Jiang Yan shrugged and explained, “Jiang Rou is my uncle’s daughter. Basically, that’s what happened. My parents took the marriage arrangement meant for Jiang Rou and gave it to Jiang Meng, my older sister. Later, when they found out that you were disfigured, that you were impotent, and that you already had two children, Jiang Meng no longer wanted to marry you. But my parents couldn’t bear to return the one thousand yuan in bride price, so they sent me instead.”
“Oh, right. Before I came here, my parents had already mailed my personal documents to the army. So by now, we should already be officially married.”
The implication was clear: what was done was done. There was no going back!
This marriage had originally been arranged by his grandfather. The reason Huo Zhanting had agreed, besides being driven half-crazy by the old man’s constant urging to get married, was that he wanted someone to help take care of the two children.
He had no objection to switching brides.
He had never even met Jiang Rou, so there was no affection between them. And Jiang Yan had seen through the traffickers’ scheme and bravely stepped up to help others. She seemed like a good person.
After weighing everything carefully, Huo Zhanting accepted this accidental marriage. However, there were a few things he wanted to make clear.
Huo Zhanting’s expression turned serious. “Comrade Jiang Yan, I’m not impotent. Everything works perfectly!”
Huo Zhanting said with a completely straight face, “If you need it, I can also fulfill my marital duties. But we’ll have to take precautions. I already have two sons, and I don’t want any more children.”
Xiaojin and Xiaoxi were the children of his late older sister. When they were adopted into his household, he had already made up his mind.
He would raise these two children to adulthood. He would not have any other children!
Jiang Yan was speechless. He made it sound as though she desperately wanted to sleep with him.
She didn’t want that at all, okay?
“Absolutely not. I don’t need you to fulfill any marital duties, and I don’t want children either. We can simply live together as partners. I’ll be responsible for raising our two bargain sons until they’re big and healthy, and you’ll be responsible for handing over your salary!”
Seeing how strongly Jiang Yan rejected the idea, Huo Zhanting felt inexplicably disappointed, but he quickly suppressed the feeling.
“My current monthly salary is 132 yuan. But I have to send 30 yuan to my parents back home every month. I can give you the rest, on the condition that you take good care of Xiaojin and Xiaoxi.”
In those days, 102 yuan was a huge amount of money. For that kind of pay, anyone would be willing to take care of the two little ones.
But Jiang Yan had no intention of becoming a nanny.
“I can take care of the children, but I’m not a nanny. I’m not going to wait on them like little masters. They have to learn to share the household chores. And when you come home on leave, you’ll have to help with the housework too. This is not my household alone.”
As far as she knew, men in this era were heavily influenced by traditional notions of male superiority. Some things had to be made clear beforehand, or there would be trouble later.
Fortunately, Huo Zhanting didn’t have the mindset that men should work outside while women stayed home and did everything. Nor did he spoil children. Besides, Jiang Yan’s demands weren’t unreasonable.
“Agreed!” Huo Zhanting accepted.
Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow and politely extended her hand. “Then we have a deal?”
Huo Zhanting took her hand. “Deal!”
Afterward, Huo Zhanting went into the room, found his bankbook, and handed it to Jiang Yan. “My monthly salary will be deposited into this bankbook. If you need money, you can go to the county credit union to withdraw it.”
Jiang Yan was very pleased with how cooperative Huo Zhanting was. She took the bankbook and only opened it after returning to her room.
Well, look at that! There was actually 3,700 yuan in it!
No more living on a shoestring!
In a good mood, Jiang Yan steamed twenty huge white steamed buns early the next morning—the extra-large kind.
All those cooking videos she had watched during the apocalypse hadn’t been a waste after all. Just looking at these big, fluffy buns made her hungry.
Jiang Yan also stir-fried shredded potatoes, then picked some green peppers from the backyard and made green pepper scrambled eggs.
With a bowl of steaming-hot rice soup on the side, it was absolutely delicious.
This was Huo Zhanting’s first time watching Jiang Yan eat. Seeing her calmly finish three enormous steamed buns, he thought that the poor girl must have suffered before. She probably had never eaten her fill.
