“I think you’re all just bored with nothing better to do!”
It was Mrs. Zhang.
She walked in carrying a large basin of clothes, her expression unpleasant.
Ever since Jiang Wu had rebuked her last time and she’d witnessed Qin Lie’s “special treatment” of Jiang Wu firsthand, she had felt a knot in her chest.
Now, hearing these women talk about Jiang Wu as if she were a fairy descending to earth, that knot of resentment grew even harder to suppress.
“A fickle, loose woman—what’s there to discuss?”
Mrs. Zhang slammed her basin heavily on the ground, splashing water everywhere.
“Don’t be fooled by her face! She even wrote a divorce report to elope with some rogue man before—have you all forgotten?”
“It’s only because Regimental Commander Qin is kind that he doesn’t hold it against her. Anyone else would have kicked her out long ago!”
Mrs. Zhang’s words poured cold water on everyone’s excitement.
Right.
How had they forgotten? Jiang Wu had been planning to elope with someone just a few days ago! And now she and Regimental Commander Qin were as close as glue?
This woman changed her mind too quickly, didn’t she?
“Mrs. Zhang, you can’t say that. Maybe… she genuinely regrets it now?” A young military wife timidly defended Jiang Wu.
“Genuinely regrets?” Mrs. Zhang sneered, raising her voice. “Old habits die hard! Let me tell you, she only came back clinging to our Regimental Commander Qin because that rogue man was unreliable!”
“A woman like her is rotten to the core! Just wait and see—she’ll cause more trouble sooner or later!”
Mrs. Zhang spoke with absolute certainty, spittle flying as if she’d personally witnessed Jiang Wu’s “shamelessness.”
Hearing this, the surrounding military wives began to waver.
Right—old habits die hard.
How could Jiang Wu, who used to be so “dramatic,” change overnight?
Maybe Mrs. Zhang was right—maybe it was all just an act!
Their gazes toward Jiang Wu shifted again from envy and jealousy back to disdain and contempt.
Just then, a figure appeared at the washroom entrance.
It was Jiang Wu.
She carried a small basin with two pieces of clothing she and Qin Lie had changed out of.
As soon as she reached the door, she heard Mrs. Zhang’s sharp, cutting words.
The washroom fell silent instantly.
All eyes turned to Jiang Wu. Some watched with amusement, some with schadenfreude, and a few with a hint of sympathy.
Mrs. Zhang hadn’t expected to be caught gossiping by the person herself.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face, quickly replaced by a defiant expression.
She stared at Jiang Wu, neck stiff, wearing a “I said it, so what?” look.
“Well, speak of the devil,” she said sarcastically, breaking the silence.
“What, Jiang the Beauty, here to do laundry? Why isn’t your Regimental Commander Qin helping you? Didn’t he adore you to the bone?”
The mockery in her tone was unmistakable.
If it had been the original host, she would have been hopping mad by now, ready to trade insults.
But Jiang Wu simply looked at her calmly, her face showing no extra emotion.
Her gaze was steady, even cold.
It made Mrs. Zhang inexplicably uneasy.
“Mrs. Zhang.”
Jiang Wu finally spoke.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear.
“I heard your Old Wang is a team leader in the logistics department?”
Mrs. Zhang was taken aback, unsure why she brought this up.
“So what if he is?”
“I also heard that a batch of new military raincoats went missing from the unit a while back and still haven’t been found.” Jiang Wu continued calmly, her eyes fixed on Mrs. Zhang’s face.
Mrs. Zhang’s expression visibly changed.
“You… what nonsense are you spouting! What raincoats? I don’t know anything about that!” Her voice noticeably wavered.
“Oh? You don’t know?” The corners of Jiang Wu’s lips curved meaningfully. “But I heard someone saw you sending a large parcel to your hometown a few days ago.”
“That parcel was stuffed full, looked pretty heavy.”
“What do you think was inside?”
Jiang Wu’s words exploded like thunder in the small washroom.
Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on Mrs. Zhang.
Though the military wives loved gossip, at their core, they were honest dependents of soldiers.
Stealing military supplies was a grave matter! If discovered, not only would the person face punishment, but their husband’s career would be ruined too!
Mrs. Zhang’s face turned deathly pale.
She pointed at Jiang Wu, lips trembling, unable to speak for a long moment.
“You… you’re slandering me! This is defamation!”
“Whether it’s defamation or not, you know best.”
Jiang Wu stepped closer to her.
“I don’t mind your gossiping behind my back—that’s just out of neighborly courtesy.”
“But if you think I’m easy to bully and dare to throw any kind of dirt on me,” Jiang Wu’s voice suddenly turned cold, “then let’s go to the military security department and have a proper talk.”
“Let’s see whether my ‘loose’ reputation is worse, or your Old Wang’s ‘internal theft’ charge is more serious!”
“You!” Mrs. Zhang’s face flushed red and pale in turns, choked by her words.
She couldn’t understand how Jiang Wu, this supposedly empty-headed beauty, knew about her family’s affairs! And knew it so clearly!
Under the surrounding military wives’ suspicious and disdainful gazes, Mrs. Zhang felt her face burn as if slapped hard several times.
She knew that if today’s matter wasn’t handled properly, she could never hold her head up in the family quarters again!
What she feared even more was Jiang Wu actually reporting this to the security department! Then she and her Old Wang would be finished!
At that thought, Mrs. Zhang’s legs began to weaken.
Looking at this completely transformed, sharp-tongued, and formidable Jiang Wu, she felt a surge of fear for the first time.
What kind of woman was this?
What else did she know?
Mrs. Zhang didn’t dare think further. Facing Jiang Wu’s penetrating gaze, she suddenly knelt down with a thud.
“Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law Qin! I was wrong!”