“Chengjing, that’s an aged ham, saved to nourish you. Comrade Lin is a true native of Jingdu—what fine things hasn’t she seen…”
“Hmm?”
Seeing Lu Chengjing frown, Bai Qiaolan quickly changed her tone. “I know you have a kind heart, always thinking the best of people. I don’t know what she told you, but you mustn’t be foolish. Her little schemes… you should have seen through them long ago. Even if you divorce, you can’t let others look down on you. You’ve done nothing wrong by her.”
“Sister-in-law!” Lu Chengjing cut her off.
Bai Qiaolan choked back her words, her eyes reddening at his sharp tone.
In her view, Lin Shuyao’s usual behavior was enough to warrant a charge of hooliganism. In ancient times, someone like her would have been drowned in a pig cage.
Given Lin Shuyao’s attitude toward Chengjing, would she eagerly come for Suijun?
Clearly, she was lying!
She was probably using retreat as a tactic, scheming for a divorce so she could go live with that pretty boy.
But what angered Bai Qiaolan even more was Lu Chengjing’s attitude—that eagerness was so unbecoming…
From his instinctive defense earlier, to personally tidying up the room for her, and even offering up the family’s best items.
Usually such a cold person, why did he change so much when it came to Lin Shuyao?
“Chengjing, some losses, once is enough.”
Lu Chengjing fell silent for a moment, giving Bai Qiaolan a deep look. “Since you think it’s inappropriate, forget it. I’ll go check the company canteen.”
“No need for that, right? The canteen’s dishes are also limited. I’ll just cook some porridge.”
Bai Qiaolan felt even more upset. The meat dishes in the company canteen were allocated per person. Lu Chengjing never sought special treatment—for a woman like Lin Shuyao, was he really willing to break his principles?
“She is, after all, my wife in name, and she just recovered from Gaofan. She’s weak, and I have a responsibility to take care of her.” With that, Lu Chengjing turned and headed for the door.
Once his figure disappeared beyond the courtyard gate, Bai Qiaolan could no longer hold back her resentment.
What responsibility could there possibly be toward a woman like Lin Shuyao?
Biting her lip, Bai Qiaolan turned and walked into the kitchen. As she stoked the fire, she stewed in silent frustration.
Lu Chengjing was always so clear-headed—why was he so muddled when it came to Lin Shuyao?
Once the water boiled, Bai Qiaolan brewed a cup of tea and carried it toward Lin Shuyao’s room.
At that moment, Lin Shuyao was sitting on the bed, resting and flipping through her agricultural notes, her expression focused, a faint smile on her lips.
“Comrade Lin, have a cup of hot tea.” Bai Qiaolan pushed the door open, her tone seemingly gentle, but her eyes held a barely noticeable chill as she handed over the cup.
Lin Shuyao quickly looked up, smiling as she took the cup. “Thank you, sister-in-law. Sorry for the trouble.”
Bai Qiaolan didn’t leave. Her gaze swept over the brand-new cotton quilts and enamelware in the room, and she spoke as if casually. “Comrade Lin, you’re truly fortunate. These two cotton quilts were just issued to Chengjing by the army last month. He couldn’t bear to use them himself and kept them stored in the cabinet. And those enamel basins and towels—they’re rare items here, things you can’t buy even with money!”
Can’t buy even with money?
Are these things really that scarce?
Lin Shuyao looked at the items in the room, her expression turning serious. “Comrade Lu is indeed too kind. These things are all very practical. I’ll thank him properly.”
Lin Shuyao’s idea of gratitude was to compensate him with money orders or return something of equivalent value.
In her view, this was only right. After all, the two of them were barely more than strangers, and there was no reason to take advantage of someone for free.
But in Bai Qiaolan’s eyes, Lin Shuyao was simply insatiable and shameless!
Such a valuable item, and she thought a mere word of thanks could offset it?
The dissatisfaction in Bai Qiaolan’s eyes deepened, and her words became more direct. “Comrade Lin… you seem to have changed a lot. The old you wasn’t like this.”
Lin Shuyao was slightly taken aback. “Well, people always change, don’t they? I used to be quite foolish—misjudging people and making many mistakes. But now I’ve come to my senses, and I’ll definitely get along well with Comrade Lu from now on.”
Bai Qiaolan hadn’t expected Lin Shuyao to admit her faults so readily. Her smile stiffened slightly. “Is that so… It’s good that you’ve come to your senses. Don’t think Comrade Chengjing is cold just because he seems that way. He actually has a very good heart. Even when you… kept writing letters urging him to divorce, saying he wasn’t good enough for you, he never spoke a single ill word about you. And now, he still treats you with utmost sincerity.”
These words were somewhat undermining.
But there was no way to refute what the original host had done. Circumstances were stronger than people.
Seeing Lin Shuyao remain silent, Bai Qiaolan took a step forward. “I don’t mean anything else. I just want to remind Comrade Lin that some things aren’t so easily forgotten.”
Lin Shuyao pursed her lips, her gaze meeting Bai Qiaolan’s directly. There was no emotion in her eyes, only sincerity. “Sister-in-law, I understand what you mean, and I know you’re protecting him. But I’ve truly changed. Coming to the northwest to join the army is my way of showing sincerity.”
How could Bai Qiaolan believe her? “If your goal is divorce, Chengjing has already submitted the divorce application. There’s really no need for you to go through all this trouble.”
“I’ve said it—I don’t want a divorce. I came here to join the army with genuine sincerity!”
Bai Qiaolan narrowed her eyes, as if suddenly remembering something. “Could it be… you and that…” She stopped mid-sentence.
“Comrade Lin, I don’t want Chengjing to be your second choice, nor do I want you to hurt him again. The Lu family are soldiers who have shed blood for their country. They deserve respect and should not be humiliated over and over again.”
“You haven’t, and you won’t do that.”
Lin Shuyao understood Bai Qiaolan’s words.
Though there were no harsh terms, the attack was sharp.
“I came to the southwest for two reasons: first, to support grain cultivation here, and second, to live a good life with Lu Chengjing. There are none of the ulterior motives you suspect. As for the past, we’ve already cleared the air. Please believe me, Sister-in-law.”
Bai Qiaolan let out a light laugh, her gaze shifting toward the door. “Do you believe that yourself? You’ve been pampered in Jingdu for so long—you probably don’t even know how to wash clothes or cook, let alone endure hardships in this barren plateau. In a few days, you’ll complain about the poor conditions here, cry and make a scene about returning to Jingdu, and then it’ll be Chengjing who loses face.”
Lin Shuyao felt somewhat speechless.
As the two stood in a stalemate, footsteps sounded from the courtyard gate.
Lu Chengjing returned carrying a lunchbox. From a distance, he could see the tense expressions of the two women inside. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he quickened his pace and entered. “What’s going on?”
Seeing him, Bai Qiaolan immediately stepped forward, shaking her head slightly. Her eyes were slightly red. “Chengjing, I was just talking with Comrade Lin, reminding her how tough the conditions are here so she can be mentally prepared…”