PWE – Chapter 153

The next day, when Xiao Wange woke up, Zhan Zeyan had already left.

However, before leaving, he had prepared breakfast, which was kept warm in a pot.

Although many places had started using gas by now, it clearly hadn’t reached this area yet, so the family housing compound still relied on firewood.

A single log still burned in the stove, though the flame was very small—so small that two taps with the tongs would extinguish it.

Xiao Wange put out the flame and then got up to take everything that had been warmed in the pot out.

There were two eggs and a plate of pancakes.

She placed the eggs and pancakes on the dining table, then prepared two cups of malted milk.

At this moment, Zhaozhao woke up as well.

Rubbing his still-sleepy eyes, he looked at Xiao Wange and asked, “Mom, where’s Dad?”

Xiao Wange walked over, adjusted his clothes, and smiled. She picked him up and carried him to the table. “Your dad’s already gone to work. Let’s eat first, and after breakfast, I’ll take you out for a little walk.”

Upon hearing they were going out, Zhaozhao immediately perked up.

He climbed onto a chair by himself and picked up a pancake. “Okay. Let’s eat quickly, so we can go out sooner.”

Xiao Wange smiled. Although Zhaozhao was usually sensible, he was still a child. Children naturally liked to go out and explore new things.

But when Zhaozhao took a bite of his pancake, he frowned slightly.

Seeing this, Xiao Wange quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Is the pancake not to your liking?”

Zhaozhao swallowed the bite and, frowning, looked at his mother. “It’s okay. But it’s not as good as Mom’s.”

Over these days, his appetite had been spoiled by his mother’s cooking. Suddenly eating something made by Dad… well, he honestly thought it was a little bland.

Xiao Wange peeled an egg and handed it to him. “Then I’ll make breakfast from now on. I’ll get up early to have breakfast ready before your dad leaves.”

She felt a bit guilty making her husband, who had work, wake up early to make breakfast, so she decided to handle it herself each day.

Zhaozhao pursed his lips, looking intently at his mother. “But if you do that, won’t you be too tired?”

He didn’t want his mother to be tired—he only wanted her to live happily and comfortably.

Xiao Wange smiled warmly at him. “It’s not tiring. It’s just making breakfast. The really hard work is your dad’s. He has to wake up early every day and go to work. That’s real hard work.”

Zhaozhao bit his lip. He also felt his father worked hard. If he could, he really wished he could help his father a little.

But he knew that, for now, he was still a child and couldn’t share any of his father’s workload.

“Then I’ll get up early to help you from now on,” Zhaozhao said seriously, taking another bite of his pancake.

Xiao Wange peeled her own egg, placing the shells on an empty plate on the table. “You’re still little. You don’t need to do these things. For a child, the most important thing is to be happy. Your dad and I will handle the chores.”

Zhaozhao: “……” He wanted to say something more, but Xiao Wange nudged a cup of malted milk toward him. “Drink this.”

Zhaozhao loved this drink. Back home, his mother would make him a cup every day.

He picked up the cup and took several sips, completely forgetting what he had been about to say.

…

After breakfast, mother and son went out.

Spring was approaching, and Xiao Wange noticed Zhaozhao didn’t have proper spring clothes, so she planned to take him to the state-run mall to look around.

Of course, she also needed some spring clothes for herself.

And for Zhan Zeyan—although he mostly wore his army uniform—she thought she should buy him a few civilian clothes too. The army clothes looked smart, but the fabric wasn’t great. So when he wasn’t working, she wanted him to wear clothes she chose for him.

However, once they arrived at the mall, Xiao Wange felt disappointed.

There weren’t many spring clothes available, and those that were didn’t appeal to her at all.

Since they couldn’t leave empty-handed, she bought some other items—fruits and small snacks, for instance.

After that, she took Zhaozhao to other places. They saw flowers for sale, and she bought two pots—one of roses and one of camellias.

Zhaozhao carried the fruits and snacks, while Xiao Wange held the two flower pots.

Together, the flowers weighed several dozen pounds. People nearby couldn’t help but stare at how easily Xiao Wange carried them.

Especially since she was so beautiful—like a movie star—people were secretly astonished.

You really can’t judge by appearances. This delicate-looking girl had such strength!

Xiao Wange and Zhaozhao returned to the family compound.

At the main gate, they unexpectedly ran into Qi Jiancheng.

Qi Jiancheng’s gaze flickered as he saw Xiao Wange and Zhaozhao. A dark shadow passed through his eyes.

He glanced at the things Xiao Wange was carrying, furrowed his brow, and inwardly marveled at how strong Zhan Zeyan’s wife was. She looked so effortless, as if she were carrying two bundles of sponge.

“Comrade Xiao, do you need help?” he asked, his tone friendly and warm despite his surprise.

Xiao Wange didn’t like Qi Jiancheng at all.

She glanced at him coolly. “No. I can carry this myself.”

She tried to walk past him with Zhaozhao toward the building across the way.

But Qi Jiancheng suddenly reached out. “Comrade Xiao, I’ll help you with one. You look like you’re struggling a bit.”

Xiao Wange: “……”

She thought he must be blind. She was clearly carrying it effortlessly, yet he claimed she was struggling. If he wasn’t blind, what was he?

“Commander Qi, I said—” Xiao Wange started to respond, but a sharp female voice interrupted.

“Jiancheng, why are you being so foolishly helpful? She already said she doesn’t need help, and you insist on interfering. That’s called putting your warm face to a cold butt, do you understand?”

Xiao Wange immediately recognized the voice—it was Fang Qiaoyu.

As she spoke, a smile played on her lips, but it was full of resentment and anger.

Xiao Wange frowned. Honestly, she really didn’t like Fang Qiaoyu. Talkative, reckless, impulsive, and malicious—just looking at her made Xiao Wange feel irritation.

Fang Qiaoyu walked up to Xiao Wange and Qi Jiancheng, linking arms with Qi Jiancheng. Her eyes glanced at Xiao Wange and she said, “Comrade Xiao, your strength is really enviable. No wonder you grew up doing farm work in the countryside. If I had to carry two flower pots like that, I’d be exhausted.”

On the surface, it sounded like praise, but anyone not foolish could tell it was an insult—calling Xiao Wange a rustic country girl with brute strength.

Xiao Wange’s lips curved into a smile, though it was subtly cold.

Qi Jiancheng’s expression instantly turned icy.

He glanced at his wife and thought how disgusting her mouth was.