Huo Jinyan felt this was a kind of torment—a cruel torment.
He didn’t know whether Jiang Mengning meant it literally or if there was some hidden meaning, but of course, his mind immediately went to the wrong place. The weather was already hot, and now it felt stifling.
This woman—why did she always have to say such strange things recently?
He ignored her and quickened his pace toward the foot of the mountain.
Almost as soon as they reached it, he put her down.
“We’ve reached the foot of the mountain. Walk back yourself!”
He didn’t even glance at her, simply released her, and strode ahead.
Jiang Mengning shrugged. This guy really had no sense of romance.
“Hey, Huo Jinyan, you blush easily, huh? Your face is red.”
The man paused slightly, but kept walking.
“You’re actually quite fun,” Jiang Mengning said, in a good mood.
Bored, she chatted with him along the way, occasionally pulling wild blades of grass here and there. Somehow, the journey seemed shorter.
When they reached the army gate, they walked in one after the other.
The soldiers standing at attention immediately saluted Huo Jinyan.
As for Jiang Mengning, no one dared glance at her—especially the soldiers, for fear of being scolded by the commissar.
Huo Jinyan glanced at one of them instinctively, sensing something slightly off.
The thought passed quickly, and he entered the barracks.
There were several meters between him and Jiang Mengning.
Walking one after another, with Huo Jinyan’s expressionless face, it was easy for people to misinterpret the situation.
Nearby, army wives were hanging bedding on the playground.
Seeing the two of them, they whispered among themselves.
“Hey, hey, look! Are they arguing again?”“Arguing? How come?”“Seems like Jiang Mengning went out for a bit—maybe to meet some shady guy—and Huo Commander saw her. He must be angry! Men have pride; who would tolerate their woman being unfaithful?”“Oh, Jiang Mengning really doesn’t know any better! Huo Commander is such a good man, and she doesn’t treasure him. Honestly, they might as well get a divorce. Once divorced, Huo Commander can find someone better. Jiang Mengning’s just wasting his life.”“Exactly! There are so many unmarried girls in the compound, all better than Jiang Mengning. Any of them would be a good match for Huo Commander. I think Niu Lili is perfect—pretty, in the arts troupe, dances well, graceful body, beautiful face. Way better than Jiang Mengning.”“Niu Lili? She is nice. I also heard many young men are pursuing her, but she hasn’t accepted anyone. Maybe she’s waiting for Huo Commander to divorce!”
Their gossip gradually subsided as Niu Lili herself walked by, carrying a netted bag of apples.
Her spine straightened immediately. She theatrically adjusted the big braid on her chest. Though her face showed no obvious emotion, she was secretly thrilled—so many people were supporting her marrying Huo Jinyan!
Her eyes darkened as she glanced at Jiang Mengning walking behind Huo Jinyan.
From that moment, she despised that flirtatious woman.
Jiang Mengning was nothing; someday, Niu Lili would replace her and successfully marry Huo Jinyan.
She bit her lip, her gaze full of admiration for the tall, handsome man.
Seeing him, she couldn’t help but walk toward him.
“Huo Ge, I bought some apples. They’re really sweet. Here, try one.” She picked the largest, reddest apple and handed it to Huo Jinyan. Her cheeks matched the apple in redness. That shy, hesitant look could make anyone’s heart flutter.
Huo Jinyan frowned. “No need.”
He rejected her ruthlessly.
“But Huo Ge, it’s really delicious!”
The sting of rejection was sharp. It was just an apple, yet he wouldn’t take it—what did it mean?
Maybe he feared gossip and wanted to protect her pride. Huo Ge was too good—always thinking of her.
Surely, he had some feelings for her.
But Niu Lili wasn’t afraid of gossip!
She shyly twisted her body, feeling warmth and sweetness in her heart.
“Please eat it. It’s really good.” She persisted.
Huo Jinyan had no patience and simply ignored her.
Jiang Mengning crossed her arms and walked up, sneering openly.
This woman, showing off in public like that—either scheming or up to no good!
“Oh, such a big apple! Must have cost quite a bit. Niu Lili, you’re so thoughtful. Giving expensive fruit away so generously… No wonder everyone in the compound praises you as kind and considerate.”
She laughed and shouted to the nearby soldiers:“Come on over! Niu Lili is in a good mood today and wants to share her apples. Hurry up and thank Sister Niu!”
Immediately, seven or eight sun-tanned soldiers came over, grinning from ear to ear.
Their white teeth gleamed as they smiled.
“Niu Lili, thank you! And thank you too, Commander’s Wife!”
Niu Lili was stunned. She hadn’t meant to share the apples; there weren’t many, and they were expensive—meant for Huo Jinyan alone! How could she give them to a few soldiers?
But under the circumstances, refusing was impossible.
She forced a fake smile and handed out the apples, one by one, cursing Jiang Mengning in her heart with every single one. Each apple felt like a dagger—money, her life! “Jiang Mengning, I swear I hate you!”
