Chapter 24.2

The sisters-in-law who had been making snide remarks pursed their lips and fell silent after hearing how the Lu siblings were raised.

The Lu family spoils their own, they thought. What else can anyone say?

On the way home, Wen Ning hadn’t even spoken yet when she heard Lu Cheng’s calm explanation. Pleased, she gave him a small, approving glance as they stepped into the house, making him chuckle under his breath.

They had bought a lot in town this time. Wen Ning carefully unpacked everything, sorting the food and household items into their proper places before preparing to divide the chicken cakes.

Chicken cakes were the first truly delicious thing Wen Ning had tasted since arriving in this era. Soft, fragrant with eggs and milk, they were worlds apart from the coarse grains she’d endured until now.

Her mother had once asked someone to bring her one from town—but now, they could simply buy them.

Wen Ning handed one each to Xiao Lei and Xiao Yun, kept one for herself, and turned to offer one to Lu Cheng. But he refused before she could speak.

“I don’t want any. You all can have them.”

He had never cared for sweets. During wartime, they had gnawed on tree bark when rations ran dry. Even now, he didn’t care for such luxuries. As long as his family was happy, that was enough.

But Wen Ning frowned. She looked down at the boys, who were cradling their chicken cakes with half-closed eyes, utterly blissful.

“No way. Everyone in the family gets one. How can you not have one?”

“I’ve never liked them,” Lu Cheng said again. “You three enjoy them.”

Wen Ning, ever fair, tore off a piece of her cake and held it up to his lips. “Just take a bite! It’s really good—so soft!”

Lu Cheng looked at her. She was smiling gently, coaxing him. Eventually, he lowered his head and took a bite from her hand.

Hm… fluffy, sweet, and milky. It really is delicious.

After they’d each finished their chicken cake, Wen Ning began fiddling with the radio. But she didn’t know how to operate it. Lu Cheng stepped in, extending the antenna and adjusting the dials with ease.

Wen Ning silently watched his long, steady fingers, eyes shining. Soon, static filled the room.

“…recent… industrial studies…”

The signal from the mountains was weak, and the broadcast kept cutting out, but Wen Ning’s eyes sparkled with wonder. It was magical.

She cradled the radio as if it were a precious treasure, stroking the casing as if trying to understand how the sound came from within.

“If you keep staring like that, you’ll end up inside it,” Lu Cheng teased. He hadn’t expected her to be so fascinated.

“I can’t fit in there,” Wen Ning replied with a smile. “But maybe one day I’ll climb into a painting.”

Lu Cheng: “…”

How does her brain work?

Wen Ning listened until the static overtook all the channels, finally giving up. She turned her attention to supervising Lu Kanglei and Lu Kangyun’s studies. They were far behind and had to catch up quickly.

But before long, a loud commotion erupted outside, making it impossible to focus.

“I’ll go see what’s happening!” Lu Kanglei tossed aside his book and darted out like a little monkey.

He returned moments later, breathless and triumphant. “Wang Hai’s brother and sister-in-law are here! Everyone’s talking to them! His sister-in-law started handing out candy—I got one!”

Wang Hai’s brother and sister-in-law? Wen Ning’s interest was piqued. Aren’t those the male and female leads from the original novel?

She had transmigrated into the book’s world and was naturally curious about the protagonists. Why do they get to be the leads while I’m just cannon fodder?

“Let’s go see for ourselves,” she said to the two siblings .

Lu Cheng had been enjoying the rare peace of the household reading together, but in the blink of an eye, his wife and brothers had vanished.

The previously empty bungalow next door had been assigned to Deputy Regimental Commander Wang Zhigang, who had just brought his new wife to join him at the base.

When the Lu family had moved to this unit, the military wives had helped with cleaning and settling in. Now, the same crowd had gathered again to welcome the newcomers.

Wen Ning blended into the throng and saw a tall man in a military uniform—half a head shorter than Lu Cheng, thinner, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, a standard of handsome in this era.

Standing beside him was a woman with delicate features and a refined smile—He Shanshan, the female lead of the original book.

The novel detailed her joyful first year as a military wife at the base. Now, she was here in person.

Wen Ning looked from her own home to Jiang Rong’s two doors down. Both of the “contrast group” supporting characters were now in place.

Wow, this is getting lively.

Whenever new families moved into the compound, everyone would gather, no matter the hour. First they had gossiped about Jiang Rong, then Wen Ning, and now it was He Shanshan’s turn.

Sister Luo joined the crowd and slipped a handful of melon seeds to Wen Ning. She shared them with the boys, and soon the three of them were cracking seeds along with everyone else.

The chatter around them was lively.

“Deputy Commander Wang’s mother is a real piece of work. I heard she’s why his wife didn’t come sooner.”

“Right? They say Old Lady Wang was against the marriage. She wanted him to marry one of their distant relatives. But then he met He Shanshan on leave and fell for her. His mom was furious!”

“Tsk, that’s going to be trouble down the line.”

Wen Ning listened, amazed by how much gossip the military wives had gathered. She had skimmed the novel before and never noticed this subplot.

Having read countless romances in the Great Liang Dynasty, her mind was already spinning with passionate, dramatic love story possibilities.

“What are you looking at?”

Wen Ning jolted at the familiar voice. Turning, she saw Lu Cheng and quickly offered him some seeds.

“ Comrade Lu, come listen to this story!”

Lu Cheng accepted the seeds. As her delicate fingertips brushed his palm, his gaze deepened. Wen Ning, as usual, was oblivious.

“What story?”

“Turns out Wang Zhigang’s mother didn’t approve of He Shanshan. She almost broke them up!”

Lu Cheng: “…”

What kind of things does she fill her head with all day?

He actually knew this. Wang Zhigang had confided in him before. But Lu Cheng, having never experienced such matters, had simply offered a rational analysis at the time.

“Stop listening to gossip. Come back inside,” he said, glancing at the two siblings. “You too.”

Wen Ning: “…”

Why is he so boring?!

But just as she was about to argue, a commotion erupted from the neighboring flat. A voice shouted:

“Deputy Commander Wang’s mother is here! She’s pointing at He Shanshan and yelling! Wang Zhigang can’t even hold her back!”

Such scenes were rare in the Family Compound. Whether motivated by genuine concern, curiosity, or sheer boredom, the crowd surged toward the Wang residence.

Wen Ning was eager to follow.

But the others were too fast. Sister Luo and a few women had already shoved their way into the throng, and Lu Kanglei and Lu Kangyun had nimbly climbed a nearby tree.

How did I fall behind?!

Only Lu Cheng, entirely uninterested in the spectacle, remained calmly at her side.