The familiar military compound, the familiar marketplace.
Su Qingyi stood amidst the bustling crowd, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.
After buying some fish, meat, and vegetables for lunch, she hesitated for a moment before heading to the department store.
When she left home, Wang Cuiping, as if afraid she might have other ideas, hadn’t allowed her to bring a single piece of clothing.
Other things could be managed, but underwear had to be changed and washed, and she also needed some daily necessities.
The money hidden in the inner pocket of her clothes had been secretly saved for a long time, yet it was only enough to buy a set of underwear and a little more.
She bought a towel, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a bar of soap, and by then, almost nothing was left.
Just after paying and stepping out, she bumped into an acquaintance.
It was He Annian’s widowed sister-in-law, Shen Qiuyue!
She was from the Cultural and Artistic Troupe and was wearing a fashionable floral dress at the moment, with shoulder-length hair permed into large waves and pinned back with a red hair clip.
Though already over thirty, she still retained her charm.
Su Qingyi immediately recalled this woman’s demeanor from her past life, almost gritting her teeth in hatred.
She forced herself not to rush forward and tear her apart. She had no intention of engaging with her, but as she tried to step aside, Shen Qiuyue blocked her path.
Shen Qiuyue looked her up and down with displeasure.
When her gaze swept over Su Qingyi’s impressive chest, envy and disdain involuntarily surfaced in her eyes.
“I’ve seen your photo. You’re Su Qingyi, right?”
The plump woman standing beside her clicked her tongue twice.
“So this is the rural bride your father-in-law found for Annian? Her hips do look good for childbearing, but her appearance isn’t favorable—she looks like a troublemaker, the kind of fox spirit who seduces men. If she’s brought into the family, who knows what kind of trouble will start in the backyard.”
Shen Qiuyue curled her lips in a mocking sneer.
“Sister Li, our He Family was deceived too. We originally thought we’d find a rural girl to marry and settle down with. Annian is busy with work, so she could take good care of him. We never expected someone from such a poor, remote place to have such cunning intentions. As soon as she heard that the Pei Family was hiring a maid, she immediately broke off the engagement with the He Family and eagerly went to serve others.”
Hearing this, Li Guilan grew even more excited.
“I guessed right—she really is a seductive fox. Coming from a small place, her mindset is just backward. Does she really think that by cozying up to a high-ranking official and doing some shady things, she can become the Regimental Commander’s wife? This shameless fox will sooner or later have her legs broken and be thrown out by Commander Pei.”
Su Qingyi’s hand, holding the basket, clenched tightly.
She recognized this woman.
She was the notorious gossip and loudmouth of the military compound.
In her past life, it was this woman’s doing that she was called a fox spirit.
In this life, she would no longer be a lamb to be bullied.
Suppressing her surging emotions, she blinked her beautiful big eyes, looking utterly innocent.
“So this sister is a Military Wife? That’s truly surprising. I thought Military Wives had high awareness, but I never expected them to be just like the gossips in our village who chatter about every little thing.”
Li Guilan was stunned.
“You… How dare you compare me to your bunch of poor, shabby villagers?”
Shen Qiuyue immediately chimed in with a reprimand, “Su Qingyi, even though you’re not yet a member of the He Family, you were once engaged to Annian. How could you say something so embarrassing to the He Family? Apologize to Sister Li immediately! Sister Li is the wife of Battalion Commander Li!”
“Oh, so she’s the Battalion Commander’s wife!”
Su Qingyi’s expression of sudden understanding pleased Li Guilan. Just as Li Guilan was about to give her a good lesson, Su Qingyi asked earnestly in return.
“Does being a battalion commander’s wife mean one can lack awareness? Does rank determine who’s right in the military camp? My job was arranged by the Political Commissar, and the person I’m caring for is Regimental Commander Pei. You’re spreading rumors on the street, tarnishing their reputations—isn’t that insubordination?”
Shen Qiuyue and Li Guilan were left pale by the retort.
