Chapter 21.1

Zhu Jun’s voice came from outside.

“Sister-in-law, there is a letter for you. I brought it to you.”

It was getting dark, and Jiang Nian saw Zhu Jun sweating from running, holding an old-fashioned envelope in his hand.

Could it be from Lu Yu?

Jiang Nian walked over and took the letter. The envelope only had the recipient’s address and no return address. Only Lu Yu knew she was here.

Could it be that something has changed over there and he can’t come back for the time being so he wrote a letter to tell her?

Zhu Jun asked, “Sister-in-law, do you need me to read it for you?”

Jiang Nian was taken aback for a moment before realizing that Zhu Jun thought she couldn’t read. She shook her head gently, “No need. Xu Cheng taught me some characters when he was alive. I can barely manage to read it.”

Zhu Jun replied, “That’s good.”

　

After saying that, he sniffed with his nose raised, his eyes a little greedy: “Sister-in-law, what did you cook? It smells so good.”

Jiang Nian put the letter in her pocket and smiled, “I’m making pumpkin cakes. Wait a bit, and I’ll give you a few once they’re done steaming.”

Zhu Jun scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

“Oh my, this smells so good!”

A sudden voice came from over the courtyard wall, startling Jiang Nian who was just entering the kitchen. She heard Zhu Jun shouting from the yard, “Sister Feng, what are you doing peeking over the wall?”

Feng Mei replied, “I came because of the smell.”

Zhu Jun: …

Jiang Nian: …

Jiang Nian felt like laughing and said to Feng Mei, whose head was peeking over the wall, “Sister Feng, I’m steaming pumpkin cakes. Wait a bit, and I’ll give you a few to try.”

Feng Mei laughed, “Alright, I’ll come over right now.”

Once the pumpkin cakes were ready, Jiang Nian packed four for Zhu Jun and four for Sister Feng. She didn’t keep many for herself, as she could always make more if she wanted.

Feng Mei hurried home to let her children and old Song taste them.

Jiang Nian saw Zhu Jun out and, as she was closing the courtyard gate, she saw a sneaky figure walking along the wall. She gripped the rough door edge tightly, staring at the shadow disappearing into the dark night.

Zhu Jun was walking in the opposite direction, so he never encountered that shadow.

To be honest, Jiang Nian felt a bit scared.

Even though this was the army base and there shouldn’t be any criminals, she had no idea who that person was. If she recklessly chased after them and something happened, she would suffer the consequences.

At that moment, Jiang Nian fervently wished Lu Yu would come back soon.

Having a man at home would provide a great sense of security, both physically and mentally.

Jiang Nian closed the courtyard gate, ate a bit of pumpkin cake, and went back inside. She took out the letter from her pocket and opened it, expecting it to be from Lu Yu, but it turned out to be from the Jiang family.

So the Jiang family still remembered the original owner!

She initially wondered how Jiang’s mother knew Lu Yu’s address, but then she recalled that when Lu Yu sent money back, the original owner took the letters home, and Jiang’s mother had taken both the money and the letters. Jiang’s mother must have used the address from those letters.

The letter seemed to be written by someone Jiang’s mother hired. The handwriting was not very neat and a bit awkward.

She patiently read through the letter, and her face darkened, a cold smile forming on her lips.

At the beginning of the letter, there were some pleasant words. It mentioned that Jiang’s mother and Jiang Guo went to the Xu family to find her, but they discovered that the house was empty. They asked Aunt Zhao and learned that she had been robbed at home and nearly beaten to death. If it weren’t for Lu Lao’er returning, she would have been dead. This expressed a mother’s worry. Upon reading this, Jiang Nian laughed in anger.

She wasn’t the real Jiang Nian, yet she felt unjust on behalf of the original owner.

The book mentioned that on the day the original owner had the accident, Jiang’s mother knew about it but didn’t dare to come over because she feared having to handle a corpse, which would cost money. Moreover, Jiang’s mother was afraid of running into Lu Yu, fearing that he would find out about the money they had been stealing from the original owner over the years and seek revenge.

