There were quite a few military wives who had come for the market day at the Daliao Military Compound.
Shen Nanchu and Pei Zhengnian, the two of them, stood out in the crowd, too conspicuous and eye-catching.
Seeing the couple buy so many things, some of the military wives couldn't help but widen their eyes, their gazes practically glued to them with envy.
"Regiment Commander Pei really dotes on his wife!"
"Absolutely! She says buy something, and he just buys it?"
"Oh my goodness, how much money must all those things cost?"
...
The military wives whispered and chatted among themselves.
Among them, one delicate-looking military wife remained silent.
She was Lin Yining, the wife of Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang Zhengye of the Fifth Regiment.
Lin Yining worked as a teacher at the military compound's primary school and always considered herself a cut above the other military wives.
She had originally thought that after the Fifth Regiment's commander was transferred, her own husband would be promoted, and she could officially become the Fifth Regiment Commander's wife, no longer just a deputy's wife.
Who would have thought that Pei Zhengnian would leap directly from company commander to become the Fifth Regiment's commander?
The practically guaranteed commander's position had just flown away.
While Lin Yining verbally comforted her husband that it didn't matter, inwardly she was fuming with resentment.
"Well, who let him be the regiment commander? His monthly salary must be quite substantial," said Yao Chuntao, who always enjoyed stirring up trouble, glancing at Lin Yining.
Yao Chuntao's husband was also a deputy regiment commander, of the Third Regiment.
She somewhat looked down on Lin Yining's air of self-proclaimed superiority.
If it weren't for the fact that Lin Yining was quite generous, and Yao Chuntao, as her little follower, often got quite a few perks, Yao Chuntao couldn't be bothered with her!
Lin Yining didn't speak, her head lowered as if lost in thought.
The other military wives, however, chimed in agreement,
"Absolutely!"
"If my man were a regiment commander, I'd buy the whole street."
"Stop bragging! How many years would your man have to be commander to afford that?"
...
Careless words spoken, but mindful ears heard them.
Pei Zhengnian bought so many things, does he have that much money?
Moreover, Pei Zhengnian had just become regiment commander; he hadn't even started receiving the commander's salary yet!
Where did he get all that money from?
...
Shen Nanchu and Pei Zhengnian were completely unaware they had become the focus of the military wives' gossip.
From one end of the street to the other, Shen Nanchu shopped and shopped.
Only after buying everything she could did Shen Nanchu feel thoroughly satisfied.
By the time the three of them left the market, the car trunk was packed full.
Loaded with a car full of goods, Shen Nanchu and her group returned to the military compound.
It was almost four o'clock by the time they got home.
As excited as Shen Nanchu was while shopping, that's how exhausted she was now.
The moment she got home, she couldn't help but lie down.
After Pei Zhengnian put everything away, he simply started preparing dinner.
The entire dinner was made according to Shen Nanchu's preferences.
Shen Nanchu had requested stir-fried duck with young ginger, salted brine duck, and stir-fried green beans with eggplant.
As for the salted brine duck, Pei Zhengnian really didn't know how to make it.
Although Shen Nanchu had already explained it to him once, to be safe, Pei Zhengnian decided to go seek advice from Old Zhou from the cooks' squad.
Not long after Pei Zhengnian left, Political Commissar Liao and Tian Chengyi came to the door together.
"Good afternoon, leaders."
Seeing the two men in the yard, Pei Yunzhou immediately called out smartly.
"Little Brother Pei, is your big brother home?"
Tian Chengyi had been to the Pei house before and had met Pei Yunzhou.
"My big brother went out, he's not back yet."
Pei Yunzhou told the truth.
"Then we'll just sit here and wait for him."
Political Commissar Liao spoke up.
"Please, have a seat over here then."
Pei Yunzhou led them to the pavilion in the yard and then went to fetch water for them.
Sitting in the pavilion, Political Commissar Liao and Tian Chengyi looked at the yard Pei Zhengnian had fixed up and couldn't help but murmur in admiration.
The two of them finally understood why someone had filed an anonymous report.
Just look at the comfortable life Pei Zhengnian was living. Never mind the two plump ducks being plucked right there in the yard, or the clucking hen in the chicken coop. Just this yard, fixed up like a little park, was enough to make anyone envious.
"Old Liao, what if I fix up my yard too when I get back, make it like Pei Zhengnian's? How about that?"
Tian Chengyi thought if he fixed his up, his wife would be over the moon.
Political Commissar Liao's mouth twitched.
"Didn't you see the list Wu Minghui gave?"
"Do you have that kind of money?"
Mentioning money made Tian Chengyi wilt.
A growing boy eats his father out of house and home.
Thinking of his three growing rascals at home, Tian Chengyi was worried sick.
And now, his wife had another one on the way.
Forget about fixing up the yard; just making ends meet was hard enough.
Political Commissar Liao liked it too; he also lived in a bungalow.
But his family couldn't afford it either!
...
After entering the house, Pei Yunzhou didn't rush to fetch water. Instead, he went to the master bedroom to wake Shen Nanchu.
Shen Nanchu had napped for about an hour and was pretty much rested.
"You go make them a cup of tea first. I'll be right out."
"Okay, sister-in-law."
Pei Yunzhou nodded obediently.
Shen Nanchu washed her face, tidied her hair, and went out to the yard.
Seeing Shen Nanchu walk out, Political Commissar Liao and Tian Chengyi quickly stood up.
Though they themselves didn't know why they stood up involuntarily.
But they just did.
"Good afternoon, Political Commissar Liao, Regiment Commander Tian."
"My apologies, Zhengnian had some business to attend to and isn't back yet. Sorry to have kept you waiting."
Shen Nanchu began the polite formalities.
Political Commissar Liao was equally courteous,
"Not at all, not at all. It's us who came unannounced."
Shen Nanchu's eyes curved into a smile,
"Not at all, not at all. You've come at just the right time."
"Zhengnian and I went to the market today and traded with an old uncle for two ducks."
"Political Commissar Liao and Regiment Commander Tian, why don't you stay for a simple dinner tonight?"
Political Commissar Liao and Tian Chengyi were too embarrassed and kept refusing.
"No need, no need, we'll be leaving soon."
"That's right, we just came to ask about a couple of things."
A glint flashed in Shen Nanchu's eyes, and the smile on her face deepened.
"I wonder what matter required both leaders to make a trip personally."
Political Commissar Liao and Tian Chengyi exchanged a look, then sighed.
"Ah!"
"Since Zhengnian isn't here, I'll tell you, sister-in-law."
Shen Nanchu nodded.
Political Commissar Liao explained the origin of the matter.
"Earlier, someone filed an anonymous report, saying Pei Zhengnian has problematic conduct, that he's decadent and extravagant, with large sums of money from unclear sources."
"We just came to understand the situation."
Shen Nanchu's mind went blank for a moment.
Them? Decadent and extravagant?
With large sums of money from unclear sources?
Good heavens!
With this situation, they're called decadent and extravagant?
How bitter must the life of the person who reported them be, to have such a severe case of envy?
...
