The deputy regiment replied, “…Forget it, I’m getting old. What’s the point of competing with a young guy?”

The regiment commander urged, “Come on, just have a little contest. Show the younger generation what’s what.”

The deputy regiment retorted, “You should just do it yourself.” He wasn’t stupid.

Lu Cheng was much younger than him, with better stamina and endurance.

The deputy had enlisted as a soldier, while Lu Cheng graduated from a military academy.

They were different, and at Lu Cheng’s prime age as a man, he wouldn’t fall for the regiment commander’s trap.

What should have been a five-minute journey took them just two minutes, but… some people were even faster.

The soldiers from various teams were already lined up, and some had started eating.

“Those guys… How can they be so fast?” The chief of staff looked at the long line, fuming as he puffed his cheeks and glared.

“Why are the regiment commander and chief of staff here?” When a soldier noticed them, a crowd quickly parted to let them through.

“After you, Chief of Staff.”

“Please, Colonel.”

Usually, the regiment commander and his crew would line up properly.

Or rather, they rarely ate at the canteen and would usually dine in the family courtyard.

But today… upon entering, they saw the soldiers eating meals that looked enticing.

It was braised pork served with a bowl of soup, which made their appetites awaken.

If you didn’t look closely, the braised pig intestines resembled braised meat at a glance.

Paired with tomato egg drop soup, with visible egg flowers, it looked appealing—how could anyone resist?

They hadn’t expected Lu Cheng’s wife to serve braised pork right away.

Although everyone loved meat, it wasn’t the surprise they anticipated.

The chief of staff and others thought Lu Cheng’s wife would prepare something even better.

However, smelling the delicious aroma in the air, they figured that Lu Cheng’s braised pork was likely tastier than anyone else’s.

So today, seeing the soldiers make way, the few older men shamelessly queued up at the front.

Lu Cheng had already spotted the three sitting at the very front of the long line.

The little ones, especially the three little kids, had dishes that were different from everyone else’s; they stood out like a splash of red among a sea of green.

Additionally, their dishes included tomatoes sprinkled with sugar and stir-fried vegetables.

“Dad…” Lu Haici also saw Lu Cheng walking towards him. “Dad, I’m having lunch with my friends, so I won’t be eating with you.”

With friends around, Lu Haici ruthlessly abandoned his dad.

Lu Cheng nodded, “Hmm.”

He went to the back of the line.

Lin Qingqing was a staff member in the cafeteria, so as a family member, he couldn’t act like the chief of staff.

However, “Deputy Regiment Commander Lu, your meal is here.” Lin Bao spotted Lu Cheng. “Lu Haici came to line up early and has already gotten your meal.”

Lu Cheng walked over suspiciously, and then everyone turned to look at him.

He saw that a lunchbox and bowl had been taken out from the window; it was indeed already prepared and not made right under everyone’s noses.

The braised pig intestines and tomato egg drop soup were today’s dishes, and the stir-fried vegetables were from Lin’s home garden, added for Deputy Regiment Commander Lu.

“Sister-in-law is really nice; she even added more vegetables for Deputy Regiment Commander Lu.”

Isn’t that right?

In the future, I’ll marry someone like Sister-in-law too.

Lu Cheng said, “…Thank you.”

After receiving the food, he felt happy inside.

But… why didn’t he have the tomatoes sprinkled with sugar?

“Little Lu, let’s go over here.” The chief of staff, who had finished getting his food, caught up with him. “Little Lu, your wife really cares for you.”

He already knew it wasn’t braised pork but pig intestines, yet the smell was genuinely appetizing.

Lu Cheng was pulled aside by the chief of staff, who then exclaimed in surprise, “I didn’t expect pig intestines could taste this good. It’s even better than braised pork!”

The chief of staff had never eaten pig intestines before, so he truly didn’t know they could be this delicious.

Back in the days of fighting, how many pig intestines were wasted!

At that time, when they were out at war and had no meat to eat, they would directly hunt wild game in the mountains and caught quite a few wild boars.

The pig intestines were simply thrown away because they smelled terrible, and no one knew how to handle them.

Now, eating the pig intestines made by Lin Qingqing, the chief of staff felt that the pig intestines from back then had really been a waste.

The regiment commander also brought his meal over, saying, “This soup is delicious and very appetizing.”

He had already had several sips of soup on his way over because he was really thirsty.

The chief of staff said, “This braised pig intestines is also tasty; the flavor is not worse than braised pork.”