In the end, the entire net of apples was gone. Niu Lili hadn’t tasted a single one.
The soldiers laughed heartily with their apples.
Then Duan Xiaowu and a few soldiers appeared, carrying the basket of honey.
Normally, they were joking around, but seeing Jiang Mengning, they became serious and careful. They carefully pushed the basket to Duan Xiaowu.
“You go, you go.”“You go, you go.”“Still you go.”
Finally, the basket of honey ended up in Duan Xiaowu’s hands. He had no choice but to bravely take it over.
“Sis… sis, here’s the honey. I’ll put it in your room!”
He tiptoed around Jiang Mengning, careful not to touch her, fearing another scolding. Everyone in the unit knew Huo Commander’s wife was capricious and unreasonable; even the commander himself dared not provoke her.
Jiang Mengning followed him in, directing:“Don’t put it on the table—it’ll drip everywhere. I’ll get a basin.”
She went into the kitchen and brought out a clean basin. Duan Xiaowu quickly placed the basket in it and prepared to leave.
“Sis, I’ll be off then.”“Thank you! You’ve worked hard today. Here, take some candy with you.”
Jiang Mengning handed him a large pack of White Rabbit milk candy generously. She understood influence—spend a little to gain loyalty. She was greedy but not stingy.
Duan Xiaowu stared at the candy, stunned.“This… this is too much. Bringing the honey was just a small thing. Sis, thank you!”
Jiang Mengning, decisive as ever, said:“If I tell you to take it, take it—no arguments. If you refuse again, I’ll get angry.”
“All right, all right, thank you, Sis!”
Once outside, he exhaled in relief. A few soldiers waiting immediately crowded around him.
“Xiaowu, did she say anything? Did she scold you?”
He haughtily snorted, showing them the candy.“She didn’t scold me—she even gave me a big bag of candy to thank me for the honey. Honestly, Sis is pretty nice. At least, reasonable.”
Before, he hadn’t interacted much with Jiang Mengning and had heard bad things about her.
He assumed she was a bad woman, unworthy of Huo Ge.
But today, after meeting her, she seemed… not bad. Pretty, generous, and decisive—someone with ideas and principles.
“Is that candy really from her?” The soldiers couldn’t believe it. Since when was the commander’s wife so approachable?
Duan Xiaowu glared at them. “Is there any fake here? I can’t sneak inside, can I? White Rabbit candy—genuinely from Sis. Only I have it, not you. Jealous? Haha…”
The soldiers immediately felt envious. Duan Xiaowu’s luck was incredible.
“Don’t hog it.”“Yeah, right.”
Duan Xiaowu ran off, the soldiers chasing him in a playful commotion.
Meanwhile, Jiang Mengning got a large jar ready for the honey.
They had collected so much that it filled a big jar—probably five to six jin (around 2.5–3 kg). Enough to last a long time.
Nian Nian, watching, licked her lips eagerly. Jiang Mengning laughed.“You little glutton, here—this piece is for you, the very best.”
The golden honeycomb glimmered in the sunlight.
Nian Nian bit into it, and honey dripped from her lips, crystal clear and enticing. The little girl’s eyes squinted in delight.
“Mom, smells good.” She handed the bitten honeycomb to Jiang Mengning.Mom took a small bite, pleasantly surprised.
The honey smelled faintly of locust flowers—real honey tastes amazing. Even Jiang Mengning, usually afraid of gaining weight, couldn’t resist a second bite.
“Wait, Nian Nian, I’ll make you pudding later. Pudding with honey tastes even better.”
“What’s pudding, Mom?” Nian Nian asked curiously.
“Hmm… it’s a sweet dessert. Tasty. You’ll see later.”
Right now, Jiang Mengning had no time to make pudding. She had to extract beeswax—the leftover comb from the honey could be melted down. Beeswax was a key ingredient for making lipstick.
She tried to light a fire several times but couldn’t get it going. Smoke filled the area.
“Cough, cough, cough! This fire is impossible!” She felt utterly useless.
How was she supposed to survive in this era?
Nian Nian saw Mom struggling and worriedly patted her back.“Mom, what are you doing?”“I… cough… cough… I’m lighting the fire. Step back a bit, or you’ll get burned.”“Mom, do you not know how to light a fire? There’s so much smoke.”
Jiang Mengning: “…I already know I’m useless. No need to remind me.”“Yes, I can’t do it either.”
“Mom, I can!” The little girl volunteered.
Jiang Mengning remembered that Nian Nian had cooked porridge on the stove yesterday—she must know how. Her eyes lit up.“Nian Nian, you’re amazing!”
But then, Nian Nian stuffed a bunch of sticks into the stove and dropped a match in.
It flared up and immediately went out. Undeterred, she kept throwing matches—one, two, three, four… Half a pack gone in no time.
Jiang Mengning: “…” Even a novice knows this isn’t how you start a fire.
“Nian Nian, it’s almost noon. Can we even get this fire going by tonight?”