Commander Zhu and Niu were on the verge of arguing when Wen Yan, with practiced ease, stepped forward.
“Don’t argue, don’t get angry.”
“Here, have some candy.”
Commander Zhu and Niu looked at the candy in their palms, wanting to throw it away but reluctant, their faces flushed with embarrassment.
Both turned their eyes in unison toward Wen Yan, the instigator.
Niu spoke loudly with disdain: “Take it away, take it away! Are you trying to placate children here?”
Commander Zhu patiently reassured her: “Wen Yan, let’s ignore him. He doesn’t appreciate kindness. Keep it for yourself.”
Neither wanted it, and Niu was especially angered by Commander Zhu’s slanderous words.
Just as they were about to argue again, Wen Yan stood between them, spreading her arms and pushing them apart, one on each side, before speaking.
“I’m not placating anyone. I genuinely want to give it to you. You are good elders and good comrades. You don’t find me annoying and even arranged work for me. I sincerely thank you.”
Niu and Commander Zhu shifted uncomfortably, looking left and right. Why did she have to say such blunt truths!
“Commander Zhu, I don’t need to go to the logistics department every day. Call me if you need anything; I won’t delay any tasks.”
“Niu, today I not only want to borrow a pot but also ask about raising livestock. As for the work in the kitchen, I’ll come help when I’m free, but don’t count it as a job.”
She couldn’t collect two salaries, so she kept that blunt truth to herself.
The kitchen staff: Phew… that was close.
They almost had to endure a life of relentless competition!
Commander Zhu and Niu glanced at each other, then snorted and turned away.
However, faced with such a diligent and capable comrade like Wen Yan, neither could bring themselves to say anything unpleasant.
“Fine!”
“I have no problem!”
Commander Zhu left, and Wen Yan didn’t rush to ask Niu about her matters. Instead, she first helped set up lunch in the cafeteria.
When doing work, one should see it through from start to finish.
Bai Shanshan, holding her lunchbox in line, thought: Wen Yan didn’t look for her today?
She even promised to bring medicine for her to soak her feet. What a liar.
She endured the cold with her for nothing yesterday!
She sneezed eighteen times last night, and her nose turned red from rubbing it.
Not only did she endure the cold, but she also stayed up late writing a funding application report.
Thinking about it now, she must have been crazy!
Her lunchbox suddenly felt heavy, and Bai Shanshan snapped back to reality, glancing at it: Why so much?
Had her luck suddenly turned?
She looked up and met a pair of bright, dark eyes.
“Wen Yan!”
“Good afternoon, Comrade Bai. Is that enough to eat?”
Bai Shanshan: “Why are you here?”
Wen Yan served Bai Shanshan another dish and said, “I came to borrow a large iron pot to boil medicine. Did your feet itch yesterday?”
“I didn’t itch at all! I’m tough against the cold. A little chill can’t do anything to me. Don’t think I’m like you, all delicate and pampered.”
The stubborn Bai Shanshan proudly held her lunchbox, watching as Wen Yan nodded and said, “You’re right. My parents really dote on me and never let me do anything.”
Bai Shanshan: Who asked, who asked?!
After getting her meal, Bai Shanshan felt her stuffy nose had cleared up from sheer annoyance at Wen Yan’s boasting.
Wen Yan took off her apron and went to find Bai Shanshan: “Come find me after you finish eating. Niu will have some time later. You can take notes beside us.”
Leaving a trace of everything was Wen Yan’s habit.
“More work? I really wonder, where do you get so much work to do!”
Wen Yan looked directly at Bai Shanshan, making her heart race.
Would Wen Yan get angry and not let her be the note-taker anymore?
No way!
Bai Shanshan had visited the educated youth earlier that morning.
The other educated youth who came with her went to reclaim wasteland every day, each of them exhausted like grandsons.
She didn’t want to suffer like that.
“Um… actually, I…”
“Because I’m smart, capable, and have many skills. You don’t need to feel ashamed—everyone has their own strengths, no need to compare yourself to me.”
In other words: I don’t mind that you’re not as clever.
