Chapter 81 His woman is a rose with thorns
"Commander, we...we just heard it from others..." the soldier said cautiously, "It's all over the compound, they're saying...saying that Teacher Jiang brought a strange man home..."
"Bullshit!" Zhao Wenchang shoved him away.
When she wasn't around, this is how these people bullied her woman?!
After finishing her business at the hospital, Jiang Wanqiu dragged her tired body home. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Zhao Wenchang sitting on a chair in the living room, an unlit cigarette between his fingers. Hearing the door open, he looked up.
Their eyes met, and the anger in the man's eyes instantly turned into a deep pool.
"You're back?"
Jiang Wanqiu hummed in agreement and walked over, immediately noticing the bandage on his arm that was starting to bleed.
Her heart clenched, and she reached out to carefully touch his arm: "Why is it bleeding again? Wasn't it just tied up yesterday? Did you not listen to me and move around again?"
Zhao Wenchang casually tossed the cigarette onto the table, then pulled her into his arms and made her sit on his strong lap.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath, as if only in this way could he calm the restlessness in his heart.
"It's nothing, just a minor injury," he said listlessly. "But what were you up to today?"
Jiang Wanqiu patted the man on the back: "It's not a big deal, but it can't be explained in just a few words."
She turned to look at the still-dark sky outside: "Okay, you wait here for a bit, I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy you an old hen and make you some nourishing soup. We can talk about the rest later."
“I’ll go with you.” Zhao Wenchang immediately stood up as well.
"You're covered in injuries, why are you running around with me like this?" He forcefully pushed the man back into the chair. "You, just stay home and don't move!"
Jiang Wanqiu gave a few more words of reassurance before heading to the supply and marketing cooperative with her vegetable basket.
But as soon as she entered the room, she immediately felt countless strange gazes fixed on her.
The military wives who would usually greet her warmly were now gathered in twos and threes, pointing at her and whispering among themselves.
Sun Xiaomei's staunch ally, Sister Wang, was yelling at the people around her in a sarcastic tone: "Oh, some people are really something! The moment their husbands are defending the country's borders, they can't stand the loneliness and their homes are as lively as a theatrical performance. Aren't they afraid of making their husbands lose face?"
A young military wife named Xiao Li, who had recently joined the army and looked to be in her early twenties, was frightened by Sister Wang's blatant provocation. She wanted to hide but dared not, and could only steal quick glances at Jiang Wanqiu out of the corner of her eye.
Jiang Wanqiu paused, tightening her grip on the basket.
However, to everyone's surprise, when Jiang Wanqiu heard this, she not only did not secretly shrink back and hide, but instead walked directly in front of Sister Wang without any fear.
“Sister-in-law,” she began, her voice cool and clear, “you may have a mouth, but you can’t just say whatever you want. The military compound has its own rules. You should know better than me the importance of being careful with your words.”
She glanced around at the onlookers and continued, "Today, I know exactly who gossiped about me behind my back and what they said. I have nothing to hide; if any of you want to investigate, I'll open my door and let everyone check. If they can't find anything, I'll take this to the political department and have them charged with 'defaming a military family member.' Every single one of you will be implicated!"
Upon hearing this, the previously noisy supply and marketing cooperative instantly fell silent.
Sister Wang was surprised that this thin, small, seemingly delicate, fair-skinned woman had such a sharp tongue, and muttered a few words: "She just talks big and tries to scare people."
Jiang Wanqiu frowned and grabbed the other woman's wrist: "Are you just spouting nonsense? Since you've already said that, come with me to the Political Department now! We can talk to the leaders face to face!"
Sister Wang felt a sharp pain in her wrist when she was pulled, and was even more startled by the cold light in her eyes.
Normally, when the women in the compound quarrel, it's all very heated, with spittle flying everywhere. The one who's good at arguing wins, while the one who's bad at it can only go home and sulk. Who's ever seen anyone actually take it all the way to the Political Department? That's when things get serious!
Slandering military family members—once that label is attached, it will affect the future of your own husband!
"Oh dear, this...this is all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!" An older woman, Aunt Zhang, quickly stepped in to smooth things over, pulling Jiang Wanqiu's hand away. "Wanqiu, Sister Wang is just a gossip, she doesn't mean any harm, don't take it to heart."
She turned and nudged Sister Wang's arm, winking at her: "Hurry up and apologize to Wanqiu! We all live in the same courtyard, we see each other all the time, why make things so tense?"
Sister Wang's face flushed red and then turned pale. In front of so many people, she was forced to apologize to this little brat from the south. She was losing face.
But Jiang Wanqiu's eyes were fixed on her, as if she could be dragged to the political department the next second if she didn't speak.
After weighing the options, Sister Wang finally backed down, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth: "I'm...I'm sorry, I was just talking nonsense. That's just how I am, please don't take it to heart..."
Jiang Wanqiu then released her grip and coldly surveyed the onlookers. The military wives who had been whispering just moments before all avoided her gaze.
"I hope this is the last time." She said this, ignored everyone else, walked straight to the counter, and said to the sales clerk, "Comrade, could I have a chicken?"
After this incident, the people in the compound finally understood everything.
Battalion Commander Zhao's new wife looks like a delicate flower made of water, but in reality she is a rose with thorns and not to be trifled with.
Jiang Wanqiu carried a frozen chicken home. The old woman who sold the chicken said it was a "free-range" chicken that grew up foraging for food in the mountains and that it was very nutritious for making soup.
She found the name "stupid chicken" amusing, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.
As soon as she entered, she smelled a faint scent of smoke. Zhao Wenchang was sitting at the table, and upon seeing her return, he immediately stubbed out his cigarette.
Jiang Wanqiu put down the vegetable basket and took out the stiff chicken to show the man: "Look, this little silly chicken, I'll make you some soup. Speaking of which, the names of the chickens here are quite interesting."
Seeing the relaxed smile on her face, Zhao Wenchang softened his gaze as well.
Jiang Wanqiu deftly prepared the chicken, put it in an iron pot, added ginger slices and red dates, and put it on the stove to simmer. Soon, the rich aroma of meat filled the entire small house.
Zhao Wenchang took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing: "It smells so good! Your cooking skills are really amazing. Even the head chefs in the cafeteria can't make it taste like this."
Jiang Wanqiu was a little embarrassed by his praise, and curled the corners of her lips: "It's just cooking a chicken, it's not like I have any great skills."
The fire in the stove was burning brightly, making her fair cheeks glow red.
Zhao Wenchang looked at her and suddenly asked, "What happened on your end today?"
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