Chapter 25: Three Become One

Chapter 25: Three Become One

The screeching was so shrill that it could pierce through one's eardrums. Xu Yuqing's hand holding the shovel trembled, nearly dropping it to the ground.

"Little Zheng, go see what's happening?"

"Oh, okay!" Little Zheng snapped back to reality and hurried out. Xu Yuqing felt an inexplicable sense of unease, but she couldn't just abandon the pot of dumpling soup.

As the dough pieces neared readiness, the broth in the pot thickened. The pot was indeed large, leaving Xu Yuqing's arms sore from stirring. She tapped her arm, picked up the finely chopped cabbage prepared by Little Zheng, and dumped it all into the pot.

The shredded cabbage cooked quickly, and soon, a fragrant aroma filled the air. Though the dish was purely vegetarian, its scent was no less enticing than meat. Holding the basin of eggs high, she tilted it slightly, drizzling the egg mixture around the pot.

Egg flowers formed, creating a vivid display of reds and yellows in the pot, particularly appealing to the eye. Xu Yuqing found a large green onion, chopped some spring onion, and sprinkled it on top.

The fragrance wafted through the air, and Xu Yuqing quickly covered the pot to keep it warm, extinguishing most of the fire except for a small ember. She then rushed out to investigate the commotion.

The daycare was a small bungalow with a large courtyard outside. The kitchen was a separate room at the back of the house, likely a temporary addition. Unless someone shouted loudly, it would be hard to hear from there.

Xu Yuqing jogged to the front, where chaos greeted her eyes. A woman was sobbing while holding her child, facing Zhou Xiu, who held a plump and sturdy boy, speaking anxiously.

"Sister-in-law, please calm down. I've called Chen Kang's mother. Can you wait a bit?" Zhou Xiu was drenched in sweat. Despite the cold weather, Xu Yuqing sensed her whole body trembling.

The woman opposite her couldn't calm down. Her eyes, venomous as if poisoned, were fixed on the child behind Zhou Xiu, as if wishing to tear out a piece of flesh.

"Calm down! It didn't happen to you! If not for my clever Nunu running home to tell me, I wouldn't have known about your daycare's bullying!"

Holding her daughter tightly, the woman, Wang Rong, fought back tears due to her isolation and lack of support from her husband. Seeing the bruises on her daughter's stomach, Wang Rong was consumed with hatred.

Zhou Xiu also felt anger. This little tyrant had bullied another child again, and worse, he hadn't dared to speak up. If not for Song Mei's sake, she would have thrown this troublemaker out for a good beating long ago.

She feared Song Mei would make life difficult for her husband through her own!

Frustrated, Zhou Xiu managed a smile. "Sister Wang, don't be angry. The children are hungry. Let Nunu eat something first!"

Wang Rong knew Zhou Xiu wouldn't hand over the culprit. After all, he had a powerful father. She gritted her teeth. "Fine, I'll wait for his mother, but he's not allowed to eat! He can wait!"

Zhou Xiu felt helpless, but it was true that he had caused the harm. Song Mei was a face-saver; perhaps going hungry once wouldn't lead to further trouble.

"Alright." Looking at the group of children, Zhou Xiu realized that if not handled properly, they might say anything when they returned home, especially those prone to exaggeration. The thought made her eyes darken.

"Alright, let's eat first! Sister Wang, take Nunu and sit down."

Seeing that Wang Rong's shouting had finally ceased, Zhou Xiu signaled to someone nearby. A woman led away the boy, and Zhou Xiu guided Wang Rong toward the house. Xu Yuqing followed.

"Is everything alright?"

Startled by the sudden voice, Zhou Xiu turned to find Xu Yuqing. She sighed in relief. She was like a frightened bird, jumping at every sound.

"It's fine, is the meal ready?"

Seeing Xu Yuqing nod, her calm demeanor gradually eased Zhou Xiu's racing heart. She glanced at Little Zheng, who was helping with the children. "We really owe it to you this time."

Last time, when Song Mei had someone come over to cook, they did just that—cook—and nothing else. They stood by watching as the women were busy, and the food they prepared was unpalatable. There's no harm without comparison. Although she didn't know how Little Zheng and Xu Yuqing's cooking would turn out, their willingness to help was already better than the last person.

If it's about connections, so be it. It's not my money anyway.

Having thought it through, Zhou Xiu no longer wore her displeasure on her face. Xu Yuqing sensed Zhou Xiu's improved attitude, though she wasn't sure why. But she wasn't one for gossip, so she called out to Little Zheng.

