Su Nanyue swallowed the food in her mouth before speaking, “I’ll find a job when the time comes.”
Having eaten her fill, she set down her chopsticks.
She rose to rinse her mouth with water, then returned to sit by the bed.
Looking at Jiang Yan, she said, “What happened back then was just an accident. I used to think that since we were married, we should stay together for life no matter what.”
“But after this close brush with the Gates of Hell, I’ve come to understand that life is long. Rather than having both of us suffer through the second half of our lives, it’s better to separate sooner.”
Jiang Yan’s fingers curled slightly on his lap, his dark eyes fixed intently on Su Nanyue.
As if trying to see through her, Su Nanyue didn’t avoid his gaze, allowing him to study her.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Yan spoke, “I agree with you, but I’m at a critical juncture for promotion right now, so the divorce will have to be postponed for some time.”
Since he had agreed, Su Nanyue didn’t insist on proceeding immediately.
After all, he was the children’s father – his wellbeing would only benefit them.
She nodded and readily agreed, “That’s fine.”
Neither of them spoke further after that.
Jiang Yan served Da Bao and Xiao Bao, carefully attending to both children.
Su Nanyue glanced at him.
She had to admit, Jiang Yan was truly handsome – with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a tall nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and a height rare for this era, estimated to be nearly six feet three.
With those looks and that physique, if this were decades later in a high-end club, he’d definitely be the type wealthy women would compete to hire.
She couldn’t claim to be above such worldly desires either. The only pity was that while she held the title of his wife, she couldn’t truly possess him.
Bitter tears nearly dripped from the corner of her mouth.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice Jiang Yan’s stiffened posture.
Nor did she see him sigh in relief after she looked away.
When Da Bao and Xiao Bao finished eating, Jiang Yan picked up the lunchbox and finished all the remaining food.
Then he stood and went downstairs to wash the lunchbox.
Su Nanyue also rose to pack their belongings, though there weren’t many – just a small bundle.
When Jiang Yan returned with the cleaned lunchbox, he saw the bundle placed on the bed. He picked up the coat he had brought and handed it to Su Nanyue.
“It’s cold outside. Wear this.”
Su Nanyue didn’t pretend to refuse.
It was a military uniform coat, clearly Jiang Yan’s from its large size.
Like the one he was wearing, it showed some wear but was cleanly washed. When she moved closer, she could smell a faint scent of soap.
Seeing Su Nanyue put on the coat, Jiang Yan then picked up a quilt from nearby, called Da Bao and Xiao Bao over, wrapped them in it, and lifted them both in his arms.
He reached to take the bundle from Su Nanyue but was refused.
“No need, it’s not heavy. I can carry it myself.”
Jiang Yan glanced at it, confirmed it was indeed light, and didn’t insist. The four of them walked out together.
Along the way, they made scattered conversation, mostly Jiang Yan asking about her life over the years.
Su Nanyue answered directly without embellishment, responding honestly to whatever he asked.
Da Bao and Xiao Bao, held by Jiang Yan, occasionally chimed in.
Xiao Bao was simple-minded, but Da Bao was clever and sharp.
Sensing that Jiang Yan didn’t dislike them, he began subtly tattling.
“Grandpa and grandma won’t let us eat at the table. They say we’re bastards, and that we should be grateful they haven’t thrown us out.”
“My little brother kept crying from hunger, so I took him to help the Educated Youth with their work. Sometimes they’d give us some food, but we couldn’t bring it back home or it would get stolen.”
Xiao Bao was simple-minded, but hearing Da Bao’s words made him recall how Jiang Jing Zhou had beaten him until he lay sprawled on the ground.
He said angrily, “Jiang Jing Zhou also made us crawl on the ground to serve as his horse, and made us crawl between his legs. If we didn’t obey him, he’d tell Grandma not to give us any food.”
Jiang Yan’s face darkened severely, wishing he could drag Jiang Che out right then and give him a beating.
He looked at the two little ones in his arms and said in a deep voice, “If he bullies you again in the future, just fight back directly.”
