Chapter 22

Seeing that Jiang Nian was standing steadily, Lu Yu let go of her.

He tried to ignore the soft feeling in his palm, stepped back a few paces, and said in a deliberately low, somewhat husky voice, “With Sister Feng here, you don’t need to worry.”

Seeing that Jiang Nian still had her head down, his voice softened a bit more, “I found out about the rumors outside last night. The person spreading them is likely the same one you saw last night. I’ll catch them soon and clear your name.”

Hearing this, Jiang Nian raised her head to look at Lu Yu and asked, clutching the corner of her clothes, “Do you believe me?”

Lu Yu replied, “I never doubted you.”

Hearing Lu Yu’s reassurance, Jiang Nian felt somewhat relieved. After all, with all the rumors outside, she had been worried that Lu Yu might believe them.

Jiang Nian smiled softly, “Mm.”

Next door, Feng Mei was still scolding Liu Qiang, “Zheng Hong has been spreading rumors about Deputy Lu’s sister-in-law being involved with Zhu Jun. Xu Yan was just helping her and fighting for justice. How can you criticize Xu Yan? When Deputy Commander Lu comes back, he will surely be grateful to Xu Yan for helping his sister-in-law, while you just blame your own people!”

Feng Mei continued to explain the whole story of the fight between Zheng Hong and Xu Yan. Xu Yan, standing nearby with red eyes, glared at Liu Qiang. Liu Qiang, now understanding the situation, frowned deeply, “It’s all nonsense! Every time Zhu Jun fetched water and watered the vegetables for Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law, I passed by their gate. The courtyard gate was wide open, and Zhu Jun just stood by the well. Who said their gate was always closed?!”

Feng Mei shouted, “Zheng Hong!”

Liu Qiang cursed, “That’s utter nonsense!”

Feng Mei glared at him sideways, “Who are you cursing at?”

Liu Qiang replied, “Cursing at Zheng Hong.”

Listening to the conversation from the other side of the wall, Lu Yu’s face darkened slightly. He said to Jiang Nian, “Sister-in-law, you should go do your business. I won’t let this matter escalate further.”

Jiang Nian nodded slightly, “I’ll go make lunch.”

She walked under the tree, picked up the vegetable basket, and went into the kitchen. Lu Yu closed the courtyard gate and went into the kitchen to help Jiang Nian.

For lunch, Jiang Nian made braised green beans with pork, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, and heated up four white steamed buns. She also made a bowl of tofu and vegetable soup. To avoid anyone peeking through the gate and seeing Lu Yu, she moved the dining table into the kitchen.

Lu Yu, looking at the two dishes and soup, was really hungry.

Last night’s meal of noodles with shredded pork was the best and most filling meal he had had in two months. Today’s meal was no less satisfying.

Jiang Nian didn’t eat much, so Lu Yu finished most of the food.

When she got up to clean the dishes, Lu Yu quickly took over, “I’ll do it.”

Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment and then tentatively asked, “Can I go next door to check on Xu Yan?”

Lu Yu, putting the dishes into the sink, responded, “If you want to go, just go. No need to ask me.”

Having a few friends to talk to would be good for her, so she wouldn’t be stuck at home all day, overthinking.

Jiang Nian walked out of the courtyard and went next door to check on Xu Yan. After talking for a while, she came back and waited for Zhu Jun to come in the evening to see what plan Lu Yu had to catch the culprit.

Zhu Jun came over after seven in the evening. When he opened the door and saw Jiang Nian, Zhu Jun felt a bit awkward.

He was aware of the rumors circulating in the family quarters and had explained them to Commander Song. Commander Song said that they would figure something out when Deputy Commander Lu returned. Although Zhu Jun himself wasn’t much affected as a bachelor, Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law was a newly widowed woman who had been the subject of gossip and slander.

Each time he visited, he deliberately left the gate open so that passersby could see him standing by the well, never stepping inside Deputy Commander Lu’s house. But despite all the precautions, he still couldn’t stop the rumors from circulating.

