Chapter 21: Brother Gu and His Wife Have a Great Relationship!

Sister-in-law Zhao saw Jiang Yue take out an oiled paper package. Even before she opened it, a sweet fragrance could be smelled. She quickly tried to refuse: “Oh no, this is too much! Keep it for Ningning, no need to be so polite, Xiao Jiang!”

“Mom, I want to eat!” Zhao Yuanqi heard about the pastry and saliva started dripping from his mouth.

“Eat what!” Sister-in-law Zhao shot him a look, and Zhao Yuanqi shrank back, but his eyes still fixed on the oiled paper package in Jiang Yue’s hand, swallowing his saliva.

“Sister-in-law, I bought a lot. Ningning will have some too!” Jiang Yue knew that in this era, resources were scarce. Pastries like these were considered a luxury food. At six cents each, they were not cheap, and grain tickets were also required.

She had bought eight of them. For four cents and eight-tenths of a grain ticket, she could get half a jin of pork. Ordinary families would really hesitate to spend on such treats.

Sister-in-law Zhao still wanted to refuse, but Jiang Yue pretended to be angry and said: “Sister-in-law, if you don’t take them, it’s like you’re looking down on me!”

“Oh, you’re too much, what are you saying!” Sister-in-law Zhao knew Jiang Yue was doing it on purpose and wasn’t actually angry, but the words made her feel pleased deep inside.

“Well then, thank you, sister-in-law!”

Zhao Yuanqi had been eyeing the pastries the whole time, and when he saw his mom finally accept the sweets, he cheered happily and grabbed the oiled paper package, running toward the hall.

“Pi Houzi, slow down!” Sister-in-law Zhao shouted, then turned to smile at Jiang Yue. “Xiao Jiang, don’t go back today. Have lunch here with us!”

“No, it’s alright! I’ve already steamed some rice at home. Next time, I’ll come try your cooking!” Jiang Yue felt pleased after successfully taking the first step in socializing and was ready to head home.

“Alright, alright! Next time, come with Regiment Commander Gu!” Sister-in-law Zhao said with a broad smile, looking at Jiang Yue more favorably.

Just as Jiang Yue was leaving, the door to the Zhao family’s courtyard was pushed open again. Sister-in-law Zhao poked her head out and said in surprise: “Old Zhao, why are you back so soon?”

“I got an urgent notice. Had to attend a meeting in another place, and now I’m back to grab something.” As Regiment Commander Zhao entered the house, he smelled the fragrant scent and saw his youngest son’s cheeks stuffed full. He gave Zhao Yuanqi a slap on the head. “What are you eating? It smells so good!”

“Sugar…” Zhao Yuanqi muttered with his mouth full.

“Hmm? Xiao San’s eating sugar cakes? What made you think to buy these today? Didn’t you just say we didn’t have enough grain tickets yesterday?” Regiment Commander Zhao turned to ask Sister-in-law Zhao, who had followed him in.

“That wasn’t me who bought it, it was Xiao Jiang who just gave it to us.” Sister-in-law Zhao saw her youngest son finishing one piece and reaching for another, so she slapped him again: “That’s for your brother and sister, no more for you!”

“Mom, just let me have one more bite, just one!” Zhao Yuanqi covered his head and stared longingly at the sugar cakes on the table.

Sister-in-law Zhao saw her youngest son looking so greedy, both angry and amused. In the end, she broke off a piece and gave it to him. “Here! Just this much!”

“Xiao Jiang? Which Xiao Jiang?” Regiment Commander Zhao asked casually. He picked up a piece himself and put it in his mouth. It was really sweet.

“Regiment Commander Gu’s wife, Jiang Yue!”

“What? You mean the one from the Gu family?” Regiment Commander Zhao was shocked when he heard this. He pointed at the sugar cakes in the oiled paper package, looking doubtful. “She gave us these? Jiang Yue?”

“Yes! Didn’t Regiment Commander Gu come by this morning to borrow some eggs? Jiang Yue came by to return them and insisted on giving me the sugar cakes. They’re quite expensive…” Sister-in-law Zhao recounted what happened when she ran into Jiang Yue at the market today.

Regiment Commander Zhao frowned deeply and asked again: “Wait! Are you sure you’re talking about Jiang Yue? Gu’s wife? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

Sister-in-law Zhao was getting annoyed. “Zhao Youcai, what do you mean by that? I’m not old yet, do you think I’m getting senile? I’m not so clueless that I can’t recognize people!”