"Bring the food over."

Little Zheng, who was playing cat's cradle with a child, heard Xu Yuqing's voice and hastily got up, somewhat flustered as he tossed the string to the little girl. "Coming!"

Xu Yuqing followed Little Zheng back to the kitchen. The cool breeze outside contrasted with the growing aroma that filled the air as they approached the kitchen.

"This!?" Little Zheng exclaimed in surprise, his nose twitching involuntarily. This fragrance was too overpowering!

Could this really be from the persimmon and egg dish? Even Boss could make dumpling soup, but he always thought it was sticky and not very tasty.

So, when Xu Yuqing mentioned making dumpling soup earlier, he wasn't particularly thrilled.

But now, the scent quickened his pace, and Little Zheng couldn't wait to lift the pot lid. The sight of the red broth was stunningly beautiful, and the aroma was even more dominant. "Sister-in-law, did you put meat in it?"

Little Zheng asked skeptically, staring disbelievingly at the pot. How could it be so fragrant? Wasn't it all vegetables? How could a few eggs create such an aroma? Even the minced meat stir-fried by Boss wasn't this fragrant.

Xu Yuqing found his naive expression amusing. "Didn't you prepare all the ingredients? Do you think I smuggled meat in my clothes or something?"

Oh, right...

Little Zheng sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, breaking into a simple smile. Xu Yuqing gave him a mild scolding glance, and he blushed as he went to ladle the dumpling soup.

He fetched a small pot specifically used by the daycare for food. "I'll take one pot over first. After serving, I'll come back for more, or it will get cold."

"Alright."

It was a task requiring strength, so Little Zheng took the initiative to lift the pot, quickly scooping out portions, covering it, and briskly heading out. Of course, it would have been better if he hadn't been swallowing saliva the whole time.

Xu Yuqing found it amusing, following behind him as he swallowed saliva with every step.

"Hurry up and finish. I'll give you a bowl first later."

"No, no need. Sister-in-law, serve the kids first."

Watching this half-grown boy trying to act mature, Xu Yuqing, who was mentally 28 years old, found it quite humorous. She left him with a parting remark before walking ahead.

"Aren't you still a kid?"

In the bungalow, two adults were in charge of thirty children. Wang Rong held her daughter, her expression blank, lost in thought.

Zhou Xiu was truly exhausted. Seeing Xu Yuqing and Little Zheng approach, she let out a genuine sigh of relief. "Kids, it's time for dinner."

"Ahh~ No eating! I want to play!"

"The food isn't tasty!"

"Teacher Zhou is a bad egg! Making us eat unappetizing meals!"

The children's uproar was nothing short of madness, leaving Xu Yuqing, who had just entered, utterly stunned, her steps hesitating as she contemplated whether to proceed.

"Sister-in-law! It's fine! Let me handle it!" Little Zheng, noticing the children's refusal to eat, confidently stepped past Xu Yuqing and made his way to the center of the hall, where a large table was set. He lifted the pot lid.

The aroma, delicate and enticing, wafted through the door, catching the attention of several children who were previously huddled, damaging their clothes. They all raised their heads and stood up simultaneously.

"It smells good~"

"So fragrant! I want to eat!"

In an instant, the group of children echoed in unison, their cries for food filling the air. Zhou Xiu and Huang Aimin exchanged glances, mouths agape in surprise. Even Niu Niu, who had been nestled in Wang Rong's arms, broke free and rushed to take her seat at the table.

Usually, Zhou Xiu would have to bang on the table with a stick to get the children to sit down properly. Sometimes, she even had to give a few spanks to the more disobedient ones before they would behave. Now, without any shouting or punishment, the children were seated neatly, which left Zhou Xiu astonished.

However, as the fresh scent permeated the air, Zhou Xiu, along with Huang Aimin, couldn't help but approach Xu Yuqing with curiosity, bowls in hand.

"What is this?"

Xu Yuqing, holding a ladle, took the bowl from Zhou Xiu.

"It's dumpling soup."

Dumpling soup????

Zhou Xiu stared at the pot filled with a beautifully colored concoction. This didn't look like any dumpling soup she knew. Dumpling soup wasn't supposed to be so visually appealing. Every household could make dumpling soup, yet Zhou Xiu suspected that Xu Yuqing might be pulling her leg.

Seeing Zhou Xiu's skeptical expression, Xu Yuqing scooped from the bottom of the pot, revealing a generous portion of the dumplings.

