Chapter 30: This Is Something Only His Wife Could Do

Lu Chen didn’t like sweet things.

He also couldn’t understand what was so good about soda.

Since Liao Qing had brought it up, Lu Chen thought maybe he should go in and take a look. Just as he was about to step forward, Liao Qing spoke again.

“That’s true. You probably don’t have much feeling for that childhood fiancée of yours, right? You married her all by yourself — that’s really unfair to you. Well, whether you want to make up with her or not, it depends on your mood.”

He rarely said things like that. Once married, a couple should maintain their relationship.

But thinking about that childhood fiancée from the mountain village, his instinct told him this was no good match.

For someone like Lu Chen to marry her, the young wife was lucky — but it was pitiful for Lu Chen.

“No grievance at all,” Lu Chen said, lifting his leg to follow Liao Qing into the service center.

“Aunt Tong, two bottles of soda, please,” Liao Qing said.

Aunt Tong smiled seeing him: “You come here every now and then buying soda for your wife and sister-in-law. Why not just bring a whole case next time?”

Liao Qing laughed: “That would be gone in three days. It’s just convenient to grab two bottles on the way home from work.”

“Okay,” Aunt Tong agreed, then looked at Lu Chen: “What about you, Xiao Lu? What do you want?”

“Two bottles of soda,” Lu Chen answered.

“I see, for your wife,” Aunt Tong teased.

Lu Chen nodded: “Yes.”

Aunt Tong handed them two bottles each. While they were paying, she said to Liao Qing, “The other day your sister got into a fight with a young girl. It started because she bumped into the girl in here, broke her vase, and dropped her watch. Then she demanded compensation and even tried to use your name to pressure the girl.”

Liao Qing frowned: “Is that true?”

He knew his sister better than anyone.

“That’s right. The girl looked fair-skinned and pretty, with two sweet dimples when she smiled. But she’s not easy to mess with. When she found out you were her brother, she said if Liao Hong was unreasonable, she’d report you to the army, accusing you of letting your family use status to oppress her.”

Liao Qing was so angry his nose wrinkled: “Aunt Tong, you know what kind of person Liao Hong is better than anyone. Why didn’t you stop her from bullying others?”

Aunt Tong laughed: “I didn’t stop it. Liao Hong was silenced with just a few words. She was afraid of causing trouble for you, so she paid for the vase.”

Hearing this, Liao Qing sighed in relief.

Thankfully, his sister had some sense and could see the bigger picture. Otherwise, if someone really reported them, he would definitely be criticized or punished.

After leaving the service center, Liao Qing thought the matter was quite amusing. He turned to Lu Chen and said, “My little devil of a sister who gives everyone headaches—who would’ve thought she got handled by a young girl? That girl is pretty smart. She even wanted to report me to the army… Interesting.”

Lu Chen pursed his lips, expression calm.

Indeed, he was thinking, the girl Aunt Tong described sounded exactly like Xu Nuo.

The two talked without noticing they had arrived at their building.

They had the same military rank, lived in the same building, and their apartments were not far apart.

Lu Chen got home first.

Opening the door with his key, the first thing he saw was the vase on the living room coffee table, filled with wildflowers blooming near the community’s vegetable patch—colorful and bright.

Wildflowers weren’t precious but full of life, gently swaying in the breeze.

Turning his head to the window, he saw a half-open window with a white and light blue floral curtain.

The curtain fluttered softly, bringing warmth to an otherwise cold home.

“You’re back!” Xu Nuo came out from the kitchen, wearing an apron, carrying two dishes.

“Dinner’s ready. My cooking isn’t great, don’t expect too much. At least it’s enough to not starve.”

“I’m not picky,” Lu Chen replied.

“Go wash your hands. After dinner, I’ll show you something!” Xu Nuo placed the dishes on the table.

“Okay.”

Dinner was simple. The steamed buns were bought from the canteen. Xu Nuo cooked two bowls of porridge and stir-fried two small vegetable dishes.

They ate quietly.

Suddenly, Lu Chen asked, “Were you at the service center today?”

“Yes,” Xu Nuo nodded. “And I met Liao Qing’s sister. Liao Qing is your work partner?”

