Chapter 85.4

Lu Yu was always perceptive, his mind working faster than others. Jiang Nian bit her lip and poked Lu Yu’s abs with her finger. “Political Commissar Gu saved me. If it weren’t for him catching me in time, I would’ve fallen.”

Lu Yu said, “I know.”

His voice was low and steady, betraying no anger. Jiang Nian couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She remembered how Lu Yu often sparred with Song Bai back in the army, both of them frequently sporting bruises. Feeling a bit guilty, she leaned against Lu Yu’s back and asked softly, “You won’t spar with Political Commissar Gu, will you?”

Lu Yu: …

He chuckled, “No.”

Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief, still worried that if Lu Yu sparred with Gu Shizhou, she would never be able to face Political Commissar Gu again.

The man had saved her, and she didn’t want to cause him trouble.

Lu Yu rode his bike, carrying Jiang Nian from the military base to the food station. Along the way, the military wives all looked at Jiang Nian with envy. There were only a few families in the residential area that had bicycles, at most four in total. And Lu Yu’s bicycle was brand new.

Young as he was, Lu Yu had already become a regiment commander. He not only pampered his wife with a watch, a bicycle, and a sewing machine but also took care of the private plot of land himself, not letting her do any work. Such a good man was hard to find even with a lantern.

Who wouldn’t envy Jiang Nian?

Just as Lu Yu and Jiang Nian arrived at the food station, they ran into Chen Yao and Yu Liang. Yu Liang’s arm had healed but still couldn’t be used forcefully and needed more time to recuperate. The two of them had just bought two pounds of meat.

They bought a piece of meat, a fish, a chicken, and several ribs. Seeing Jiang Nian, Chen Yao cheerfully called out, “Sister-in-law!”

Yu Liang also greeted her, calling her sister-in-law.

Jiang Nian got down from the bike only after Lu Yu stopped. She asked, “Why are you buying so much?”

Chen Yao replied, “We were just heading to your place.”

Buying so many things made Jiang Nian a bit embarrassed. Chen Yao said, “We can’t just come over and eat at your place every time. We’re big eaters, and after a while, even if you’re not tired of us, we’d be ashamed of freeloading.”

Yu Liang nodded in agreement. “Right.”

Lu Yu said, “Let them buy it.”

Jiang Nian didn’t buy anything this time. She was once again lifted onto the back seat by Lu Yu. Seeing this, Chen Yao teased, “Sister-in-law, make sure you hold on tight this time and don’t fall off again.”

Jiang Nian: …

Why bring that up again?

Lu Yu first took Jiang Nian home. In the hallway, they ran into Yue Qiao and Captain Lei, who were beaming with joy. Captain Lei greeted Lu Yu, “Commander Lu.”

Lu Yu nodded.

Jiang Nian smiled, “What’s making you so happy?”

Yue Qiao, holding Captain Lei’s arm, touched her belly with her other hand and smiled, “I’m pregnant. We just found out.”

Jiang Nian’s eyebrows arched in a smile. “Congratulations!”

Yue Qiao’s face was full of happiness. She looked at Jiang Nian and asked, “When are you planning to have a baby?”

Jiang Nian’s smile froze for a moment. Before she could speak, Lu Yu said, “We’re not in a hurry.”

Yue Qiao wanted to say more, but Captain Lei pulled her back. “Alright, the doctor said you need to rest. Let’s go home.”

Yue Qiao nodded, “Yes, yes, let’s go home.”

Both Guan Lu and Yue Qiao were pregnant, and Jiang Nian couldn’t deny feeling a bit envious. She loved Lu Yu and wanted to have a child that belonged to both of them. But Lu Yu had said they would have a baby in three years. Though she didn’t know why, she trusted that he had his reasons. She didn’t want to press him and make things difficult.

When they were alone in the hallway, Lu Yu took Jiang Nian’s hand, noticing her downcast eyes and silent demeanor. He held her hand tightly, and when she looked up in confusion, he asked softly, “Do you blame me?”

Jiang Nian understood what he meant. She smiled, “I know you have your reasons. Besides, we’ll have three more years to enjoy just the two of us.”

