Wang Fengjiao smiled and said, "My dear sister, who wouldn't want to build it if it could be built? But it would cost a lot of money. Even though her husband is a political commissar, his allowance is not as high as that of Commander Lu."

"Political Commissar Zhang has only been in office for two years. Director Ding's salary at the health center is not high, and he has two college students at home. They appear to be living a glamorous life, but they are actually tightening their belts in secret. They are the only couple working in the military dependents' home, and it's hard for them to support their family, not to mention other families."

Yang Niannian said awkwardly, "Uh... I thought life would be easier in the army with a monthly allowance."

"Oh no, a few dozen yuan of allowance is not enough to support a large family."

Wang Fengjiao raised her head and smiled intriguingly, "Niannian, among the military families in our compound, Captain Lu has the most promising future. You have a bright future ahead of you. Although Captain Lu doesn't like to talk, he knows how to love his wife."

Although they had not been together for a long time, Yang Niannian also realized that Lu Shishen was considerate and caring, unlike most men who were chauvinistic.

Yang Niannian doesn't like to show off. She keeps Lu Shishen's kindness to herself and doesn't intend to share it with others. When she looked up and met Wang Fengjiao's smiling face, she felt that Wang Fengjiao was hiding something from her.

"Sister Wang, are you hiding something from me?"

Wang Fengjiao smiled even more and praised, "Nian Nian, although you are young, you are smart."

Yang Niannian blinked but didn't interrupt. Wang Fengjiao continued, "Let me tell you the truth. Director Ding doesn't like you for another reason."

"At first, the old leader wanted to match Captain Lu with Director Ding's daughter. Captain Lu hadn't become a captain at that time. Director Ding looked down on Captain Lu's grassroots family. Later, when she saw that Captain Lu was capable, she became attracted to him. Who knew that Captain Lu had filed a marriage application with you?"

“…”

She knew that Lu Shishen was young and promising, and must be coveted by many people.

Yang Niannian instantly became jealous and asked, "Sister Wang, what is the relationship between Shi Shen and Teacher An An?"

Wang Fengjiao didn't expect that Yang Niannian had only been in the army for two or three days and she already knew Teacher Zhou. "Did someone gossip about you?"

Hearing this, Yang Niannian was even more certain that there was something going on here that she didn't know about. "No one is gossiping. It was Zhou Xueli who brought An An home."

"We women are more sensitive to these things." Since Yang Niannian asked, Wang Fengjiao did not hide it. "Teacher Zhou likes Captain Lu, but Captain Lu does not like her. When she came to the military family compound to help Captain Lu clean up the house, she was driven away by Captain Lu, and he ordered An An not to bring anyone home at will."

Yang Niannian looked surprised, "There is such a thing."

Aren’t people these days very reserved in their emotions?

This teacher Zhou is really brave.

She felt even more sad. "So many people like him. I don't know if he will become proud and bully others in the future."

Wang Fengjiao swore, "Captain Lu will definitely not bully you. Back then, someone in the military compound beat his wife, and Captain Lu personally came out and said that domestic violence would be punished severely. Since then, no one dared to beat their wives. Can he still hit himself in the face?"

Yang Niannian laughed, "I noticed that he always had a stern face, but I didn't expect that he would also like to meddle in family matters."

"Captain Lu said that we cannot just love the country and not our families. The country is made up of thousands of families, and the families are made up of wives..."

"Captain Lu has no background. He rose to this position through his own efforts. How many eyes are watching him behind the scenes?"

"When Captain Lu first brought An An over, everyone thought he had brought in a burden. When he gets married, there will be quarrels over this child. Many people are waiting to see him make a fool of himself..."

Wang Fengjiao was an expert at chatting, she talked one sentence after another without any dull moments. From her, Yang Niannian got to know another side of Lu Shishen...

The weather was hot and the sun was like a fireball. The coal briquettes were dried in the afternoon. Yang Niannian piled them neatly in the corner of the kitchen. The toilet and bathroom were just completed. When she was paying the craftsmen, she caught a glimpse of Ding Lanying walking around the yard gate again, taking a look and leaving.

After a busy day, Yang Niannian's clothes were soaked with sweat. She took some clean clothes and went to take a shower. When she came out, she ran into Ye Meijing who was going to the bathroom. The two of them disliked each other and gave each other the cold look.

At half past five, Lu Shishen came back on time with a lunch box. An An hadn't come home yet. Lu Shishen opened the lunch box and pushed it in front of Yang Niannian, "If you're hungry, eat first."

Yang Niannian shook her head. "I'm not hungry yet. You don't need to bring food back from tomorrow morning. I'll cook on the coal stove."

A home with a homely atmosphere would be like a normal family. She decided to stay and get along well with Lu Shishen, and act like a wife.

Lu Shishen nodded and said "hmm", his eyes fell on her slender hand, "Is your hand feeling better?"

Yang Niannian spread out her palm to show him, "It's much better. Maybe the blister broke when I was sleeping last night. A layer of tender skin has grown back, so it doesn't hurt anymore."

Lu Shishen didn't say anything. The atmosphere was stagnant for a while. Yang Niannian felt a little awkward and changed the subject, asking, "Why did An An come back so late today?"

Worried about the child getting into trouble, Lu Shishen said, "I'll go ask Bingbing."

Yang Niannian stood up and said, "I'll go with you."

Lu Shishen nodded and said "hmm". He had long legs and big steps, and it was his habit for him to walk fast. He soon left Yang Niannian two or three meters behind, and Yang Niannian had to jog to keep up with him.

When he noticed something and slowed down, Yang Niannian almost bumped into his back. The two of them came to Yu Hongli's house, where the family was having dinner.

Yu Hongli and Sun Dashan put down their chopsticks and stood up, smiling and greeting, "Captain Lu, Nian Nian, have you eaten yet? Would you like to sit down and eat something?"

Lu Shishen shook his head and looked at Bingbing, "Did An An come back with you today?"

Bingbing was like a little pig, holding the bowl and chopsticks and shoveling rice into his mouth. Before he could swallow the food, he mumbled something, but no one could hear it clearly.

Sun Dashan patted him on the back of his head and said, "Swallow the food first."

Bingbing swallowed his food and replied gloatingly, "An An didn't pay attention in class, so Teacher Zhou kept him in school."

Yang Niannian breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the child was not lost, An An was not here. The two of them did not stay long. They said hello and walked out.

Yu Hongli and Sun Dashan carried the dishes and chopsticks to the gate of the courtyard and suddenly exclaimed, "Isn't that Teacher Zhou? She brought An An back."

Lu Shishen and Yang Niannian looked over and saw Zhou Xueli walking towards them holding An An. Yang Niannian subconsciously glanced at Lu Shishen and said sourly in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"Ms. Zhou is such a good and responsible teacher, and she is so nice to An An."

Lu Shishen felt that Yang Niannian's tone was not right. He looked down at her, but before he could say anything, Zhou Xueli came in front of him with An An.

Zhou Xueli had a stern face, as if she was about to accuse someone. "Captain Lu, it's a good thing that you're here. I want to talk to you alone."