Thinking of this, Lin Ting became curious again. “Do you and Political Commissar Xing ever argue?”

Huo Xiao immediately recalled slamming the table and arguing with Lao Xing earlier that day. He pinched his wife’s cheek and said, “No, we don’t argue. Lao Xing and I discuss everything rationally.”

Lin Ting believed him. Both her husband and Political Commissar Xing had good tempers. “That’s good. The most important thing is not to hurt the relationship… Wait, did you just pinch my face with your hands?”

Huo Xiao was momentarily confused. Seeing his wife covering her cheek, he raised an eyebrow. “Did it hurt?”

Lin Ting was shocked. “You really pinched me! You just washed my feet with these hands! No, you even rubbed my head afterward!”

Huo Xiao chuckled. “I dried my hands with a towel. Also, I washed both my feet and yours. Are you disgusted by yourself?”

Lin Ting: I totally am!

The next morning.

Lin Ting had to leave for school at 7 a.m., while kindergarten started at 8 a.m. So, she couldn’t personally send the children off on their first day.

As usual, Hu Xiu packed some snacks for her daughter-in-law. Seeing Lin Ting worried, she smiled. “Why are you worried? Didn’t you arrange things with Director Pang yesterday? I can handle it.”

That was true. Lin Ting smiled. “Alright, I’m off to school. But Miaomiao and Guoguo might cry on their first day. Please don’t take them back just because they’re upset.”

Hu Xiu waved it off. “I plan to stay at school with them. They won’t cry.”

Lin Ting: Impressive, Mother-in-law.

Of course, Hu Xiu’s confidence didn’t last long.

When Lin Ting returned home at noon, she saw little Miaomiao with swollen, teary eyes.

The girl had already calmed down, but the moment she saw her mother, she pouted and started crying again.

Lin Ting, though not fully seeing the twins as her own, still felt happy. Without even taking off her bag, she bent down to comfort her daughter. “Who made our Miaomiao upset?”

Hu Xiu, busy cooking, poked her head out and sighed. “Crying again?”

Lin Ting walked over, still holding Miaomiao. “What happened?”

Hu Xiu frowned. “Didn’t you give Miaomiao a box of crayons yesterday? She brought them to kindergarten, and the boy sitting behind her snatched them.”

Lin Ting’s expression darkened. “Did she get them back? Did he apologize?”

Hu Xiu nodded. “The crayons were returned under the teacher’s supervision, but several were broken. Miaomiao must be upset about that.”

As for an apology… “The twins teamed up and gave that boy a beating. That should be enough.”

Lin Ting relaxed and praised Guoguo for her bravery. When the little one straightened her chest proudly, she kissed Miaomiao and said, “You did well. If someone bullies you, fight back. Mommy will buy you a new box of crayons soon. For now, let’s draw a flower we’ve never drawn before, okay?”

Miaomiao’s tears stopped as she sniffled. “Can we draw now?”

Lin Ting’s heart softened. The little girl was delicate and well-behaved, making her crying even more pitiful.

“Yes, I’ll teach you now,” she said, already considering asking Huo Xiao if there was a professional teacher for Miaomiao. Of course, she first needed to find out if formal painting lessons were an option.

To Lin Ting, small quarrels among children were normal.

The incident was over, but before Miaomiao could finish her drawing, Ding Feiyan arrived.

She held a basket in one hand and her little boy in the other, looking apologetic. “I’m so sorry, sister-in-law. My boy is spoiled. I’ll give him a good beating later.”

She pushed the basket forward, but Lin Ting ignored it. She instead glanced at the boy, who looked downcast, then stepped aside to let them in. “I asked Miaomiao and Guoguo, and they’re not upset anymore. No need to take this too seriously.”

Ding Feiyan sighed in relief, smiling. “Thank you, sister-in-law. You’re impressive—your twins are so well-behaved. Not like mine. I feel like beating him three times a day.”

Lin Ting didn’t believe her. In the few days she had been here, her mother-in-law had already befriended many military families, so she knew the general situation.

Ding Feiyan had three children, but only this boy was spoiled beyond reason. Her two older daughters were treated poorly. Lin Ting’s mother-in-law even mentioned that their clothes were made from fertilizer bags ^[1]which were commonly repurposed for clothing in poor rural areas..

That might be understandable in an extremely poor household. But Ding Feiyan’s husband, Fang Shuigen, was a deputy chief of staff at the battalion level, and their family was financially stable.

Meanwhile, her son wore expensive clothes.

Lin Ting felt disgusted but didn’t show it. Instead, she poured the boy some tea and gave him two candies, then smiled. “The twins are well-behaved thanks to their grandmother’s teachings.”

Ding Feiyan immediately praised her. “Sister-in-law, you’re so lucky. Unlike me, my mother-in-law doesn’t help with the children and makes things difficult for me. But it’s my fault. If I were half as capable as you, my life wouldn’t be this way.”

Lin Ting felt uncomfortable receiving the insincere compliment from Ding Feiyan. She forced a polite smile but could only offer a few brief compliments in return.

