The next day at noon, after finishing training, Qin Zhan returned home carrying a slab of pork belly.
The moment Lin Wan saw it, her eyes lit up.
[Captain Qin is actually pretty thoughtful! He even remembered that I love pork belly.]
[A man like this? Even if he’s “not capable,” I’d still take him. Hehe!]
Qin Zhan’s face darkened. Ignoring her teasing, he walked straight into the kitchen.
Soon, the sound of chopping echoed through the room.
Curious, Lin Wan leaned against the doorframe and peeked inside.
Qin Zhan was holding the military dagger he had brought back from the army, slicing the pork on the cutting board.
The streaked pork belly seemed as soft as tofu under his blade.
Every slice was exactly the same size and thickness, as though measured with calipers.
The pieces were lined up neatly on a plate like soldiers standing in formation.
[Good grief… this guy has obsessive-compulsive tendencies.]
[He’s even cutting meat like he’s organizing a military parade?]
[Still… that knife work is incredible. Smooth, effortless, and oddly satisfying to watch.]
[I just hope it tastes as good as it looks instead of being all style and no substance.]
Hearing her doubtful inner thoughts, Qin Zhan sped up his movements.
He heated the wok.
Oil sizzled.
He added sugar to caramelize it before tossing in the pork.
Sizzle!
The rich aroma exploded into the air.
In those days, meat and cooking oil were precious luxuries.
The fragrance drifted out through the windows and quickly filled the entire apartment building.
Downstairs, Aunt Zhang was feeding her grandson a bowl of rice porridge.
The boy caught the scent and immediately pushed the bowl away.
“Grandma! I want meat! I want the meat from upstairs!”
Aunt Zhang swallowed hard and glanced upstairs enviously.
“Eat, eat, eat! That’s Captain Qin’s family’s food.”
“I wonder what kind of luck that country girl has to make the regiment commander cook for her himself.”
“Hmph. Newlyweds are always sweet for a couple of days. Once that lazy wife shows her true colors, she’ll have a hard time.”
On the second floor, Aunt Liu also poked her head out the window and sniffed deeply.
“Goodness… how much oil did they use? They’re really not planning for the future, are they?”
Meanwhile, Qin Zhan remained completely focused.
His control over the heat was as precise as his timing on the battlefield.
He reduced the sauce.
Then plated the dish.
The braised pork gleamed with a rich reddish-brown glaze, fatty without being greasy, so enticing that anyone would drool just looking at it.
He stir-fried a plate of hot-and-sour cabbage and steamed a pot of white rice.
“Time to eat.”
Qin Zhan carried the dishes to the table, placing the largest enamel basin in the center.
Lin Wan had already been waiting impatiently.
Without the slightest hesitation, she picked up a piece with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth despite the heat.
Soft.
Tender.
Sweet and savory.
It practically melted the instant it touched her tongue.
The fatty portion burst with rich juices, while the lean meat stayed perfectly tender, soaked through with flavorful sauce.
Her eyes widened instantly.
[Holy crap!]
[This isn’t braised pork—it’s a work of art!]
[It’s unbelievably delicious! Even the chefs at the state-run restaurant couldn’t make it this well!]
[Who knew this man had cooking skills like this? He’s been hiding his talent!]
[Oh no… now I don’t even want to leave anymore.]
[For pork like this, this marriage is absolutely worth it!]
The corners of Qin Zhan’s usually stern mouth finally curved upward.
Her compliments were always crude…
Yet somehow, they sounded surprisingly pleasant.
As long as he could win over her stomach, she wouldn’t be so eager to leave.
Drawn by the smell, Tangtang woke up and rubbed her sleepy eyes as she walked out of the bedroom.
The moment she saw the pork on the table, her eyes sparkled.
“Wow! It smells so good!”
Qin Zhan filled a bowl with rice for her and added several generous pieces of pork.
“Eat more. You’ll grow taller.”
“Thank you, Daddy!”
