Chapter 26 – He Loves Everything His Wife Cooks

Political Commissar Yan sighed helplessly: “No, isn’t there going to be a Mid-Autumn performance soon? Why aren’t you rehearsing properly?”

“I’m tired from dancing.”

Yan Qingxue had been dancing all day, and now her arms and legs ached.

“Daughter, the leaders from above will be coming to watch our performance this time. If you shine, it will greatly benefit your future. When you get married, you’ll even have better options.” Political Commissar Yan was thinking entirely for his daughter.

The moment Yan Qingxue heard “get married,” she immediately pouted: “I don’t want to get married.”

“Stop thinking about things you shouldn’t be thinking about.” Political Commissar Yan knew his daughter’s mind well. Before Lu Jinyuan got married, he had been quite satisfied with him.

Although Lu Jinyuan’s family background wasn’t great, he was intelligent, hardworking, and had a bright future ahead.

If his daughter married him, with him supporting her, the in-laws wouldn’t dare to bully her.

But unexpectedly, Lu Jinyuan suddenly submitted a marriage report and got married all at once.

This caught everyone off guard.

Even though Political Commissar Yan liked Lu Jinyuan, he knew that his daughter and Lu Jinyuan’s relationship was now impossible.

If his daughter kept stubbornly interfering, it would disrupt the couple’s relationship—at best she’d be reprimanded, at worst expelled from the military district.

He didn’t want his daughter to make a mistake.

“Dad, who told you to approve Lu Jinyuan’s home leave?” Yan Qingxue thought. If he hadn’t gone home last time, the marriage wouldn’t have happened so quickly.

She had to act first.

Hearing this, Political Commissar Yan slammed the table: “Yan Qingxue, watch your words!”

He rarely spoke so sternly. Yan Qingxue immediately felt wronged, her eyes reddened, and she ran out of the office.

Song Mingyi and Lin Beixiao saw her come out, and their sharp eyes noticed her bad mood. “Qingxue, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”

“Anyone who dares bully Qingxue is bullying me. I’ll go beat them up!” Song Mingyi rolled up his sleeves.

Yan Qingxue said: “My dad.”

“…”

Song Mingyi looked awkward for a few seconds.

Lin Beixiao said: “Qingxue, are you free this Friday? There’s a new movie in the county. Want to go see it?”

The military district was over three hours by car from the county, so they usually went the day before after work.

Song Mingyi ground his teeth. This idiot.

“No.” Yan Qingxue wasn’t interested at all.

Lin Beixiao felt a little disappointed but didn’t show it: “Then I’ll buy you some peach cookies and canned sweet soup.”

“No need.”

Yan Qingxue impatiently waved him off, then remembered something: “Last time I asked you guys if Lu Jinyuan’s wife was pretty. What did you say?”

Song Mingyi and Lin Beixiao realized Yan Qingxue must have seen Ran Jinnian.

“Qingxue, why are you talking about this? She’s Lu Jinyuan’s wife. What does it have to do with us?” Song Mingyi spoke honestly.

Whether Lu Jinyuan’s wife was pretty or not didn’t concern them.

“You said she looked like that, but it was a lie.”

Yan Qingxue sneered. She had to admit, Ran Jinnian really was beautiful.

Lin Beixiao looked helpless: “She’s my brother’s wife, so of course I couldn’t stare. So when you asked, I didn’t get a good look either.”

Song Mingyi: “…”

This guy was really sneaky.

Yan Qingxue’s mood improved a little: “I’ve been busy lately. The troupe needs to rehearse dances.”

This Mid-Autumn performance was taken very seriously because leaders would be watching.

She was the troupe’s main performer. She had to perform well so everyone would see her excellence—and make Lu Jinyuan regret it.

……

At the family quarters.

When Lu Jinyuan returned home, he saw his wife leaning over the table, a pile of books in front of her. She frowned and sighed from time to time.

“Wife, what are you writing?” Lu Jinyuan approached.

Ran Jinnian realized she had been so absorbed that she hadn’t noticed Lu Jinyuan coming home.

She hurriedly put away her pen: “I haven’t cooked yet.”

“What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.” Lu Jinyuan washed his hands and picked up an apron.

Ran Jinnian blinked: “You cook outside. I’ll cook in the space.”

“Okay.” Lu Jinyuan nodded.

Ran Jinnian went into her space. She knew Lu Jinyuan liked stir-fried pork with chili.

She made stir-fried pork with chili, then a chicken wing casserole, following a recipe she learned.

Ran Jinnian finished and brought the dishes out. Lu Jinyuan had steamed the rice, stir-fried some cabbage in vinegar, and made an egg soup.

“Wife, what were you writing just now?” Lu Jinyuan added some dishes onto her plate.

Ran Jinnian said: “We had a family meeting today. You know that, right?”

“I know what it was about.” Lu Jinyuan had also gone to the military district, where they held a meeting.

It was to persuade the wives to actively participate in the Mid-Autumn performance.

He frowned: “Wife, you’re performing?”

He didn’t stop his wife from doing what she liked, but she was heavily pregnant, so it wasn’t convenient.

Ran Jinnian smiled: “I’m not performing. I’m writing stories for a few sisters-in-law—they’re going to perform a play.”

“A play?” Lu Jinyuan was momentarily stunned. He had seen plays before.

Last Lunar New Year, the military district invited a drama troupe.

Family members performing a play? That sounded too simple—this was professional acting, after all.

He didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm: “This play is quite difficult.”

Ran Jinnian, of course, heard his concern: “The sisters-in-law can’t sing or dance, but they are very enthusiastic. I believe with their energy, they will create their own style.”

Moreover, this family performance was required by the military district.

The sisters-in-law were just housewives. They weren’t arts troupe members or professional actors. But their effort would surely earn applause.

“I was narrow-minded,” Lu Jinyuan admitted, feeling his wife was more open-minded than him.

Ran Jinnian didn’t think so: “You’re just worried about us. How’s the chicken wing?”

“Delicious.”

Anything his wife made was delicious.

He loved it.

“You’re lying. It’s a bit salty,” Ran Jinnian said after tasting it—she had added a little too much salt.

Lu Jinyuan replied smoothly: “Goes well with rice.”

After the meal.

Lu Jinyuan washed the dishes, while Ran Jinnian continued writing the play.

She was full of inspiration and writing quickly.

“Wife, don’t write anymore today. Be careful with your eyes.” Lu Jinyuan heated some milk for her.

The milk came from her space. Ran Jinnian drank a box every day.

“Okay, I won’t write.” Ran Jinnian drank the milk. Lu Jinyuan brought her hot water.

Ran Jinnian sat on the stool. Lu Jinyuan half-squatted and massaged her legs.

He asked: “Wife, what story are you writing?”

“The Red Detachment of Women.”

Ran Jinnian’s eyes sparkled with light.

Little treasures, today is Xiao Li’s birthday.

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