Chapter 202 deserves special treatment.

These words were a blatant provocation. Jiang Wanqiu smiled faintly, her eyes clear and bright.

Seeing that the other person had finally finished rambling, she slowly began to speak: "If you ask me, adapting to the environment depends on your brain, not your background. Take this tea," she said, glancing at the teacup Yue Ke was holding, "no matter where the leaves come from, only someone who understands tea can bring out their aroma. In the hands of someone who doesn't understand tea, it's just a waste of thirst-quenching leaves."

Yue Ke was speechless at these words, and felt that the tea she had just put in her mouth had instantly lost its flavor.

She bit her lower lip, her eyes darting around, and reluctantly leaned towards Zhao Wenchang, saying in a sweet voice, "Brother Zhao, that's not what I meant. It's just that my dad works in the Ministry of Commerce and has a wide network of connections. Since you've just arrived in Beijing, if you need any help with work-related matters, just let me know. I'm a very helpful person, and I especially like to help promising officers like you."

As she spoke, her watery eyes stared intently at Zhao Wenchang.

Sitting in the main seat of the grand master's chair, Mr. Cui simply lowered his head and sipped his tea, looking like an old monk in deep meditation, clearly intending to see how Zhao Wenchang would handle this chaotic situation.

Zhao Wenchang sat upright beside Jiang Wanqiu, his large hand instinctively protecting the back of the chair behind her.

Upon hearing Yue Ke's words, Zhao Wenchang simply replied coldly:

“No need,” he said. “I, Zhao Wenchang, got to where I am today because of the organization’s promotion and the real skills I possess beneath this uniform. If soldiers need to rely on women’s connections to get ahead, then I don’t deserve to wear this uniform!”

These words showed Yue Keli absolutely no mercy.

Yue Ke's face paled, so embarrassed she didn't know what to do with her hands. Seeing her daughter's discomfiture, Yi Lianxin couldn't sit still any longer. She slammed her teacup heavily on the table, making a crisp "clang".

"Oh dear, Xiao Zhao, you're being a bit ungrateful." Yi Lianxin wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said sarcastically, "You're new to Beijing, you don't know the ways of the world here. Having a powerful local family in Yue family is like adding wings to a tiger! What good is brute force these days?"

As she spoke, her eyes swept meaningfully over Jiang Wanqiu's protruding belly, and she snorted contemptuously, "Some women can't help at all except give birth; they only hold you back. In the end, they'll be lucky if they don't become a burden, let alone a help."

Jiang Wanqiu chuckled softly upon hearing this.

She turned her head to the side, looking at Elaine with a half-smile that made Elaine's heart tremble.

"Auntie, do I know you well?" Jiang Wanqiu asked casually.

Elaine was taken aback and blurted out instinctively, "We just met, how can you say we're familiar with each other? Don't try to establish a relationship with me like that!"

“Since we’re not familiar,” Jiang Wanqiu’s smile widened, but her tone suddenly turned cold, “you’ve started to make malicious assumptions about other people’s family roles and values ​​without any reason. I’d like to ask you, in the rules of Beijing, is this called being straightforward or being ill-mannered?”

"You—!" Yilianxin didn't expect Jiang Wanqiu to put her words so bluntly. Accustomed to the innuendos in officialdom, she was momentarily speechless in the face of Jiang Wanqiu's direct provocation.

When Yue Ke saw her mother being rebuked, she stood up in a panic and shouted, "How dare you talk like that! My mother is an elder, she was just trying to give you a friendly reminder!"

"Kindness?" Jiang Wanqiu sneered. "Promoting your unmarried daughter in front of someone's legal wife, while also belittling the wife's family background. If this kind of 'kindness' were to reach the ears of your father's colleagues in the Ministry of Commerce, I wonder what they would say about the Yue family's family tradition? Would they say that the Yue family's daughter is desperate to get married, or that the Yue family's upbringing is 'unique'?"

Yue Ke's face turned deathly pale, and her lips trembled as she said, "You, you're talking nonsense!"

Jiang Wanqiu: "Doing business relies on brains, while being a military wife relies on enduring loneliness and supporting the home front. I can earn money to support the family and also ensure that Zhao Wenchang has no worries. But Miss Yue, you keep saying you want to help Brother Zhao smooth things over. What, when did promotions in our People's Liberation Army become a marketplace for your family's private affairs?"

This serious accusation effectively crushed Yue Ke's plans to continue flaunting her family connections.

An eerie silence fell over the living room for a moment. Suddenly, Minister Cui, who had been silently observing, looked up and let out a hearty laugh: "Good! Well said!"

He looked at Jiang Wanqiu with admiration and nodded repeatedly: "Her demeanor is neither arrogant nor humble, and her thinking is clear. She has the air of a valiant wife from a military family! Wenchang, you made the right choice in marrying her! She's someone who can take the helm, much better than those who only know how to put on makeup!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenchang's tense lips softened: "Minister Cui, you flatter me."

After Minister Cui finished laughing, his expression instantly turned serious when he turned to look at Elaine and her daughter.

He waved his hand, directly dismissing her: "Lianxin, we have important guests at home today. Since you've already found out everything here, you can go back now if there's nothing else."

Elaine's expression changed, and she was about to open her mouth to explain, "Old Cui, I..."

