Chapter 32 Hiding from her?

When Jiang Ning woke up early in the morning, she put her arm to the side and found it was still warm, but there was nothing there.

Shen Mo had just left.

Jiang Ning sat up abruptly, thinking that Shen Mo's return last night was just a dream.

She threw back the covers and got out of bed. Hearing noises from the kitchen, she assumed Shen Mo was there. She walked through the main room and pushed open the kitchen door. "Shen Mo, did you sleep well last night...?"

Upon seeing the tiny figure in the kitchen, Jiang Ning swallowed back what she was about to say.

She's gotten addicted to teasing Shen Mo these past few days; she just loves seeing him blush.

But this only applies when she and Shen Mo are alone together. Zhiqi is at the age of starting his education, and she can't let him lead the child astray.

She looked out through the kitchen window but didn't see Shen Mo.

Frowning slightly.

Where are they?

Jiang Ning turned to Huo Zhiqi and asked, "Where's your Uncle Chen?"

Zhiqi still can't bring himself to call her "Mom," and he probably won't call Shen Mo "Dad" either. The form of address isn't important to Jiang Ning, and she doesn't care about it.

Huo Zhiqi pointed to the pot on the stove and said, "I cooked porridge and eggs and then left."

They left?

Jiang Ning looked down at her watch; it was only six in the morning.

Shen Mo usually leaves at seven o'clock.

You came home so late last night, and left so early today...

Is he... avoiding her?

Having basically confirmed this guess, Jiang Ning chuckled. She had only teased him a few times; why was he so thin-skinned?

She's not going to eat him.

Jiang Ning went over and opened the pot lid, and the aroma of rice porridge wafted out. There were also three eggs in a bowl next to it.

These were the only three eggs left in the house. Jiang Ning knew she needed to replenish her supplies as soon as she saw them.

She then turned to look at Huo Zhiqi, who was squatting by the fire pit, and saw him rummaging through the things inside. She asked curiously, "What are you doing?"

Huo Zhiqi was a little lost about the change in his identity and said awkwardly, "I was afraid you wouldn't have enough to eat, so I roasted two sweet potatoes."

Jiang Ning looked at the huge pot of porridge and the three eggs in the bowl. Was she a pig? How could she eat so much?

Huo Zhiqi pulled the roasted sweet potatoes out of the stove, and the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes wafted out.

Jiang Ning always complained that roasting sweet potatoes was troublesome and made a mess.

But roasted sweet potatoes are irresistible; they're sweet and fragrant.

For breakfast, she ate an egg, a sweet potato, and a bowl of porridge. She gave the other two eggs to Zhiqi.

"Is the school not far?" Jiang Ning asked.

Huo Zhiqi shook his head. "It's not far."

"Then remember to come home for lunch, and don't sneak off somewhere to do your homework by yourself," Jiang Ning instructed him, only letting him go after the little guy nodded.

There are usually primary schools within military units, and since family quarters are not far from the military bases, the primary schools are certainly not far away either.

After seeing the little one off, Jiang Ning returned to her room to tidy up.

After finishing her skincare routine, she picked up a hair tie and tied her thick hair into a high ponytail. The ponytail swayed, giving her a rather dashing and heroic air.

Wearing a simple shirt and jeans, I walked out of the courtyard gate.

Just as she stepped out the door, she bumped into Aunt Li, who was carrying a shopping basket. Upon seeing Jiang Ning, Aunt Li greeted her warmly, "Where are you going, Jiang Ning?"

"We're out of vegetables at home, so we have to go to the supply and marketing cooperative."

Sister-in-law Li said, "What a coincidence, I also need to go to the supply and marketing cooperative. My husband said he was craving the pig's trotter soup I make, so I plan to buy a pig's trotter, make the soup, and send it to his troops."

"Then let's go together."

Sister-in-law Li is a talkative and generous person. Jiang Ning has become familiar with her now, and the two chatted as they walked.

They chatted jokingly about the time when Jiang Ning was picked on by Old Mrs. Wang.

Sister-in-law Li asked, "Did Xiao Shen mention this to you when he got home?"

Jiang Ning nodded. "Shen Mo told me about it when I got home that day."

As for what the old lady said to Shen Mo, she had no idea.

"Xiao Shen didn't tell you either. What did Old Mrs. Wang say to him?" Li's smile couldn't be put off when she mentioned that day.

This made Jiang Ning very curious about what Grandma Wang had said to Shen Mo.

What did they say?

"I just happened to be passing by that day and overheard the whole thing," Sister Li said after laughing enough. "Everyone in the compound knows what kind of person that old lady Wang is. She's sharp-tongued and mean-spirited, and what she says is never pleasant to hear. Don't be angry when I tell you this, sister-in-law."

Jiang Ning said no.

"Two days ago, when Xiao Shen was coming home from training, that old lady stopped him and said that he was a vixen and that he was restless, and told Xiao Shen to keep an eye on him."

That old lady probably got the short end of the stick from you and was upset, so she came to Xiao Shen to get him to take care of you.

Then, Sister Li vividly portrayed the fierce and aggressive face of Old Lady Wang that day, which amused Jiang Ning.

But when she heard what Sister Li had said to her, she felt a warmth in her heart.

She knew that old Mrs. Wang would never say anything nice to her. Being a vixen was the least of her worries; the worst thing she could do was seduce other men.

In this era of strict discipline, even the slightest disturbance can lead to arrest. Some words, though spoken unintentionally, can be taken to heart by others. If Shen Moruo truly takes those words to heart, then she really has no way to deal with it.

But Shen Mo was able to say something like, "She chose someone else because he was no good," which is a very advanced idea in this era.

Sister-in-law Li laughed until her stomach hurt. "You have no idea how the old lady's face turned greener than a lemon when Xiao Shen said those things."

The two arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative laughing and joking all the way. They still had snacks and other things at home, but they mainly needed to buy some vegetables.

When Jiang Ning was looking at the vegetable leaves, she was stopped by Sister Li. "Why are you buying vegetables? I grow my own. You can just come to my house and pick some."

"That won't do." Jiang Ning was a little embarrassed. "The land at home has just been cultivated and no vegetables have been planted yet. I can't go to your house to pick vegetables every day."

Jiang Ning's voice was sweet and charming, making Sister Li feel a little tingly. She said, "Why not? My family has two plots of land planted with vegetables. We can't even finish eating them every day. I'll deliver them to your family every day."

However, there are some vegetables we don't grow at home, so could you see if we need to buy anything?

Then, Sister Li pointed out the vegetables that her family didn't grow. Jiang Ning didn't buy any vegetables because Sister Li stopped her. Instead, she bought some eggs, star anise, bay leaves, and other ingredients to make braised pork with potatoes for lunch.

She also bought a medium-sized jar.

After buying the groceries, Jiang Ning chatted and laughed with Sister Li on their way home.

On their way home, they heard the little girl crying.

A crowd had gathered not far ahead, and the child's cries were coming from within the crowd.

Upon hearing the crying, Sister Li, who had been chatting and laughing, immediately changed her expression and ran towards the crowd.

Jiang Ning hurriedly followed.

"Nannan!" Sister Li pushed through the crowd and saw a woman holding her daughter. The daughter seemed to be injured somewhere, and her lips were white.