When Nan Sheng was packing her belongings, she noticed not only more cured pork and chicken but also a significant amount of dried mushrooms and vegetables—enough to last over half a year if used sparingly.
Lin Han had night training that day and didn’t return until after nine in the evening. Nan Sheng had already prepared homemade noodles for him. She fried two eggs in lard, then boiled a bowl of soup noodles with greens as a garnish.
He wasn’t the only one coming home late, but few had wives who cooked fresh meals for them—most ate leftovers. Lin Han felt fortunate once again.
"Sweetheart, you don’t have to wait up for me. Leftovers are fine when I come back late. You should rest early."
"I wasn’t waiting on purpose. The packages arrived today, and I was busy organizing them until late. Xiao Yi sent quite a lot. Since you’re off tomorrow, take some local specialties to Commander Ye and invite his family over for dinner. You can decide who else to invite."
"Oh, and bring some cured pork and dried vegetables to the barracks for the soldiers who helped plow the field yesterday—they deserve an extra meat dish. We can’t fit everyone at home anyway."
Nan Sheng gave her instructions one after another, and Lin Han listened attentively while eating his noodles.
His close comrades had been clamoring to visit, especially after hearing his wife was a committee director. They were eager to meet the capable woman behind their brother or comrade-in-arms.
Before bed, Lin Han played the role of masseur, kneading his wife’s tired muscles. He felt bad that she had worked all day and still had to sort through packages after returning home.
Half-asleep, Nan Sheng mumbled, "The living room feels too empty. We should put a few potted plants on the windowsill."
The next morning, she woke to find two pots on the windowsill—one of jasmine and another of blooming orchids—instantly breathing life into the room.
She chuckled to herself, thinking, "Who keeps plants in even numbers?"
Nan Sheng soaked the cured chicken and pork in water. The chicken would be stewed with potatoes, while the pork would be stir-fried with garlic shoots. Since she had promised home-style dishes, braised pork with vermicelli was a must. She also planned to make spicy tofu, stir-fried greens, and a shrimp-and-bok-choy soup.
Commander Ye had just woken up when his wife called him outside, saying Lin Han had arrived. Her wide grin told him Lin Han had brought plenty of gifts.
Sure enough, on the table lay nearly two pounds of cured pork, along with dried beans, wood ear mushrooms, and wild mountain greens.
Lin Han saluted his superior the moment he saw him. "Commander Ye! My wife sent me to invite you and your family for a housewarming lunch!"
His booming voice made it sound more like a battle cry than a dinner invitation.
Commander Ye declined. "If everyone hosted like this, we’d run out of rations in half a month. I’ll come alone—my wife and kids will eat at home."
Huang Xiaofang disliked dining at others’ homes, but she wanted to build a rapport with the battalion commander’s wife. Before she could speak, her husband shut her down, leaving her fuming.
She decided to fry all the cured pork for lunch, leaving none for her "heartless" husband.
Still, she maintained appearances in front of others. "Yes, I’ll stay home since there’s work to do. Tell your wife to visit me sometime!"
Lin Han hurried back home. Though he wasn’t much of a cook, his knife skills were decent.
Eager to help, he was immediately sent off again.
"Lin Han, go buy some tofu and pick up a canned good. Find out who delivered the packages yesterday—it was a lot of work, and we should thank them properly."
Out he went again, also stopping by the barracks to deliver the cured pork and dried vegetables for the soldiers who had helped.
After distributing the pork, delivering the canned goods, and buying tofu, vermicelli, wine, garlic shoots, and bok choy (the latter "borrowed" from a comrade’s garden), he was finally allowed to stay in the kitchen, happily washing and chopping ingredients.
"Do people here usually leave their families behind when invited to meals?"
"Mostly. Bringing wives means bringing kids, and that’s too many mouths to feed."
Nan Sheng scoffed. "So all the good food goes into you men’s stomachs."
Lin Han scratched his head, unsure how to respond—his "wooden fish" brain refused to cooperate.
Before he could think of an answer, Nan Sheng asked another question. "At lunch, can the kids and I join the table?"
Lin Han nearly laughed. This wasn’t some feudal society—of course women were allowed to dine with everyone.
"Absolutely! In fact, if the hostess doesn’t sit, no one starts eating. But some wives are shy and prefer not to join, so no one forces them."
Satisfied, Nan Sheng started stewing the cured chicken and braised pork with vermicelli. The other dishes could wait—they cooked quickly.
Guests began arriving at half past eleven.
"Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Qiangzi—brought you some specialties from Rongcheng."
"Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Yongxiang!"
"Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Li Gongliang, your neighbor across the hall!"
"Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Zhang Yiheng, from downstairs!"
"Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Zhu Jinghui from the fifth floor!"
Five battalion commanders arrived, each greeting her politely and bringing gifts.
Nan Sheng greeted them warmly, calling her children out to say hello to their "uncles."
Once she returned to the kitchen, the men swarmed Lin Han.
"Bro, is your wife really a committee director? She doesn’t seem the type!"
"Yeah, with her personality, wouldn’t she get bullied at work?"
Lin Han thought, What do you brutes know? Government work requires brains, not fists. My wife is plenty tough.
He ushered them to their seats. "Chat among yourselves—I’m going to help in the kitchen."
His comrades were used to his stern demeanor in the army. Seeing him so talkative—and so eager to hover around his wife—was a first.
They teased him relentlessly, but all they got in return was his retreating back.
Li Gongliang, the neighbor across the hall, couldn’t help but compare.
Lin Han had remarried and landed such a wonderful wife. If they managed their finances carefully, they could save at least two thousand a year.
Meanwhile, his own salary fed a crowd, and his wife hadn’t even borne him a son. If not for fear of disciplinary action, he’d have divorced her already.
With his current status, maybe he too could marry a capable woman.
Just before the soup was served, Commander Ye arrived, bringing his prized liquor.
"Wow, what a feast! Tell the couple to stop working and join us!"
Hearing his voice, Lin Han rushed out to greet him. "Commander, please take a seat! The soup’s almost ready!"
There weren’t enough chairs, so Li Gongliang brought some from his place. Ten men crowded around the table, the atmosphere lively.
Commander Ye, who never skimped on good food and often bought meat for home, thought his wife was a great cook. But Nan Sheng’s skills surpassed even hers.
He sincerely praised, "Lin Han's wife, you’ve only just arrived in Rongcheng, yet you can already cook local specialties—and with such authentic flavor. That Lin Han is one lucky guy."
The others chimed in with their own compliments before each grabbing a big steamed bun and digging in!
