Life in the Military Compound

Lu Yu said, "I'm going back for a visit and to gather with some old comrades."

The old lady smiled and said, "It's good to go back for a visit."

Xu Yan missed Jiang Nian dearly. Sometimes, sitting alone in her yard, she would stare at the neighboring house and daze off, thinking of the times Jiang Nian was there. When she, Jiang Nian, and Feng Mai were together, it was lively and quite happy. Now, Zhou Jun lived in Jiang Nian’s yard, and a new family had moved into Feng Mai’s.

Xu Yan walked with Jiang Nian, telling her about everything that had happened in the past six months. Mentioning Liu Qiang, Xu Yan said he rarely returned. When he did, he would leave some money and then leave again. Liu Jian Ye was almost at the point where he didn't recognize him as a father, and Liu Jian Wu felt a bit of a stranger to him. Speaking of Liu Qiang, Xu Yan’s expression was numb. She gave a cold laugh and continued, "I don't hold any hope for him anymore. As long as he provides enough for the three of us to eat, I don't ask for anything else."

Jiang Nian took Xu Yan’s hand, truly not knowing what to say. She had tried before to help Xu Yan live a better life, but no matter how she tried, the path of Xu Yan and Liu Qiang always followed the novel's plot, never developing in a good direction. Clearly, Regiment Commander Song and his family were doing well, so why was it only Xu Yan who suffered?

Xu Yan squeezed Jiang Nian’s hand back and smiled. "Don't worry about me. I'm doing quite well now."

Back at the military base, on the tree-lined road, the military wives greeted Jiang Nian as they saw her. Seeing Lu Yu, they also smiled and said, "Oh, Regiment Commander Lu is back."

Lu Yu nodded and smiled. "Mhm."

A few people approached from ahead. One was Kang Xiu, and beside her was her daughter, who was now twelve. She looked small and thin, shrinking her shoulders as she followed Kang Xiu. In contrast, her son He Shu had grown quite sturdy. In two years, from age six to eight, his appearance took after Kang Xiu, while He Hua looked very much like Battalion Commander He. It was said that a daughter who looked like her father was blessed, but Jiang Nian saw no blessing in He Hua—only grievance and hardship.

Beside Kang Xiu was a pregnant woman who looked somewhat similar to her, appearing to be near her due date. Kang Xiu saw Jiang Nian too. She had been laughing and talking with her companion, but her face immediately dropped, and she hurried past.

Jiang Nian: ...

Xu Yan didn't bother with Kang Xiu either. She told Jiang Nian, "Two months ago, Kang Xiu became famous in our compound. She was scolded so badly she couldn't even lift her head."

Jiang Nian’s gossip instinct flared. "What happened?"

Xu Yan said, "Her preference for sons over daughters is extreme. She either beats or scolds He Hua. One day, she beat He Hua so severely the girl fainted. Fearing Battalion Commander He would scold her, she just threw He Hua into a room. The child was unconscious for a day and a night until Battalion Commander He returned and realized something was wrong and took her to the hospital. Somehow the story got out, and for a while, she was nearly drowned by the spit of the other military wives."

At this, the old lady added, "That daughter-in-law Kang Xiu is truly acting wickedly."

Xu Yan said, "Isn't she? She isn't even afraid of retribution; that's her own biological daughter. He Shu has learned from Kang Xiu’s behavior and bullies He Hua at home too. That child was truly unlucky to be born into the He family."

Jiang Nian had seen He Hua’s appearance just now. Although she felt pained, she knew she was powerless.

Xu Yan turned back to look at Kang Xiu and her companions again, then said to Jiang Nian, "Do you remember that woman beside Kang Xiu?"

Jiang Nian shook her head, only noting the resemblance to Kang Xiu.

Xu Yan whispered, "That's Kang Nan, Kang Xiu’s younger sister. She wanted to go on a blind date with Regiment Commander Lu before, but he ignored her. Then she had Kang Xiu go to Sister-in-law Feng’s house to act as a matchmaker for Song Bai, but Sister-in-law Feng kicked her out."

Jiang Nian instantly remembered. So it was her. Previously, Kang Xiu had targeted her because Feng Mai had tried to set her up with Song Bai. That time at the market when Zheng Hong and Feng Mai had intentionally caused trouble for her was also because of this. Jiang Nian felt that both Kang sisters had issues.

Xu Yan continued, "I only found out last month that Kang Nan got married. She married a man who was on his second marriage and had a son. That man is the son of their brigade leader. Who would have thought that after all her picking and choosing, she would settle for a remarried man? I heard she came to the base to visit Kang Xiu because she's unhappy at her husband's house, and since her parents' house is near her husband's, she's staying with Kang Xiu for a while."

Back at the family compound, Lu Yu followed Zhou Jun into the yard. Jiang Nian said goodbye to the old lady and followed Xu Yan to her house. Jiang Nian didn't see Liu Jian Ye; Xu Yan said he was at school and would be back in the afternoon. Xu Yan’s house looked the same as before. Jiang Nian talked with her for a long time before returning to Zhou Jun’s house.

Returning to Zhou Jun’s yard and seeing the familiar surroundings, Jiang Nian thought of the first time she had walked in here with Lu Yu. She pursed her lips and smiled. Seeing Zhou Jun carrying water out of the kitchen, he smiled at her and said, "Sister-in-law, you and Regiment Commander Lu will stay in this room." He pointed to the first room on the east side, the one she had always lived in.

