Qin Lie’s footsteps came to a halt.
His expression visibly darkened.
The pressure around him dropped to a terrifying low.
The gossiping military wives also sensed something was wrong.
They turned and saw Qin Lie holding Jiang Wu, standing not far away.
The man’s handsome face now looked as if it were covered in a layer of ice.
His dark eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, fixed on them.
That gaze carried a bone-chilling coldness and undisguised hostility.
The military wives were so frightened they dropped their needles and thread.
Their faces instantly turned pale.
“C-Commander Qin…”
Sister Zhang’s lips trembled, unable to utter another word.
She never imagined she’d be caught red-handed gossiping about someone.
Qin Lie didn’t speak.
He simply swept his ice-cold gaze over them, a look that felt like it could flay them alive.
Then, holding Jiang Wu, he turned and continued walking home.
From beginning to end, he never put her down.
In fact, he even held her a little tighter against him.
It was a silent, yet more forceful than any words, act of protection.
He was using his actions to tell everyone.
This woman belonged to Qin Lie.
He protected her, he doted on her.
No one was allowed to speak ill of her.
Only after Qin Lie’s figure disappeared through the courtyard gate did the military wives seem to have all their strength drained, collapsing to the ground.
“Oh, heavens… scared me to death…”
“Commander Qin’s eyes… were terrifying… like he wanted to kill someone…”
“We… we really shouldn’t gossip so recklessly anymore…”
Sister Zhang trembled with even greater fear.
She knew she had thoroughly offended this Commander Qin today.
…
Back home.
Qin Lie slammed the courtyard gate shut with a bang.
Shutting out all those prying, malicious stares from outside.
He gently set Jiang Wu down on the small stool in the yard.
Then, without a word, he carried the soy sauce, candy, and meat into the kitchen.
Jiang Wu watched his tense back, knowing he was angry.
But his anger wasn’t directed at her.
It was toward those who criticized her.
And also the fury at his own helplessness.
He wanted to protect her but found he couldn’t silence everyone.
A warmth flowed through Jiang Wu’s heart.
She stood up and followed him into the simple kitchen.
Inside, Qin Lie was holding a kitchen knife, forcefully chopping the slab of pork belly on the cutting board.
The loud thump, thump, thump made the entire kitchen seem to shake.
As if he weren’t chopping meat but the tongues of those gossips.
“Husband.”
Jiang Wu gently hugged him from behind.
Her small face pressed against his back.
Feeling the muscles tensed with anger.
Qin Lie’s movements stopped.
The hand gripping the knife handle had prominent veins bulging.
“Don’t be angry.”
Jiang Wu’s voice was soft, carrying a soothing power.
“They say what they want, we live our own lives.”
“Others’ mouths are their own; we can’t control them.”
“As long as you believe in me, that’s enough.”
Her words were like a cool ointment, soothing the restless fire in his heart.
Qin Lie’s tense body gradually relaxed.
He set down the kitchen knife, turned around, and encircled her between himself and the stove.
He lowered his head, looking at her.
His deep eyes churned with complex emotions.
There was heartache, guilt, and a trace of fear—one he hadn’t even realized himself.
He was afraid.
Afraid she would be hurt by the gossip and slander.
Afraid that feeling wronged would make her think of leaving again.
“I won’t let them bully you again.”
His voice was hoarse as he made the promise, word by word.
“Mhm.”
Jiang Wu looked up at him, offering a sweet smile.
“I believe you.”
“Well, you’re in for a treat today.”
She blinked playfully.
“To reward you for being so ‘mighty’ today, I’ve decided to cook you the most delicious braised pork in the world!”
Qin Lie looked at her lively, spirited little expression.
The lingering gloom in his heart completely vanished.
He couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her cheek.
“You and your smooth talk.”
Despite his words, the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.
Jiang Wu slipped out of his embrace, tied on an apron, and like a diligent little bee, began bustling around the kitchen.
Washing the meat, cutting it into pieces, blanching it in water…
Her movements were still a bit clumsy, but they carried an earnest focus.
Qin Lie didn’t leave.
He simply leaned against the doorframe, lit a cigarette, and quietly watched her.
Watched her wash her hands and prepare a meal for him.
His heart filled to the brim with a feeling called “happiness.”
The blanched meat pieces sizzled enticingly in the hot oil in the wok.
The skin curled slightly, taking on a golden-brown hue.
Jiang Wu added scallion segments, ginger slices, star anise, cinnamon bark…
These were the most common seasonings of this era.
She gave them a few stirs and was about to add water to braise when her movements paused for a moment.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Qin Lie still leaning in the doorway, puffing on his cigarette.
“Husband, I forgot to get the rock sugar. Could you get it for me from the house?”
Her voice was sweet and coaxing.
“It’s in the second drawer of the cabinet by the bed.”
“Okay.”
Qin Lie put out his cigarette and, without thinking much, turned and went into the house.
Seeing him go inside, Jiang Wu’s eyes brightened.
She focused her mind slightly.
A translucent storage space, glowing with a faint halo and visible only to her, appeared before her.
It wasn’t large, only a few square meters.
Inside were scattered some items.
Mostly elixirs and rare treasures she had collected in her previous life at the Union of Joy Sect.
Her gaze swept quickly over the contents.
Finally landing on an inconspicuous small blue porcelain vial.
She swiftly took out the vial.
Pulled out the stopper.
An indescribably strange and wondrous aroma instantly wafted out from the mouth of the bottle.
The scent was bold, rich, and carried a soul-stirring, ethereal quality.
Just one whiff made one’s mouth water and appetite stir.
This was “First-Grade Fragrance,” which she had refined in her past life from hundreds of spiritual herbs and immortal fruits.
Just one drop could turn the most ordinary mortal food into a supreme delicacy fit for the gods.
She didn’t dare use too much.
Carefully, she tilted the vial.
A single drop of amber-clear liquid fell from its mouth.
Landing precisely into the wok of simmering braised pork.
“Whoosh—”
The moment that drop merged with the sauce, an astonishingly rich meaty fragrance, a hundred times more intense than before, erupted violently from the wok!
The aroma seemed to grow legs, carrying an irresistible penetrating force.
Instantly, it surged out of the small kitchen.
Out of the little courtyard enclosed by walls.
Then, like a heavy bomb dropped into a calm lake.
With overwhelming force, it swiftly swept through the entire residential compound!