"It really is dumpling soup. Hurry and serve it to the kids; their drool is almost on the table."

"Oh! Alright." Zhou Xiu, still surprised, looked at the white dumplings and finally believed that it was indeed dumpling soup.

But how could dumpling soup smell this good? So good that Zhou Xiu herself wanted to have a bowl first. However, seeing the children, whose saliva was nearly soaking their coats, Zhou Xiu picked up a spoon and began distributing the soup.

"Children who have received their bowls can start eating. Those who haven't, don't cry. If you do, I won't give you any. Teacher Zhou will serve you soon, okay?"

"Yes!"

"Yes~"

"Mm-hmm~ Mm-hmm!"

As the children started eating, they became obedient and endearing. Wang Rong, sitting nearby, noticed that her own daughter, Niu Niu, hadn't been served yet and grew anxious. She stood up and positioned herself behind Niu Niu, as if to provide support.

Zhou Xiu paid no mind to Wang Rong's actions; she was busy. Little Zheng had already returned with an empty pot to refill it, while Zhou Xiu and Huang Aimin had to ensure that the little ones ate their food properly, preventing any spills onto the floor.

Xu Yuqing also pitched in, passing out bowls one by one. Seeing the children's well-behaved demeanor, she sighed in relief. Children like these were much more adorable, though it would be even better if they didn't have runny noses.

Little Zheng worked swiftly, bringing another pot forward. Xu Yuqing, observing the eager faces of the children, quickly ladled out more servings.

With Xu Yuqing and Little Zheng working together, it wasn't long before every child had something to eat. Both let out a sigh of relief. Then, a wail pierced the air, drawing their puzzled gazes toward an embarrassed Wang Rong.

"Sister Wang?" Zhou Xiu was perplexed. How could a mother fail to soothe her crying child right beside her?

Wang Rong was mortified, licking her lips sheepishly. "I just wanted to check if it was too hot for her and took a taste. She started bawling after that. Was it really necessary?"

Hmm, the adults' eyes unconsciously turned to Niu Niu's bowl, which clearly held only half its original contents. That was quite a substantial taste, indeed. Zhou Xiu felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

"Yuqing, see if there's any extra. Give Sister Wang a serving."

Zhou Xiu spoke generously, although she couldn't guarantee there would be enough. Observing Wang Rong's brightened eyes, Zhou Xiu felt a peculiar sense of superiority. After all, Wang Rong had to eat now.

Xu Yuqing glanced into the pot, considering the remaining teacher and child outside, as well as the three adults inside. "Yes, there's plenty left. Go ahead and eat."

At that moment, Little Zheng ladled a bowl and handed it to Xu Yuqing, his eyes filled with admiration and respect. "Sister, you should eat. I'll take care of the rest."

Xu Yuqing shook her head hastily upon seeing the bowl. "No, not for me. I'll eat when I get back home."

"Why would you go back to eat at this hour?" Zhou Xiu asked, puzzled.

Xu Yuqing stumbled for a moment, unsure how to respond. She chuckled awkwardly. It was then that Little Zheng, who seemed to know more, recalled recent rumors about Commander Xie and couldn't help but chuckle. He passed the bowl of dumpling soup to Wang Rong and said to Xu Yuqing, "Sister, you should go back. Don't worry about the rest. Leave it to me."

"Alright, I'm heading back then."

On her way, Xu Yuqing braved the cold wind, her hands tightly tucked in her pockets, unwilling to come out. She walked with her head lowered, heading home.

Yet, from afar, she spotted a figure standing near her doorstep. Who could it be?

"Sister?"

It was Yan Lan. She appeared to have been waiting for quite some time, her complexion pale, her lips tinted with lipstick, making it difficult to discern her true color.

Xu Yuqing hurried forward. "Sister, have you been waiting long?"

Yan Lan was visibly agitated. "Yuqing, oh Yuqing! You've truly done us a great favor this time!"

Huh?

Xu Yuqing watched Yan Lan's excitement with confusion. She had assumed Yan Lan came to inform her about potential buyers for the peanut candy, but that wasn't the case. Suppressing a slight tinge of disappointment, Xu Yuqing managed a smile. "I helped?"

Together, Yan Lan and Xu Yuqing walked into the house. Yan Lan was genuinely thrilled. Her initial calmness had dissipated, replaced by the memory of yesterday's events, which stirred her emotions once again.

Yesterday, she had brought the peanut candy to visit her younger sister. Just as she laid out the sweets, her sister's father-in-law arrived. He was the director of the city's steel factory, a position of significant authority within the vast steelworks. Unfortunately, her sister's in-laws preferred boys and weren't particularly pleased with the birth of a granddaughter.

