Chapter 4: Lu’s Mother Accuses Her Son’s Commander of Being a Homewrecker

Lin Xuewei tried to persuade her, “Auntie, please wait a moment. Li Zhi is still angry right now. When you go in, try to speak nicely. Don’t provoke her, or there’ll be no turning back for her and Yanzhi.”

Lu’s mother, Chen Guizhen, was proud of her son—he became a battalion commander at just twenty-seven and had a bright future ahead. He was qualified to marry the daughter of a high-ranking official, not just anyone.

And the Li family? What were they worth?

If not for Li Zhi being diligent, doing housework, and even taking her to the hospital, plus the fact that the Lis had some money and her brother had prospects, she wouldn’t even have considered a village girl as her daughter-in-law.

She headed for the ward door, scoffing, “I don’t believe she dares throw something at my son and still gives me attitude.”

As she walked away, a trace of smug satisfaction flickered across Lin Xuewei’s face.

…

Upstairs, in the single-bed hospital room.

Fu Tingzhou had gotten up early and brought porridge to the hospital.

Yuan Huilan asked him to stay and look after Li Zhi while she went home to get a few things.

Before she left, she deliberately left the door open.

In this era—conservative yet beginning to open up—a man and woman alone in a room would stir gossip.

Lu Yanzhi and Lin Xuewei were the perfect example.

Li Zhi’s mind was overwhelmed by memories from her past life. Scenes of her death kept flashing through her head. She hadn’t slept well and felt groggy.

Earlier that morning, Yuan Huilan had brought porridge and buns from the hospital cafeteria. Li Zhi had no appetite and only forced down a little.

Now, the aroma from Fu Tingzhou’s porridge made her mouth water.

Fu Tingzhou gently opened the container and handed her chopsticks.

Sitting upright in bed, Li Zhi had eyes only for the porridge.

As she reached for the chopsticks, her fingers accidentally brushed his slender, jointed ones.

Feeling a little awkward, she gave a shy smile. “Thanks.”

In her past life, she and Lu Yanzhi had been married for over ten years.

He had never done anything like this for her—it was always her giving.

He had prepared traditional Cantonese shredded chicken porridge, adding shredded ginger and scallions to mask any gaminess. The aroma was light and elegant, the chicken tender and flavorful.

“Commander Fu, where did you buy the porridge? It’s delicious. If I get the chance, I’d love to eat there.”

He replied, “I made it myself.”

Li Zhi was surprised. “You made it? I thought it was from a restaurant chef. Not only can you cook, your skills are amazing.”

As a military officer, it wasn’t surprising he could cook, but to make such delicious porridge from simple ingredients—few could do that.

“Thanks. Soldiers have to train in the field sometimes. Knowing basic cooking skills helps with survival.”

“You’ll make someone a lucky wife someday.”

Fu Tingzhou said, “I’m single. Not married yet.”

“Oh, then your future wife will be very lucky.” Li Zhi looked at him in surprise. He wasn’t young, had great qualities, and was caring—and still unmarried?

Strange.

Fu Tingzhou gave a small nod. “Go ahead and eat before it gets cold.”

“Okay!”

Just then, Chen Guizhen appeared at the doorway—and saw the two of them gazing at each other.

As if catching them in the act, she pointed at them and shouted, “Who is he? Is he your lover? I knew it! Why else would you suddenly want to break off the engagement with my son? You’ve already found someone else! You shameless woman, you’re not good enough for my son. I’ll have him break up with you!”

The Lu family had served in the military for three generations and lived in the military compound. But Chen Guizhen came from a long line of farmers.

During the difficult times of the 1960s, Lu’s father had no choice but to marry her.

Chen Guizhen was a shrew. After marrying into the Lu family, she looked down on rural people and became unbearably arrogant.

Li Zhi glared at Chen Guizhen, hatred flashing in her eyes.

This old hag—ungrateful and vicious. In her past life, Li Zhi had cared for her for more than ten years. Even when the old woman was paralyzed, she had kept her clean and never let her reek, not even for a day.

And how did Chen Guizhen repay her?

By constantly helping Lin Xuewei bully her. She scorned Li Zhi for being jobless, worthless, and for spending her son’s hard-earned money.

Even though Li Zhi learned acupuncture, massage, and did everything herself to care for her, finally getting her to the point she could sit in the sun…

Lu Yanzhi and Lu Jiaxin never helped—not a single day. They even complained when she soiled the bed.

Yet Chen Guizhen constantly praised and favored Lin Xuewei, who had a respectable job as an editor.

Well, since she loved Lin Xuewei so much, they could have each other.

Let the dogs fight.

“Watch your mouth,” Li Zhi snapped. “Just because you’re older doesn’t mean I have to tolerate your insults. We are clean and innocent! The door’s been open the whole time. Unlike your son, who’s often alone with other women.”

“My son and Xuewei grew up together—they’re like siblings! Stop making up lies! You’re just trying to find a new man, that’s why you want to break off the engagement! You even hit my son with a kettle! He’s grown up and I’ve never laid a finger on him! You owe me an explanation today!”

Li Zhi retorted, “This is my hospital room. I told him to get out and he didn’t. So I threw something at him. What’s wrong with that?”

“This is a hospital, not your home! Why can’t my son come in?”

Seeing that Li Zhi, who used to be meek and submissive, now dared to yell at her, Chen Guizhen exploded with rage and shoved her.

Li Zhi pretended to stumble, then grabbed her arm and twisted hard, raking her nails across her skin. Then she grabbed her hair and flung her out of the room.

Back when Chen Guizhen fractured her waist and had to stay in the hospital for three months, Li Zhi was the one who nursed her back to robust health.

The old woman staggered and slammed into the door with a loud bang.

Leaning against the frame, her pupils widened in shock. “You dare hit me? I’ll fight you!”

She lunged at Li Zhi again.

Fu Tingzhou stepped between them. “Ma’am, let’s talk calmly. This is a hospital, not a place to brawl.”

Chen Guizhen shouted to everyone nearby, “Come look! This man’s protecting her like that—he’s obviously her lover! She found someone else and wants to dump my son! And she blames it all on him! Bring me her parents! I want to ask how they raised such a shameless daughter!”

Supporting her sore back, she gasped for breath. She was getting old and couldn’t keep up.

Li Zhi glared at her. “Chen Guizhen, don’t drag others into this. I only met Commander Fu two days ago. He’s a military officer. If you’re not afraid of ruining your son’s future, go ahead and keep slinging mud at him.”

Chen Guizhen froze, her face twitching, her voice stuttering, “Y-You… What did you say? He’s a commander? Commander of which regiment?”

It wasn’t until she noticed the double bars and three stars on Fu Tingzhou’s shoulder that she believed it.

This young man looked about the same age as her son but held a higher rank.

Li Zhi said, “He’s your son’s direct superior. So stop dragging others into this.”

A bully through and through, Chen Guizhen immediately backed off from smearing Fu Tingzhou and turned her fury back to Li Zhi.

Then an idea hit her. She lunged again to hit Li Zhi.

Fu Tingzhou tried to stop her, but Li Zhi held his arm back.

She didn’t resist and let herself fall.

As Fu Tingzhou went to help her up, she deliberately pushed him away.

Falling to the floor, she clutched her arm, face pale. “Ah—my arm hurts, and my head too… Call a doctor…”

Chen Guizhen, who had been about to fake a dramatic fall, was stunned.

She just stole my thunder!