After saying this, Wen Yan walked away.
Bai Shanshan gritted her teeth as she watched Wen Yan’s retreating figure. Was her salary of a little over eight yuan even enough to cover her medical bills?!
She was sick with anger!
Bai Shanshan was once again fuming over Wen Yan. Just as she was about to leave, she overheard several women pointing at Wen Yan and gossiping in hushed tones.
“She sure is clever, landing a job in the cafeteria as soon as she arrived.”
“It must have been arranged by Battalion Commander Jiang.”
“Looking like that, what man would ever want a divorce?”
Their expressions and tone were practically accusing Wen Yan of being improper.
Feeling irritated, Bai Shanshan scoffed loudly and said, “She’s just smart, capable, and has many skills!”
“All you do is gossip behind people’s backs. If you have the guts, say it to her face!”
Bai Shanshan’s sudden interruption left the women embarrassed, and an argument broke out between them. One of them even raised her hand, ready to scratch Bai Shanshan.
Bai Shanshan couldn’t dodge in time and was about to be scratched when an external force pulled her arm, causing her to stumble sideways and narrowly avoid it.
Wen Yan had returned.
For some reason, Bai Shanshan’s mind went blank, and she pointed at the women like a tattletale schoolgirl, saying, “Wen Yan, they were talking behind your back!”
Go on!
Use your blunt honesty to infuriate them!
Just like you infuriate me!
Wen Yan couldn’t hear Bai Shanshan’s inner grumbling.
She stood in front of Bai Shanshan and looked at the women opposite her, asking sincerely, “Is it because I’m too pretty and too talented, blocking your way? Or is it because my husband and I aren’t getting a divorce, affecting your lives? Otherwise, why are you all so focused on me?”
The women opposite her moved their lips but made no sound: who would dare answer that?
Wen Yan didn’t wait for their response. Smiling, she suggested:
“If there’s anything you want to know, you can ask me directly. My greatest virtue is honesty.”
“Also, if you’re going to gossip about people in the future, make sure to find a less crowded place. Luckily, I didn’t hear it. If I had, Jiang Baizhou and I would have to visit each of you for a chat.”
“If we can’t reach an agreement, I’d feel wronged, and I’d have to complain. That wouldn’t be good for unity, right?”
Wen Yan’s tone was light, but it sent chills down everyone’s spines.
It didn’t sound like a chat—more like a threat of a fight.
The women were already feeling guilty, and Wen Yan didn’t argue in the usual way. She kept smiling, yet her presence was so overwhelming that they couldn’t find the words to respond.
In the crowd, Sister-in-law Zhou Hong, whom she had met that morning, watched for a while. Seeing that Wen Yan wasn’t at a disadvantage, she waited a moment before stepping in to mediate.
Her gaze fell on the women who had been asking about Wen Yan earlier: foolish and idle, causing trouble for no reason.
Each of them was bringing trouble to their own husbands.
Battalion Commander Jiang’s mind is as sharp as a sieve. If he decides to deal with your husbands, they’d even thank him afterward.
Wen Yan was straightforward but not foolish. She gave Zhou Hong face and said, “Sister-in-law is right. Since we see each other all the time, you just need to apologize to me and Bai Shanshan.”
“Oh, by the way, let me introduce you: Bai Shanshan, Li Tuan’s niece.”
The women opposite visibly panicked. Before Bai Shanshan could react, they apologized to her.
After the crowd dispersed, Bai Shanshan bristled like an angry cat and snapped, “Wen Yan, you’re using your connections to intimidate others! I can’t cause trouble for my aunt!”
Wen Yan turned back and said, “You’re in the right. What are you afraid of?”
Bai Shanshan blinked: That’s true.
“Hmph! I don’t need your help. I could’ve handled them all by myself.”
Wen Yan: “Oh, then I’ll call them back.”
“Hey, hey, hey… Why are you so serious about this!”
Bai Shanshan followed Wen Yan in annoyance, her voice coming through muffled.
“You really aren’t afraid I’ll go after Jiang Baizhou again?”