Three people entered through the door; all three were young married women, none of whom Han Bin recognized.
When they came in, Lao Shang and Lao Guo had gone back to their rooms to rest. Xiao Qin was helping Nao Nao and Tengteng wash the dishes in the kitchen. Zuo Zuo, You You, and their younger brother were playing with the wolf in the yard, while their older sister stood watching. Xiao Hei was wandering around in the yard. Xiao Man had already gone back inside, and Han Bin was about to call his sister to come in with him.
As soon as they came in, Zuo Zuo, You You, the older sister, and the younger brother all greeted them with "Hello, Auntie!"
Han Bin greeted them as well. After greeting them, Han Bin turned around and said into the house, "Xiaoman, we have guests."
Xiaoman came out of the house: "Hello, please come in and sit down."
The three young wives also wanted to come in and sit down. But as soon as they entered, the old wolf stared at them.
Liu Ling looked at Han Bin and Xiao Man and said, "Hello, Deputy Division Commander, hello, Sister-in-law. Old Wolf is watching me, so I don't dare to move."
As soon as Zhao Hong came in, she stared at Zuo Zuo and You You and said, "Sister-in-law, your two sons look so alike."
Wang Ping was quite curious about her sister: "Sister-in-law, your daughter is so well-behaved."
Han Bin went over and patted the old wolf: "Lie down."
Xiaoman smiled and said, "Come in."
Liu Ling: "Okay."
Han Bin: "Please sit down, I'm going to work."
Xiaoman: "Mmm."
Han Bin called out to the kitchen: "Xiao Qin, let's go."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qin, Nao Nao, and Tengteng came out of the kitchen.
Xiao Qin was carrying a bag of pastries.
Nao Nao and Tengteng, their hands still wet, said, "Goodbye, Dad."
"Um."
Zuo Zuo, You You, and their younger brother: "Goodbye, Dad. Goodbye, Uncle Qin."
The older sister ran over and hugged Han Bin's leg: "Dad, go to work."
"Mmm." Han Bin rubbed his sister's head. "It's so much fun."
The older sister wrinkled her nose: "I want to play with Grandpa Shang."
Han Bin pinched his sister's nose: "Dad's gone. You have to listen to your mother at home."
"Okay. Goodbye, Dad. Goodbye, Uncle Qin."
Liu Ling, Zhao Hong, and Wang Ping hadn't entered the house yet. Watching their sister and Han Bin talk, they all thought to themselves: "Isn't this girl supposed to be pretty smart? Why is she sitting there motionless as soon as we come out?"
After Han Bin and Xiao Qin left, Xiao Man led Liu Ling, Zhao Hong, and Wang Ping into the house.
After they sat down, Xiaoman poured them a cup of tea.
Liu Ling, an outgoing woman, said: “Sister-in-law, my name is Liu Ling. My husband’s surname is Wei. He is a battalion commander under Deputy Division Commander Han.”
Then, Liu Ling pointed to Zhao Hong and said, "Her name is Zhao Hong. Her husband's surname is An, and he is also a battalion commander under Deputy Division Commander Han."
Finally, Liu Ling pointed to Wang Ping and said, "Her name is Wang Ping, her husband's surname is Zhou, and he is from another division and is also a battalion commander. The three of us are neighbors."
Xiaoman smiled and said, "My surname is Wang, and my name is Xiaoman. You all know my husband. You are welcome to come to my home." Now that Han Bin is the deputy division commander, if she is too cold to them, they will think she looks down on them.
Liu Ling is not only outgoing but also straightforward: "Sister-in-law, I just saw your two eldest sons come out of the kitchen with wet hands. Sister-in-law, were they washing pots and pans in the kitchen?" Usually, the girls help their mothers wash pots and pans, while the boys usually go out to play after eating.
"Yes. I have many sons."
Liu Ling was both surprised and envious: "Sister-in-law, your son is so filial."
Xiaoman smiled.
Zhao Hong: "Sister-in-law, I heard that some people tie sandbags to their legs when they practice kung fu. Sister-in-law, is your daughter practicing kung fu by carrying stones on her back?"
"No. She just likes that stone."
Zhao Hong: "You like stones?"
"Um."
Zhao Hong: "I thought she was practicing martial arts. Sister-in-law, that rock looks quite big. Sister-in-law, your daughter is really strong."
