Chapter 9: One-Sided Enthusiasm

“I used to drink only Brazilian coffee beans, but I can’t get them anymore. This one’s from Indonesia—try to make do,” Wen Xueman said, delicately picking up an exquisite coffee cup. Reclining leisurely on the sofa, her posture was relaxed and unhurried.

An Huan took a sip, and the rich aroma of the coffee spread smoothly across her palate.

She nodded. “The quality is still quite good.”

Wen Xueman smiled. “I’ve served this to several people, and they all spat it out. You’re the only one who knows how to enjoy it. I heard your Father is a University professor? And you studied Western music?”

An Huan nodded. “Yes, I play the violin.”

Wen Xueman’s eyes lit up. “I wonder if I might have the honor of hearing you play sometime?”

An Huan’s expression turned regretful. “I’m really sorry, I left my violin in the Provincial City and didn’t bring it with me.”

Wen Xueman instantly wilted and sighed. “Old Chen won’t let me listen to the phonograph, won’t let me dance—he even insists on reviewing any book I want to read. My inner world is as barren as this godforsaken place.”

An Huan didn’t respond.

Wen Xueman suddenly perked up again, looking at An Huan expectantly. “I’m so glad you’re here. Now I’ll have someone to talk to. To be honest, I don’t get along with any of the others, but the moment I saw you, I felt like we’re the same kind of people.”

An Huan smiled faintly. If Wen Xueman continued living this way, she was bound to run into trouble within the next two years. In a different time and place, they might have become friends—but for now, An Huan had decided it was best to keep some distance from her.

After sitting a short while longer, An Huan took her leave.

Her next visit was to the home of the Deputy Political Commissar, whose wife, Liao Sanmei, had just recently come by to see her with Zhou Meihua.

“Oh my, you’re too polite! What are you bringing things for? Take that back and give it to the children!”

“It’s just some steamed rice cakes—a small token. Sister-in-law, please accept it.”

After some back-and-forth, Liao Sanmei finally accepted the cakes, albeit with some embarrassment.

She invited An Huan to come inside, but An Huan politely declined.

It was the same at Zhou Meihua’s house—An Huan had to insist for quite a while before they finally accepted the rice cakes.

“Sister, you’re just too courteous… Tell you what, you and Deputy Division Commander Xiao must come to my place for dinner tonight. I’ll start stewing the chicken right away.”

A boy of about seven or eight immediately clapped his hands and shouted excitedly, “Awooo~ awooo~ chicken time~ chicken time~!”

“This little rascal, always thinking about food!” Zhou Meihua laughed and scolded her younger son, then turned back to An Huan. “I’m serious. You both must come!”

An Huan said with a smile, “I still have a lot to do at home. There’s no rush—we live right across the way, so there’ll be plenty of chances to mooch a meal from you later. Just don’t despise me then, Sister-in-law.”

Zhou Meihua only felt that An Huan had such a pleasant way of speaking—even her rejections made it impossible to feel offended.

She gave An Huan a helpless yet affectionate look. “Alright then, but the next time I invite you, you’re not allowed to be this wishy-washy.”

An Huan smiled and nodded.

The last visit of the day was to Yu Baoshan’s home.

The door was opened by the young lady who had been peeking around the corner that morning.

Upon seeing An Huan standing at the door, her eyes dropped awkwardly as she stammered, “W-Who are you looking for?”

“I just moved in next door and came by to say hello. You must be Sister-in-law Hongying’s younger sister, right?”

The girl gave a small nod. “I’m Hongxia. My older sister and Brother-in-law are both at work… they’re not home right now…”

“That’s alright,” An Huan said, taking the opportunity to observe the girl.

She had delicate features, slightly tanned skin, and wore a peach-colored floral dress. A thick, glossy braid hung down her chest—jet-black and gleaming with health. She had a bright, wholesome look that perfectly matched the beauty standards of this era.

An Huan said, “My husband has mentioned you before.”

Ge Hongxia looked up suddenly. “Brother Xiao mentioned me?”

Brother Xiao?

It wasn’t that An Huan was overly suspicious—it was just that this girl, Hongxia, made it far too easy for people to imagine things with the way she behaved.

An Huan smiled and said, “He said you’re diligent, capable, and a good girl.”

Ge Hongxia’s face turned red in an instant. She twirled the end of her braid around her fingers, lightly bit her lower lip, and looked every bit the bashful, love-struck maiden.

By now, An Huan was already quite certain of a few things, but she kept her expression calm and asked casually, “You came from your hometown, right? When did you arrive?”

