Tang Jin listened quietly and suddenly realized that no matter the era, people loved gossip.
Sister-in-law Wan was speaking enthusiastically when she suddenly felt Jiang Wei glance at her before turning and walking away.
Sister-in-law Wan: “…”
Awkwardly, she said to Tang Jin, “Why do I feel like she looked over at us when she left? Do you think she heard what we were saying?”
“Hard to say.”
Tang Jin had already finished washing her dress. Carrying her basin, she said, “Sister-in-law, I’m heading back too.”
“Oh, alright.”
Sister-in-law Wan had a lot more laundry to do—not only her own clothes but also Battalion Commander Wan’s and their children’s—so she naturally worked more slowly than Tang Jin.
Tang Jin returned home almost at the same time as Jiang Wei. Standing in the corridor outside their respective doors, they hung their clothes on the drying poles.
Neither woman took the initiative to speak. Once they finished hanging their laundry, they each returned to their homes.
Inside, Song Yunli had already prepared a cup of milk powder for her.
“Drink this before you sleep.”
“I already brushed my teeth.”
After drinking it, Tang Jin went to brush her teeth again. She had always been particular about cleanliness. When she returned to the room, Song Yunli had even made the bed.
Tang Jin: “…”
This good man… she was honestly starting to feel reluctant about returning him to the heroine.
Her quilt had a bright red new cover, while Song Yunli’s was army green. Side by side, the contrast was striking.
“Let’s get some sleep.”
Not wanting her to feel awkward, Song Yunli slipped into his own quilt. Tang Jin, meanwhile, leisurely washed her face, applied hair cream, and carefully moisturized herself until she smelled pleasantly fragrant from head to toe.
Song Yunli: “…”
His wife was truly refined.
Unfortunately, all he could do now was admire her from a distance.
Only after finishing her entire skincare routine did Tang Jin slowly climb into bed.
Though there was some distance between them, the bed wasn’t large. Her nose was filled with the scent of his masculine presence.
Tang Jin: “…”
In the darkness, she closed her eyes nervously. Perhaps because she had been exhausted from all the recent events, she soon fell asleep.
Only after hearing her steady breathing did Song Yunli turn over and quietly study her face.
Her delicate features made her look like a sleeping beauty.
He found it hard to look away.
Afraid of waking her, he simply lay there while the faint fragrance in the air constantly tempted him. His heart raced with excitement, just as it had on the night they registered their marriage, leaving him unable to sleep.
He had a wife now!
Soon, he would have children too!
The thought kept him awake until well past midnight. Eventually, exhaustion won, and he drifted off to sleep.
When Tang Jin woke up the next morning, Song Yunli was already gone.
His quilt had been folded neatly and placed beside her.
Tang Jin: “…”
She lazily got up and freshened herself. In the communal kitchen, she found breakfast warming on their coal stove—something Song Yunli had prepared for her before leaving.
A bowl of plain rice porridge.
One egg.
And a small plate of pickled vegetables.
That morning, her pregnancy-related nausea seemed much lighter, and she finished everything without difficulty.
Meanwhile, at the guesthouse, Wen Zhengyang was persuading Wen Fang and Song Yunting.
“Fangfang, staying here won’t accomplish anything. I’ll take you to the bus station so you can head home.”
“Brother, I’ll listen to you.”
For once, Wen Fang didn’t object.
Thinking she had finally come to her senses, Wen Zhengyang smiled happily.
“Then I’ll go buy your tickets right now.”
“No rush, Brother. Yunting and I want to buy some local specialties to bring home for our parents first.”
Wen Fang smiled sweetly.
“You go take care of your own business. We’ll buy the tickets ourselves later.”
“That’s right, Brother Zhengyang. You don’t need to worry about us.”
Song Yunting also believed Wen Fang had moved on and only wanted to help her relax.
Wen Zhengyang didn’t insist.
“Alright then. If anything happens, come find me at the base.”
“Okay.”
After he left, the two women wandered around for a while. When they returned, Wen Fang suddenly exclaimed:
“Oh no! I’ve been so upset these past couple of days that I forgot to give my brother the letter my mother wrote to him. Yunting, you rest first. I’ll go deliver it.”
