AYLS – Chapter 107

The next day, Li Ermei went to the chicken farm carrying her anger. She walked quickly, even with her pregnant belly, making Lin Qiao and the others feel uneasy just watching her.

Lin Qiao called out, “Ermei, why are you walking so fast?”

“I’m about to explode with anger.” Li Ermei poured herself a cup of water and gulped it down. “I didn’t sleep well at all last night.”

“Did you have a fight? I didn’t hear anything.” Su Weizhen asked.

“They didn’t manage to win against me, but still, I couldn’t sleep well yesterday. That girl, Sun Qiao—how dare she sleep on my kang? That’s the kang that Old Chen and I sleep on. What does she think she’s doing?”

Li Yan’s face instantly turned red.

Lin Qiao said, “Well, it is cold these days. The kang is warm.”

“That’s still not okay. I just feel that woman is sneaky and dishonest—she’s definitely got designs on our Old Chen.”

Lin Qiao said, “No way, your Old Chen is married. He’s about to be a father.”

Li Ermei snapped, “How could it not be possible? If Old Chen cleans up a bit, he’s still easy on the eyes.”

Lin Qiao: “……”

“Anyway, I just feel she’s set her sights on our Old Chen. Otherwise, why would she act all pretentious in front of him?”

Su Weizhen didn’t doubt it—she thought it was possible. Sometimes a woman’s instincts were very accurate.

She had seen the woman herself. While not particularly striking in looks, she clearly knew how to manage a household—a quality that fit the current standard for men looking for a partner.

She said, “The key thing is that your Old Chen has a firm will. No matter what she thinks, it won’t matter.”

“If he dares, I’ll make sure he can’t stay here.” Li Ermei said angrily.

Lin Qiao immediately panicked. “Don’t! Why sacrifice your own happiness? Staying here is much better. If you go back, you’ll have to live with the in-laws. Your child won’t even have a good environment.”

She really didn’t want Ermei to go back home. What if she ended up following the same old path in a few years?

Li Ermei said, “Then what am I supposed to do? My Old Chen is so clueless.”

Li Yan said, “I don’t think it’s that bad. Look at how you usually bully Instructor Chen—he lets you get away with it. That shows he has feelings for you. He won’t easily change his heart.”

Li Ermei said, “I don’t believe you. Look at your Old Zhang.”

“…That’s because I wronged him.” Li Yan muttered quietly.

Arguing wasn’t solving anything, so the group finished their chores first. Once things quieted down, they gathered to give Li Ermei some advice.

Su Weizhen’s idea was to handle things through Instructor Chen. As long as he was sensible, there wouldn’t be much problem.

Or simply keep Old Chen from staying at home too often, keeping him away from her. The family from his hometown couldn’t stay here for long anyway—they’d have to leave when the time came. That would resolve everything. Once they left, Ermei could properly teach Instructor Chen.

This was Su Weizhen’s suggestion.

Lin Qiao agreed in principle, but still felt indignant. “At worst, just leave him. Letting your own wife suffer—what kind of man is that? Kick him and find someone better.”

Su Weizhen looked at her in amazement, thinking Lin Qiao was truly a woman ahead of her time.

Li Yan was also astonished. She herself had no feelings for Zhang Tuo back then and hadn’t thought about breaking up. Marriage was just marriage—you can’t just kick someone out…

Li Ermei, however, was displeased. “I’m not going to make things easy for someone else. I give birth to the child and raise it myself, and still have to call him ‘dad’? That’s too generous for him.”

This was being very meticulous.

Su Weizhen smiled and asked Li Ermei, “Do you love your Old Chen?”

“…Why ask that? How do I even put it into words…” Li Ermei looked like she didn’t want anyone to see her face.

Su Weizhen could tell immediately that Ermei still had feelings for Old Chen in her heart.

Lin Qiao sighed, “Each flower pleases its own eye.” Then, out of curiosity, she asked Li Ermei, “Back then, what did you see in Instructor Chen?”

Li Ermei said, “Well, back then I went to do laundry, and from afar, I saw Old Chen in his military uniform. He looked so proper, so different from the farmers in our village. Then I inquired a bit, and found out he had an education, was a cadre… such good conditions.”

