The jeep sped along the winding mountain road, bouncing so violently it was almost like it was dancing.
Lei Li sat in the front passenger seat, his expression dark enough to drip water.
He closed his eyes, his mind replaying the words the signal officer had just said.
Lazy.Fragile.Doesn’t do housework.
Each word was like a thorn, stabbing at his pride as a soldier.
His family… his wife… had become the laughingstock and negative example of the entire compound.
This wasn’t just Bai Luoluo’s personal problem—it was a disgrace to Lei Li, a disgrace to the whole Special Operations Brigade!
“Commander, we’ve arrived,”Xiao Zhang carefully pressed the brake.
The jeep stopped in front of the office building.
Lei Li didn’t go home first.
He didn’t want to see that woman. He feared he wouldn’t be able to control his temper and might end up tearing the roof off her room.
He strode into the office, threw his tactical belt onto the desk with a loud smack.
“Go. Call Officer Liu, who’s in charge of the family housing affairs.”
Within five minutes, Officer Liu came in, out of breath.
“Commander, you called for me?”
Lei Li sat down, fingers tapping the desk rhythmically, the sound heavy and oppressive.
“I heard the family compound is planning to organize the clearing and planting of vegetables?”
Officer Liu was momentarily stunned, then nodded:“Yes, Commander. That’s an annual routine. To respond to the call of ‘do it yourself, reap your own harvest,’ the wasteland behind our compound is cultivated every year by organizing the family members to turn the soil and plant seeds.”
“That’s a good thing. It solves the vegetable problem, strengthens unity among family members, and also exercises the body.”
Lei Li nodded, but his gaze was frighteningly cold.
“Exercise the body—good.”“Since it’s a collective activity, everyone should participate. No exceptions.”
Officer Liu was sharp enough to understand the meaning behind those words immediately.
“Commander, you mean…”
Lei Li lifted his head, eyes blazing like fire.
“Add Bai Luoluo’s name.”“Assign her a plot, the same as the other sisters-in-law, and she must complete the task.”
Officer Liu’s face paled, hesitant.“Commander… that… might not be appropriate. Comrade Bai hasn’t been here long. Also… given her family background, she may not have experience with farm work.”
“And her physique looks quite weak. What if she overexerts herself…”
He really didn’t dare.
Everyone knew that young lady was unbearably delicate—last time she moved house, it took two whole truckloads of help.
If she was sent to swing a hoe, the scene would be too much for him to witness.
“Weak?”
Lei Li sneered, eyes full of ridicule.
“That’s laziness! Because she hasn’t done it before, she needs the exercise even more!”
“In this place, there is no capitalist young lady—only the family members of soldiers!”
“The working people are the most honorable. What, does she have an extra head or an extra hand? Just because others can work doesn’t mean she can’t!”
Lei Li stood up, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“That’s an order.”
“Tell her—it’s to strengthen her will and integrate her into the collective.”
“Also, Xiao Zhang!”
The small, quail-like Xiao Zhang at the door snapped to attention. “Yes!”
Lei Li turned his head, eyes icy and merciless.
“Go deliver my message.”
“Tell Bai Luoluo, if she doesn’t work, or tries to slack off and fails the task…”
“Her food supply will be stopped.”
“If she doesn’t want to work, then she doesn’t eat.”
“No labor, no food—that’s the rule!”
Xiao Zhang’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
Stop food supply?
That… that’s harsh!
That’s the commander’s own wife!
Even if it’s a political marriage, even if she’s delicate, this is practically abusing a family member.
But he only dared to think that in his head—he wouldn’t dare say it out loud for the world.
Seeing Lei Li’s face, dark as a warning storm, Xiao Zhang could only grit his teeth and salute.
“Yes! I’ll ensure the task is completed!”
In the single-story house,
Bai Luoluo lay on the bed, completely sprawled out.
Her stomach growled in hunger, but she couldn’t face that terrifying mealbox.
She pulled out one of the “Basic Nutritional Fluids” from the system’s rewards.
A small glass tube, resembling a drinkable solution.
Gulp! She drank it in one go.
It tasted a bit like lemonade—sweet and sour.
After drinking, the burning in her stomach eased slightly, and she felt a bit of strength return.
But it was still not a proper meal!
It could only provide the body with energy, not satisfy the mouth or the craving for something to chew.
“I want braised pork… I want roast duck… I want hairy crabs…”
Bai Luoluo stared at the blackened ceiling, mumbling to herself, saliva nearly dripping.
Then—
Bang bang bang!
Someone pounded on the broken wooden door.
The force was strong enough to shake dust from the frame.
Bai Luoluo startled, nearly tumbling off the bed.
Who was so rude?
Could it be that bastard Lei Li is back?