Xiao Bao sounded somewhat wronged, “But I can’t beat him.”
Jiang Jing Zhou was chubby.
Even if he and his brother teamed up, they still couldn’t beat him.
Jiang Yan couldn’t help but laugh and rubbed his head – how could he be so adorable.
Da Bao grew excited, “Really? We can really hit him? You won’t blame us if I beat him up?”
Jiang Yan looked down, meeting Da Bao’s shining eyes, “No, if you win against him, I’ll buy you meat to eat.”
After saying this, he added, “But fighting also requires strategy. You can’t just hit him directly – wait until he starts trouble before hitting him.”
“That way, even if you beat him up, others will only think it’s his fault, that he deserved it.”
Su Nanyue walked beside them, listening to Jiang Yan teach the children how to beat someone up while still making people think that person deserved it.
The corner of her mouth twitched, but she didn’t interrupt.
In her heart, she actually approved of Jiang Yan’s teaching method.
If you’re bullied, you should naturally fight back.
Otherwise people will just think you’re easy to bully.
And they’ll bully you even more severely later.
Wasn’t the original host a living example of this?
Constantly giving in under the Jiang family’s pressure, only to end up meeting a tragic death.
There was some distance from the Guest House to the house Jiang Yan had chosen, and on the way they encountered military wives taking their children out for walks.
Shen Yue was also out walking with her child. Seeing Jiang Yan’s group, she proactively greeted them, “Xiao Su.”
Su Nanyue had a good impression of Shen Yue, and her lips curved upward in response, “Sister-in-law Shen.”
Shen Yue quickened her pace to reach her, glanced at Jiang Yan holding the two children, and teased,
“This is the first time I’ve seen Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang holding children. I have to say, he looks quite natural at it.”
Guo Yuhui walked beside her, nodded at Jiang Yan, then looked at Su Nanyue, “This must be your wife!”
Jiang Yan nodded, then introduced to Su Nanyue, “This is Regimental Commander Guo from the 701st Regiment. Our house is right next to theirs.”
Su Nanyue greeted him, “Regimental Commander Guo.”
Da Bao and Xiao Bao also obediently called out, “Hello, Uncle.”
Guo Yuhui had regular features, the kind of upright appearance.
He smiled and said, “So well-behaved!”
Pulling two pieces of candy from his pocket, he handed them to Da Bao and Xiao Bao respectively.
The two children didn’t immediately take them, instead looking at Su Nanyue beside them.
Only when Su Nanyue nodded did they extend their little hands from under the blankets.
Guo Yuhui watched with admiration, “Your two children are so well-behaved!”
Not at all like his three little rascals at home.
Hearing his own children being praised, Jiang Yan felt proud.
“It’s all because my wife taught them well.”
Su Nanyue hadn’t expected him to suddenly say “my wife” and glanced at him in surprise.
Meeting her gaze, Jiang Yan lifted his lips into a smile, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
Shen Yue witnessed this scene and clicked her tongue, remarking to Jiang Yan, “I never expected you to say something like that.”
Jiang Yan chuckled, “I only speak the truth.”
Shen Yue made a teasing sound, her eyes full of mischief.
Both couples had good temperaments, and Jiang Yan got along well with Guo Yuhui.
Shen Yue was also straightforward by nature and had taken a liking to Su Nanyue.
The group chatted quite harmoniously.
As Guo Yuhui and Shen Yue had already taken their child for a stroll and were about to head back, the two families decided to walk together, with the three children running ahead.
Jiang Yan was talking with Guo Yuhui.
Meanwhile, Shen Yue pulled Su Nanyue aside and asked with curiosity, “How do you maintain your skin? It’s so fair.”
Fair and tender, just like a freshly peeled egg.
If they hadn’t known each other for such a short time, she would have reached out to touch it.
The texture must be wonderful.
The original owner only washed her face with plain water—her skin was naturally like this.
Nevertheless, Su Nanyue shared some modern skincare tips with Shen Yue.
The two of them chatted animatedly about the topic.
Just as they were talking, a child’s cry suddenly came from up ahead.