Last night, Deputy Commander Lu came to him and explained the situation. Deputy Commander Lu asked him to come over tonight to help catch the person spreading the rumors.

Zhu Jun said, “Sister-in-law…”

He didn’t know how to continue.

Jiang Nian smiled, “Come on in.”

Her voice was crisp and she deliberately raised the volume.

Zhu Jun nodded and, after entering, gently closed the gate, leaving a small gap.

As they walked into the courtyard, they saw Lu Yu standing against the wall. He gestured to Zhu Jun, a sign Jiang Nian didn’t understand, but Zhu Jun did. He said to Jiang Nian, “Sister-in-law, I miss your cooking. Could you make me a little something?”

Saying this, Zhu Jun looked a bit awkward, occasionally glancing at Lu Yu standing against the wall. Jiang Nian followed his gaze.

The man was hidden in the dark, and she couldn’t see his expression, only his tall and straight silhouette, which inexplicably gave Jiang Nian a sense of security she had never felt before.

Jiang Nian raised her voice to respond and turned to go into the kitchen to cook. Zhu Jun hesitated for a moment before following her in and awkwardly sitting by the stove to tend the fire. He felt extremely uncomfortable, as if ants were crawling all over his body. Halfway through cooking, a short whistle suddenly sounded from outside.

Zhu Jun immediately stood up and rushed out!

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment. She dropped the dough in her hands and ran out as well. As soon as she got outside, she saw Lu Yu nimbly flipping over the wall with one hand. Zhu Jun used the wall for leverage and climbed over as well, making Jiang Nian feel a rush of excitement.

She turned on the light in the yard and heard the voice of Commander Song coming from outside.

“Why is it you!”

The tone was one of surprised shock.

“My goodness, why is it you?”

Feng Mei’s tone was as shocked as Commander Song’s, indicating that the person caught was not Zheng Hong.

Zhu Jun’s voice was filled with restrained anger: “Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law even invited your family over for meals, and you repay her by spreading malicious rumors. I’m a man and can take it, but she’s an innocent woman!”

Jiang Nian walked outside and was somewhat surprised to see the woman being held down by Zhu Jun. She had initially thought it was Zheng Hong, but it turned out to be Kang Xiu.

At this time, the residents of the family quarters, who hadn’t gone to bed yet, came out to watch the commotion.

Lu Yu spoke in a deep voice, “You were the one spying on my sister-in-law several times from outside the courtyard, and you were the one spreading rumors about her and Zhu Jun. Is that correct?”

His usually calm voice now carried rare anger.

Kang Xiu, having never encountered such a scene, was trembling with fear, her face turning pale. The hand gripping her shoulder was so strong that it felt like it was going to crush her bones, making her entire face go white with pain.

Jiang Nian walked over, coldly looking at Kang Xiu’s pale face, and asked in an icy tone, “Why did you spread rumors about me and Sergeant Zhu? How did I offend you?”

Kang Xiu stubbornly retorted, “I didn’t spread any rumors. What does it have to do with me? Sergeant Zhu, let go of me.”

She twisted her shoulder in pain, and Zhu Jun angrily released her.

Hearing Kang Xiu’s evasive words, Feng Mei became furious and shouted, “If it wasn’t you, what are you doing here? You wouldn’t pass by here to go home!”

Kang Xiu was speechless, and Commander Song, his face dark, glared at her, demanding, “Speak!”

Kang Xiu was so frightened that her mind went blank, and she mumbled incoherently for a long time. Everyone could see that Deputy Commander Lu was right. Xu Yan came out of her house and was also surprised to see Kang Xiu. She and Feng Mei immediately began scolding her from both sides.

Commander Song glared, “You two, shut up!”

Xu Yan and Feng Mei obediently fell silent.

