Chapter 18.2

The next morning, when Wen Nuan woke up, Gu Qinghan had already gone.

However, the Eight Immortals table in the living room was still set with breakfast.

After finishing breakfast, the child woke up just in time. When Wen Nuan went back to pick her up, she noticed that their nightstand still held the grain and oil book and the food book, with a wage savings book pressed beneath them.

Wen Nuan opened them one by one to take a look. The grain and oil book and the food book had been replaced after arriving in the Northern Military District and were still quite new. They had recently received several catties of flour and some cooking oil.

In contrast, Gu Qinghan’s wage savings book showed signs of age. The once bright red cover had faded a bit and bore several small creases.

Wen Nuan flipped it open and saw that last month’s allowance had just been issued yesterday.

Gu Qinghan’s salary was just over a hundred, and with various allowances, including the subsidy for military families, it amounted to about one hundred thirty yuan a month.

However, most of his previous salary was already gone, leaving him with just over twenty yuan, so there was now just over one hundred seventy yuan in his bankbook.

Previously, when Gu Qinghan was at the old military base, he had sent almost all his salary back home, along with some scattered withdrawals of ten or twenty yuan, which should have been what he used for himself.

However, according to Wen Nuan’s observations during this period, Gu Qinghan neither smoked nor drank nor did he have any other bad spending habits. Where had all that money gone? Could it be that he was helping others?

Just as Wen Nuan was feeling puzzled, a few knocks sounded from outside the door, followed by the voice of Zhang Guihua from next door. “Xiao Nuan, the food stamps are being distributed today. Do you want to go get them together?”

Wen Nuan quickly went out to open the door and shouted, “Sister-in-law Guihua, wait a moment, I’ll get dressed and come with you.”

“No rush, no rush. They don’t start until eight. I just wanted to remind you to get ready. You should first feed the baby; otherwise, he’ll start fussing later,” Zhang Guihua said before heading back to her own home.

Wen Nuan quickly helped the child change his diaper and fed him some milk and porridge before heading out.

Before leaving, she noticed that Gu Qinghan had already prepared the cart last night, so she simply laid down a blanket, tossed in a strap, and placed Lele inside.

The little one had always loved this cart, so he didn’t show any resistance and kept kicking his legs excitedly.

Wen Nuan had thought that the wooden cart would be difficult to push, but once she pushed it out the door, she found it glided smoothly, much better than the cart she had borrowed from the family courtyard back home.

Zhang Guihua saw Lele sitting in the cart, her little hands gripping the sides tightly, showing no signs of fear at all.

Those big, shiny eyes made her heart melt, and she hurriedly said, “Oh my, this little baby is just too cute! Come here, auntie wants to hold you, okay?”

Lele wasn’t shy; if she heard someone say they wanted to hold her, she would stretch out her little arms for them.

Over the past few days, Wen Nuan and Zhang Guihua had met and chatted, so the little one was even more willing to reach out to Zhang Guihua, making “ya! ya! ya!” sounds.

How could Zhang Guihua resist? She directly lifted the little one out of the cart. Looking at Lele’s chubby and fair face, she just wanted to give him a big kiss!

“Lele is just too adorable; I can’t help but want to kiss him!” she said, playfully blowing raspberries on the baby’s chest to tease him.

The little one didn’t understand what that meant; she just knew to laugh.

When she smiled, she revealed her four adorable little teeth.

Wen Nuan had grown weary of holding her. Even though the child was only seven months old, she was quite heavy. Each time she carried her out and then back, her arms would ache. That’s why she had asked his father to make a little cart.

From then on, when they went out, she wouldn’t have to carry her. If they needed to buy something, they could even pull it back together, which would be much more convenient.

Then Zhang Guihua looked at Lele’s cheerful expression and couldn’t help but exclaim, “If only I could have a daughter as cute as Lele!”

Wen Nuan had thought that Zhang Guihua must have had several children by now, but she had just learned in the past few days that she actually didn’t have any. Not knowing how to comfort her, Wen Nuan could only smile and say, “Maybe it will happen soon.”

Zhang Guihua sighed, “I can’t dare to hope anymore; it’s best to let nature take its course.”

She continued, “It’s not that I care too much, but it’s embarrassing for my husband. Especially that Liu Meili, she had three sons in one go and always loves to boast in front of my husband!”

Wen Nuan hadn’t realized “this situation” of the family, which explained why Zhang Guihua had warned her on her first night in the Northern Military District not to change houses.

