Chapter 27 – Feeling Jealous, Aren’t You?

As soon as those words came out, the watching Military Wives couldn’t help but secretly curse their own husbands in their hearts.

Just listen to what Battalion Commander Gu said—this was what a good man should be like!

When would their own husbands ever learn a thing or two from Battalion Commander Gu? There was just no comparison!

Lin Banxia looked at the unfamiliar woman in front of her, Yu Juan. She had originally thought it would be Zhou Shiyu coming over, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be Yu Juan, someone she had never even spoken to before.

But that didn’t matter—it wouldn’t stop her from clapping back.

Lin Banxia crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked Yu Juan up and down before asking: “Sister-in-law, may I ask how old you are this year?”

The term “贵庚” (honorable age) was a very specific and formal way to ask someone’s age, typically reserved for older people.

For someone Yu Juan’s age, it would have been perfectly fine to just ask: “How old are you this year?”

Yu Juan couldn’t figure out what Lin Banxia was up to, so she frowned and said: “I’m almost thirty. Why are you asking this?”

Was she trying to mock her for being older?

Well, that would be perfect! If Lin Banxia dared to tease her about her age, she could use that to teach her a proper lesson.

But instead, Lin Banxia laughed and said: “Only thirty? From the way you talk, I thought you were a relic from the Qing Dynasty. This is the New China, and there are still people who think housework should be a woman’s job? My man dotes on me and won’t let me do chores. If you, Sister-in-law, love meddling so much, why don’t we just leave all our housework to you in the future?”

The moment Lin Banxia finished speaking, the onlookers couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Battalion Commander Gu’s wife really did have a sharp tongue and a good sense of humor.

But what she said also made sense. Wasn’t Yu Juan just being nosy for no reason? Why stick her nose in other people’s business?

Only Gu Shiqing’s smile wasn’t because of her wit, but because of the three words: “my man.”

It confirmed that, in his wife’s heart, she had accepted him.

Xiao Wenlei burst out laughing and chimed in: “Mine too! I haven’t even married yet, and no one’s there to wash my dirty clothes. Since you love doing housework so much, Sister-in-law, why don’t you take care of mine too?”

“And mine as well! My man’s nothing like Battalion Commander Gu—he never lifts a finger at home. I’m exhausted every day doing everything myself. Yu Juan, if you’re so free, how about coming over to help me out too?”

Suddenly, everyone joined in the teasing.

Yu Juan’s face darkened. Were these people treating her like a servant? Expecting her to do all their chores? She couldn’t even keep up with her own household tasks!

She had originally planned to make Lin Banxia look bad in front of everyone, stir up some conflict between Gu Shiqing and Lin Banxia, and drive a wedge between the couple.

But instead, Gu Shiqing had publicly stood up for Lin Banxia and even said that he spoiled his wife and would continue to do so.

Her plan had completely backfired. She had basically lifted a stone only to drop it on her own foot.

Then Hou Xiufen stepped forward and said to Yu Juan: “Yu Juan, I think you’re just way too nosy. The day Battalion Commander Gu’s wife arrived, you kept dropping hints to me, saying how unlucky I was to end up as her neighbor, and how she wasn’t easy to get along with. But after spending time with her, I found her to be easygoing and friendly. She’s not stuck-up at all. I think the real difficult person here is you. Always stirring up trouble, always trying to sow discord. Don’t you ever get tired?”

The moment Hou Xiufen spoke, Yu Juan immediately became everyone’s target.

The group of onlookers finally understood what was really going on—they had been used as pawns by Yu Juan!

She had said she was bringing them along to watch some drama, but in reality, Yu Juan had been wrongfully accusing others the whole time. Lin Banxia clearly knew how to cook, yet Yu Juan claimed she didn’t. If someone unfamiliar with the truth heard that, wouldn’t they assume the rest of them were in cahoots with Yu Juan?

Realizing this, the Military Wives quickly distanced themselves from her.

“That’s right, Yu Juan. Battalion Commander Gu’s wife had just arrived, and you kept saying this and that about her. What exactly were you trying to do?”

“Could it be that you’re jealous because your Peng Battalion Commander isn’t as caring as Battalion Commander Gu?”

“Of course she’s jealous!”

“Battalion Commander Gu’s wife is beautiful and her cooking is delicious. We all think she’s great. If there’s a problem, it’s definitely with you!”

“Exactly! Someone even said that Battalion Commander Gu and his wife don’t get along. That’s total nonsense. If they don’t get along, then what do we have at home—rivalry between enemies?”

“Not getting along? Please, they’re sweet as honey!”

One comment after another, everyone began criticizing Yu Juan openly.

Already at a disadvantage, Yu Juan now had no one to speak on her behalf. Realizing the situation was turning against her, she prepared to slip away quietly.

But Gu Shiqing quickly stepped forward and blocked her path, his expression cold and stern as he said: “Don’t be in such a rush to leave, Sister-in-law. Come with me to the Political Commissar’s office. Let’s have a proper talk about what really happened here.”

He hadn’t expected that in just two or three days since Lin Banxia had joined him on base, so many rumors would start circulating.

He knew how dangerous rumors could be. It was easy to start one with a few words, but trying to correct it was like running a marathon. If this situation wasn’t handled properly today, what would happen if someone tried to slander Lin Banxia again in the future?

He was determined to use Yu Juan as an example—to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys—so everyone in the unit would know: his wife was under his protection, and no one would be allowed to bully her!

Yu Juan’s face turned pale the moment she heard they were going to the Political Commissar’s office.

She nervously said: “Battalion Commander Gu, this is just a misunderstanding. I was misled by someone else. There’s no need to bring something so small to the Commissar, right?”

“Small? To you, maybe. But to me, someone spreading false rumors about my wife is a big deal!” Gu Shiqing’s voice was firm and powerful.

Lin Banxia picked up on something crucial in Yu Juan’s words and stepped over, raising an eyebrow as she said: “You said you were misled by someone else? Who was it?”

Even if Yu Juan didn’t say it, she could already guess—it had to be Zhou Shiyu.

But she asked the question in front of everyone on purpose. She wanted Yu Juan to expose Zhou Shiyu in public.

Zhou Shiyu thought she could stay hidden and reap the benefits from behind the scenes? That was nothing but a pipe dream!

“Yes, it was Nurse Zhou! She told me you couldn’t cook!” Yu Juan shouted. “It really wasn’t my fault!”

Lin Banxia blinked playfully at Gu Shiqing and said in a pitiful tone: “Shiqing, did you hear that? There’s someone else spreading rumors. I don’t even know who I offended. I just got here, and I’m already being slandered like this…”

Her aggrieved expression made people instinctively feel sorry for her.

Even though Gu Shiqing knew she was putting on an act, his heart still clenched with pain.

He was full of guilt.

It was his fault for not protecting her better and letting her suffer such unjust treatment.

As for the ones spreading rumors—he wouldn’t let a single one off the hook!

Yu Juan thought everything would be fine after she threw Zhou Shiyu under the bus, but she still ended up being dragged to the Political Commissar’s office by Gu Shiqing without mercy.

She hadn’t expected that Battalion Commander Gu would really go so far as to escalate such a “small issue.”

Everyone knew that where there were three women, there would be drama. Among military families, minor arguments and even physical fights weren’t uncommon. Even if the husbands found out, they’d just scold their own wives and be done with it.

But Gu Shiqing? He was being way too petty—blowing things completely out of proportion!