Chapter 17

Having demonstrated her skills to Director Yang just yesterday, Wen Ning visited the Women’s Affairs Office today.

The Women’s Affairs Office in the Military District Family Compound was established primarily to manage the lives of military spouses.

With the 326th Regiment’s large number of soldiers, the number of spouses living with them had steadily increased. As the population grew, managing their daily needs and welfare became more complicated.

Yang Hongying had been the driving force behind the office’s creation.

An educated woman who had once attended university and taught there, Yang Hongying had retired early due to health concerns. Now forty-five, she had gradually regained her health and managed the lives of military spouses with remarkable efficiency.

Many of the women who had followed their husbands to the base had previously earned work points back in their villages by toiling in the fields. Now, with no land or fields to work, they found themselves jobless and entirely reliant on their husbands’ wages. Naturally, they longed to earn money and contribute to the household income.

Yang Hongying understood this well. She gained permission from the military to open vegetable plots and helped the women take on handicraft work to earn some extra income. Still, the most coveted positions remained within the Women’s Affairs Office itself.

But entry into the Women’s Affairs Office wasn’t easy. Staff were required to be literate, able to read newspapers, and possess a basic level of education. It wasn’t a place just anyone could walk into.

Wen Ning had only been here for a few days, yet she’d already secured a spot. Who wouldn’t envy that?

“These are some of our previous propaganda posters, drawn by Comrade Xiao Song,” Director Yang said as she flipped through a stack of booklets and handed them to Wen Ning. “She injured her hand and needs to rest. Take a look to get a feel for our style, then prepare a new series on safety and health.”

Wen Ning accepted the assignment and took the booklets home.

“Alright,” she replied, flipping through the posters. They promoted Dazhai-style agricultural practices, soldiers charging into battle, and disease prevention campaigns in Keshan County. The artwork was clearly done by someone with professional training—far superior to Jiang Rong’s clumsy efforts.

In the northern winters, families relied on heated brick beds (Kang) and coal stoves to stay warm, which posed significant fire hazards. Every year, accidents occurred due to these heating methods.

Two years ago, one family, trying to save money, used a few coal briquettes instead of heating their brick bed. They sealed the windows tightly to keep the heat in—and nearly died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Fortunately, they made it to the military hospital in time.

After incidents like that, the military leadership took safety education seriously. They ordered more awareness programs in the family compound, so every year Director Yang would assign staff to give door-to-door safety talks and draw warning posters on the bulletin board.

These illustrations were far more effective than written articles. Many of the military spouses came from poor backgrounds and had never learned to read. Literacy campaigns had limited success.

No matter how well an article was written, most couldn’t understand it. But pictures—with clear, expressive drawings—were instantly understandable.

Wen Ning had never drawn such public service illustrations before, but the task intrigued her. She studied the reference materials carefully, and ideas quickly began forming in her mind.

She awkwardly sketched a pencil draft using supplies from the local cooperative. As she stretched to ease her back, Sister Luo’s daughter appeared, saying, “Auntie Luo is looking for you.”

Once again, Lu Cheng politely declined his good friend Yang Bin’s invitation. After work, he returned to the Family Compound on time. Just as he neared home, he spotted Wen Ning carrying an aluminum lunchbox.

Their eyes met.

Wen Ning promptly handed him the box. “Perfect timing! I brought you lunch. Eat it while it’s hot—there’s plenty of meat!”

She wanted to thank Sister Luo for helping her get a job. Although Sister Luo had initially intended for her to work in the fields, the opportunity to draw propaganda posters had come through her efforts.

Earlier that day, Wen Ning went to the butcher’s and bought a pound of pork belly. She brought it to Sister Luo’s house as a treat, partly to satisfy her own craving for braised pork and partly to show gratitude.

After Sister Luo finished cooking, Wen Ning packed some of the meat into a lunchbox for Regimental Commander Lu—her way of giving him a special meal.

“You went to Sister-in-law Luo’s to eat and bring food home?” Lu Cheng asked as he set the lunchbox on the table and sat across from her.

“I bought the meat!” Wen Ning emphasized. “And I gave her family three steamed cakes.”

Steamed cakes were expensive and required ration coupons. In these times, they were worth more than a meal of pork belly. Wen Ning didn’t mind.

“Hmm.” Lu Cheng chewed thoughtfully, remembering Wen Ning had once admitted she wasn’t a good cook. “So… about your future meals—”

“I’ve already arranged to eat at Sister Luo’s.”

“That won’t do,” Lu Cheng said, setting down his chopsticks. “We can’t keep troubling them.”

“I’m not freeloading.” Wen Ning gave him a proud smile. “I’m paying with ration tickets and money. Plus, Sister Luo asked me to teach Yuexia how to paint. That more than covers the meals.”

“You? Teach Yuexia to paint?” Lu Cheng looked genuinely surprised. He hadn’t known she had such a skill.

