Chapter 11 Milk Scandal
That evening, when Huo Chenzhou returned, he did indeed bring milk, but it was Bright Dairy brand milk powder.
In those days, milk powder was very rare. When she went to the supply and marketing cooperative today, the salesperson said that all the milk powder was sold out.
Huo Chenzhou said, "This is milk powder issued by the military childcare institution. It is a family benefit. You will drink a cup every morning and evening from now on."
Shen Zhixia poured a cup of milk into an enamel mug. The warm milk was milky white and smelled very sweet.
She took a sip; the milk powder was very pure at this time, with a rich milky aroma.
She never expected that simply drinking milk powder would cause such a dispute.
Shen Zhixia bought several pieces of clothing. She washed them with clean water and hung them on the clothesline outside the barracks.
That day, she went to collect the laundry.
Upon seeing this, Old Mrs. Li raised her voice: "Oh, I heard that the young lady drinks Golden Dew every day?"
"We rough folks have never tasted milk in our lives."
In those days of scarcity, even milk powder from the supply and marketing cooperative required precious coupons, let alone fresh milk. The only reason she was able to get milk was because her husband was a regimental commander, and the childcare institution provided special care for military families.
After finding out, Old Mrs. Li had already begun to feel jealous.
“This is for the child to drink.” Shen Zhixia frowned.
She's pregnant, that's no secret. Besides, the baby formula was given to her by Huo Chenzhou. Even if it's because of his status that she's being treated this way, as Huo Chenzhou's wife and pregnant, she can accept this special treatment. It's definitely not something Old Madam Li can object to.
To put it bluntly, Old Mrs. Li was just meddling in other people's business.
"For the child? I think it's just for your own enjoyment!" Old Mrs. Li slammed the wooden basin down on the ground, splashing water that soaked her cloth shoes. "Our family is so poor. Even when I have a fever, I can't even get a sip of sugar water. But you, you're drinking milk and getting fat."
She glanced at the woman beside her and said, "Guilan is pregnant too, but she still washes clothes and cooks every day. Why is she so delicate? Guilan, don't you think so?"
The woman beside her had an oval face, her complexion was as pale as paper, her eyes were long and delicate with slightly sunken eye sockets, and she lowered her eyes, looking timid like a frightened fawn. Although she looked quite old, she appeared pitiful.
Upon hearing this, she looked at Old Mrs. Li in alarm, but only bit her lower lip and did not deny it.
There weren't many pregnant women in the military camp, and this woman was Chen Guilan, the widowed sister-in-law of Deputy Regiment Commander Zhou.
Chen Guilan said softly, "Grandma Li, please stop talking. Commander Huo just dotes on his wife. He always makes sure she drinks all the milk. Unlike someone as unfortunate as me."
Although she said not to mention it, her tone was unpleasant.
Grandma Li clicked her tongue and said unhappily, "Come on, who knows if this milk was skimped on from the nursery?"
"No wonder she's from a capitalist family, she's so lucky. She drinks milk and wears fine cloth every day, and who knows how many gold bars she has hidden away."
Hidden gold bars...
As soon as she said this, everyone around her stared at Shen Zhixia.
Shen Zhixia came from a good family; she was a young lady from the city, cultured and beautiful—this was common knowledge. Back then, many people envied Huo Chenzhou for marrying such a wife.
Most of the women in the military camp came from rural backgrounds, and when Shen Zhixia stood next to them, the differences were quite obvious.
Shen Zhixia's eyes instantly turned cold. She slowly straightened up, her back ramrod straight, exuding a sharp aura. Her usually gentle almond-shaped eyes now seemed to be filled with ice, her gaze like a knife shooting towards Old Madam Li: "Old Madam Li, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. Which eye of yours saw me hiding anything? It's you who's always gossiping and spreading rumors in the barracks. Don't you just want to see others doing well?"
Startled by her gaze and words, Old Mrs. Li took a half step back, but quickly retorted, "Everyone has seen it all. In this military camp, you haven't done a single household chore, like washing clothes, cooking, fetching water, or planting vegetables! Why are you living so comfortably?"
"I live comfortably because my husband fought his way to the battlefield!" Shen Zhixia retorted sharply, her voice clear and loud, echoing above the well platform. "My husband risked his life on the front lines to protect our country. As his wife, what's wrong with me enjoying the treatment I deserve? It's you who always brings up your background. Do you think the revolution only looks at the past and not the present? Are you blind to the contributions Commander Huo has made to the army?"
She took a step forward, and Old Mrs. Li subconsciously shrank back. Shen Zhixia continued, "Besides, even though I didn't do those housework, did I not contribute to the military camp? I can read and do accounting. I've only just arrived at the military camp and am still getting used to the environment. After I give birth to my child, I can help the cultural instructor teach literacy classes, so that no one will say I'm freeloading."
"You...you're just being unreasonable!" Old Mrs. Li's face turned red with anger, and she pounded her cane heavily on the ground.
"I'm just making excuses?" Shen Zhixia sneered. "You're old and should be enjoying your retirement, but instead you're spreading rumors and causing trouble all day long. Don't you feel any remorse? If you can't produce evidence that I'm hiding something, this isn't over!"
Her voice was powerful and resonant, each word ringing out, causing those around her to tremble involuntarily.
Quiet murmurs arose from the surrounding area.
When Zhang Weihong passed by and saw what was happening, she quickly said, "The literacy class is short-staffed. My son Huwa is really clamoring to learn to write."
“My husband always says he has trouble filling out forms. What we need right now is a teacher. If someone could teach us, that would be great.”
Grandma Li opened her mouth, but could no longer speak.
"What happened?"
A deep voice suddenly rang out, and Huo Chenzhou strode over. His eyes under his military cap were as cold as ice in the twelfth lunar month. He walked straight to Shen Zhixia's side, reached out and shielded her behind him. The wind stirred up by the hem of his military uniform swept across the clothesline.
Zhang Weihong complained: "Grandma Li said that the milk Xiao Shen drank was deducted from the nursery."
When Old Mrs. Li met Huo Chenzhou's gaze, she was startled, and the mallet in her hand clattered to the ground: "Commander Huo, I was just saying..."
"Tell me about it?" Huo Chenzhou scanned the crowd, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Every milk allocated by the supplies department is recorded. My wife is a military dependent and is entitled to the supplies according to regulations. It's none of your business to gossip!"
He paused, his voice growing colder, "If anyone feels that their family's supplies have been unfairly distributed, come with me to the logistics department right now to check the accounts!"
Outside the barracks, all was silent except for the rustling of the clothesline. Old Mrs. Li opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't dare to make a sound.
Huo Chenzhou turned around and took Shen Zhixia's hand, his voice softening: "Let's go home."
His palms were broad and warm, enveloping her small hands.
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