Chapter 27: When Will You Let Us See What Your Wife Looks Like?

“Don’t worry, I’m not a bad person or a scammer,” Ye Muqi said. After thinking for a moment, she continued, “I can prepare the ingredients myself. If you’re worried, we can collect payment at the shop, and once we make money, we’ll split it 40–60. I’ll take 40, you take 60.”

After all, this breakfast shop belonged to Granny Cai Dongmei. Taxes still had to be paid, and the shop was fully equipped. Ye Muqi would just need to provide labor and ingredients, which she already had in her space.

With her providing the materials and doing the cooking, Cai Dongmei thought about how she’d only be offering the storefront but would still get 60% of the profit. That didn’t sound like a scam—it sounded like she was taking advantage of the girl.

“Well… how about a 50–50 split instead?” Cai Dongmei suggested after a moment.

She was short on money, but she wasn’t so shameless as to exploit a kind young girl—especially not one who had just helped her out.

“You take 60, I’ll take 40. I live a bit far, so it might take me a while to get here in the mornings. I’ll probably need to trouble you with the early setup,” Ye Muqi didn’t push the issue.

She just wanted to do business and make money—though she wasn’t in desperate need of it right now. But Granny was; she still had to pay for her grandson’s medical bills.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“You just prepare the things you usually do. I’ll bring the rest myself,” Ye Muqi added.

Cai Dongmei thought it over: the shop was still hers, she’d go about her business as usual, and now she had an extra pair of hands. Longer hours would likely mean more income than just selling breakfast.

Even if she gave up 40%, she might still earn more than before. Plus, Ye Muqi would be bringing her own supplies. No matter how you looked at it, she was getting the better end of the deal.

Thinking of her family’s situation, Cai Dongmei didn’t reject the offer. She figured once her grandson’s health stabilized, she could suggest splitting things equally.

“Young lady, where do you live? If it’s too far, I’ve got space at home you can stay in,” Cai Dongmei offered kindly, thinking back to what Ye Muqi had just said.

“Granny, my name is Ye Muqi. You can just call me Qiqi—everyone in my family does.” Ye Muqi smiled. “I live in the military family compound. It takes about half an hour by car to get here.”

But the bus routes around the compound weren’t very convenient. Though the ride was only thirty minutes, the wait time could be long. In her mind, Ye Muqi estimated a full hour for the commute.

“The family compound? So you’re married?” Cai Dongmei was surprised. She didn’t expect someone so young to already be married.

But if she was a military wife, then she must be a good person!

“Yes,” Ye Muqi nodded, and they continued discussing the business arrangement. “What do you think…”

…

Meanwhile, at the military base, Rong Jingchen was inspecting the troops with a cold, stern expression that made him look downright fierce.

Normally, the soldiers would look uneasy and a bit afraid under his gaze. But now, they were sneaking glances at him, lips twitching in suppressed grins.

They had just gotten some major gossip last night!

They were seriously, desperately curious!!

Rong Jingchen swept his eyes over Yin Daquan and Lin Zihua. Seeing the identical expressions on both of them, he instantly knew what had happened.

Of course—it was those two who had spread the news that he brought Ye Muqi back. Now the entire base was watching for drama.

“Add another training set,” Rong Jingchen ordered mercilessly.

“Aww come on, Commander Rong, don’t be so fierce—you might scare the missus!” one of the cheekier soldiers called out playfully.

“Hehehe…”

Lin Zihua immediately tensed.

You dare talk to the commander like that? Are you suicidal?

“Add another set.” Rong Jingchen gave the soldier a chilly glance.

Everyone: “……”

Hmph!

Even if he brought his young wife, he was still the same cold and scary commander!

To avoid getting worked to death with extra training, no one dared say another word. All gossip was instantly swallowed. Some even regretted provoking him—Why did we mess with the Ice King again??

No matter how curious they were about the woman Rong Jingchen had hidden away for a year, they couldn’t show it in front of him.

As they silently powered through their extra training, their curiosity only grew.

Damn it, we really want to see what she looks like!

Rong Jingchen didn’t know what they were thinking. As their nosy glances faded, he went off to inspect another unit.

By the end of the morning, several squads had been hit with extra drills.

Turns out a lot of brave—or foolish—soldiers assumed that because their commander brought his wife along, he’d be more lenient now. But… nope. Still the same old ice block commander!

…

Noon, outside the cafeteria.

Rong Jingchen didn’t look too pleased.

All morning, he had noticed how seriously everyone took the news that he brought his wife over. Even if it didn’t affect their training, the attention shouldn’t be on him.

“Old Rong, I heard you brought your wife over?” Chen Hong suddenly slapped him on the back, face full of curiosity.

As a battalion commander, Chen Hong had already heard how Rong Jingchen had punished several squads over this, and his curiosity got the better of him.

The soldiers weren’t allowed to ask, but he could!

“Mm,” Rong Jingchen glanced at him and nodded slightly.

“You’ve been married for a year, but we’ve never heard you talk about her. We thought maybe she wasn’t much to look at—cough—but now it turns out she’s too beautiful to show off, huh? So what made you bring her over now?”

Rong Jingchen fell silent.

Of course he couldn’t explain the real reason!

Chen Hong didn’t mind—he hadn’t expected an answer anyway. With a wife that beautiful, Rong Jingchen could only hide her for so long. And if she didn’t stay in the family compound, he’d hardly see her—might as well be living apart.

The whole point of building the family housing nearby was to prevent long separations that could strain relationships.

“Oh right, I heard from Lin Zihua that your wife is gorgeous—like a little fairy. So when are you going to let us take a peek?”

“You’re just like the rest of them,” Rong Jingchen said coldly, eyeing Chen Hong.

When he decided to bring Ye Muqi over, he hadn’t expected this level of attention from everyone at the base.

“Hey, Lin and the others described her like she’s a goddess descending from heaven—I’m just curious!”

Chen Hong really couldn’t help it.

Honestly, they were all men, stuck on a military base with hardly any women around. Of course they chatted about girls sometimes. And now that their commander’s wife had shown up, how could they not be curious?

“If you’ve been single too long, just go find someone yourself,” Rong Jingchen said, brushing past him and entering the cafeteria.

“Hey! You make it sound like I’m lusting after your wife or something!” Chen Hong cried out, wounded by the sudden personal attack. “No wonder Lin says you’re stingy.”

Seriously—so stingy he wouldn’t even let them ask!

Hehe.

He must really really like his wife, huh?

“Well, you’re both living in the family compound now. Let’s see how long you can keep her hidden,” Chen Hong muttered to himself.