"Yu Yao, do you want to come along?"

Yu Yao shook her head. "I made quite a lot of crab sauce last time, so I won't be going for now."

"Okay, then we'll be going now. We'll talk to you again later."

"By the way, Aunt Ge, you can go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some rice wine this time. Add some rice wine during the final marinating to remove the fishy smell and enhance the aroma, so the fishy smell won't be so strong."

Ge Jinhua and Su Meihua both wrote it down, saying, "We'll go buy it when we get back."

After seeing them off, Yu Yao returned to the courtyard and saw that the door of Battalion Commander Wu's house next door had opened, and Song Yufeng came out.

"Sister-in-law Yufeng, it's been so long since I've seen you. How is Battalion Commander Wu doing?"

Song Yufeng hadn't seen Yu Yao for a long time, and she was very happy to see her. "The doctor said my husband is recovering well and will be discharged soon. Come over for dinner after he's discharged. Thank you and Commander Lu for your help before."

"We're all neighbors, there's no need for thanks." Yu Yao was somewhat surprised when she saw her belly.

If she remembered correctly, Song Yufeng was only four months pregnant, but her belly was already as big as someone who was five or six months pregnant. Could it be twins?

Song Yufeng touched her belly, her face glowing with maternal love. "The military doctor said I'm carrying twins, so my belly will be bigger than others."

"I didn't expect it to be twins! Congratulations, Sister-in-law Yufeng, it's double happiness! This belly looks like it's going to be a smart and clever baby."

Yu Yao knew how long Song Yufeng had longed for children; the arrival of two this time was a blessing in disguise.

"Thank you for your kind words." Song Yufeng's face was full of smiles, unable to contain her joy.

The two were chatting happily when a somewhat shrill voice came from the main room: "Sister-in-law, my brother is starving to death in the hospital, how come you still have time to chat with people here? You really have a big heart."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yao frowned.

Song Yufeng was a little embarrassed, and said to Yu Yao with a smile, "Yu Yao, I have something to do, let's talk next time."

Yu Yao nodded, "It's alright, sister-in-law, you go ahead and do your thing."

Wu Shufen came out of the main room, looked at Yu Yao's back, and said with a hint of disdain, "You're the military wife next door?"

Yu Yao turned around and looked behind her, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

It was her.

She remembered encountering a family of thugs on the beach who were looking for cheap deals, and she recalled that the woman there had taken a liking to Lu Ze.

Wu Shufen recognized Yu Yao as well. "What are you doing here? It's you!"

"Why can't I be here? This is my home." After saying that, Yu Yao went into her yard and closed the door behind her.

As Wu Shufen watched her enter the neighboring courtyard, she immediately understood her identity.

It turned out that she was the military wife next door who worked in a state-owned factory, leaving early and returning late.

Wait a minute, she remembered that Song Yufeng had said that the neighbor was the wife of a regimental commander. She was the regimental commander's wife. So, the man that day was the regimental commander?

After Wu Shufen understood everything, she felt extremely sad and tore the scallions in her hand to shreds.

"I asked you to pick some scallions, and you pinched them like this? Have you lost your mind?" Old Mrs. Niu came out of the kitchen, slapped her hand away, and picked a handful of scallions.

Wu Shufen grabbed her hand, "Mom, do you know who I just saw?"

"You don't know anyone in this military compound, so who else could you possibly see?"

Wu Shufen gestured with her chin toward the woman next door, "I just saw the woman next door, you know what? She's the woman we met on the beach that day, and the man we fought with that day was actually the regimental commander."

"The regimental commander? The regimental commander who's even older than your brother?" Old Mrs. Niu couldn't believe it.

Wu Shufen nodded, "It's the regimental commander who's older than my brother."

Grandma Niu was filled with regret. "He looks even younger than your brother, yet he's already a regimental commander. If only we had rushed out earlier! A regimental commander saved my life—what a huge favor that is!"

"Mother, do you think it's possible..." Wu Shufen whispered a few words to Old Lady Niu.

Upon hearing this, Niu Laotian slapped Wu Shufen on the back.

"Mom, why did you hit me? Don't you want a military officer husband?"

"You still dare to talk back," Old Mrs. Niu slapped her again, "You brat, ruining a military marriage is a matter of personal conduct, and you'll be punished in the army. Do you think I don't want a regimental commander as a son-in-law? We're from the countryside, do you think a regimental commander from the city is someone our family can even dream of?"

Wu Shufen was displeased. "Isn't Yu Yao also a country girl? If she can do it, why can't I?"

"Anyway, you're not allowed to do anything reckless. Listen to me, we're going to find a soldier from the countryside, preferably one whose family doesn't have much support, someone of the same rank as your brother or lower. Forget about the guy next door, understand?"

Wu Shufen was unwilling, but she knew her mother was right. "I know, then you have to make my brother find me a man who is as handsome and good as the one next door."

"Do you think someone like the neighbor is someone you can just find anywhere? I'm this old, and this is the only one I've ever met." Old Mrs. Niu directly shattered her daughter's fantasy.

"Anyway, it can't be too worse than next door, or I won't do it. Mom!" Wu Shufen shook Old Lady Niu's arm. "Do you really think your daughter is inferior to that woman next door?"

"Alright, alright, I'll try my best to find some for you. Now go inside and pack a plate of the pancakes I just made, then come with me to deliver them next door."

Wu Shufen didn't understand, "Why do we have to deliver cakes to the neighbors? I don't want to go."

"What do you know? We offended the neighbors before, and this pancake is to apologize."

After much persuasion, Old Lady Niu finally led the reluctant Wu Shufen to the next house.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!