Chapter 71.2

Upon hearing that Li Xianglan was in trouble, he hurried over. To his surprise, he heard such good news upon arrival.

“You must take good care of her,” Hu Wanning said, nudging him. “The doctor said Xianglan is exhausted. Captain Wang, your family doesn’t farm or anything, so how could she be overworked?”

Captain Wang’s face darkened.

But soon, he responded, “Now that Xianglan is pregnant, I definitely won’t let her be overworked.”

Hu Wanning smiled but said nothing.

Since Li Xianglan was fine, everyone felt relieved. On the way back, Hu Wanning asked Ruan Mingfu, “Is that really how you feel?”

Ruan Mingfu paused for a moment before realizing what she was referring to.

Actually, it was an idea suggested by Mrs. Ruan.

“Of course,” Ruan Mingfu said, with her hands behind her back. “You know I love comfort; I don’t want to be waking up before dawn to go to work every day.”

It was too painful.

Miss Ruan couldn’t bear this hardship.

“If you can avoid this matter, don’t get involved,” Hu Wanning continued, “otherwise, there will be plenty more incidents like this in the future.”

If Ruan Mingfu didn’t live in the family compound, she wouldn’t care if they made a fuss. But since she couldn’t move out in the short term and had to deal with these people, why bother? It was better to let the army handle it.

“Sister-in-law, my mom said the same thing.”

“The sisters-in-law in the family compound are warm-hearted, but also the easiest to be stirred up. Don’t take today’s events to heart.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded but didn’t say anything.

“By the way,” Ruan Mingfu almost forgot, “do you still need cotton?”

Father Ruan knew the weather was cold where Ruan Mingfu lived and specifically asked Secretary Huang for a lot of it when he came. It was enough for her to make several big cotton jackets with some leftover.

“Yes, of course!”

Hu Wanning’s eyes lit up.

Here, cotton is also a scarce commodity and is in great demand.

She counted in her head.

Although the army would provide supplies, since this year she would be going home, she needed to make something new for him. She could simply repurpose the old item she had. Plus, the little chubby one had grown; he needed new clothes too.

Just when Hu Wanning was feeling troubled, Ruan Mingfu relieved her urgent need.

“Thank you so much, sister-in-law,” she continued, “I’m thinking of going to the supply and marketing cooperative to try my luck someday, otherwise I’ll have to ask my sister for help.”

“Shall I take you to see it now?”

“Sure!”

Hu Wanning readily agreed, but as they reached the intersection, they noticed people coming in and out of the neighboring yard, with plenty of furniture blocking the already narrow path, making it even more crowded.

Neither of them could pass through.

Ruan Mingfu frowned.

Who would have thought they would go out only to find themselves blocked at their doorstep?

As they contemplated taking another route, a stylishly dressed woman in a skirt emerged. “I’m really sorry, there’s just a bit too much stuff here, and it’s blocking your way.”

Though she spoke apologetically, her demeanor was condescending.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

She assessed Ruan Mingfu and Hu Wanning with a few glances. “If you’re in a hurry, I can have someone move it so you can go first.”

“Alright.”

Ruan Mingfu stood at the intersection, waiting for her to clear the way.

The woman became speechless this time.

She awkwardly smiled, then turned to flip a big eye roll.

Two country bumpkins!

She was just being polite, and they really took her seriously?

After a moment, someone came out to move the furniture into the yard, but the woman never reemerged.

Ruan Mingfu rolled her eyes. “Do you know who she is?”

“She’s Wang Manman.”

“Oh, so it’s her?”

“Sister-in-law, just ignore her from now on. She’s…” Hu Wanning shook her head in disdain, struggling to find the right words, “hard to deal with.”

Even Hu Wanning had heard of Wang Manman’s infamous reputation.

But today, she had finally met the person in real life.

Ruan Mingfu nodded. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. As long as she doesn’t bother me, I won’t pay her any mind.”

Once they entered the yard, Hu Wanning lowered her voice.

“Do you know why she moved over here?” Her expression was hard to read. “Apparently, she was reported by the army wives from her building for some issues. At first, she was reluctant to move, but after the regiment commander’s wife spoke to her, she finally complied.”

Ruan Mingfu was puzzled.

What could she have done that warranted complaints from an entire building of wives?

Seeming to sense Ruan Mingfu’s confusion, Hu Wanning shook her head.

“I’m not sure of the details, but I think it has something to do with fighting.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded, choosing not to pry further.