The military wives and older women watching the commotion were talking amongst themselves. Ignoring their murmurs, Jiang Nian questioned Kang Xiu, “Why did you spread rumors about me?”

Seeing the situation, Kang Xiu no longer hid the truth and stubbornly said, “Who said I was spreading rumors? I’m telling the truth. Sergeant Zhu comes to your house every few days. As soon as he goes in, he closes the gate, and when he comes out, he’s carrying a lunchbox. Who knows what you two are doing alone in there.”

Lu Yu sternly commanded, “Shut up!”

Zhu Jun’s face turned livid with anger. If it weren’t for the fact that a man shouldn’t hit a woman, he would have kicked this shrew!

Jiang Nian, unable to tolerate it any longer, slapped Kang Xiu.

After hitting her, Jiang Nian’s own eyes turned red with grievance. She sobbed, “I’m an innocent woman, and without any evidence, you spread baseless rumors about me and dragged Sergeant Zhu into it. How can you be so malicious?”

A flash of surprise crossed Lu Yu’s eyes. He had always thought his sister-in-law was timid and submissive, never fighting back even when bullied by her family in the countryside. Seeing her slap Kang Xiu in front of so many people, he realized she had been pushed to her limit.

Not only Kang Xiu, but Xu Yan, Feng Mei, and even Commander Song were taken aback by Jiang Nian’s action. Commander Song found it hard to believe that Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law, who looked frail and quiet, would hit someone when angered.

Recovering, Kang Xiu pointed at Jiang Nian and shouted to Commander Song, “Commander Song, aren’t you going to do something about her hitting me?”

Commander Song was furious. He thought Jiang Nian had done well, but as a commander, he couldn’t condone such behavior. Wanting to reprimand her, he hesitated seeing her tearful eyes.

Fortunately, Feng Mei came to his rescue: “You deserved that slap! Who told you to spy on Deputy Commander Lu’s house and spread rumors about his sister-in-law and Sergeant Zhu? I think a slap in the face is too light!”

As soon as Feng Mei finished speaking, Commander Song shouted, “Where is He Yong? Why is he not keeping his wife in check, letting her spread nonsense?”

Turning to Kang Xiu, he scolded, “This is the military! Our soldiers are always ready to protect our country. As a military wife, instead of supporting your husband, you’re causing trouble and slandering people. What’s wrong with you?”

Pointing at her head, he continued, “You’re a grown woman with two kids. Don’t set a bad example for them!”

“He Yong,” he called out.

He Yong came running, sweating. Captain Liu had called him back and explained the situation. He had heard Commander Song’s scolding from afar and wanted to send Kang Xiu back to her hometown in anger.

Hearing the rumors over the past few days, he had been furious, wondering who the scoundrel was. He hadn’t expected it to be his wife!

Standing before Commander Song, He Yong was scolded harshly. He hung his head, as submissive as a grandson, then turned to apologize to Jiang Nian. Facing Lu Yu, he looked embarrassed, “Deputy Commander Lu, I’m really sorry.”

Lu Yu looked at Jiang Nian, whose eyes were slightly red, and said in a deep voice, “This matter needs to be properly addressed. A simple apology is not enough.”

He Yong, remembering how Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law had been driven to the brink of suicide by similar incidents, became anxious. He didn’t want his wife to push someone else to the same extent. He looked at Lu Yu and asked, “Deputy Commander Lu, what do you suggest as a solution?”

Lu Yu turned to Jiang Nian and asked softly, “Sister-in-law, what do you want to do?”

He wanted her to vent her frustrations and avoid falling into despair as she had before. He was determined to support her in any way he could.

By now, most of the residents of the family quarters had gathered, and all eyes were on Jiang Nian. She kept her head down, nervously tugging at the hem of her clothes. She looked like a meek and bullied person. Feng Mei spoke up, “Just say what you want. My husband will make sure you get justice.”

Commander Song shot a sidelong glance at Feng Mei, contemplating using his shoe to smack her. She had committed him to a promise he hadn’t made.

