Chapter 16: I Will Take Responsibility for You  

It was still the same domineering tone as before.  

However, Zhou Chongshan’s voice was even deeper, and his tone more resolute.  

With words spoken to this extent—  

Even the dullest person would slowly begin to understand.  

The sister-in-laws looked at Zhou Chongshan as if facing a formidable enemy, and at him and Jiang Rou, who were nestled closely together like a young married couple.  

This intimate scene…  

As they watched, someone couldn’t hold back and let out a chuckle.  

Another person twitched the corners of her mouth, awkwardly explaining to Zhou Chongshan.  

“Regiment Commander Zhou, you… you… you misunderstood… We didn’t intend to do anything to you… or to your wife…”  

Even the usually stern Yang Hongping pursed her lips and lowered her gaze, secretly smiling.  

Jiang Rou could feel Zhou Chongshan’s scorching warmth against her wrist.  

Hearing the occasional laughter around her, a wave of heat rushed to her face.  

Her fair cheeks turned a deep shade of red.  

Her bright, sparkling eyes could not hide her shyness.  

She poked Zhou Chongshan’s back and softly explained.  

“Zhou Chongshan, you misunderstood. The sister-in-laws didn’t bully me, nor did they call me a capitalist’s daughter. They’ve all been very kind to me. Just now, they even said they would give me vegetables and eggs.”  

Despite Jiang Rou’s words, Zhou Chongshan’s furrowed brows did not relax.  

He turned around in one swift motion.  

His palm still firmly grasped Jiang Rou’s wrist.  

He asked in a deep voice: “Really?”  

“Of course, it’s true!”  

Jiang Rou’s eyes sparkled as she answered.  

Speaking to a man over 1.9 meters tall, her delicate chin naturally lifted, revealing her pure and charming face.  

With her face flushed, she met Zhou Chongshan’s gaze directly.  

Zhou Chongshan had never even held a woman’s hand before—let alone been stared at like this.

He was momentarily stunned.  

Then, he quickly snapped back to his senses.  

His dark eyes shifted slightly as he carefully examined Jiang Rou from head to toe.  

Jiang Rou was indeed completely fine.  

Other than her clothes looking a bit unusual, there were no injuries on her body, nor any signs of being restrained.  

Even her smile was sweet and delicate.  

Only then did the heavy stone in Zhou Chongshan’s heart finally disappear.  

His gaze toward Jiang Rou unconsciously softened.  

—  

In the end, it was Yang Hongping who resolved this farcical misunderstanding.  

Taking charge of the situation, she instructed the other sister-in-laws to return home—reminding them that it was almost noon, so they should either prepare lunch or take care of their children instead of standing around watching the commotion.  

She also specifically reminded everyone to be less gullible when it came to baseless rumors in the future.  

After that—  

Yang Hongping called Zhou Chongshan outside, and the two spoke privately.  

Zhou Chongshan knew he had misunderstood the situation earlier.  

He sincerely apologized to Yang Hongping.  

“Elder Sister Hong, I’m sorry. I acted impulsively and wrongly accused everyone just now.”  

Yang Hongping waved a hand dismissively and replied nonchalantly,  

“I’m not your political commissar, so there’s no need for a formal report. You don’t have to be so serious with me. Just think of me as an elder in the family—an elder simply looking out for the younger ones.”  

Then, she asked,  

“I heard you two are only engaged and haven’t officially married yet, and you haven’t submitted a marriage report either? So, have you truly decided? Is she the one?”  

Her words were both in support of Zhou Chongshan and protective of Jiang Rou.  

After all, without a marriage report, they weren’t legally husband and wife.  

If they weren’t officially married, yet Jiang Rou—a young woman—was already living in Zhou Chongshan’s house, it would affect her reputation more than his.  

Hearing this, Zhou Chongshan did not respond immediately.  

He lifted his eyes and glanced into the house, catching sight of Jiang Rou’s figure.  

Then, as he withdrew his gaze—  

This man, with unwavering certainty, nodded at Yang Hongping.  

“It’s her.”

A wife for a lifetime.  

What he said, he would keep his word.  

Zhou Chongshan added: “Jiang Rou’s personal documents are with me. I’ll submit the marriage report as soon as I return this afternoon.”  

Hearing this, Yang Hongping smiled and nodded.  

“Chongshan, I can tell that Rou is a good girl. You two are a good match, and your marriage is a joyful event. Once you have a wife, your days will only get better and better.”  

“But as your elder, I still have to remind you of something—  

A man must cherish his wife.”  

“No matter who else you might neglect, you must not neglect your own wife. Do you understand?”  

