Chapter 21.1

After shooing away the uninvited guests, Wen Ning surveyed the unexpectedly acquired vegetables with satisfaction. Free is free.

In the kitchen, Lu Cheng’s braised fish was nearly done. The pot brimmed with a glistening red broth, its surface dotted with tender white fish fillets, potato slices, cabbage leaves, mushrooms, and wood ear fungus.

Despite her young age, Lu Kangyun was a skilled cook. She kneaded and rolled the dough, twisted it into thin strands, chopped them into bite-sized pieces, and added them to the simmering broth.

When the large bowl of braised fish was finally set on the table, the fish, vegetables, and noodles had all soaked up the spicy, savory broth, releasing an irresistible aroma.

Wen Ning had rarely eaten spicy food before—meals in the Wen household were typically mild. But after living with the Wen and Lu families, she had grown to appreciate the bold, stimulating flavors.

Four pairs of chopsticks darted into the bowl. In the winter chill, the spicy dish offered warmth, and Lu Kanglei and Lu Kangyun ate with sweaty foreheads and delighted expressions.

Lu Kanglei plucked the most tender piece of fish belly and placed it into Lu Kangyun’s bowl, making Wen Ning envious. The Lu family’s bond was truly remarkable—siblings living in harmony.

Back home, Wen Ning had always been cherished by her parents and brothers.

She glanced at Lu Cheng beside her, nudged her porcelain bowl closer to him, and let her pointed gaze drift between him, the fish, and the two younger siblings.

In that instant, Lu Cheng understood. She wanted him to pick out the tenderest fish for her, just as Xiao Lei had done for Xiao Yun.

Lu Cheng felt she was pushing her luck—causing trouble every day.

“Just eat properly,” he said stiffly.

“Why aren’t you picking fish for me?” Wen Ning protested. “Your brother picks for his sister—that’s caring! What about you? Don’t you care about your wife?”

When she said “your wife,” Wen Ning lifted her chin, her expression defiant.

Lu Kanglei and Lu Kangyun exchanged gossipy glances. They had never seen anyone dare speak to their eldest brother like this—it was truly astonishing!

After all, in the army, their brother was known as the “Living Yama” for his strict discipline. Even the most rebellious recruits were tamed by his training. No woman would ever dare approach him like this—they would be frozen by his icy demeanor.

And yet, this wicked sister-in-law actually pulled it off!

The two siblings watched as their eldest brother and his wife stared each other down. Finally, Lu Cheng relented. He picked up a piece of tender fish belly and placed it in Wen Ning’s bowl. The children exchanged a silent look.

This wicked sister-in-law is something else!

After the meal, the siblings volunteered to wash the dishes. Amidst the clatter of plates and the rush of water, Lu Kanglei muttered, “Big Brother actually…”

“Shh!” Lu Kangyun leaned in. “What if Sister-in-law hears us? Should we still mess with her? I don’t think we can afford to.”

The fact that their notoriously cold eldest brother had yielded, left young Lu Kangyun feeling uneasy. This sister-in-law is no ordinary woman.

Her gaze darted back to the main room, where Wen Ning was chatting with their eldest brother.

Oh no. Second Brother and I really can’t afford to mess with her.

“What’s there to be afraid of!” Lu Kanglei retorted stubbornly. “My surrender is only temporary. She’s just using something against me.”

Wen Ning, oblivious to all this, continued with her daily routine.

Four days later, Lu Cheng’s aunt, Lu Hongshan, returned to her military post after visiting family. Hearing that Lu Cheng had brought his wife to live on base, she beamed with delight.

Lu Hongshan was the only surviving child of her family. Her parents had three children, but only she lived to adulthood. Thirty years ago, she and her two male cousins had joined the army, but both cousins perished in the war.

Her eldest cousin died a year after marrying, leaving no heirs. Lu Hongshan had persuaded his widow to remarry, believing it unfair to let her grieve alone for a lifetime. To help her start anew, she and Lu Cheng’s father pooled their resources to support her financially.

