When Xiang Wanwan woke up the next morning, Lu Jingnian was already gone from her side.
Off to work?
She got dressed and got out of bed. Sure enough, Lu Jingnian was nowhere to be seen in the house.
When she walked into the living room, she saw a bowl of porridge and a plate of scrambled eggs neatly placed on the table.
Xiang Wanwan froze.
Did Lu Jingnian make this?
He actually cooked for her?
She sat down at the table, picked up a bite of eggs, and put it into her mouth.
Surprisingly delicious!
She hadn’t expected Lu Jingnian to be such a decent cook.
In this era, men who could cook were rare—men who would cook for their wives were even rarer.
Xiang Wanwan couldn’t help thinking about what happened last night and silently shook her head.
Forget it. Even if Lu Jingnian can’t, at least he’s good-looking, well-built, knows how to protect his wife, and can cook!
That’s already pretty good.
At worst, the two of them could just live like sisters in the future—companions getting through life together. It’d still work.
After finishing breakfast, Xiang Wanwan gathered the dishes and brought them into the kitchen, placing them in the sink.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. She called out to Blue Sprite.
“Blue Sprite, can you help me wash these dishes?”
The moment she finished speaking, Blue Sprite started waving its hands, spinning in circles, followed by a flash of white light.
In the next instant, the dishes in the sink were sparkling clean.
Xiang Wanwan was overjoyed.
This is amazing!
It really works!
With Blue Sprite around, she wouldn’t need to do any housework at all in the future.
It was basically her personal smart cleaning assistant!
After tidying up the kitchen, Xiang Wanwan stepped outside into the yard and stretched lazily.
Just as she lowered her arms, she saw Chen De covering his face as he hurried out of the neighboring house.
Xiang Wanwan took two steps forward and called out to him, “Commander Chen, heading to work so early?”
Chen De was currently suspended and under investigation—he didn’t need to go to work at all. Her words were clearly rubbing salt into his wound.
“Ah—no! Just… going for a walk.”
Chen De instinctively glanced at Xiang Wanwan, sighed, then lowered his head and walked away, still covering his face.
Watching his flustered retreating figure, Xiang Wanwan burst out laughing.
She’d seen it clearly just now—Chen De had dark bruises around his eyes, and one side of his face was slightly swollen. It was obviously Sister-in-law Wang’s handiwork from last night.
She hadn’t expected Sister-in-law Wang to be this strong!
Sure enough, never underestimate a housewife!
Just as she was laughing, Sister-in-law Wang came out of her house.
“Wanwan, you’re up so early?”
Xiang Wanwan walked over to the wall, smiling broadly, and gave her a thumbs-up.
“Sister-in-law, impressive!”
Sister-in-law Wang knew exactly what she meant—she’d seen that scene just now too.
She planted her hands on her hips, curled her lips, and put on a fierce act.
“Hmph! When a tiger doesn’t show its power, people think it’s a sick cat!”
“He deserved to be taught a lesson!”
The two women burst into laughter together.
At that moment, Sister-in-law Wang’s twin sons ran out of the house one after the other, clinging to her legs and whining sweetly.
“Mom, we want to go out and play!”
She bent down, patted their heads affectionately.
“Go on then. Just play nearby—don’t go too far.”
“Got it!”
Hand in hand, the two boys ran out of the yard.
Xiang Wanwan smiled as she watched them hop away.
Around them, quite a few women were out carrying water, and small groups of people chatted and laughed together. The whole scene felt peaceful and harmonious.
Then suddenly, a figure appeared and shattered that calm.
Xiang Wanwan’s gaze sharpened as she saw Chen De’s lover striding over aggressively.
Nurse Li stormed straight into the Chen family courtyard and slapped Sister-in-law Wang across the face without hesitation, stunning her on the spot.
“Who do you think you are? Chen De actually wants to dump me for a yellow-faced old woman like you?”
“Why don’t you look in a mirror? That wrinkled face—you could be his mother! And you still have the nerve to come looking for him!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Sister-in-law Wang snapped back to her senses.
Smack!
Smack!
She stepped forward and returned the two slaps immediately.
Then she grabbed Nurse Li by the hair and slammed her to the ground, cursing as she did.
“You little slut! Last time, I was unfamiliar with the place and let you bully me—did you think you’d get that lucky again today?”
“And you call me yellow-faced? I say you’re a white-boned demon!”
“I didn’t even go looking for you, and you delivered yourself right to my door!”
Xiang Wanwan was completely stunned.
Had Sister-in-law Wang opened up her Ren and Du meridians or something?
Those slaps were brutal!
But damn—it felt so satisfying!
Sister-in-law Wang and Nurse Li wrestled on the ground, pulling each other’s hair and hurling insults.
Before long, the entrance to the Chen house was packed with onlookers.
Seeing this, Xiang Wanwan rushed over from the side yard and pulled Sister-in-law Wang away.
A newly arrived military dependent fighting with a nurse from the military hospital—it didn’t look good no matter how you sliced it.
And since Sister-in-law Wang still had to live here in the future, she couldn’t afford a bad reputation.
After Xiang Wanwan finally separated them, the two women glared viciously at each other. Both looked a mess—hair disheveled, faces grimy.
Xiang Wanwan turned to Nurse Li and said mockingly, “Nurse Li, aren’t you barking up the wrong tree?”
“If Chen De doesn’t want you, go find him. What kind of skill is it to bully another woman in her own home?”
“Or is it because we’re new here, so you think we’re easy to push around?”
“Besides, who’s legitimate and who’s sneaking around like a thief—everyone here knows perfectly well.”
