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Chapter 90
“Who are you cursing at?!”
Xu Yan was the first to react, rushing back to grab Kang Nan by the arm and slap her across the face. The slap was so sudden that not only was Kang Nan taken by surprise, but Jiang Nian and the old lady were also caught off guard. Xu Yan was now much fiercer than before. With Liu Qiang being neglectful and absent, leaving her alone with two children, she felt that if she didn’t toughen up, anyone could bully them.
When Kang Nan realized what had happened, she tried to hit Xu Yan back, only to receive another slap. Xu Yan scolded, “You’re the real slut, shamelessly trying to marry Commander Lu. When he ignored you, you aimed for Deputy Commander Song. Do you really think you’re that desirable? Do you think every man is eager for you? With your looks, you should be grateful to get married at all!”
Xu Yan’s rapid-fire insults left Kang Nan speechless.
Finally, Kang Xiu snapped out of it and stepped forward to fight Xu Yan. But Jiang Nian quickly pulled Xu Yan back, making Kang Xiu hesitant. She had suffered at Jiang Nian’s hands before. Even now, people still point fingers at her after her door-to-door “speech”. Moreover, Kang Nan had started this trouble, and if Jiang Nian played any tricks again, what would happen to them two sisters?
Considering that Jiang Nian was now the commander’s wife, Kang Xiu knew it wasn’t wise to provoke her. Even if there were rumors about her and Commander Lu, it wasn’t something Kang Xiu could openly challenge. Kang Nan didn’t understand this, but Kang Xiu did.
Kang Xiu preferred to avoid trouble, but Kang Nan, having been slapped twice, was determined to retaliate. Pregnant and all, she charged at Xu Yan. The old lady stepped in, sternly saying, “Kang family, you are wrong in this matter first. If you hadn’t cursed, would Xu Yan have hit you? Listen to your own words. Who could tolerate such insults? If you still feel wronged, we can call Commander Lu and bring this to the second regiment’s commander. Let’s see who is really at fault and who started this.”
Xu Yan had hit hard, leaving two red handprints on Kang Nan’s face. The old lady continued, “Hitting people is wrong, and Xu Yan will apologize for that. But you need to own up to your mistake too!”
Xu Yan added, “Auntie is right. Let’s go to the second regiment’s commander. If I’m wrong, I’ll admit it. But you have to admit your mistake too. You have to explain your insults to Commander Lu’s wife!”
Kang Nan fell silent, her face turning purple with anger. Kang Xiu, genuinely scared, remembered the last time she faced public humiliation. If this matter reached the second regiment’s commander, she and Kang Nan wouldn’t just be in trouble—they’d get scolded by her husband too. Weighing the consequences, she pulled Kang Nan away.
Seeing Kang Nan’s reluctance, Jiang Nian offered, “Let’s go to the second regiment’s commander and clear this up. I don’t want to be accused of seducing my brother-in-law.”
This made Kang Xiu give in.
She didn’t want a repeat of the past, so she firmly pulled Kang Nan away. “We’re not seeing the commander. We have things to do.”
Kang Nan, heavily pregnant, couldn’t resist Kang Xiu’s tugging. She angrily shook off her sister’s hand, complaining, “Why did you stop me? Did I get those two slaps in vain? Look at how swollen my face is!”
Getting angrier, she stomped her feet as she walked.
Kang Xiu glanced at Kang Nan’s face, which was indeed red and starting to swell from the slaps. Even so, they had to endure it. She grabbed Kang Nan again and said, “You started by cursing Jiang Nian. Even if we go to the commander and Xu Yan apologizes, what about your insults to Jiang Nian? Do you want to go door to door apologizing like I did? And your brother-in-law might get a promotion this year. If this affects that, I’ll never forgive you!”
Kang Nan was still uncomfortable, but she ultimately took Kang Xiu’s words to heart.
She didn’t want to be like her sister and go door to door to apologize and she certainly didn’t want to be resented by her sister’s family. The only reason she was receiving any attention from her in-laws was because of her brother-in-law’s position as a captain. If her sister cut off contact with her in the future, she would have no status at her husband’s home.
Kang Xiu glanced at her younger sister. Kang Nan had been staying with her for nine days, and the leave slip from He Yong was for ten days. Her sister could stay at most one more day before she had to leave. For the first time, Kang Xiu felt that if her sister left, it might reduce her troubles.
Kang Xiu and her sister returned to the family quarters. Meanwhile, Jiang Nian left the base to go to the supply station to buy some candy, peanuts, and sunflower seeds, and also picked up ten jin of white wine. After sorting these out, she went to the vegetable stand and the food stand to buy a lot of meat and vegetables.
Jiang Nian and Xu Yan’s baskets were filled to the brim, and the old lady’s basket was also quite full.
On the way back, the old lady said, “When we get back, I’ll help you all with the cooking. I’m just idle anyway.”
Jiang Nian smiled, “Thank you, Auntie.”
From beginning to end, the old lady had not mentioned a word about her and Lu Yu’s relationship.
Returning to the base from the vegetable stand required passing through a main street. Two people were walking on the opposite side of the street. The lead person was a middle-aged man in his forties, followed by a woman. The woman was dressed poorly, with short hair, and her exposed skin was dark and dry, as if she had been working in the fields.
Jiang Nian felt vaguely familiar with the woman, but couldn’t quite place her. The old lady and Xu Yan’s steps faltered for a moment, their gazes lingering on the woman across the street.
Jiang Nian’s steps also paused, and she looked at the woman a few more times.
The woman seemed to sense something, lifted her head, and looked over. In an instant, a familiar face came into view.
It was Zheng Hong.
Her cheeks were dark and thin, her eye sockets sunken, and her once elegantly styled long hair had been cut short. She looked much older. Judging by her interaction with the man in front of her, they seemed to be a couple.
Zheng Hong hadn’t expected to run into her former mother-in-law and Xu Yan here, and even less expected to meet Jiang Nian. Being seen in her most miserable state by the person she used to dislike the most was akin to showing others how bad her life had become after leaving Lu Guosheng.
She quickly lowered her head and walked away with her husband.
Jiang Nian turned back to look at Zheng Hong and the man, and as she observed their figures, a sense of familiarity washed over her. She recalled a scene from the past: in the scorching summer, with few pedestrians on the street, Sun Ying and Zheng Hong saw Xu Yan with an old man when returning from the supply station. People told Zheng Hong and Sun Ying that Xu Yan had married the old bachelor in the village after divorcing Liu Qiang.
Jiang Nian’s heart jolted. She turned to the old lady, pressed her lips together, and asked, “Auntie, do you know who the man with Zheng Hong is?”
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Ayalee[Translator]
**•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚***•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