The latter part of the letter stated that Jiang Nian, being a widow, would be gossiped about for living with another man and suggested that she return home. She also mentioned that she had arranged another marriage for Jiang Nian. Although the man was older and had one son and two daughters, he had some background as a relative of the brigade leader and could offer a dowry of four hundred yuan. Plus, she wouldn’t have to bear children and would instantly become a mother.

Jiang Nian’s fingers tightened around the letter, her face showing cold anger.

It wasn’t just for the original owner’s injustice but also for herself.

After all, she was now Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian put away the letter, determined to return and settle old scores with the Jiang family when the opportunity arose.

That night, Jiang Nian didn’t sleep well, remaining in a half-awake state.

In the yard next door, Liu Qiang came out of his son’s room and walked in the dark to the second room on the east side. He took off his shoes, lay on the bed, and propped himself up on his arm to watch Xu Yan sleep. Xu Yan was facing the wall, her hair scattered, and she seemed to have been applying cold cream every day for over a month, making her skin look better.

Wearing a small vest and shorts, her waist drew Liu Qiang’s attention, causing his eyes to heat up. He lay behind Xu Yan, reaching out to hug her and nuzzling the back of her neck affectionately.

Since Zheng Hong’s self criticism, Xu Yan had been cold to him and hadn’t let him into the room.

It had been two months since he last touched her.

Seeing Xu Yan dressing up more beautifully each day, Liu Qiang felt a sense of caution. He squeezed her waist and whispered in her ear, “Who are you dressing up for?”

The sudden noise and touch startled Xu Yan awake. She sat up and glared at Liu Qiang, throwing a pillow at him, “You bastard, what are you doing here at night? I need to sleep!”

“Don’t wake the kids.”

Liu Qiang pinned Xu Yan down, kissing her cheek, “I just missed you.”

His hand roamed under her vest.

Xu Yan pushed him away forcefully, her anger and fear evident as she kicked him, “Don’t touch me!”

Liu Qiang got angry, “You’re my wife. Why can’t I touch you?!”

He ignored her struggles and tried to force himself on her, “Tonight, I’m going to touch you. What can you do about it?!”

“Liu Qiang, you bastard!”

Jiang Nian was awakened by the bugle call. She rubbed her eyes, put on her shoes, and went out to wash up before heading to the kitchen to make breakfast. Living alone, she made a simple meal of pumpkin porridge and spicy potato strips.

Calculating the time, it had been two months. Lu Yu should be returning soon.

After eating and washing the dishes, there was a knock on the door.

“Jiang Nian, are you home?”

It was Xu Yan’s voice.

“Coming—”

Jiang Nian untied her apron and ran to open the courtyard gate. Seeing Xu Yan, she was startled, “What happened to you?”

It was no wonder she was surprised.

Xu Yan’s hair was disheveled, and she looked exhausted as if she hadn’t slept all night.

She walked weakly into the yard and sat on a bench, recounting the events of the previous night. She bit her lip and looked at Jiang Nian, saying softly, “He held me all night, saying many nice things and promised not to talk to Zheng Hong again. He asked me to stop being cold to him.”

Jiang Nian looked at the dispirited Xu Yan without offering comfort, only asking, “What do you think?”

If Xu Yan softened her stance because of a few sweet words, Jiang Nian felt there was no need to give her advice anymore. Some things required a firm stance and gradual progress. Nothing can be achieved overnight.

If Xu Yan forgives Liu Qiang easily now, he might revert to his old ways in a few days.

Xu Yan looked up, her eyes red with tears, and replied, “I’ll listen to you, Jiang Nian. Just tell me what to do. I don’t know what to do anymore. I just want Liu Qiang to get our money back. Why won’t he get it? That’s our family’s money. Why should Zheng Hong spend it freely while I suffer this humiliation…”

Xu Yan cried and said a lot.

Jiang Nian wiped away her tears and held her hand tightly, “Since you agreed to listen to me, remember my words, don’t soften your heart towards him. Follow my instructions.”

