Three days later, Xiaoman returned with Xiaohei and Zhou Lihua.
Xiaoman and Xiaohei were spotless. They didn't look like they'd been in the mountains for days; it was more like they'd just visited relatives in the city.
At first glance, Zhou Lihua looks the same as before. Her clothes are torn and dirty, her face is injured, and her hands are injured. But if you look closely, you'll find that Zhou Lihua's eyes are very bright.
The military wives who were chatting outside gathered around when they saw Xiaoman and Zhou Lihua.
They weren't familiar with Xiaoman, so they all surrounded Zhou Lihua and asked her questions.
A: "Pear Blossom, did you fall into a ditch?"
B: "Sister Zhou, have you collected any herbs?"
C: "Sister Zhou, how dare you go?"
Xiaoman looked at everyone and said, "You guys chat, I'm leaving now."
Zhou Lihua: "Then you should go back first."
"Um."
Once Xiaoman (the first solar term of the lunar calendar) was over, the problems faced by military wives changed.
A: "How come she's so clean?"
B: "What kind of herbs did she collect?"
C: "Is she really that amazing?"
After Zhou Lihua and the others had finished asking all the questions, she said, "I didn't fall into the ditch. The dirt on my clothes and the injuries on my face and hands were from when I was gathering herbs. Xiaoman is experienced, so she wasn't injured or got her clothes dirty. I gathered some herbs, and Xiaoman gathered about the same amount as me. I only went into the mountains to gather herbs because I had no other choice."
Zhou Lihua was carrying a basket, which Yi had already noticed: "I think your basket is quite heavy."
A: "You're not afraid we'll be envious, are you?"
C: "Even if we're envious, we wouldn't dare go."
Zhou Lihua smiled and said, "How could that be? We really didn't gather many herbs. Most of what's in this basket is mountain produce. You can see for yourselves if you don't believe me."
Zhou Lihua put the basket on the ground.
The military wives gathered around to take a look. Indeed, the baskets were mostly filled with mountain produce. Even so, the military wives were envious. There was already little produce in the nearby mountains, and with so many people picking it, it was long gone.
A: "Wow, there are so many wonderful things in the mountains."
B: "Sister, you didn't encounter any wolves this time, did you?"
C: "Girl, did you also find these mountain produce deep in the mountains?"
"I didn't find any. I picked these up deep in the mountains. You guys chat, I'm going home to rest."
A looked at Zhou Lihua's basket, wanting to ask Zhou Lihua for some but too embarrassed to ask.
Yi thought: This Zhou Lihua is really stingy. She didn't even offer them any of the mountain produce.
Zhou Lihua had thought about this problem. She felt that there were so many military spouses in the military region, and they all basically knew each other. If she gave one to each of them, she would be left with none. But it wouldn't be right to give one to one and not another.
C thought: Maybe I should go with them next time?
When Zhou Lihua returned home, no one was home. After putting her things away, she washed up, changed her clothes, and went to bed.
These past few days in the mountains, Zhou Lihua had to gather herbs and guard against wild animals, never daring to relax for a moment. Now, Zhou Lihua can finally get a good night's sleep.
Meanwhile, Battalion Commander Kong rushed home as soon as he finished work. His heart had been in his throat ever since Zhou Lihua left. When he arrived home, he found the door closed from the inside. He breathed a long sigh of relief. He knew Zhou Lihua was back. If the children were home, the door wouldn't be closed from the inside.
Battalion Commander Kong wanted to call Zhou Lihua to open the door for him, but he stopped after only calling out "Li." Battalion Commander Kong guessed that Zhou Lihua was either taking a shower or sleeping.
Just as Battalion Commander Kong climbed onto the wall, the fourth and fifth brothers returned.
The fifth son called out, "Dad."
The fourth son looked at the door: "Dad, is it Mom coming back?"
"Okay. Wait a moment, Dad will go in and open the door for you."
Fourth brother: "Hmm."
The fifth son wanted to say: "Dad, why don't you ask Mom to open the door for us?" He had barely uttered "Dad" when Battalion Commander Kong jumped off the wall.