The regiment commander took a bite and said, “It’s not that pig intestines taste better than braised pork; it’s the difference in cooking skills. If pig intestines can be made this delicious, braised pork must be even better.”

“Little Lu, you’ve married well! Your wife can cook, unlike your sister-in-law, who only knows how to cook food thoroughly but never considered making it delicious. From now on, we’ll just come to this canteen to eat, which saves her the trouble of cooking.”

Lu Cheng replied, “Yeah.”

“You’re really lucky, Lu Cheng.” The deputy regiment said, “Before you had a wife, your sister-in-law even said she’d introduce you to someone, but who would have thought that you’d just go back to your hometown and get married? By the way, how did you meet her?”

A group of men in their forties began gossiping about this matter.

Lu Cheng was at a loss for words.

Could he say that Lin Qingqing was the one who pursued him?

Although he wanted to say that, he felt it wouldn’t be appropriate.

So he said, “I met her at my cousin’s wedding. She’s a classmate of my cousin’s wife. Later, when my aunt fell ill, we got to know each other better since her grandfather is a doctor.”

“You’re quite something, managing to win over a young lady like that! Impressive!” The chief of staff praised him generously. “It’s no wonder you’re from our independent regiment; your initiative is as fast as carrying out a mission. At this rate, you’ll be holding a baby next year.”

Lu Cheng…

He suddenly felt a bit bitter thinking about the night he had rejected the bridal chamber.

The little ones finished their meal early, so they ate quickly.

After they were done, Lu Haici took his friends to the back of the canteen to wash the dishes.

He was already somewhat familiar with the place and could navigate it without needing guidance.

Lin Qingqing was at the back of the canteen.

Her job involved planning the dishes, giving cooking instructions, and washing vegetables.

The task of serving meals was handled by Qi Shao and the other three male comrades.

At that moment, Lin Qingqing was standing there digesting her food while chatting with Liu Honghua.

When she saw Lu Haici come in with Qin Ming and Ji Yang, she asked, “What are you all doing here?”

Lu Haici replied, “We came to wash the dishes.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingqing praised them, “Good job, you’re all great kids. It’s only right to wash the dishes after a good meal.”

She prepared some water for the kids, allowing them to squat nearby to wash the dishes, and instructed them on how to clean them properly.

The three kids loved it when Lin Qingqing praised them, so with her encouragement, they washed the dishes thoroughly.

Once they finished washing, Lin Qingqing reminded them, “Qin Ming, Ji Yang, your lunch boxes are at the window. Make sure to take them home with you and give the food inside to your parents. Got it?”

“Got it!” Qin Ming and Ji Yang chorused.

After that, Qin Ming and Ji Yang went home, leaving Lu Haici to stay with Lin Qingqing.

He stood straight, trying to imitate Lin Qingqing’s posture.

When Lu Cheng walked in, he saw the mother and son together.

In a standing posture, Lu Cheng asked, “When do you get off work? I’ll wait for you to go home together.”

Lin Qingqing replied, “I’ll leave after the canteen is tidied up. You take this bucket of pig intestines to Sister Xiuyao’s house. I told her about it yesterday, and from now on, she’ll handle the washing of the pig intestines. Tomorrow morning, I’ll also have her take care of the marinated items.”

As for the payment, she would have to discuss it with Director Ma before talking to Yu Xiuyao.

Yu Xiuyao, having nothing to do most of the time, was, of course, happy to take on this job when Lin Qingqing offered it to her.

Lu Cheng nodded, “Okay, I’ll take it over now… Lu Haici, we’re going home.”

Lu Haici protested, “No, I’m going home with Mom.”

Lu Cheng was left speechless.

Lin Qingqing patted his head and said, “You should go home with Dad and take a nap. You have kindergarten in the afternoon.”

“Fine,” Lu Haici sighed.

Who told him to listen to his mom?

Lu Cheng really wanted to slap him for being so compliant.

---

At the Qin Family

When Qin Ming ran home with his lunch box, Chief Qin was eating.

Upon seeing his grandson return, he asked, “So, did you fight with your friends during lunch?”

Zhang Hongping shot a glare at Chief Qin. “What kind of question is that?”

She stepped forward to take the lunch box from Qin Ming’s hands. “What did you eat for lunch today?”

But as soon as she took the lunch box, she paused, “Why is this lunch box so heavy? What did you pack inside?”

“It’s meat! Grandma, please don’t spill it!” Qin Ming was genuinely worried that his grandma would accidentally tip over the delicious meat.