She rubbed her belly. “I’m different from you all. My life had those kinds of conditions. Some of you had childhood betrothals, or came from good families, met many good people, and could choose. Me meeting Old Chen… it was really pretty good. At that time, girls from nearby brigades were all envious of me.”

“Besides, without Old Chen, I wouldn’t have come here, wouldn’t have met you all either.”

“And Old Chen doesn’t hit people or scold people. You wouldn’t know, but back home, if a man gets upset, he takes it out on his wife. In our house, only I get to be the one to throw a tantrum.” She said this with a hint of pride.

Lin Qiao finally understood Li Ermei’s feelings and felt a bit childish herself—imposing her own thoughts onto others.

Everyone’s experiences are different, and so are their choices. In Ermei’s heart, Instructor Chen was already a very good match. Though he had some flaws, they weren’t irredeemable.

Come to think of it, Gu Huayuan also had flaws—always so clever, making her feel embarrassed, and petty, prone to getting angry.

“Ermei, don’t worry. If you can’t bear to let go of Instructor Chen, no one can take him from you. And if he’s not obedient, I’ll have Gu Huayuan break his leg.”

Li Ermei: “…”

At noon, Lin Qiao went back and spoke to Gu Huayuan, asking him to find a way to persuade Instructor Chen.

Men understand men. Lin Qiao even gave him money and tickets to treat him to a meal—settling issues over food and drink outside. Isn’t there a saying? There’s nothing you can’t solve at a Huaguo dining table.

Gu Huayuan looked at the money and tickets, half laughing, half exasperated. “You really want to meddle? Weren’t you still supporting them before?”

Lin Qiao said seriously, “No. Ermei likes Instructor Chen, she can’t bear to let him go. Don’t mention it again and make her unhappy. She’s carrying a baby.”

“Alright, I’ll try my best.”

“Let’s just hope Instructor Chen doesn’t stay stubborn.”

That afternoon, Gu Huayuan arranged to have lunch with Instructor Chen at the cafeteria.

Instructor Chen hesitated. “I have people at home, I should go back to take care of them.”

Gu Huayuan said, “Even if you get the food at the cafeteria and bring it home, it’s the same. How long has it been since we all ate together?”

“You’re right.” Instructor Chen valued these friendships deeply.

“Then I’ll have someone help deliver it, and I can also inform my parents.”

Once the meals were prepared, a soldier helped deliver them. Gu Huayuan, Instructor Chen, Xu Yuanzheng, and Zhang Tuo went to a county-run restaurant together.

Instructor Chen felt embarrassed, having someone treat him, and promised to return the favor later.

Gu Huayuan said, “No rush. Your wife will give birth in a couple of months anyway. We’ll just celebrate with the banquet then.”

“No problem, hahaha.” Instructor Chen was happy, looking forward to his son’s birth.

Zhang Tuo listened, full of envy, and a little dejection.

Xu Yuanzheng said, “Old Chen, you’re the first among us to become a dad. Tell us, how do you plan to raise the child?”

“It’s just like raising children in the compound. Feed them, clothe them, then send them to school. Must send them to school. I tell you, my parents worked hard for me to study. My teachers praised me in front of my parents, said I had potential, and told me that studying leads to success. That’s how I got to where I am today. So studying really works. I support my nephews back home to study too.”

Gu Huayuan asked, “Until when do you plan to support them?”

“Of course, all the way through university.” Instructor Chen said proudly.

Gu Huayuan said, “Yo, Old Chen, you better plan early. Otherwise, it’ll be hard to support them. Look at our company commander, even with a son, raising him is stressful. A growing child eats you out of house and home, and the older ones must be sent back home to earn food. Are you only having one child?”

Instructor Chen: “…Of course not.”

“Then you better work hard. Kids cost more than just school fees. Food, clothing… all big expenses. Can’t let them go hungry, right?”

Instructor Chen nodded.

Xu Yuanzheng added, “I’m not in a hurry. I already save money for my unborn child every month. Food and necessities must be prepared early. Speaking bluntly, we’re soldiers, right? We never know when a mission will come, when… think about it, if we don’t save, how tough will it be for the child?”