After entering, Battalion Commander Kong first stood outside his and Zhou Lihua's room and listened. After listening, he assumed Zhou Lihua was asleep, so he pushed open the door and went in. Inside, he found that Zhou Lihua was indeed asleep.
Battalion Commander Kong walked to the bedside and looked at Zhou Lihua. She had injuries on her face and hands, but they were all minor. Still uneasy, Battalion Commander Kong lifted the blanket to check. He was still not satisfied and wanted to undress her to check further, but he was afraid she would misunderstand him if she woke up. After hesitating for a moment, Battalion Commander Kong gently undressed Zhou Lihua.
Now, Battalion Commander Kong was completely relieved. After that… Battalion Commander Kong looked at his wife, then at his second son, then back again…
Outside, the fourth brother looked at the gate: "Sister, why hasn't Dad opened the door for us yet?"
"Dad is probably talking to Mom."
"oh."
A while later.
"Sister, why hasn't Dad opened the door for us yet? Has he abandoned us?"
The fourth brother was also a little worried: "They may not have finished speaking yet."
"oh."
Inside the room, Battalion Commander Kong struggled with his reason and desire for a long time. In the end, reason barely won. Although reason prevailed, Battalion Commander Kong still indulged in a bit of eye candy before buttoning up Zhou Lihua's clothes.
Outside, the fifth brother was almost in tears before Battalion Commander Kong opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, the fifth brother ran over and hugged Battalion Commander Kong's leg: "Dad, don't abandon me."
Battalion Commander Kong was taken aback: "When did your father stop wanting you?"
"You wouldn't open the door for me."
Battalion Commander Kong blushed slightly: "Ahem... I had something to attend to earlier. Come on, let's go inside."
"Okay." The fifth sister clung to Battalion Commander Kong's leg, refusing to let go. Battalion Commander Kong had no choice but to pick her up. The fifth sister was overjoyed: "Dad, you're so good to me."
Battalion Commander Kong smiled. He used to think he was doing very well too.
The fifth brother put down his schoolbag, told Battalion Commander Kong, and went to the kitchen to cook porridge.
These past few days, Zhou Lihua has been away, and Battalion Commander Kong wanted the children to know how good it was to have her at home, so he didn't take them to the canteen for meals. The fourth child had just learned to cook and could only make porridge. After eating porridge for three days in a row, the eldest, second, and third children all turned green with envy.
A moment later, the fourth son ran out of the kitchen: "Dad, Dad, there's so much more food in the kitchen!"
"That must have been brought back by your mother."
Fourth son: "My mother is really amazing."
The fifth child ran to the kitchen and looked around: "Dad, there are really a lot of delicious things to eat."
Battalion Commander Kong emphasized again: "Those things were all brought back by your mother."
Fifth son: "My mother is so good."
Battalion Commander Kong patted his youngest daughter's head: "Yes, your mother is very good."
Fourth son: "Dad, can I add some wood ear mushrooms to the porridge?"
Since Zhou Lihua put the food in the kitchen, it was definitely for everyone to eat. However, Battalion Commander Kong wanted to elevate Zhou Lihua's status: "Those things were brought back by your mother. If you want to eat them, you'll have to ask your mother."
Fifth son: "Where is my mother?"
"Your mother is sleeping inside."
The fifth brother turned around and tried to run into the house.
Battalion Commander Kong immediately pulled her back: "Your mother is exhausted these past few days, don't disturb her."
"Then...then I'll go inside and keep watch." The fifth brother wanted to ask Zhou Lihua if they could eat those things as soon as she woke up.
Battalion Commander Kong knew what she was up to as soon as he heard that. "If your mother wakes up, you have to say first: 'Mother, you've worked so hard.' Got it?"
"I've got it."
"Go."
"Um."
After the fifth brother left, the fourth brother looked at Battalion Commander Kong and asked, "Should I wait until Mother wakes up before cooking porridge?"
"No need. I'll cook it now. Your mother has been exhausted for days and won't wake up anytime soon." Seeing something but not being able to eat it is worse than not seeing it at all, and not being able to eat it is even more painful.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com