Chapter 63 Frustration

Molly and the other three took a shower, changed into clean clothes and shoes, and carried a three- or four-pound piece of cured pork to Bao Haoming's house.

Bao Haoming's family lives in an apartment building, on the second floor, in the easternmost unit. The apartment also has three bedrooms and a living room, but the rooms and living room are relatively small, not as big as a single-story house.

The cement floor and white walls painted with lime make the room look bright and spacious when illuminated.

Bao Haoming is over forty years old. He and his wife have a son and a daughter. Neither of them is married. His son works in another military region, and his daughter works in a town. Only Bao Haoming and his wife live at home.

When Molly's family arrived, Bao Haoming and his wife were busy in the kitchen.

"The food will be ready soon, please have a seat," Bao Haoming said.

Ji Hefeng took the cured pork to the kitchen. "The cured pork from my wife's hometown is boiled in water first, then washed clean before slicing. It can be stir-fried, used in soups, or steamed directly. Just remember not to add salt when boiling it, since it's already salted."

Molly sat on the sofa, listening to Ji Hefeng talk so much in one breath. She raised an eyebrow in surprise, as she had thought Ji Hefeng was a man of few words.

"Oh dear, it's enough that you came, why did you bring such a big piece of meat?" Bao Haoming's wife scolded with a smile.

"Molly raised her own pigs and said she wanted to bring some for you to try. They're smoked, I don't know if you'll like them."

“Of course I’m used to it. We’ve had it before, the smoked pork was so fragrant, I still miss that taste. Thanks to Molly, we can enjoy it again now.” Bao Haoming’s wife smiled at Molly on the sofa.

Molly returned a shy smile.

Bao Haoming's wife was so dazzled by the beauty of the girl under the lamplight that she blurted out, "I heard you want to grow vegetables and grains. What kind of seeds do you need? I'll go find them for you."

Hearing her say that, Molly was naturally delighted. "Then I'll thank you in advance, sister-in-law. I brought some seeds from my hometown, but I don't know if they're suitable for the climate here. As for grains, I have corn, and I'd also like to plant some peanuts and beans. Do you know where I can buy peanuts and beans? Soybeans, mung beans, and black beans are all fine."

"What a coincidence! I have all of these at home, just not a lot. As for vegetable seeds, I'll go find some for you tomorrow." Sister Bao doesn't farm; the grain at home is just for eating, so giving it to Molly as seeds wouldn't be a problem.

"Then thank you in advance, sister-in-law. When my harvest is complete, I'll send some over for you to try."

"Okay, I'll wait."

The meal was served: white rice, four dishes and a soup, including pan-fried fish, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, shredded pork with garlic sauce, stir-fried bok choy, and a bone and radish soup. It looked and smelled delicious, and was very tempting.

Mo An and Lu Lu couldn't help but swallow hard, but they sat obediently without touching their chopsticks.

"Eat up, make yourself at home, don't be shy," Bao Haoming said, picking up his chopsticks first. Only after he took a bite did the others start eating.

"These two children are quite well-behaved." Sister Bao was a little surprised. Wasn't it said that Lu Lu went crazy and beat people until they bled? Now they are thin and small, eating with their backs straight, not rummaging through the food, not smacking their lips, and clean. They seem to be very well-mannered.

Most of the time at the dinner table, Molly and Sister-in-law Bao chatted about crops, vegetables, and how to raise children. Molly benefited greatly from the meal.

"Elementary school will start soon, remember to have Hefeng register your brother," Sister-in-law Bao reminded Molly. She then looked at Lu Lu, "Lu Lu went to first grade before, but we don't know if it's suitable for him to go to school now."

Molly: "I'll ask him, and if he doesn't want to go, then he can stay home for a while and go next semester."

When the weather was painting the walls during the day, the furniture was moved and covered with plastic sheets borrowed from somewhere. When the family returned from dinner, they had to clean the floor first before moving the furniture.

"Xiao An, you're moving in with Xiao Lu tonight," Molly suddenly said.

Mo An was taken aback and turned to look at Lu Lu. Lu Lu also stopped, but he was looking at Molly with a calm gaze, showing no signs of rejection or resistance.

"We need to build two more desks in the study so you can read and practice calligraphy every day. There's no room for beds anymore." Lu Lu's room also has a 1.5-meter bed, which is enough for two children to sleep in.

Mo An nodded, "I understand, sister."

Lu Lu did not object.

Molly added, "Starting tomorrow, you will tutor your nephew for one hour each day."

Mo An: "Do we start learning from first grade?"

Molly: "Let's start from first grade."

Mo An: "I don't have a first-grade textbook."

Molly looked at Ji Hefeng, who sensibly said, "I'll borrow it tomorrow."

Molly watched as Mo An and Lu Lu lay side by side on the bed, turned off the light, and closed the door. She stood outside for a while, and seeing that there was no fighting inside, she turned and went back into the room.

Molly pushed open the door and saw Ji Hefeng shirtless, wearing only a pair of green shorts. His physique was lean and muscular, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a wasp bottom, and long, straight legs with impossibly beautiful muscle definition. In fact, not only his legs, but also his abdomen, chest, and arms—every muscle definition was perfect, exactly what she liked.

It seems his body has been modified to perfection.

"Molly~"

Ji Hefeng was quite helpless. What kind of girl stares at a man's body so intently, with an admiring look on her face, yet without any desire?

Is this girl still clueless, or is he unable to arouse her desire?