Jiang Nian stared at her toes, her eyelashes masking a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. She spoke quietly, “Sister Kang spread rumors about me and Sergeant Zhu, causing everyone in the family quarters to gossip about me.”

She paused, then continued hesitantly, “I want her to go to every household and explain the truth, clearing my and Sergeant Zhu’s names. I don’t want to be pointed at and whispered about whenever I leave the house.”

Lu Yu looked at He Yong, and Commander Song did the same.

This request wasn’t difficult but extremely humiliating. Making Kang Xiu go door to door to explain would be like stripping away her dignity, ensuring she was seen as a gossipy woman who makes trouble out of nothing. Commander Song was secretly impressed by Jiang Nian’s subtle but firm demand.

Kang Xiu, who had been silent with her head down since He Yong arrived, suddenly looked up at Jiang Nian and snapped, “No way! Don’t even think about it!”

He Yong glared fiercely at her, causing her to shrink back and lose her defiance.

Gritting his teeth, He Yong said, “Alright, I’ll make Kang Xiu explain the truth to everyone tomorrow.”

The military wives and older women, gossiping as they left, decided to stay home the next day to witness Kang Xiu’s ‘performance.’

The commotion finally ended.

Commander Song dispersed the crowd. As Jiang Nian walked back home, she saw Zheng Hong looking at Kang Xiu with an expression of disappointment. Noticing Jiang Nian’s gaze, Zheng Hong turned and walked away with a cold expression.

Jiang Nian frowned, a thought suddenly occurring to her.

From the storyline in the book, she knew Kang Xiu was a brainless woman, easily influenced by others. Like when her sister Kang Nan flattered her, Kang Xiu enthusiastically went to matchmake for Kang Nan and Song Bai.

“Stay for dinner before you leave,” Lu Yu’s voice brought Jiang Nian back to reality. She echoed, “Stay and eat. I’ll go cook.”

She went inside first, with Lu Yu and Zhu Jun following behind.

Zhu Jun, still seething with anger, said to Lu Yu, “Deputy Commander Lu, Captain He’s wife is despicable. Thankfully, sister-in-law suggested making her explain to everyone. I wouldn’t have thought of that.”

His words made Lu Yu ponder.

If it had been anyone else, they might have considered the issue resolved after explaining it in front of everyone. By the next day, the truth would spread, and the rumors would die. But his sister-in-law wanted Kang Xiu to explain to each household personally.

He glanced at Jiang Nian, who was busy in the kitchen, but didn’t dwell on it, instead chatting with Zhu Jun in the yard.

Since it was late, Jiang Nian quickly made two simple dishes, corn pancakes, and cooked a pot of dumpling soup. Zhu Jun, enjoying the meal, felt his anger dissipate. After eating, he praised, “Sister-in-law’s cooking is delicious!”

After getting used to her cooking over the past two months, he found the food at the cafeteria lacking in comparison.

After dinner, Zhu Jun left. Lu Yu washed the dishes, prepared hot water, and poured bathwater for Jiang Nian.

Standing outside the door after her bath, Jiang Nian watched Lu Yu pour the water into the courtyard and asked, “When will you move back to the dormitory?”

Feeling like she was being too blunt, she quickly added, “I was just asking, nothing else.”

Actually, she didn’t want Lu Yu to leave.

The incident with Kang Xiu made her realize the security of having a man at home. If she faced something she couldn’t handle, Lu Yu could stand up for her.

Like tonight.

Lu Yu turned to look at Jiang Nian, standing under the warm yellow light that cast a soft shadow on her slender neck. Her eyes shone as she waited for his answer.

Not missing the hope in her eyes, Lu Yu said, “I’ll stay here from now on.”

He also felt it was safer for his sister-in-law to be under his watch.

Seeing her lips curve into a small, beautiful smile filled with light, Lu Yu swallowed hard. Placing the basin in the eastern room, he said, “It’s late, let’s sleep.”

