Chapter 141: Why Don’t We Have Any?
Fu Mingxue was all too familiar with that voice. After all, her ears had been tormented by it for the past three days on the train.
Her expression instantly soured. ’It can’t be that much of a coincidence, can it?’
Wang Xiang had also heard the commotion next door and said to Fu Mingxue with a smile, "What a coincidence. The courtyard to your right belongs to Vice Team Leader Hao’s family. His family just arrived today, too."
She just wondered if Vice Team Leader Hao’s family would be easy to get along with.
Fu Mingxue was now certain. The neighbors were the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from the train.
Mrs. Fu had recognized the voice as well.
Her expression darkened a little.
"How could it be such a coincidence?"
Wang Xiang happened to hear her muttering and instinctively asked, "What’s a coincidence?"
"It’s nothing," Mrs. Fu said, shaking her head.
She didn’t plan on saying any more about it.
Seeing that they were nearly finished cleaning, Wang Xiang picked up her broom and prepared to leave. "Well, I’ll let you get back to it. I’m heading home. If you need anything, just come find me."
"Okay, thank you so much!"
Wang Xiang smiled. "No need to be so formal. We’re neighbors."
"Wait a moment, dear," Mrs. Fu called out, stopping her. She then went inside and came out with a package of pastries.
"We brought these from home. Please have some and try them."
"Oh, no, I couldn’t—" Wang Xiang started to refuse.
’Pastries are a luxury. How could I possibly accept them?’
But Mrs. Fu didn’t give her a chance to refuse. "Now, now, dear, you’re treating us like strangers. They’re just homemade, not worth anything. Please take them. Otherwise, I’ll just have to bring them over to your place myself."
Unable to refuse any longer, Wang Xiang accepted the gift.
’They’re really too kind,’ she thought. ’I’ll bring some vegetables or something over from my place in a bit.’
Once she left, Mrs. Fu turned to Fu Mingxue and said, "That neighbor is a good one. As for that one—" she gestured to the other side, "—we’re going to have our share of arguments with them in the future."
She was referring to the family in the courtyard to the right.
"Mom, just ignore her. We’re not afraid of trouble. If she leaves us alone, great. But if she comes looking for a fight, we won’t hold back."
Fu Mingxue didn’t think the nasty mother-in-law was a big deal.
Mrs. Fu wasn’t too concerned either, just annoyed by people who liked to stir up trouble.
"I’ll go check the kitchen and see what’s there. We can cook dinner ourselves tonight."
"Sounds good. I’ll go tidy up the rooms then."
Qin Wenhao’s room needed a good cleaning, and she should put new sheets on the bed while she was at it.
An hour later, Yang Ming appeared again.
Fu Mingxue was shocked as she watched him unload things from the vehicle. "Mr. Yang, what is all this?"
"These are some initial supplies for you—rice, flour, oil, and some vegetables. Director Xie had me bring them over. He said the cost will be deducted from Qin Tuan’s allowance."
This made Fu Mingxue breathe a sigh of relief.
"Well, thank you then."
It was a lot of stuff. Not just rice, but flour too.
There was also a five-jin piece of pork, marbled with fat and lean meat.
On top of that, there were three to five jin each of napa cabbage and potatoes.
And a few other things as well.
Fu Mingxue planned to make a note of everything later.
"Thank you!"
"No need to thank me, Ma’am. I’ll be going now."
Just as Yang Ming finished his task and was about to leave, a voice stopped him. "Wait a minute! You gave them things, so what about us?"
Hearing this, Yang Ming couldn’t help but look at the person rushing toward him.
"I’m talking to you, soldier! Where are the things for our family?" Mrs. Hao demanded, clearly dissatisfied.
Yang Ming looked completely baffled. "Excuse me, which family are you with?"
Mrs. Hao announced loudly, "My son is Hao Rong, your Hao Commander! Why does her family get supplies when we don’t?"
Yang Ming was baffled.
"You’re Vice Team Leader Hao’s family?"
"That’s right, my son Hao Rong." Mrs. Hao was a little annoyed that this soldier had called her son ’Vice Team Leader’.
’They’re both commanders, so why is there a distinction between ’commander’ and ’vice’? What’s the difference, anyway?’