But then, in the next moment, something miraculous happened. Her sister's father-in-law saw her eating the peanut candy and took a piece to try. Finding it delicious, he asked Yan Lan what it was, and she recalled Xu Yuqing's explanation, recounting it truthfully.

"Uncle, this is peanut candy. Eating it brings about good fortune."

It just so happened that the man had a sweet tooth, and Yan Lan noticed him consuming several pieces. She thoughtfully poured him a glass of water, never expecting that in the very next moment, someone would arrive at the door, announcing that the technical issue that had long plagued the steel factory had been resolved by the technician!

This was truly a cause for great celebration!

Before leaving, her sister's father-in-law immediately attributed the good fortune to the peanut candy, muttering a few times about how it indeed heralded good things. At that moment, his granddaughter, who was only two days old, suddenly smiled.

That smile transformed her into a little star of luck!

Recalling how her sister's in-laws doted on their granddaughter, Yan Lan couldn't stop smiling. Now her sister could properly enjoy her confinement period without constantly worrying about having a son.

Thinking about all this, her regard for Xu Yuqing grew even warmer. If not for Xu Yuqing's peanut candy and its explanation, such good fortune would never have been associated with her niece and sister.

Yan Lan had spent the entire previous night keeping her sister company, receiving gratitude from her sister throughout the night, as well as from her brother-in-law. Her parents also came over, praising her upon hearing about the incident. Oh, she felt truly content.

"Yuqing, your peanut candy is truly marvelous. We've decided that for the full moon celebration, all the sweets at the event will be your peanut candies! Of course, if you have other varieties, we'll take those too, and we can discuss the details later! It would be even better if they carry auspicious meanings, like these peanut candies symbolizing good fortune. How did you come up with that!"

Yan Lan exclaimed in admiration, unable to fathom how she could have thought of such a phrase herself.

What a clever and skilled young woman.

Xu Yuqing, whose spirits had been momentarily deflated, quickly regained her composure upon hearing Yan Lan's words. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at Yan Lan, equally moved.

The two excited women sat together, chattering nonstop. When Xie Junli returned and opened the door, he saw his wife holding hands with another woman, both wearing expressions of excitement.

"Oh! Junli's back. That means my husband must be home too. Our child is still alone at home, so I'll be off! I'll visit again another day!"

"Sure! Sister-in-law, I'll prepare a few more dishes next time for you to taste!"

Xu Yuqing was overjoyed. From their conversation earlier, she learned that the other party didn't care much about price and was willing to pay more.

In short, as long as the food carried good symbolism, Xu Yuqing was given free rein to create.

This was truly a red-letter day for her budding business!

Xu Yuqing looked at Xie Junli with excitement, seeing his bewildered expression. She rushed forward and threw her arms around him. "My peanut candies are going to be sold!!"

Xie Junli held Xu Yuqing tightly, lifting her up so that their heights were level. In front of her was the superior gaze of this man.

In his eyes, Xu Yuqing saw her own reflection. With a sudden flutter in her heart, Xu Yuqing pressed her lips firmly against his. "I'm going to cook. Work hard, and from now on, I'll support you."

For lunch, they had the spicy noodles that Xie Junli couldn't get enough of the previous night. Before leaving, Xu Yuqing had already kneaded the dough, coated it with a bit of oil, and left it in a bowl to rise. Now, she just needed to boil some water and pull the noodles before cooking them.

However—Xu Yuqing turned her head and looked at Xie Junli, who was still standing there in a daze. Her mischievous eyes couldn't hide their playful glint. "Come over and start the fire!"

Xie Junli, hearing her voice, snapped out of his reverie. A faint flush appeared on his wheat-colored face. He pursed his lips awkwardly and walked towards Xu Yuqing. "Alright."

As the fire started, the rest of the process would be quick. The dough that had been allowed to rise with oil was easy to pull; with a gentle tug, it became the wide noodles that Xie Junli had seen the previous night. Into the pot they went, while another stove was lit to heat oil, which would be ready just in time to fry an egg.

The whole process took less than ten minutes. Xu Yuqing, with practiced speed, added the seasonings, poured hot oil over them, added a bit of vinegar and soy sauce, and topped it with a crispy fried egg.

"It's done. Let's eat."

"Okay."

Xie Junli led the way, carrying the two bowls of noodles outside. Xu Yuqing, with empty hands, followed suit.

