The other team members, seeing Wang Aiguo shamelessly coming over to eat and drink Bai Yichen’s food, also gathered around. Their eyes gleamed with hunger as they pleaded:
“Captain, we want some of that meat sauce too!”

With only plain steamed buns, pickled vegetables, and plain water for their meals, just a single spoonful of the fragrant mushroom meat sauce seemed like a luxury.

It became clear that their captain’s lifestyle had significantly improved after getting married. Watching him enjoy such a meal made them regret not finding wives sooner.

Bai Yichen sighed. He’d barely had a few bites before these scavengers descended. Reluctantly, he handed over the plate of meat sauce.
“Alright, take it and share among yourselves. Just don’t crowd me while I’m eating.”

Wang Aiguo eagerly grabbed the plate, flashing an unapologetic grin.
“Thanks, Captain! We’ll take this and leave you to eat in peace.”

He ran off before anyone could stop him, and the others chased after him like a swarm of flies.
“Hey, don’t you dare hog it all! The Captain said it’s for everyone!”

The sound of laughter and playful arguments echoed in the distance. Bai Yichen allowed a small smile to creep onto his face.
This wife of mine keeps surprising me. I wonder how many more secrets she has up her sleeve.

Back home, An Xin retrieved braising spices, pig trotters, offal, chicken feet, and eggs from her portable warehouse. After cleaning everything thoroughly, she set about preparing a pot of braised dishes.

Earlier that morning, she had promised Bai Yichen she’d make up for his simple lunch. Since he handed over his salary, it was only fair to reward him with a good meal.

However, to avoid arousing suspicion, she deliberately chose to braise cheaper cuts like offal and pig trotters instead of premium meats.

While the pot simmered, she organized other household essentials: daily-use items, food staples, and condiments, along with new clothes and school supplies for her siblings and mother. She carefully packed these into a bag to bring back home later when they visited her family.

Traditionally, today would’ve been their “return visit” to her family after the wedding, but Bai Yichen was busy with work. She’d have to wait for him to return before they could go together. The gifts, however, needed to be ready in advance to avoid raising suspicions.

As the pot of braised food simmered, filling the air with a tantalizing aroma, An Xin lit another stove to prepare rice and a simple vegetable soup for dinner.

Just then, Sister Chen, the neighbor’s wife, poked her head out from her doorway. Her curiosity, fueled by the delicious smell, drove her to call out:
“An Xin, what’s cooking? Smells so good!”

Sister Chen sauntered over, eyes fixed on the pot, her curiosity getting the better of her. Without waiting for an invitation, she reached for the lid to take a peek.

An Xin, crouched nearby washing vegetables, looked up just in time and stopped her.
“Careful, Sister Chen, you’ll burn yourself. It’s nothing special—just some pork offal I picked up in town. Thought I’d braise it for my husband as a treat when he gets back.”

Her tone remained polite, but her eyes flashed coldly. Who does this woman think she is, barging in like this and lifting the lid of someone else’s pot? They’d only met that morning, and already acting overly familiar.

Sister Chen awkwardly withdrew her hand, her smile turning stiff.
“Oh, so it’s offal? No wonder it smells so good.”

She feigned nonchalance but couldn’t help feeling envious. Why didn’t she think of buying some and making it this way?

Although pig offal is cheaper than pork, if this dish is well prepared, it tastes better than pork.

An Xin, sensing her neighbor’s jealousy, continued washing her vegetables as if nothing had happened.
“Well, Sister Chen, maybe it’s time you prepare a treat for your own family. Go pick up some offal next time you’re in town and make a feast for Brother Chen!”

The offal simmering in her pot wasn’t just for her household; she planned to take some to her siblings.

There was no way she’d let herself be guilt-tripped into sharing with someone so obvious about wanting free handouts.

Sister Chen had been hoping An Xin would offer her a taste of the braised dishes. After all, the smell alone was irresistible. But An Xin’s polite yet firm demeanor left no room for negotiation.

Realizing she wouldn’t get what she wanted, Chen forced a smile and replied,
“Yes, yes, maybe I should do that. Tomorrow, I’ll go buy some meat and cook a nice meal for my husband.”

Despite her words, she simmered with resentment. “So stingy!” she thought. “She won’t even share with her neighbors. What kind of person is this?”

Unbothered by Chen’s internal grumbling, An Xin finished washing the vegetables and began tidying up. She glanced at Chen with a smile and said,
“Well, Sister Chen, I’ve got to finish up here. The men will be back soon, and I wouldn’t want Brother Chen to come home hungry and not have anything to eat. You should get started on your cooking too!”

Her tone was polite, but her words made it clear: go home and stop lingering.

An Xin had no interest in wasting time with someone who only seemed interested in gossip and freeloading. Her focus was on preparing a hearty meal for Bai Yichen and maintaining a positive image as a capable and frugal wife.