Hu Xiu, who had been listening from the kitchen, understood that her daughter-in-law was eager to escape, so she quickly brought out a bowl of food and smiled: “Xiao Ding, you haven’t had lunch yet, have you? Stay and eat with us.”

Ding Feiyan immediately stood up: “No, no, I’ve already eaten. Aunt, sister-in-law, I must leave now. I’m really sorry for what happened today.”

Lin Ting stood up as well, trying to convince her to stay: “Please take some food home. My mom’s cooking is really good.”

Ding Feiyan, eager to leave, pretended to be polite. The more they insisted, the faster she wanted to go.

As she stepped outside, she was about to jokingly tell Lin Ting not to see her off, but she suddenly felt the weight of the basket she had brought with her.

Looking down, she froze upon realizing it was the gift basket.

Lin Ting smiled brightly, seemingly unaware: “Why bring a gift for a minor argument between kids?”

Ding Feiyan, embarrassed, tried to speak, but Lin Ting cut her off, still smiling warmly: “I understand that Comrade Ding is apologizing sincerely, but I can’t accept this gift. What would others think? They might say I’m accepting bribes or bullying others, and I wouldn’t be able to explain it, no matter how many times I said otherwise. Doesn’t that seem reasonable?”

Although her words seemed light-hearted, they put Ding Feiyan in an awkward position. She couldn’t deny the implication of bribery, so she smiled awkwardly and said, “It’s just some fruits from the fields,” before leaving in a hurry.

As Ding Feiyan walked away, Lin Ting’s smile faded.

Just then, Tang Wenlan, a neighbor, peeked out and asked in a low voice, “Did Ding Feiyan bring a gift for your family too?”

Lin Ting responded, “I didn’t look at it, and I didn’t want to accept it, but she said it was fruits and vegetables. Do you know anything about it?”

Tang Wenlan sneered: “Fruits? Why would anyone cover fruits with cloth? She’s just trying to win favor for the position of Chief of Staff.”

Lin Ting was surprised: “Is the current Chief of Staff of our regiment being transferred?”

Tang Wenlan nodded: “It’s not public yet, but the officers know. Several people are competing for the position, and Ding Feiyan’s husband is one of them.”

Lin Ting finally understood. She had wondered about the excessive flattery and gifts.

She smiled, though slightly helpless, and thanked Tang Wenlan: “Thanks for the heads-up.”

Tang Wenlan, pleased with herself, said, “What are neighbors for? I was watching, and if Ding Feiyan had left empty-handed, I would have stopped her.”

Realizing she had been caught peeking, Tang Wenlan awkwardly glanced at Lin Ting.

Lin Ting laughed lightly, amused by the awkwardness: “I know you’re just looking out for me. Thank you, Sister Lan.”

Tang Wenlan chuckled, embarrassed: “Oh, don’t be so serious, now I feel awkward.”

Lin Ting smiled and invited her in: “By the way, have you eaten yet? My mom made some pickled cabbage and bone sticks today. It’s great with rice.”

Tang Wenlan, grinning, replied, “I already ate, but now that you mention it, I could go for another bowl.”

Lin Ting laughed: “What are you waiting for? Come in.”

Later that day, something happened at the camp, and Huo Xiao didn’t return home for lunch.

By the time everyone returned home at night, Lin Ting had already prepared the lessons and was curled up in bed.

When she saw her husband looking tired, she was about to get out of bed and attend to him, but Huo Xiao stopped her: “No need to come down. I’ve already eaten.”

Lin Ting knew, however, that most of these men probably ate dry steamed buns, so when Huo Xiao went to shower, she quickly made him a bowl of noodles.

When Huo Xiao returned, refreshed, he found the egg and vegetable noodles waiting for him.

Lin Ting called out: “Come and eat.”

Huo Xiao’s expression softened immediately. He walked over, first pinching her chin and kissing her passionately before sitting her on his lap, grabbing chopsticks, and starting to eat.

Lin Ting, blushing, playfully punched him a few times and warned softly, “Let go! Mom is still awake.”

Huo Xiao replied nonchalantly: “She’s already asleep. She went to bed when I got back.”

Lin Ting… realizing her mother-in-law had likely given them privacy.

She endured the embarrassment, but finally couldn’t hold back anymore and punched him again.

Huo Xiao let her hit him while feeding her bites of eggs.

Lin Ting, now annoyed, leaned back into his arms and began talking about Ding Feiyan’s visit.

Huo Xiao, neutral in his expression, said: “It was right not to accept it. You did well.”

Lin Ting, proud, raised her chin: “Of course, I’m not stupid.”

Huo Xiao smirked and said: “It was my mistake. Next time, I’ll let you know in advance.”

Lin Ting responded, “There won’t be a next time, right?”

Huo Xiao answered calmly: “Before the higher-ups make a decision, there will likely be more.”

And he was right.

Over the next half month, Lin Ting and Tang Wenlan became two of the most talked-about women in the family area.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Lin Ting’s family was about to face a much bigger problem.

Lin Qing’s husband had been reported to be having an affair!

If she didn’t divorce, she would have to go to labor camp with her husband.