Tsk, tsk. Truly pathetic.
Back inside the house, Mu Xiaocao knew Liu Guoqiang wouldn’t be returning for lunch, so she made herself a bowl of stir-fried pork and mushrooms over rice.
When she went out for a walk after eating, everyone who saw her pointed and whispered.
They all knew Mu Xiaocao was going to divorce Liu Guoqiang, so all sorts of rumors were flying behind her back.
But Mu Xiaocao didn’t care.
Mouths belonged to others, and they could gossip all they wanted; she would only be the light in her own heart.
Though life was like a stage, she would no longer pay any mind to those idle rumors. She would walk her own path and enjoy her own scenery.
Despite the storms and the external noise, there was an ocean of tranquility within her heart.
To always care about the opinions of others was a very foolish way to live.
On the way, someone greeted her.
“You must be Auntie Xiao Cao, right? Come in and sit for a while. I’m Qin Su, Regiment Commander Qin’s niece.”
Qin Su was very cute. In the gaze she used to study Mu Xiaocao, there was no contempt or disgust—only a bit of curiosity and a touch of interest.
She hadn’t expected her uncle to actually be interested in such an unremarkable woman.
Mu Xiaocao was actually quite good-looking; her skin was just a bit dark. Well, not exactly dark, just a shade deeper than that of city folk. If she lightened up a bit, she would probably be even prettier than Qin Su herself. Qin Su had single eyelids, while Mu Xiaocao had double eyelids—the kind with very large eyes that looked quite nice.
The news had already spread throughout the entire Family Compound that Battalion Commander Liu had already written the Divorce Application.
Everyone was discussing it, saying that although things hadn’t been easy for Mu Xiaocao in the countryside, a woman like her was completely illiterate, wasn’t as beautiful as Hu Lili, and had no talent whatsoever. That was why Battalion Commander Liu wanted to divorce her.
But her uncle had said that Mu Xiaocao was excellent in every way, that Liu Guoqiang wasn’t good enough for her, and that Hu Lili couldn’t even be compared to Mu Xiaocao. He had even instructed her that when she met Mu Xiaocao, she should find a way to invite her to stay with them.
Qin Su was very puzzled. Mu Xiaocao came from the countryside; how did her uncle know her? He had even repeatedly reminded her to look out for Mu Xiaocao.
Mu Xiaocao naturally noticed the fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl sizing her up. But the gaze wasn’t unpleasant, so she didn’t mind.
Only… the surname Qin? She didn’t seem to know her. And why did she call her “Auntie”?
“Hello, I’m Mu Xiaocao,” she greeted politely.
“Hello, Auntie. I’m in middle school in the city, but I usually stay here at my uncle’s place. Auntie, there are a few math problems I can’t solve. Could you help me take a look? I’m just desperately turning to anyone for help; I’ve already asked several military wives in the Family Compound, and none of them knew how to do them.”
Being a young girl, it wasn’t appropriate for her to disturb the male comrades.
Mu Xiaocao didn’t think much of it and allowed Qin Su to pull her inside. She never rejected the kindness shown to her by others. She could see that this child genuinely wanted to befriend her.
This courtyard was larger than Liu Guoqiang’s, and the house had three rooms. The interior was kept very neat and clean, and two large pots of lush green plants were growing in the corner.
“Auntie, have some water.”
Qin Su briskly poured a glass of sugar water for Mu Xiaocao and then pointed out a problem in her notebook.
“Look, Auntie, it’s this one. I’ve been working on it for a long time and couldn’t solve it.”
Mu Xiaocao looked; it was a geometry proof. For some reason, she used to be a bit intimidated by geometry. But looking at it today, it felt as if her mind had been opened. The steps for the proof and how to break it down appeared clearly in her mind.
She let out a long breath of relief. Her luck was good; she had encountered a problem she knew how to solve.
“This problem isn’t hard. Look, first you apply this formula, and then…”
Mu Xiaocao’s explanation was clear and concise. A difficult problem became suddenly clear to Qin Su under her guidance.
“Auntie, you’re amazing! Even our class monitor couldn’t do this! Auntie, look at this one…”
In the time that followed, one asked and the other answered. Within an hour, Mu Xiaocao had explained no less than ten problems for Qin Su.
Now, Qin Su’s eyes were practically sparkling. Who said Mu Xiaocao was an illiterate country woman? Her knowledge base felt even better than their teacher’s! Even the English grammar that Qin Su found difficult, she understood!
It seems my uncle has quite good taste!
“Auntie, don’t go back for lunch. Eat here with me. I still have so many questions to ask you.”
As if she had discovered a new world, Qin Su grabbed Mu Xiaocao’s arm and acted spoiled. If Mu Xiaocao could become her young aunt, she would be so happy!
Mu Xiaocao finally glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It really was already eleven o’clock. She looked at the pitiful-looking Qin Su. “Are you usually here all by yourself?”
“Yeah. My parents are in Nanshi, busy around the clock, so they sent me to my uncle’s place. My uncle is also very busy; sometimes he doesn’t come back for months at a time.”
For some reason, Mu Xiaocao felt a pang of sympathy for the girl. When she was this age, her parents, brother, and grandmother had all doted on her.
“Do you have groceries at home? I’ll cook a meal for you.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Qin Su nodded repeatedly and led Mu Xiaocao to the kitchen.
Her uncle really was something else. The kitchen, which was usually empty, had been filled by him yesterday with rice, flour, oil, and all sorts of vegetables and fruits.
“Look, Auntie, is this enough? If not, I’ll go out and buy more.”
A flash of surprise crossed Mu Xiaocao’s eyes. This child lived alone, yet the food supplies were very well-prepared.
“It’s plenty. You go do your problems. I’ll just make two simple dishes; it won’t take long.”
Qin Su happily agreed. Hehe, she could finally eat a home-cooked meal. She was about to vomit from eating the cafeteria food.
Mu Xiaocao didn’t feel constrained. She washed the rice and steamed two bowls, then stir-fried a dish of celery with cured meat and a dish of tomato and eggs.
Two very simple dishes, yet Qin Su ate with such gusto that she kept calling it satisfying.
“Auntie, it’s delicious.”
Mu Xiaocao smiled. “If it’s good, then eat more.”
After finishing the meal and helping Qin Su clean the kitchen, Mu Xiaocao finally returned to Liu Guoqiang’s residence after Qin Su repeatedly tried to make her stay.
But as soon as she got home, she sensed something was wrong. The door, which had clearly been locked, was now standing open.
She hurried inside, her gaze locking onto the suitcase standing in the corner.
Although the person had tried their best to keep it as it was by putting the suitcase back in its original spot, the observant Mu Xiaocao saw at a glance that her suitcase had been tampered with!
She unhurriedly opened the luggage. Sure enough, the clothes inside were a bit messy, and even the zipper of the inner compartment hadn’t been closed properly.