Wang Xiaomei watched the two women confronting each other and was so nervous that she didn’t know what to do.
She quickly stood up as well and tried to persuade them. “You two can’t fight! If Commander Shen finds out, he’ll punish you again.”
Just thinking about what had happened a few days ago made Wang Xiaomei’s face turn pale. She hadn’t even been in the army for a month, yet she had already received a demerit. If she made another mistake and was kicked out, what would she do?
She was just a rural recruit with no connections or influence. She had already suffered enough the last time she was dragged into someone else’s trouble. She absolutely couldn’t let it happen again.
Qiu Shumin wasn’t stupid. In her eyes, the current situation was two against one. She had no one on her side, so if they really fought, she would definitely be the one to suffer. Besides, she had already learned her lesson last time.
But simply letting the matter go still left her swallowing her anger.
Never mind Zhang Shaoying—she couldn’t afford to provoke that rough woman. But there was no reason for two recruits from the countryside to bully her!
Wen Jiaojiao stared coldly at her. When she noticed the hesitation in Qiu Shumin’s eyes, she couldn’t help sneering inwardly.
This was how the world worked. People only feared you when you were strong and assertive. Those with gentle tempers were often trampled on and bullied. People like Qiu Shumin only picked on those they thought were weaker.
Unable to provoke Wen Jiaojiao, Qiu Shumin vented her anger on Wang Xiaomei instead.
“Wang Xiaomei, you people from the countryside are so annoying!”
Wang Xiaomei’s face immediately went pale.
Wen Jiaojiao’s voice turned sharp. “Qiu Shumin, are you saying you look down on recruits from the countryside?”
“…”
Realizing that she had misspoken, regret flashed through Qiu Shumin’s eyes.
“No, that’s not what I meant! Don’t slander me!”
“I didn’t even say anything. Wen Jiaojiao, I don’t want to argue with you today, so don’t push me too far!”
With that, she hurriedly left the dormitory.
She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, Wen Jiaojiao would report her to Commander Shen. The two of them had two mouths, while she only had one. She would definitely be the one to suffer.
Ninety percent of the soldiers in the army came from rural areas. If Commander Shen investigated what she had said, she might very well be forced to pack her things and leave.
The dormitory door was slammed shut.
Wen Jiaojiao let out a mocking laugh.
Who didn’t have rural ancestors going back three generations?
Just because someone was lucky enough to be born in the city, they thought they could look down on this person and that person. Someone like that would never get very far.
She turned around and saw that Wang Xiaomei’s face was still pale, her eyes red and filled with tears. Deep in those eyes was a profound sense of inferiority.
Seeing this, Wen Jiaojiao couldn’t help sighing. She walked over and patted Wang Xiaomei on the shoulder.
“Xiaomei, being born in the countryside doesn’t make us inferior to anyone. We don’t steal or cheat. There’s no reason for us to be afraid of them.”
“…Mm. Jiaojiao, I know.”
Wang Xiaomei sniffed and embarrassedly wiped her eyes.
There was deep admiration hidden in the way she looked at Wen Jiaojiao.
Although she and Wen Jiaojiao had both come from the countryside, Wang Xiaomei knew that she couldn’t compare with her.
Even if Wen Jiaojiao did nothing, just relying on that beautiful face of hers, she could marry a high-ranking military officer.
Wang Xiaomei was the kind of person who easily went unnoticed. She seemed ordinary and unremarkable, but in reality, she was sensitive and observant.
Take Commander Meng coming to inspect the recruits’ training every day, for example.
All the new recruits were discussing whom he was looking at. Only Wang Xiaomei knew that his attention was always on Wen Jiaojiao.
Aside from admiring her, Wang Xiaomei didn’t dare harbor any other thoughts. She only wanted to perform well in the army, earn the right to stay, and bring honor to her family.
Seeing that her mood had recovered, Wen Jiaojiao didn’t say anything more.
She understood Wang Xiaomei’s inferiority complex and her habit of cautiously trying to please others.
Whenever there was work to be done, Wang Xiaomei would rush to do it. She spoke politely and gently to everyone. Even when Qiu Shumin and the others deliberately made things difficult for her, she didn’t dare argue back.
Wen Jiaojiao had noticed all of this, but there wasn’t much she could do to help.
