Ling Huanwu was speechless. The two of them didn't seem to know each other very well!

“These are all things of the past,” Ling Huanwu straightened Chu Mei’s clothes, her tone relaxed. “What matters in life is not education, but sincerity. But since you relatives value culture, if any of your children want to improve their English or math skills in the future, feel free to come to me anytime, and I will teach them for free.”

Ling Huanwu knew that this was the students' last celebration.

Her words made the faces of the people who had just mocked Ling Huanwu even stiffen.

When Ling Huanwu turned to go to the kitchen to cook, no one dared to say a word of gossip. Instead, some people whispered among themselves, "I didn't expect Er Gou's wife to be so capable. She graduated from a school in Hong Kong, and she really knows more English than any of us..."

Who would have thought that Chu Mei outside the house was not afraid of her hearing, and snorted coldly, "No matter how much she has read and how cultured she is, her family background is not good. My Jiuzhen is really unlucky to have married her. Not only can she not help my Ergou at all, but she also demoted Ergou."

"If Er Gou marries Su Haiting from the logistics department, he'll be truly blessed. Her whole family are from the 'Red Five Categories' with impeccable revolutionary credentials. Her brother is even more remarkable; he sacrificed his life for the country. Someone like her is the ideal wife, mother, and daughter-in-law in my heart."

Ling Huanwu was chopping vegetables in the kitchen when she heard Chu Mei outside belittling her, praising one person while putting down another, and she felt a surge of anger rising inside her.

If it weren't for wanting to support Zhou Jiuzhen in completing his mission and having to maintain the situation without causing any unforeseen complications, she wouldn't bother putting up with this awful situation and would instead be making a big meal to please them!

Just as Ling Huanwu was carrying a table full of "good food and meat" out, she saw Zhou Jiuzhen supporting Su Haiting as they brazenly returned home.

At the dinner table, Zhou Jiuzhen solemnly peeled the candy wrapper, took out a whole round, milky-white candy, and his eyes were almost always on Su Haiting as he peeled the candy.

The group of aunts and uncles at the table all smiled and praised Su Haiting for being sensible and beautiful, as if Su Haiting were their Er Gou's wife.

Ling Huanwu brought ten small enamel basins with iron lids to the table.

Then she untied her apron and threw it directly at Zhou Jiuzhen's face, saying, "Nine dishes and a soup are ready. Can I leave now?"

Zhou Jiuzhen pulled off the apron from his face, looking completely bewildered.

"Where are you going? Aren't you going to stay for dinner?"

"I'm not eating anymore. You should take your mother and all your relatives to admire your virtuous wife, Su Xian!"

Ling Huanwu left without looking back after uttering those words.

Zhou Jiuzhen's heart skipped a beat. He clutched the peeled candy in his palm and got up to chase after her, but Su Haiting grabbed him. "Brother Zhou, where are you going? The relatives are still here. How can your wife just leave like that? She should be here serving everyone the food after cooking. I'll go get the food..."

After she finished speaking, amidst a barrage of praise from the guys, she got up and went to the kitchen outside to get the food.

All the relatives praised Su Haiting for being well-behaved, but not a single one of them complimented Ling Huanwu for preparing such a large meal.

They continued chatting and laughing as they opened the lids of the enamel basins on the table, staring at the contents for a long time, speechless.

On the table were ten plates of chicken feathers; it was practically a full-fledged Manchu Han Imperial Feast, let alone meat dishes.

Outside, things were even worse; suddenly, Su Haiting's terrified scream rang out.

Zhou Jiuzhen covered his ears and frowned, reluctantly walking out, but asked with concern, "Hai Ting, what's wrong..."

When he saw the cold stove outside, where rice was usually cooked, a chicken lay there looking pitiful, its feathers plucked and its head sticking out. Its appearance was exactly the same as Ling Huanwu's pitiful look when she threw off her apron and left. Zhou Jiuzhen could no longer pretend and burst out laughing.

After a lot of arguing.

The Zhao family members in the room tried to matchmake Zhou Jiuzhen and Su Haiting by sending her back to her military dormitory.

Since she was transferred to the logistics department of the army, she has also moved Grandma Su to the dormitory as a family member.

According to Wang's bodyguard's secret surveillance, the old lady Na Su often wandered alone through various villages, inquiring about any places on the island with terrain resembling a bird.

Of course, Grandma Su asked the question very subtly, and the villagers on the island only thought that this visiting relative wanted to visit the island's scenery, without thinking anything else.

Only a few people in the military knew about this, and they knew that Old Lady Su's real purpose was to find the treasure.

Therefore, Zhou Jiuzhen was very happy to see Su Haiting return to her dormitory.

At the doorway, Su Haiting blushed and tugged at her clothes, inviting, "Brother Zhou, would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

Zhou Jiuzhen originally wanted to refuse, but he was so focused on going out to find his runaway little wife that he had no intention of staying.

However, in order to complete the mission as soon as possible and obtain the treasure map that Su Haidi's mother had left behind and was to be handed over from the two grandmothers, he decided to obediently go into the house to find out what was going on.

After all, it's quite possible that the treasure map is hidden in the dormitory.

As soon as he entered the room, Su Haiting poured him a glass of water and shyly handed it to him. She then took a book from the bookshelf and pulled out a yellowed photograph.

The photo clearly shows her with Su Haidi and Zhou Jiuzhen in a group photo.

"Brother Zhou, look how good the three of us used to be, it's such a pity that my brother..."

Su Haiting's eyes were red, and she stammered as she spoke of the past, "Back then, my brother said he wanted you to be his brother-in-law, but now..."

She hesitated, unable to express her deep sorrow.

Zhou Jiuzhen couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Looking at her good brother's photo, she was instantly transported back to those days.

If Su Haidi hadn't pushed him away with his life back then, he wouldn't have had those years of hardship.

"Hai Ting, did your mother leave any belongings for you and your siblings?"

Zhou Jiuzhen probed her, observing her reaction.

It was her younger sister who collected Su Haidi's belongings.

Before Su Haidi's incident, he told him that he had discovered his mother's will, which stated that she wanted to donate something to the country.

At the time, Zhou Jiuzhen did not understand what they were going to offer. It was not until the fact that Old Madam Su was secretly holding the blueprints was exposed that he realized that what Su Haidi wanted to offer to the country on behalf of his mother was a treasure of immeasurable value.

With it, we can provide support for the country's scientific research funding and various industries that are in dire need of revitalization.

But Su Haiting shook her head, her eyes darting around to other places, "My mother died very suddenly, she didn't leave us anything..."

This expression clearly showed that she didn't trust him, had chosen to side with the Su family, and didn't want to hand over the treasure map, which was why she wasn't telling him the truth.

Zhou Jiuzhen took a deep breath and thought of the "handsome man strategy" technique that Ling Huanwu had taught him.

He seized the opportunity and deliberately knocked over the water glass on the table. The water splashed onto his chest instantly, and his clothes were quickly soaked, clinging tightly to his body and outlining the lines of his strong chest.

Su Haiting's expression froze for a moment, staring blankly at those disc-shaped abs.