Chapter 23: Auntie, You’re a Noble Person

The confrontation had completely torn the veil off.

At the border, someone had given Huo Donglin the nickname “Cold Noodles Yama,” which meant he struck swiftly and decisively, never allowing his enemies a moment to breathe.

Manman quickly ran up and tugged at Huo Donglin’s big hand.

Huo Donglin thought his son was scared and bent down to pick him up.

But to his surprise, the little brat disdainfully whispered in his ear, “Dad, you’re useless. Mom already solved everything before you showed up.”

“…”

Huo Donglin’s hand itched.

After stirring up trouble, his son dashed off like a little loach, rushing to Jiang Ningning’s side to show his affection.

There was no need to guess: that mischievous little mouth of his would surely pour on the sweetest compliments, showering his mother with rainbow-colored praise.

Huo Donglin’s face darkened even further.

The tense atmosphere grew even more suffocating.

Zhao Weijun’s eyes filled with malice as he smiled and tried to smooth things over, “Donglin, there must be some misunderstanding here. Zhang Yun’s that woman, she’s from the countryside and doesn’t know better. I’ll make her apologize to you.”

Everyone knew that they were all colleagues, and for years, others had tolerated Zhang Yun’s behavior out of respect for their close ties. But Zhao’s family had grown arrogant, and today, they had met a tough opponent.

If this was reported, Zhao Weijun would have a stain on his record, making it even harder for him to get promoted.

“Stupid woman, get over here!” Zhao Weijun waved at his wife.

Zhang Yun, her body shrinking, took small steps towards him. No matter how slow she moved, the distance would eventually close, and she would have to stop.

As soon as she stood still, Zhao Weijun raised his hand and slapped her. “You disgraceful thing! Apologize to Huo Donglin right now!”

The slap was hard enough to make Zhang Yun stagger to one side, and her cheek immediately swelled up.

Zhang Yun’s four daughters scrambled up from the ground and huddled together, shivering in fear.

Jiang Ningning frowned uncomfortably.

Zhang Yun was indeed detestable, but a domestic abuser was even worse.

If it weren’t for him backing her up, could Zhang Yun have caused such a ruckus in the family quarters?

A child’s innocent voice suddenly rang out, “Mom, is this uncle trying to morally blackmail us?”

Manman, trying to use a higher pitch, pointed at the salted fish drying in the neighboring yard. “So, is it okay for his family to take whatever they want, as long as they apologize?”

In the adult world, some things were understood even without being explicitly said, but when openly spoken, the meaning changed entirely.

Zhao Weijun was choking on his own anger, but he couldn’t express it. The pressure built up in his chest, almost suffocating him.

Huo Donglin found his son’s teasing amusing, as long as it wasn’t directed at him.

He turned his gaze toward Zhao Weijun with a touch of disgust, then furrowed his brows and dismissed him, “The child understands the principles better than you, Deputy Battalion Commander Zhao. Please leave.”

Before Zhao Weijun could say anything else, he was confronted by Huo Donglin, who was taller, once his subordinate, and now two ranks higher in the military.

Huo Donglin’s pitch-black eyes locked onto him, not a glimmer of light in them. It was as though he was ready to strip him of his skin and bones with his sharp teeth.

Zhao Weijun felt a chill crawl up his spine, as if a cold snake slithered over his back, and obediently closed his mouth.

“Let’s go home!”

He grabbed his wife by the hair and fled in disgrace.

Soon, sounds of slapping and the anguished cries of a woman and children echoed from next door.

“Mom…”

The two little ones, who had never seen such things, clung tightly to Jiang Ningning’s pants.

“Big girl, don’t be soft-hearted.”

Old Lady Cai took Jiang Ningning’s hand and kindly warned, “In the past, there were people who tried to help Zhang Yun by writing letters of complaint to the higher-ups.

But in the end, Zhang Yun held a grudge and thought they were meddling in their marriage, even suspecting them of coveting her man.”

Zhao Weijun, that spineless man who only dares to take out his frustrations on his wife, that’s the kind of person she treats like a treasure.

He causes trouble at their home every few days, and in the end, they end up losing a lot of things just to calm things down.

This is exactly what the old saying goes: some people’s suffering is entirely of their own making.

Jiang Ningning smiled faintly, “Thank you for the reminder, Aunt. I won’t meddle in other people’s business.”

She then held Old Lady Cai’s hand, her autumn-like eyes full of gratitude and sincerity. “No wonder I heard magpies calling when I first arrived. The elders in my hometown often say that when magpies call, it’s a sign that you’ll meet a benefactor. And here we are, my family is lucky to have met you.”

As Jiang Ningning looked at her with such heartfelt eyes, Old Lady Cai felt her chest fill with warmth.

“My dear girl…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Ningning interrupted, teasing, “Aunt, just call me Ningning, please don’t be so formal. I feel like you’re just like my own mother, so close to me.”

“Right now, we don’t have anything at home, but if we did, I’d definitely prepare a big spread of delicious food and desserts to entertain you, and we could chat for days.”

Old Lady Cai was immediately swept away by these sweet words, her head spinning. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Ningning, since you just moved in, you must need some things. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to a good place to buy some.”

She immediately regretted it after the words left her mouth.

Where she was planning to take her wasn’t exactly a formal store.

Jiang Ningning’s eyes glowed with pure gratitude as she stared at her, her little face flushed with excitement. “Aunt, you’re so kind. You’re just like a living Lei Feng.”

Old Lady Cai was completely flattered by the praise, and when she left, she was all smiles, her face glowing.

Huo Donglin’s gaze fell on Jiang Ningning, just in time to catch her slightly raised smile.

Realizing he was being watched, she didn’t seem the least bit guilty.

Instead, she flashed him a soft, genuine smile.

Her expression was so sincere that it was easy to understand her feelings.

How could his wife be the type to say sweet words? She was genuinely thankful to Old Lady Cai.

After all, she was the first to stand up for them.

Not long after Old Lady Cai left, the logistics team quickly delivered the furniture.

Though they called it furniture, it consisted of four stools, a dining table, three beds, and a large double-door wardrobe.

With all of it set up in the house, it looked even more sparse.

Other items could be added later, but for now, they only brought two blankets. Jiang Ningning furrowed her delicate brow.

In this era, only large malls sold memory foam mattresses. And not only were they expensive, but the island was a place where everyone’s eyes were on you.

By the time the things were moved in, they’d probably be reported for having a “bourgeois lifestyle.”

But…

How were they supposed to sleep without a mattress?

Huo Donglin explained, “The cotton supply is limited. The situation is special, and the higher-ups approved it. The logistics department could only find two blankets.”

He had bedding in the dorm, but it was for a single bed, and it didn’t fit.

Moreover, since Jiang Ningning was now with the children and following the military, it wasn’t appropriate for him to stay in the dorms anymore. Aside from his personal belongings, everything else was to be left for others.

This meant that before the bedding could be properly distributed, their family of four would have to squeeze onto one bed.

Manman was the first to protest, pouting, “Mom, can I not sleep next to Dad?”

He gestured with both hands, his face exaggerated with fear. “Dad’s like a big bear! I’m so small, what if he crushes me at night?”

Hearing her brother, Xia Xia was terrified.

She immediately imagined not being able to sleep close to her mom, and her big eyes quickly filled with tears. She darted behind Jiang Ningning, terrified of “Big Bear Dad.”

“…”

Huo Donglin’s black hair fell over his forehead, and there were visible veins popping out.

He was trying his best to hold back his anger!