Jiang Nian replied softly, “Hmm.”

She returned to her room, lay down, and fell asleep listening to the chirping of the cicadas outside her window.

Early the next morning, Jiang Nian got up and prepared breakfast.

She made three dishes. They had a vegetable garden, and she didn’t eat much herself, mainly relying on Lu Yu. So, she cooked more to avoid wasting vegetables that would otherwise spoil.

Lu Yu said, “Sister-in-law, in a couple of days, let’s invite Commander Song, Captain Liu, and their families, as well as Zhu Jun, for a meal.”

During the two months that he was away, Xu Yan and Feng Mei helped Jiang Nian a lot. Zhu Jun also pitched in a great deal, but ended up getting himself into trouble.

Jiang Nian nodded. “Okay.”

After finishing his meal, Lu Yu went straight to the team. Jiang Nian collected the dishes to wash in the kitchen. Feng Mei arrived just as she finished. She smiled before saying anything. After laughing for a while, she finally spoke, “I just came from the family quarters in front. Kang Xiu is going door to door explaining things to people. I got so thirsty listening outside that I had to come back for water before going back to watch. But if Kang Xiu finishes explaining to all the households, she probably won’t be able to speak for several days.”

Then she grumbled, “If she loses her voice, she brought it on herself. Who asked her to gossip so much?”

Jiang Nian agreed, “She brought it upon herself.”

Feng Mei nodded, “Exactly.” After nodding, she realized she didn’t understand again. She looked at Jiang Nian strangely, making Jiang Nian nervous. She asked, “Sister Feng, why are you looking at me like that?”

Feng Mei laughed, “I noticed you are the same as Song Bai, using four words at a time. But what does ‘she brought it upon herself’ mean?”

Jiang Nian hesitated briefly before explaining, “It means all the consequences she’s facing now are because of her own actions.”

“Oh,” Feng Mei said. “How do you know so much? Did you go to elementary school in the countryside?”

Jiang Nian quickly made up a lie, “Xu Cheng taught me. He and Lu Yu studied before, and during those years when Xu Cheng was at home, he taught me how to read a few characters.”

The fact that Xu Cheng was educated was well known, but whether he had taught the original owner to read was something only she knew.

After all, Xu Cheng had already passed away, and there was no way to verify this.

Feng Mei laughed, “Knowing how to read is a good thing. During the New Year, Old Song’s cousin, Song Bai, is coming back. You should meet him then. Don’t worry, my cousin is very handsome, and you are beautiful. Maybe you two will hit it off?”

Jiang Nian thought to herself. Sister Feng seemed determined to match her with Song Bai.

Seeing Jiang Nian’s silence, Feng Mei continued, “Last time at your house, with Deputy Commander Lu there, I couldn’t talk freely. Now that he’s not here, I have more to say to you. You’re not young anymore. Just because your husband passed away, do you have to remain a widow for the rest of your life? It’s better to meet someone suitable and get remarried. You and Lu Yu live under the same roof every day. It doesn’t sound good when people hear about it. Although Lu Yu is your younger brother-in-law, that’s only in name, you still need to be cautious.”

She glanced outside the courtyard, saw no one was around, leaned closer to Jiang Nian, and said in a low voice, “What if one day Lu Yu takes a liking to another woman? If that woman sees him living with another woman, who would dare marry him? So, in my opinion, wait until Song Bai comes back for the New Year, and I’ll help you two get together.”

Jiang Nian thought Sister Feng had been going around in circles but seemed intent on this idea.

Afraid that if she didn’t agree now, Feng Mei would say something else, Jiang Nian nodded, “Okay.”

“Then it’s settled,” Feng Mei said, unscrewing the cap of her army-green thermos and taking a sip. “I’m so thirsty.”

Jiang Nian was a little curious and asked “Sister Feng, why are you so determined to introduce me to Commander Song’s cousin? I’m a widow, after all.”