The families remained close. Even after her remarriage, the widow stayed in touch with the Lu family, and when she later had children, Lu Hongshan and her siblings gave them red envelopes as gifts.

Lu Hongshan’s second cousin—Lu Cheng’s father—also died in the war. By then, Lu Cheng was grown, but Lu Kanglei and Lu Kangyun were still young. After their mother passed away, Lu Cheng became the head of the household.

It was often said that an elder brother was like a father. Lu Hongshan simply felt sorry for her nephew.

Now things were finally looking up—Lu Cheng had brought home a wife. Perhaps this was a turning point.

“Xiao Lei, Xiao Yun, go check if your eldest brother and his wife have arrived yet,” Lu Hongshan said. She had no idea about the circumstances of Wen Ning’s forced marriage and assumed it was a normal match.

“Fine,” the siblings grumbled, reluctantly heading out. They didn’t know how to face their “bad sister-in-law” now that she had leverage over them. They couldn’t even call her names anymore. Now they had to respectfully call her “Sister-in-law.”

How miserable.

……

“How’s your aunt doing? I heard she was a female soldier who even saw combat!” Wen Ning had always admired female generals. The Great Liang Dynasty had one right from its founding—a formidable figure with a brilliant record.

“My aunt was a fierce warrior. Now she works in political affairs.”

Lu Cheng took Wen Ning to visit his aunt’s family on his day off. No matter the circumstances, he had brought her along to join the military base and felt it was right to pay his respects.

“Big Brother!” Lu Kanglei and Lu Kangyun spotted Lu Cheng a few dozen meters from their aunt’s house. Their voices rang with excitement, but upon seeing the woman beside him, their greeting to their sister-in-law became subdued.

Wen Ning didn’t bother with the children’s antics. She acknowledged them with a nod and followed Lu Cheng inside.

The aunt and uncle’s bungalow was a three-bedroom layout, occupied by the couple and their eldest son’s family of three. Their two younger sons were also in the military—one stationed on the southeast coast, the other in a frontier garrison.

Trailing behind Lu Cheng, Wen Ning noted the modest dwelling. It seemed the aunt shared her disinterest in gardening; the yard was one of the few without vegetable patches.

“Aunt, Uncle, this is Wen Ning,” Lu Cheng said. Just as he turned to prompt Wen Ning to greet them, she sweetly beat him to it.

“Hello, Aunt and Uncle!” Wen Ning smiled. She had read about how kind this family was and how well they’d treated Lu Cheng and his siblings. Her heart warmed toward them, and she even proactively greeted the cousins behind them.

Lu Hongshan was briefly stunned by her beauty. Where did my nephew find such a stunning wife?

But Wen Ning’s cheerful greeting instantly won her over. She’s bright and straightforward.

The uncle, Lu Chengtang, remained busy in the kitchen until the last moment. He brought out a plate of dumplings, removed his apron, and joined the meal.

“Come on, Xiao Wen, don’t stand on ceremony. Make yourself at home,” Lu Hongshan said warmly. She disliked formality and didn’t bother with polite pretenses. The families enjoyed a meal full of laughter and lively conversation.

“Aunt, you must have been an incredible fighter back in the day! Just thinking about it makes me feel awestruck!” After the meal, Wen Ning cracked sunflower seeds and chatted eagerly with her aunt.

People who have achieved great things often love reminiscing, especially when they have an enthusiastic young listener. Lu Hongshan’s heart practically floated with joy.

……

After the guests left, Lu Hongshan still felt satisfied. Turning to her son, she lamented, “Why did I have to give birth to you three rascals? Look how sweet Xiao Wen is! It would’ve been so wonderful to have a daughter.”

“Mom, Xiao Wen is truly exceptional,” her eldest daughter-in-law chimed in. “No wonder she managed to get Lu Cheng to agree to marry.”