“Xu Yan, you need to hold the power in your own hands. You need to control Liu Qiang’s emotions, not let him control yours.”

Xu Yan was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Jiang Nian and finally nodded firmly, “Alright.”

She sniffled and then asked, “So what do I do next? Should I keep being cold to him?”

Jiang Nian smiled slightly and whispered, “You can change your approach now. Start using sweet words to coax Liu Qiang into giving you all the money.”

She leaned in and whispered a few more instructions into Xu Yan’s ear. The more Xu Yan listened, the more her frown relaxed, and by the end, she was smiling, looking at Jiang Nian with gratitude and admiration, “I can definitely do it.”

Jiang Nian smiled back but was thinking of other matters.

Xu Yan couldn’t divorce Liu Qiang yet. She had no money and couldn’t rely on her family. If she divorced Liu Qiang now, she would end up marrying the village’s old bachelor, just like in the book. Therefore, the most important thing now was to let her control the household finances.

Seeing Xu Yan’s mood improve, Jiang Nian got up and went to the vegetable garden to pick a pumpkin. Since she had nothing else to do, she planned to make some pumpkin and steam some dough figurines of the twelve zodiac animals to pass the time.

While Jiang Nian was rummaging in the kitchen, Xu Yan calmed herself down and walked in. Seeing Jiang Nian searching everywhere, she curiously asked, “What are you looking for?”

Jiang Nian replied, “We’re out of sugar. I need to go to the supply and marketing cooperative.”

Xu Yan said, “I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Nian turned to look at Xu Yan standing at the kitchen door. Xu Yan smiled and wiped her eyes vigorously, “You’re right. I need to hold the power. I can’t let Liu Qiang lead me by the nose.”

Moreover, after these two months of changes, she noticed that Liu Qiang no longer treated her the same as before. When he talked to her, he was occasionally cautious and tentative.

Jiang Nian took some money and sugar tickets from the tin box and went to the supply and marketing cooperative with Xu Yan.

As they walked, the military wives and elderly mothers-in-law who passed by looked at Jiang Nian with mocking and scornful eyes.

Upon leaving the family quarters, they encountered a few military wives walking towards them. One of them saw Jiang Nian and nudged her companion, whispering in her ear.

Their glances and actions were so conspicuous that Jiang Nian couldn’t help but notice.

Frowning in confusion, she looked back at the military wives, catching snippets of their conversation.

“Widow, restless, disgrace.”

Jiang Nian: …

How was she restless?

Who did she disgrace?!

Seeing Jiang Nian’s face darken, Xu Yan glared fiercely at the gossiping military wives, who quickly averted their gazes.

Xu Yan suggested, “When we get back, let’s ask Sister Feng. She should know what’s going on.”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Okay.”

With so many people looking at her strangely, even Jiang Nian, with her usually calm demeanor, couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

The September sun wasn’t too harsh, and Jiang Nian walked under the shade of the trees, feeling a gentle breeze that brought a slight chill. She rubbed her arms, planning to bring cloth and cotton tickets next time she went to the cooperative to make some autumn and winter clothes for herself and Lu Yu.

Just as they reached the supply and marketing cooperative, they encountered Liu Qiang, who should have been training with the team.

He wasn’t alone, Zheng Hong was with him, and they were standing face to face, talking about something.

Jiang Nian: …

That scoundrel, is he really that desperate for this filth?!

Xu Yan stood frozen at the door, watching Liu Qiang and Zheng Hong talk inside the supply and marketing cooperative. Her eyes gradually turned icy, and her lips pressed together tightly.

Zheng Hong, facing the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, saw Jiang Nian and Xu Yan first. She hadn’t expected to meet Captain Liu here, nor had she expected to run into Jiang Nian and Xu Yan. She had come to buy chocolate for Zhi Jun and coincidentally met Captain Liu, intending to strike up a conversation, but was interrupted by the sight of the two women outside.

Jiang Nian’s eyebrows knitted together. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something sinister in Zheng Hong’s gaze.