She led Hu Wanning to a tidy storage room and opened a bag, pulling out the soft cotton inside.

“Take a look, sister-in-law. It’s all processed and really soft.”

Hu Wanning reached out to touch it.

It was dry and had the fluffy feel unique to cotton.

“The quality is excellent. This is the best cotton I’ve ever seen.”

Ruan Mingfu patted the bag. “Is this enough? If not, there’s more nearby.”

Thanks to Qi Yangyan having bodyguards, they managed to transport it back.

“That’s plenty,” Hu Wanning was startled by her generosity. “I don’t need that much. Half a bag is sufficient for two cotton jackets.”

“You, on the other hand, should make more.”

Ruan Mingfu and Xie Yanzhao had just gotten married this year and had nothing. They didn’t even have thick quilts and would need to make some new ones, requiring a lot of cotton.

She couldn’t be so inconsiderate.

“Sister-in-law, don’t be so polite. My dad brought me a lot.”

Considering what Hu Wanning was thinking, Father Ruan and Mrs. Ruan would surely think even more deeply.

“No need, really no need…”

Seeing her firm attitude, Ruan Mingfu gave up.

…

“Bang bang—”

Early in the morning, Ruan Mingfu was woken up by the noise from the neighbors. She frowned and turned over in Xie Yanzhao’s arms.

Hearing the commotion, she sat up straight, ready to confront whoever was making the noise. However, Xie Yanzhao pulled her back, “Where are you going?”

“Going to find someone to settle this!”

She said it with such fierce determination, as if she were out for revenge.

Xie Yanzhao took a deep breath and patted her head. “I’ll handle it.”

Ruan Mingfu turned to look at him.

She watched him get dressed and walk straight out.

It was still early, with fog hanging in the air, and droplets of water clung to the grass. It was evident how early it was. Ruan Mingfu couldn’t go back to sleep, so she leaned against the window, gritting her teeth as she watched Wang Manman’s house.

She didn’t know if it was a case of them taking the wrong medicine or if they were just causing chaos, but the racket over the past few days had been loud enough for her to hear from here.

And it was always at five or six in the morning, right when she was sleeping soundly. Who could stand such torment?

Annoyed, Ruan Mingfu took a deep breath.

Now she understood why all the army wives in the building complained about Wang Manman and wanted her to move out. Who could tolerate this?

Before long, Xie Yanzhao’s tall figure appeared at the neighbor’s door. Whatever he said seemed to have lowered the noise significantly. Ruan Mingfu finally relaxed and lay back down, pretending to be dead.

When Xie Yanzhao returned, he found her staring blankly at the ceiling with her big, bright eyes.

“Alright,” he climbed back into bed, pulling her into his arms, “Go to sleep.”

But sleep was out of the question.

Ruan Mingfu buried her face into his chest. “So annoying~”

He hugged her tighter in response.

“I spoke to Captain Qiao. Today’s the last day, it won’t bother you anymore.”

Ruan Mingfu let out a cold snort.

She wanted to curse, but then remembered something important.

“Sister-in-law is going back to Beijing at the end of the year, so where are we going this year?”

This scoundrel of a man had a falling out with Commander Xie and hadn’t returned home in over a decade. Naturally, Ruan Mingfu had no interest in seeing that the mother and daughter’s sour faces either. The only option left seemed to be returning to Haicheng.

But come to think of it, this dog man almost felt like he was marrying into her family.

“Wherever you want to go, we’ll go,” he said.

Hearing this, Ruan Mingfu smiled in satisfaction.

“Sleep a little longer,” Xie Yanzhao extended his large hand, covering Ruan Mingfu’s eyes, “I’ll stay with you.”

Perhaps it was Xie Yanzhao’s voice that did the trick, as she drifted off without realizing it. When she woke up, the bed was already empty. Most people had left, and only Mrs. Ruan remained, seemingly waiting for her.

“Why didn’t you sleep until evening?”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

That same sarcastic tone.

Anyone would think Mrs. Ruan was a mother-in-law disciplining her daughter-in-law.

“Mom,” Ruan Mingfu yawned, “You don’t know how noisy it was next door. I was woken up by the commotion.”

“Enough, enough. Hurry up and eat,” Mrs. Ruan interrupted her before she could go on, “You’re coming out with me later.”

Ruan Mingfu looked over in confusion.

“Where are we going?”

“Just eat your food!”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

What is it like to have a domineering mother?

Humph!

