Chapter 16: Lin Momo’s Farm Starts Operating

All morning, Cheng Jinghao was busy turning the soil in the backyard, while Lin Momo sat on a small stool, propping her head up, watching him.

“Momo.”

Cheng Jinghao turned his head, feeling his ears turn red from being observed by her.

“Hmm?” Lin Momo looked up at him.

“Nothing,” Cheng Jinghao originally wanted to tell her to go back inside and rest, but he couldn’t bear to have her leave. This rare time alone with her was too precious.

“Cheng Jinghao.”

“Hm?”

“What kind of girl do you like?”

“Why are you suddenly asking this?” Cheng Jinghao paused in his work, then resumed digging.

“It’s just casual talk, I’m curious,” Lin Momo smiled. Someone like Cheng Jinghao—handsome, capable, with a good physique—must have many girls who like him, right?

“I like the one I like,” Cheng Jinghao didn’t answer her question directly. He liked who he liked, it wasn’t about any particular type.

“You mean you already like someone? Who is it?” Lin Momo asked eagerly, moving closer to him.

“You’re in my way,” Cheng Jinghao couldn’t meet her gaze. He was worried that if he looked into her eyes for too long, he might blurt out his true feelings and scare her.

“That’s strange. You came here with me. How could you like someone else? Is it from your past life?” Lin Momo kept pressing him with questions.

“If you had liked someone in your past life, why would you have stayed with me…” Lin Momo looked at him with wide eyes.

“Cheng—Cheng Jinghao, you, you, you…” Lin Momo pointed at him, stammering.

Cheng Jinghao’s heart skipped a beat, and he was about to decide whether to admit or deny her words when Lin Momo didn’t give him a chance to respond.

“No, no, no! How long has it been since we’ve seen each other? How could you possibly like me? Besides, we’ve known each other for so long,” she said, trying to convince herself.

Cheng Jinghao stared at her, still holding the hoe. This whole conversation had his heart racing.

“Momo, can you help me with something?”

“What?” Lin Momo looked at him.

“Can you take the money tickets and go to the farm to exchange for some vegetables? Just use the sugar tickets,” Cheng Jinghao decided to get her out of his sight for a while.

“Aren’t we supposed to trade with the villagers for vegetables?”

“I’ve already spoken to Aunt Liu at the farm. Her daughter-in-law is pregnant, and she wants some sugar tickets. You can even just bring brown sugar if you like,” Cheng Jinghao explained the route to the farm in detail.

Since she would have to take care of these tasks on her own when he went on missions, it was better for her to get used to them now while he was around.

“Got it.”

Lin Momo grabbed a basket and left the house, only to run into Ke He from next door.

“Sister-in-law, are you going out too?” Lin Momo greeted her enthusiastically.

“Lin Momo, where are you going?” Ke He asked.

“Sister-in-law, you can just call me Momo. I’m heading to the farm to buy some vegetables,” Lin Momo said as she walked alongside Ke He.

“I need to go to the farm too. Let’s go together.”

“Okay, Sister-in-law.”

“You don’t have to call me sister-in-law anymore. Just call me Ke He Jie. There are so many sisters-in-law around here, I wouldn’t know who you’re referring to if you said that in a crowd,” Ke He laughed as she said.

“Alright, Ke He Jie.”

“Hey.” Ke He responded warmly. “You look young. You can’t be older than twenty, right?”

“Eighteen,” Lin Momo replied, thankful for the body that had been rejuvenated by the system, making her appear ten years younger.

“So young, she’s almost ten years younger than me.” Li He laughed, holding Lin Momo’s hand.

“Sister Li He, how old were you when you followed the army?” Lin Momo asked curiously.

“Me? I followed the army when I was quite young. Most of the military wives in our family compound joined after their children were about to start elementary school.”

Lin Momo looked at her in confusion. Why wait until the child starts school before following the army? It seemed like it would be hard to be separated from your partner for so long.

“Sometimes, it’s because they don’t meet the criteria to follow the army right away. Also, military wives are mainly there to take care of their soldiers’ daily lives. If they come with babies, they’ll need help looking after the kids,” Li He explained with a smile.

She had two children now—one was 7, and the other was 5. One went to the military elementary school, and the other went to the military nursery.

Lin Momo nodded. No wonder, even in later years, many military wives had the qualifications to follow the army but chose not to, for reasons like this.

“Also,” Li He lowered her voice.

“Back home, at least you can help with some chores, keep busy with something. But military wives who follow their husbands here don’t have much to do. Every day, it’s just chatting about others’ business.”

“I heard that Tibet is under construction. Doesn’t our military district need any help?” Lin Momo asked curiously.

“No, not at all. But it seems the military families of the construction battalion might be required to help with the work. So, I’ve heard that there aren’t many military families there,” Li He explained, and the two of them arrived at the farm.

There were several other military families buying eggs at the farm, and the conversation stopped.

“Is this the wife of Captain Yan?” A military wife recognized Lin Momo.

“Hello! I’m the wife of Captain Yan, Lin Momo,” Lin Momo smiled and greeted.

“Oh, people from Beijing really are different, so polite,” one of the military wives said with a laugh.

But her tone made Lin Momo a little uncomfortable. She simply smiled and looked at the woman wearing a large apron.

“Aunt Liu, my husband Yan Jinghao said we could come over and exchange some vegetables, right?”

“Ah, yes, I can exchange vegetables here,” Aunt Liu nodded.

“I brought a pound of brown sugar. I bought it from the supply and marketing cooperative the other day. How about it?” Lin Momo took a pound of brown sugar from her basket and handed it to Aunt Liu.

“Oh, that’s too kind, thank you, Lin Momo. Hand me your basket, I’ll get some vegetables for you.”

Lin Momo smiled and handed her the basket.

“Really doesn’t know how to live, exchanging one pound of brown sugar for vegetables,” the military wife who had spoken earlier started again.

“Miao Xiaohua, what does it matter to you how Momo exchanges vegetables?” Li He couldn’t hold back, ready to say something else, but Lin Momo stopped her.

“Who are you? Who’s your family? Why are you so nosy? If I want to exchange ten pounds of brown sugar for vegetables, it’s none of your business. Keep your mouth shut.” Lin Momo put her hands on her hips and spoke directly to Miao Xiaohua.

The surrounding military families all looked over, surprised that the new wife of Captain Yan was someone who wouldn’t let herself be bullied.

“You, you…,” Miao Xiaohua stared at Lin Momo, at a loss for words.

The military families around them couldn’t help but laugh at Miao Xiaohua’s embarrassed expression.

Miao Xiaohua was one of those people who always flattered higher-ranking people and stepped on those lower than her. She’d try to get close to people of a higher rank, but when it came to those of a lower rank, she wouldn’t hesitate to criticize them.

“Are you still buying eggs?” At that moment, Aunt Liu came out of the yard with a basket.

Lin Momo was stunned. The basket was full of vegetables, and she had only given one pound of brown sugar?

“Aunt Liu, is this too much?”

“Not at all, not at all. Captain Yan’s wife, you don’t know. While I’m in charge of this farm, it’s still hard to get sugar tickets. I can’t do much, but I can give you vegetables. I grew these myself; they aren’t from the military, so don’t worry.”

“Exactly, Momo, take it.” Li He added in support.

“Well, then I’ll take it. Thank you, Aunt Liu.”

After waiting for Li He to finish buying the eggs, Lin Momo and she headed back home. Lin Momo couldn’t carry the basket, so Li He helped her, each taking one side and carrying the basket back together.