Li Huai is quite handy; he made the partition out of wooden planks, and after half an hour of clanging and banging, the partition was finished.
He still had to go to work, so after finishing his work, Li Huai put on his coat and left.
As soon as he left, the metal bunk bed was delivered.
The young soldiers in charge of logistics carried the bed into the room and set it up. As soon as the others left, the three children curiously gathered around the iron-framed bed and examined it.
Erwa insisted on sleeping on the top bunk, but after being glared at by his older brother, he gave up.
Perhaps still not satisfied, he went to Zhao Qinglan again, hoping that the official would make the decision.
As a result, Zhao Qinglan also said that the eldest child would stay in the upper bunk, and the second child could only leave with a long face.
Living on the top bunk is so cool, but alas, he can't afford to offend either his brother or his stepmother.
After helping her neighbors with chores in the morning, Zhao Qinglan made the most of her afternoons to teach the three children.
The older children have now gotten used to studying for half a day every day.
Because the eldest and second children don't go out to play with their old friends much anymore, people started gossiping.
Qian Hongxia has always resented that she was wronged and that the leaders did not stand up for her and her son.
Zhao Qinglan doesn't go out much, so she didn't run into them and instead asked about her sons, Da Bao and Da Wa.
After Yang Dabao told her that he hadn't seen Da Wa and Er Wa much lately, Qian Hongxia started slandering them at home.
"Hmph, it must be that Zhao Qinglan. I knew it. No stepmother is as kind as her. She probably keeps her locked up at home and abuses her every day."
Because she nagged so much, Yang Dabao remembered it and spread it around when he went out to play with others.
Many of the children expressed sympathy for the two poor brothers, and some said they would go home and tell their parents.
The story spread that Zhao Qinglan kept Da Wa and Er Wa locked up at home every day, beating and scolding them, and treating the two brothers like servants.
Li Huai was feeling quite pleased with himself after finishing the partition in his son's room when one of his close associates, a company commander, came looking for him.
"Deputy Regiment Commander, um, I'm going to say something, but please don't be angry."
"Speak up, what is it? You look like you're constipated," Li Huai said, puzzled.
"Well, when you go back, you should also keep an eye on your sister-in-law, otherwise it won't be good for you in the future."
Li Huai was stunned. "What do you mean?"
No way, the deputy regimental commander was already being controlled by his new wife the moment he arrived? The company commander, who thought he had told the truth, wished he could sew his mouth shut right now.
"I'm asking you a question, are you mute?"
"Deputy Regiment Commander, I didn't say anything. Just pretend I farted." With that, he turned and ran.
Li Huai reacted quickly, grabbing the man's collar and pulling him back.
"Don't leave until you explain yourself clearly."
"Why is this threatening?" the quick-witted company commander said with a mournful face.
But seeing the serious face of his deputy regimental commander, he could only carefully and tactfully recount everything he had heard.
The more Li Huai listened, the uglier his expression became.
What's all this about? The two kids aren't going out, partly because it's too cold outside and Zhao Qinglan is worried they'll catch a cold, and partly because she wants to teach them.
These people know nothing; all they do is speculate and spread rumors.
“If anyone says that again, tell them to stop talking nonsense. Your sister-in-law is just worried the kids will get cold, that’s why she doesn’t let them out,” Li Huai said coldly.
"Yes, yes, deputy regimental commander, can I go now?" He would never speak so quickly again.
"Go away, go away." Li Huai waved his hand to shoo him away.
These baseless rumors ruined his good mood.
The low pressure persisted until I got home from get off work.
As soon as I stepped outside, I saw the regimental commander and the newly arrived Battalion Commander Qu.
The three families lived in the same place, so they walked back together.
Battalion Commander Qu had just arrived and was busy with many things to hand over, so he didn't go back at noon and therefore didn't know about the help Zhao Qinglan and Wu Mei had given him.
Li Huai heard about it from Zhao Qinglan when he got home at noon, but he wouldn't bring it up to boast about it.
Battalion Commander Qu was just over thirty, but he was still under the command of the even younger Li Huai. It would be impossible for him not to have any thoughts about it.
So even while walking on the street, she kept secretly glancing at Li Huai.
Sun Shengli and Li Huai chatted and laughed along the way, while Battalion Commander Qu didn't say much and mostly just listened.
The three of them parted ways once they arrived home.
As soon as Battalion Commander Qu entered the house, he saw that everything was tidied up, and a smile appeared on his face.
"You're back. Dinner will be a while. Sit down and rest for a bit." Wei Hong came out wearing an apron.
While cooking, she kept rambling on, mentioning that Zhao Qinglan and Wu Mei had come to help earlier that day.
After learning that his neighbor was both the deputy regimental commander and the regimental commander, Battalion Commander Qu felt lucky. Now, listening to his wife's description, he learned that the other party's spouse also had a good temper, which made him feel even more relaxed.
After eating, before even washing up, he eagerly carried his wife to bed.
"I haven't washed yet."
"Why wash? We have everything we need except a child."
The small bedroom was instantly filled with the warmth of spring...
Next door, after dinner, the three children would usually help Zhao Qinglan clean up; it had become a habit over the past few days.
However, Zhao Qinglan didn't allow it this time. She only sent the three children to wash up, while she slowly tidied up outside by herself.
That's right, she used the delaying tactic.
Not knowing how to face the "fierce and ravenous" Li Huai once she entered the room, she decided to stall until he fell asleep before going in.
Actually, she didn't mind having a relationship with Li Huai. Although their meeting in this life was very sudden, Li Huai was not a stranger to her.
She just didn't know why, but she still felt a little awkward, and she didn't want things to progress too quickly for the time being.
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