Zhu Xiuyun’s voice suddenly rose. “Huo Yuan didn’t come and invite you?!”
“Keep your voice down!”
Qian Xuefeng tried to cover her mouth, but her shout had already been heard by the women washing clothes beside the water basin downstairs.
Everyone living in this building belonged to the same regiment, and they’d already heard that morning that Huo Yuan and his wife were hosting a dinner.
One of the more inquisitive and outspoken women called out, “I remember you two live right next to Battalion Commander Huo’s place. What? He didn’t invite you today?”
“Battalion Commander Huo has always been close with Battalion Commander Yan, and he doesn’t like socializing. It’s normal that he didn’t invite everyone else.”
“What are you talking about?! Who said they didn’t invite us? We’re the ones who don’t want to go!” Zhu Xiuyun immediately shot back.
The woman had originally intended to help the couple out of an awkward situation, but after being harshly scolded for no reason, she couldn’t be bothered to cover for them anymore. She snorted.
“Tch, who doesn’t know that you two were ordered by the regiment commander to apologize to them yesterday? It’s obvious they don’t want anything to do with you.”
“You! You can’t even give your husband a son! My husband is the same rank as Huo Yuan. We’re both battalion commanders. What makes him so superior? Keep spouting nonsense and you’ll never have a son!”
The woman indeed had only two daughters. Hearing this, her face turned from pale to flushed, and in her anger, she lost all restraint.
“Your husband will never measure up to Huo Yuan! Just look at how young he was when he became a battalion commander!”
The moment she said that, Qian Xuefeng’s expression darkened.
Arguments between women were common, but they generally had an unspoken understanding not to drag their husbands into it. After all, these men were battalion commanders or higher-ranking officers, and none of the women could afford to offend them.
The army wife who had been arguing with Zhu Xiuyun realized she’d also insulted Qian Xuefeng, a battalion commander. She hurriedly apologized to him, picked up her washbasin, and went back inside.
Qian Xuefeng’s eyes were gloomy as he glanced at Zhu Xiuyun, who was still refusing to admit defeat.
“Do you also think I’m inferior to Huo Yuan?”
Zhu Xiuyun froze before answering, “What nonsense are you talking about? What’s so great about Huo Yuan? Anyone blind enough to choose Song Qianxing as his wife can’t be that impressive. How could he compare to you? As long as you work a little harder, you’ll definitely get promoted before him!”
Her firm words improved Qian Xuefeng’s expression somewhat. He casually said,
“When I passed by their place, I took a look. There were quite a lot of dishes. He’s only a mere battalion commander, yet he dares to eat like that. He’s really gotten used to extravagance and indulgence. It’s fortunate that the chief of staff didn’t come. He’s always the one advocating frugality.”
After hearing this, Zhu Xiuyun’s eyes shifted.
“I suddenly remembered I still have something to do. You go home first.”
Qian Xuefeng had only just been promoted to battalion commander. It was better not to involve him in this sort of thing.
Zhu Xiuyun immediately turned around and hurried toward the regiment headquarters.
…
Meanwhile, Huo Yuan, the very person being accused of extravagance and indulgence, was staring at the large table full of dishes with a somewhat dazed expression.
Of course, he wasn’t the only one. The invited guests, including Regiment Commander Hu Baoguo, were equally stunned.
These… these dishes looked far too good.
Even Zhou Maishu, who had personally helped prepare them, couldn’t help but wonder—
Were these really the dishes she’d helped make that afternoon?
And that plate arranged into the shape of a flower, decorated with red chili peppers in the center—was that really the pickled white radish she’d made herself?!
She ate pickled radish with almost every meal, so why did she suddenly feel almost afraid to put her chopsticks into this one?
Zhou Maishu was completely bewildered.
“Qianxing, what exactly are all these…?”
Sitting beside Huo Yuan, Qianxing stood up and introduced the dishes.
“Today’s menu consists of one cold dish, four vegetable dishes, four meat dishes, and one dessert. The cold dish is sweet-and-sour radish.”
