Quickly trying to justify herself, Gu Jianing said, “It’s going to snow and the mountains will be closed soon. Supplies will become scarce, so I thought it’d be good to stock up. Plus, it’s winter now, so things keep longer. And since Zexi and I just arrived, we’re missing a lot of things.”
Zhang Shuwang and Sister Yu nodded. With the snowstorm approaching, it made sense to stock up. Even they had bought more than usual.
Besides, being new, it was natural to need more things for the house.
“What’s in these bags? They smell like herbs.”
“Sister Yu, your nose is sharp. These are medicinal herbs. I plan to make some ointments and pills.” As for what exactly she would make, Gu Jianing didn’t elaborate since she hadn’t started yet.
“What? You know how to make ointments and pills? Are you a doctor?”
Gu Jianing nodded.
“You’re really impressive.”
The three of them chatted as they made their way back to the military district. Along the way, Gu Jianing’s cart full of goods attracted a lot of attention, sparking plenty of gossip.
Sister Yu only parted ways with them when they reached the residential compound.
She lived in the dormitory building of the compound.
“…I’ll come help tomorrow for the housewarming.”
“Great, I’ll trouble you and Sister Shuwang then.”
Sister Yu knew Gu Jianing was hosting a housewarming tomorrow. Since Gu Jianing couldn’t cook and had asked Zhang Shuwang for help, Sister Yu volunteered to lend a hand.
Gu Jianing gladly accepted. With an extra pair of hands, Sister Shuwang would have an easier time.
Outsiders weren’t allowed to enter the military district freely, so the man pushing the cart couldn’t come in. In the end, one of Sheng Zexi’s soldiers noticed and offered to help, pushing the cart into Gu Jianing’s house.
Before he left, Gu Jianing handed him two large meat buns she had bought at the market.
The young soldier refused at first, but Gu Jianing insisted, and he eventually had to accept.
“Sister-in-law, if you ever need help with anything, just call me. My name is Xie Ze. I just enlisted this year and was assigned to Battalion Commander Sheng’s unit.”
“Alright, Xie Ze, I’ll remember that.”
Xie Ze, a sixteen-year-old, walked back holding the meat buns. He took a big bite, and the warm, savory filling flooded his taste buds.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten meat. His father had died, his mother had remarried, and he had been taken in by his uncle and aunt, who treated him poorly. More than once, Xie Ze had nearly starved or fallen ill.
Fortunately, he had survived, and this year, he met one of his father’s former comrades, who kindly helped him enlist.
Coincidentally, he was assigned to Sheng Zexi’s battalion.
Xie Ze admired Sheng Zexi, who was strong and fearless, and he aspired to be like him.
Although Battalion Commander Sheng might not remember him yet, that was fine. Xie Ze would work hard to earn his recognition.
He had heard about Sheng Zexi’s marriage.
A couple of days ago, he had heard people say that Sheng Zexi had been tricked into marrying an ugly country girl. Others were furious, but Xie Ze had seen the tenderness in Sheng Zexi’s eyes when he helped his wife out of the car. It was clear there was love there.
So, he didn’t believe the rumors. From a young age, he had learned not to trust what people said.
Just like how people said his uncle and aunt treated him well, but only he knew the truth.
Now, the rumors had changed. Battalion Commander Sheng’s wife wasn’t an ugly girl but a stunning beauty.
Xie Ze thought, not only was she beautiful, but she was also a very kind person. Otherwise, why would she give him two meat buns just for pushing a cart?
Since joining the army, Xie Ze had finally been able to eat until he was mostly full. But in the resource-scarce northwest, as a low-ranking soldier, he rarely got to eat meat. Now, savoring the meat-filled buns, Xie Ze’s impression of Gu Jianing couldn’t be better.
So, when he overheard people gossiping about Battalion Commander Sheng’s wife buying a cartload of things and mocking Sheng for marrying a spendthrift, Xie Ze immediately retorted, “She has money and ration tickets. They’re new here, and the snowstorm is coming soon. What’s wrong with stocking up? It’s not like she’s using your stuff. If you’re so unhappy, go tell Battalion Commander Sheng yourself. Don’t just be a petty gossip behind people’s backs.”
The person was left speechless and could only storm off.
At noon, after finishing training, Sheng Zexi brought back lunch. On the way, he also heard the rumors about his wife buying a cartload of things.
Some even confronted him directly.
“Battalion Commander Sheng, isn’t your wife spending too much? That’s not good. She’s too wasteful. If she were in my family, I wouldn’t let my son marry someone like that.”
The speaker was the mother of Regimental Commander Shen, Old Lady Shen. She always flaunted her son’s status and her seniority, often lecturing others in the military residential area. She took pride in how her daughter-in-law, Regimental Commander Shen’s wife, was completely submissive to her.
Sheng Zexi frowned, turned around, and glared at her. “Old Lady Shen, I earn money, and I have plenty of money and ration tickets. My wife can spend as she pleases. If she spends it all, I’ll just earn more.”
Old Lady Shen was immediately displeased. People usually agreed with her, but now Sheng Zexi dared to contradict her. She snapped, “Young man, that’s not the right attitude. If you keep this up, no matter how much you earn, it won’t be enough for her to spend.”
Sheng Zexi sneered lightly, “That just means the man is incompetent.”
“You!”
“Old Lady Shen, do you live by the sea?”
Huh?
“Otherwise, why are you meddling so much? My wife and I aren’t eating your rice, so you don’t need to worry about our affairs.”
“Also, when you’re old, it’s better to mind your own business and stop badmouthing others. Consider it doing good for your descendants.”
With that, Sheng Zexi walked away.
Old Lady Shen was left fuming, while the onlookers felt a sense of satisfaction.
They had been too afraid of Regimental Commander Shen’s status to stand up to his mother.
Finally, someone had put the old woman in her place. It was a cause for celebration.
Battalion Commander Sheng was truly a good man.
Old Lady Shen, unable to contain her anger, went home and complained to her son, Regimental Commander Shen. She implied that Sheng Zexi had disrespected her and demanded that her son make things difficult for Sheng Zexi to teach him a lesson.
Regimental Commander Shen felt a headache coming on.
“Mom, Sheng Zexi is a troublemaker. Even his father, the commander, can’t control him. Your son is just a regimental commander, slightly higher in rank than him.”
Moreover, Sheng Zexi wasn’t under his command. He had no idea where his mother got the confidence to think he could make things difficult for Sheng Zexi.
Besides, he was in his forties and had only recently become a regimental commander. If it weren’t for his father holding him back, Sheng Zexi would already be on equal footing with him.
Sheng Zexi had a bright future ahead, while his own path had long since reached its end.
He’d have to be insane to pick a fight with Sheng Zexi.
In the end, Regimental Commander Shen left, and Old Lady Shen was so angry she couldn’t eat.
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