Chapter 20

A few military wives greeted her with cheerful smiles.

They didn’t think there was anything wrong with Lu Zhiyao buying meat.

They were just wondering why, even though Lu Zhiyao seemed to buy meat every day, her two children and she herself were still so thin?

When they first came from their hometown, they looked worn and travel-weary—like they hadn’t lived a good life.

“I made something nice for the kids yesterday afternoon, sort of a way to celebrate our arrival here,” Lu Zhiyao had just finished saying when one of the military wives leaned over and asked how she had stir-fried the meat yesterday.

“You don’t know how it is—my husband and the kids were all staring at me while I cooked after they smelled it. I happened to buy some meat too. Could you teach me?”

“Whenever I cook meat, it always tastes the same. My husband even complains!”

Although he complained, he still finished everything, since in this era, most people wouldn’t waste food.

Especially not in the military.

This was the same military wife from the night before.

Originally, they only had meat on Wednesdays, but today she still bought some. Running into Lu Zhiyao, she decided to ask.

Lu Zhiyao briefly explained her method of stir-frying meat. When the others heard how many seasonings were required, their brows furrowed tightly.

“With that many seasonings, anything would taste good!”

“How did you learn to cook like this?”

The wives chatted among themselves for a bit.

Since Lu Zhiyao was so good at cooking, it was clear her skills weren’t bad. But then why were the three of them still so skinny?

“I learned from an older man,” Lu Zhiyao said, shifting the topic. “I just wanted to cook better so the kids would eat more and get some nutrition.”

Having already explained her cooking method, she greeted the others and headed home.

Once home, Lu Zhiyao cleaned the fish, salted the fresh meat for curing so they could hang it up in a few days and enjoy some cured meat.

In her previous life, she didn’t like takeout or pre-made meals, so she bought cookbooks and experimented at home.

For years, she brought her own meals to work.

It was a bit tiring—she had to wake up early every day to cook and then pack the food into an insulated lunchbox for the hospital.

But every mealtime brought her a sense of happiness.

While others got food poisoning from pre-made meals, she enjoyed her own homemade snacks with great satisfaction.

When others went out for hotpot, she made herself a mini hotpot and enjoyed it just as much.

In her past life, she was abused by her stepmother and couldn’t have children because of it. After growing up, her father kept forcing her to go on blind dates. When she explained that she couldn’t have children because of her stepmother, she was constantly judged and criticized. She no longer wanted to go on blind dates or hear those men devalue her.

But her father believed that women who didn’t marry weren’t normal and kept pressuring her.

In the end, she moved out and lived alone in a small apartment.

During those years, she got used to living alone. Now, in this life, she had gained two adorable and clever little ones.

Lu Zhiyao felt a bit excited.

That afternoon, she made pickled chili fish. She sliced the fish and marinated it, then pulled out an unopened jar of pickled chili from her space.

She added just a little bit.

After preparing a non-spicy version for the kids and setting it aside in a small bowl, she poured the rest of the pickled chili into the main dish. The aroma filled the air, and she took a deep breath.

Pickled chili fish fillets had the best flavor.

But she realized she needed to cook less often.

Especially meat dishes.

The aroma would waft out, making others envious.

After finishing the dish, Lu Zhiyao served it.

The fish fillets included tofu, potatoes, and bean sprouts. The mixed flavors were excellent.

Although it was a little spicy, the two children could handle it. They ate while exclaiming in delight.

“We’ve never had fish that tastes like this before. Mom, you’re amazing at cooking fish.”

“Why didn’t you make this before, Mom?”

Dabao and Xiaobao always had questions. Lu Zhiyao gave them more fish and replied, “Back in our hometown, we didn’t have enough seasonings. The food wouldn’t have turned out well, so I didn’t make it.”

The children stopped asking after hearing that.

They ate obediently.

Not long after finishing, Lu Zhiyao heard a knock at the door. She opened it to find Huang Meimei standing outside.

“I was wondering what smelled so good yesterday afternoon—it was you cooking meat!”

“What did you make this afternoon? It smells a little spicy!”

Huang Meimei carried some things in her hand. “I thought, since you just moved in, I’d bring a little something over to visit.”

Seeing Huang Meimei’s genuine smile, Lu Zhiyao quickly invited her inside.

There was only a table and a few chairs in the house. The two kids pulled up chairs for her. “Auntie, have a seat.”

Looking at the excited little ones, Huang Meimei pulled some White Rabbit candies from her pocket. “I knew there were kids here, so I brought you some candy. Try them!”

Lu Zhiyao knew that White Rabbit candies weren’t cheap in this era.

She told the children to thank Huang Meimei.

“No need for thanks,” Huang Meimei said sincerely, “You’re new here, and I’ve only been here a year myself. I think you’re really nice, so I wanted to get to know you. Let’s be friends!”

Lu Zhiyao nodded in agreement.

“I brought you some dried goods from home—hickory nuts, peanuts, and some dried mushrooms.”

“Please don’t rush to refuse,” Huang Meimei smiled again, her slightly round face crinkling pleasantly. “We’ll be seeing each other often. These are just small things from home, not worth much.”

Lu Zhiyao nodded. “Thank you. I won’t be polite. Next time I have something good, I’ll share it with you too.”

“Haha!”

Huang Meimei laughed, looked around the tidy home, and they chatted for a while.

Before leaving, she reminded Lu Zhiyao to bring the kids to her place one day when they had time.

After seeing her off,

Lu Zhiyao returned with a faint, genuine smile. Huang Meimei really was a good person.

It would be good to be friends with her.

Back inside, Lu Zhiyao checked the bag. Besides dried mushrooms and hickory nuts, there was also a small piece of cured meat.

Not much, but it showed Huang Meimei’s sincere intentions.

Lu Zhiyao was a little touched.

In her past life, she didn’t have many friends, because too many people liked to backstab.

They were all smiles on the surface but betrayed her behind her back.

She couldn’t tolerate it, so she didn’t keep many close friends.

And with her family situation being poor, she rarely showed her true feelings.

Now thinking about it—

Having traveled into this book, into this era, not only did she gain two adorable children, but maybe she could also gain genuine friends.

Huang Meimei was open and generous, truly an easy person to get along with.

Putting everything away, Lu Zhiyao gently patted her children’s heads.

“Mommy, we think Auntie Huang is better than Auntie Shuishui!”