Chapter 21 Why are you so far away from her? Is she a monster?

After saying that, Fu Jingchuan turned and walked back into the field.

Zhao Yulan glanced at Jiang Wan’s flushed ears and couldn’t help but half-cover her mouth and laugh as she leaned in. “Oh my~ Comrade Jiang Wan~~ Why are you blushing! Hahaha. Look at your family’s Commander Fu, the way he stared at you so intently~ I tell you, he must really like you, like a lot!”

“I’ve never seen him act like that toward any other woman before…”

At that, Zhao Yulan realized she may have said too much. She laughed awkwardly and added, “Oh dear, Comrade Jiang Wan, look at me… I’m sorry!”

She regretted bringing up past women right after Jiang Wan had just gotten married.

But Jiang Wan didn’t mind at all. She smiled calmly and said, “Yulan-jie, it’s no big deal. I already knew Commander Fu had been married before I came here. It doesn’t bother me.”

Besides… she was now becoming more and more certain—Fu Jingchuan may have been married before, but it was likely he had never truly been in love. And probably… nothing ever happened with his ex-wife either!

Sure, she hadn’t experienced certain things in her past life, but she’d definitely learned a lot online. The internet was a magical place—there was nothing it couldn’t teach!

Anyway, Fu Jingchuan… he really did seem like someone with zero experience!

Just then, a pair of young children ran over.

A chubby-faced boy and a bright-eyed girl, both looking a little older than Fu Chen and Fu Xiaoyan.

“Hey! Daming, Lijuan, you’re here! Quick, take your little brother and sister to play for a while!” Zhao Yulan patted her son’s head and smiled as she introduced them to Jiang Wan.

“Comrade Jiang Wan, this is my son, Gao Daming, and my daughter, Gao Lijuan!”

“You two, say hello to Auntie Jiang! The snacks I brought you were bought by her!”

“Hello, Auntie Jiang!”

“Thank you, Auntie Jiang!”

The two kids had simple, honest features like Zhao Yulan and smiled with wide, toothy grins—so cheerful and sunny!

Jiang Wan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. These were clearly children growing up in a healthy environment.

But unexpectedly, Fu Chen and Fu Xiaoyan exchanged a quick glance, then Fu Chen hesitantly asked, “Big… big brother Daming, don’t you get sick from eating snacks?”

“Do your parents… allow you to eat snacks??”

“?!? What?” Zhao Yulan was stunned by the question. “Commander Fu is that strict? Doesn’t even let the kids eat snacks?”

She turned to Jiang Wan with a half-laugh, half-shocked expression.

Jiang Wan, however, gave Zhao Yulan a subtle look, signaling her to save the questions for later.

Meanwhile, Gao Daming replied loudly, “Why wouldn’t we be allowed to eat snacks? Of course we can!”

“But my mom and dad told me—don’t eat too many. If you eat too many, you won’t be able to eat your meals. And if you skip meals, your body won’t grow well!”

“A little once in a while is okay!”

“Fu Chen, Xiaoyan, go play with your big brother and sister for a while. You can come back later. Once your dad finishes working, we’ll head home.” Jiang Wan gently encouraged the two kids.

It was clear they wanted to play with the others. Their faces were full of shyness and excitement.

Fortunately, Daming was very warm and outgoing. He quickly took Fu Chen’s hand and said, “Come on, little brother! I’ll show you how to play with tree branches!”

“Come on, little sister~” Lijuan also reached out for Fu Xiaoyan’s hand, and the four children happily ran off together.

Only after watching the little ones run off did Jiang Wan lower her voice and begin telling Zhao Yulan about the bizarre situation with Aunt Tang and her daughter at home.

She felt that Zhao Yulan was honest and trustworthy, and it was good to confide in someone. If something truly blew up one day, maybe Zhao Yulan could help speak up for her.

“What?!” After Jiang Wan finished telling the story, Zhao Yulan’s eyes instantly widened in fury.

“That… that vicious old woman!! What kind of person is she?! And that Yuan Meilin! Pah!”

Zhao Yulan was fuming. Jiang Wan raised a hand and patted her lightly, reminding her to keep her voice down. Zhao Yulan looked around quickly and, seeing no one was paying attention, finally let out a breath.

Then she furrowed her brows and said seriously, “Jiang Wan-meizi, let me call you meizi once.”

“I truly think you’re a good girl! You’re beautiful, kindhearted, and have such a sweet personality!”

“Let me give you one piece of advice—now that you’re already married to Commander Fu, you two can’t keep tiptoeing around issues. This situation is not a small matter! You must tell him!”

“And…” Zhao Yulan leaned in a bit closer, lowering her voice further with a disgusted expression. “That Yuan Meilin? She’s divorced too. Heard she was lazy and greedy, and ended up fighting with her mother-in-law. Made a whole mess of things!”

“These past few years, she’s always been hanging around Commander Fu’s place. I bet she has other intentions!”

“Tch. She’s not even good-looking and still dares to dream big? Does she really think Commander Fu would like her?!”

“Jiang Wan.” Zhao Yulan had just started speaking when Fu Jingchuan suddenly walked over from the fields. His vest was already soaked with sweat, and he was carrying a sickle. He greeted Zhao Yulan, then looked at Jiang Wan and said in a low voice, “I’m done. Shall we go back?”

“Yulan!!” From a nearby field, Zhao Yulan’s husband, Gao Zhiguo, called out to her as well.

Seeing Fu Jingchuan come out of the fields, Fu Chen and Fu Xiaoyan also ran back hand-in-hand.

Zhao Yulan adjusted her expression and gave a somewhat awkward smile. She even winked at Jiang Wan and said, “Oh wow, it’s already that late, huh? Wan, you should take the kids and head home with Commander Fu! We need to get back and have dinner too!”

“Then we’ll head off first, sister-in-law,” Jiang Wan said.

Fu Jingchuan thought for a moment and added, “No rush returning the sickle—I’ve got one I can use.”

Then he called to Fu Chen and Fu Xiaoyan, “Let’s go. Time to head home.”

Jiang Wan glanced at the two kids. Though they looked excited on the surface, their eyes were filled with confusion. They kept sneaking glances at each other, clearly wanting to say something but holding back.

Jiang Wan tugged at the corner of her lips without a word.

Looks like… they’re starting to question their life beliefs, huh?

Most likely, Yulan’s kids had said something to them—then they realized: everything Tang Feng and her daughter had taught them was completely wrong!

The group walked all the way back to the house. Along the way, Jiang Wan noticed that Fu Jingchuan seemed to be deliberately keeping his distance from her. She frowned slightly, wondering: Why’s he staying so far away? Does he think I’m some kind of monster?

But when they arrived at the door, Fu Jingchuan walked straight in, put the sickle back in the woodshed, then came out and said in a deep voice, “You all rest. I’m heading back to the base.”

“… …”

What now?

Don’t tell me he secretly married someone in the army?

Is the base that attractive?

Or did he… fall in love with the unit itself?

Are they soulmates now? Welded together for life?!