"Have a seat, everyone," Zhao Qing said with a smile, sitting down next to Battalion Commander Wang.
Su Wan had prepared a separate bowl and set of chopsticks for Wang Hao.
"Aunt Su, is this Monkey King bowl for me? It’s so cool!" Wang Hao hugged the rustic, painted ceramic bowl, unable to put it down.
"If you like it, then you should eat plenty. Auntie made scrambled eggs with tomato and sweet-and-sour ribs. I’m sure you’ll love them." Su Wan placed some food into his bowl.
Not only did Wang Hao stop fussing about eating, but he wasn’t picky anymore. He held the ceramic bowl and chopsticks and quickly began shoveling food into his mouth.
Zhao Qing and Battalion Commander Wang watched from the side, completely stunned.
"Little Hao... he’s actually not being picky. He’s being so good..." Zhao Qing blinked in shock, feeling as if she were meeting her son for the first time.
Little Hao took a bite of a rib. "Mommy, this meat is so yummy! Aunt Su’s cooking is even better than yours."
Zhao Qing was even more dumbfounded to hear this and subconsciously turned to look at her husband.
Battalion Commander Wang raised his enamel mug, which was filled with tea, and clinked it against Lu Zhengchuan’s. "Xiao Lu, I won’t stand on ceremony, then."
"Brother Wang, please."
Battalion Commander Wang picked up his chopsticks, and his eyes immediately landed on the plate of wok-seared noodles.
He took a bite, and his eyes lit up. "It’s been so long since I’ve had wok-seared noodles. Here in the Southwest, we eat more rice noodles. I can’t believe how authentic this tastes."
"I’ll definitely be having an extra bowl tonight." As he spoke, Battalion Commander Wang actually filled a small bowl halfway with the noodles.
"I’m glad you like them, Battalion Commander Wang."
Seeing that he was genuinely pleased, Su Wan felt relieved.
She reached out with her chopsticks to get some food and happened to catch Zhao Qing’s shocked and surprised expression. Su Wan found it a bit strange and instinctively looked up to ask, "Zhao Qing, I heard you’re from Hai City. Is the stuffed tofu to your liking?"
Zhao Qing snapped back to her senses and smiled at her. "I’m just so shocked that your cooking is this good, Wanwan."
"The stuffed tofu is delicious. And you know, it’s actually better than mine. No wonder Little Hao has such a good appetite today."
It was already dark when Zhao Qing finally left the Lu Family’s house.
Having eaten his fill, Wang Hao ran out to play with the other children from the compound who had finished their homework.
As expected, Zhao Qing was stopped by some of the other military family members who were outside enjoying the cool evening air.
"Mrs. Zhao Qing, how was it? Is Su Wan’s cooking as terrible as they say?"
"I bet. Poor Sister Zhao had to suffer through it."
"If you ask me, since she was hosting, she should have just gotten takeout from the mess hall if her cooking is that bad. It’s better than making her guests suffer."
After listening to everyone’s chatter, Zhao Qing just smiled and shook her head. "You’re all completely mistaken. Wanwan’s cooking is excellent. I can’t remember the last time I ate so much."
"Huh? Mrs. Zhao? You must be joking, right?"
The others didn’t believe her.
"Mrs. Zhao, you’re just being polite, trying to help Su Wan save face," Aunt Liu, Battalion Commander Liu’s mother, said confidently. "My niece works in the mailroom, and she’s seen with her own eyes the letters Su Wan sent, cursing out Battalion Commander Lu."
Zhao Qing didn’t get angry. "Aunt Liu, so you’re the one who started the gossip about Wanwan in the compound."
"Hey, what kind of talk is that? I didn’t make anything up. Is there a rule against gossiping? Even the Chairman talks about freedom of speech." Aunt Liu didn’t think she was in the wrong at all.
"I’m not saying you’re wrong. I’m just telling the truth, too. Aren’t you all curious about what Su Wan’s cooking actually tastes like?"
Aunt Liu was the type of person who would argue more stubbornly the more you pushed back, never conceding a point.
Zhao Qing’s words not only quelled her anger but also made her genuinely curious about Su Wan’s cooking.
