As evening approached, the Liao family’s courtyard hadn’t been this lively in a long time. He Jinxiu had moved the dining table straight into the courtyard, and the little yard was filled with steaming dishes.
When Li Yumei went out to buy groceries, she had asked someone along the way to tell Sun Jianlin to head straight to Master Liao’s house after work.
When Liao Wenchang and Sun Jianlin pushed open the courtyard gate, they immediately saw a table already laden with food.
Liao Wenchang walked in front. He had dark, weathered skin and a sturdy, plain-looking face, the unmistakable appearance of a rugged, broad-shouldered man.
By comparison, Sun Jianlin looked much more refined and scholarly, with a faint smile on his face. Looking closely, it was clear that Sun Qinqin resembled her father more.
The moment Sun Jianlin saw the unfamiliar young woman in the courtyard, he knew she was his daughter’s lifesaver and hurried over excitedly.
“Comrade Su Man, thank you for saving my daughter! You’re a benefactor to our entire family!”
Seeing that the scene from that morning was about to happen all over again, Su Man quickly smiled and said, “Uncle Sun, I only did what I felt was right. You and Auntie Li really don’t need to keep thanking me. You’re making me feel embarrassed!”
Liao Wenchang had already heard about Su Man on the way home, and he had taken an immediate liking to the niece of his former superior.
Seeing how poised and generous the young woman was, he felt even more proud on behalf of his old leader.
He laughed heartily and patted Sun Jianlin on the shoulder as if to break the awkwardness.
“Looks like this niece of mine takes after me—she likes doing good deeds! Brother Sun, why don’t we eat first? We can talk while we eat!”
Seeing him acting like that, He Jinxiu rolled her eyes and couldn’t help teasing him.
“There he goes bragging about himself again!”
Everyone laughed and took their seats.
The ration coupons Li Yumei had gone to great lengths to save had finally come in handy. There was fish on the table as well as meat, with four or five substantial meat dishes alone.
He Jinxiu was already an exceptional cook, and with such good ingredients, everyone ate to their heart’s content.
Sun Qinqin was especially delighted, her eyes sparkling as she stuffed her mouth with food.
“Manman, I was going to ask you to stay at my house for a while, but Auntie He’s cooking is just too delicious! Now I want to come stay at your place instead!”
Watching her daughter’s shamelessly carefree expression, Li Yumei was both amused and exasperated.
“You ungrateful girl! You’ve been eating your mother’s cooking for all these years, and now you’re criticizing it! Fine, come on over and see if they’re willing to take in a freeloader like you!”
Looking at the two lovely young girls before her, He Jinxiu found them more pleasing to the eye the longer she looked. She immediately chimed in.
“Of course I’d take her! Lao Liao and I have always wanted daughters. One wouldn’t be too few, and two wouldn’t be too many! Qinqin, come over here more often after work. Manman’s all by herself without any company. Come keep her company!”
The group chatted happily and got along wonderfully.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Liao Wenchang suddenly remembered something and turned to ask, “By the way, has Sheng Xiao’s wife arrived? Where have you arranged for her to stay?”
He Jinxiu froze, and the corners of her mouth stiffened slightly. She had actually just been discussing Yang Xixi with Li Yumei earlier that day.
She had been the one who arranged the courtyard for her, right next to Li Yumei’s. The conditions were already quite good. Several military wives had tried pulling strings to get a place there, but He Jinxiu had refused to budge.
Yet the very next morning, when she went over to take a look, Yang Xixi immediately acted pitiful the moment she saw her.
He Jinxiu had assumed someone had given her trouble and was about to ask what had happened. Instead, Yang Xixi’s words, both explicit and implied, made it clear that she thought the military family compound was too poor and was asking whether there was somewhere better she could stay.
He Jinxiu had nearly laughed from sheer anger at the time, and all her initial enthusiasm immediately disappeared.
If you chose to follow your husband into the military, you had to be mentally prepared. The conditions here naturally couldn’t compare with those in a major city.
Yet ever since Sheng Xiao had been transferred here, he had eaten and slept alongside the soldiers in the barracks, never once asking for special treatment.
Even his promotions had come from his own hard-earned merits, step by step. When he had first been parachuted in as an outsider, everyone knew he had powerful connections, and no one was willing to accept him.
But look at him now. Who didn’t acknowledge his abilities?
He had forced everyone to shut up with his own strength.
And then there was Yang Xixi. She was only average-looking, and when He Jinxiu had gone over, the courtyard had still been a complete mess. She didn’t seem particularly diligent either. She had immediately complained about this and that, and the first thing she did was ask for special privileges.
How had a man like Sheng Xiao ended up with a woman like that?
In He Jinxiu’s opinion, she would probably only hold him back.
Still, she hadn’t said anything outright. She had merely become somewhat more distant toward Yang Xixi.
“She’s staying in the courtyard next to Yumei’s. Since she doesn’t know how to cook, I’ve already arranged for someone to deliver her meals every day.”
Liao Wenchang took a few sips of liquor, completely unaware that his wife’s tone had changed. He nodded and instructed her, “Keep an eye on things. That boy Sheng Xiao is going to earn another major merit this time. Several old fellows from other military districts have been making inquiries about him, openly and behind the scenes. They all want to poach him and are watching him like hawks.”
“We need to take especially good care of his family. If there’s anything we can reasonably provide, do our best to accommodate her. After all, only when things are settled on the home front can he work without distractions on the front lines.”
He Jinxiu sighed.
What a pity. Such a fine young man.
Knowing just how important Sheng Xiao was, she still agreed.
“We’ll see what happens when Sheng Xiao comes back. If he also thinks the courtyard isn’t suitable, we can move her over here then.”
Sun Qinqin and Su Man had finished eating and were chatting nearby. When they heard this, they both shook their heads.
A thought flashed through Su Man’s mind. She knew this was the perfect opportunity to gather information, so she pretended to be curious.
“Qinqin, who are they talking about?”
At her friend’s question, Sun Qinqin introduced him.
“Sheng Xiao is the pride of our military district. He’s only in his twenties, but he’s already a major. His grandfather was a veteran general from the founding of the country and has retired now. His parents are also high-ranking officials in the capital. His family is incredibly influential!”
“But he earned his position through his own ability. He’s been the champion of the military competitions for several consecutive years and has carried out numerous highly classified missions. Later, the leadership promoted him directly to major because of his outstanding record.”
“And it’s not just people here. Who knows how many people have tried to play matchmaker and find him a wife? Who would’ve thought he’d turn around and choose someone himself? I heard my mom say that everyone in the military family compound has been talking about it lately.”
“His fiancée has barely shown her face in public a few times. Even her meals are delivered to her. She certainly acts like a big shot. Everyone’s wondering whether she’s the daughter of some high-ranking leader.”
Su Man sneered inwardly.
The daughter of some high-ranking leader?
What a joke.
Yang Xixi was notorious back home for being lazy and pampered. She never lifted a finger to do any housework.
After she went to live with the Yang family, they initially put on an act and told her she didn’t have to do anything.
But as time passed, she began to feel that she was living under someone else’s roof, so she worked herself to the bone, desperately trying to prove that she was useful.
Su Xiu and Yang Xixi simply became hands-off and left everything to others, while Yang Shiyong was even worse. He thought it was beneath a grown man like him to do housework!
All the laundry, cooking, cleaning, and other chores in the entire Yang household fell to her.
Even now, thinking about it made Su Man grit her teeth with resentment.