The topic made everyone fall silent for a moment.

Soldiers never shy away from such matters. Everyone has seen life and death; it just hits differently when you think about it.

Instructor Chen thought, if something happened to him, what would happen to Ermei and the child…

“My family’s okay.” he said.

Xu Yuanzheng said, “Old Chen, how can you? You were raised by your family and now want to pass the burden back?”

Gu Huayuan said, “Rely on yourself, not others. You must have a sense of responsibility.”

Instructor Chen: “…”

At this point, there was no need to say more.

The group continued eating merrily. They chatted about people coming from Instructor Chen’s hometown. Gu Huayuan mentioned the northwest weather is unpredictable, heavy rain and snow can come, so preparations must be made early. Buy what’s needed, have it ready when people leave, don’t rush. Tickets must be booked in advance, otherwise parking issues arise. The elders still prefer to return home for the New Year.

Instructor Chen felt quite relieved. Look at that—everyone was genuinely concerned about him. “I’ll go back and ask my parents when they plan to leave. Better to prepare early.”

After finishing their meal, the group rode their bikes home. Sure enough, snow began falling along the way.

Instructor Chen thought even more that it was better to arrange for his family to leave early; otherwise, heavy snow could block the roads and cause trouble.

When they passed the military district compound, they were still chatting. At the entrance, Sun Qiao, wrapped in a scarf, called out to Instructor Chen, startling him. “Sister Qiao, what are you doing here?”

“My uncle and aunt were worried about you and asked me to check on you along the way. I don’t know the route either, so I just waited here.” She looked a little embarrassed and cast a glance toward Gu Huayuan and the others.

She only glanced briefly and then lowered her head shyly. Her hands kept fidgeting with her scarf out of nervousness.

Zhang Tuo was the first to say he was heading back to the dorm. It wasn’t on the way anyway, so after a quick greeting, he left.

Gu Huayuan cleared his throat. “I’m heading back too—Xiao Qiao is waiting.” That girl was a real jealous type.

Xu Yuanzheng said, “I’ll leave too.”

Instructor Chen asked, “You’re going my way, right? Can’t we go together?”

“I’m on my bike—it’s inconvenient. It’s cold, so I won’t wait for you.” Xu Yuanzheng said and left, worried that his wife might be unhappy if he walked close to another female colleague.

So it was just Instructor Chen and Sun Qiao left.

Instructor Chen sighed. “Let’s go. Honestly, you didn’t have to come to meet me.”

“I didn’t have anything to do, so I just came out for a walk,” Sun Qiao replied, embarrassed. She asked, “Were those people just now all your comrades?”

“Yes, all people I know. Their wives are at the chicken farm with your Third Sister-in-law.”

Sun Qiao’s face fell slightly. “Oh, I thought those who are married live in the compound. Why did some of them leave just now?”

“You mean him? He’s got a few things to handle temporarily, so he’s staying in the dorm.”

Instructor Chen didn’t want to gossip, so he left it at that.

But Sun Qiao wanted to know.

She had never seen much of the world before, and she used to think that Chen’s Third Brother was the best man. But now, seeing it for herself, they were all good—top-notch, in fact.

It was just a pity they were all married.

Of course, all the good matches were already taken.

Sun Qiao had no other thoughts; she just wanted to find a good husband. Life back home was harsh, and the days of fleeing famine were even harder. Even in the Chen household, she had to read people’s faces everywhere. She had never experienced a good day in her life.

Her only wish was to marry into a good family.

For example, someone like Li Ermei, whose life moved with the army, was doing quite well—taking care of the household and not burdening her husband. The husband just needed to provide a stable home, and she wouldn’t have to suffer under a mother-in-law or sisters-in-law.

At Third Brother Chen’s household, everyone said his wife wasn’t good and that their relationship wasn’t strong. Between the lines, it was implied that he should find another. Sun Qiao thought, if he’s going to look, why not pick her? After all, why let someone else benefit from it?

That was exactly what she had been thinking just now. Li Ermei was a shrew, lazy, and didn’t deserve Third Brother Chen.

But just now, she felt a sense of disappointment.