After glancing over Jiang Yao’s chest, Qin Mu quietly turned away.
Indeed.
After buying the big items and furniture, the family of three moved on to the clothing section. Song Yulan and Jiang Yao each bought two outfits, and with the remaining money, they purchased some fabric to make clothes later using the sewing machine.
Next, they bought daily necessities—oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, pots, bowls, and utensils.
“Wife, later let’s buy more meat. Get two portions of fish and chicken as well. In a couple of days, I plan to invite some familiar comrades over for a housewarming meal.”
Qin Mu had gotten used to calling her “wife” after saying it a few times and didn’t think much of it, but Jiang Yao was still a bit slow to react and only realized after a few seconds.
“Grandma, you two go ahead and buy. I’ll find a place to buy some seeds and chicks.”
Song Yulan nodded. “Alright, buy a few more chicks. Their survival rate is low.”
After Qin Mu left, Jiang Yao and Song Yulan went shopping. Using her sharp tongue, Jiang Yao managed to buy three jin of pork belly, along with a batch of large bones and ribs. There was no fish, and only one portion of chicken was available—no more.
Jiang Yao felt it was a bit of a pity. When hosting a meal, most of the food would go to the guests. If they wanted to nourish themselves, they needed an extra portion—having even one more chicken would help.
Song Yulan said, “Yao Yao, let Xiao Mu handle anything that’s missing. He always finds a way.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Yao said to Xiao Hei, [How about we find time to go to the mountains? You can scan for wild chickens, and I’ll catch a few to store.]
Xiao Hei: [Sis Yao, I’m a tomb-raiding system, not a chicken-finding system.]
[Just do it on the side—you can find them anyway, right?]
[By the way, is anyone still at the place where we dug that tunnel last time?]
Xiao Hei had been monitoring it these past few days. [They’re still there. Sis Yao, when are you going to tell Qin Mu about it? If you wait too long and someone else discovers it, the money will belong to them.]
Jiang Yao licked her lips. Of course she wanted the money, but she also wanted Qin Mu to get the credit. If they saved up enough, their living standards would improve.
When Qin Mu returned, he was carrying a small bag with the sound of chicks chirping inside.
“How many did you buy?”
Qin Mu said, “Five. Each household in the compound can only raise two. We’ll pick the two strongest to keep and eat the rest ourselves. The seeds I bought are all common varieties.”
Song Yulan told him, “We only managed to get one portion of chicken, and there was no fish. See what you can do about the rest.”
Qin Mu replied, “I’ll just go hunting in the back mountain. Right now, any small game caught belongs to the individual.” He glanced at the chicken staring at him. “How about we stew this chicken tonight? I’ll hunt more later.”
“Alright, as long as you know what you’re doing.”
After lunch, the three headed back.
The department store delivery truck had already arrived, but since Qin Mu’s family wasn’t home, the guard didn’t let them in.
However, such a large truckload of goods couldn’t possibly go unnoticed by the military families in the compound.
“My goodness, the ‘three turns and one sound,’ two big cabinets, and such a large bed—Commander Qin must’ve spent all his salary!”
“What a waste. What’s the point of buying all that? Better to save it for the kids.”
Speaking of children, several military wives speculated that Qin Mu bringing his family here this time was likely because he wanted children.
“I remember Commander Qin is already thirty this year. It’s time. Commander Wen’s child from the same batch is already in first grade.”
“Yeah, but his wife looks so thin—doesn’t seem like someone who can bear a son.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Isn’t Li Cuicui skinny too? She still gave birth to a son.”
“What’s the use? Her mother-in-law doesn’t even care. Just now, those two had a big fight. They found all sorts of things in the old lady’s room—malted milk, sausages, even small cakes.”
The topic quickly shifted, and everyone became interested in Li Cuicui’s situation.
“Hey, where’s Liu Dahua?”
Someone in the know said Liu Dahua had been scratched by Li Cuicui’s mother-in-law and was currently getting bandaged at the clinic, and might even go to the women’s federation to file a complaint.
“She deserved it. Stirring things up and then joining the chaos—who else would they scratch if not her?”
While chatting under the tree, Lin Shu hurried past with a few sheets of paper.
“Lin Shu, are you heading to the cultural troupe?”
Lin Shu looked flustered. “Sisters-in-law, I have something to do. I’ll go first.”
“Why is she walking so fast? Like someone’s chasing her.”
“Who knows? Of all people to like, she had to fall for Commander Qin, who’s already married.”
…
At the gate—
Qin Mu drove up and discussed with the truck driver to unload everything at the guard post. He would find people to help carry the items later.
Jiang Yao and Song Yulan carried the lighter things themselves.
Several soldiers carried the large bed inside. Jiang Yao poured them some sweet water to drink.
After drinking, they became extremely polite, calling her “sister-in-law” over and over. When Qin Mu came in, he was momentarily stunned.
“Commander Qin, we’ll head back now. Goodbye, Commander Qin. Goodbye, sister-in-law.”
