, and it was lucky she had connections at the supply and marketing cooperative. Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to gather these items.