Chapter 88

Lu Yu said, “Just coming back to look around and catch up with some old comrades.”

The old lady smiled, “It’s good to come back and visit.”

Xu Yan missed Jiang Nian very much. Sometimes, she would sit alone in the yard, staring blankly at the neighboring yard, reminiscing about the times when she, Jiang Nian, and Feng Mei spent time together. Those times were lively and joyful.

Now, Zhu Jun lives in Jiang Nian’s courtyard, and new people have moved into Feng Mei’s courtyard.

As Xu Yan walked with Jiang Nian, she shared stories from the past six months. She mentioned Liu Qiang, saying he rarely came back in the past half-year. Whenever he did, he would leave some money and then leave. Liu Jianye almost didn’t call him ‘Dad’ anymore, and Liu Jianwu would feel resentment whenever he saw Liu Qiang.

Speaking of Liu Qiang, Xu Yan’s expression turned somewhat numb. She sneered and continued, “I’ve given up hope for him. As long as he can give the three of us something to eat, I don’t ask for anything more.”

Jiang Nian held Xu Yan’s hand, not knowing what to say.

She had tried hard before to make Xu Yan’s life better, but no matter how hard she tried, Xu Yan and Liu Qiang’s situation always followed the novel’s plot, never improving. It was puzzling because Commander Song’s family was doing well, so why was it not the same for Xu Yan?

Xu Yan squeezed Jiang Nian’s hand back, smiling, “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m doing fine now.”

When they returned to the military base, the wives of the soldiers greeted Jiang Nian warmly. Seeing Lu Yu, they smiled and said, “Oh, Commander Lu is back.”

Lu Yu nodded and smiled, “Yes.”

A few people walked toward them, one of them being Kang Xiu. Beside her was her daughter, who should be around twelve years old now, still small and skinny, shoulders hunched as she followed behind Kang Xiu. In contrast, her son, He Shu, had grown robustly. In two years, from six to eight years old, he resembled Kang Xiu, while He Hua looked much like Captain He.

People often say daughters who resemble their fathers are blessed, but Jiang Nian didn’t see any blessings in He Hua, only grievances and hardships.

Next to Kang Xiu was a pregnant woman, bearing some resemblance to her, looking about five months along.

Kang Xiu also saw Jiang Nian. She had been chatting and laughing with someone, but her face quickly turned sour, and she hurried away.

Jiang Nian: …

Xu Yan didn’t bother with Kang Xiu and said to Jiang Nian, “Two months ago, Kang Xiu became famous in our family quarters. She was scolded so much that she couldn’t even raise her head.”

Jiang Nian’s curiosity was piqued, “What happened?”

Xu Yan explained, “She’s extremely biased against daughters, always beating or scolding He Hua. One day, she beat He Hua so severely that she knocked her out. Afraid of being scolded by Captain He, she hid the child inside the house. The girl was unconscious for a whole day and night until Captain He came back and found something was wrong and took her to the hospital. Somehow, this got out, and she was almost drowned in the military wives’ saliva.”

The old lady chimed in, “Kang Xiu is indeed committing sins.”

Xu Yan added, “Exactly, she isn’t afraid of retribution. That’s her own daughter. He Shu is learning from her, bullying He Hua at home too. This child is really unlucky to be born into the He family.”

Jiang Nian had noticed He Hua’s demeanor earlier and felt a pang of pity. However, she knew she was powerless to help.

Xu Yan glanced back at Kang Xiu and the others, then turned to Jiang Nian, “Do you remember the woman next to Kang Xiu?”

Jiang Nian shook her head, noting only that she bore a resemblance to Kang Xiu.

Xu Yan whispered, “That’s Kang Nan, Kang Xiu’s younger sister. She once expressed interest in Lu Yu, but he ignored her. Then she tried to use Kang Xiu to arrange a meeting with Song Bai, but Sister Feng chased her away.”

Jiang Nian suddenly remembered. It was her. Kang Xiu had previously targeted her openly and subtly because of Sister Feng’s matchmaking attempt with Song Bai. Jiang Nian thought both Kang Xiu and her sister were troublesome.

Xu Yan continued, “I only learned last month that Kang Nan got married to a divorced man with a son. He’s the son of their brigade leader. I didn’t expect that she would choose a divorced man after being so picky. I heard that she came to the army to see Kang Xiu this time because she was not happy with her husband’s family and her parents’ home was close to her husband’s family, so she stayed with Kang Xiu for a while.”

Back at the family quarters, Lu Yu followed Zhu Jun to their courtyard. After saying goodbye to the old lady, Jiang Nian accompanied Xu Yan to her home. Not seeing Liu Jianye, Xu Yan explained that he was at school and would return in the afternoon. Xu Yan’s house hadn’t changed much. After chatting for a while, Jiang Nian returned to Zhu Jun’s place.

Upon returning, Jiang Nian found the familiar courtyard brought back memories of her first visit with Lu Yu. Smiling, she saw Zhu Jun carrying water from the kitchen. He smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, you and Commander Lu will stay in this room.”

He pointed to the first room on the east side, the same room she had stayed in before.