At the dining table, Xu Yuqing began chatting as usual.

"Has the Political Commissar mentioned when I should go to the Military District's canteen?"

"Tomorrow."

"What about the daycare?" Xu Yuqing furrowed her brows. After today's experience at the daycare, she felt quite sympathetic towards the military wives. Those children were tough, no wonder they had such temperaments.

If Xu Yuqing had to take care of those kids, she'd turn into a tyrannosaurus rex.

Actually, basic meals weren't difficult to prepare. The main challenge was changing the way ingredients were handled and seasoned, which could significantly improve the flavor.

But in this era, not many people took the time to explore culinary delights.

"The head chef at the Military District's canteen is Dong Shun. I served under him for a brief period in the past before being transferred away. He has ample experience, but the menu has become routine. Additionally, the canteen is responsible for feeding thousands of people in the Military District."

Xie Junli's unspoken implication was clear to Xu Yuqing.

"Alright, I understand."

Using the available ingredients to create tasty and quick meals, Xu Yuqing suddenly regretted taking on this task. However, with so many recipes in her mind, she refused to believe that she couldn't make everyone enjoy their food a bit more.

With determination in her heart, Xu Yuqing began calculating.

In the afternoon, after waking up from her nap, thinking about Zhou Xiu and the child from that morning, Xu Yuqing put on her cotton coat and planned to visit the daycare again to see if there was anything she could help with.

Xie Junli had already left, and the kettle on the table was filled with warm water. Xu Yuqing, accustomed to the routine, picked up a cup and drank a glass of water at just the right temperature.

Putting on her cotton shoes, braving the wind, Xu Yuqing leisurely made her way to the daycare.

Although there was wind, the sun was shining brightly, and there were many people around. One could tell by the group of military wives picking vegetables and chatting under the full tree.

The northern wind stung the skin but didn't penetrate the bones. As long as one wore warm clothes, walking around could actually be quite cozy.

Xu Yuqing nodded at the curious military wives and subtly quickened her pace, speeding through this area.

"Hey! Little sister!"

A somewhat familiar shout caught Xu Yuqing's attention. She turned around. Was it Wang Yunyun? The military wife she had encountered at the supply store before.

"Sister-in-law?"

"Where are you going? I heard you got a job?" Wang Yunyun asked curiously, her probing eyes glancing at Xu Yuqing.

Seeing it was her, Xu Yuqing helplessly stopped, it seemed that this afternoon wasn't really suitable for going out after all, "No, I'm just going out for a bit."

Xu Yuqing didn't tell the truth, naturally, because she didn't know how to explain it herself. Should she say she's going to instruct? That she doesn't do any work? Xu Yuqing shook her head. Forget it, when the truth comes out, it comes out. They weren't close anyway.

Hearing this, Wang Yunyun's heart relaxed, "I said so myself, you're so weak, what could you possibly do? Who would want you? They were talking as if it was true. Alright then, go ahead, I'll go back to sorting vegetables!"

Wang Yunyun, having received the answer she wanted, chattered away and left with a smile, leaving Xu Yuqing feeling inexplicably insulted.

?? Xu Yuqing watched Wang Yunyun's cheerful back, is she crazy?

Wang Yunyun didn't care what Xu Yuqing thought. As long as she confirmed that she didn't have a job, that was enough. In fact, her mentality was simply: If I don't have a job, how could you possibly have one? Wang Yunyun's family was struggling financially; she had been wanting a job for a long time. Unfortunately, she only finished primary school and couldn't do much. She didn't take literacy classes seriously either, and in the end, she couldn't find any job.

After Xu Yuqing escaped from that place of right and wrong, she quickened her pace, walking to the daycare center. She originally thought that the commotion from the morning had ended, but unexpectedly, when she arrived, Little Zheng was still there!?

"Little Zheng? What's wrong?"

In the winter, Little Zheng was sweating profusely, with dirt marks on his face from a child's hand. He had lifted his head excitedly at first, but upon seeing Xu Yuqing, he couldn't help sighing.

"Sister-in-law, why are you here again?"

"I came to see if there's anything I can help with. Why are only the two of you taking care of the children?" Xu Yuqing asked in surprise, looking at the chaotic scene before her.

Huang Aimin also felt helpless. Today, these children hadn't even taken a nap. Some who were sleepy were crying but refused to sleep, shouting that they were scared. Thinking about the farce that had just occurred, Huang Aimin sighed deeply.

