Chapter 12: The Cold-Faced Commander Brings Home His Pretty Wife

Lu Jinyuan handed the documents and keys to Ran Jinnian while carrying several large bags himself. “Wife, let’s go.”

“Jinyuan, you have so much stuff, let us help you.” Song Mingyi quickly picked up a few large bags.

Lin Beixiao also carried quite a few.

Zhou Xiangyang hoisted a sewing machine on his shoulder.

As soon as they stepped through the gate, the guards posted outside could no longer contain themselves. “Commander Lu has brought his wife back!”

Everyone rushed forward, craning their necks to get a look.

Lu Jinyuan—the first legend of the military district, completing every S-level mission flawlessly.

He had a notoriously cold temper, and no one dared act recklessly in front of him.

Privately, people called him the “Cold-Faced Commander.”

Now, seeing him bring a wife to the military district, everyone was curious: what kind of woman would be bold enough to marry the Cold-Faced Commander?

Ran Jinnian lifted her eyes and saw a sea of tanned faces smiling warmly at her.

Lu Jinyuan glared and said without looking: “What are you all crowding around for? Don’t disturb order, or you’ll be punished.”

“Hello, Commander Lu. Hello, sister-in-law.” Everyone raised a hand and saluted Ran Jinnian.

“Hello, everyone.”

Ran Jinnian hadn’t expected such enthusiasm. She pulled a large handful of dried sweet potatoes from Lu Jinyuan’s backpack and smiled warmly at them. “I just arrived and didn’t prepare much. Come over to our place in a couple of days for a meal.”

Her smile dazzled them all.

“Ahem.” Lu Jinyuan shot her a sharp look.

“Thank you, sister-in-law,” they said in unison.

Song Mingyi eagerly stepped forward. “Sister-in-law, I want some sweet potatoes too.”

Ran Jinnian handed the last of the dried sweet potatoes directly into his hand.

“Thanks, sister-in-law,” Song Mingyi grinned.

Ran Jinnian then looked at Lin Beixiao. “Sorry, there’s none left for you.”

Lin Beixiao: “……”

He suspected she was doing it on purpose, though he had no proof.

Once they left, the guards gathered and whispered in awe.

“Commander Lu’s wife is really pretty.”

“No wonder the Cold-Faced Commander only marries the most beautiful.”

Military Family Compound

Lu Jinyuan glanced at the documents and then pointed to a row of houses. “Wife, this will be our home here in the military district.”

Now a regiment commander, Lu Jinyuan had the privilege of living in a small courtyard.

Ran Jinnian looked and saw a row of grey-brick houses, each with its own yard, and a small garden outside the door for planting vegetables.

Lu Jinyuan unlocked the door with the key.

Inside, it was a small two-bedroom house: a main bedroom, a secondary bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom—all complete.

The house was empty, waiting for them to fill it.

Lin Beixiao and Song Mingyi set down the things they had brought, rubbed their hands, and silently wondered how Lu Jinyuan had managed to carry so much.

They helped tidy the house once more.

“Jinyuan, sister-in-law, we’ll leave first,” Song Mingyi said, knowing it wasn’t the time for small talk.

Ran Jinnian smiled. “Thank you for your help. Once the house is settled, come over in a few days for a meal.”

“Of course.”

“Sure, sister-in-law.”

They left the compound and shortly ran into Yan Qingxue.

Seeing them, Yan Qingxue immediately walked over to Lin Beixiao. “Jinyuan is back.”

“Mm.” Lin Beixiao had thought she might ask if Lu Jinyuan had held a grudge against him, and he felt a bit disappointed.

Song Mingyi interrupted. “Lu Jinyuan brought his wife back. She’s pregnant.”

Yan Qingxue had intended to ask about the woman’s looks, but upon hearing she was pregnant, her mind went blank.

“She… she’s pregnant?” Yan Qingxue felt her heart tighten.

Seeing her pale expression, Song Mingyi added cautiously, “Judging by how far along she is, it should be close now.”

Yan Qingxue swayed.

“Qingxue, are you okay?” Both of them quickly steadied her.

Yan Qingxue, her face pale, walked off. “I have to find my dad. I’ll go first.”

Song Mingyi and Lin Beixiao exchanged glances. Both knew the other liked Yan Qingxue, and now that she was completely unattainable to Lu Jinyuan, they would have to work harder.

Family Compound

“Wife, you’ve been traveling for days. You must be tired. I’ll get our food from the canteen—just rest for now.” Lu Jinyuan brought out several lunch boxes.

Ran Jinnian, exhausted from the long journey, had no interest in exploring the military district. “Okay.”

Lu Jinyuan hurried to the canteen, greeted by everyone along the way: “Commander Lu!”

“Commander Lu is back!”

He wasn’t in the mood for small talk. After collecting the food, he returned quickly.

“Wife, eat more. You’ve lost quite a bit of weight these past days,” he said, full of concern.

Ran Jinnian looked at the canteen dishes: cabbage, potatoes, and radish stewed with pork, mostly fatty meat.

He also brought a few whole-grain buns since white buns were reserved for higher-ups.

She served him some dishes too. “Eat more. You’ve been sitting these past few days—you must be exhausted.”

“I’m not tired.”

Having his wife accompany him gave Lu Jinyuan endless energy.

He picked out the fatty meat for Ran Jinnian. “Wife, tomorrow I’ll take you for your prenatal checkup.”

“Mm.” Ran Jinnian nodded.

After dinner, Lu Jinyuan boiled a large pot of water, and Ran Jinnian enjoyed a relaxing bath.

He massaged her legs, then used the remaining water for a quick rinse himself.

“Husband, what are you doing?” Ran Jinnian saw him heading toward the small room.

“You’re pregnant. We’ll sleep in the same bed,” Lu Jinyuan said, worried about hurting her.

Ran Jinnian refused. “We’re married. Wherever you sleep, I’ll sleep too.”

Lu Jinyuan’s eyes widened.

“Husband, go to bed. We have a checkup tomorrow,” she urged, seeing him stand by the bed like a clueless fool.

“Alright, alright, sleep,” he said.

He pulled back the covers. Who would want to sleep alone when they could hold their wife?

The Next Morning

Sunlight peeked through the clouds.

Lu Jinyuan opened his eyes and saw his wife sleeping soundly beside him. He tiptoed out of bed to the kitchen and fetched a bucket of water.

By the time he returned, Ran Jinnian was already busy in the kitchen.

There was only a coal stove and a small pot, with barely any bowls or utensils.

No rush—she had her space.

Ran Jinnian brought out bowls and utensils from the space.

“Wife, rest a bit more,” Lu Jinyuan said, setting down the bucket and holding some greens in his hands.

Ran Jinnian shook her head. “No, I’m up. Hmm, where did you get the vegetables?”

“Neighbor Zhou grew them herself. I asked her first,” he replied, quickly lighting the stove.

Once the stove was ready, he mixed flour with water, kneading it into dough.

When the dough reached the right texture, he rolled it out repeatedly until it was thin enough.

Ran Jinnian cut the rolled dough into thin noodles.

Seeing the noodles ready, she cleaned the pot, filled it with water, and prepared two porcelain bowls with lard, soy sauce, and minced garlic.

Soon, two steaming bowls of hand-rolled noodles were ready.