“Should I come with you?”
Not suspecting anything, Song Yunting even offered to accompany her.
Wen Fang smiled and shook her head.
“You’ve spent all day keeping me company already. You must be tired. I’ll go by myself.”
Wen Fang went to the military base and delivered a letter.
What no one knew was that the letter had absolutely nothing to do with Wen Zhengyang.
At noon, Tang Jin ate some prepared food inside her space.
In the afternoon, she planted some diluted seeds from her space in her private vegetable plot.
Later, she accompanied Sister-in-law Wan to the small supply cooperative in the family compound.
They couldn’t find any meat, so they bought some rice and flour instead.
Laughing and chatting, they returned home and headed to the communal kitchen together.
Since Sister-in-law Wan had two children, she cooked a larger meal, with coarse-flour buns as the staple food.
Tang Jin, meanwhile, cooked a pot of white rice and washed some eggplants, chili peppers, and string beans, but didn’t start stir-frying yet.
“Sister-in-law Song, not eating meat today?”
A sarcastic voice sounded nearby.
Looking up, Tang Jin saw a woman whose clothes were covered in patches.
Sister-in-law Wan quietly introduced her.
“That’s Wang Pandi, the family member of Company Commander Su. She lives two doors down from you.”
There were four households on the first floor.
Sister-in-law Wan’s family occupied the far-right unit.
Next was Tang Jin’s.
Then Battalion Commander Mo and Jiang Wei’s.
Finally came Company Commander Su’s family—Wang Pandi’s household.
Over the past two days, Song Yunli’s constant attentiveness toward Tang Jin had already made Wang Pandi uncomfortable. Seeing Tang Jin’s pretty face now only intensified her irritation.
“Thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law,” Tang Jin replied with a smile. “My Old Song went to try buying some. But as you know, meat is hard to get these days, so whether he succeeds or not is another matter.”
Her smile was dazzling.
Sister-in-law Wan was momentarily entranced before quickly chiming in.
“That’s right. We went today and didn’t see any either. Besides, who can eat meat every day?”
Wang Pandi pursed her lips and said nothing.
Just then, Song Yunli’s voice came from outside.
“Ajin.”
“In our families, the men usually call us things like ‘the kids’ mother’ or by our names,” Sister-in-law Wan teased. “Only your Old Song calls you so gently.”
Tang Jin blushed.
Poking her head out of the kitchen, she replied in a soft, sweet voice,
“I’m here.”
“Why are you in the kitchen? I’ll do the cooking.”
Song Yunli carried a small basket in his hand.
“I couldn’t get any meat, but I bought some eggs. From now on, eat one in the morning and one at night every day.”
“Okay. What do you want for dinner?”
Feeling everyone’s envious gazes, Tang Jin accepted the basket somewhat shyly.
Song Yunli rolled up his sleeves.
“The kitchen is full of smoke and cooking fumes. Go home and wait for me. It’ll be done soon.”
Squeezing into the kitchen crowded with women, he willingly cooked for Tang Jin.
Even Jiang Wei, who had just entered, couldn’t help glancing at her.
Tang Jin didn’t stand on ceremony. She left two eggs for Song Yunli and carried the rest back home.
With her sharp eyes, she also noticed a pile of bricks and cement stacked against the wall in a corner of their room.
Her heart felt as sweet as honey.
Soon, Song Yunli brought in the dishes.
Stir-fried eggs with chili peppers.
Stir-fried eggplant.
And stir-fried string beans.
“Hungry? Eat while it’s hot.”
“It tastes great.”
After taking a bite, Tang Jin was pleasantly surprised by his cooking skills.
The food was unexpectedly delicious.
“Then eat more.”
Song Yunli carefully observed her and was relieved to see that she wasn’t suffering from morning sickness during the meal.
The young couple enjoyed dinner together sweetly and harmoniously.
Afterward, Song Yunli went back to the communal kitchen to wash the dishes.
When he finished, he used the bricks and cement he had brought back to build a small bathroom in the corner of their room.
Watching his busy figure, Tang Jin couldn’t help smiling.
But just then, an unwelcome visitor arrived.
“Is Commander Song Yunli here?”