Ge Hongxia replied, “I’ve been here a little over a month.”

The divorce letter was sent two months ago. As the Political Commissar, Yu Baoshan would have been among the first to learn about Xiao Zheng’s marital change.

Though Xiao Zheng wasn’t exactly personable, his qualifications spoke for themselves. Even with a divorce and a child, he was still considered a highly desirable match in the eyes of many.

The timing of Ge Hongxia’s arrival, coupled with her demeanor, made her intentions all too clear.

An Huan handed over the jujube rice cakes and bid farewell to Ge Hongxia with a smile.

As she watched An Huan’s figure recede, a flicker of resentment slowly rose in Ge Hongxia’s eyes.

So Brother Xiao’s wife really was just as her big sister had described—some pampered young miss from a privileged family. How could someone like that possibly take good care of Brother Xiao?

From the very first day she arrived, Ge Hongxia knew exactly what she was here for.

At first, she had been afraid of Xiao Zheng, thinking he looked fierce and would surely beat his wife after marriage. She also wasn’t too thrilled about the idea of becoming a stepmother.

But Ge Hongying wouldn’t stop singing Xiao Zheng’s praises, day in and day out. She said his future prospects were even better than her own husband’s, and that marrying into the Xiao family—even as a stepmother—was still better than marrying most other men.

Ge Hongxia came to the military unit with one goal: to marry a high-ranking officer. Slowly, she began to feel a growing affection for Xiao Zheng…

But to say she liked him too much wouldn’t be entirely accurate. It was mainly because she had thought that something that belonged to her had slipped away, and Ge Hongxia found it hard to accept at that moment. She couldn’t help but look at An Huan with a critical gaze.

An Huan felt the intense stare from behind her but didn’t pay Ge Hongxia any mind at all.

She couldn’t remember other characters from the book, but she certainly remembered the male and female leads. Ge Hongxia wasn’t the female lead, which meant that even if Xiao Zheng were divorced, he would never consider her. She was just someone who was headstrong and fixated on her own intentions.

When Xiao Zheng came home in the afternoon, he returned with the two iron pots he had ordered, carrying them from the service department.

“Are you sure you want to cook?” Xiao Zheng asked her.

An Huan nodded.

“Alright, then I’ll go buy firewood first thing tomorrow morning.”

Every household had to buy their own firewood and coal, depending on the number of people in the household. Larger families could purchase more, while smaller ones were limited to less.

Xiao Zheng glanced at An Huan. “Our household only has me, so we can’t buy too much firewood. I’m not sure if it’ll be enough.”

An Huan was puzzled. “What do you mean, only you? There’s also me and Dongdong.”

Xiao Zheng replied, “Your household registration isn’t here.”

An Huan handed over the introduction letter and proof she had organized earlier. “Can these documents help us transfer our household registration?”

Xiao Zheng flipped through them briefly and nodded. “Yes, this will work.”

An Huan smiled softly. “Then I’ll trouble Comrade Xiao Zheng to handle this matter.”

Xiao Zheng’s hand, holding the documents, trembled slightly, but his expression remained nonchalant. “I’ll take care of it when I have time.”

The three of them slowly made their way to the dining hall for dinner. On the way back home, Dongdong seemed a little sluggish, so Xiao Zheng picked him up, holding him in his arms with Dongdong’s small head resting against his shoulder.

An Huan walked beside Xiao Zheng, and the family atmosphere felt very harmonious.

Ge Hongxia watched from the crack of the courtyard door, and the more she looked, the more frustrated she became.

“Hongxia.”

Ge Hongxia was startled, turning around to meet Ge Hongying’s sharp gaze.

“Sis…”

Seeing the look of grievance on her younger sister’s face, Ge Hongying couldn’t help but sigh. “This matter was my fault. I shouldn’t have spoken so decisively earlier, leading you into this situation. But don’t worry, Sis will definitely find someone better than Xiao Zheng for you!”

Ge Hongxia muttered, “But you said earlier that Brother Xiao has the best conditions.”

Ge Hongying was taken aback for a moment, her mind spinning quickly. “Who said that? The director of the Operations Department, Ling Hansong, is also a very promising man.”

Ge Hongxia only cared about one thing. “What kind of official is he? How does he compare to Brother Xiao in terms of success?”

Ge Hongying replied, “His rank is lower than Xiao Zheng’s, but he’s getting married for the first time…”

Ge Hongying whispered a few words in Ge Hongxia’s ear, and only then did Ge Hongxia reluctantly nod.