Chapter 19: Making a Fool of Herself, Miao Xiaohua

By the time Lin Momo and Cheng Jinghao returned home, it was already the middle of the night.

“I’ll get you some spirit spring water to soak in; you mustn’t catch a cold,” Cheng Jinghao said, helping Lin Momo take off her raincoat and hat.

“It’s fine, the raincoat worked well. I didn’t get wet at all.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Cheng Jinghao’s tone was firm, already starting to prepare the spirit spring water.

“Then you soak too,” Lin Momo glanced at him.

She had imagined countless times what Cheng Jinghao would be like as a soldier, but it wasn’t until today that she truly experienced it. He was willing to take action first to help the villagers and was willing to shoulder everything for his comrades.

“You care about me?” Cheng Jinghao looked at her, his eyes intense.

“We’ve grown up together, childhood sweethearts, after all,” Lin Momo said, her heart racing. She couldn’t meet his gaze, quickly moving the water bucket into the space and slipping inside herself.

“Heh.” Cheng Jinghao stood there, a smile tugging at his lips.

Once Lin Momo entered the space, she clutched her chest, whispering to herself, “Oh my goodness, how did Cheng Jinghao suddenly become so… so…”

“What are you thinking? It’s just the filter effect, it’s definitely the military filter,” Lin Momo muttered, slapping her face to shake off her fluster.

The next morning, since the first battalion had a collective rest day, Cheng Jinghao stayed at home.

At the same time, the delivery of the sewing machine and coal stove came.

After the bullock cart was registered, the guards at the military family compound led it to Cheng Jinghao’s yard.

This was the second sewing machine in the family compound. The first one was at Commissar Cao’s home, bought when his son got married. Later, when his son and daughter-in-law joined the construction corps, the sewing machine had been left behind at Commissar Cao’s house.

“Commander Cheng, your sewing machine and coal stove are here,” the guard knocked on the yard door. Aside from the guard and the bullock cart, many military families had gathered at Cheng Jinghao’s yard.

“It’s here.” Cheng Jinghao opened the door, thanked the guard, and let the delivery men into the yard.

“Wow, so many people,” he said, glancing at the military families gathered at the door with a smile.

“Commander Cheng, this sewing machine and coal stove aren’t cheap, huh? Your wife really cost you some money,” said Miao Xiaohua, Liu Shuanggui’s wife.

Just as Cheng Jinghao was about to respond, Lin Momo pulled him aside.

“For your man, that would cost quite a bit, but for my Cheng, that’s nothing. You see, my Cheng is only 26 and already a battalion commander—much better than those who are 40 and still stuck in the same position,” Lin Momo remarked casually.

“Pfft.” Several of the military families nearby chuckled.

Lin Momo’s words weren’t wrong at all. Although Cheng Jinghao and Liu Shuanggui were both battalion commanders, Cheng Jinghao earned 20 more yuan than Liu Shuanggui in allowances each month. Furthermore, Cheng Jinghao was also the leader of the action team, earning additional allowances, and had various bonuses for missions.

On the other hand, Liu Shuanggui had been in the position of battalion commander for ten years, well past the age for significant promotions.

“You…” Miao Xiaohua pointed at Lin Momo, unable to get a word out.

“What are you stuttering for? Didn’t your mother teach you any manners? You shouldn’t be embarrassing yourself over such a small thing,” Lin Momo said with hands on her hips, looking both cute and a little sassy.

“Impressive!” Cheng Jinghao stood by her side, secretly giving her a thumbs up.

“Thank you!” Lin Momo tilted her head with pride.

“You… just wait!” Miao Xiaohua was fuming and turned to leave.

“Hey, Miao Xiaohua, I’ll be waiting. This afternoon, your Liu battalion commander and my Cheng will be practicing on the training field,” Lin Momo called after her.

When Miao Xiaohua heard this, she almost stumbled, nearly tripping over her own feet.

Earlier that morning, the agreement between Cheng Jinghao and Liu Shuanggui from the previous night had already spread throughout the military district and the family compound.

This was an unwritten rule within the military district: challenges and friendly sparring between officers of the same rank were allowed.

Everyone knew that Liu Shuanggui had falsely accused Cheng Jinghao the previous day, which had enraged him. Cheng Jinghao was now looking for a way to vent his frustration.

“That old Liu couple, truly, if they’re not from the same family, they shouldn’t be in the same door.” Some of the family members began discussing.

“Miao Xiaohua is still trying to bully Momo for being younger. She was completely crushed by her,” Li He laughed. She didn’t expect Lin Momo to look so soft and delicate but have such sharp words.

“Hehe, Li He, I didn’t expect you all to laugh at me,” Lin Momo smiled awkwardly.

“Very good, Cheng Yinglong’s wife. No wonder your family let you come along with the army at such a young age,” a military wife said to Lin Momo.

“No, no,” Lin Momo replied, taking out some water chestnut candy from the room and distributing it to the military families.

“I’ve brought some big things back, please share the good luck.”

“Oh, no need for that, we just came to see the excitement,” the military families said, feeling a little embarrassed.

“It’s okay, take some and eat. It’s not something precious,” Lin Momo said. The water chestnut candy was only five cents a pound, and to the military families, it wasn’t a big deal.

“Then thank you!”

When Lin Momo went inside, Cheng Jinghao had already set up the coal stove, one in the main room and one in the bedroom. The coal was neatly stacked in the empty room.

“When using the coal stove, you must pay attention to ventilation, understand?” Once the delivery person left, Cheng Jinghao kept reminding Lin Momo.

“Got it,” Lin Momo nodded seriously.

---

Afternoon, Cheng Jinghao led the whole battalion to the training ground, waiting for Liu Shuanggui.

The battalion stood in perfect formation, standing at attention with military discipline.

Half an hour passed.

An hour passed.

“Old Cheng, do you think Liu Shuanggui won’t dare to come?” Zhao Zhigang walked up to Cheng Jinghao.

“Xu Zhengqing,” Cheng Jinghao called out to a soldier in the formation.

“Here!” Xu Zhengqing, Cheng Jinghao’s company commander, a combat team member.

“Go find Liu Shuanggui, the battalion commander, and tell him that the Commander and Political Commissar will be here soon.”

“Yes!” Xu Zhengqing quickly ran off.

“He Shouyi.”

“Here!” He Shouyi, Cheng Jinghao’s second company commander, a combat team member.

“Go ask Commander Chen and Political Commissar Cao to come over and tell them exactly what happened today.”

“Yes!”

“Xu Zhaoyang.”

“Here!” Xu Zhaoyang, Cheng Jinghao’s third company commander, a combat team member.

“Go find the battalion commanders from the second and third battalions and have them come to our first battalion’s training ground.”

“Yes!”

After the three company commanders left, Zhao Zhigang gave Cheng Jinghao a thumbs up.

“You’re really going big, huh?”

“Since he likes to cause trouble, I’ll give him some trouble,” Cheng Jinghao smirked.

“I feel like you’ve changed since getting married. You didn’t use to care about stuff like this. You’re not doing this because of Liu Shuanggui’s wife, are you?”

“Do you think my wife needs me to get revenge for her?” Cheng Jinghao looked at Zhao Zhigang.

“…” Zhao Zhigang realized it wasn’t necessary. Not at all.