Ever since learning Li Xue's true identity, Jiang Yu had been worried that it would eventually be exposed. She thought she could hold out for a long time, or at least until the clothing store opened, but unexpectedly, it happened today.

Seeing that she hadn't been recognized, she tried to leave with her child...

"Shen Ying, you actually managed to get here."

Regiment Commander Zhang patted the man with affection. This young man was the best prospect he had encountered since joining the army; he had become a battalion commander at such a young age and had a bright future ahead of him.

Furthermore, regarding the issue of his wife frequently writing letters to the army to complain, the regimental commander always lectured him in the tone of an elder brother, saying that women should be coaxed and pampered.

Take him and Li Xue for example. It's not that they never argue, but they usually make up before they get out of bed. Besides, they have two children together. If he keeps giving her the silent treatment, anyone would complain.

Now things are much better. I brought my wife and kids to the city for a stroll, and I've finally figured it out.

"Hehehe, I have something to do, so I'll be going now."

Seeing that the man knew Commander Zhang, Zhou Yue awkwardly smiled and slipped away. Everyone in the city knew about Commander Zhang's influence, and they all wanted to curry favor with him. His wife, Li Xue, was no ordinary woman either. Not only was her family powerful, but she also frequently traded stocks and often made a fortune.

Seeing her disappear faster than a rabbit, the onlookers scattered in all directions. Li Xue rolled her eyes and said disdainfully:

"She's just a nobody, look at how capable she is, she's made my brother Chen Ying so angry."

Li Xue has a keen eye for talent. In her eyes, there are only two people worthy of admiration: one is Shen Ying, an elite soldier trained by her husband, and the other is Jiang Yu, the girl who helped her repair her clothes last time.

So she always helps them, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

"Commander Zhang, Madam."

Shen greeted him politely, his tone as cold as ever. Commander Zhang, long used to it, asked with a hidden meaning:

"You came by yourself?"

Shen Ying pulled the children over and told them to call for help. Jiang Yu, who had been holding onto the children's hands tightly, was forced to let go. Now things were really bad; not only would Li Xue recognize her, but this man might also misunderstand her motives for getting close to the leader's wife.

"Uncle, Auntie."

The two little children called out to him in their sweet, childish voices, and Commander Zhang's old face crinkled with laughter. The children really did resemble Shen Ying; not only were they good-looking, but they also seemed intelligent.

"When you grow up, do you want to join the army? To be in your uncle's regiment, just like your father."

Commander Zhang hugged Shen Niannian tightly, doting on her immensely. Li Xue scolded him playfully for scaring the child, her sharp gaze sweeping over the sycophantic shop assistant.

"Madam...wife."

The shop assistant trembled with fear and was filled with regret. She should have known better than to give that wealthy woman face; now, not only had she failed to sell the backpack, but she had also offended someone of even greater status.

"I heard a woman speaking just now, was that your wife? Why isn't she coming out?"

In Li Xue's view, although his wife might find it tiring for a woman to stay home and take care of the children, the man provides enough money, so they should live a good life together. If things really don't work out, they should get a divorce while they're still young, so neither of them wastes the other's time. Then she can introduce him to someone else—how wonderful!

She admires women like Jiang Yu who are decisive and independent.

When I first mentioned this to her husband, Mr. Zhang, he advised me that it's better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage. But now, when I see them, that woman is acting suspiciously and doesn't even greet me. She's so rude.

"Yes, I plan to send my daughter to a preschool in the first half of the year. The weather is nice today, so I came to buy her some school supplies."

Seeing Jiang Yu wish she could disappear into the ground, Shen Ying chuckled inwardly. He had seen this woman's fiery side, her cooking side, and her gentle side; now it was time to see how she would explain herself.

Hearing Li Xue mention her name, Jiang Yu turned around with a stiff upper lip, her face a mask that looked more like a grimace than a smile:

"Sister Xue, what a coincidence!"

Li Xue originally wanted to meet Shen Ying, the legendary unreasonable daughter-in-law, but when she saw Jiang Yu, her expression changed faster than turning the pages of a book.

"Girl, you... I really didn't expect you to be from Brother Shen Ying's family."

Li Xue grabbed Jiang Yu's hand incoherently, looking even more excited than Commander Zhang when he saw Shen Ying. He immediately overturned his previous understanding of 'her,' thinking it must be a misunderstanding.

Seeing that Commander Zhang looked bewildered, Li Xue recounted how she met Jiang Yu. The whole story unfolded like a tale, captivating the listener with its emotional rollercoaster.

"I really didn't expect this. Comrade Jiang Yu is quite remarkable."

Commander Zhang and his wife echoed each other's words, praising Jiang Yu's craftsmanship highly. Upon learning that she had taken a liking to the pink backpack, they called a shop assistant to wrap it up and took it home.

Jiang Yu repeatedly refused, but was rejected each time. The couple were in agreement, saying it was a gift for the child's first meeting, and they would give one to Shen Niannian later.

The two children listened to the adults' polite words, eight out of ten of which were praises of their mother, and their opinion of her changed once again.

Wow, Mom is amazing!

As it was approaching noon, Commander Zhang suggested having lunch at the nearby state-run restaurant so they could have a proper chat. The family of four couldn't refuse, and accompanied by the couple's warm hospitality, they went together.

Commander Zhang supports Jiang Yu's desire to open a clothing store. In his view, individual businesses are just beginning to be implemented in this era, and there is great potential for development.

Taking the opportunity, Shen Ying told him that he needed to ask for leave to build a house, and said that he had already sent a letter so that he could prepare in advance.

Commander Zhang did the math: his child needed to go to school, his wife needed to open a shop, and he needed to build a house—all of this would require a large sum of money. Worried that Shen Ying wouldn't have enough, he discussed it with Li Xue, offering to give them five thousand yuan to help them, but was flatly refused.

In their view, borrowing money is easy, but repaying it is difficult.

While the two men went out to buy cigarettes, Li Xue quietly asked Jiang Yu:

“Girl, you already have two kids, how about you consider moving to the military region’s family compound? Brother Shen Ying is a battalion commander, so if he applies, it can be approved on the same day.”

For military wives like them, living in the village is not a long-term solution. Besides, for the sake of convenience and for their children to receive a better education in the future, she felt this was the best choice.

"No, Sister Xue. Although the family compound is nice, I've gotten used to life in the countryside and don't want to keep moving around."

Jiang Yu felt quite content living in the village. Moreover, her goals had always been making money and buying a house; she had absolutely no interest in anything else. Of course, another reason was that the true female lead of the book hadn't appeared yet.

Once she appears, she'll divorce her husband and make room for the two of them to elope. As cannon fodder, getting involved in too many things is always disadvantageous for her.