“Did Battalion Commander Sheng’s wife make this dish?” Lin Xing asked.

“No, it was made by Battalion Commander Sheng himself!”

As soon as Zhang Shuwang finished speaking, Lin Xing choked on the chili in his mouth and started coughing. He looked at his wife in disbelief, “Cough, are you joking?”

Zhang Shuwang handed him a glass of water to calm him down, “Look at you, why so excited?”

“But I’m not joking. This stir-fried rabbit meat was personally made by Battalion Commander Sheng…”

Then, Zhang Shuwang went on to describe in detail how she had gone to deliver the meat, was pulled into the kitchen by Gu Jianing, and what she saw there.

“You have no idea, I was shocked too when I saw it.”

“But Jianing said she doesn’t know how to cook, while Battalion Commander Sheng does, and he enjoys cooking for her.”

“Battalion Commander Sheng is such a good man!” Zhang Shuwang sighed.

“Uncle Sheng is great,” Guoguo, who was eating the rabbit meat, also chimed in, praising him.

After being rescued, Guoguo had spent time with Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi, witnessing firsthand how Sheng Zexi took care of Gu Jianing.

Guoguo thought that Aunt Jianing was nice, and Uncle Sheng was nice too.

Lin Xing: “…”

Lin Xing took another big bite of the rabbit meat, still finding it hard to believe that Sheng Zexi had made it.

However, he trusted that his wife wouldn’t lie.

It’s just that he never expected Sheng Zexi, a man so unruly and iron-willed on the training ground, so decisive on the battlefield, would personally cook for his loved one and have such good culinary skills.

If the others in the military camp found out, wouldn’t they be shocked?

This must be what they mean by “one thing subdues another.”

But is a man who can cook really a good man?

Then…

Should he learn to cook too?

After dinner, Lin Xing went to wash the dishes. When he turned around, he saw his wife taking out a packet of traditional Chinese medicine.

His eyes darkened, “Are you still going to take that medicine? Maybe you should stop. Too much medicine isn’t good for your health.”

Lin Xing’s concern was evident.

“No, I need to regulate my body and try to give you a son,” Zhang Shuwang said as she took out the medicine pot, opened the packet, and poured the medicine in.

“But you’ve been drinking this for almost half a year. It’s not that I’m stingy with the money, it’s just…”

“I know,” Zhang Shuwang interrupted him, looking up at Lin Xing with red eyes, “I know, but I just don’t want to give up.”

“I don’t want you to be looked down upon by others.”

“I also don’t want Guoguo to end up like me, being taken advantage of because she has no brothers. I was lucky to meet you, but who knows what kind of person Guoguo will meet in the future? After all, who knows what will happen? We can’t be with Guoguo forever, protecting her…”

As she spoke, tears fell from Zhang Shuwang’s eyes.

In truth, neither Zhang Shuwang nor Lin Xing were the type to favor sons over daughters or pursue having many children.

Guoguo was wonderful, and they loved her dearly.

But whether back in their hometown or during their time in the military district, Zhang Shuwang knew all too well the pressure of having only one daughter.

She didn’t care about gossip, but she didn’t want Lin Xing, such a good man, to be looked down upon.

Especially back in their hometown, she would often hear Lin Xing’s brothers and their sons brazenly saying: Lin Xing only has one daughter, so in the future, Lin Xing will have to rely on them for support, and whatever Lin Xing has will inevitably go to them.

Zhang Shuwang thought, isn’t this just like when her parents only had her, and they were almost taken advantage of?

Now, she and Lin Xing only had Guoguo.

While they were still alive, these people were already fantasizing about how to take advantage of Guoguo.

If something were to happen, and she and Lin Xing were no longer around, wouldn’t Guoguo be devoured by those wolves and tigers?

So, Zhang Shuwang was afraid.

Her obsession with having a son was to prevent these people’s schemes from succeeding.

Lin Xing stepped forward, heartbroken, and hugged Zhang Shuwang, comforting her gently, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

He knew better than anyone what his family was like, and he should have understood the pain in Zhang Shuwang’s heart.

He didn’t care about having a son.

He thought having Guoguo, a daughter, was just fine.

But if having a son could ease Zhang Shuwang’s worries and thwart the schemes of those wolves and tigers, he hoped for a son.

But was it possible?

They had been married for ten years and had only just managed to have Guoguo.

Now, Zhang Shuwang had been drinking those bitter medicines for who knows how long.

Lin Xing held Zhang Shuwang, silently praying: Heaven, could you, in recognition of my service in defending the country and the fact that neither I nor Zhang Shuwang have done any evil, grant us a son?

If Heaven could respond at that moment, it would surely say: Stop asking me! The Chance of having a son is far away, yet right next door!

…

Next door, in the bungalow, Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi were eating dinner on the kang in the living room.

“Brother Xi, you’re amazing. This rabbit meat is so delicious.”

“You’re like a culinary god descended to earth.”

“Being able to marry you must mean I saved the galaxy in my past life.”

…

At this moment, Sheng Zexi was basking in the continuous praise from his little wife. The smile on his face couldn’t be suppressed, and he was almost lost in it.

After dinner, he quickly cleaned up the dishes, not letting Gu Jianing lift a finger.

After eating and resting for a while, Sheng Zexi took out one of his military coats, along with a scarf, hat, and other items, bundling Gu Jianing up tightly.

Because they were going out.

Gu Jianing, thinking about what they were about to do, was very excited and even packed a small bundle with some items and clothes.

“Ready?”

“Ready.” Sheng Zexi took the bundle from Gu Jianing and led her out.

“Battalion Commander Sheng, heading out?”

“Battalion Commander Sheng, is this your new wife?”

“Battalion Commander Sheng, when are you going to invite us over to warm the house?”

Along the way, they ran into many comrades and military wives, all greeting Sheng Zexi, their eyes occasionally darting to Gu Jianing behind him.

She was bundled up tightly, her face covered with a scarf.

Was she so ugly that she had to hide her face to avoid scaring people or embarrassing herself?

Yes, that must be it!

But the eyes that were visible were quite beautiful, lively and attractive.

However, no matter how pretty the eyes were, if the face wasn’t good-looking, it was useless.

So, as soon as Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing got into the car and left, rumors spread that Battalion Commander Sheng’s wife was so ugly she had to cover her face with a scarf when going out.

This only solidified the rumors about Gu Jianing’s ugliness.

The only person who had seen Gu Jianing’s beauty, Zhang Shuwang, had just arrived at the northwestern military district and wasn’t familiar with the other military wives. She hadn’t gone out much and didn’t know about these rumors.