Chapter 93.2

During Sister Guihua’s confinement, Uncle Zhang had brought the second batch of dried seafood just before winter set in.

This batch of dried seafood was just as good in appearance and quality as the last one.

At that moment, Wen Nuan happened to be free. Thanks to the joint efforts of dozens of workers, the first batch of supplies destined for Dongjiang and the research institute had been prepared.

General Xu personally arranged for a small team to send the supplies to the Border Defense.

So, Wen Nuan called Sister Juxiang to help her check the dried seafood with Uncle Zhang. This batch could be sent to the research institute, and Chen Meijiao’s restaurant had also ordered some.

Wen Nuan thought about how the troops were also getting ready for the New Year, so she decided to set aside a portion of the dried seafood, planning to treat everyone well during the festive season.

Uncle Zhang had brought a savings booklet from the production team this time.

After confirming the numbers with Wen Nuan, he hurried off to the family compound.

“Comrade Wen Nuan, I need to rush over to see my Guihua; please take care of the remaining matters for us,” he said anxiously.

Seeing that Uncle Zhang was indeed in a hurry, Wen Nuan smiled and reassured him, “Don’t worry, Uncle Zhang. I will follow up on everything. Once the leaders in the troop sign off tomorrow, I’ll have Quartermaster Luo arrange for the payment to you.”

“Alright, alright.” Uncle Zhang nodded slightly, beaming as he said, “With Comrade Wen Nuan around, I’m sure everything will be fine.”

“Then I’ll head over to see my Guihua and the child now,” he added.

Wen Nuan noticed Uncle Zhang’s urgency and asked, “Do you want me to have Little Zhu give you a ride?”

“No, no.” Uncle Zhang waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not far. I can go there myself; I still remember the way.”

Wen Nuan reminded him, “Then please be careful on the slippery roads.”

After saying their goodbyes, Uncle Zhang hurried off toward the family compound.

Sister Juxiang watched Uncle Zhang’s hurried departure and said with a smile, “Finally, Guihua is getting what she wishes for; I’m really happy for her.”

Sister Juxiang worked in the logistics kitchen and would help out at the processing plant when she had some free time.

Although it was busy, her pay had doubled, and she was very pleased with her work.

Hearing Sister Juxiang’s words, Wen Nuan replied, “Yes, Sister Guihua has finally got her wish; everyone is happy.”

Then she added, “That little rascal Lele often runs over to see the baby.”

Speaking of Lele made Sister Juxiang chuckle. She said to Wen Nuan, “Lele visited my house a couple of days ago to play with Xiaodong and Xiaomei, and she kept asking them if they will have a new baby sister or brother. She also asked me why I didn’t have a little baby like Guihua.”

“That almost made me laugh myself to death! Lele is just too adorable!”

Wen Nuan hadn’t expected the child to ask such questions. She couldn’t help but explain to her, “Maybe she thinks babies are cute. She has also asked me why I don’t have a little baby like Sister Guihua…”

Sometimes, Wen Nuan didn’t know how to explain things to the child, but she considered such questions to be innocent childhood curiosity since the child didn’t truly understand what they meant.

Sister Juxiang laughed heartily and was curious about when Wen Nuan might have another baby or if she would have one at all. “So, how did you respond to her?”

“Are you and Captain Gu planning to have another one?”

In the family compound, many people were having children one after another.

However, Wen Nuan was different; she had a job, which, although not an official position, was busier than Quartermaster Luo’s.

Everyone in the factory knew who they should listen to.

Moreover, Wen Nuan spoiled the child excessively, buying her new clothes, new shoes, and all kinds of food and toys.

Because of this, Sister Juxiang had wondered if Wen Nuan would only want one child after all.

At that moment, Wen Nuan chuckled softly and said, “I don’t know.”

This decision wasn’t solely up to her. Gu Qinghan hadn’t mentioned wanting another child either; he was always conscientious about taking precautions each time.

The couple hadn’t specifically discussed the matter, tacitly agreeing that they didn’t want to pursue it further.

Recently, seeing Sister Guihua give birth to a little baby and watching how much Lele adored the newborn, Wen Nuan found herself feeling a bit tempted.