“That’s right! I didn’t mention it before, but I’ll be doing propaganda posters for the Women’s Affairs Office now. It’s a real job with a salary—and sometimes, even bonuses!” Wen Ning’s voice sparkled with joy. She was especially excited at the thought of getting fine grains and meat as bonuses. “Sister Luo specifically asked me if Yuexia could learn from me.”

Wen Ning looked at Lu Cheng expectantly, her peach blossom eyes curved with pride, clearly waiting for his praise.

In his memory, the Wen family had always valued their children. Unlike many households that denied girls an education, Wen Ning had finished high school. He just hadn’t known she could draw.

“Alright then. Teach her. It’s good that you…” Lu Cheng stopped himself before saying “stay out of trouble.” She had finally found legitimate work—what more could he ask for?

“Hurry and eat! The braised pork is on me!” Wen Ning was overjoyed to be painting again. Even if she hadn’t cooked the food herself, she’d bought the meat—it still counted as her treat, right?

If she’d cooked it, she might have ruined the beautiful pork belly.

Lu Cheng picked up a glossy piece of pork and took a bite. The fat melted in his mouth, the lean part was chewy and savory. “Delicious,” he said. “Sister Luo’s cooking is really something.”

Wen Ning arched a brow. “She’s good, no doubt. But what about me?”

Lu Cheng met her eager gaze. Her black eyes sparkled with anticipation—clearly fishing for praise. He swallowed hard and stammered, “You… picked good meat.”

Wen Ning beamed. “Of course! I told the butcher to give me the best cuts!”

Lu Cheng: “…”

The next morning, Lu Cheng woke up early as usual. Before marriage, he would run at five o’clock and eat at the mess hall afterward. Now that he was married, he found Wen Ning’s soft, spoiled voice echoing in his ears—complaining about being hungry.

“Old Wang, pack two steamed buns for me.”

“Got it, Regimental Commander. I’ll get you two big ones.”

When Lu Cheng returned home, Wen Ning’s bedroom door was still tightly shut. At this hour, most wives in the Family Compound were already up cooking, but clearly, Wen Ning planned to sleep till noon.

He stood in front of her door, raised his hand to knock, then lowered it. His expression turned stern. Why am I meddling in her affairs?

He placed the oil-paper bag with the steamed buns on the table and left.

Wen Ning thoroughly enjoyed her new freedom. At Zhenguo Manor, she’d rarely gotten the chance to sleep in. Now that Lu Cheng was stationed at the military base, she could live however she pleased—though she couldn’t ignore her gnawing hunger.

After getting dressed, she stepped into the living room, searching for food. Just as she wondered if she had any chicken cakes left, her eyes landed on the oil-paper bag on the table. Inside were two steamed buns!

The buns from the 326th Regiment were a mix of cornmeal and wheat flour, with a pleasantly coarse texture—far better than the gritty sorghum buns from her village. One had minced pork and mushrooms, the other cabbage and mushrooms. Both were delicious.

Wen Ning opened the malted milk powder jar on the cabinet and scooped two spoonfuls into her enamel mug. She added hot water from the thermos Lu Cheng had filled that morning. Soon, the rich, creamy aroma filled the room.

Savoring the milk and buns, Wen Ning squinted in delight. These must be from Lu Cheng, she thought, her heart fluttering like a little boat on gentle waves.

After breakfast, Wen Ning locked the courtyard gate and went out alone to explore and get used to her new environment.

The 326th Regiment Family Compound sat nestled among trees, with mountains and streams nearby—a little Shangri-La straight out of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Recently, many soldiers had been discharged, transferred, or reassigned, leaving some houses vacant. Wen Ning and Lu Cheng’s home was on the left side of the compound, next to Sister Luo’s. The house on the other side was currently empty.

Thinking back to the novel, Wen Ning realized the female lead would move into that house soon with her military husband. Jiang Rong’s home and hers would serve as perfect contrasts to the heroine’s.

Wen Ning wandered toward the compound gate, where the supply cooperative, grain station, and vegetable market stood in a neat row.

Since she was already there, she entered the supply store and bought a bag of Fuqiang flour. She recalled that Lu Cheng was good at cooking, and she wanted to make dumplings to give him a chance to show off.

No, it’s about treating him to another good meal, she thought to herself.

She completed her purchase swiftly and asked for the best flour. Her confident manner left the clerks stunned. After she left, they began gossiping about how Regimental Commander Lu’s wife was spoiled and wasteful.

Unaware of the chatter, Wen Ning carried her flour to the non-staple food store and bought two liang of meat. The Women’s Affairs Office had already provided basic vegetables—ten jin each of cabbage, potatoes, and radishes—so she didn’t need to buy more.

Just as she was about to head home and prepare for dumpling night, a flash of green passed by in a hurry. She recognized the face—it was Lu Cheng’s younger sister, Lu Kangyun.

The girl’s anxious expression made Wen Ning’s heart skip a beat. Despite carrying groceries, she quickly followed her. Something was clearly wrong.