“But it’s fine; if it comes to it, I’ll just get a divorce and take my things back home, and let Old Zhou find another one for himself.” Zhang Guihua said with a wry smile. “Let’s not talk about that anymore. Auntie really loves daughters! When Lele grows up, I’ll tie her braids for you; I know a lot of different styles!”

Wen Nuan understood that Zhang Guihua had heard countless comforting words before, and repeating them wouldn’t truly console her.

She could only say, “Then we’ll thank Auntie Guihua in advance.”

Zhang Guihua laughed and replied, “Thank you for what? I’d be overjoyed to braid such a cute little girl’s hair!”

—o—o—o—

When they arrived at the train station, Wen Nuan spotted the widow of a martyr, Li Qiuyan, whom they had talked about the night before. She had a braid tied and draped over her left shoulder, and on her back, she carried a small child who looked a little older than Lele, probably around one year old.

Zhang Guihua stepped forward to greet her, and Wen Nuan called out, “Sister-in-law Li!”

When Li Qiuyan saw Wen Nuan, she smiled and said, “Oh, so you’re the wife of Deputy Commander Gu! You’re really beautiful!”

Then she added, “I didn’t see you at the military camp when I was at the G Province military base before; I thought you wouldn’t come to Northern Military District, since it’s much farther than our province.”

Wen Nuan didn’t quite understand the meaning behind her words but smiled and replied, “It’s exactly because it’s far that I wanted to come with my husband; otherwise, we’d have even fewer chances to meet.”

Li Qiuyan chuckled, “Yes, that’s true. Every meeting is precious, so we should cherish them.”

She then glanced at the brand-new cart that Wen Nuan was holding, with Lele sitting in it, curiously watching the adults chat.

Li Qiuyan exclaimed in surprise, “This cart is really nice! Not only can the child sit in it, but you can also use it to carry some grain later!”

“It’s very convenient. Deputy Commander Gu made it, right?” Li Qiuyan smiled and asked as she looked at the cart.

Wen Nuan nodded, “Yes, it was just finished last night, and this is the first time I’m using it.”

“Alright, let’s catch up another time; we still need to get our grain,” Zhang Guihua said, noticing the growing line of people, and she pulled Wen Nuan along.

As Li Qiuyan watched Wen Nuan’s departing figure, her smile faded. She then picked up a large bag of flour and slowly made her way home.

However, after walking a few steps, she turned back to glance at the cart.

—o—o—o—

Wen Nuan and Zhang Guihua waited in line for a while before it was their turn. The staff at the grain station quickly weighed everything, and Wen Nuan placed the ten catties of rice and five catties of flour directly into the cart.

Zhang Guihua, being from a province known for its flour-based dishes, only bought ten catties of flour, which she added to Wen Nuan’s cart.

Lele didn’t seem to mind being surrounded by flour; in fact, he was sitting next to the bags, looking quite content.

Many people noticed Wen Nuan’s cart and began to compliment it. “This kind of cart is really great! It can carry both kids and things; it’s so practical!”

“I’ll have my husband make one too.”

“My husband probably won’t even look at me… sigh…”

Zhang Guihua chuckled and said, “That’s right! I used to carry everything back by hand; it was so tiring! Deputy Commander Gu is really thoughtful; he even made a cart for you.”

With the envious gazes of the other military wives upon her, Wen Nuan and Zhang Guihua worked together to pull the grain back home.

—o—o—o—

When Liu Meili saw Wen Nuan’s new cart, a pang of jealousy hit her. Just moments ago, she had struggled to carry 20 catties of flour back, and her arms felt like they were about to break.

When her husband returned home for breakfast, Liu Meili put on a stern face and said, “You need to make me a wooden cart like that one! I almost collapsed from exhaustion today at the train station!”

Chen Jiawei frowned, poking at his food with his chopsticks. There hadn’t even been a bit of leftover egg for him, and his expression soured. “Why do you suddenly need a cart? Isn’t there a wicker cart at home? Besides, how heavy can ten or eight catties of stuff be?”

Liu Meili shot him a glare. “Have you seen that cart? The wheels are completely gone! What good is it to take it out? Am I supposed to carry everything back?”

In the five years since she married Chen Jiawei, she had given birth to three children, each more demanding than the last. That wicker cart had long been worn down to just a frame; there were no wheels left, not even a trace of wicker.

Now, with several mouths to feed, every trip to the grain station required her to buy more than ten catties of flour just to last for a week or so.

And when the heavy snow arrived, who would want to venture out to buy supplies?