She calculated that there were still over three years until the college entrance examination, so if they had another child now, it would be manageable.

But she wondered if Gu Qinghan would let her keep trying for a son…

Wen Nuan had lived in the family compound for a while. Although gender bias was common during that era, it seemed even more pronounced in her hometown.

Gu Qinghan’s mother had made it clear that she expected a grandson, even writing to ask if they were expecting a second child…

Sister Juxiang couldn’t help but laugh when she heard this. “How could this still be a question?”

Then Sister Juxiang asked, “Do you… not have married life together?”

To be honest, the reason military wives in the family compound had children one after another was primarily due to the lack of entertainment at night…

The young couple spent every night together, so it was just a matter of time!

Could it be true what Lele had said that day at her house?

Could it be that Captain Gu really couldn’t have children?

Thinking about this, Sister Juxiang realized that Wen Nuan had been in the family compound for two years, and the couple indeed hadn’t made any moves in that direction.

Wen Nuan instinctively glanced at the warehouse, and after seeing there were no people around, she nodded slightly, saying, “We do…”

Sister Juxiang’s expression was one of disbelief. “How could that be…?”

Captain Gu didn’t seem like the type who would appear strong but be weak on the inside!

Sister Juxiang asked again, “Could it be that you’ve already had an IUD put in?” ^[1]An intrauterine device (IUD) is a form of birth control that a healthcare provider inserts into your uterus. Once it’s inserted, an IUD can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years or more, … Continue reading

“Or is it that… Captain Gu…”

He really couldn’t?

“No,” Wen Nuan said, noticing the look of misunderstanding on Sister Juxiang’s face. She blushed and added, “It’s Gu Qinghan who took precautions.”

Sister Juxiang became even more curious.

What other precautions could a man take?

She had already given birth to three children and had just gotten a job at the Kitchen Unit, so she was thinking about getting an IUD.

But Wen Nuan only had one child—was she really choosing not to have another?

In response to Sister Juxiang’s shocked expression, Wen Nuan leaned closer to her ear and said that Gu Qinghan had picked up some family planning supplies from the hospital.

Sister Juxiang seemed stunned, as if struck by lightning, and asked, “There’s such a thing?”

“Yes. Sister Juxiang, you don’t need to get an IUD then. Isn’t that stuff bad for your body?” Wen Nuan wasn’t too familiar with these matters, but she had heard that there could be some side effects from having an IUD, and it was better to avoid it if possible.

Upon hearing Wen Nuan’s explanation, Sister Juxiang’s eyes lit up. “Then I’ll have Doctor Zhao take care of it from now on!”

Wen Nuan felt a bit embarrassed to say more.

This was a matter between the couple; they should figure it out themselves.

Just as the two were preparing to return to the Kitchen Unit, they suddenly heard Huang Yueying’s voice outside the warehouse.

Wen Nuan frowned, then took a notebook and walked into another area where they stored dried vegetables.

She told Sister Juxiang, “If Huang Yueying comes looking for me, just say I’m not here.”

Sister Juxiang nodded. “Don’t worry, this person has bad intentions. See how I deal with her.”

Just as Wen Nuan was about to tell her not to bother with the other woman, Sister Juxiang confidently strode outside.

Before long, Wen Nuan heard Huang Yueying’s piercing screams.

When she stepped out, she saw two large pigs chasing Huang Yueying, who had been cornered at the pigpen and accidentally fell inside…

When she came out, her clothes were covered in pig feces, and the stench was so bad that everyone kept their distance from her.

Quartermaster Luo who heard the commotion, came out and, upon seeing Huang Yueying’s miserable state, felt a bit sorry for her but bluntly told her, “Comrade Huang, if you can’t even handle feeding pigs properly, I find it hard to help you. You really don’t fit in here!”

Huang Yueying felt disheartened as she observed Wen Nuan across the way.

Wen Nuan was busy, yet her attire remained pristine, not a speck of flour on her clothes.

Frustrated and unable to contain her emotions, Huang Yueying turned away and walked off in tears.

Wen Nuan truly wanted to applaud the situation; at least it meant a year and a half of peace for her.

