Chapter 7

Mother Wen pulled Wen Ning into Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law’s room, trying to press her daughter’s hand against the pregnant woman’s belly. Wen Ning quickly pulled away.

“Mother, let’s not.”

“What do you mean, ‘let’s not’!” Mother Wen scolded, desperate for her youngest daughter to conceive soon. Deep down, she still felt guilty for forcing Wen Ning into marriage and worried about the consequences.

Second Sister-in-law Wen, now glowing with pregnancy, had once resented Wen Ning for being lazy. But with her domineering mother-in-law around, she’d kept her bitterness to herself. Now, things were different!

After Mother Wen had forcibly placed Wen Ning’s hand on her belly, Second Sister-in-law beamed with satisfaction. When the steamed egg custard was ready, she seized the opportunity to boss Wen Ning around, calling loudly, “Youngest Aunt, bring me the egg custard.”

Wen Ning stiffened at the commanding tone. Seeing the smugness on her sister-in-law’s face, like some triumphant lady of the house, she immediately understood her game.

“Second Brother, why don’t you bring the egg custard to your wife?”

It wasn’t that Wen Ning couldn’t carry a bowl—it was that she refused to indulge this petty show of authority. Especially with Second Brother standing right there.

“Hey, Youngest Aunt, I told you to bring it!” Second Sister-in-law glared at her husband, warning him with her eyes not to interfere.

“Second Sister-in-law, the child’s not mine, so why are you ordering me around?” Wen Ning smiled sweetly and glanced at Second Brother, who stood nearby beaming foolishly at his newfound fatherhood. “Besides, Second Brother’s thrilled to take care of you. He’s been rubbing his hands together, just dying to serve you properly. I wouldn’t dare steal his moment to shine.”

“You’re the only one who understands me, Little Sister!” Second Brother grinned, flashing a row of white teeth, which only made his wife’s eyes bulge in frustration.

“You…” Second Sister-in-law hadn’t expected Wen Ning to be so sharp. Defeated, she had no choice but to let her husband bring her the custard.

“You’re pregnant now. Why are you bickering with Little Sister?” Second Brother said cheerfully as he served her. “Eat up. Eggs are precious—you need to nourish yourself properly.”

Eggs were indeed a luxury.

Second Sister-in-law savored each bite, but resentment still simmered. I’m pregnant—the most important person in the Wen family! How dare Wen Ning refuse to obey me?

Wen Ning had lived in the Wen household long enough to be well-versed in its petty power struggles. Second Sister-in-law’s pregnancy had only emboldened her to act more entitled. If Wen Ning gave in today, she’d be drowning in chores tomorrow. She wasn’t foolish enough to let that happen.

The next morning, Wen Ning, who’d gone to bed early, opened her door to see Lu Cheng returning from his run.

The late autumn air was crisp. Lu Cheng wore only a thin, military-green shirt, his muscular forearms exposed beneath the short sleeves, radiating heat.

Wen Ning’s beautiful peach blossom eyes swept over him before she quickly looked away and walked off to the kitchen, not giving him another glance.

As she passed, she let out a long, heavy sigh—loud enough for him to hear.

Lu Cheng watched her saunter away, her sulky demeanor oddly reminiscent of his younger siblings throwing tantrums.

How old is this woman, really?

All he’d done was refuse to buy her hair ties and clips when they went to town. Was that really enough to pout like this?

Lu Cheng’s expression was complicated. As a grown man, how could I go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy something like that?

Meanwhile, as Wen Ning brushed her teeth, she kept glancing sideways at Lu Cheng. Seeing him chatting with the Wen men and completely ignoring her, her anger flared again.

That damn man! Still as stubborn as when he was a Great General!

She slammed down her enamel mug and stomped over to him, grabbing his hand and giving it a firm squeeze under his stunned gaze.

Lu Cheng’s face darkened at the unexpected public touch. He opened his mouth to scold her, but she had already let go.