She couldn’t manage to carry dozens of catties at once!

Today, she had seen how Wen Nuan brought her child to the train station with a smile on her face, looking neat and tidy in her clothes, unlike Liu Meili, who was juggling one child on each side while keeping an eye out for her eldest causing trouble.

It was a real mess.

When Liu Meili first arrived at the family courtyard, she had been the most fashionable woman there, and everyone complimented her on her beauty.

Now, she still tried to present herself well whenever she went out, dressing up each time, but the bitterness inside her was something only she understood.

Chen Jiawei shrugged, putting a piece of diced radish into his mouth. “Even if you want to make one, you can’t get any wood boards. Let’s talk about it later…”

Liu Meili huffed in response. “You just keep making excuses. Once I get my hands on some wood, you better make me a cart!”

With that, she cleared the dishes from the table.

Chen Jiawei felt a bit confused, unsure why his wife suddenly wanted a cart.

—o—o—o—

Meanwhile, Wen Nuan returned home, listening for the military bugle outside. It wasn’t until nearly noon that she started boiling rice to make a porridge, and she sliced some pickled vegetables that Sister-in-law Guihua had given her for a simple meal.

In the afternoon, with nothing much to do, she rested for a bit before going next door to help Sister-in-law Guihua shell some peas. On her way back, she brought home half a catty of peas.

By evening, Wen Nuan thought about having a proper meal, so she rummaged through the five-drawer cabinet to find the preserved sausages and bacon she had brought from home.

These sausages and bacon were items she had secretly procured, making a long and difficult journey to bring them along.

A few days ago, she had given a pair of sausages to both Zhang Guihua and Deng Juxiang, leaving her with just two pairs now, which she needed to save for later.

Taking advantage of Lele’s nap, Wen Nuan sliced the sausages and a small piece of bacon before getting ready to cook.

Since the stove was always burning, Wen Nuan used a small clay pot to cook directly on it, planning to make a flavorful rice dish with preserved meats. The beans she had brought back from Sister-in-law Guihua would come in handy for this meal.

To conserve some rice for future meals, Wen Nuan didn’t wash too much rice. Instead, she took some potatoes and radishes she had prepared earlier and diced them into the mix, as these could serve as the main ingredients as well.

Cooking rice on the stove took a bit longer than using firewood, and after putting the pot on, she found herself waiting for over half an hour for it to boil.

Once the water was boiling, Wen Nuan arranged the sliced sausages, bacon, diced potatoes, radishes, and beans neatly on top of the boiling rice before covering the pot.

This would be Wen Nuan’s first meal since coming to the Northern Military District, and she was quite patient as she prepared it. After adding everything, she went to cut a small half of a large cabbage, intending to blanch it quickly before mixing it into the rice dish.

This way, she could save some oil.

After waiting a while, when the rice was almost cooked, Wen Nuan poured in the sauce. The sauce was simply a mix of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a bit of salt, as finding other seasonings was quite difficult.

Since she planned to let Lele taste some of the rice, Wen Nuan set aside a portion before mixing the entire pot.

Finally, the preserved meat rice was ready to be served. As soon as she lifted the lid, the fragrant aroma of the sausages wafted out, quickly filling the entire living room with an irresistible scent.

On top of the fluffy, white rice, there lay a layer of white radish, yellow potatoes, and reddish-white sausages, along with scattered green beans. The presentation was quite appealing.

Wen Nuan used a wooden rice spoon to fill a small bowl with rice for the child, making sure it was sauce-free. Then, she gently mixed the rest of the preserved meat rice. The sauce’s color soaked into the rice and ingredients, giving them a glossy, garnet-like sheen.

Looking at her sleeping child, Wen Nuan smiled and said, “Your dad really is missing out on this delicious meal!”

Perhaps it was the enticing aroma that stirred Lele, who began to move her arms and woke up.

Worried that the child might feel cold, Wen Nuan quickly spread a cotton jacket and a small blanket in the cart, placing it next to the stove for warmth.

When Lele awoke, she smacked her lips and blinked a couple of times before turning to look at Wen Nuan, breaking into a wide smile.

Wen Nuan looked at the adorable little one, squatted down, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Lele, Mommy made some delicious food; let’s get up and eat.”

Lele had been eating noodles or dough these past few days. At seven or eight months old, she was better suited to softer foods that were easier to digest.

Since Lele had never eaten rice before and they didn’t have the means to eat white rice every day, Wen Nuan had already mashed the rice and ingredients with a spoon, making it more suitable for her.