The thought made her heart skip a beat. A surge of fear and resentment instantly flooded her chest.
She slowly slid off the bed, tidied her messy hair, and glanced down at her wrinkled dress.
She didn’t want to see him—but losing face was not an option. Her stance had to remain dignified.
She took a deep breath and walked over to open the door.
Standing outside was not Lei Li.
It was the guard, Xiao Zhang.
Xiao Zhang looked embarrassed, holding a rusted hoe in his hands.
Seeing Bai Luoluo in her disheveled state, he froze for a moment, then quickly averted his eyes, not daring to look.
This sister-in-law… how could she look so haggard after just a few days?
Her face was as pale as paper, her eye sockets sunken, looking like a female ghost.
“Good day, sister-in-law,” Xiao Zhang greeted with forced courage.
Bai Luoluo leaned against the doorframe, her voice weak: “What is it?”
Xiao Zhang held the hoe out in front of her.
“Well… the Commander gave an order.”
“Today, the family compound is organizing collective land clearing and vegetable planting.”
“The Commander wants you to participate too.”
Bai Luoluo thought she had misheard.
She pointed at her own nose, then at the rusty hoe in his hands.
“What did you say? You want me to do what?”
“Land… clearing…” Xiao Zhang’s voice grew smaller.
Ha!
Bai Luoluo let out a bitter laugh.
Tears almost spilled.
This was her so-called “husband’s” greeting?
Disappearing for half a month, and when he comes back, he doesn’t even care if she’s okay, and instead makes her dig dirt?
Was he out of his mind, or did he think Bai Luoluo looked like a farmer?
“I’m not going.”
Bai Luoluo refused coldly, reaching out to slam the door.
“I’m not feeling well. I can’t do this kind of heavy work. Take this broken thing away.”
“No, no, no! Sister-in-law, don’t close the door!”
Xiao Zhang panicked, jamming a foot in the door to keep it from shutting.
“Sister-in-law, you have to go!”
“The Commander said this is… to temper your will, to help you integrate into the collective.”
“And…”
Xiao Zhang swallowed nervously, afraid to look at Bai Luoluo’s eyes, which looked like they could shoot fire.
“And the Commander also said…”
“If you don’t go, or slack off and fail the task…”
“Your food supply will be stopped.”
“No meals will be sent to you from the mess hall.”
Boom—
Something exploded in Bai Luoluo’s mind.
Stop food?
No meals?
Is he even human?!
This is fascism! This is Zhou Bapi!
“Lei Li, you bastard!”
Bai Luoluo could no longer hold back. She swore loudly.
“Does he want to starve me to death?!”
“What law did I break? Did I murder someone or set a fire? Why can he treat me like this?!”
“I’m not going! I just won’t go! Let’s see if he dares to starve me!”
She shouted hysterically, unleashing all the grievances she had bottled up over the past half month.
Xiao Zhang shrank his neck in fear, his face twisted in sympathy.
“Sister-in-law, please don’t be angry, don’t be angry…”
“You know the Commander’s temper. Once he speaks, it’s law.”
“He really would stop…”
“And… everyone else is going. If you don’t go, you won’t even be able to hold your head up in the compound anymore.”
Bai Luoluo gripped the doorframe, gasping.
Her vision darkened in waves.
She looked at the hoe in Xiao Zhang’s hand and thought about that mealbox worse than pig slop.
If she didn’t go, she wouldn’t even have that.
Her body was already weak, relying on that rotten cabbage to survive.
If the food supply were cut…
The nutritional fluids in the system were limited—they were for survival, not daily meals.
A person under someone else’s roof must lower their head.
To survive.
To not be starved to death.
Bai Luoluo bit her lower lip until she tasted blood.
Tears swirled in her eyes, but stubbornly refused to fall.
Good.
Very good.
Lei Li, you’re ruthless.
I, Bai Luoluo, will remember today’s humiliation.
As long as I live, one day, I will make you kneel and beg me!
She snatched the heavy hoe.
The rust scraped her hand, the rough wooden handle chafed her delicate palm.
“I’ll go.”
She spat out the words through clenched teeth.
Her voice was cold, like it had been pulled from an icehouse.
“Lead the way.”
Seeing Bai Luoluo’s resolve, Xiao Zhang felt uneasy.
This isn’t a couple—it’s enemies.
Had the Commander really gone too far this time?
But he was just a messenger. All he could do was sigh.
“Sister-in-law, this way… everyone’s at the plot behind the hill.”
Xiao Zhang led the way.
Bai Luoluo dragged the hoe, taller than her, following unsteadily.
The afternoon sun stretched her shadow long and thin, fragile yet full of heartbreaking stubbornness.
Like a white swan going to the execution ground.
Even with feathers caked in mud, it still held its head high, refusing to bow its noble neck.