Su Qingyi, still shaken, patted her chest, her delicate face flushed like peach blossoms.
She stammered like a helpless little lamb.
“This is too serious. I must report this to the Political Commissar. We can’t let anyone undermine the military-civilian harmony advocated by the central authorities. Isn’t this like a parasite harming the nation?”
In a military vehicle parked by the roadside,
Pei Zhao sat in the back seat watching the scene, sneering coldly.
This woman sure knows how to bluff.
“Regimental Commander Pei, shall we step out?”
The guard in front turned to ask.
“No need.”
He snorted but didn’t order the car to leave.
…
Outside the store, Shen Qiuyue once again stopped Su Qingyi, who was trying to leave, pretending to offer well-meaning advice.
“You’ve just arrived here and don’t yet understand the rules. I advise you to apologize quickly to Sister-in-Li. If you upset Battalion Commander Li, don’t expect the He Family to help you.”
Su Qingyi inwardly scoffed.
In her past life, she had fallen for this repeatedly—offending all the military wives around her under Shen Qiuyue’s seemingly casual provocations.
He Annian found her embarrassing and later forbade her from going out altogether.
Crushed by insecurity, she couldn’t even bring herself to clarify matters, instead regarding Shen Qiuyue, who often came to chat with her, as her only confidante.
She gave her whole heart.
Yet this woman had drugged her with sleeping pills for ten years, waiting until she was unconscious to carry on shamelessly with He Annian right before her eyes.
And she, damaged by drug residue that harmed her kidneys, died miserably in a hospital.
Since Shen Qiuyue loved setting traps for others so much, let her fall into her own.
“You’re quite strange. You were the one who stopped me first, inciting this Sister-in-Li to slander the regimental commander and Political Commissar like a shrew. Now you’re pretending to be the good person. Could it be you’re trying to use this to have Battalion Commander Li demoted so He Annian can take his place? No wonder Uncle He said He Annian is about to get a promotion.”
Li Guilan’s face changed abruptly.
“Shen Qiuyue, how dare you scheme against me!”
“Sister-in-Li, I didn’t…”
The two instantly began tearing into each other.
Su Qingyi picked up her vegetable basket and strode away, unaware that Pei Zhao was sitting in the military vehicle whose window was slowly rolling up.
…
For lunch, Su Qingyi prepared four dishes and a soup.
In her past life, cooped up at home, she had often studied various cuisines.
Though not on par with a five-star chef, her dishes were still a feast for the eyes and palate.
Pei Xiaoyun looked at the carp leaping over the dragon gate, shaped with pine nuts, and clapped her hands in delight.
“Auntie, how did you even make the fish so pretty?”
Pei Xiaochuan wanted to argue back but couldn’t help gulping loudly.
The sound was so conspicuous it made his own face flush with embarrassment.
Su Qingyi pointed to the basin of water on the nearby stand.
“I’ve put warm water there. Go wash your hands first. I also made steamed pear cakes for you to try.”
After all, they were just five-year-old children.
When the steamed pear cakes were brought out, Pei Xiaochuan could no longer maintain his composure, eating nonstop.
When Pei Zhao returned in his wheelchair, he saw a table laden with a sumptuous lunch and two little toddlers, their heads nearly hidden behind small mugs as they ate eagerly.
The warm, joyful atmosphere made him momentarily dazed.
“You’re back. Wash your hands and eat. I’ve just changed the water.”
Su Qingyi greeted him generously but did not step forward to help again, fearing another mishap.
Once Pei Zhao was seated, she immediately served him a bowl of white rice.
The rising steam settled on her peach-pink chin, condensing into glistening droplets that clung to the fine down, making her look even more like a juicy, ripe peach.
Pei Zhao’s gaze involuntarily fell on her lips, and his Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably.
“Pei Tuan?”
Just then, a loud call from the doorway startled him back to his senses.
He couldn’t help but feel annoyed at his earlier wandering thoughts.
Clearing his throat, he turned to look, his brow slightly furrowed.
“What are you doing here?”