Jiang Yan didn’t refuse. The mornings were still quite cold.
His own rough skin could handle it, but Su Nanyue and the two children were still physically weak.
If they had to sit in the back and endure the wind the whole way, they would likely catch a cold.
Li Da Ni had just arrived when she overheard this. Unable to hold back, she remarked sarcastically, “Having a man who’s a deputy regimental commander really makes a difference!”
“While the rest of us have to endure the cold wind in the back, some people get to sit up front.”
She had come early specifically to secure the front passenger seat, only to have Su Nanyue take it. How could she accept this?
Su Nanyue paused as she was getting into the vehicle and glanced back at Li Da Ni, her eyes filled with undisguised coldness.
This woman really was asking for trouble.
Just recently, she had been forced to apologize and had lost face badly. Yet here she was, causing a scene again.
Under Su Nanyue’s gaze, Li Da Ni was reminded of that day and felt a pang of guilt.
But soon, she raised her voice, “What are you looking at me for? Am I wrong? If you’re so delicate, maybe you shouldn’t go at all.”
A flicker of coldness passed through Su Nanyue’s eyes. Ignoring Li Da Ni, she lowered her gaze and looked at Jiang Yan.
“Maybe I should take Da Bao and Xiao Bao to the back instead.”
“Sister Li already dislikes me. If I sit up front, who knows what else she’ll make up about me.”
Jiang Yan lifted his eyes to look at her. Had it not been for what happened last night, he might have actually believed her words.
A trace of amusement flashed in his eyes as he said, “Don’t pay her any mind.”
Su Nanyue had only said it deliberately in the first place. Hearing this, she got into the vehicle with Jiang Yan’s assistance.
Wang Jian Guo, standing nearby, chimed in, “Exactly, Sister-in-law, don’t mind her. People like her just have foul mouths.”
Usually, when the supply truck went to the city, those who weren’t feeling well could ride in the passenger seat.
But most military wives felt too embarrassed, especially since the drivers were men.
Only Li Da Ni insisted on sitting in the front passenger seat every time she went to the city.
As soon as Wang Jian Guo spoke up, Li Da Ni’s voice turned shrill, “Wang Jian Guo, who are you saying has a foul mouth? And why are you so worked up about her? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to her!”
She acted as if she had uncovered some shocking secret, turning an exaggerated look toward Jiang Yan, “Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang, she’s only been here a few days and already has other men speaking up for her.”
“You’d better keep a close eye on her, or one day she might do something to disgrace our Family Compound.”
No matter what, Wang Jian Guo was just a young man in his twenties. Being falsely accused like this in front of everyone, he grew anxious.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Comrade Su is my sister-in-law. How could I possibly have any other thoughts about her?”
Sitting in the vehicle, Su Nanyue sighed inwardly upon hearing Wang Jian Guo’s words.
His response had completely fallen into the trap of self-justification.
Sure enough, Li Da Ni began shouting even louder, “That’s easy for you to say. Who knows what you’re really thinking?”
By now, many military wives heading to the city had gathered.
Unaware of the truth, they began whispering among themselves upon hearing Li Da Ni’s accusations.
The larger the crowd grew, the more emboldened Li Da Ni became. With Jiang Yan and Su Nanyue remaining silent the whole time, her mouth ran incessantly.
Su Nanyue frowned slightly, her gaze icy and terrifying. As Li Da Ni’s words grew increasingly offensive, a flicker of irritation crossed her eyes, and she prepared to speak up.
Jiang Yan suddenly spoke, “Have you said enough?”
His voice wasn’t loud, but his tone was cold, his face devoid of expression.
Li Da Ni’s words cut off mid-sentence. She was somewhat afraid of Jiang Yan like this, but still stiffened her neck and said, “What? Did I say something wrong?”
Jiang Yan’s dark eyes fixed steadily on her. “My wife and child just arrived at the Family Compound and haven’t offended you, yet you repeatedly slander her.”
He gave a slight curl of his lips. “She’s thin-skinned and won’t say harsh words, but I’m different. I’ll report everything that happened today to the leadership without omitting a single word.”
“Let’s see whether these divisive remarks were your idea alone or yours and He Hong Jun’s together.”
Li Da Ni was stunned. She never expected things to develop this way.
Her eyes darted nervously. “I just said a few words, how is that being divisive?”
Shen Yue was also going to the city today. She had just arrived when she heard Li Da Ni cursing and grumbling. After asking someone nearby, she learned Li Da Ni was causing trouble again.
Hearing Li Da Ni’s words, she sneered coldly.
“Just a few words? Then I’ll say I saw you laughing and talking intimately with a man yesterday, and you hurried away when you saw Xiao Su and me.”
“Really?”
“No wonder! Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang’s wife has such a weak constitution, it’s normal for her to sit in front with the child. So that’s why Li Da Ni suddenly targeted her!”
Li Da Ni grew anxious. “Shen Yue, what nonsense are you talking? I didn’t see you at all yesterday.”
Su Nanyue sat in the passenger seat. After Jiang Yan spoke, she had decided to leave the matter to him.
Unexpectedly, Shen Yue spoke up for her.
She leaned her head out from the passenger seat, looking at Li Da Ni’s flushed face.
“So, Sister Li, are you admitting you were laughing and talking intimately with a man yesterday?”
Only then did Li Da Ni realize she had been trapped.
She hurriedly said, “What man? I didn’t even leave the military base yesterday.”
Su Nanyue blinked, looking innocent. “No? But I clearly saw it.”
The commotion had been going on for a while, and the noise grew quite loud. He Hong Jun, who had been training, was called over.
On his way, he had already learned what happened here.
Seeing Li Da Ni’s furious, flustered appearance in the crowd, he immediately flew into a rage.
He lifted his foot and kicked Li Da Ni hard in the stomach.
Without giving her a chance to react, he angrily shouted, “Li Da Ni, what nonsense are you spouting again? Hurry up and apologize to Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang!”
Then he turned to Jiang Yan with a fawning expression. “Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang, I’m truly sorry. I failed to control her properly. Rest assured, I’ll teach her a stern lesson when we get back.”
Throughout this, he didn’t even glance at Su Nanyue.
Li Da Ni acted tough outside, but she was cowardly in front of He Hong Jun.
Her stomach hurt terribly, but she didn’t dare to refute He Hong Jun, though she hated Su Nanyue to the core.
She whispered to Jiang Yan, “I’m sorry.”
Jiang Yan: “I’m not the one you should apologize to.”
As he spoke, he gave He Hong Jun a cold glance.
That look from him made He Hong Jun break out in a cold sweat.
He quickly dragged Li Da Ni by the arm to the front of the vehicle. “Hurry up and apologize to Deputy Regimental Commander Jiang’s wife!”
Li Da Ni harbored intense resentment towards Su Nanyue, grinding her teeth in frustration, but with He Hong Jun present, she had no choice but to force herself to apologize.
“Little Su, I’m sorry. I’ve always been blunt with my words—it wasn’t meant maliciously. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Su Nanyue felt disgusted by her words. If Li Da Ni claimed no ill intent, then she was implying Su Nanyue was being petty and narrow-minded.
A cold glint flashed in Su Nanyue’s eyes, yet she maintained a fragile demeanor.
“It’s alright, sister-in-law. I know you said those things because you’re afraid I’ll tell others about seeing you with a man.”
She sighed softly. “But you really didn’t need to do this—from the very beginning, I never had any intention of telling anyone.”