“You want to make clothes?”
Wen Yan nodded, not mentioning underwear—Jiang Baizhou would be embarrassed.
“I want to learn. I’ve never done it before. Can I go find Sister-in-Law tomorrow to learn? I’ll bring my own fabric, needles, and thread.”
Tonight, she had to test Jiang Baizhou on his recitations—time was tight, and the task was heavy.
“Of course you can! Come anytime tomorrow. I’ll be home all day.”
Wen Yan thanked her and set a specific time—how could she make someone wait for her all day?
The two parted ways. Sister-in-Law Zhou and several other women from the family quarters went into the woods to gather pine needles and pick up dry branches for firewood.
“Was that Commander Jiang’s wife just now? She doesn’t seem like one of us.”
“I heard she’s been spreading rumors about not divorcing Commander Jiang as soon as she arrived. She must be afraid he’ll leave her.”
“So scheming! She doesn’t look like someone who can work hard or live a practical life. I bet she won’t last a few days here before leaving. Zhou Hong, what did she want from you?”
Sister-in-Law Zhou wasn’t one to gossip—quite the opposite of Commander Zhang, who loved to chatter. That was why Jiang Baizhou had asked Sister-in-Law Zhou to come over.
“Nothing much. We’re neighbors, after all. Shouldn’t we get to know each other? My Old Zhang and Commander Jiang get along well.”
After saying this, Zhou Hong walked ahead. A few women behind her pursed their lips and whispered among themselves.
“She’s the only good one.”
“Hmph, such a fake!”
“Hey, what do you think Wen Yan’s been doing running around outside every day since she arrived just two days ago?”
“Who knows? She doesn’t look like the decent type.”
They exchanged glances, a sense of superiority evident in their expressions, and went off to work while whispering.
Meanwhile, the subject of their gossip, Wen Yan, had already arrived at the logistics department.
The logistics department was bustling with activity, making plows.
Following Wen Yan’s method, they worked step by step, managing to set up a small production line for plows.
“Comrade Wen, you’re here! Perfect timing—take a look at these. How are they?”
Old Zhou pointed to three plows they had made, all completed the day before.
Wen Yan walked over, inspected them, corrected a few mistakes, and then went to chat with Commander Zhu.
“Commander Zhu, do you need any other tools for farming?”
“Nothing major besides the plow. The plow is the most practical.”
Seeing this, Wen Yan said, “Then keep making them. If there’s anything you want to make but don’t know how, come find me at the canteen.”
“The canteen? Haven’t you had breakfast yet?”
“I’ve eaten. I’m asking Master Niu at the canteen for a favor.”
Wen Yan left with her bag. Commander Zhu thought it over but couldn’t figure out what Wen Yan wanted from Old Niu.
That guy Niu had a terrible temper. He hoped Comrade Wen wouldn’t get too upset.
Canteen.
“Stop following me, will you! I don’t have an extra iron pot for you to use. I have to cook three meals a day for thousands of people. I don’t have time to talk to you.”
Master Niu avoided Wen Yan. When she had walked in ten minutes ago, he had already forgotten who she was.
But she reintroduced herself and then asked to borrow a large iron pot to boil medicine.
That was out of the question!
He treasured these large pots.
Wen Yan wasn’t the least bit annoyed by the rejection. She rolled up her sleeves and said, “Master Niu, let me help you with your work.”
“Help me with what?”
Wen Yan smiled brightly. “To win you over!”
Her straightforward words left Master Niu speechless for a few seconds. “Winning me over won’t work either. I said no, and that’s final!”
Wen Yan smiled without saying a word. How would she know if she didn’t try?
She picked up a kitchen knife and started slicing radishes into thin strips.
The radishes were a bit spongy, not crisp to the touch, but fortunately, Wen Yan’s hands were steady, and her knife skills were excellent. The sound of kakaka echoed without pause.
Niu had shooed her away several times, his words harsh, but Wen Yan acted as if her ears had gone missing—she simply didn’t hear him, nor did she take it to heart. She just kept her head down and worked.
Not only was she fast, but she was also good at it.
A cook in the kitchen squinted his eyes: Huh? Is she here to show us up?
A silent shredding competition began.
When Wen Yan worked, she had a kind of self-forgetting focus. The large basket of radishes visibly dwindled.
In her past life, to practice steady and precise hands, she had cut countless potatoes and radishes.
A round-faced young soldier stood opposite Wen Yan, his kitchen knife going kakaka. A comrade beside him helped by handing him radishes, his mind filled with one thought: Can’t lose!
The round-faced soldier glanced at Wen Yan from time to time.
When he looked down again: “I don’t think I cut any red radishes.”
“Bullshit! That’s my finger’s blood!”
Wen Yan secretly smiled, her hands as steady as Mount Tai. The last radish was finally shredded.
“Niu, I’ve finished shredding the radishes.”
Niu had seen it.
He had even secretly inspected Wen Yan’s radish shreds—their length, width, and thickness were almost identical.
This, this, this… a heaven-sent talent for the kitchen squad!
His voice softened just a bit as he said, “Finished is finished, no need to shout about it!”
Wen Yan: “Then I’ll speak softer next time.”
Niu: “…”
Is that the point?
You did all this work just to borrow the wok!
Why don’t you ask already!
But Wen Yan not only didn’t ask, she went on to do other tasks.
All morning, Wen Yan shredded radishes and cabbage, and chopped fine firewood.
Not only that, she also wiped the kitchen inside and out, over and over again, cleaning it spotlessly.
She worked so hard that the kitchen squad leader’s eyes turned red with envy!
Who does she think she’s looking down on? Who’s she mocking? As if we can’t work like that?
The kitchen squad leader put on a stern face and solemnly told his comrades: We can’t lose!
Everyone began to put in extra effort to compete with Wen Yan. But as they competed… well, men should be magnanimous and not nitpick over every little thing.
Wen Yan washed the cleaning cloth clean and smiled brightly at Niu: “Niu, I’ve finished my work. Can I borrow the big iron wok now?”
Niu cleared his throat and deliberately said, “Actually, I was planning to lend it to you as soon as you finished shredding the radishes. It’s your own fault for not asking.”
Niu suppressed a smile, wanting to see Wen Yan’s expression change.
“That won’t do. My teacher taught me that when trying to please someone, you must be sincere. If I said I’d work for you, I have to finish the job.”
Niu: “…”
Where did this stubborn, thick-headed girl come from!
A thought crossed Niu’s mind, and he revealed a cunning smile: “Comrade Wen, how about coming to work in our kitchen squad?”
“No way!”
A man’s voice suddenly rang out as Commander Zhu hurried over with heavy steps.
“You old ox, where’s your stubborn temper? You should use it when you need to, don’t waste it!”
Commander Zhu stepped in front of Wen Yan. While working, he had grown more and more worried, afraid that Wen Yan might be bullied by the old ox.
A young girl’s face is thin-skinned—what if she cried?
So he came.
But as soon as he arrived, he heard the shameless old ox trying to poach her.
Niu’s stubborn temper flared up. He sprang to his feet and pointed at Zhu: “What’s it to you! Go back and fix that bed of yours that falls apart every three days.”
Zhu wasn’t having it. This old ox was resorting to personal attacks now.
“Speak properly, what does that bed falling apart have to do with me? It’s all because those animals can wreck—”
Zhu stopped himself. There were female comrades present, so he couldn’t speak carelessly.
In short, one sentence: “Anyway, Comrade Wen is already in our logistics department. We’ve reported this to Li Tuan, so don’t get any ideas!”