Feng Mei glanced at her, “You’re appealing to me. You’re good-looking, hardworking and cook well. Besides, what’s wrong with being a widow? You don’t even have children.”

Jiang Nian was at a loss for words.

After Feng Mei left, Xu Yan came. She told Jiang Nian how many houses Kang Xiu had visited, also drinking water from an army-green thermos like Feng Mei.

Jiang Nian felt Xu Yan had changed a lot in the past two months. She no longer stayed home all day like before and didn’t argue with Liu Qiang anymore. Remembering what she had said to Xu Yan last time, Jiang Nian asked, “How have these past few days been for you?”

Xu Yan knew Jiang Nian was referring to her previous advice on using sugar-coated words to deceive Liu Qiang and take financial control. She shook her head, “Not yet. I argued with Liu Qiang yesterday. I plan to wait a few days before bringing it up again.”

Xu Yan left close to lunchtime.

At noon, Kang Xiu had visited ten houses and her mouth was dry. After lunch, she continued to explain door-to-door.

Jiang Nian cooked fried noodles for lunch. After Lu Yu finished eating, he went to the team. Jiang Nian stood at the courtyard gate and saw Kang Xiu walking with her head down towards Feng Mei’s house. Behind her were a group of children and some military wives and older women who were curious.

Kang Xiu saw Jiang Nian, clenched her fists, glared at her with resentment, then went into Feng Mei’s courtyard.

Jiang Nian ignored her.

She sat on a bench in the yard, peeled a piece of chocolate and bit into it, listening to Kang Xiu explain things at Feng Mei’s house. Unable to hold back, she burst out laughing. A head appeared at the door, whispering, “Auntie.”

Jiang Nian turned to see it was Song Xiangdong. She waved, “Come in.”

It was already October, and Song Xiangdong had been in school for a month. He wore a long-sleeved shirt and carried a small cross-body backpack that Feng Mei gave him. The bag was made by folding a piece of black cloth and sewing it from left to right, with straps sewn at both ends for easy cross-body wear.

The strap was a bit long, and Song Xiangdong tripped over it when he ran.

Jiang Nian took out the last two pieces of chocolate from her pocket and placed them in Song Xiangdong’s hand. She smiled, “Give one to your little brother.”

Song Xiangdong awkwardly clenched his fists, his face turning slightly red. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Jiang Nian heard that Kang Xiu had finished speaking and walked past the door towards Xu Yan’s house. She asked Song Xiangdong, “Do you need something from Auntie?”

Song Xiangdong took out a sugar cube the size of a fingernail from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Nian. He whispered, “Auntie always gives me and Xianghong things to eat, so I wanted to give something to Auntie too. This candy was given to me by my teacher as a reward for being good and studying hard.”

Jiang Nian felt warm in her heart. She took the candy, peeled off the paper wraps from the candy cube, and ate it in front of Song Xiangdong. It wasn’t very sweet, just the cheapest kind of candy, but Jiang Nian felt sweetness all the way to her heart.

What a good child, yet destined for such a tragic future in the books.

Seeing Jiang Nian eat, Song Xiangdong smiled happily and peeled a chocolate to eat himself. He rarely had chocolate growing up, only when Uncle Song Bai came to visit his father would he and Xianghong would be able to eat chocolate.

Jiang Nian glanced at Song Xiangdong’s school bag and asked, “Didn’t you bring your lunch to school? Why are you back?”

Song Xiangdong replied, “The teacher said the team leader arranged for everyone to go catch fish at the fish pond today, so we don’t have afternoon classes.”

Jiang Nian was aware of this.

Every year in the commune, people would go to the fish pond to catch fish. The fish caught had to be handed over, and in the end, each household would receive only a few fish. But for most families who rarely had meat, this time of year meant they could eat fish to satisfy their cravings.