"The mother of that Chen Kang came, Song Mei. When she found out her son hadn't eaten yet, she got angry. Seeing that he was only given one bowl to eat, she got even angrier. Later, not only did she start arguing with Sister Wang, but she also started quarreling with Sister Xiu." Huang Aimin said, speechless.

The bowls at the daycare center were so big that the children would be full after eating just one. But Song Mei, like someone pulling grass, insisted that her son must eat more, no matter what.

It just happened that today's dumpling soup was exceptionally delicious. That Chen Kang, with his round belly, was still crying and demanding more food. Song Mei, who always spoiled her son, got furious.

She even brought up the issue of meal fees.

Huang Aimin became angry just thinking about the meal fees. The daycare center only collected a small amount of meal fees per season, and the rest was subsidized by the Military District. The problem was that Song Mei hadn't even paid the meal fees yet! She kept saying she was busy and didn't have time, promising to bring them over when she did.

Pah!!

Thinking about Song Mei's pretentious attitude, Huang Aimin became even angrier.

Xu Yuqing looked at Huang Aimin's fiery eyes and didn't know what to say for a moment. Helplessly, she rubbed her forehead and said, "I'll help you guys."

Huang Aimin nodded happily, leading the sleepy children into the room on the inside. It was a large communal bed, where she placed the children, covered them with blankets, "Teacher Huang is here. If you're sleepy, go to sleep. Teacher Zhou went to fight the bad guys."

"Mm! When I wake up, I'm going to ask Teacher Zhou if she killed the bad guy or not!"

"Me too!"

"I'm going to tell my mom that there are bad people at the daycare center. Teacher Zhou is scary!"

Huang Aimin's heart, which had just calmed down, immediately tensed up again. She hurriedly covered the child's mouth and smiled awkwardly at the other children, "You're all four or five years old. Don't talk nonsense every day. Teacher Zhou isn't scary. At home, don't need to tell your parents. Whoever tells will not get candy to eat in the future!"

The threatening tone worked. Thinking about the sweet taste of candy, the children were almost drooling. They quickly covered their mouths and made noises of agreement.

"Alright, go to sleep quickly. Teacher Huang still has to help outside."

"Okay~"

After finally settling the children, Huang Aimin hurriedly ran out, fearing that Xu Yuqing and Little Zheng wouldn't be able to handle the situation, causing some chaos.

"Hmm?" Huang Aimin exclaimed in surprise. Xu Yuqing was leading a group of children in drawing. Of course, the daycare center couldn't provide pens and paper. The children were hiding in the courtyard, drawing with sticks.

"Well, you're quite capable. Why don't you have a child yourself?" Huang Aimin asked with a smile, looking at Xu Yuqing, who was laughing happily. She was curious. Beautiful, good-natured, a good cook, and her husband was the battalion commander.

All the good things were taken by her, weren't they?

Xu Yuqing smiled, looking at the happy faces of the children, without saying a word. She... couldn't have children.

With the situation under control, Huang Aimin wasn't as worried anymore. She even had the leisure to gossip with Xu Yuqing and Little Zheng.

"That Song Mei doesn't live near you, does she? How familiar are you with her?"

Song Mei? A high-attitude woman flashed through her mind from the first day she came here. She shook her head, "Not familiar."

"Tsk, the entire military compound knows about her. Just because she has a good husband, she's proud all day long. She even set up some kind of Women's Committee, telling everyone to go to her for anything. Pah!"

Huang Aimin spat disdainfully.

Before she knew her, she thought she was quite enthusiastic. Now that her son came to the daycare center and she got to know her, she realized what kind of person she was.

Saying she handles matters, she favors whoever gives her benefits. If someone doesn't obey her, she spreads bad words everywhere. She's truly a troublemaker in the military compound!

Huang Aimin was extremely annoyed.

Ever since Chen Kang came, he was either bullying one child or snatching something from another every day. He would snatch while crying, disgusting!

Xu Yuqing blinked, looking at Huang Aimin, whose anger was almost tangible, and silently took a step back.

Before understanding the truth of the matter, she wouldn't casually agree. She could only awkwardly smile.

Suddenly, a sharp sound rang out again, a familiar voice. It should be that Sister Wang from earlier.

As the sound grew louder, a figure approached. She was still holding her daughter in her arms, rushing towards the door angrily, "Fine, Song Mei, you have a good husband. It's justified when your own son bullies others, right? Let's see if your Deputy Brigade Commander Chen is bigger or the Commander is bigger!"

Wang Rong had been blinded by anger. Originally, she thought that since Song Mei was powerful, a sincere apology would suffice.