As soon as she said that, the crowd at the door erupted into murmurs.
“So this means Nurse Li is a mistress?”
“No way! Didn’t they say Commander Chen was already divorced?”
“Oh please, you believe what men say? I saw him yesterday with twin sons—how could he be divorced?”
“My god, Nurse Li is really a mistress? Then doesn’t that mean Commander Chen hid his marital status?”
……
Hearing the surrounding discussion, Nurse Li completely lost her composure.
She shouted angrily at the crowd, “You gossiping old hags, what nonsense are you spouting?”
“I’m not a mistress!”
Seeing her flustered, furious state, Xiang Wanwan found it laughable.
If she’d known it would come to this, why do it in the first place?
Xiang Wanwan didn’t believe for a second that Nurse Li didn’t know Chen De wasn’t divorced. She’d simply coveted his status and the wealth he might bring in the future.
Now that Sister-in-law Wang had arrived, Chen De could no longer hide the truth and had no choice but to abandon Nurse Li.
Her dream of riches had shattered—so she redirected all her hatred toward Sister-in-law Wang.
In short, she was lashing out in desperation.
She thought that by making a scene, Sister-in-law Wang would retreat in fear.
What a fantasy!
“Enough. Stop it.”
Chen De walked out from behind the crowd, his face dark as thunder.
That morning, he’d gone to Nurse Li to tell her it was over. Before he could even finish speaking, she’d slapped him and run off.
He never expected her to come straight to his house to make a scene!
And with so many people gathered at his door—this time, he’d truly lost all face.
He walked up to Nurse Li and tried to coax her in a low voice. “Go back first. I’ll come see you later.”
Seeing Chen De like this, Xiang Wanwan knew he was trying to smooth things over again.
She raised her voice deliberately. “Commander Chen, speak up a bit—so many people are watching!”
“Your properly married wife is standing right here. Isn’t it inappropriate for you to whisper with your mistress like that?”
Chen De looked up at Xiang Wanwan, his face turning even darker.
This woman was a complete troublemaker—why did she have to meddle so much in his family affairs?
If it weren’t for the fact that she was Chief Lu’s wife, he would’ve taught her a lesson long ago.
Xiang Wanwan couldn’t care less what Chen De thought.
Since everyone was here today, it was better to make everything clear once and for all—so she and Sister-in-law Wang wouldn’t have to endure gossip whenever they stepped outside.
“Chen De, since it’s come to this, choose.”
“Her—or this fox spirit?”
Sister-in-law Wang glared furiously at Chen De. Even at a time like this, he was still siding with that woman!
If that was the case, then no one would get off easy. She no longer cared about saving Chen De’s face.
And with Wanwan standing up for her like this, how could she back down now?
“Besides, who’s legitimate and who’s sneaking around like a thief—everyone knows it in their hearts.”
The moment these words fell, the crowd gathered at the doorway erupted into chatter.
“So does that mean Nurse Li is a mistress?”
“No way! Didn’t they say Commander Chen divorced long ago?”
“Oh please, you believe what men say? I saw him just yesterday with two twin sons—how could he possibly be divorced!”
“My god, is Nurse Li really a mistress? Then wouldn’t Commander Chen be hiding his marital status!”
······
Listening to the discussions around her, Nurse Li could no longer stay calm.
She shouted angrily at the people nearby, “You gossiping harpies—what nonsense are you spouting?”
“I’m not a mistress!”
Seeing her furious, flustered state, Xiang Wanwan found it laughable.
If she’d known this would happen, why do it in the first place?
She didn’t believe for a second that Nurse Li didn’t know Chen De hadn’t divorced—she was just coveting his status and future wealth.
Now that Sister Wang had shown up, Chen De could no longer keep things hidden and could only choose to abandon Nurse Li!
Her dream of wealth shattered, she transferred all her hatred onto Sister Wang instead.
To put it plainly—this was a cornered dog jumping the wall!
She thought that by making a scene, Sister Wang would back down.
What a pipe dream!
“Alright, that’s enough.”
Chen De stepped out from behind the crowd, his face dark as iron.
Early that morning, he had gone to tell Nurse Li to end things cleanly. The moment he opened his mouth, she slapped him and ran off.
He hadn’t expected her to come to his house to cause trouble!
And with so many people crowding his doorstep—this time, he had truly disgraced himself.
Walking over to Nurse Li, he lowered his voice and tried to placate her. “Go back first. I’ll come look for you later.”
Seeing Chen De like this, Xiang Wanwan knew he was trying to smooth things over again.
She raised her voice and said, “Commander Chen, why don’t you speak up a bit? There are so many people watching!”
“Your lawfully wedded wife is standing right here—don’t you think it’s inappropriate for you to whisper like that with a mistress?”
Chen De looked up at Xiang Wanwan, his face turning even darker.
This woman was nothing but trouble—why did she love meddling in his family affairs so much?
If it weren’t for the fact that she was Chief Lu’s wife, he’d definitely teach her a lesson.
Xiang Wanwan didn’t care what Chen De was thinking.
Since everyone was already here today, it was better to make everything clear once and for all—so that she and Sister Wang wouldn’t be gossiped about whenever they went out.
“Chen De, since it’s come to this, choose! Do you want me, or do you want this fox spirit?”
Sister Wang glared furiously at Chen De. Even at a time like this, he was still protecting that woman!
If that was the case, then no one was getting out of this unscathed. She stopped caring about Chen De’s pride altogether.
Besides, with Wanwan helping her this much, how could she back down now!