Chapter 172: Dear Sisters-in-law
The three military wives picked up their glasses and took a sip. The sugar water Wanyan had brewed for them wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet; it tasted just like what any regular family would serve.
Wanyan found herself looking at Qiao Hehua with a newfound sense of respect. From what she had gathered about the compound’s residents, the deputy company commander’s wife had a rough background in the countryside. She had never been to school, and back home, her family had worked her to the bone every single day. Unable to bear the relentless hardship, she had finally thrown herself into a river, only to be pulled out by Deputy Company Commander Feng, who happened to be visiting his home village on leave.
In this era, a woman’s reputation was everything. To protect her honor, she married Feng, who was from the same area. Yet, even though Qiao Hehua had been raised in a poor village, her basic social etiquette was impeccable. Xu Guihua’s refinement was to be expected given her city upbringing, but Qiao Hehua’s grace was clearly the product of sharp observation and life lessons she had consciously learned over the years.
“I’m going to head to the backyard to start preparing dinner,” Wanyan said, standing up. “Please, make yourselves at home.”
“I’ll come help,” Xu Guihua said, rising from the sofa. “My three don’t need me to watch over them anyway.”
Commander Fang’s three children were already quite independent. The eldest son was ten, the second daughter was seven, and the youngest boy was five. At ten years old, the eldest was sensible enough to keep an eye on his younger siblings. As for the middle daughter and the youngest boy, they had grown up running around with Pingping and An’an, forming a notorious little pack of mischief-makers. Now that they had friends to play with, they completely forgot their mother existed.
“Sister-in-law, I can help too—” Qiao Hehua began.
“Sister Hehua, please stay here and keep an eye on the little ones,” Wanyan interrupted gently. “Otherwise, they might wander off.”
Qiao Hehua’s son was only two years old. At that fragile age, a child could easily get into an accident if his mother wasn’t watching like a hawk. Besides, Qiao Hehua had brought a generous gift of eggs; Wanyan wasn’t so ungrateful as to make her toil in the kitchen while managing a toddler.
“Alright, then. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure none of them run wild,” Qiao Hehua nodded quickly, visibly relieved and promising to keep a strict watch over the children.
“Sister-in-law Wu, why don’t you join us in the kitchen?” Xu Guihua asked, raising an eyebrow at Zhang Zhaodi.
The fake smile on Zhang Zhaodi’s face vanished, and she stood up with obvious reluctance. “I… I think I’ll stay here. There are so many children running around, I should stay and help watch them.” She glanced at Qiao Hehua, her tone turning snide. “Otherwise, how can Deputy Company Commander Feng’s wife possibly handle them all? Her son alone is enough to keep her hands full.”
The soft smile on Qiao Hehua’s face froze, disappearing instantly. If Zhang Zhaodi didn’t want to help in the kitchen, she could have just said so. Why did she have to bring her son into it? She made it sound as though her laziness was somehow the little boy’s fault.
“I can handle my own son just fine. You go ahead,” Qiao Hehua said. She was usually timid and submissive, so it caught everyone off guard when she flatly contradicted Zhang Zhaodi this time.
Zhang Zhaodi stiffened, staring at her in utter disbelief. Is this… really the spineless Qiao Hehua? She had actually dared to talk back. Usually, the woman didn’t dare utter a single syllable in her presence. Wasn’t she terrified that Captain Wu would make life miserable for her husband at the barracks?
“Let’s go,” Xu Guihua said, rolling her eyes. Zhang Zhaodi hadn’t brought a single thing to the house, yet she had the nerve to try and slack off. Who gave her the face to act so entitled?
Zhang Zhaodi followed them to the backyard kitchen with a sullen expression. But the moment she stepped inside and saw the immaculate, innovative layout, a burning wave of jealousy consumed her.
Hmph! she thought bitterly. Living in luxury like some wealthy capitalist. Isn’t she terrified of bringing political trouble to Captain Gu?
Suddenly, a malicious thought struck her, and her eyes lit up with a wicked gleam. The others completely ignored her as she stood idly in the corner, entirely focused on the dinner rush.
Wanyan used ingredients with a very heavy hand, pouring in seasonings without a second thought for rationing. Watching her, Aunt Xie felt her heart ache with domestic anxiety. How could anyone cook this much meat at once? And was white sugar free now?
Merciful heavens… Captain Gu’s wife was terrifyingly extravagant.