Ji Hefeng was extremely frustrated, and as if in a fit of pique, he walked step by step toward Molly—

Molly remained still, watching him with amusement. What was he up to?

She didn't dodge!

He couldn't admit defeat either.

Ji Hefeng gritted his teeth and approached step by step until he felt Molly's breath on his chest, a tingling and numb sensation that made him shiver.

"Put on some clothes if you get cold," Molly said.

Ji Hefeng: "......."

Molly took off her coat and trousers, climbed into her blanket, and wrapped herself up tightly. Seeing that Ji Hefeng hadn't moved, she asked, "Did the test results come out today?"

"She's out. All her measurements are at their best, even better than before the injury. Medicine can't explain the changes in my body; in the end, it can only be attributed to a miracle." Ji Hefeng got into bed and leaned closer to Molly. "Look here, isn't the scar much lighter?"

"Hmm, it's gotten lighter." Molly reached out and touched it; it was quite elastic and felt great.

Ji Hefeng was taken aback, his ears turned red, and he slowly lay down and covered himself with the blanket.

"Will the scars fade over time?" he asked.

“Yes, it will fade more and more until it disappears.” Molly told him from her own experience, “If you don’t want others to notice anything unusual, you can only keep getting hurt.”

Ji Hefeng: "......."

What wife would let her husband get hurt?

However, injuries are common in his job.

"Today, the division commander told me to resume training so that I can represent the military region in the competition in a few days."

"Given your current form, getting first place shouldn't be difficult."

“I understand.” He had participated once before, only in shooting, and won first place, but this time it was different. “The division commander told me to sign up for all events and bring back an all-around soldier king.”

The division commander also said that if he won the All-Round Soldier King title, the position of deputy regimental commander of the 1st Regiment would be his.

With his military achievements and seniority, he could easily hold the position of regimental commander, if not deputy regimental commander. But given his family background, he thought he was destined to remain a battalion commander for the rest of his career.

The division commander also said that some people had been gradually exonerated and returned to their original posts. Only if he stood in a high enough position would his family have any hope of leaving the farm.

Whether for himself or for his family, he needs to deliver a standout performance in this all-army competition, which includes both individual and team events.

"But before that, I need to defeat the others in the camp and qualify for the competition."

"Bless you."

"Thanks."

The next morning, Ji Hefeng had already washed the clothes and boiled water in the pot, as usual.

The food has arrived. Molly plans to have breakfast at home: make a minced meat pancake, fry a fish, and cook a mushroom soup.

Molly first cut off the fat from the cured pork to render the oil, and then used the oil to fry fish and pancakes.

The strong smell of grease filled the entire house and drifted outside.

"Who's stir-frying meat so early in the morning? It smells so good," a voice came from next door.

"Meat? Where's the meat? Mom, I want meat!"

"We don't have any meat at home. Didn't we just eat wolf meat yesterday? Why are you so greedy? Be careful you don't turn into a gluttonous girl and no one will want you in the future."

"Mom, I want to eat meat too."

"If there's no meat, Mom will fry you an egg."

"Mom, you're being unfair! Why don't you say anything to my brother when he asks for meat?"

"Your younger brother is young and doesn't understand things. You're his older sister, how can you be like him?"

"I don't care, I want to eat eggs too."

"Mom, I want to eat too."

"Me too, I want to eat eggs too."

"There's only one egg, and it belongs to your younger brother."

"......."

"Sister, it's so noisy next door." Mo An was stunned when she heard the crying and cursing next door. It turned out that even in the military camp, some families were arguing over a bite to eat.

"Next door is the home of Yu Jin'an, the battalion commander of the 2nd Regiment. They have four children, three older sisters and one younger brother. Battalion Commander Yu's hometown is also in the countryside." This is what Ji Hefeng told Molly. Battalion Commander Yu has to send part of his allowance back to his hometown, and the rest is barely enough for Yu Jin'an's family to live on.

Ji Hefeng specifically instructed her that if the neighbors didn't come to their door, they shouldn't bother them. Nowadays, the children in the military region have all been told by their families not to associate with their family, and especially to stay away from Lu Lu.

Mo An suddenly realized, "So there are people like us who came from the countryside."

Molly laughed. "Of course. I reckon there's quite a bit."

Breakfast was cooked and just as it was placed on the table, Ji Hefeng returned, carrying a pile of bamboo strips and tools in his hands.

"I'll make the chicken coop and rabbit cage first, then go to the countryside to catch a few chicks. Tomorrow I'll go up the mountain to catch a rabbit for you," Ji Hefeng said.

Molly naturally had no objection. "Isn't this for the selection process? No training required?"

"We'll practice for a day the day after tomorrow, and the competition is the day after that." If anyone heard Ji Hefeng say this, they would definitely call him arrogant. But Molly remained calm and even advised him, "Take it easy."

Ji Hefeng nodded, "I know what I'm doing."

Molly first picked up a pancake and handed it to Lu Lu, instructing him, "You can use your hands to hold it."

Lu Lu's eyes lit up. He held the pancake in both hands, opened his mouth wide, and took a big bite. The next second, his eyes lit up.

"It seems he really likes it." Ji Hefeng chuckled, placing a pancake on Mo An's plate and serving each of the four of them a bowl of mushroom soup. The family ate breakfast around the table, and even without speaking, a gentle warmth surrounded them, bringing peace and tranquility to their hearts.

He regretted it; he regretted not having Molly come with him to the army sooner.