Zheng Hong’s eyes moved from Jiang Nian to Xu Yan. Seeing Xu Yan’s cold expression, she provocatively shot her a glance, then leaned towards Liu Qiang, feigning weakness, “Captain Liu, my head hurts…”

“Captain Liu!”

Zheng Hong’s words were cut off by Jiang Nian’s voice.

Liu Qiang instinctively turned around, and Zheng Hong, who had been about to lean on him, stumbled and nearly fell. She glared at Jiang Nian, her eyes blazing with anger.

If it weren’t for this widow’s meddling at the market, how could Zhi Jun have said those things?

It was all because of her that Lu Guoheng misunderstood her intentions towards Deputy Commander Song and wanted a divorce. Lu Guosheng had been cold to her ever since, and she feared he might send her back to her family.

“Yanyan, what are you doing here?”

Liu Qiang glanced at Zheng Hong behind him, then walked over to Xu Yan, worried she might cause a scene. He tried to pull her away, but Xu Yan shook off his hand and slapped him hard. This slap carried all the grievances of the past two years.

Liu Qiang’s head snapped to the side from the force of the slap. By the time he recovered, Xu Yan was already walking away.

His face turned livid. He was about to chase after her when Jiang Nian’s voice stopped him.

“Captain Liu.”

Liu Qiang frowned and looked at Jiang Nian, his face tinged with embarrassment from Xu Yan’s slap, “Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law, I need to go after Xu Yan.”

Jiang Nian replied, “But I have something to say to you.”

She glanced at Zheng Hong, who looked displeased, then at Liu Qiang, who appeared embarrassed. Trying to control her temper, she spoke in a low voice, “Captain Liu, think carefully. Is it appropriate to treat your wife like this over a woman full of bad intentions?”

Liu Qiang frowned, “You…”

Jiang Nian interrupted him, “Captain Liu, think it over yourself. I still need to buy some sugar, so I won’t say more.”

Without looking at Liu Qiang’s expression, she headed into the supply and marketing cooperative.

Liu Qiang felt more aggrieved than anyone. He was just here to buy some pastries for Xu Yan and the kids, and now he was caught up in this mess!

Zheng Hong, glaring at Jiang Nian’s back, shouted, “Who are you calling a woman full of bad intentions?!”

Jiang Nian didn’t even glance at her, “I’m talking about you.”

Zheng Hong: …

This widow is so two-faced! Acting one way in front of people and another behind their backs!

Jiang Nian paid and handed over the sugar coupons, buying two pounds of sugar. She turned to leave the store, with Zheng Hong following closely behind, shouting, “You jinxed widow! While Deputy Commander Lu is away, you’re seducing Zhu Jun to water your garden every day. You’re not an honest woman yourself, so what gives you the right to talk about me?!”

As Jiang Nian turned back and walked towards her, Zheng Hong became wary, furrowing her brows, “What do you want to do?”

Jiang Nian tightened her lips and, without a word, slapped Zheng Hong. Then she turned and ran.

Knowing her small stature, she realized that if she truly confronted Zheng Hong, she would definitely be at a disadvantage.

Zheng Hong stood there in shock, and by the time she recovered, Jiang Nian was already out of sight!

Jiang Nian ran all the way back to the family quarters, and just as she reached her door, she bumped into Feng Mei. Feng Mei was holding a bunch of chives and, seeing Jiang Nian panting, quickly asked, “Why do you look like you’re being chased by a dog?”

Jiang Nian pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a smile.

“Jiang Nian!”

Zheng Hong’s voice came from behind. Feng Mei turned to see Zheng Hong running over, looking like she was ready to fight.

Feng Mei glared at Zheng Hong, “What are you shouting about? What do you want?!”

Zheng Hong, catching her breath and trying to speak, was interrupted by Jiang Nian.

“Sister Feng, Zheng Hong, she… she…”

Jiang Nian’s eyes reddened, filled with tears, as she pointed a trembling finger at Zheng Hong. Feng Mei, growing more anxious, asked, “What did she do to you?”