But when Song Mei arrived, she spoke in veiled terms, seemingly scolding Zhou Xiu, but in reality, she was scolding Wang Rong!

My daughter was beaten and bullied, yet you come here to scold me for being meddlesome. Wang Rong grew increasingly angry the more she thought about it; her husband doted on their daughter even more than she did, and if he knew about this, he would be furious.

In the background, Song Mei stood dumbfounded as she watched Wang Rong walk away, completely at a loss. This wasn't right! Surely she wasn't afraid that her husband would suffer repercussions!

But Song Mei wasn't stupid; she couldn't let her go report the incident, or she would surely find herself in hot water. She held her son tightly and glared at Zhou Xiu, "Don't you dare chase after her!"

Zhou Xiu, watching Wang Rong storm off in a rage, felt secretly pleased. If it weren't for her fear of seeing the commander, she would have followed her too!

However, under the intense, almost murderous gaze of Song Mei, Zhou Xiu put on a show of running forward, which Song Mei mistook for her actually pursuing Wang Rong.

She didn't believe that this woman dared to see the commander. At worst, this was just petty squabbling among women, nothing worth mentioning. The commander wouldn't bother with such trivialities.

With this thought, she looked proudly at her son, "Good job, son. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of!"

"Yeah! I want more dumpling soup!"

"There's none left. It was that good? Mom will cook some for you when we get home."

Chen Kang rolled his eyes. He knew that playtime was over, so he might as well go out and play. Chen Kang ran out, with Song Mei chasing after him.

Xu Yuqing was about to leave when she caught sight of Wang Rong and Zhou Xiu's retreating figures. However, she wasn't one to indulge in gossip and didn't concern herself much with the matter. Seeing that Little Zheng was available to help and could manage, she felt reassured and decided to make a trip to the supply store.

Unexpectedly, just as she stepped out the door, someone called out to her, "Hey! You're Yuqing, right? The new wife of Commander Xie?"

The tone was rude and casual, barely concealing malice. Xu Yuqing couldn't help but frown as she turned to face the impolite woman, "Sister-in-law."

"Don't call me sister-in-law. Didn't I tell you to call me Sister Mei? What brings you here? Do you have a child too?"

"Yuqing is here to guide cooking. Sister Song, why don't you take a seat? Sister Zhou has gone out, and we don't know when she'll be back," Huang Aimin, sensing the tension, quickly interjected.

Song Mei glanced at the irate Xu Yuqing and smiled, "Guiding cooking, huh? Quite capable, aren't you, little sister Yuqing? Since my son hasn't had enough to eat, would you mind making something for him? Please?"

Xu Yuqing was amused by the audacity, her smile radiant but her eyes cold, "Of course, no."

As the words fell, Song Mei's smug expression turned to disbelief, "What did you say?"

"I said, no."

With that, Xu Yuqing turned and walked away, leaving Song Mei clenching her fists in frustration, grinding her teeth in anger.

What was going on today!

Meanwhile, at the supply store, Xu Yuqing wasn't one to hold grudges. By the time she reached the store, she had mostly forgotten about the earlier incident. She had seen her fair share of such people in her previous life.

Her first stop was the dried goods section, where she bought all the remaining chili peppers. "Do you have seeds for these?"

"Huh? The seeds are inside. Just soak them when you get home and see if they sprout." The salesperson replied, now having a deep impression of Xu Yuqing. After all, not many customers came in and spent lavishly, buying unnecessary items.

Upon hearing the salesperson's explanation, Xu Yuqing suddenly realized that the seeds were indeed dried. Thinking about the potential endless supply of chili peppers in her future, she couldn't help but smile.

Aside from the dried chilies, she also bought a piece of meat. It was only because Xu Yuqing had plenty of coupons left that she could afford such extravagance; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to splurge like this.

Exhausted upon returning home, she had to rest for a bit before starting to prepare dinner. The meat she bought was from the tender part of the pork shoulder, with a strip of fat attached. Xu Yuqing deftly sliced off the fatty part and tossed it into the yard.

Next, she minced the lean meat, added some chopped green onions, salt, and mixed it thoroughly. She then cut the eggplants diagonally, leaving every other slice intact, preparing for stuffed eggplant.

Stuffed dishes involved stuffing prepared meat filling into vegetables before undergoing secondary cooking. This was a famous southern dish and one of Xu Yuqing's favorites.

