Chapter 40

“First meeting, why be so afraid?”

She was confused and didn’t speak immediately. Jiang Che stepped forward and handed her the snack: “Hello, we’re the new neighbors next door. I’m Jiang Che, battalion commander of the 113th Regiment, 1st Battalion. If I’m away on missions, we’ll need you to keep an eye on my wife.”

Hearing that they were neighbors, the girl visibly relaxed and happily accepted the snack.

Everyone in Alley No. 2 knew that a newlywed couple had moved in yesterday, and the bride was from Commander Fang’s family.

“My family is the home of Deputy Commander Yan Chong from the 112th Regiment. Don’t worry, neighbors are closer than distant relatives, and the families in Alley No. 2 get along pretty well.”

Yan Chong?

The neighbor next door? What a coincidence.

But, just over a week ago, he wanted to develop a relationship with her beyond just friendship. Now he’s married so quickly?

“Xiao Miao, who’s here?” A gruff voice came from inside.

The girl called Xiao Miao answered, “The new neighbors next door are here to visit.”

“Oh, come quickly and pick some green beans. Tiger wanted bean braised pork yesterday, and you make it best. You do it.”

“Okay, right away.” Xiao Miao apologetically looked over, “I’m busy with housework, I’ll entertain you another time.”

She closed the door without caring what the people outside thought.

Compared to the considerate and enthusiastic Commander Zhao’s family, Deputy Commander Yan’s family was truly odd.

Although Ji Wanqing never expected anything in return for the gifts she sent, she didn’t think this family was problematic for not even saying a few polite words, or even properly saying goodbye.

“In the future, less contact.” Jiang Che didn’t say much, after all, he was from the 113th Regiment, and only knew Deputy Commander Yan by name, they hadn’t even spoken much.

Ji Wanqing also felt that they shouldn’t be close, and pulled Jiang Che to visit other people.

There were only eight families living in the ten courtyards of Alley No. 2, with only the two at the end of the alley vacant.

Besides Commander Fang, who held the highest position, the other seven families were all commanders, deputy commanders, and chiefs of staff.

Only Jiang Che was a battalion-level officer.

Ji Wanqing felt that he might be getting promoted soon.

After all, he was already a commander at the age of 28 in his previous life. There must be a transition period for a deputy commander to become a commander?

After visiting the neighbors, the two went to the state-run market outside the family compound and bought some ingredients, simply stir-frying two dishes.

In the afternoon, Jiang Che was temporarily called to the battalion headquarters, while Ji Wanqing followed Sister Hongmei and Aunt Yulan to join the Alley No. 2 gossip group.

With introductions from familiar faces, she quickly integrated.

Except for Commander Yan’s family and Chief of Staff Ge’s family, the wives of the other six families in Alley No. 2 gathered in Aunt Yulan’s courtyard, introducing the newcomer so everyone could get to know each other.

Aunt Cui’e was holding a ball of yarn: “Little Ji is also a high school student! Oh, these days, educated people are so sought after! Unlike us, we’re illiterate and haven’t seen the world. If I say something stupid, Little Ji, you can’t laugh at me!”

Ji Wanqing was peeling pumpkin seeds: “How could I? Just by looking at Aunt Cui’e’s knitting skills, I know you’re a knitting master. I want to knit a sweater for Old Jiang this winter, I’ll come to you for lessons, don’t hide your skills from me!”

Old Jiang was the term they learned from the wives to address their husbands.

Cough, adapting to local customs.

Aunt Cui’e’s face bloomed like a flower: “Oh, Little Ji, your mouth is really good at flattering people. Okay, come and ask, I’ll teach you everything!”

Sister Qiu Xia was shelling edamame: “Little Ji is a high school student, but she seems easygoing and doesn’t put on airs. Unlike that one, hmph, she’s been reading for a few days and her tail is up in the air, she looks down on us country folk.”

Here it comes!

Her favorite gossip session about the “cricket people”!

Ji Wanqing deliberately asked: “That one? Is it from Deputy Commander Yan’s family?”

Sister Hongmei: “Oh, Deputy Commander Yan isn’t even married, what’s his family! You must have seen Xiao Miao, right? She’s the great-niece of Deputy Commander Yan’s mother’s family, she’s here to help take care of the children.”

So that’s it, no wonder she felt so hostile at first glance, she thought of her as a potential rival.

Ji Wanqing: “Is that the family opposite Deputy Commander Yan?”

“That’s right! It’s Chief of Staff Ge’s family at the end of the alley, her name is Ye Yaman, she’s a high school student just like you, Little Ji. She’s not as pretty as you, but she loves to be dramatic, always reading about some ‘ski’ and ‘Lev’, it annoys me to death!”

Sister Qiu Xia lived opposite Ji Wanqing, next to Ye Yaman, and she had the biggest opinion of her.

…Ye Yaman.

Ji Wanqing twitched her lips, she didn’t expect to meet the cannon fodder female supporting character from the novel after avoiding the main character.

These days, there are many wars, and military merit is the measure of strength. Most of the children of farmers are the most desperate.

The wives in the military compound of the regiment headquarters are mostly those who have climbed up from the bottom with their husbands, and their education levels are generally low.

Those who can have a primary school diploma and know how to read can work in the Women’s Federation.

Before Yu Jia came, Ye Yaman was the only high school student in the military compound of the regiment headquarters. However, she was always moping and sighing, looking down on the country wives for being loud, dirty, and rude, and she was gradually excluded from the circle of wives.

In contrast, Yu Jia was involved in reselling goods, so she had to build good relationships with potential customers, and she was friendly and approachable.

Comparing the two, it was like comparing heaven and earth.

Now that Ji Wanqing arrived first, she unexpectedly got the role of the control group for the heroine that the plot god had arranged for her.

“Maybe she hasn’t adapted to military life yet. By the way, Sister Qiu Xia, what’s the story with Xiao Miao, I don’t think she’s here to take care of the children, she seems more like she’s applying for the position of mistress.” Ji Wanqing said teasingly.

Sister Qiu Xia, who loved gossip and was talkative, said: “You noticed that too, right! Oh, last month my niece came to visit, you wouldn’t believe how guarded Xiao Miao was! It’s like she wants to marry Old Yan, even if it’s a girl of marriageable age!”

Aunt Cui’e also said: “That’s right! My daughter is sixteen or seventeen years old, a good age, why would she go to be a stepmother for Old Yan’s family! When they met at the supply and marketing cooperative that day, she was so mean to my daughter, I went to their house with a rolling pin to demand an explanation!”

Ji Wanqing clicked her tongue: “Tsk tsk, she has persecution mania, doesn’t she? Does Deputy Commander Yan know about this?”

Sister Hongmei: “They’re in the army, they come home late and leave early, how can women talk about these things, but Old Lady Yan must know, I don’t know if she told Deputy Commander Yan.”

“She definitely didn’t tell him.”

After all, Alley No. 2 was their own camp, so they just gossiped about Liu Yunyan being unsociable and He Xiao Miao being weird. The main gossip was still focused on the other five alleys.

The six people, Sister Qiu Xia and Aunt Cui’e were the intelligence providers; Ji Wanqing listened with great interest, dutifully playing the role of the straight man; Sister Hongmei occasionally chimed in to add details.

Aunt Yulan was the oldest among them, and she spoke less, mostly asking if they wanted water or tea.

And Sister Xiuzhi, who lived at the head of the alley, basically didn’t speak unless someone called on her. She was very introverted.