“But the person you just described doesn’t sound like Gu Ye’s wife at all! Who doesn’t know that Jiang Yue has a strange temper? She doesn’t socialize with anyone! She locks herself in her room every day and even has to have someone cook for her!” So when Regiment Commander Zhao heard Sister-in-law Zhao say that Jiang Yue had sent them sugar cakes as a gift, he couldn’t believe it.

“I think Jiang Yue seems a bit different from before! She even said that Regiment Commander Gu praised me, telling her to learn from me. Maybe she’s finally come around and wants to live a good life with Regiment Commander Gu!” Sister-in-law Zhao didn’t see anything strange. Jiang Yue was young, and it was normal for her to take time to adjust after marriage.

Plus, Sister-in-law Zhao herself was also a military wife, so she understood the difficulties involved.

“Maybe…” Regiment Commander Zhao still seemed doubtful.

“Are you going alone, Old Zhao? Will you be back tonight? Should I leave some food for you?” Sister-in-law Zhao asked as she saw Regiment Commander Zhao grab something and head out.

“I’m going with Gu. I’ll be back this afternoon!” Regiment Commander Zhao said as he hurried out. He needed to find Gu Ye and get the full story.

Driver Zhang Jianguo was taking Gu Ye and Regiment Commander Zhao to the meeting location. As soon as they got in the car, Regiment Commander Zhao looked at Gu Ye with a sly smile. “Gu, your relationship with your sister-in-law is getting better lately?”

Gu Ye grabbed his hat with his hand and shot him a glance. “What do you mean?”

After Regiment Commander Zhao sat down, Zhang Jianguo started the jeep.

“I just heard your sister-in-law say that your wifewent to the market this morning, bought too much, and couldn’t carry it all. So, your sister-in-law helped her bring it back. And guess what happened next?” Regiment Commander Zhao, in high spirits, built up the suspense.

Jiang Yue went to the market to buy vegetables?

Gu Ye raised an eyebrow at this.

Although Jiang Yue had said the night before that she didn’t want Li Hongying to come over anymore, and Gu Ye had agreed, he had assumed Jiang Yue was just acting on a whim. He didn’t expect her to actually take such an initiative this time!

“What happened?” Gu Ye asked, noticing that Regiment Commander Zhao was still waiting for a response. He played along.

He had a feeling something must have happened, otherwise, Old Zhao wouldn’t have this expression on his face.

“Your sister-in-law helped your wifeby bringing back some sugar cakes she had bought at the market this morning, along with the eggs. She said it was to thank your sister-in-law for helping out!” Regiment Commander Zhao clicked his tongue and smiled at Gu Ye. “She also praised your sister-in-law a lot, saying you often tell her how capable your sister-in-law is, both at home and outside, and that she should learn more from her!”

“Your sister-in-law was so happy about it!” Regiment Commander Zhao chuckled along.

Gu Ye: “…” Did I ever say that?

But seeing Regiment Commander Zhao so happy, Gu Ye decided not to burst his bubble. Besides, the praise Jiang Yue gave was indeed true.

Of all the military wives in the Family Residential Compound, Sister-in-law Zhao was the most capable!

However, hearing this coming from Jiang Yue’s mouth felt a little unusual!

“Gu, you still haven’t answered my question. Has your relationship with your wifeimproved recently? Is she willing to live a good life with you now?” Regiment Commander Zhao asked, very curious.

Driver Zhang Jianguo, overhearing their conversation, almost wanted to say that just a few days ago, the two of them kissed in broad daylight in the Provincial Capital. Their relationship was obviously great!

However, when they returned from the Provincial Capital, Gu Ye had reminded Zhang Jianguo not to mention anything about what happened there. Therefore, Zhang Jianguo kept his mouth shut.

“Maybe…” Gu Ye mumbled a vague reply. He didn’t want to talk about his personal life and quickly changed the subject.

After returning from Sister-in-law Zhao’s house, Jiang Yue could already smell the rice cooking. She adjusted the stove to lower the flames so the rice would continue steaming gently. Then, she checked on the bass fish she had put in the water basin as soon as she got home.

When she saw the bass swimming lively in the water, Jiang Yue finally relaxed.

The fish wouldn’t be cooked until the evening when Gu Ye and Ningning returned home. Fresh fish tasted the best when it was killed and eaten right away.

She had already organized everything she bought, and seeing that it was still early, Jiang Yue planned to go back to her room for a nap.

Not long after Jiang Yue lay down, she was disturbed by a loud knocking on the door.