Tangtang happily stuffed her cheeks with rice until she looked like a little squirrel.
“Daddy’s pork is so yummy! Better than before…”
She suddenly stopped.
Her expression dimmed as memories of those hungry, difficult days surfaced.
Lin Wan immediately noticed the change.
She picked up another large piece of pork and placed it into Tangtang’s bowl.
“The past is the past.”
“From now on, we’ll eat meat every day.”
“We’ll make you chubby and healthy, just to make everyone who bullied you jealous.”
[Like Lin Xue, who’s still sitting in jail.]
[I wonder if that chemical-defense soldier finished disinfecting her yet. Just imagining it makes my meal taste even better.]
Tangtang nodded vigorously.
Her eyes shimmered with tears, but her smile was bright.
“Mhm! I’ll listen to Big Sis!”
Watching the two of them together, Qin Zhan felt the emptiness inside him gradually filling with warmth.
This simple domestic happiness…
…was something he had never experienced before.
After lunch, Lin Wan leaned back lazily in her chair, rubbing her full stomach.
“Burp~”
“Captain Qin, I’ll leave the glorious task of washing the dishes to you.”
[Getting sleepy after eating is basic biology.]
[Since he’s such an amazing cook, I’ll reluctantly settle for being a useless freeloader who only knows how to eat.]
Qin Zhan shook his head helplessly.
Resigned to his fate, he gathered the dishes.
Just then, a commotion came from outside.
“Captain Qin! Captain Qin, are you home?”
This time it was a man’s anxious voice.
Qin Zhan wiped his hands and opened the door.
Standing outside was Xiao Zhao from the guard company, sweating profusely.
“Report, Captain! There’s something urgent!”
He glanced inside before lowering his voice.
“Security just sent word.”
“Lin Xue confessed during interrogation.”
“She said the pocket watch came from behind the abandoned General’s Temple on the west side of the city.”
“And…”
Xiao Zhao hesitated, stealing a glance at Lin Wan, who was casually picking her teeth.
“And what? Stop beating around the bush,” Qin Zhan said with a frown.
“She also claimed…”
“…that she saw Comrade Lin Wan there before.”
“She said Comrade Lin Wan also went to that place and took something even more important.”
Qin Zhan’s gaze turned icy.
It was obvious that Lin Xue was desperately trying to drag someone else down with her.
Before he could respond, however, Lin Wan was already laughing inwardly.
[Pfft.]
[Has Lin Xue completely lost her mind?]
[The original Lin Wan didn’t go to the General’s Temple.]
[She went behind it to dig for wild vegetables!]
[But… the General’s Temple?]
[The system did give me a notification earlier.]
[There really is something hidden there.]
[Looks like some blueprint for an imperial-era arsenal.]
[Hidden beneath the base of that broken Buddha statue.]
A playful smile slowly appeared in Lin Wan’s eyes.
[Since Lin Xue is so determined to drag me into this…]
[Why don’t we go have a look?]
[Might as well uncover the real treasure and contribute it to the country.]
The moment Qin Zhan heard the words “arsenal blueprint,” his heart skipped a beat.
Just what astonishing secrets did this woman know?
He turned to look at Lin Wan, who still appeared as lazy and carefree as ever.
His gaze grew much deeper.
“I understand.”
He nodded to Xiao Zhao.
“Tell Security to keep her locked up.”
“I’ll question her myself tomorrow morning.”
After closing the door, Qin Zhan looked at Lin Wan.
“Tomorrow’s the weekend.”
“Huh? So?”
“I’m taking you somewhere.”
“Where?”
“The General’s Temple.”
Lin Wan blinked.
???
[Is this man a mind reader or something?]
[I was just thinking about treasure hunting, and he’s already handing me the perfect opportunity?]
[Fine. For the sake of that braised pork, I’ll go with you.]
[And while we’re at it, I’ll let Lin Xue learn what it really means to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot.]