"Don't say such rude things on my turf again." Minister Cui's voice deepened, his authority evident even without anger. "Wenchang rose through the ranks based on military merit, and he's someone I value. Even if we need to smooth things over in the future, that's the responsibility of the Cui family; your in-laws don't need to worry about it. Show them out!"

Yilianxin blushed with embarrassment at these words, grabbed Yue Ke who was about to speak, and slunk away: "Then, then we won't bother you anymore."

After the other party left, Lin Wan felt a little guilty and looked at Jiang Wanqiu with a tone full of apology: "Wanqiu, I'm so sorry to have made you laugh. It was supposed to be a nice welcome banquet, but I didn't expect these two to ruin it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqiu smiled gently and said in a soft voice, "Auntie, you're being too polite. In this world, there are always a couple of mad dogs who like to bark. We're human, we can't just lie down and bite back, can we? That would just dirty our mouths."

Minister Cui nodded approvingly, then turned and called out towards the door, "Xiao Zhang!"

The guard, Xiao Zhang, entered in response.

Minister Cui took a bunch of keys out of the drawer and placed them on the mahogany coffee table with a "clink".

There was a small leather tag hanging on the key, which looked quite old.

“Wenchang, the compound looks glamorous, but it’s actually crowded and noisy, with strict rules. It might not be suitable for living here.” Minister Cui pointed to the bunch of keys. “Wanqiu is getting pregnant, and Ping’an is at the age where he’s growing taller and more energetic. If they really moved in, they would be too constrained. If we run into a neighbor like today who has no sense of propriety, it would be even more troublesome.”

Zhao Wenchang's gaze fell on the keys, and his brows twitched slightly.

"The organization specially approved a two-story villa not far from here, which was originally intended for foreign experts from the Soviet revisionists. After they left, the house remained vacant. Although it was not as lively as the compound, it was quiet and secluded, with its own courtyard, which was perfect for recuperating during late autumn."

Zhao Wenchang hesitated for a moment: "Minister Cui, isn't this treatment too high? I've just arrived in Beijing and haven't achieved anything yet, but living in a small villa might cause gossip."

Minister Cui waved his hand, looking at him meaningfully: "This is what you deserve, and it's also to put your mind at ease. You suffered those injuries for the country, so what's wrong with living in a house? Besides, if you move directly into the compound, people like the Yue family, who are like bees and swarms of bees, will only be swarming around you every day. You don't want Wanqiu to have to deal with all this mess at home every day, do you?"

When Jiang Wanqiu was mentioned, Zhao Wenchang's eyes instantly hardened.

He can ignore gossip, but he can't let his wife suffer.

Seeing that he had come to his senses, Minister Cui pointed to the phone bill next to him: "Considering Wanqiu's inconvenience in getting around, I have specially approved a jeep, which is parked downstairs and ready to be deployed at any time. Xiao Zhang will be responsible for picking up and dropping off Wanqiu at the hospital for prenatal checkups. In addition, a private phone has been installed in that building. I've left the number for you. If you have any urgent matters in the army, you can call home anytime."

These days, having a telephone installed at home is a huge status symbol.

After arranging accommodations, Minister Cui's gaze fell on Ping An, who was sitting upright beside him.

This child has a chubby face and a clever look in his eyes, which makes him very endearing.

"Peaceful, sir," Minister Cui softened his voice, "Do you want to go to school?"

Ping An immediately straightened his back and answered loudly like a little soldier: "Yes! I want to study!"

"Great!" Minister Cui slapped his thigh and made the decision on the spot. "Then let's go to Yuying School. It's the best school for the children of cadres in Beijing. The teachers are all top-notch. It's just a few steps away from your villa, so it's convenient for you to go to and from school."

Everything was arranged, and it was already dark outside the window.

Lin Wan busied herself having the orderly carry the prepared daily necessities onto the vehicle, large and small bags, and even thoughtfully included two jars of Beijing's specialty sour jujube cake, saying that pregnant women love to eat sour things.

With one hand carrying their luggage and the other protecting Jiang Wanqiu, Zhao Wenchang and his family of three bid farewell to Minister Cui and his wife.

Just before getting into the car, Jiang Wanqiu subconsciously turned around, her gaze sweeping over the tightly closed curtains on the second floor of the Cui family's house.

A figure seemed to flash by through the gap in the curtains. She thoughtfully looked away and bent down to sit in the back seat of the jeep.

The car drove out of the heavily guarded compound and along the wide road for about ten minutes before turning into a quiet street. Tall plane trees lined both sides of the street, and the dim yellow light of the streetlights filtered through the leaves, creating a remarkably serene atmosphere.

The car slowly came to a stop in front of a small Western-style building with red bricks and white walls.

The house has a sizable yard, and the wrought iron gate exudes a retro-chic vibe. The yard walls are covered with lush green ivy, which rustles in the evening breeze.

Zhao Wenchang took out his key and opened the gate. Ping An cheered and rushed in like a cannonball.

In the very center of the courtyard stands a huge pomegranate tree, its branches and leaves lush and vibrant, creating a festive atmosphere.

Jiang Wanqiu stood in the courtyard, looking around, and finally felt a weight lifted from her heart.

This place is hundreds of times better than that crowded family compound we had before.

Offering both privacy and spacious, bright surroundings, this place is already considered a top-tier luxury residence in this era.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the interior furnishings are even more eye-catching.