Director Liu’s scolding was like a bucket of cold water, temporarily dousing Wang Guifen’s arrogant temper.
The cabinet lock was removed, and the rice jar was refilled with coarse rice. Though the quality was poor and sandy, at least they wouldn’t starve.
But Xu Zhaozhao knew this calm was just the eye of the storm.
The look Wang Guifen gave her—poisoned with resentment—was almost tangible.
Sure enough, within just a couple of days of peace, a new trouble arrived.
That morning, Xu Zhaozhao was eating her coarse rice porridge with pickles when Li Xiuhua sashayed in, wearing a fake smile.
“Big sister-in-law, are you eating?”
Xu Zhaozhao didn’t even lift an eyelid. “Yes? Need something?”
Li Xiuhua plopped down without waiting, sighing dramatically.
“Sigh, it’s all because of Mother. After Director Liu’s scolding last time, she felt so aggrieved that she fell ill! She’s been lying in bed, moaning, complaining of heart pains.”
Xu Zhaozhao sneered inwardly—ill? Yesterday she was still pointing fingers with all her strength.
“Mother is ill, so your third brother’s wife should call a doctor—how does that concern me?” Xu Zhaozhao sipped her porridge leisurely.
“Calling a doctor costs money!” Li Xiuhua’s voice rose. “Where is there any money left in the house? Mother’s illness is from anger! If some people hadn’t stirred up trouble in the household, would she even be sick?”
【Ugh! Li Xiuhua really knows how to twist the truth!】
【Clearly it’s her and Wang Guifen causing trouble, yet she blames the victim flawlessly!】
【Streamer, ignore her—let’s see what she tries next!】
Xu Zhaozhao set down her bowl and looked at Li Xiuhua. “So, what does Third Sister-in-law suggest we do?”
Thinking Xu Zhaozhao had softened, Li Xiuhua brightened immediately.
“What else? Of course, give money for Mother’s treatment! Big sister-in-law, don’t you have a little private money? Use it to tide us over! We’ll repay you when Brother’s next allowance comes!”
The trap was laid bare! They were after her last bit of life-saving money!
Xu Zhaozhao almost laughed in disbelief.
The mother-daughter duo—one starving her, one forcing money—crude methods but disgusting.
“Private money?” Xu Zhaozhao feigned surprise. “Where would I have private money? Isn’t all the money Chen Zheng sends managed by Mother-in-law? I don’t even have enough to buy a hair tie. If Third Sister-in-law really cared about Mother, why not pawn the pair of silver bangles your family brought as dowry for her treatment?”
Li Xiuhua was flustered, face turning pale. She couldn’t part with her bangles!
She sprang up, pointing at Xu Zhaozhao. “You! Ungrateful! Mother is so ill, and you’re hiding money! I’ll go to the courtyard and tell everyone, let them judge!”
“Go ahead,” Xu Zhaozhao said calmly, lifting her bowl.
“Just let everyone hear how Mother fell ill, and why there supposedly isn’t money for treatment. And let them also hear how a five-month pregnant daughter-in-law had her last bit of survival money forced from her by Mother-in-law and sister-in-law—what kind of logic is that?”
Li Xiuhua trembled in anger at Xu Zhaozhao’s unflinching stance, but dared not cause a scene.
Director Liu’s previous attitude had been clear; if she caused trouble again, the blame would fall squarely on them.
“You… you wait and see!” Li Xiuhua spat out a powerless threat and slunk away.
Xu Zhaozhao’s gaze followed her retreating figure, cold and calculating.
Such petty coercion was beneath her notice—but she sensed Wang Guifen, having lost twice, would not strike so simply next time.
And her premonition soon proved correct.
A few days later, Xu Zhaozhao went to the service store, hoping for some cheap fish or shrimp.
At the entrance, she heard laughter inside—light, clear, and melodious like an oriole.
Entering, she saw a crowd gathered around the counter.
The center of attention was a young girl in a brand-new uniform—no rank insignia, hair in two sleek black braids.