Jiang Yao smiled. “Goodbye.”
[Hehe, one cup of sweet water is all it takes to build a good image!]
Only then did Qin Mu understand what had happened. He silently went to the bedroom to make the bed. The bed was large, and he used the deep blue sheet Jiang Yao gave him, patterned with designs.
He quickly made it perfectly—smooth and tight, without a single wrinkle.
The quilt was made by stitching two together, and the cover matched the sheet.
Two pillows were placed, one on each side.
After finishing, Qin Mu suddenly felt something strange, but before he could think further, Jiang Yao walked in carrying a basin of water.
“I want to change clothes… could you step outside for a moment?”
“Alright.”
After a whole day out, she was already sweaty and uncomfortable. She wiped herself down and changed into clean clothes.
When she came out, Qin Mu had already neatly arranged the kitchen, and the old lady was feeding the chicks some millet flour.
Jiang Yao quietly tiptoed to a corner outside to wash clothes. When she was about to change the water and looked up, someone was standing in front of her, pouring clean water into the basin.
“I heard from Grandma that you prefer a separate bathroom. I’ll contact someone to build one tomorrow.”
Jiang Yao blinked and looked at him expectantly. “Can you also build a toilet?”
She had just learned that the toilet was a pit latrine in the backyard. As a modern person used to flush toilets, she didn’t want to squat every day and look down at a pit full of maggots.
After waiting a while with no response, she thought, [Forget it, Xiao Hei. Maybe I’ll just use your space as a toilet.]
Xiao Hei: […]
Using a system space just to go to the bathroom—how unusual.
Qin Mu: …
“Besides the bathroom and toilet, is there anything else you want?”
“No,” those were her only two requests.
“Alright.”
He picked up the basin to leave but accidentally noticed the small garments inside. He couldn’t help but glance at them a couple of times.
Quite novel.
Xiao Hei: [Sis Yao, the soldier is looking at your underwear. Do you want to cover it?]
Jiang Yao: [He’s already seen it—covering it now would just make it awkward. Besides, this is a wireless push-up bra I got from the modern system. It really enhances the figure. It’s normal he hasn’t seen anything like it.]
Xiao Hei: [Even with a layer of clothing over it, it still looks unusual, okay?]
Jiang Yao: [Fine, fine, I’ll cover it!]
She grabbed a pair of pants and covered it, then looked up with a smile. “Do you have anything else?”
“No.”
[Then why are you still here? Once I win you over, you can stare all you want!]
Qin Mu thought: My wife… is a bit bold.
When Qin Mu went back inside, Song Yulan was calling him to pluck the chicken.
“Xiao Mu, were you just helping Yao Yao wash clothes?”
“No, I just brought her a basin of clean water. She didn’t really want my help.”
Song Yulan handed him a thermos and advised, “From now on, help with these things whenever you can. Yao Yao’s body has been quite weak these past three years. She’s only recently gained some weight—don’t tire her out again.”
“You two may have married because of her parents’ schemes, but she has always been dutiful. You were away for three years, and she spent those three years taking care of me. You can’t treat her poorly just because there’s no love.”
Qin Mu skillfully plucked the chicken, finishing quickly.
“Grandma, I will treat her well,” as long as she doesn’t break the law.
Seeing a figure at the door, Song Yulan deliberately added, “If you treat her well, then help her recover her health and have a child soon. While I still have the energy, I can help take care of the child.”
“Grandma, there’s no rush.”
At the mention of children, Qin Mu refused immediately.
At least for now, it wasn’t possible.
Song Yulan rolled her eyes. “You may not be in a hurry, but have you thought about Yao Yao?
You’ve been married for three years without children. Who knows what people in the compound are saying behind her back?
So hurry and build your relationship. When the time comes naturally, have a child. Then Grandma can leave this world without worry and go find your grandfather.”
Qin Mu frowned at her last sentence and was about to speak when Jiang Yao’s voice came from behind.
“Grandma, what are you saying? Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. With you guiding us, our life as a couple will only get better. Right, A Mu?”
Hearing the intimate nickname “A Mu,” Qin Mu paused. Jiang Yao tapped him from behind, and he snapped back to his senses.
“Grandma, my wife is right.”
Song Yulan pretended to be upset. “Then what about the child—”
Jiang Yao said brightly, “We’ll have one! Grandma, once my body recovers, I’ll have children—three or four of them—so you can enjoy the happiness of being surrounded by grandchildren.”
Song Yulan immediately smiled. “Good, good! Tonight I’ll stew chicken soup for you to nourish your body.”
After comforting the old lady, Jiang Yao went out to hang the clothes.
Xiao Hei: [Sis Yao, are you really going to have three or four children?]
Not far away, Qin Mu quietly waited for her answer.
Jiang Yao: [Uh… I was just talking big. I’m not a pig—how could I have three or four children and still live my life? If we only have one child per pregnancy, you can’t blame me. Qin Mu shares the responsibility too!]