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Back in the modern world, after graduating from university, Jiang Zhi Ning lived alone.
Even though she had graduated from a 211 university, job hunting had still been tough.
With a degree in fashion design, she worked for a long time at a small company. Her base salary was only around 3,000 to 4,000 yuan a month. Life was hard, and when she occasionally fell ill, she couldn’t even afford takeout due to the high cost of living in the city.
So she would get up early every day to prepare a lunchbox to bring to work. Over time, cooking became second nature, and her culinary skills improved greatly.
Later on, she started streaming her cooking online and gradually gained a few thousand followers. Just as she was about to begin selling products through livestreams, she… died.
The more she thought about her past life, the more stifled and frustrated she felt.
“Zhi Ning?” A familiar voice pulled her back from her thoughts.
Seeing everyone watching her curiously, Jiang Zhi Ning smiled lightly and said, “I guess I find a sense of accomplishment in cooking, so I enjoy it. And… I also want to cook for the person I love.”
No one doubted her sincerity upon hearing this. Shen Weilu looked at Song Yuzhou with a hint of envy. “Commander Song is really in for a treat.”
“If Big Brother likes, he can come to the base to mooch a meal sometimes,” Jiang Zhi Ning teased playfully.
“Haha, I’d love that.” Shen Weilu agreed happily, continuing to dig into the dishes.
Everyone realized that Jiang Zhi Ning’s cooking really was exceptional—every dish tasted like it was made by a top chef.
After lunch, Jiang Zhi Ning went to her room to pack.
Lin Chunmei quietly followed her and handed her a jade bracelet.
“Mom, what’s this?” Jiang Zhi Ning asked.
“Zhi Ning, I don’t have anything valuable to give you. This bracelet was part of my dowry when I married your father. Take it, please,” Lin Chunmei said gently.
Jiang Zhi Ning quickly refused, “No, I already have one. You should keep this for my sister to give her when she gets married.”
“But…”
Jiang Zhi Ning hugged her. “Mom, I don’t care much about material things. Even if you didn’t give me anything expensive, your love means more to me than anything else.”
Lin Chunmei’s eyes turned red. “Once the autumn harvest is better, I’ll come visit you at the base.”
“Okay.” Jiang Zhi Ning replied with a bright smile.
To her, the greatest reward of this trip to the countryside was gaining the love of her family.
Once everything was packed, Jiang Zhi Ning left with Song Yuzhou. On the way out, Lin Chunmei held her hand tightly, reluctant to let go, walking them all the way to the village entrance.
To lighten the heavy mood of parting, Jiang Zhi Ning smiled and said, “If anything comes up, just call me. We’re off now.”
“Take care of yourself,” Lin Chunmei reminded her. A mother’s heart always worries—Jiang Zhi Ning finally understood that feeling.
After hugging everyone goodbye, Jiang Zhi Ning got into the car.
As it pulled away, she couldn’t help turning to look back—her eyes stung as she saw the Shen family still standing at the entrance of the village, waving.
Seeing her like that, Song Yuzhou spoke in a low voice, “We’ll come back after a while.”
“Okay,” she replied, lifting her head with a smile.
The military compound was a two-hour drive from Beicheng. Nervous yet excited, Jiang Zhi Ning finally laid eyes on the legendary military compound.
“This place is bigger than I expected,” she said in surprise.
“Yeah,” Song Yuzhou replied, carrying her luggage and holding her hand as they got out of the car.
“Yuzhou, you know how women can gossip. In a place like this, trouble always finds its way around. If I get into any mess, you’d better not scold me,” Jiang Zhi Ning said teasingly.
After these past few days, Song Yuzhou had come to understand her well. She had a good personality and wasn’t the type to go picking fights.
“No matter what happens, I’ll believe you,” he said seriously.
Hearing the answer she wanted, Jiang Zhi Ning beamed with a gentle smile.
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and stepped forward. “Let’s go.”
As the two of them walked into the compound, many people turned their heads in surprise.
“Who’s that woman? She looks like a total vixen.”
“She’s probably Commander Song’s new wife. I heard from Old Lin that he submitted a marriage application recently. She is quite pretty, though.”
“Pretty? Look at those eyes and that tight qipao—like she’s desperate for attention!”
Jiang Zhi Ning turned her gaze toward the two women gossiping ahead.
She remembered that in the novel, the most infamous gossips in the compound were Aunt Lin from Commander Lin’s family and Sister Zhang from Captain Zhang’s household.
Judging by the descriptions, the two talking now matched perfectly.
Feeling her gaze, the two women immediately fell silent.
“Let’s go,” Jiang Zhi Ning said with a smile, looping her arm around Song Yuzhou’s.
“Mm.”
She walked gracefully, her long hair swaying and drawing elegant arcs with every step.
More and more people stopped to look.
“Commander Song, is this your wife? She’s very beautiful.”
“She really is stunning!”
Several soldiers stared openly, as if they’d never seen such a beautiful woman before.
The crowd grew.
The women who had gossiped earlier turned green with jealousy, seeing their own husbands’ eyes glued to Jiang Zhi Ning.
Unable to scold their own men, they redirected their frustration outward.
“Commander Song, you really shouldn’t marry a woman just because she’s pretty. Pretty women are schemers and always trying to seduce men,” one of them, Sister Zhang, spat venomously.
Song Yuzhou frowned. “Sister Zhang, mind your words.”
“I’m just looking out for you. Look at her—she clearly doesn’t look like someone who knows how to serve others,” Sister Zhang said bitterly.
“I don’t need her to serve me,” Song Yuzhou replied coldly.
“Even if you don’t, don’t your three children need someone to look after them? I’m telling you, pretty women only bring trouble—they’re not marriage material.”
Jiang Zhi Ning replied coolly, “My husband and I are already married. Are you suggesting he divorce me? Can you take responsibility for ruining his happiness?”
Caught off guard by the sharp comeback, Sister Zhang flushed red. “I didn’t mean that.”
“You’d better not have,” Jiang Zhi Ning straightened up and said sweetly, “As for my looks—hubby, do you like how pretty I am?”
She batted her long lashes and leaned close to him, pouting adorably.
Looking at her delicate face and hearing that coquettish tone, Song Yuzhou blushed to the tips of his ears. “Yeah… I like it.”
“You hear that? My husband likes me being pretty. So, Sister Zhang, maybe keep your well-meaning advice to yourself.” Jiang Zhi Ning gave a playful smile, hooked her arm through his, and walked off in high spirits.
Sister Zhang was left standing there, face alternating between red and white in embarrassment.
“Looks like Sister Zhang’s finally met her match.”
“No kidding.”
Jiang Zhi Ning turned to the man beside her and smiled. “Bet you didn’t expect I’d make enemies the moment I arrived.”
“Yeah, I didn’t,” Song Yuzhou replied honestly. “Just don’t let them get to you.”
Jiang Zhi Ning’s lips curved upward.
Ignoring the stares around them, she followed Song Yuzhou into the courtyard—and instantly felt a strong wave of hostility.