Jiang Nian tugged at the strap on his shoulder. “Since there’s no afternoon class, should Auntie make some changes to your school bag?”

Song Xiangdong’s eyes lit up. He took off his school bag and handed it to Jiang Nian eagerly, asking, “How will Auntie change it? I want to see.”

Jiang Nian pointed to the bench below. “Sit there.”

She fetched various colored threads bought from the supply and marketing cooperative from a tin box in the house, holding needles and thimbles ^[1]A thimble is a small pitted cup worn on the finger that protects it from being pricked or poked by a needle while sewing. as she sat on the bench in the courtyard. Song Xiangdong leaned forward eagerly to watch. Auntie alternated between olive green and brown threads, effortlessly sewing on the schoolbag.

Song Xiangdong grew tired of sitting and stood up to watch closely.

He noticed the needles and threads seemed to come to life in Auntie’s hands, slowly forming a little boy in olive green military uniform with a cap adorned with a red five-pointed star in the center. He carried a small school bag on his back, and his eyes and nose resembled his own.

Song Xiangdong stared in amazement, pinching his own cheek. He watched intently as Auntie continued sewing on the schoolbag until his embroidered feet were finished. Only then did Song Xiangdong snap out of his trance and exclaimed in delight.

“It’s so beautiful!”

“Auntie, you’re so awesome!”

Jiang Nian smiled and shortened the schoolbag strap a little, then tucked the needle into the thread, shook the school bag, and handed it to Song Xiaodong. “Try it on and see if the strap length is good.”

Song Xiangdong happily slung the schoolbag over his shoulder. The length was just right. He joyfully touched the embroidered little boy in military attire on the school bag and looked up at Jiang Nian with sparkling eyes. “Auntie, is this me?”

Jiang Nian chuckled. “Of course it’s you.”

Song Xiangdong had never seen such a handsome schoolbag before. “If I bring it to school tomorrow, my classmates will definitely envy me. I want to show it to my mom when I get home.”

“Mom, Mom, look at the school bag Auntie Jiang sewed for me. It’s so beautiful.”

Song Xiangdong ran home and placed the school bag on the table as if it were a treasure. When Song Xianghong walked over and tried to touch it, Song Xiangdong slapped her hand away. “Don’t touch it and ruin it.”

Song Xianghong: …

She pouted and turned to look at Feng Mei, who had just entered the room. “Mom, Brother hit me.”

Song Xiangdong retorted, “Who hit you? I just lightly tapped you.”

Feng Mei said, “Alright, alright, you two argue every day.” Holding a needle to mend the sole of her shoe, she asked, “What did Auntie Jiang sew that made you so happy?”

Song Xiangdong lightly patted the schoolbag strap to show his mother the little boy in military uniform with a cap.

Feng Mei smiled. “It’s embroidered…”

Her words abruptly stopped. She widened her eyes at the little boy embroidered on the school bag, laid the bag flat, and carefully examined the needlework. The boy’s nose and eyes looked exactly like Xiangdong, and he even had a missing front tooth, just like Xiangdong.

Feng Mei was speechless with shock. She touched the school bag with her fingers and murmured, “Oh my goodness, the embroidery is so lifelike.”

She turned to ask, “Did Auntie Jiang really embroider this?”

Song Xiangdong gleefully said, “I watched Auntie Jiang embroider it myself. She’s so fast that I almost went cross-eyed watching.”

Feng Mei clicked her tongue.

If Jiang Nian really ended up with Song Bai, then Song Bai had truly hit the jackpot.

Just as night fell, Commander Song returned home. Song Xiangdong excitedly brought the school bag to him to see. “Dad, look at this. Who do you think it is?”

Commander Song sat on a bench, drinking water from an enamel cup. He glanced at the school bag laid out on the table by Song Xiangdong. The water he had just swallowed almost choked him, and he turned to look at Feng Mei standing near the stove. Feng Mei smiled mysteriously and said, “Guess who embroidered it?”

