Chapter 5

Glug, glug, glug—

The sound of boiling water drowned out the sound of their kiss.

“Hey now!” A voice suddenly cut in. It was Auntie Li, her tone and expression equally dramatic. “What are you doing? This is the military family compound, not some indecent brothe—”

—brothel.

That word was far too much, and certainly shouldn’t have come from the mouth of a fellow officer’s wife.

He Bingning shot her a sharp glare. “What was that you just said was indecent?”

Auntie Li shrank her chin in, her guilty conscience showing. “I’m just reminding you to watch your behavior. Maybe you don’t care, but Gu Huai is an officer—what kind of impression will this leave?”

He Bingning smiled faintly. “We’re a legally wedded couple. Tell me, what’s wrong with that?”

“You, you—” Auntie Li stammered for a long while before finally squeezing out: “Even so, it’s not proper. Take my Jiejie for example, she’s still a maiden. If she sees you two carrying on like this, what will she think?”

He Bingning’s smile deepened. “What could she possibly think? Another woman’s husband—what business does she have thinking about him at all?”

He Bingning knew perfectly well: Auntie Li’s family had long hoped to marry Li Jiejie to Gu Huai, so of course she was trying to sow discord.

But what good would that do?

Even when He Bingning had gone missing in her past life, Gu Huai hadn’t spared Li Jiejie a glance—not at her, not at any other woman.

The title of Officer Gu’s wife belonged to only one person: He Bingning.

Auntie Li’s pride stung, but she still tried to press down on He Bingning. Curling her lip, she said, “You’re supposed to be a well-bred young lady. How can you talk like that?”

Gu Huai stepped in front of his wife protectively, his expression politely firm but edged with severity. “Auntie Li, you yourself said my Bingning is a well-bred young lady. There are some things she doesn’t need to hear.”

Auntie Li was choked silent for a moment before muttering, “Gu Huai, this won’t do. Newlywed women are like newborn calves—they need a mother-in-law to teach them. I know your situation, so I’m helping teach your wife for you.”

He Bingning rolled her eyes hard. So this Auntie Li wanted to play the role of evil mother-in-law?

Yes, Gu Huai was an orphan, and He Bingning had no mother-in-law—but that didn’t mean she needed to go find herself one!

She wasn’t some pitiful little thing desperate for scolding!

Still, since they all lived in the same compound, it wasn’t good to rip the façade entirely.

Seeing Gu Huai’s face grow darker by the second, He Bingning quickly grabbed the spatula and banged it twice against the pot.

Bang! Bang!

Then she turned back, smiling sweetly. “Darling, the fish is almost ready~”

Gu Huai’s attention softened at once. He looked at her with warmth. “Be careful, don’t burn yourself.”

“It’s fine.” He Bingning cast Auntie Li a sidelong glance, then said brightly, “Darling, did you know it’s better to add salt at the end of cooking? That way you can control the intake better—a tiny bit already makes it taste salty. Just like people, you know? If you meddle too much, you’re the one who ends up suffering. Don’t you think so?”

Gu Huai gave a quiet “Mm.”

He Bingning beamed. “Darling, try if it’s salty enough. I’ll feed you~”

Scooping up a spoonful of broth, she held it to his lips, waiting for him to drink.

“Is it salty?” she asked.

“Perfect. Delicious,” Gu Huai said with tender indulgence.

The sweetness between them was enough to make Auntie Li grit her teeth to dust.

Just then, Li Jiejie finally found her mother after searching. Spotting her in the kitchen, she called out, “Mom? What are you doing here?”

Seeing her daughter, Auntie Li quickly said, “Jiejie, Officer Gu is cooking here. I came to watch.”

“What!” Li Jiejie hurried over, eyes bright. “Brother Gu Huai, you even know how to cook? That’s amazing!”

The mother and daughter duo flat-out ignored He Bingning.

“It’s your sister-in-law Bingning cooking for me,” Gu Huai said, unable to hide the pride in his voice.

A pampered young lady, raised with ten fingers untouched by spring water, was cooking just for him—what clearer proof of her love could there be?

So of course, he had to treat her a thousand times better in return.

“Really?” Li Jiejie leaned closer. “So it’s Sister-in-law Bingning! I had no idea you could cook too!”

He Bingning turned, smiling calmly. “There are plenty of things you don’t know. This fish is nearly done—Jiejie, would you like to try some?”

“Of course!” Li Jiejie was overjoyed. First, because the fish truly looked and smelled mouthwatering. Second, because it was her chance—no matter how good or bad it tasted, she could belittle it and claim she cooked better.

Yes, Li Jiejie harbored a secret crush on Gu Huai.

She had seen all too clearly how tenderly he treated He Bingning.

She envied, she resented, and she dreamed of taking her place.

If she could be with Gu Huai, how happy that would be!

And now it was the 1980s—society was more open, divorce and remarriage were no big deal.

She didn’t mind at all.

She had gone on countless blind dates, and none of those men compared to Gu Huai. So even if he were divorced once, she wouldn’t care.

He Bingning calmly plated a piece of fish in a small dish, her smile radiant as she handed it to Li Jiejie.

And in the lightest, most casual tone, she said, “Since you call me Sister-in-law, let me teach you something: other people’s fish, you can eat. Other people’s man, don’t even think about.”

Li Jiejie feigned innocence. “Sister-in-law Bingning, what are you talking about?”

To cover her guilty conscience, she picked up the fish and took a bite. At once her eyes lit up.

It was actually delicious!

She quickly turned to her mother. “Mom, it’s really good—want to try?”

Auntie Li shot her a glare. “Come on. We’re leaving!”

Puzzled, Li Jiejie asked, “Mom, really? You’re not even going to taste it?”

But Auntie Li dragged her away by force.

“Heheheh…” He Bingning held her belly as she laughed.

Gu Huai gently brushed her long hair. “Just look at you laughing.”

Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, He Bingning teased, “Darling, I’m not laughing at them. I just have naturally smiling lips.”

Gu Huai blinked in confusion. “What are ‘smiling lips’?”

She waved it off. “Doesn’t matter. Darling, let’s eat~”

As she was serving rice, a few more people drifted over.

“What’s going on here? Smells amazing—I caught the scent from way down the lane.”

Gu Huai, a little smug, replied, “It’s Bingning cooking for me.”

“Really? Officer Gu, you’re truly blessed—such a beautiful wife, and she can cook too. Just look at that fish. I haven’t even tasted it yet, but the aroma alone is dizzying.”

“Mm. Dizzying,” Gu Huai agreed.

Dizzy from the fragrance of the fish—more so from the fragrance of the woman.

He Bingning cooking—that was big news in the compound. Word spread fast, and soon a small crowd had gathered to watch.

Disliking the stares, He Bingning leaned close to Gu Huai and said, “Darling, let’s go eat in our own room~”

Then she added mischievously, “This is food I made just for my darling husband—not even the smell should be shared with others~”