"Now that you mention it, I am a little curious. Next time, I’ll have Xiao Lu invite my son over for a meal."
Only someone like Aunt Liu would have the gall to say something like that so brazenly.
Her son had been Lu Zhengchuan’s superior in the past. As a veteran battalion commander in the camp, most officers treated him with respect.
Zhao Qing just gave a helpless smile and said nothing more.
In any case, she had put the word out that Su Wan’s cooking was good. If others didn’t believe it, that had nothing to do with her. She hadn’t lied.
「Meanwhile.」
Xiao Li helped wash the bowls and chopsticks before he left.
"Sister-in-law, I’ll be going now. Thank you for dinner tonight."
"Of course."
After seeing Xiao Li off, Su Wan washed up and brushed her teeth. She pressed a hand to her aching back and turned to walk into the master bedroom.
She planned to go to bed right away. After being busy all evening, all she wanted to do was lie down.
Su Wan changed into her pajamas, and just as she lay down on the bed, there was a knock at the door.
Su Wan was in no mood to deal with Lu Zhengchuan. Hearing the knock, she kept her eyes closed. "What is it?"
"...There’s only one bedroom. I need to come in and get a change of clothes."
Su Wan grunted in acknowledgment. "You can go to the single’s dormitory."
Lu Zhengchuan frowned. "Su Wan, we’re already married. If I go to the single’s dormitory now that you’re here at the base, people will suspect we have a bad relationship. There will be gossip in the compound, and it will affect your life here."
This argument would have been effective if Su Wan actually intended to live on the base with the army.
But not only was Su Wan going to university after September, she also wanted to divorce Lu Zhengchuan, which made the compound gossip all the more necessary.
’It would be best if rumors spread that she and Lu Zhengchuan didn’t get along. That way, when she gathers her evidence and goes to the leadership for justice, people will be more inclined to side with her.’
"If you’re unhappy with me, you can also divorce me," Su Wan said, turning over in bed as she stated her demand.
Lu Zhengchuan: "...Divorce? Why would I want to divorce you?"
"Figure it out yourself." Su Wan didn’t understand why Lu Zhengchuan was still pretending at this point. She had taken the initiative to ask for a divorce; shouldn’t he be quick to agree?
Lu Zhengchuan frowned in thought. After a long moment, he came up with a reason. "...Did you not want to marry me from the very beginning?"
"First, give me those letters, then we’ll talk."
Lu Zhengchuan sighed softly. ’So, Su Wan has been upset this whole time about those letters ruining her reputation in the compound. That’s why she’s angry.’
’But even so, she can’t just bring up divorce so casually,’ Lu Zhengchuan thought, feeling a little uncomfortable.
He stood at the door for a while. Once he was certain Su Wan wasn’t going to open it for him, he frowned and turned to leave the courtyard.
Just as he walked out of the courtyard, he ran into Master Ji, who was heading back to rest.
"Xiao Lu, where are you going so late at night instead of resting?" Master Ji asked with concern.
Lu Zhengchuan gave a military salute before answering, "To go on patrol duty."
"Hm? I heard your partner just arrived. Why aren’t you spending more time with her? You’re newlyweds. If you don’t spend time together and build your relationship, how is this marriage supposed to work?" Master Ji patted his shoulder. "Don’t worry, I’ll approve some leave for you. You’re already back, and the military region has plenty of soldiers. We don’t need a battalion commander to stand guard."
Lu Zhengchuan had only been looking for an excuse so that people wouldn’t suspect he wasn’t sleeping in the family quarters.
"Thank you for your concern, Master Ji. The bed in the family quarters is too small for two people. I was thinking I’d come back after we buy a new one, so I don’t disturb Comrade Su Wan’s rest." Lu Zhengchuan immediately came up with another excuse.
Hearing this, Master Ji immediately said, "Hey, what a coincidence! My wife is having some new furniture made for the kids. I’ll go back and tell her to have an extra bed made for your family."
Lu Zhengchuan opened his mouth but couldn’t stop his superior’s enthusiastic offer. He lowered his head in frustration. ’It looks like I’m out of reasonable excuses to live separately.’