Chapter 20: Look at That Guilty Conscience

“I told Gu Ye that I’ll cook for myself from now on.” Jiang Yue remembered reminding him before he left the house that morning.

“That’s probably because Regiment Commander Gu got busy and forgot.” Sister-in-law Zhao said as she withdrew her gaze and glanced at Jiang Yue, her expression conveying she wanted to say something but hesitated.

However, Jiang Yue, who was lowering her gaze, didn’t notice. She was thinking that Gu Ye wouldn’t have forgotten, but perhaps he still didn’t trust her.

Lian Rongrong, seeing that she had successfully made Jiang Yue feel disgusted, was in a great mood and walked briskly on her way back, almost as if walking on air.

Once they entered the Family Residential Compound, Sister-in-law Zhao took the basket of groceries and brought it to Jiang Yue’s doorstep, making Jiang Yue feel extremely grateful.

“Sister-in-law, come in and have a seat, drink some water!” Jiang Yue took out her keys to unlock the door and warmly invited Sister-in-law Zhao inside.

“No, no! I have a lot of work to do at home!” Sister-in-law Zhao waved her hand, smiling as she spoke to Jiang Yue. “Little Jiang, if you don’t mind, we can go grocery shopping together from now on!”

“Sure! Of course, I don’t mind! I’d love that!” Jiang Yue’s eyes brightened at the thought of having company. It would be great to have someone to chat with while walking, especially to hear gossip.

“Gu Ye told me that you are the warmest-hearted, handling everything inside and outside the house. He said I should learn more from you! I’m still young and don’t understand many things, so I’ll have to trouble you to teach me in the future!” Jiang Yue eagerly flattered Sister-in-law Zhao with unrestrained praise.

The first rule of social interaction: sweet talk.

“Did Regiment Commander Gu really say that?” Sister-in-law Zhao’s face lit up with joy upon hearing this.

“Of course! Gu Ye often praises you for being capable!” Jiang Yue continued to flatter her.

Everyone likes to hear compliments, and it was clear that Jiang Yue’s praise pleased Sister-in-law Zhao immensely.

Meanwhile, Lian Rongrong, standing to the side, couldn’t help but roll her eyes, silently cursing Jiang Yue in her mind: Hypocrite!

“You’re making me shy, little Jiang! We’re all military families living in the same Family Residential Compound. We should spend more time together. If you need help, just let me know!” Sister-in-law Zhao said, clearly in a good mood.

“Alright! Sister-in-law! I’ll be happy to do that!” Jiang Yue sent Sister-in-law Zhao off, watching her and Lian Rongrong’s figures disappear around the corner of the row of houses before she turned back and entered her own home.

She weighed the basket of groceries in her hand, thinking that her body was still too weak—she was too thin and lacked any curves. She needed to start exercising!

Jiang Yue took the groceries out of the basket and began bringing them into the courtyard in batches.

Before Sister-in-law Zhao left, she had also shared some news with Jiang Yue. Every Tuesday and Friday, the logistics department would send a car to the city to buy supplies. If Jiang Yue needed any large items, she could hitch a ride, going and returning on the same day, as long as she got up early.

“Sister-in-law, don’t you think Jiang Yue is acting a little strange today?” Lian Rongrong quickly grabbed Sister-in-law Zhao’s arm as soon as they were out of earshot, her face full of mystery as she gossiped. “Usually, Jiang Yue is so aloof, she’s been living in the Family Residential Compound for a while now, and I’ve never seen her smile at anyone! Why is she suddenly so polite with us today?”

Sister-in-law Zhao also thought it was a bit odd. “It is a bit strange!”

Lian Rongrong appeared to be making a big deal out of it. “And Jiang Yue never buys groceries or cooks. Today, she actually went all out! She bought so many vegetables! Not to mention, that bass fish must weigh at least three or four pounds, and it must have cost at least two dollars!”

“What are you trying to say, Xiao Lian?” Sister-in-law Zhao looked at Lian Rongrong suspiciously, feeling like there was more to her words.