Xiaoman smiled and said, "She takes after me; I'm strong too."
Liu Ling, Zhao Hong, and Wang Ping were quite surprised to hear this.
Liu Ling: "Sister-in-law, you look quite slim."
"Strength has nothing to do with weight. Do you have children?"
Liu Ling: "No. Sister-in-law, you're from the city, right?"
"No. I'm from the countryside, and my parents are farmers."
Liu Ling: "Sister-in-law, you don't look like you come from the countryside at all."
Zhao Hong: "She doesn't look like she's from the countryside, and she doesn't look like a mother either. Sister-in-law, if you didn't say you have a child, people would definitely think you're not married."
Liu Ling: "Absolutely. Sister-in-law, how do you maintain your youthful appearance? Could you teach us?"
Xiaoman smiled and said, "How would I know about those things? My family has been poor farmers for eight generations. My husband is too."
Liu Ling: "Sister-in-law, you really don't look like someone from the countryside."
Xiaoman smiled and said, "Many people say that. But I come from the countryside."
Han Bin is the deputy division commander. Xiao Man said she didn't have any special beauty regimen, so Liu Ling and the others felt embarrassed to ask any more questions. After chatting about other things for a while, Liu Ling left with Zhao Hong and Wang Ping.
As Wang Ping left, she glanced at her older sister again. She had previously thought the sister was simple-minded, so she hadn't paid much attention. Now, looking closely, her sister's skin seemed better than that of other girls her age.
After leaving Xiaoman's house, Wang Ping asked Liu Ling and Zhao Hong, "Do you think Deputy Division Commander Han's wife has such good skin naturally? I think her daughter's skin is better than other girls' too."
Liu Ling: "What? I think they just don't want to tell us."
Zhao Hong: "I think so too. What do you think? If Commander Miao's wife or Commander Lü's wife asked her, would she answer?"
Wang Ping: "Really? I think Deputy Division Commander Han's wife is a good person."
Liu Ling: "Anyway, I don't believe it. But their tea is quite delicious."
Zhao Hong: "Yes. I've never had such delicious tea before."
Wang Ping: "I also think it smells quite good. I wonder where she buys her tea? I should have asked her earlier."
Liu Ling: "Even if we asked, we couldn't afford it. Tea that smells this good must be very expensive."
Zhao Hong: "Hmm. If that's the case, then Deputy Division Commander Han's wife is quite generous, treating us to such good tea."
Liu Ling: "If that's the case, then Deputy Division Commander Han's wife is quite generous. So why is she reluctant to tell us how to take care of ourselves?"
Wang Ping: "Maybe they're worried we can't afford it. I've heard that women from wealthy families used to eat bird's nest every day. Maybe Deputy Division Commander Han's wife also eats bird's nest every day, which is why she's so young. If that's true, even if they tell us, we still can't afford it."
Liu Ling: "That's true. There used to be a saying: the rich take tonics, the poor soak their feet. I think we should just go home and soak our feet."
Zhao Hong: "Aren't Deputy Division Commander Han and his wife both from the countryside?"
Liu Ling: "Yes. The couple is supporting six children and two elderly people. Where would they get the money to buy bird's nest?"
Zhao Hong: "Exactly, where did they get the money?"
On the other side, after Nao Nao and Tengteng finished washing the dishes, Xiaoman asked them to take their younger siblings out to play.
The younger brother is very fond of the old wolf: "Mom, can I take the old wolf out to play?"
"No. If you bring Old Wolf along, the other kids won't dare to play with you."
The younger brother asked, confused, "Why?"
"The old wolf will bite."
Brother: "With my sister around, the wolf won't bite. Mom, the wolf is very well-behaved in front of my sister."
Xiaoman glanced at her sister: "Why are you acting like a wolf?"
Sister: "It tried to kick my brother, so I kicked it."
Xiaoman found it a bit strange: "He subdued the old wolf with just one kick?"
Sister: "Mmm."
Younger brother: "Mom, let us take the old wolf out to play."
Xiaoman: "No. Old Wolf has to stay home and guard the house."
Younger brother: "Okay then."
After the children left, Xiaoman felt increasingly uneasy. Could it be that this wicked heaven didn't know that if it gave its daughter a special mount, she would kill that mount and let all the animals in the world become its daughter's mounts?
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