Feeling sorry for her, Huo Zhanting took the initiative to put food into Jiang Yan’s bowl.
The meal was harmonious, mostly because Jiang Yan’s cooking was simply too delicious. The only sound at the table was the happy smack of people eating.
Jiang Yan ate quickly and enthusiastically, never seeming to stop.
Huo Zhanting couldn’t help eating five huge steamed buns himself.
He had always had a big appetite, and even five of those enormous buns left him feeling somewhat stuffed.
But when he looked across the table, Jiang Yan was still eating.
Six. Seven…
Ten!
When Huo Zhanting saw Jiang Yan eat a full ten enormous steamed buns without showing any sign of stopping, the expression on his face completely cracked.
“Comrade Jiang Yan, aren’t you feeling stuffed after eating that much?”
“What do you mean, that much? I could still eat three more!”
Huo Zhanting had eaten five, and the two little ones had each eaten one, leaving three.
Perfect. Just enough for her.
Huo Zhanting’s expression changed again.
He suddenly felt that his 132-yuan salary wasn’t going to be enough.
From now on, he would have to take on more missions, earn more merits, and collect more bonuses. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to afford to feed his wife.
Jiang Yan noticed the changes in Huo Zhanting’s expression and belatedly realized what was going on.
Was he complaining that she ate too much?
“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to make money. I won’t freeload off you!”
Huo Zhanting realized that Jiang Yan had misunderstood and hurriedly explained, “I’m not complaining that you eat too much. I’m just a little surprised!”
“I can afford to support you. If you don’t want to work, you don’t have to!”
Jiang Yan didn’t take his words seriously.
A woman should never rely on a man saying, *I’ll support you!*
They were partners sharing a life, after all. She couldn’t depend entirely on Huo Zhanting.
After breakfast, Jiang Yan sprawled in a reclining chair and began pondering how she could make money.
After helping the two little ones wash the dishes, Huo Zhanting went to report the mission to Commander Jiang.
On the way, Huo Zhanting ran into Auntie Zhao.
Auntie Zhao’s son, Zhao Anbang, was one of Huo Zhanting’s subordinates and had gone on the mission with him this time.
Her son had returned the previous night, and from him, Auntie Zhao learned that Huo Zhanting had returned as well. So she had deliberately made some large flatbreads and brought them to Huo Zhanting’s house.
Jiang Yan was just some little hussy from the countryside who could only make pig slop. Commander Huo would definitely dislike her! Once he tasted the fragrant flatbreads Auntie Zhao had made, the contrast would be obvious. Then Commander Huo would surely let her continue taking care of those two little burdens!
“Commander Huo, you’re back! I was just saying I’d take some flatbreads over for Xiaojin and Xiaoxi. Would you like one?”
Auntie Zhao had really gone all out. She had made four large flatbreads and took the biggest one, stuffing it into Huo Zhanting’s hands.
Huo Zhanting quickly waved it away. “No need, Auntie. I’ve already eaten breakfast.”
Huo Zhanting had originally planned to report his work first and then go find Auntie Zhao. Since he had run into her now, he simply told her directly.
“Auntie, you don’t need to trouble yourself with making food for Xiaojin and Xiaoxi anymore. My wife will take care of them.”
How could she accept that?
She couldn’t bear to lose the five yuan, ten jin of grain, and one piece of meat she received every month!
Auntie Zhao suppressed the urge to curse him out and smiled as she said, “Commander Huo, it’s not that I want to say this, but your little wife is still just a young girl herself. How would she know how to take care of children? Besides, Xiaojin and Xiaoxi are already used to me looking after them. Why don’t I continue taking care of the two of them?”
Huo Zhanting shook his head. “There’s no need to trouble you anymore. I believe my wife can take good care of the children. Auntie, I still have something to do, so I’ll be going.”
With that, Huo Zhanting turned and strode away.
Auntie Zhao was so angry that she stamped her feet.
That little hussy must have whispered something in Commander Huo’s ear last night. That was why he suddenly didn’t want her helping take care of the children!
That little bitch. Just wait. I’ll make sure I drive you out!
Auntie Zhao thought viciously.