Commander Song said, “It certainly wasn’t you.”

Feng Mei: …

She didn’t argue with him and said, “It was embroidered by Deputy Commander Lu’s sister-in-law.”

Seeing the astonishment on Commander Song’s face, Feng Mei looked as proud as if she had embroidered it herself and said confidently, “Moreover, she promised me that when Song Bai comes back for the New Year, she’ll meet Song Bai. By then, she’ll be our sister-in-law.”

Commander Song: …

When Lu Yu arrived home, Jiang Nian was cooking in the kitchen.

He walked up to the stove and sat down to tend the fire. Jiang Nian served the food and used a knife to cut the noodles into strips, dropping them into the pot.

Tonight they would just have hand-pulled noodles and cold cucumber salad.

Lu Yu glanced at Jiang Nian’s clothes, patched in several places. “Sister-in-law, I’ll have leave at the end of the month. I’ll take you to the city to buy some autumn and winter clothes, and you can think about what else the house needs, and we’ll buy it together.”

The weather was slowly getting cooler, with temperature differences between morning and night.

The clothes Jiang Nian brought from home were all for summer, with barely two items for autumn and winter, all of them patched up.

Jiang Nian glanced at her clothes and thought about the money Lu Yu had given her. She had spent most of it in the past two months on expensive threads, some cloth, and even bought some meat, but had refrained from buying snacks.

Lu Yu hadn’t been paid in two months, and she didn’t dare touch the money in the tin box anymore.

Moreover, she was reluctant to let Lu Yu buy her clothes again, fearing that he would feel burdened.

However, now she needed to find a way to get a job and earn money, at least enough to support herself without relying on Lu Yu all the time.

Thinking about this, Jiang Nian whispered softly, “No need to buy for me. I have clothes. When autumn and winter come, I’ll tear some cloth and cotton and make clothes myself. I’ll make a few outfits for you too.”

Besides, the clothes in the city were not only expensive but also not to her taste. She believed she could make better-looking clothes herself. After all, there was a big difference in aesthetics between her and this era separated by decades.

Lu Yu watched Jiang Nian’s cheeks flush from the heat and frowned slightly at her words. He used an iron hook to adjust the fire in the stove and said, “Some things should still be bought. Don’t skimp on what shouldn’t be.”

After adjusting the fire, he carried the bowl and plate to the yard and sat down. Jiang Nian pursed her lips, took a deep breath, picked up her bowl, and walked to the yard. She sat opposite Lu Yu, quietly eating her noodles.

Just as she had taken a couple of bites, she suddenly noticed a light brown envelope in her line of sight.

Jiang Nian looked up to see Lu Yu retract his hand, his dark eyes fixed on her. “This is my salary for the past two months . There is another part that will be paid out with the subsidy at the end of the year.I kept a bit for myself, and the rest is for you, Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Nian lowered her eyes and looked at the thick envelope, struggling to swallow the noodles in her mouth.

Lu Yu finished three bowls of noodles in succession, then took Jiang Nian’s bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen to wash dishes.

Listening to the sound of water in the kitchen, Jiang Nian stared blankly at the envelope on the table. When she picked it up, her fingers felt slightly hot.

She walked into the house, pulled the light switch, and took out the money from the envelope. In addition to the cash, there were many notes, all in small denominations. She counted carefully and felt something was not right, so she counted again.

It totaled seven hundred yuan.

So much money!

Jiang Nian felt that this salary was probably related to Lu Yu’s absence for the past two months. He mentioned that half would come at the year-end along with subsidies. She lowered her head and counted the money again, pulling out three bills and holding them up to the light bulb to examine the patterns closely. She was so focused that she didn’t hear the footsteps approaching outside the house.

“All the money is real.”

The man’s deep, magnetic voice carried a hint of amusement.

Startled, Jiang Nian’s hand trembled, and she turned to see Lu Yu standing at the door of the room!

**

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