“Mother said we should absorb some good luck,” Wen Ning said coolly. “Since you’re a man, it’s not appropriate for you to go touch a pregnant belly. I’ve absorbed the luck for you—now I’m passing it on!” She tilted her chin and smiled slyly. “Try your best and aim to have a big, healthy son within a month!”

Lu Cheng: “…”

Though he’d only been at the Wen family home a few days, Lu Cheng clearly sensed that Wen Ning had changed.

When she’d schemed to marry him last year, her eyes had been full of calculation—cunning, but also laced with fear.

She had used her dying mother’s last wish to cling to him, even declaring she’d kill herself if he refused. He’d been reluctant, but given the Wen family’s past kindness to his own mother, he eventually agreed to the marriage.

But on the day of the wedding banquet, Lu Cheng received an urgent order: enemy troops had appeared at the border. Duty called, and he left immediately.

Even so, abandoning a bride on her wedding day was cruel. He explained to Father and Mother Wen, promising to bring Wen Ning with him to the military camp when he returned.

Just as he was about to tell her, he overheard her talking to Jiang Rong, a fellow villager.

“I don’t like Regimental Commander Lu at all. He looks so fierce—he scares me. But I heard he’s a Deputy Regimental Commander. If I marry him, I’ll be the Deputy Regimental Commander’s wife and live a life of luxury! I jumped into the river so he’d rescue me. Now I’ll claim he saw me naked—he’ll have to marry me. If he refuses, I’ll pretend to kill myself again…”

Jiang Rong tried to dissuade her, but Wen Ning only looked proud of her plan, unaware Lu Cheng stood right at the door.

With every word, Lu Cheng’s heart grew colder. He had found her utterly detestable.

So he turned and left for the battlefield.

Now that he was back, he found that Wen Ning had changed completely. She was no longer cautious, no longer afraid. She was bold—even physically aggressive.

Lu Cheng frowned. His sharp, angular face was clouded with confusion.

Why had she changed so drastically?

After dinner, Mother Wen pulled Wen Ning aside, her heart heavy with worry. Her daughter was about to embark on a journey that might keep her away for years, not just months.

“I’ve saved these cotton coupons for years, waiting for your wedding. We didn’t get to use them last year, but they’ll come in handy now. I had someone buy freshly fluffed cotton and make a quilt for you and Xiao Lu. It gets bitterly cold out there—they say even the rivers freeze! You’ve always been frail. Be careful, okay?”

Mothers are always thinking of more things to remind their daughters.

Wen Ning’s heart warmed as she stroked the soft cotton. “Thank you, Mom,” she said sweetly.

“You’re getting sweeter by the day.”

“Of course. I’m kind to those who are kind to me.” Wen Ning could feel how deeply the Wen family loved her.

Except for that damn Lu Cheng!

As she left her mother’s room, her thoughts wandered to the Great General. Just when they’d begun to develop feelings for each other, she had been transported to this world. It drove her mad.

Even though the Great General was here too, he didn’t remember her at all. In fact, there was disdain in his eyes when he looked at her.

Everything was a mess left behind by her original self.

The moonlight was bright. They would be leaving tomorrow. Wen Ning suddenly felt lost. Was she really going to leave behind the warm Wen family and chase after Lu Cheng across a thousand miles?

Though Lu Cheng’s appearance matched the mole on her palm, what if he wasn’t the Great General? If she blindly followed him, she’d be a laughingstock…

The mere thought made her shiver. On the eve of departure, her mind was spinning with anxiety. She had to be sure—absolutely sure.

Knock, knock, knock.

Lu Cheng, sleeping in the east room of the Wen household, turned over and got up. When he opened the door, he found Wen Ning standing there, the very woman who had him second-guessing everything.

In the dim light, her lashes fluttered, and she wore a faint, unreadable smile.

“Regimental Commander Lu,” she said softly, “Mother says it’s gotten colder tonight. This room isn’t well insulated. She wants you to sleep in my room.”

Lu Cheng’s sharp eyes searched her face, trying to read her real intentions.

“Alright. I’ll bring my quilt and pillow over.”

Too good to be true? Maybe. Lu Cheng suppressed his doubts, ready to see just what tricks she was playing this time.