While Wanyan was busy at the stove, the front gate opened. Gu Tingxiao walked into the courtyard accompanied by his comrades, several bottles of local wine clutched in their hands. The moment he stepped into the living room and was met with a chaotic house full of children chasing each other and screaming, he froze in his tracks.
“Dad!”
Catching sight of his father, Captain Wang’s eldest son, Pingping, sprinted across the room, leaped into the air, and latched onto him like a monkey.
“Get down this instant! Where are your manners? Greet everyone properly!” Captain Wang barked, his face darkening. With so many fellow officers present, he was embarrassed by his son’s rowdy behavior.
Pingping didn’t care about his father’s gruff tone in the slightest. He grinned, rubbed the back of his neck, and immediately began rattling off greetings. “Hello, Uncle Gu, Uncle Fang, Uncle Feng, Uncle Liang, Uncle Xie, and Uncle Wu!”
“Good boy,” Political Commissar Xie chuckled, scanning the room. Seeing no sign of his wife, he asked, “Where are your mothers hiding?”
Pingping pointed toward the back door. “The aunts are all in the kitchen.” Then, tugging at his father’s sleeve, he beamed, “Dad, come over here. I want to show you something amazing.” He desperately wanted to pull his father onto the plush sofa so he could experience the magical softness—treating it as a grand gesture of filial piety.
“What are you babbling about? Go play with your brother,” Captain Wang dismissed him.
“Oh, alright.” Pingping was highly obedient, immediately dropping his hands. He trotted out to the yard to join his little brother, who was still happily squatting in the dirt counting ants.
Goudan, Deputy Company Commander Feng’s two-year-old, began baddling happily when he spotted his own father. He toddled over unsteadily and wrapped his tiny arms around Feng’s leg. “High! Up high!”
Commander Feng didn’t need a translator to know what his boy wanted. He scooped him up, tossed him into the air twice, caught him securely with a laugh, and then set him down to play with the others.
Gu Tingxiao warmly invited the men to take a seat, retrieving his premium tea leaves to brew a fresh pot. As the officers lowered themselves onto the sofa, a collective look of surprise crossed their faces. They realized Gu Tingxiao truly knew how to enjoy life. The incredible, plush comfort of the cushions instantly made them want to build identical frames for their own homes.
Political Commissar Xie was particularly smitten; the moment he sank into the cushions, he joked that he wanted to carry Gu Tingxiao’s sofa straight back to his own quarters. This young brat certainly knew how to pamper himself after marriage. Though to be fair, nobody could call Tingxiao soft; the brutal intensity of the kid’s training drills on the field was something ordinary soldiers could barely survive.
“Where is your bride?” Political Commissar Xie asked, genuinely curious about the woman who had managed to tame the base’s notoriously cold-faced devil. He had been away from the military region on business recently and hadn’t caught a glimpse of her yet.
“In the back, cooking your dinner,” Tingxiao replied flatly.
Political Commissar Xie glared at him, half-tempted to kick his shin. The brat was using that dry, sarcastic tone with him again. “Watch your mouth, kid.”
“Yes, Political Commissar!” Gu Tingxiao barked expressionlessly.
Faced with his immediate, rigid obedience, Political Commissar Xie felt utterly defeated. “Just shut up and pour the tea.”
“Understood.”
Political Commissar Xie: “…” Infuriatingly obedient.
Before long, Sheng Wanyan and the military wives began carrying the heavy platters into the living room. The moment Gu Tingxiao spotted them, he immediately strode forward to take the load.
“I’ve got it, wife.” He smoothly took a steaming tureen of soup from her hands, positioning it carefully in the center of the table. The porcelain was scalding hot, and he refused to risk her burning her fingers.
He wanted to stay and help carry the rest, but Wanyan gently nudged him away. “Go back and entertain your guests. The sisters-in-law are all crowded in the kitchen; they’ll feel awkward and restricted if a man keeps walking in.”
Tingxiao nodded, recognizing her logic, and stepped back to chat with the men.
The comrades were highly considerate guests; realizing the sheer size of the gathering meant Wanyan’s furniture wouldn’t suffice, several of the lower-ranking officers quickly jogged back to their own apartments to haul over extra stools and folding tables.
With the extra furniture aligned, the remaining wives helped carry out the final courses. The moment the full spread hit the table, a hushed reverence fell over the room. Looking at the magnificent, mountain-sized portions of rich meats and fresh sides, everyone felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer hospitality.
“Please, everyone, have some hot soup,” Wanyan smiled warmly, gesturing to the feast. “Don’t be shy, dig in!”