She was slender, pretty, with large sparkling eyes, chatting sweetly with the clerk and a few military wives:
“Aunt Zhang, you look so well! Sister Wang, your boy has grown taller again! It’s so wonderful to see everyone during our troupe’s visit!”
Ah, a troupe from the cultural unit. Xu Zhaozhao didn’t think much, heading straight to the seafood counter.
But the troupe girl noticed her—specifically, her unusually large belly.
Her gaze swept over Xu Zhaozhao’s face, a faint, subtle scrutiny passing in her eyes.
Then she smiled and approached, greeting warmly:
“Hello, sister, you look unfamiliar—are you a newly arrived military wife? Wow, your belly… it’s quite big! Are you about to give birth?”
Before Xu Zhaozhao could answer, a chatterbox nearby interjected:
“Comrade Su, don’t you recognize her? She’s Chen Camp Commander’s wife—Xu Zhaozhao! And she’s not carrying just one… six! Six babies! Everyone’s talking about it.”
“Six babies?”
The girl called “Comrade Su” froze for a split second, quickly recovering her smile.
But Xu Zhaozhao clearly caught the flicker of shock and… hostility in her eyes.
“So, she’s Brother Chen’s lover…”
Su Wanqing reattached her sweet smile and extended a hand.
“Hello, Sister Zhaozhao, I’m Su Wanqing, grew up in the same compound as Brother Chen.”
The live comments immediately identified her: pillar of the troupe, Chen Zheng’s childhood friend, an important early supporting female in the book.
“Brother Chen?” Xu Zhaozhao’s alarm bells rang, but she maintained a calm expression, lightly shaking Su Wanqing’s hand: “Hello, Comrade Su.”
Looking at her enormous belly, Su Wanqing’s tone was exaggeratedly amazed, with a hint of probing:
“Six babies! What a joyous event! But… Sister Zhaozhao, you’re just over five months along? Your belly is already this big? I hear even twins aren’t usually this large… Could the hospital have made a mistake?”
On the surface, concern—but venomous underneath.
A casual “maybe the hospital made a mistake” tried to deny the military hospital’s diagnosis, casting doubt again.
The room fell silent; everyone’s ears perked.
Xu Zhaozhao’s anger surged. Su Wanqing—such a high-level poison compared to Wang Guifen and Li Xiuhua!
She stroked her belly, a mix of happiness and mild exasperation on her face:
“Comrade Su is joking. Director Li of the military hospital personally performed the ultrasound; all six little ones are clearly visible. How could it be wrong? Perhaps it’s because the babies are healthy and well-nourished.”
She deliberately emphasized “well-nourished,” casting a pointed glance at the military wives who knew the truth.
Sure enough, their eyes shifted toward Su Wanqing uneasily.
Su Wanqing hadn’t expected Xu Zhaozhao to respond so swiftly, neutralizing her doubt while subtly scolding her meddling.
Her smile faltered, forcing a nervous laugh:
“Th-then congratulations, Sister Zhaozhao. Brother Chen will surely be delighted.”
“Yes,” Xu Zhaozhao said, her smile gentle but eyes sharp.
“He mentioned in his last letter to take care of myself during pregnancy. He said he’s looking forward to holding the children when he returns.”
This clearly confirmed her marital relationship with Chen Zheng and his anticipation for the children.
Su Wanqing’s smile almost vanished. She forced a few polite words, then made an excuse and hurriedly left the store.
Watching her flustered retreat, Xu Zhaozhao’s gaze turned icy.
Wang Guifen and Li Xiuhua were obvious pests—annoying, but easy to swat.
Su Wanqing, however, was a hidden serpent—beautiful, but potentially deadly at any moment.
Xu Zhaozhao realized she had gained another formidable opponent.
Moreover, Su Wanqing’s presence stirred a complicated curiosity about her husband, far away on the border.
What kind of man could leave such a proud, high-minded “white moonlight” lingering in his heart, even harboring hostility toward his “official wife”?
She touched the letter in her pocket, written with subtle pleas for help, and for the first time, urgently wished for a reply.
Which side will he stand on?