Jiang Nian smiled and agreed, “Okay.”

She walked into the room. The furnishings were still the same, nothing had changed. She heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw that it was Lu Yu who came in. The man was standing against the light, his expression unreadable.

Lu Yu asked, “Are you tired?”

Jiang Nian shook her head, sitting on the bed, her legs swinging over the edge. Looking up at Lu Yu, she thought of Xu Yan’s situation and quietly said, “Lu Yu…”

She hesitated, unsure how to continue.

Lu Yu seemed to understand her thoughts and sat beside her, holding her hand. “Are you thinking about Xu Yan?”

Jiang Nian nodded slightly, her fingers gently squeezing his. “I don’t know how to help her.”

Lu Yu reassured her, “Xu Yan is much better off than before. You’ve done what you can. The rest is up to her.”

Jiang Nian understood this but still felt a pang of sympathy for Xu Yan. However, compared to the novel’s ending, her current life was indeed better.

Lu Yu said, “You can stay here for now. If you get bored, you can visit Xu Yan. After lunch, Zhu Jun will head to the regiment, and I’ll go inform some old comrades about our marriage. We’ll hold the banquet here at Zhu Jun’s house.”

Jiang Nian replied, “Alright.” She paused before asking, “When will the banquet be?”

Lu Yu answered, “The day after tomorrow.”

At lunch, Zhu Jun brought back food from the cafeteria. After eating, Zhu Jun went to the regiment while Lu Yu headed to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things, planning to visit CommanderTang and Chief of Staff Tao and other comrades. Jiang Nian washed her hands and stepped out to visit Xu Yan. As she left, she encountered two women returning from outside.

The woman walking in front was an old lady, and the woman behind looked like a young wife. The old lady had an ugly look on her face, as if someone owed her money. She frowned and kept saying unpleasant things. The woman behind her also had a cold face, and she looked up from time to time to refute her. The old lady was so angry that she turned her head and kept cursing.

Jiang Nian: …

It seemed gossip could be found everywhere.

From their conversation, Jiang Nian gathered they were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Watching them enter the courtyard next door, she realized it was Feng Mei’s former home. Even through the wall, their argument about the younger woman’s brother could be heard. Jiang Nian didn’t stay long and went to Xu Yan’s house instead. Xu Yan and Liu Jianwu were eating in the courtyard. When Jiang Nian arrived, Liu Jianwu jumped up excitedly, “Aunt Jiang!”

“Jiang Nian.”

Xu Yan greeted her, setting her bowl down and offering, “Let me get you some water.”

“No need.”

Jiang Nian smiled.

Xu Yan had finished lunch and took the dishes to the kitchen. Liu Jianye was playing in the yard. Jiang Nian followed Xu Yan into the kitchen, where Xu Yan was busy. “Did new neighbors move in next door?” Jiang Nian asked.

Xu Yan, scrubbing dishes, paused and whispered, “Yes, the new deputy commander of the Second Regiment. He transferred here from another unit and moved in three months ago. The couple used to get along well, but since the deputy commander’s mother arrived last month, they’ve been having conflicts. This street in our family quarters often hears their arguments, especially the old woman’s loud voice, which can be heard from one end to the other.”

Jiang Nian had seen the elderly woman’s harsh demeanor earlier and could imagine the scene.

Xu Yan continued, “Last night, they argued again because the deputy commander didn’t give his salary to his mother. The old woman wasn’t happy, claiming she raised him, and now he was neglecting her for his wife, causing quite a spectacle with her dramatic accusations.”

Jiang Nian thought this was a case of a toxic elder disrupting her child’s family life.

She felt that Captain Lu’s mother was a really good mother, sensible and reasonable. Over the past year, she had helped Lu Zhijun correct many bad habits.

Jiang Nian stayed with Xu Yan until the afternoon when Liu Jianye returned from school, along with Lu Zhijun. Both boys ran up happily when they saw Jiang Nian, “Aunt Jiang!”

Jiang Nian smiled, “You’re back.”

Liu Jianye nodded, and Lu Zhijun held a bowl of pickles, saying to Xu Yan, “Aunt Xu, Grandma asked me to bring these for you.”

Xu Yan took the bowl and transferred the pickles into another dish, saying, “Tell your grandma Aunt Xu thanks her. I’ll make some pickles and bring some over.”

Lu Zhijun nodded, “Okay.”

After Lu Zhijun left, Xu Yan said to Jiang Nian, “The old lady is kind-hearted. Seeing how hard it is for me with two children at home, she often sends Lu Zhijun over with some of her homemade pickles.”

Jiang Nian thought it was good that Xu Yan had someone to look out for her here.

By dusk, Jiang Nian returned home, just as Zhu Jun and Lu Yu arrived. Zhu Jun’s mother was now at the hospital taking care of Zhang Xiao, so Zhu Jun didn’t have to be as busy. As soon as Jiang Nian got back inside, Lu Yu came in and told her about the banquet they would hold at Zhu Jun’s house the day after tomorrow.

Jiang Nian bit her lip and asked, “How did Commander Tang and the others react when you told them about us?”