“She…”

Before Jiang Nian could finish, she fainted, collapsing to the ground, the sugar spilling from her hands. She lay motionless, prompting Feng Mei to scream in panic. She dropped the chives and rushed to Jiang Nian, trying to wake her and checking her breath.

Luckily, she was still breathing.

Zheng Hong was also shocked. She had intended to confront Jiang Nian in front of Feng Mei and expose her hypocrisy, but now Jiang Nian had fainted.

“This has nothing to do with me. It’s not my fault.”

Zheng Hong said this quickly before turning and running back home under the accusing stares of the other military wives.

“What are you all standing around for? Help me carry Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law inside!”

Feng Mei shouted at the nearby military wives. They quickly ran over to help carry Jiang Nian inside. One of the wives, worried, said, “I’ll go get the medic.”

The rest stayed with Feng Mei, waiting for the medic to arrive.

Everyone in the room had left, leaving only Jiang Nian.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and quickly looked around the room, then raised her upper body and looked out the window. The three military wives and Feng Mei were standing under the shade of the tree, all of them curious about what had happened between Zheng Hong and her.

Feng Mei said angrily, “You’re asking me? How should I know? I just saw Jiang Nian running back, with Zheng Hong chasing her. Before Jiang Nian could speak, she fainted.”

She snorted, “I’ve figured it out. Zheng Hong is a troublemaker. Who else causes as much trouble as she does? Not only did she make Xu Yan and Captain Liu argue, but she also insulted Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law, driving her to the brink. Now this? If anything happens to her, not even Captain Lu will protect her!”

After a while, Xu Yan, having heard about Jiang Nian fainting, rushed over.

Jiang Nian quickly lay back down and closed her eyes. After the medic examined her and concluded that she had fainted due to overexertion and would wake up soon. A short while later, Jiang Nian slowly opened her eyes, looking confused at the military wives, Feng Mei, and Xu Yan surrounding her.

Xu Yan, feeling guilty, asked, “Is your head hurting?”

Feng Mei sat by the bed and asked, “The medic hasn’t gone far. If you’re feeling unwell, I’ll call him back.”

Jiang Nian softly said, “I’m fine now.”

The other military wives, seeing she was okay, left since it was lunchtime. Only Feng Mei and Xu Yan stayed. Feng Mei asked, “What happened? Why was Zheng Hong chasing you?”

Jiang Nian lowered her eyes like a child caught in wrongdoing, “I saw Captain Liu and Zheng Hong together at the supply and marketing cooperative. I said a few words to Captain Liu, telling him not to mistreat his wife for a woman full of bad intentions. Zheng Hong heard and chased me to settle accounts.”

She pursed her lips, her voice filled with grievance, “It’s my fault for speaking out of turn.”

Xu Yan felt even more guilty. She wanted to comfort Jiang Nian but didn’t know what to say, feeling more heartache and gratitude towards her. If not for Jiang Nian, she wouldn’t have been chased by Zheng Hong or fainted.

Feng Mei immediately shouted, “I think you’re right! She is a woman full of bad intentions!”

She paused and then added, “Oh, I remembered something else.” She looked at Jiang Nian. “People in the family quarters are saying that Zhu Jun visits your house every now and then, always leaving late at night and taking food with him. They say you…”

The rest of the words were too harsh to say. Feng Mei changed the subject, “We’re all neighbors, and I know there’s nothing between you and Zhu Jun, but people might use this to tarnish your reputation. How about this, I’ll help you with carrying water for your garden. I may not have many skills, but I have the strength for that.”

Jiang Nian felt a warm sensation in her heart. Ever since she arrived at the military camp, Feng Mei had taken special care of her, even though Jiang Nian’s interactions with her had always been somewhat utilitarian. She smiled and said, “Thank you, Sister Feng.”

After chatting for a while, they left. Before leaving, Xu Yan also offered to help with carrying water.

Jiang Nian pondered Feng Mei’s words and recalled the shadowy figures she had seen outside at night. It seemed that someone was deliberately spreading these rumors, and it might be related to that person. After thinking carefully, she concluded that Zheng Hong was the most likely culprit.