“Jiaojiao, what are you doing?”
Wang Xiaomei looked at Wen Jiaojiao stretching her body into strange positions and couldn’t help asking curiously.
Wen Jiaojiao explained, “I’m practicing yoga. It’s really good for the body.”
Since she had joined the arts troupe in this lifetime, she couldn’t let go of what she had learned in her previous life. She had to practice even harder.
Yoga could improve flexibility and strength while also helping with balance. It was very beneficial for maintaining one’s figure and improving dance skills.
“Oh. Those are some strange poses.”
Wang Xiaomei didn’t ask what yoga was. She couldn’t understand the point of it, so she picked up the broom and went to sweep the floor.
Wen Jiaojiao didn’t force her to learn about it either.
If Wang Xiaomei was interested, she would teach her. Since she wasn’t, there was no need to insist.
…
The new recruits had entered their final week of training.
After the morning drills, Wen Jiaojiao happened to pass the communications room and noticed that there was a letter addressed to her on the bulletin board.
Curious, she took it down.
But the moment she opened it, all the good mood she had started the day with disappeared without a trace.
Without changing expression, she tore the letter into pieces and threw them into the trash.
Unexpectedly, when she turned around, she saw someone she hadn’t expected.
Jiang Ting stood several meters away, one hand in his pocket. His tall, straight figure was as rigid as a spear as he watched her.
Wen Jiaojiao composed herself and walked over.
She raised her hand in a military salute. “Commander Jiang.”
Jiang Ting returned the salute. His gaze briefly fell on the trash can behind her, but he didn’t ask anything.
“Where are you going?”
“Reporting, Commander. I’m going to the mess hall for breakfast.”
“Perfect. I’m going there too. Let’s go together.”
“Uh… together?”
She instinctively glanced around.
Eating with a commander? That didn’t seem appropriate.
“Why? Is there a problem?”
Seeing the way she looked around as if she were afraid someone might see them together, Jiang Ting inexplicably felt displeased.
Was she embarrassed to be seen walking with him?
Wen Jiaojiao looked troubled.
“Commander, wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”
“What’s inappropriate about it?”
The man’s jaw tightened, and his gaze became cold.
Wen Jiaojiao: “…”
“There isn’t anything inappropriate. Let’s go.”
As a soldier, she only needed to obey the orders of her superior.
The two headed toward the mess hall, one in front of the other.
Jiang Ting deliberately slowed his pace to accommodate the shorter legs of the woman behind him, but he was still several steps ahead of her.
Wen Jiaojiao didn’t think there was anything wrong with the distance between them.
If they walked side by side, that would be an even bigger problem.
Even walking one behind the other attracted plenty of attention.
At first glance, wasn’t that the beautiful new recruit everyone had been talking about?
Then they took a second look and nearly dropped their jaws.
The Cold-Faced Devil?
Those who had wanted to sneak a peek immediately scattered like frightened birds the moment they recognized Jiang Ting.
Even when they hadn’t done anything wrong, they couldn’t help feeling guilty in front of him.
They were terrified that if they said one wrong thing, they’d be sent off for punishment.
Other officers might punish them with a few kilometers of running at most, but this man wouldn’t stop until he had trained them half to death!
After all, everyone who could enter the elite unit was made of tough stuff.
Wen Jiaojiao didn’t notice any of this.
The moment they entered the mess hall, Jiang Ting directed her toward an empty seat.
She sat down, then suddenly felt that something was off.
She hadn’t even gotten her food yet. What was she supposed to do, just sit there?
She was about to get up and get her meal when she saw the normally tough and imposing Commander Jiang walking over with two trays of food.
Wen Jiaojiao was horrified.
She hurriedly stood up.
“Commander, how can you get my food for me? I can do it myself.”
Jiang Ting glanced at her.
“Sit down. Eat. It doesn’t matter who gets it.”
Wen Jiaojiao: “…”
How could it possibly be the same?
She turned and glanced around the mess hall.
Everyone who had noticed what was happening was staring at them with their mouths practically hanging open.
Heat slowly crept up Wen Jiaojiao’s face.
What exactly did Jiang Ting mean by this?
Wasn’t he practically inviting everyone to misunderstand them?