In the Zhao family's courtyard, a slightly worn-out small dining table was already set up, with the food covered with a rice cover.
Qiu Chunfang has sharp eyes; she spotted Zhao Yi's thin figure approaching from afar and immediately shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Yimeng, Ermeng, Sanmeng, Simeng, Yaozu, stop playing around outside! Your dad's back, hurry up and come back for dinner!"
At that shout, the five little kids who were playing outside rushed in like happy rabbits.
Four girls and one boy, all of them just like Zhao Yi, looking as skinny as monkeys.
Their noses, like sensitive little radars, twitched and sniffed intently, trying to savor the fragrance.
"Mom, did you stew some meat? It smells so good!"
The youngest son, Yaozu, tilted his dirty little head back, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, and his little mouth smacked a few times involuntarily, as if he had already tasted the meat.
Before Qiu Chunfang could answer, Zhao Yi rubbed his hands together impatiently, then suddenly lifted the rice cover, and the children immediately surrounded him.
But the next second, everyone was dumbfounded. There was no meat on the table, not even a speck of meat. There was only a large bowl of bland-colored cabbage stew with potatoes, smashed cucumber, and steamed buns that had been reheated several times.
Zhao Yi deflated like a punctured balloon, instantly wilting, and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Why is it the same old three dishes again? Where's the meat? Where's the meat?"
It's not Commander Wang's house, nor is it my own, so could this fragrance be...?
Zhao Yi's gaze involuntarily turned to the Shen family's house next door, just in time to see Shen Huaichuan returning from outside, looking travel-worn.
A crisp, sweet greeting came from inside the house.
"You're back? My braised pork rice is just cooked. Go wash your hands first, I'll go get the rice."
The voice was as clear as a lark's, making Zhao Yi's heart itch with desire. Looking at the food on the table, he immediately lost his appetite.
He frowned and muttered a complaint to Qiu Chunfang.
"Didn't you say that Commander Shen's new wife was a lazy and greedy country bumpkin? I think she's very virtuous. On her very first day here, she already knew to cook meat for her husband. Unlike you, on your first day here you were cooking cabbage and potatoes, and today it's cabbage and potatoes again..."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Chunfang immediately became displeased. With a loud "bang," she slammed her hand on the table, causing the bowls and chopsticks on the table to shake.
"What's wrong with stewed cabbage and potatoes? There are so many mouths to feed at home, and your monthly allowance is so meager. If you're so capable, why don't you rise through the ranks like Commander Shen and earn more money?"
"Why are there so many mouths to feed in this family? Isn't it because you're so determined to have a son?"
Zhao Yi also lost his temper and retorted to Qiu Chunfang with a flushed face.
"You, Zhao Yi! I've worked so hard, raising your family line and carrying on your bloodline, and you still have the nerve to criticize me!"
Qiu Chunfang was so angry that her chest heaved violently, and she put her hands on her hips, looking just like a fighting old hen.
This family is a noisy bunch, with many members arguing every few days and having a big fight every five days. The neighbors living nearby are used to it and consider it just a normal occurrence.
Seeing this, the officers all turned their attention to the Shen family in the middle and began to discuss it amongst themselves.
"Did Commander Shen bring back that wife yesterday and cook meat with her?"
All day long, the military region has been buzzing with the news that the "Living Yama" (a notorious figure in Chinese mythology) carried a new bride home. Nobody believed it at first, but now that we've seen it, it's actually true!
At this moment, Shen Huaichuan was still standing there, stunned.
When he was at the door, he naturally smelled that alluring fragrance.
But ever since I was ten, my memories of home have been like an ice cellar, forever cold and desolate.
There was no aroma of food, not even a trace of human presence; it was eerily quiet, as if time itself had stood still.
Besides working in the military, the parents also had to search for their missing eldest brother. Their second brother had joined the army early on and entered a classified unit.
He has been used to living independently since he was ten years old.
I never imagined that the enticing aroma of meat would come from my own home.
But unexpectedly...
Seeing him still standing there dumbfounded at the door, Zhou Qiqi couldn't help but call out crisply, "What are you standing there for? Come on in!"
Shen Huaichuan's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as he swallowed the inexplicable emotions in his heart and softly replied, "Coming."
When he finished washing his hands and hurried into the house, the food was already neatly served on the table.
White rice, tempting braised pork, flavorful braised eggs, and blanched and chopped green vegetables.
The braised meat smelled incredibly fragrant, even better than what the cafeteria chef made.
Shen Huaichuan couldn't help but ask, "Did you do all of this?"
"Of course!"
Zhou Qiqi nodded vigorously with a proud look on her face, and then pointed to the inside and outside of the house, and then to herself.
"I did all the decorating in the house, what do you think?"
Shen Huaichuan is an expert in reconnaissance. When carrying out a mission, he can keenly detect all the subtle changes in the surrounding environment within a second.
But just now, his gaze and his thoughts were completely drawn to the woman in the red dress who was washing his hands and cooking for him.
Although I knew there had been big changes at home, I hadn't really looked closely at the specifics of what had changed.
When Zhou Qiqi asked him this question, his gaze followed the direction of her finger and finally settled on himself, whom she was pointing to.
Her ears turned red, and she replied softly, "It looks good."
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