“The vegetable dishes are Dinghu vegetarian, Braised Two Winter Vegetables, Hot-and-Sour Shredded Potatoes, and Vinegar-Braised Cabbage.”
“The meat dishes are Mock Crab, Dongpo Pork, Stir-Fried River Snails with Soy Sauce, and Salt-and-Pepper Loaches. The dessert is Little Sugar Cakes.”
“The dishes are rather simple, so please eat slowly.”
Simple?!
Most of the people present had never even heard of something called Dinghu vegetarian.
That was what almost everyone was thinking.
The only exception was He Manqing, whose face was full of disdain as she glared resentfully at Qianxing, who had just sat down.
Because there were so many people, Qianxing had originally wanted to divide everyone into two tables. But after Hu Baoguo arrived, he felt that two tables would make the gathering less lively, so he had everyone push the tables together into one large table.
Fortunately, the furniture here seemed to have been made by the same carpenter. The tables were all the same size and style, so they fit together perfectly to form one long table.
Thus, although Qianxing and He Manqing were sitting opposite each other, there was still quite a distance between them.
And naturally, these seats had been deliberately arranged by He Manhong, her older sister.
Ever since He Manqing arrived and saw Huo Yuan’s wife in person, she had practically ground her teeth to pieces.
If she’d lost to someone prettier or more capable than herself, she could have accepted it.
But what did Song Qianxing have?
In terms of looks, figure, or ability, in what way could she possibly compare with her?!
Why had Huo Yuan chosen to marry her?!
And what were all these fancy names for the dishes? Dinghu vegetarian? Wasn’t it just a pot of assorted vegetables stewed together?
Hmph! Such a scheming woman!
For the sake of her sister and brother-in-law’s reputation, He Manqing didn’t cause a scene. But her eyes remained firmly fixed on Song Qianxing, as though she wished she could fire actual bullets from them and blast her to pieces.
Everyone present, whether Deputy Regiment Commander Qian Hongchuan or Deputy Battalion Commander Hu Shihua, could sense the hostility. They silently cursed Huo Yuan in their hearts for bringing them such trouble.
“Uh, let’s eat. I’ve lived most of my life and there are several of these dishes I’ve never even heard of.”
Hu Baoguo smiled as he tried to smooth things over, while repeatedly giving his wife meaningful looks, silently telling her to keep her younger sister under control.
Receiving her husband’s signal, He Manhong also smiled warmly.
“Yesterday we saw how quick-witted Sister Song is with her words. Today I’ve discovered that your hands are just as skillful. These dishes look delicious.”
As soon as she finished speaking—
Knock, knock.
The front door was suddenly struck twice.
Huo Yuan frowned in irritation.
Who was interrupting him from tasting Qianxing’s cooking again?
He opened the door, and his expression relaxed slightly.
“Chief of Staff.”
After greeting him, he turned to Qianxing.
“Qianxing, this is Chief of Staff Xiang Ming. Chief of Staff, this is my wife, Song Qianxing.”
Qianxing stood up and politely greeted him before inviting him to take a seat.
Huo Yuan had said that morning that the chief of staff wouldn’t have time to come. Looks like he’d finished whatever he had to do, Qianxing thought.
However, in the very next second, Xiang Ming’s words struck like a thunderclap.
“I’m not here for dinner. Someone reported that the way you’re hosting this meal is excessively extravagant and indulgent, showing signs of capitalist extravagance…”
Qianxing looked at him.
“Who reported us?”
Xiang Ming waved his hand.
“It hasn’t reached the level of an official report. Someone merely mentioned it to me in passing, so I came to understand the situation.”
Someone who would go out of their way to gossip in front of the chief of staff clearly didn’t have very good intentions.
Everyone at the table exchanged glances. If they were really labeled as displaying capitalist extravagance, those who had come to eat would also have a hard time clearing themselves.
Xiang Ming’s eyes fell upon the exquisite dishes spread across the table before moving back to Huo Yuan and Qianxing.
“There certainly are quite a lot of dishes… What do you two have to say?”