“Exactly! We tried setting him up with so many girls, but he always turned them down. Turns out, he was just waiting for someone like her!”

Wen Ning remained blissfully unaware of the glowing impression she had left. That night, she had listened to countless heroic wartime tales and the excitement still lingered.

Back home, while Lu Cheng was heating water, Wen Ning trailed after him. “Comrade Lu Cheng, do you have any war stories? You must have been incredibly brave too!”

Lu Cheng wasn’t the reminiscing type. “There’s nothing to tell,” he replied. “Haven’t you heard enough from Aunt?”

“Not enough,” Wen Ning insisted, gazing at him under the moonlight. He stood in his olive-green uniform, sleeves rolled up as he poured water. The silvery glow outlined the sharp angles of his face, catching in the corners of his eyes and brow.

“You’re a great hero, and I’m your lover. Shouldn’t I be allowed to hear?”

Lu Cheng paused. He set down the tin hot water bottle and turned toward her. She stood half-shrouded in the yellowish glow of the kerosene lamp. Her tone was soft, but the words hit home.

“There’s nothing to tell,” he muttered, turning back to the water. “Go wash up.”

Wen Ning was meticulous about cleanliness. In this era, daily baths were a luxury, many people only washed their faces and feet every few days. But she insisted on daily care and full baths every few days.

After living together, Lu Cheng had grown used to her habits. Now, he always boiled extra water for her, content to wash with cold water himself.

After washing up, Wen Ning returned to the bedroom in Mother Wen’s crocheted slippers. The kang was warm, and she quickly fell asleep beneath the thick cotton quilt.

With only one day off a week, Lu Cheng returned to the army the next morning, leaving Wen Ning alone at home.

She spent her time writing and drawing, gradually getting used to the tools of this era and even finding enjoyment in it. After putting away her pen and paper, she went to Sister Luo’s house to teach Huang Yuexia how to draw.

“Start with the basics and take your time,” Wen Ning said, playing teacher for the first time. After all, she couldn’t bite the hand that fed her—Sister Luo’s cooking was too delicious.

Huang Yuexia was amazed by her teacher’s skills and practiced diligently. Her drawings began to take shape—enough to fool an untrained eye, if not a professional one.

At school, classmates noticed a stunning peony she had drawn in her textbook—far more beautiful than their elliptical petal doodles.

“Huang Yuexia, how are you so good at this?”

“You can draw too?”

Huang Yuexia blushed. “I learned from someone else. My teacher is the real talent.”

“Who’s your teacher?”

“Xiao Yun’s sister-in-law.”

Everyone turned to look at Lu Kangyun—who was just as surprised. My sister-in-law?

That afternoon, her classmates pestered her to show off her skills. If her sister-in-law was such an amazing painter and teacher, surely Lu Kangyun had learned something too?

But how could she do it? In fact, she didn’t even know that her bad sister-in-law could draw.

“Yuexia, how did you end up learning from her?”

“My mom asked her to teach me. She said your sister-in-law’s skills are good enough to earn extra money. So I thought I might as well learn something,” she replied as they walked home. “Xiao Yun, I think your sister-in-law is actually quite nice. Could you be misunderstanding her?”

“Misunderstanding? Where?” Lu Kanglei, waiting at the school gate, stiffened. “Huang Yuexia, don’t be fooled! That woman is dangerous!”

Even his eldest brother struggled to keep her in check.

Lu Kangyun waved goodbye to Yuexia as her second brother pulled her away. But her thoughts lingered on that peony painting—it was truly beautiful.

“Second Brother, what if we asked Sister-in-law to teach us how to paint…”

“Absolutely not!” Lu Kanglei nearly stomped his foot. “Comrade Lu Kangyun, you can’t betray us! We must uphold the spirit of the People’s Liberation Army and resist to the very end!”

Lu Kangyun: “…”