“Sister-in-law, I’m just worried that Jiang Yue’s being impulsive. She doesn’t even know how to cook, so why would she suddenly buy so many good ingredients? I’m afraid she’ll end up getting taken advantage of by Li Hongying again!” Lian Rongrong didn’t like Jiang Yue, but she hated Li Hongying even more.

Gu Ye had hired Li Hongying to clean and cook, with a salary and extra money for groceries. However, Li Hongying was two-faced. She took the money but would only pick out discarded vegetable leaves at the market, spending as little as possible and buying poor-quality meat for Jiang Yue to eat.

Everyone in the Family Residential Compound knew about Li Hongying’s deceitful ways, except for Jiang Yue, who was kept in the dark.

“You’re right, Xiao Lian!” Sister-in-law Zhao nodded: “I need to remind Jiang Yue!”

“Sister-in-law!” Lian Rongrong grabbed Sister-in-law Zhao’s arm, stopping her. “Don’t go! If Jiang Yue were the type to listen to others, would she have been fooled by Li Hongying for so long?”

“That doesn’t mean we should just let Jiang Yue continue being taken advantage of by Li Hongying!” Sister-in-law Zhao said. “And I’ve noticed Jiang Yue seems different lately—”

“Sister-in-law, don’t you remember how last year you couldn’t stand it and helped Jiang Yue scold Li Hongying, but Jiang Yue didn’t appreciate it? Instead, she blamed you for meddling?” Lian Rongrong’s words successfully made Sister-in-law Zhao hesitate.

She continued: “It’s fine, sister-in-law, I’m just saying! Every family handles their own business. We’ve warned her, and if Jiang Yue really has changed, she should know what to do.”

With that, Lian Rongrong pulled Sister-in-law Zhao along.

On their way back, they happened to run into Li Hongying.

“Yo, went grocery shopping, huh? Let’s see what you bought today!” Lian Rongrong purposely greeted Li Hongying, even pretending to reach for the basket of vegetables Li Hongying was carrying.

Li Hongying quickly hid the basket behind her, putting on a fake smile, and sarcastically said: “Our family isn’t like your Company Commander Wang’s, where you get a high salary and can eat meat every meal! What can we afford? It’s the same old three dishes! Anyway, I’ve got to go, I’m heading back to cook!”

“Pah! Look at that guilty conscience!” Lian Rongrong spat at Li Hongying’s back.

The reason Lian Rongrong hated Li Hongying so much wasn’t just because she was tricking Jiang Yue, but because Lian Rongrong had been married for years and still couldn’t conceive a child, which made her feel anxious and distressed.

Meanwhile, Li Hongying had already given birth to five children, four of them sons, and she strutted around the Family Residential Compound with a sense of superiority, her back straight and her pride high.

Li Hongying especially liked to poke at Lian Rongrong’s pain points. From time to time, she would deliberately stare at Lian Rongrong’s stomach and ask: “So, how’s the Company Commander Wang’s? No news yet?”

It was no wonder Lian Rongrong couldn’t stand Li Hongying!

After Sister-in-law Zhao returned home, she started getting busy. Not long after, there was a knock on the door from outside the courtyard.

“Xiao San, go open the door!” Sister-in-law Zhao called to her younger son, who was playing with mud in the courtyard.

“Mom, someone’s looking for you!” The little boy called back.

Sister-in-law Zhao stuck her head out from the kitchen, surprised to see Jiang Yue at the door. She quickly put down the spatula, wiped her hands on her apron, and said: “Oh, it’s Little Jiang! What brings you here at this hour? Come in, is there something you need to go with your dishes?”

Jiang Yue smiled warmly and said: “Sister-in-law, I came to return the eggs!”

Sister-in-law Zhao waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s just two eggs, no need for you to make a special trip for that!”

“It’s a must to return them!” Since Sister-in-law Zhao was being so polite, Jiang Yue couldn’t take advantage of the situation. Plus, if she hadn’t run into Sister-in-law Zhao today, she wouldn’t have known how to bring the basket of vegetables back.

“Sister-in-law, I bought some pastries this morning, I brought a few over for the kids to try!”

Jiang Yue, as always, believed in repaying kindness, offering something in return for the favor.