Only a real mother could spoil her like this. Anyone else and she’d tell them to get lost.

Looking at the bustling market, which was both chaotic and orderly, Ruan Mingfu was bewildered.

“Mom, why did you bring me here?”

She knew this place. She’d come here a few times with Hu Wanning before. It was far from the city, making it inconvenient to buy anything. The commune organized a few villages nearby to gather here on fixed days each month for bartering.

Later, the wives from the family compound found out about it and came here to trade as well.

Ruan Mingfu glanced around—there was a wide variety of things, even straw sandals.

“Starting today, you’re going to learn how to cook from me.”

It felt like a bolt from the blue.

“Mom?!”

Was she even Mrs. Ruan’s biological daughter? Why on earth would she make her learn to cook?

Unbelievable!

“What’s with the shouting?” Mrs. Ruan glanced at her disdainfully before looking away. “You’re useless at everything, but you never leave anything on the plate. Xiao Xie is so busy every day, yet he still cooks for you. Don’t you feel ashamed?”

Well, she did feel a bit embarrassed…

Ruan Mingfu nervously twiddled her fingers. “Mom, are you really willing to see me turn into a housewife?”

“Aren’t you already?”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

There’s no way this conversation could continue.

“Enough,” Mrs. Ruan gave her no room to protest, “You do nothing all day, waiting for Xiao Xie to practically spoon-feed you. Aren’t you afraid he’ll get tired of you one day?”

Ruan Mingfu pouted, muttering under her breath, “If he gets tired, then he gets tired. I’ll just find someone else… Ouch—”

“Ow! Let go…”

Mrs. Ruan grabbed her daughter’s ear, clearly frustrated. “You’re learning three dishes today, no excuses.”

“Ow… Mom, I’m sorry, I’ll learn… Please, let go…”

Ruan Mingfu felt utterly wronged.

Ever since her mom arrived, all her attention has been on Xie Yanzhao, the perfect son-in-law. Ruan Mingfu herself might as well have been adopted…

No matter how upset she was, under Mrs. Ruan’s pressure, she had to obediently comply.

After receiving her scolding, Ruan Mingfu behaved better.

The market was full of small, handmade items, crafted with a bit of childish charm. They caught Ruan Mingfu’s eye, and she couldn’t look away.

An old man saw her interest and handed one to her.

“For me?”

She was a bit taken aback.

“Yes,” the old man smiled warmly, his face like weathered bark. “I made them myself. They aren’t worth much.”

Ruan Mingfu accepted it.

The chicken, woven from bamboo leaves, was so lifelike. “You’ve made this so well, how could it not be worth anything?”

That dog man was born in the Year of the Rooster, so this would be a perfect gift for him.

Feeling pleased, Ruan Mingfu handed over two cornbreads she had prepared.

“Grandpa, I really like it.”

The old man initially wanted to refuse, but Ruan Mingfu tossed the cornbreads onto his stall and ran off. She couldn’t stand drawn-out back-and-forths.

After wandering through the market, Ruan Mingfu had accumulated a handful of trinkets.

Mrs. Ruan: “…”

She had to blame Father Ruan for raising their daughter. She was over twenty but still acted like she was seventeen or eighteen.

Far away at the construction site, Father Ruan sneezed loudly, startling Qi Yangyan.

“Dad, are you alright?”

Father Ruan waved his hand, smiling. “I bet your mom’s cursing me again.”

Qi Yangyan: “…”

How could he be this smug?

“Take a look at this blueprint,” Father Ruan said, unfolding the paper in his hand. “This place is too big just for a sausage factory. We could add a drying room over here…”

The land provided by the army was huge. Forget just building a food factory, they could easily add a Ruan family compound as well.

“Dad, I plan to produce a series of food products here. It’ll definitely expand in the future.”

“Sure, this plot of land will be in the city center in the future,” Father Ruan squinted at him, “You bought this piece of land for 800,000 yuan, you’ve made a profit.”

It’s more than just making money; it’s simply making a lot of money.

This land’s value would multiply dozens of times over in the future.

Father Ruan knew that no one could take advantage of his son.

“For now, let’s focus on getting the sausage factory up and running,” Qi Yangyan ignored his father’s teasing. “Someone just traded us two sealing machines. We can put them to use.”

Father Ruan: “…”

Unbelievable. Everything is falling into place without costing him a penny. Is this basically a zero-cost operation?

“I’m also thinking of launching instant noodles.”

Before the era of food delivery, instant noodles were all the rage.