—o—o—o—

Meanwhile, at the Eastern Border Defense Station, heavy snow fell relentlessly, accumulating to more than a meter deep. The 146th unit had received a batch of supplies from the North.

Everyone gazed curiously at the neatly packaged food items. Xiao Liang from the Border Defense station retrieved a package labeled “Sour Fish Soup” and glanced at the accompanying instructions. He then turned to his comrades and said, “It seems quite convenient?”

“Did they already fillet the fish for us?”

One comrade rubbed his hands together, exhaling a puff of white breath as he replied, “Don’t just stand there! I’m starving. Hurry up and boil some water. Let’s cook one and find out!”

Another comrade looked at the bags labeled with various dish names and exclaimed, “I want the Mushroom Chicken! Damn it, I haven’t had mushrooms in ages; make me a pot!”

As winter settled in, the Border Defense station became a frozen expanse. The fish, upon delivery, had to be brought back to the heated building to thaw, and by the time they managed this, over half an hour had passed.

For convenience, they usually prepared steamed buns and cornmeal dumplings, but these quickly turned into bricks in the cold.

Xiao Liang glanced at the instructions, which were simple beyond measure. He tore open the packaging and placed the Mushroom Chicken onto the steaming rice that was still cooking.

He boiled a pot of snowmelt, tossing in the sauerkraut and spice packets. When the mixture began to bubble again, he added the remaining package of fish slices and chili flakes.

In an instant, two distinct, savory aromas filled the small room. Xiao Liang could hardly contain his excitement as he grabbed his lunchbox and called to his comrade, “Come on, come on! It’s ready to eat!”

His comrade, who had intended to wipe down his wooden rifle, widened his eyes at the announcement. “It’s done already?”

Just as he posed the question, the fragrant scents wafted through the air, making him forget about cleaning the rifle. He quickly set it aside and hurried over.

Xiao Liang had already picked up a piece of fish coated in red oil and slurped it down, saying, “What are you standing there for? It’s ready to eat; hurry up and dig in, or I’ll finish it all by myself!”

“Hey, save me some!” His comrade exclaimed upon seeing Xiao Liang eagerly devouring the food. He couldn’t resist grabbing his own lunchbox and serving himself a portion.

Both of them had been starving for too long, and they couldn’t believe they could eat hot, delicious food so quickly. The colorful, fragrant dishes made it impossible not to feel excited.

After a few bites of fish, Xiao Liang was surprised by its tenderness. He had expected it to be dry, but it was as fresh and succulent as if it had just been caught. The taste brought tears of joy to his eyes.

“I completely forgot how long it’s been since I’ve had something this delicious!”

The summers were too short, and the winters too long in this place. Fresh vegetables and meat had become nothing more than a fantasy.

But now, within just a few minutes, they could enjoy steaming, flavorful sour fish soup and mushroom chicken, which made it hard for them to hold back tears.

Xiao Liang choked up and said, “I’m so happy today; it feels like the New Year!”

His comrade, almost brought to tears by the delicious aroma, eagerly gobbled up his food, declaring, “Today is the New Year!”

Before long, it was mid-December, and the North had fully descended into deep winter. The snow in the family compound had piled up to about fifty or sixty centimeters deep.

On this day, Wen Nuan had just returned to the Kitchen Unit when Quartermaster Luo summoned her to his office.

During this time, there had been countless small matters to attend to, and Wen Nuan had lost count of how many small meetings she had held with Quartermaster Luo. She had become quite adept at handling them.

After a quick tidying up, she turned to Lele, who had come along with her, and said, “Lele, go pick up some eggs with Brother Xiao Zhu. Mom has to talk to Uncle Quartermaster Luo about something.”

Since winter had arrived in the North, Wen Nuan’s work had decreased significantly.

She often found herself staying at home, while the factory operated on a shift basis.

Wen Nuan hadn’t planned to bring Lele to the Kitchen Unit today, but for some reason, Lele had just woken up and didn’t want to be with anyone else, so she had no choice but to bring her along.

Upon hearing Wen Nuan’s words, Lele immediately replied, “Okay, I’ll go pick up eggs. Mom, come get me later!”

Lele then took Xiao Zhu’s hand and said to him, “Brother Zhu, let’s go pick up some eggs!”

