Chapter 89: You Live by the Sea, You Really Keep Your Nose in Everything

By the time they arrived at the base, it was already past 9 PM. The house had been thoroughly cleaned, as Shen Yunhe had called a comrade in advance to help tidy up. He placed the three children directly onto their beds to sleep.

“Wife, it’s late. Get some rest, leave the things for tomorrow,” he said.

“Mm.” Jiang Banyue stretched her arms to massage her sore shoulders. The journey had worn her out, especially the train ride.

Shen Yunhe scooped her up in a bridal carry and headed for the bedroom.

“Let’s go, time to sleep!”

They slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, the three children woke up early, curiously exploring the room. Shen Yunhe was in the kitchen cooking, while Jiang Banyue was still asleep.

Outside, there was a yard where the kids were running around. Shen Yunhe kept an eye on them through the kitchen window. Jiang Huaijin ran over and shouted toward him:

“Dad, can I build a swing set in the yard?”

“Sure, after we finish eating, I’ll help you set it up,” Shen Yunhe replied.

“Great!” Jiang Huaijin happily ran off to continue playing.

From time to time, Shen Yunhe glanced out the window at the children, while Jiang Banyue, waking up from her rest, felt sore all over. She made a fist and rubbed her lower back before heading to the kitchen. She stood behind Shen Yunhe, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“What are you making?”

“Lean pork congee. Almost done. Go wash up and come eat,” he replied.

“Okay.” Jiang Banyue stood on her tiptoes and kissed him before heading to the bathroom to wash up. The children rushed into the room, full of excitement.

“Time to eat, go wash your hands,” Jiang Banyue called, wiping her face with a towel.

The kids scrambled over to the sink to wash up.

After breakfast, Shen Yunhe left for work, and Jiang Banyue stayed home to tidy up. The children sat on the couch, watching TV.

“Change your clothes, we’re going out. I’ll take you to school for registration,” Jiang Banyue said.

“Okay!” The children eagerly looked up at her, quickly changing their clothes. Jiang Banyue led the children out the door. There was a military school in the area where the children of soldiers attended.

On their way, Jiang Banyue walked with her three children toward the school. A few military wives were sitting under a tree, chatting. A woman in her thirties walked over.

“You must be General Shen’s wife, right?”

“Yes!” Jiang Banyue stopped to talk to the woman. The woman smiled and slapped her thigh.

“Ah, no wonder you look so familiar. I’m Wang Yingchang’s wife, Wang Xiuhua.”

“Hello,” Jiang Banyue greeted her. Wang Xiuhua looked at the children.

“Wow, these must be General Shen’s kids! They really look like him!”

Jiang Banyue smiled and nodded, then turned to the children.

“This is Aunt Wang, say hello to Aunt Wang.”

Jiang Huairou smiled sweetly. “Hello, Aunt Wang.”

“Hello, such a beautiful girl,” Wang Xiuhua responded.

Jiang Huaijin and Jiang Huaiyu also greeted Aunt Wang. Wang Xiuhua was delighted.

“Oh my, you’re so lucky, having these wonderful three children. They’re all so good-looking!”

Jiang Banyue smiled without saying much, while the women sitting under the tree curiously walked over. Wang Xiuhua introduced.

“This is General Shen’s wife, do you remember her?”

Zhang Xiufen, feeling guilty, glanced at Jiang Banyue. She had once passed on a message to Liu Juan from General Shen. Fortunately, it hadn’t been found out, so they didn’t know. Unsure whether she was trying to cover up her guilt or something else, she loudly declared:

“Where did this ‘General Shen’s wife’ come from? Didn’t they get divorced?”

Jiang Banyue’s face hardened. “Sorry to disappoint you, but we remarried.”

Zhang Xiufen, hearing that they had remarried, became livid with jealousy. “Divorce and remarry? Are you treating military marriages like a joke?”

Jiang Banyue shot back without hesitation.

“My husband enjoys pampering me, but what does that have to do with you? Do you live by the sea? You really have a lot to say about other people’s business!”

“You—” Zhang Xiufen was too furious to respond. Wang Xiuhua, frowning, tugged at her.

“Zhang Xiufen, why are you meddling in other people’s marital affairs?”

“She’s clearly divorced and remarried! Isn’t that treating marriage like a joke? Isn’t that irresponsible? Isn’t it worth criticizing?” Zhang Xiufen shot back.

Jiang Banyue’s gaze turned cold. “Zhang Xiufen, you’re really overstepping, meddling in other people’s business. Whether we divorce or remarry, it’s none of your business!”

Without saying another word, Jiang Banyue turned and led her three children toward the school. Zhang Xiufen, fuming, stomped her foot.

“Look at her attitude! Her words are so infuriating!”

The women watching her looked at her like she was crazy. Wang Xiuhua, shaking her head, couldn’t help but speak up.

“Zhang Xiufen, that’s General Shen’s wife. Your husband works under hers. How dare you argue with her?”

Zhang Xiufen was stunned. Her husband was a company commander, over thirty years old, always hoping for a promotion but never having the chance. Now, she’d offended General Shen’s wife, and if her husband found out, he would be furious. Despite her fear, she still stubbornly said:

“It’s just a little argument between women. How can it be about men’s work? This is just personal vengeance!”

The other women exchanged looks and didn’t want to deal with this foolishness anymore. One by one, they found excuses to leave.

“I just remembered I still have laundry to do at home. I’ll head back first.”

“I need to buy groceries, I’m going to the market.”

“I’ve got something to do, let’s all go together!”

Zhang Xiufen hurried back home, repeatedly reassuring herself.

“It’ll be fine. It’s just a few words between women. If she goes to General Shen to complain, then she’s too petty, not fit to be his wife!”

---

Jiang Banyue took the children to tour the school afterward, and they all liked it. The teacher arranged for them to be placed in the third grade.

“You can start attending classes tomorrow,” the teacher said with a smile, seeing them out.

“Alright, thank you, Teacher.”

Turning to the children, she added, “We’re heading home now. You’ll be going to school tomorrow.”

Back home, Jiang Banyue was preparing lunch in the kitchen. When Shen Yunhe returned, Jiang Huairou, huffing with anger, immediately went to complain to her father.

“Daddy, Mommy took us to school for registration, and on the way, some bad woman bullied Mommy. She said you and Mommy got divorced. She’s so bad!”

Shen Yunhe’s face darkened as he crouched down to meet his daughter’s gaze. “Who bullied your mommy?”

Jiang Huairou scratched her head, frowning in thought.

“I think her name was something like Zhang… or was it Fen? I can’t remember.”

“Zhang Xiufen,” Jiang Huaijin interjected from the side. “She’s such an idiot. Can’t even remember a name!”

“Brother, why are you calling people names? Hmph!” Jiang Huairou folded her arms and turned her head away, refusing to speak to him. Jiang Huaijin scoffed, “Idiot!”

Jiang Huaiyu joined in, mocking, “Idiot, idiot!”

Angrily, Jiang Huairou chased after him, and Jiang Huaiyu darted away like a little monkey, laughing. The children were playfully causing a ruckus while Shen Yunhe stood up and walked over to the kitchen, stopping behind Jiang Banyue.

“Did you run into any trouble today?”

“Hm?” Jiang Banyue turned to look at him. “Ran into a crazy woman, so I gave her a piece of my mind.”

“Good job. Next time something like this happens, just put her in her place. If you can’t win with words, just fight back. I’ve worked this hard; I won’t let my wife suffer in silence. That would be a waste!”

“Alright, that’s your job,” Jiang Banyue replied with a smile.

Shen Yunhe lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead.

“Mine.”