Hearing her say that, Lu Chen understood right away that the young woman who had confronted Liao Hong today was indeed Xu Nuo.

Remembering what Aunt Tong had said earlier, Lu Chen looked at her with a bit more interest.

Yes.

This was definitely something Xu Nuo could do.

“Your job has been arranged,” Lu Chen changed the subject and brought up her work. “The army has temporarily assigned you to the clinic in the compound for a while. When a vacancy opens up at the Military District Hospital, you’ll be transferred there.”

Xu Nuo was quite surprised. “I can go to the Military District Hospital?”

She had already prepared herself to be sent to a local hospital. She hadn’t expected Lu Chen to say he would arrange for her to work at the Military District Hospital.

Army hospitals had better resources and benefits compared to civilian hospitals.

“You can. But you have to pass a selection exam! Only if you qualify can you fill the vacancy.”

In other words, she had to rely on real skill and ability.

“No problem,” Xu Nuo said confidently.

“You can report to the clinic tomorrow morning. Work hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Whether there will be overtime depends on their schedule.”

“Okay, okay,” Xu Nuo nodded repeatedly. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

Lu Chen raised his eyes and frowned slightly. “No need to be so polite. Let’s eat.”

Xu Nuo bowed her head and continued eating. The summer heat made beads of sweat form on her forehead.

Suddenly, Lu Chen remembered the two bottles of soda he had bought. He got up and took the orange soda from the cabinet by the door.

“For you,” he said.

Xu Nuo was surprised. “Oh, there’s soda too? That’s great!”

Seeing her happy, Lu Chen knew he had made the right choice.

He popped the cap off one bottle with two chopsticks and handed the soda to Xu Nuo. “Two bottles, both for you.”

“Awesome!” Xu Nuo smiled, the dimples on her cheeks showing again.

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A few steps away, at Liao Qing’s home, they were also having dinner. Liao Hong downed a whole bottle of soda in one go.

Even after finishing, she still wanted more.

Liao Qing stared at his sister’s soda-drinking style in disbelief. After a while, he found his voice.

“Liao Hong, even the ox that plows two acres back in our village doesn’t get that thirsty. With you drinking soda like that, don’t even think Lu Chen would want you. Any man wouldn’t want you.”

Liao Hong slammed the bottle down on the table angrily and put her hands on her hips. “You say that every time!”

Liao Qing: “And you don’t change! Look at you, acting like a rough, unrefined woman from some shady place! You’re a girl — be gentle, act graceful, okay? Stop being so rough!”

“Sis-in-law! Look at him, you gotta control your man!” Liao Hong complained, dragging Bai Qiuning into it.

Bai Qiuning laughed and said, “Liao Qing, just leave her alone today, she’s in a bad mood. She’s not always like this.”

Liao Qing snorted. “She’s often like this. She’s always in a bad mood. Even if you’re upset, can it compare to Lu Chen being upset? He married a troublesome wife — no wedding candy was even handed out.”

Liao Hong was unhappy because of Lu Chen’s marriage. Hearing her brother say that, she quickly asked, “Have you seen what his wife looks like?”

Liao Qing shook his head. “No. We shouldn’t ask — that’s their private business.”

Today, no one in the army dared mention the matter openly.

This morning, Lu Chen held a meeting with several battalion military instructors and staff. His face showed no smile at all.

Everyone below was quietly discussing. They all agreed the regiment commander had made a bad match for himself; since no wedding candy was given, they tacitly agreed not to bring it up to avoid bad luck.

Liao Hong was still determined to go see for herself. She coaxed her brother: “Let’s go take a look. He’s your work partner. You both rose together from battalion to regiment level. Since he’s married, you should show some respect.”

Liao Qing gave two words: “No.”

Liao Hong tugged Bai Qiuning’s sleeve. “Sis-in-law, you see my brother…”

Bai Qiuning was quite interested in Lu Chen’s wife herself; she had a very nosy nature.

Since Liao Hong brought it up, Bai Qiuning took the opportunity: “No matter what, you should go see. After all, they’re married, and you two get along well. Not going looks like you’re ignoring them.”

Liao Qing was annoyed to death by the two women but felt they had a point, so he agreed. “Fine, finish eating quickly, then we’ll go visit old Lu’s place.”