Xiao Zhu smiled as he grasped Lele’s soft, chubby hand. “Alright, let’s go pick eggs!”

Seeing Lele obediently following Xiao Zhu to the chicken coop, Wen Nuan relaxed her mind and walked over to knock on Quartermaster Luo’s office door.

Noticing that Quartermaster Luo was already seated and waiting for her, she asked, “Quartermaster Luo, did you call for me?”

Quartermaster Luo appeared to be in a good mood. Upon seeing Wen Nuan, he stood up and poured her a glass of water.

With a smile, he gestured for her to take a seat before saying, “We received a letter from the Eastern Border Defense.”

Wen Nuan was puzzled by what Quartermaster Luo meant and asked, “Is it addressed to our Kitchen Unit?”

She didn’t know anyone at the Eastern Border Defense apart from those who supplied quick dishes, so she felt a bit confused.

Quartermaster Luo handed the letter to Wen Nuan, smiling as he said, “No, to be precise, this is a letter of gratitude and commendation specifically for you. It was personally written by Colonel Deng of the 146th unit, who specifically mentioned wanting to thank you.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Nuan could not hide her excitement.

She opened the letter and glanced at it. It was indeed addressed to the factory but had specifically mentioned her name.

Wen Nuan speculated that Colonel Deng must have contacted the leadership at their air force base to learn about her.

After reading it, she raised her eyes to Quartermaster Luo and said, “This letter should be for our Kitchen Unit and all the staff at the factory, Quartermaster Luo. You should let everyone take a look.”

Wen Nuan was merely the first person to resolve the quick-dish situation, but ultimately, it required the collective effort of everyone at the factory to accomplish this. She didn’t want to take all the credit.

Moreover, to put it frankly, this was a commendation for the entire Northern Army.

If it weren’t for the leaders’ trust, how could there have been such a positive response? She couldn’t take undue liberties with the praise.

Upon hearing Wen Nuan’s words, Quartermaster Luo chuckled and said, “Of course! I will let everyone see it later. But without you in our Kitchen Unit, we wouldn’t have the factory we do now.”

He took a sip of tea before continuing, “General Xu mentioned that he would commend you during the Spring Festival gala. This is also Colonel Deng’s intention; we must make sure to give you a proper recognition.”

Wen Nuan smiled and replied, “Then I’ll thank General Xu and Colonel Deng in advance.”

If it was just a simple commendation, Wen Nuan felt that would be acceptable.

However, she added, “Could you please convey to General Xu that the factory staff deserves recognition too? They’ve worked hard. After all, everyone has been laboring day and night. Without their dedication, we wouldn’t have managed to organize all the supplies so smoothly.”

Quartermaster Luo looked at Wen Nuan and smiled, “Absolutely. Don’t worry, everyone will receive a reward.”

Next, Quartermaster Luo handed Wen Nuan a document and said, “Here, take a look at this. If you have no objections, just sign it.”

Wen Nuan guessed that Quartermaster Luo intended to assign her some role and directly said, “Quartermaster Luo, I’ve mentioned before that I don’t plan on taking any position. I trust you and Old Zhong to manage the factory well.”

Quartermaster Luo was the factory director, and Old Zhong was the deputy director. With them in charge, Wen Nuan felt quite at ease.

Besides, taking on any position would certainly mean less freedom for her, and she was inwardly opposed to it.

She thought things were quite good as they were, being able to help the soldiers at the Border Defense and also the comrades at the research institute.

Moreover, her salary had doubled; she was now earning over a hundred yuan, and life was genuinely enjoyable.

Quartermaster Luo, however, looked at Wen Nuan with a smile and said, “You’re refusing without even taking a look?”

“Just look at it; I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.”

Faced with Quartermaster Luo’s mysterious gaze, Wen Nuan took the document. When she read the words on it, she was shocked and raised two question marks in her mind.

She looked at Quartermaster Luo in disbelief and asked, “What’s going on here?”

Quartermaster Luo chuckled and replied, “This is General Xu’s idea. The factory has had a good year, and they plan to give you a bonus.”

Wen Nuan exclaimed, “!!!”

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