The savory aroma of stuffed eggplant paired with rice was simply the perfect combination. Normally, one bowl of rice would suffice, but with this dish, two bowls wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Moreover, this dish was simple to prepare.

It was also suitable for the canteen.

The sliced eggplants were briefly soaked in saltwater while Xu Yuqing found a large cabbage to try stuffing. She hadn't tried stuffing cabbage before, but stuffed savoy cabbage was delicious.

She tore off the cabbage leaves and blanched them briefly in boiling water until they turned green. The thick ribs of the cabbage leaves were too tough, so Xu Yuqing thinly sliced them to make wrapping easier.

Laying the cabbage leaves on the cutting board, she wrapped the meat filling inside like swaddling a baby. In no time, a dozen stuffed cabbages were ready.

Next came the eggplants, which were even simpler. All she needed to do was open the slit in the middle and stuff a thin layer of meat filling inside.

She heated oil in a pan and lightly fried the eggplants. Eggplants absorbed oil, making them even more fragrant. Once the eggplants were nearly done, she added the stuffed cabbages to the pan for a quick fry. Without oyster sauce, Xu Yuqing mixed a bit of soy sauce and poured it into the pan.

Adding water, she covered the pot and let the ingredients simmer until cooked through.

The key to this dish was its simplicity. With meat, she needed a vegetable dish. The leftover cabbage ribs were quickly sliced into thin strips and casually dressed.

These dishes were simple, and Xu Yuqing, enticed by the aroma, was tempted to sneak a taste.

Xie Junli returned, his steps hurried, beads of sweat on his forehead. "Are you alright?"

"Huh?" Xu Yuqing looked at him in confusion, puzzled by his sudden question. "What happened?"

When Xie Junli saw Xu Yuqing, he scrutinized her from head to toe, ensuring she was unharmed before feeling relieved.

"Just now, a military wife went to the commander to complain. She was stopped by the political commissar and went to the daycare instead, where she ended up getting hit by that child."

Xie Junli shook his head, somewhat speechless.

"Huh?" She hit the political commissar!? Xu Yuqing was truly stunned, taking a long moment to process the information, unsure of what to say.

"That child is wild and vicious, targeting people's vulnerable spots. The situation has become serious, so I was worried if anything happened to you," Xie Junli explained. When he heard from his subordinate that there was trouble at the daycare, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest.

Before nap time, his beloved had snuggled in his arms, saying she was going there.

But at that moment, he couldn't extricate himself and could only send a subordinate to check on the situation.

Fortunately, she left early.

Xie Junli shook his head, falling silent as he helped Xu Yuqing serve the dishes, but Xu Yuqing had lost all appetite!

She wanted to know the juicy details!

"You don't have to hold back! Tell me quickly!" Xu Yuqing knew what Xie Junli wanted; she playfully ran to his side, shaking his arm in her eagerness.

Xie Junli didn't want to say anything at first. The Political Commissar had imposed a gag order, but then he thought that she would find out tomorrow when she went to the daycare center. He sighed.

"It started well enough, but the more we talked, the angrier we got. The Political Commissar was also upset by Sister Song's poor attitude." As he spoke, Xie Junli couldn't help but frown. As a soldier, he had an innate aversion to such people.

"Later, Sister Song apologized, but the child wouldn't accept it. Seeing the Political Commissar as a villain, the child clutched a stick and struck the Political Commissar."

"My goodness... The Political Commissar must be suffering. Where did the child hit him?"

At this question, Xie Junli froze, only able to say that the child's height was unfortunately coincidental. Without speaking, he subtly glanced at a part of his body.

"Here?"

Xu Yuqing realized what he meant, asking in disbelief.

Xie Junli nodded.

No wonder they said the situation was serious—it had reached a point where someone's lineage was threatened. How could it not be serious? Thank heavens they already had three children.

"Hmm! That doesn't add up. Did the Political Commissar go to the hospital? Surely Sister would be there taking care of him. Is the child alone at home? What will they eat?"

Xie Junli paused mid-sip, realizing he hadn't considered this. Furrowing his brow, he said, "Perhaps Hua Ming is cooking?"

"Forget it. A half-grown boy can't do much. The child must be worried sick. You should bring them over here," Xu Yuqing said, concerned for the obedient little girl and Sister.

She could see that Sister and the Political Commissar were devoted to each other. This unexpected calamity would break her heart. "What about Sister Song and the child?"

As Xie Junli put on his shoes, he hesitated. "This is an assault on a soldier. They probably won't be allowed to remain in the Military District. It depends on the Political Commissar's condition later."