Chapter 10

Whether or not the report was actually written didn’t matter—what mattered was letting everyone know she could write such a report if she chose to.

Of course, being an army wife was a special identity. Following their soldier husbands around meant many sacrifices, but with their men protecting them, everything felt worthwhile.

No matter what happened, Gu Huai would always shield He Bingning. He wasn’t the type to speak sweet words, but his love ran deep—a straightforward, masculine kind of love. He Bingning could feel it, and others could see it too. With someone backing her, she was not someone to be provoked. It sounded crude, but it was the truth.

He Bingning was someone who held grudges—but she kept them in her heart, not the kind to nag endlessly or chew over the same grievance. And she was indeed bold and straightforward, daring to love and daring to hate. It was precisely because of this that, in her past life, she had recklessly abandoned her husband and children, leading to lifelong regret.

After being reborn, He Bingning was still the same—daring to love and daring to hate. She loved her husband, her children, her family, and herself. As for hate, it was simple: whoever tried to destroy her marriage with Gu Huai, she would hate them! That was who she was—clear in love and hate.

The cafeteria really did have plenty of dishes. By the rules, food wasn’t sold, but if army wives wanted to buy something, people usually turned a blind eye. After all, soldiers trained so hard every day; if their wives wanted to supplement their meals a little, it was understandable. The cafeteria didn’t expect to make money off it either—food was sold at cost.

But one rule was firm: they weren’t allowed inside to pick and choose. Whatever they wanted, they had to say at the door, someone would bring it out, and they’d pay there.

He Bingning had already decided, so she didn’t dither. She asked for chicken legs, and for balance, also requested some bok choy, then paid quickly. She then turned to Wang Jiahui and asked if she wanted to buy anything.

Wang Jiahui smiled and shook her head. “I’ll just eat at the cafeteria.”

With her husband away, she had little interest in cooking. More importantly, she had no money, and the cafeteria meals were free.

“That works too,” He Bingning didn’t press further. She knew Wang Jiahui’s situation. The cafeteria food wasn’t bad—just lighter, with less oil.

He Bingning, out of private affection, wanted to give her husband an extra chicken leg. Most of the time, they too ate at the cafeteria.

Carrying her groceries and holding both babies, He Bingning felt lighthearted. Once, she had craved a grand, dramatic life; now she felt that the true essence of living was in simple peace.

A husband and children at her side, family close by—life felt steady and secure.

Wang Jiahui, though a village girl, had a strong sense of propriety. Seeing that He Bingning had finished shopping, she said she would head home. If she kept following, it would look as if she were angling for a meal. Though He Bingning was generous, it was still impolite to intrude.

Since Wang Jiahui wanted to leave, He Bingning didn’t try to stop her. People needed boundaries in their relationships.

He Bingning hummed a little tune all the way home, delighted. The first thing she did after arriving was feed her twins.

From the beginning, the babies had been raised on formula. The main reason was that He Bingning had worried about her figure and never breastfed, so her milk had dried up.

She had felt a trace of regret. People always said breastfed babies grew stronger. She had never nursed her twins, and she had never properly loved them either—of course she longed to make it up. But milk couldn’t be forced—if it wasn’t there, it wasn’t there.

She had already resigned herself, when unexpectedly—her milk had returned.

A woman’s body could tell. At first, she had only suspected. But when she picked up a baby to nurse, it turned out to be true!

That made He Bingning overjoyed. Better late than never.

Her mission now was clear: raise her twins into chubby, healthy babies, keep her husband strong and full of energy—and stay beautiful herself.

After both babies had nursed their fill, they fussed a little, then quickly fell asleep.

It was time for He Bingning to show off her cooking. She had already decided: the chicken legs would be made into “mouthwatering chicken,” and she would make a simple bok choy soup. Nutritious and delicious.

She cooked with care: first boiling the chicken legs, then chopping them into pieces and setting them aside. Next, simmering the bok choy into a hot soup. With the timing just right, the meal would be ready the moment Gu Huai came home.

As she worked, she hummed a song.

“In another life, before she died, this was the song she sang. Singing it again now, it carried a completely different feeling—one of unspeakable sweetness and happiness.”

Focused on cooking, He Bingning didn’t notice that Li Juanjuan had slipped into the kitchen.

Li Juanjuan watched from behind, clicking her tongue in disapproval.

She envied He Bingning’s beauty, but even more so the aura of happiness that surrounded her. She thought bitterly: If only I had married Gu Huai, then all this happiness would be mine.

And He Bingning? Just the daughter of a capitalist. By birth, she was nothing compared to Li Juanjuan. Li Juanjuan was the daughter of an officer, after all—her background impeccable. Years ago, daughters of capitalists were treated like rats in the street, but now? Look at He Bingning, basking in her bliss—it was unbearable.

“Oh, dear!” Li Juanjuan cried suddenly, feigning alarm.

Startled, He Bingning dropped the spatula in her hand.

Seeing her flustered, Li Juanjuan seized the chance to sneer. “My, sister-in-law, if you don’t know how to cook, maybe you shouldn’t bother. Making a mess of the kitchen is one thing, but what if you make Gu Huai sick?”

He Bingning only chuckled softly, then slowly picked up the spatula. “Juanjuan, since you call me sister-in-law, you should understand—Gu Huai is my man. I love him too much to ever harm him. Besides, I’ve never heard of a husband getting sick from eating his wife’s cooking. But eating another woman’s food? Now that can make a man sick—not just his body, but his reputation too.”

Li Juanjuan’s little schemes were clear as day to her.

She wasn’t bothered by women trying to compete for her husband—the more that tried, the more it proved how exceptional he was. And she knew Gu Huai: no matter how many women tried to tempt him, his heart would always belong to her alone.

Li Juanjuan was struck speechless, her face darkening, yet she refused to leave.

He Bingning ignored her, calmly washed the spatula, and continued cooking.

Once the meal was ready, she carried it straight back to her own room, completely disregarding Li Juanjuan—treating her like thin air.

She didn’t care what others thought. She only cared about living her own good life.

That cold indifference was enough to bring Li Juanjuan to tears of frustration.