Noticing the mention of food, the little one perked up immediately, reaching out her arms to be held.

Wen Nuan picked her up and encouraged her, “Come on, let’s see if you can say ‘Mommy.’ Mo—”

The little one giggled, kicking her tiny feet a few times, making an effort but only managing to produce the sound “ya.”

Wen Nuan gently stroked her soft, fair cheek. “It’s okay; take your time.”

“Repeat after me—Mo, mmy~”

—o—o—o—

Meanwhile, Gu Qinghan, who had just finished a day of training, changed out of his flight suit and hurried home, worried that Wen Nuan might not wait for him and that he would miss out on dinner.

The squadron leader, Liang Guoan, happened to be on the same route and decided to accompany Gu Qinghan back to the residential area.

“Deputy Squadron Leader Gu, wait for me. I’ll go back to the residential area with you,” he called out.

As they walked toward the residential area, they engaged in conversation about some official matters they needed to discuss.

Thinking about the recent rumors circulating in the residential area, Liang Guoan, who always prioritized the bigger picture, couldn’t help but glance at Gu Qinghan. Everyone said Gu Qinghan was cold and unfeeling, serious and decisive; apart from the glistening fighter jet, there was nothing else he seemed to care about.

However, ever since he brought his family to the Northern Military District to follow him, it seemed to have changed. He was always rushing home, making three round trips a day.

But the rumors Liang Guoan heard were not about how devoted Gu Qinghan was to his family. Instead, they suggested that his wife was lazy and couldn’t even cook.

With this in mind, Liang Guoan subtly reminded him, “Old Gu, we’re in the revolution together, charging into the fray every day, braving wind and rain. We also need to ensure our families are well-supported. Having our families here is our strong backing. Only by improving our lives can we charge forward without worry.”

Gu Qinghan cast him a faint glance, his expression darkening, but he remained silent.

Liang Guoan was taken aback by Gu Qinghan’s cold glare. Even though he was older, he found himself somewhat intimidated. He decided to be straightforward. “Let me be frank with you. There are people in the residential area saying your wife does nothing all day and just waits for you to come home to cook. You need to go back and have a talk with her. You can’t let her drag down our work on the front lines.”

Gu Qinghan’s brows furrowed, his expression as frigid as a winter night. “Who’s spreading these rumors?” he asked, his voice low.

Liang Guoan blinked in confusion. “Wait, did you not understand me? You can’t let your wife affect your training.”

Gu Qinghan scowled. “She’s not affecting my training.”

Liang Guoan instinctively nodded. He realized that while training, not only was Gu Qinghan not affected by her wife, but he had actually been excelling over the past few days.

It was clear that Gu Qinghan didn’t want to talk any further, and he continued walking, seemingly in a hurry to get home.

Liang Guoan began to question whether he was mistaken about the situation, but the fact remained that Gu Qinghan had been going home every day, which naturally raised some concerns.

Lost in thought, he found himself following Gu Qinghan right to the entrance of his home.

Liang Guoan felt his jaw drop as he processed the scene unfolding before him.

The sight of Gu Qinghan—he, who was usually so stoic and serious, now responding with a smile to the lively woman at the door. The scene was quite unexpected.

The girl, Wen Nuan, continued with a bright smile, “I made cured meat rice tonight. Did you smell it? Have you eaten yet? I can pack some for you if you’d like!”

Gu Qinghan chuckled softly. He was clearly enjoying the moment. “Yes, I can smell it. I haven’t eaten yet, so that would be great.”

Liang Guoan couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy mixed with surprise.

The usually cold and disciplined Gu Qinghan was softening right before his eyes, and it dawned on him that perhaps he needed to reassess his earlier concerns.

“Wow,” Liang Guoan muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief. “Looks like it’s not your wife who needs the talk—it’s you!”

Wen Nuan turned to Liang Guoan, her eyes sparkling with friendliness. “Hello! You must be Gu Qinghan’s friend. Would you like to join us for dinner? There’s plenty to go around!”

The aroma wafting from inside the house was indeed intoxicating, and Liang Guoan found himself unable to refuse. “I—sure, why not?” he replied, stepping into the warm home of Gu Qinghan.

As they moved inside, Liang Guoan couldn’t shake the feeling that this was not just a casual dinner. It felt like a turning point for Gu Qinghan, who seemed more relaxed and at ease in his domestic environment than he ever had in the past.

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T/N: Helloo~ Happy Halloween~ I unlocked Chapter 18.2 to Chapter 21.2. Have a nice day~