Jiang Nian smiled. "Alright."

She went into the room. The layout was exactly as she remembered; nothing had changed. Footsteps sounded behind her. She turned to see Lu Yu walking in. The man was backlit, making his features hard to see.

Lu Yu asked, "Are you tired?"

Jiang Nian shook her head and sat on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling. She looked up at the tall Lu Yu. Thinking of Xu Yan’s situation, she whispered, "Lu Yu..." She stopped, not knowing how to continue.

Lu Yu seemed to know what she wanted to say. He sat down beside her and reached out to take her hand. "Thinking about Xu Yan?"

Jiang Nian nodded gently, her fingertips nipping at Lu Yu’s fingers. "I don't know how to help her."

Lu Yu said, "Compared to before, Xu Yan is already doing much better." He looked at Jiang Nian. "You've already done what you could for her. The rest of the path must be walked by her alone."

Jiang Nian understood the logic, but she still felt pained for Xu Yan. However, compared to the ending in the novel, her current life was indeed much better.

Lu Yu said, "Stay at home for now. If you're bored, go talk to Xu Yan. After lunch, Zhou Jun needs to go to the company. I'll go inform some old comrades about our marriage. The banquet will be held at Zhou Jun’s house this time."

Jiang Nian said, "Alright." After a pause, she added, "When is the banquet?"

Lu Yu: "The day after tomorrow."

At noon, Zhou Jun went to the cafeteria to fetch food. After eating, Zhou Jun went to the company, and Lu Yu went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy things, preparing to visit the houses of Regiment Commander Tang and Staff Officer Tao. Jiang Nian washed her hands and opened the door to go to Xu Yan’s house. Unexpectedly, she encountered two women returning from outside.

The woman in front was an old lady, and the one behind looked like a young daughter-in-law. The old lady had a sour expression, as if everyone owed her money. She was frowning and muttering unpleasant things. The woman behind also had a cold face, occasionally looking up to talk back, which made the old lady turn around and scold her incessantly.

Jiang Nian: ... Truly, one can find drama anywhere.

From their dialogue, Jiang Nian learned about their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law issues. Watching them enter the yard next door—which used to be Feng Mai’s house—she could still hear them arguing through the wall. It was a fight over the daughter-in-law's younger brother. Jiang Nian didn't stay long and turned into Xu Yan’s yard next door. Xu Yan and Liu Jian Wu were sitting at a small table in the yard eating. Seeing Jiang Nian enter, Liu Jian Wu jumped up happily: "Auntie Jiang!"

"Jiang Nian." Xu Yan saw Jiang Nian, put down her bowl, and stood up with a smile. "I'll pour you a glass of water."

"No need," Jiang Nian said with a smile.

Xu Yan had finished her lunch and was gathering the dishes to take to the kitchen. Liu Jian Ye was playing in the yard. Jiang Nian followed Xu Yan into the kitchen. Watching Xu Yan busy herself, she asked, "Did a new neighbor move in next door?"

Xu Yan paused while scrubbing the pot and whispered, "It's the Vice Regiment Commander of the Second Regiment. He took the post this year and transferred from another unit. They moved in three months ago. The couple's relationship was originally quite good, but after the Vice Regiment Commander’s mother arrived last month, they started having conflicts. In our whole compound, you can hear them arguing every few nights. That old lady’s voice is truly loud; it carries from the east end to the west."

Jiang Nian had seen the situation between the old lady and the daughter-in-law just now; that old lady was indeed very fierce.

Xu Yan continued, "They had another fight last night because the Vice Regiment Commander didn't give his salary to his mother. The old lady wasn't having it, saying she raised him alone and that he's ungrateful, forgetting his mother once he married. She cried, made a scene, and threatened to hang herself. Many people saw the spectacle."

Jiang Nian felt that this was an elder lacking in virtue, ultimately harming their own children's family. She felt that Battalion Commander Lu’s mother was a truly good mother—reasonable and sensible. Over the past year, she had taught Lu Zhi Jun to fix his bad habits.

Jiang Nian stayed at Xu Yan’s house until the afternoon. Liu Jian Ye returned from school, accompanied by Lu Zhi Jun. Seeing Jiang Nian, they both ran over happily: "Auntie Jiang!"

Jiang Nian smiled. "You're back."

Liu Jian Ye nodded. Lu Zhi Jun was carrying a bowl of pickled vegetables and said to Xu Yan, "Auntie Xu, my grandma made this for me to bring to you."

Xu Yan took the bowl, emptied the pickles into her own bowl, and said to Lu Zhi Jun, "Tell your grandma thank you for me. When I make pickled melon, I'll have you take some over too."

Lu Zhi Jun said, "Alright."

After Lu Zhi Jun left, Xu Yan said to Jiang Nian, "That old auntie is kind-hearted. Seeing me raising two kids alone, she often has Lu Zhi Jun bring over some food she's made."

Jiang Nian felt this was good; at least Xu Yan had someone to look out for her here.

When it grew dark, Jiang Nian returned to find both Zhou Jun and Lu Yu back. Zhou Jun’s mother was currently at the hospital caring for Zhang Xiao, so Zhou Jun didn't have to be so busy. As soon as she entered the room, Lu Yu followed her in and talked about the banquet the day after tomorrow at Zhou Jun’s house.

Jiang Nian bit her lip and asked, "When you told Regiment Commander Tang and the others about us, how did they react?"