Zhou Chongshan took in every single word Yang Hongping said.  

However…  

His face remained expressionless, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.  

He hadn’t picked up on the deeper meaning behind her words.  

Yang Hongping observed him for a moment and soon realized that this rough and straightforward man hadn’t understood at all.  

She couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.  

“You soldiers—do you only know how to fire guns and fight battles? How can you not understand something this simple?”  

Zhou Chongshan was momentarily stunned, then awkwardly admitted,  

“Elder Sister Hong, please explain more clearly.”  

“Regiment Commander Zhou, you may be a commander, but your wife is still wearing your old clothes. And your home—there isn’t even a proper chair to sit on. Don’t tell me you don’t even have a glass for serving guests?”  

“If that’s the case, even if no one deliberately mistreats her, people will still look down on her because of these things.”  

“You’re about to get married—do you really plan to not spend a single cent? The money that should be spent must be spent. The things that should be bought must be bought. Do you understand?”  

With Yang Hongping putting it this bluntly, if Zhou Chongshan still didn’t get it, he would truly be as dense as a wooden block.  

“Elder Sister Hong, thank you.”  

Only then did Zhou Chongshan suddenly realize what she meant.  

He immediately thanked Yang Hongping and firmly committed her words to memory.

The little notebook of a husband’s code had gained new content once again.  

Apart from that, there was another important matter that Zhou Zhongshan needed to entrust to Yang Hongping.  

“Big Sister Hong, I’d like to ask you to investigate where the rumors about Jiang Rou originated from.”  

Yang Hongping nodded. “Don’t worry. Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have looked into it myself.”  

The person fanning the flames from behind the scenes had dared to use issues of background and status to maliciously slander an innocent and respectable family.  

It was not just Zhou Zhongshan who would not let this go—Yang Hongping would not allow such a person to exist either.  

…  

After seeing Yang Hongping off, Zhou Zhongshan turned and walked back into the house.  

As soon as he stepped through the door, he was met with Jiang Rou’s clear, bright eyes.  

Those luminous eyes gazed at him without blinking.  

They were soft, filled with deep affection.  

Jiang Rou said nothing, but all her words and emotions were contained within that gaze.  

Zhou Zhongshan had already, in front of so many people, held Jiang Rou’s hand and declared: “She is my wife.”  

Since he had spoken, he naturally had to give Jiang Rou an explanation.  

He opened his mouth.  

“I…”  

As Zhou Zhongshan looked at Jiang Rou, his gaze naturally swept over her figure, and then, in an instant, landed on her wrist.  

His words suddenly stopped.  

His thick brows furrowed.  

A tense voice escaped his lips without hesitation.  

“Did I hurt you?”  

Zhou Zhongshan took a step forward, wanting to touch Jiang Rou, but his movement abruptly halted.  

His dark eyes lowered slightly, his gaze fixed on Jiang Rou’s wrist.  

Her slender wrist was as fair as snow, yet there was a stark red mark marring its surface.  

A deep crimson ring.  

Encircling her pale wrist.  

Like a jade bracelet.  

Because Jiang Rou’s skin was so fair, the redness stood out too obviously.  

That was why Zhou Zhongshan noticed it at a glance.  

And more than that…  

It was his doing.  

It was the mark left by his uncontrolled strength when he had grabbed her in his moment of urgency.  

Jiang Rou, however, had not paid it any mind.  

When Zhou Zhongshan had seized her wrist earlier, she had not felt even the slightest pain. All she had noticed was the searing warmth continuously emanating from his palm.  

Now, seeing how tense Zhou Zhongshan was, Jiang Rou lowered her head to look. It was only then that she noticed the red mark around her wrist.  

She smiled and said lightly,  

“This… it’s nothing. It doesn’t hurt. It’ll fade in a little while.”  

But.  

The man’s eyes still held nothing but remorse and self-reproach.  

Zhou Zhongshan lowered his head slightly, his gaze solemn as he fixated on Jiang Rou’s wrist.  

This time, he not only saw the red mark but also the abrasions on her soft palm.  

Yang Hongping’s words echoed in his mind once more.  

“When we arrived earlier, we saw Rou girl—such a delicate person—holding a hoe and tilling the land…”  

“She said she wanted to plant some vegetables and fruits, to save resources, improve the meals, and take better care of your child…”  

“Zhou Zhongshan, meeting such a good girl is your fortune…”  

At this moment.  

Zhou Zhongshan completely believed Jiang Rou’s previous words.  

She had not just been saying those things—she had truly been doing them.  

His gaze darkened, and he made up his mind.  

Lifting his eyes, he spoke in a low, steady voice.  

“I will take responsibility for you.”