Lu Yu’s brows didn’t relax but furrowed slightly. He suddenly turned and hugged Jiang Nian tightly, as if trying to merge her into his own being.

There were some things he couldn’t say. Telling her would only make her anxious.

He wanted to create a world for Jiang Nian where she had nothing to worry about, where she didn’t need to fret over anything.

Jiang Nian keenly sensed that Lu Yu was hiding something. It was something that needed to come from him directly, something she couldn’t reach or understand on her own. She had never felt as afraid of being separated from Lu Yu as she did now. It almost seemed like he wished time would stop at this moment.

Suddenly, the voices of Chen Ping and Captain Ren echoed through the hallway. Chen Ping blushed and turned away, feeling awkward about witnessing the intimate embrace between Lu Yu and Jiang Nian. She muttered to herself about the inappropriateness of such public displays of affection.

Lu Yu released Jiang Nian and, feeling a bit awkward himself, cleared his throat and greeted Captain Ren and Chen Ping. Then he led the blushing Jiang Nian back home.

Chen Ping watched them leave and murmured, “They seem so in love. I wonder when they started seeing each other.”

Captain Ren scolded softly, “It doesn’t matter when they started. What matters is they’re together now. Keep your mouth shut and don’t spread gossip.”

Chen Ping: …

She glared at Captain Ren. “You’re always right, aren’t you? I say one thing, and you argue three!”

Captain Ren: …

Back home, Jiang Nian and Lu Yu had barely settled when Chen Yao and the others arrived, followed closely by Gu Shizhou. Gu Shizhou no longer needed to sling his arm, but like Yu Liang, he still couldn’t use it fully. He looked at Jiang Nian, and his dark eyes glinted with amusement when he saw her slightly flushed face. “Younger sister-in-law.”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Come in and sit.”

Gu Shizhou brought two bottles of milk, several kinds of candies, and two cans of preserved food, all of which cost a lot of money. Jiang Nian felt a bit guilty. “You didn’t have to bring anything.”

Gu Shizhou said, “We can’t just come and eat without contributing.”

Lu Yu, surprisingly, said, “If they want to bring something, let them.”

Then he led Jiang Nian into the kitchen to help prepare lunch. Gu Shizhou volunteered to help, seeing Lu Yu handling the chicken. He started cleaning the fish from the bag. Jiang Nian quickly said, “Political Commissar Gu, you don’t need to help. Lu Yu and I can manage.”

Lu Yu glanced at Gu Shizhou. “Doesn’t your arm hurt?”

Gu Shizhou smiled, “It’s fine.”

He crouched on the floor, scaling the fish, while outside, Chen Yao and Yu Liang chatted, making the kitchen feel quiet.

After a while, Gu Shizhou finished with the fish and handed it to Jiang Nian, saying softly, “Someone asked me to thank you on her behalf.”

Jiang Nian quickly understood and whispered, “Is it Professor Ling’s daughter?”

Gu Shizhou nodded, looking at Jiang Nian’s fair face with a hint of a smile. “The fish is ready.”

Lu Yu took the fish from Gu Shizhou. “Go and join Chen Yao and the others.”

It took about an hour to prepare the meal. Jiang Nian steamed the rice, and when it was ready, Chen Yao and the others came in to serve it. Seeing the dishes, Chen Yao took a deep breath. “It smells so good. Sister-in-law, your cooking is amazing!”

Jiang Nian smiled, “Eat more if you like it.”

Lu Yu had mentioned two days ago that Chen Yao had something to tell her today. She had been curious all day, wondering what it could be.

As soon as Jiang Nian sat down, Lu Yu went to the cabinet and brought out the bottle of deer antler wine that Commander Song had given him. He placed it on the table and asked Gu Shizhou, “Shall we have a few drinks?”

Gu Shizhou nodded, “Sure.”

Seeing this, Chen Yao and Yu Liang chimed in, “Count us in, Commander Lu!”

Jiang Nian: …

This was deer antler wine.

These three vigorous men drinking it would probably keep them up all night.

She blinked and suddenly looked up at Lu Yu, a thought crossing her mind. This man was jealous again.

He was deliberately giving Gu Shizhou a hard time.