That night, news spread through the military compound that the Liu Jianjun family had made mung bean ice pops and even produced ice.
The next day, a group of military wives came to ask her about it. Yang Erni directly said it was an idea from Jiang Yao, the wife of Battalion Commander Qin. If they wanted to ask, they should go to Jiang Yao.
“I only exchanged it for some red dates. Don’t go empty-handed.”
Li Cuicui came over holding her child to join the excitement. When she heard they needed to bring gifts, she was unwilling.
“Why can’t you just tell us directly?”
Yang Erni glared at her. “That’s Jiang Yao’s idea. What? You still want it for free? Dream on.”
Going to ask for a method already meant asking for a favor. How could it become something they were entitled to?
She said to the other military wives:
“We’ve been in the northwest for so many years. We all know how hard summer is. If Jiang Yao can make ice, that’s her ability. It’s like your family’s secret recipe. If you just give it away to outsiders for free, would you be willing?”
Chen Yuzhi and Ling Xue were also in the crowd. They didn’t think anything Yang Erni said was wrong at all.
Ling Xue cleared her throat. “That’s right. Jiang Yao just came here with her husband and already made ice. Who in our family compound has that ability?”
Li Cuicui said unwillingly, “She just got lucky.”
Yang Erni’s temper flared instantly. “If you’re so capable, then go make it yourself and show me. If you can’t, stop being a troublemaker here!”
Li Cuicui curled her lips. “I don’t even care about ice anyway.”
Just as Yang Erni was about to speak again, Chen Yuzhi tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to stop.
Someone would deal with Li Cuicui sooner or later.
Ling Xue pressed her lips together. “Li Cuicui, since you don’t care, then we won’t help you ask for the method. I’ll go talk to Jiang Yao myself.”
Li Cuicui’s face turned dark. She hugged her child and left immediately.
After dispersing the group of military wives, Ling Xue took Chen Yuzhi and went next door.
…
When Ling Xue and Chen Yuzhi arrived, Jiang Yao was drinking ginger water. Her eyes were slightly red from the spiciness.
“Sister Jiang Yao, are you…?”
“It’s the ginger tea—it’s too spicy,” Jiang Yao said.
Ling Xue and Chen Yuzhi had already heard from Yang Erni that she had eaten ice pops a few days ago and ended up with severe period pain.
“Is your body feeling better now?”
“It’s much better. Sisters, what brings you here?”
Ling Xue considered her words carefully and asked whether Jiang Yao could share the ice-making method with the military wives in the compound.
Jiang Yao was slightly surprised. She had thought Yang Erni might have already shared the method directly with others—she didn’t expect there would still be this step.
Then she wouldn’t be polite.
“Yes, I can,” she said. “But sisters, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. At the very least, I should get something in return, right? Even though we promote selflessness, it can’t be that selfless. Don’t you agree?”
People can’t live on ideals alone. There has to be some reward; otherwise, who would be willing to give?
She said it openly and frankly, which actually didn’t make her sound unpleasant.
Before coming to apologize with Lin Shu, Ling Xue already had a good impression of Jiang Yao. She had been taking care of her grandmother alone for three years—steady, capable, and sensible.
Even if her words were a bit sharp, it was understandable, since it was her daughter who had made a mistake first.
Now she could even make ice. She shared the method when asked, but also directly asked for compensation, without beating around the bush. Having someone like her as Qin Mu’s wife was actually quite good.
“Then tell us, what do you want as compensation?”
Honestly, Jiang Yao herself didn’t know what she wanted, so she simply threw the question back.
“Sisters, just give me whatever you think is appropriate.”
After hearing this, Ling Xue and Chen Yuzhi exchanged a look.
“Alright. We’ll go back and discuss it. Once we decide, we’ll come back to you.”
After sending them off, Song Yulan returned from the supply and marketing cooperative with a fish in hand.
“Yao Yao, did someone come asking you for the ice-making method?”
Jiang Yao nodded. “Sister Ling and Sister Chen came. It seems yesterday’s ice-making by Sister Erni spread, and they want to help the other military wives get the method. I think it shouldn’t be given for free, so I asked for some compensation. Once they decide, they’ll come back and I’ll tell them.”
Although the materials were easy to find and the method was simple, she didn’t feel guilty at all.
After all, some people live their whole lives without ever knowing that the white frost on the wall is nitrate.
Song Yulan smiled at her. “You…”
Jiang Yao hooked her arm around hers and swayed it. She pouted.
“What about me? Grandma, you don’t think I’m being too stingy, do you?”
She pretended to snort.
“I’m doing this for our family’s good. After all, goodwill alone doesn’t put food on the table.”
Besides, some people didn’t even deserve goodwill—like Li Cuicui and Yang Mei.
Thinking of those two, she suddenly remembered she still hadn’t dealt with that grave-robbing matter.
She had been resting these past two days. Now that her body had mostly recovered, she decided she might go out at night and take a look.