On the stove, the turtle soup was bubbling away.
Meanwhile, Tang Jin started stir-frying the chicken.
She heated the cold pan with oil, then added scallions, ginger, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, spices, doubanjiang (fermented bean paste), and some medicinal herbs, letting everything sizzle. Then she added the chicken pieces and stirred them around.
Finally, she poured in hot water and let it simmer.
Her movements were as skilled and fluid as when she was sewing clothes.
Wu Xiulan watched in admiration. “Tang Jin, have you ever trained as a chef?”
“No, it’s just a hobby,” Tang Jin replied casually.
Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she thought, Tomorrow I’ll buy that electric fan.
Wu Xiulan admired Tang Jin more and more. She could cook and sew, and she was stunningly beautiful—truly a perfect match for Commander Mu.
Looking at the table full of dishes, Fang Xiangdong and Zhang Guang were dumbfounded.
Tang Jin was really that capable? Why hadn’t she cooked before and always mooched meals? Both men thought alike.
Only Mu Heng remained calm; he had tasted her cooking before. Plus, she had just shown him how to handle the turtle with practiced skill. This woman was a master in the kitchen—she had just hidden it all before.
“This fried potato is so delicious!” a child’s voice piped up.
In the time everyone was distracted, Lele had already picked up a French fry and started eating, praising it as he chewed.
“Hehe, Lele, it tastes even better with ketchup!”
Tang Jin smiled and patted Lele’s head lovingly. Her maternal warmth practically dazzled the three men.
Was this the same Tang Jin who used to snatch food from kids?
Realizing the three were staring at her like she was a spectacle, Tang Jin laughed. “Don’t look at me like that! I lost my memory, maybe I used to be bad, but I’ll definitely do better from now on.”
“Uh, sister-in-law, knowing your mistakes and fixing them is enough. Let’s eat—I want to try your cooking,” Fang Xiangdong said.
Fang Xiangdong, being the unit instructor and skilled at handling situations, could ease this awkward moment.
Zhang Guang, a quiet and honest man, smiled at Tang Jin and began eating.
Mu Heng watched her; her face was sweaty, yet in this heat, she was cooking—she had really changed. He never would have imagined this before.
“This chicken is incredible!” Fang Xiangdong exclaimed, overjoyed. The spicy, flavorful taste was unlike anything he’d eaten before.
“The braised pork is amazing too! Tang Jin, no wonder you invited me. This tastes authentic—hundreds of times better than what I can make,” Wu Xiulan said, finally realizing the difference. What she had eaten before was just “stir-fried meat.”
Zhang Guang said nothing, just kept stuffing his mouth—this was the best meal he’d ever had.
Mu Heng also remained silent, eating deliberately. He knew she could cook well but hadn’t expected so much variety.
“This turtle soup is really good! It looks so ugly… no wonder sister-in-law always goes to the river to catch turtles. Next time, I’ll help you!”
Fang Xiangdong was genuinely impressed; the soup was incredibly delicious. Initially, he hadn’t dared to try it, but seeing Mu Heng eat, he finally did. He never imagined it could taste so exquisite.
Tang Jin seemed to read his thoughts.
“The real delicacy is those red worms—do you dare to eat them?” she teased.
“I dare! After this meal, we’ll go catch them,” Fang Xiangdong said, now fully convinced of her culinary skills.
Tang Jin laughed at his words. “Fine, I’ll reluctantly cook crayfish for you this once, so you can taste what a real delicacy is.”
She glanced at Mu Heng, who was quietly eating, thinking: with him and the others won over, everything was perfect.
Bang! She unconsciously snapped her fingers.
Lele immediately looked up. “Sister, what was that sound? I want to learn too!”
Awkward!
“Not yet—you’re too little. When you’re older, I’ll teach you. Eat your fries first; they’ll get soggy if you wait.”
Kids were easy to please.
This meal, as usual, would be completely finished. Tang Jin never left leftovers.
After the meal, Fang Xiangdong insisted on going to catch crayfish. Mu Heng was pulled along, Lele insisted on going, and Zhang Guang and Wu Xiulan had no choice but to accompany them.
Fang Xiangdong carried a bucket and a fishing net, Zhang Guang held Lele’s hand, and Mu Heng walked empty-handed. The three men led the way.
Soldiers naturally walked with straight backs and confident strides—handsome.
Mu Heng was the tallest, with the best physique—1.85 meters, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs. Even his back alone was a striking sight. No wonder Tang Jin had chosen him—his back looked amazing.
Tang Jin, wearing a sunhat she made from scrap fabric, walked behind with Wu Xiulan, admiring her man’s back while chatting.
“Sister-in-law, I have a channel to buy scrap fabric. You find a few reliable, skilled, and honest wives. I can teach you to make small crafts—hair clips, headbands, lingerie, small items. We can sell them in the city.”
“That’s a great idea. I know a few army wives with sewing machines. Coming from the countryside, making small crafts will be no problem,” Wu Xiulan immediately got excited.
“Good. Then gather your people, and we’ll have a group meeting. I buy scrap cheaply and will always have stock. The profit on these crafts will be substantial. You’ll be the team leader and manage the accounts.”
Tang Jin wanted to prepare for her future business and train capable assistants.
“No way, team leader, you should lead. You’re the boss, we follow your orders,” Wu Xiulan said, now Tang Jin’s biggest fan. She admired Tang Jin for both sewing and cooking.
“I have many tasks, so I might be too busy. I’ll rely on you to take charge. As the saying goes, the master shows the way, but practice depends on the individual. I have faith in you,” Tang Jin said.
Wu Xiulan, straightforward and fair, had graduated middle school and was clever. With good training, she could become a strong assistant.
“If you think I can do it, I’ll take the responsibility. I was a group leader and class monitor back in school. I studied well, but my family was poor with many siblings, so I couldn’t continue schooling,” Wu Xiulan added, a hint of regret in her voice.
“I knew you were capable. Tomorrow, gather all the wives at your house; I’ll bring scrap fabric. I need to buy an electric fan in the morning, then we can start the session in the afternoon,” Tang Jin said.
Cooking had heated her up badly today, and with the dog days approaching, the fan was a must.
“Okay, I’ll go buy the fan with you in the morning. I can help carry it,” Wu Xiulan said.
“Great.”
Soon, the group arrived at the riverbank, where Tang Jin was most familiar, and led them to the crayfish-rich area.
Lele was thrilled by the many red worms but only dared to look, not touch.
Fang Xiangdong immediately stepped onto the rocks to start collecting—the worms were true delicacies!
“Fish! Fish! There’s a fish!” keen-eyed Lele shouted, spotting a large one.
Tang Jin quickly picked up the net and scooped it up in one go.
“Hehe, sister-in-law, you’re a pro at catching fish,” Fang Xiangdong said. Her swift hands made him think she’d excel in the army too.
“Of course! Not just fish, I’m a master at catching turtles too,” Tang Jin said proudly.
Everyone laughed.
She took out a plastic bag, added some water, and placed the fish inside.
Soon, Fang Xiangdong and Zhang Guang had collected more than half a bucket of crayfish and a few crabs. They also caught two more fish.
A bountiful harvest.
Now Fang Xiangdong understood why Tang Jin loved fishing in the river: the overwhelming sense of accomplishment!