Chapter 2 She would be content if only the old man wasn’t too ugly!

It was only once Jiang Wan was on the train that she finally calmed down enough to really think things through. That soldier — the one who’d been divorced three times and had two kids — was thirty years old. While that meant he was twelve years older than her current body, mentally they were only six years apart. That wasn’t too big a gap, right?

Besides… he was a soldier. That meant he must have a great body, right?

Jiang Wan, who in her previous life had been too busy working herself to death as a corporate drone with zero dating experience, unconsciously licked her lips. She used to drool over short clips of hot soldiers online — and now? She’d hit the jackpot in this life and was about to become a military wife herself!

Tsk tsk, beautiful! Truly beautiful!

She just hoped that… wait, what was his name again?

Jiang Wan finally remembered to open her small suitcase and took out the letter from Beicheng to read it again. The elderly man’s bold, powerful handwriting had written three characters: Fu Jingchuan.

Oh? Quite a poetic name, she thought, amused. As she stared at those three characters, she silently made a wish in her heart:

Please, just don’t be too ugly, and I’ll be content!

Still feeling a bit drowsy — the original body was clearly pampered and delicate from growing up in a wealthy household — Jiang Wan carefully placed the letter back in her suitcase, leaned against the train window, and dozed off.

When she woke up again, the dry wind carried sand through a small crack in the window, tickling her nose. The announcement rang through the carriage, and Jiang Wan jolted awake. She quickly grabbed her suitcase and got off the train.

Outside, a few young soldiers in camouflage uniforms and buzz cuts were holding up a large, clumsily made sign that read in bold, blocky letters: Jiang Shanshan.

Dragging her suitcase behind her, Jiang Wan walked toward them with a calm pace and addressed the soldier at the front.

“Hello, comrade. I’m the Jiang family’s daughter. Are you here to pick me up?”

“???”

The three young soldiers exchanged confused glances, completely stunned.

Wasn’t Jiang Shanshan supposed to have short hair? And be tall and slender?

But the girl in front of them was petite, with two long, glossy braids — and she was gorgeous. Absolutely glowing!

These young recruits, stationed in the rural outskirts of Beicheng, hadn’t seen such a young and stunning girl in who knows how long. Their faces turned red instantly as they stumbled over each other to grab her luggage.

“Y-Yes! We’re here on behalf of Captain Fu to pick you up… G-good day, sister-in-law!”

The one leading them still had a baby face, and the other two looked like they were barely out of their teens. But the climate here was dry, and the harsh sunlight gave them all a healthy, bronze tan.

Just by looking at them, Jiang Wan could sense the honest, down-to-earth character of the locals. She smiled sweetly and said politely, “Hello! I’m Jiang Wan. Thank you so much!”

“?!?!?!”

That self-introduction hit them like a thunderclap. The three of them froze completely.

Jiang Wan? Weren’t they here for Jiang Shanshan?

Still, the task seemed to be complete… Even if they were confused, they could only report back to the captain later. Not wanting to waste any time, the three of them quickly led Jiang Wan out of the train station and onto a military vehicle.

The journey was dusty all the way.

It was early summer, and while the breeze in Nancheng was still cool, Beicheng was already scorching hot. Jiang Wan looked down at her light, plaid shirt-dress and felt thankful she hadn’t worn a jacket — she’d be melting otherwise!

The drive lasted about an hour. The three young soldiers sat upright and stiff the entire way, though their occasional sneaky glances — full of curiosity and admiration — almost made Jiang Wan burst out laughing.

Eventually, the jeep pulled up to a spacious courtyard in the countryside, the entrance flanked by green-tiled, blue-brick buildings. They looked quite clean and well-maintained! On the way here, most of the homes she’d seen were made of dirt bricks, so it seemed the Fu family was doing relatively well.

One of the young soldiers jumped off the vehicle, carried Jiang Wan’s suitcase to the gate, then stood up straight and saluted.

“Comrade Jiang Wan! Our task is now complete. We’ll be returning to the base!”

“Captain Fu should be back around dusk. Please wait here for him!”

“Alright, thank you!”

Jiang Wan gave a sweet smile that instantly made the young recruit blush again. He quickly turned and shouted into the courtyard:

“Aunt Tang! Come out and welcome the guest!”

“…???”

Jiang Wan blinked, utterly confused.

Aunt Tang? Who’s that??

Still in a daze, she watched as the jeep drove away.

Moments later, a middle-aged woman stepped out from the courtyard. She wore a dark blue half-sleeve shirt and coarse cloth pants. About fifty years old, she gave Jiang Wan a sharp, scrutinizing look that made her skin crawl.

“You’re… the Jiang family’s daughter from Nancheng?” Tang Feng asked coldly, her eyes filled with disdain.

She gave Jiang Wan a once-over — those slender arms and legs, that pale, delicate skin — ugh, so useless! Clearly someone who’d never done a day of hard work in her life!

Hmph. So what if she marries in? She probably won’t last long anyway!

Tang Feng shot a glare at Jiang Wan without even realizing it and snorted, “Come in.”

“…”

Seriously? Who even is this auntie?? So arrogant? Acting like someone owes her something?

Jiang Wan, of course, needed to figure out this woman’s identity before deciding how to deal with her. So she asked politely, “May I ask who you are, Auntie?”

Tang Feng stopped in the middle of the courtyard, arms akimbo, puffing up with pride. “I’m the one Captain Fu hired to cook for the kids!”

“Captain Fu is usually busy at the base, and no one else is here to look after the children.”

“Oh. So, basically a housekeeper then?” Jiang Wan responded with a sweet, harmless smile — but her bright apricot eyes glinted slyly.

Her tone instantly lowered Tang Feng’s status — just an employee, acting all high and mighty!

An overpaid maid, and you think you can throw your weight around? Please.

“Y-You! What did you say?!”

Tang Feng’s face flushed red with anger. She hadn’t expected this delicate-looking little girl to say something so sharp. She was instantly irritated.

“Housekeeper?! I’ll have you know, even Captain Fu treats me with great respect!”

“Granny Tang!”

Just as Tang Feng was about to scold this spoiled city princess properly, a tiny figure came running out from the house.

It was a small boy, probably only six or seven years old. His frame was thin, but his features were sharp and dark, with a pair of round obsidian eyes that sparkled with intensity.

But the moment he laid eyes on Jiang Wan, those eyes filled with hostility.

He hid behind Tang Feng, poked out a little hand, and shouted fiercely, “Granny Tang! Another bad woman is here!! Drive her out! We have to get rid of her!!”

“Fu Chen! What are you doing!”

Before Jiang Wan could even react, a cold, harsh voice suddenly rang out behind her — firm and commanding.

Jiang Wan shivered instinctively.