Hello, Comrade. I'm Here to Marry You!

"You’re saying your fiancé is Xie Huaizheng?" Gu Qingran’s initial mockery vanished. Her mind raced, and in a flash, she seized upon something.

’Heavens, could it be I’ve misunderstood Su Zhaozhao all along?’

’Su Zhaozhao married the wrong person! She didn’t deliberately find someone with a name that sounds like Xie Huaizhen’s just to spite him!’

Gu Qingran suddenly felt she had stumbled upon a world-shattering secret.

This secret could be Su Zhaozhao’s complete and utter ruin.

’But what was the deal with Xie Huaizheng?’

’Su Zhaozhao got it wrong, so did Xie Huaizheng get it wrong too?’

"What of it?"

’What’s she so shocked about? The only reason she dislikes me is that she thinks I’m some vicious female side character, right?’

’Because I broke off one engagement and then married the male lead?’

"It’s nothing, it’s nothing." Gu Qingran snapped out of it, barely able to contain the smile spreading across her face.

"Well then, congratulations on your marriage!"

With that, she turned and left.

’How bizarre.’

Su Zhaozhao found it very strange. Both Gu Qingran and her friend, Zhou Chengguo, gave her an odd feeling. ’What is it that’s so off about them?’

She returned home and immediately began to prepare ingredients for dinner.

She started by stewing pork ribs with winter melon, Job’s tears, and adzuki beans.

It was a type of nourishing soup that had been very popular back where she came from, perfect for the hot summer.

Soldiers like Xie Huaizheng and Liu Guosheng, who were often out under the sun, especially needed to drink it to dispel the summer heat from their bodies.

Next, Su Zhaozhao prepared chicken stew with mushrooms, stir-fried pork with chilies, stir-fried shredded pork with carrots, and a simple vegetable dish.

For a cold appetizer, Su Zhaozhao prepared a spicy and numbing beef shank dish.

This dish required the beef shank to be braised first, then sliced and tossed with seasonings to be served cold.

Su Zhaozhao placed a large piece of beef into the braising liquid to simmer.

As for the soup, she also added some of the spiritual spring water from her space.

She didn’t dare to add too much, diluting the spiritual spring water with regular water. This would make the aroma richer and more mellow without producing an effect that was too conspicuous.

Su Zhaozhao had no idea that as she cooked, the aroma from inside her apartment instantly wafted outside.

Some of the other military wives were walking outside when they caught a whiff of it.

They couldn’t help but take a deep, sharp inhale.

"Heavens, who’s cooking? That smells incredible!"

"That’s right! You can tell they’re generous with the oil and spices. What an incredible aroma!"

"Whose apartment is it coming from?"

Zhang Jufang was also outside, holding her son and trying to feed him. But the aroma was just too enticing; forget the adults, a child would find it even more unbearable.

Erhu was wailing.

"I don’t wanna eat this! I want the other thing! It smells so, so yummy!"

Erhu seemed captivated by the scent, his little finger pointing persistently in the direction it came from.

"There’s nothing else delicious, just this rice porridge," Zhang Jufang told Erhu.

But her own mouth was watering from the smell.

Idle and bored, she carried Erhu upstairs to find out whose cooking smelled so good.

’If it’s someone I know,’ Zhang Jufang thought, ’I can probably freeload a little something to eat.’

’My child is so young, they’d surely be too embarrassed not to give me a little something, right?’

’Except for that little bitch, Su Zhaozhao.’

Just then, Zhang Jufang arrived on the third floor. Standing before the apartment door, she was taken aback.

"This is..."

’I don’t remember this place... wasn’t it always empty? Has someone moved in?’

’Who in the world lives here? Are they new arrivals?’

’And I didn’t even know about it.’

Just then, the door to the neighboring apartment opened. It was Director Xu’s wife.

Zhang Jufang hurried to ask, "Auntie, who lives in this apartment?"

The aroma was seeping out from under the door. It smelled so good she could feel herself about to drool.

"This one? That’s Camp Commander Xie. He and his wife moved in a little while ago."

"Camp Commander Xie?" Zhang Jufang froze.

’Wait, is it the Camp Commander Xie I’m thinking of?’

Meanwhile, Erhu was screaming his head off in her arms.

"I wanna eat, Mama! I wanna eat! I want the yummy food!" he bawled.

"It certainly does smell wonderful," Director Xu’s wife, Shen Lianhua, said with a smile as she looked at Erhu. "But it’s probably not a good idea to go knocking on a stranger’s door."

Everyone in the compound knew Zhang Jufang was a handful. It wasn’t that her own family was poor; she just loved to freeload off other people’s good food.

Not long ago, she’d supposedly offended Chief Liu’s family, and now they weren’t on speaking terms.

’Is she trying to freeload again?’

She found the thought quite amusing.

Zhang Jufang was thick-skinned. Hearing Shen Lianhua’s words, her expression didn’t change at all.

But instead of arguing, she actually agreed.

"Mm, you’ve actually got a point there."

’Especially since... there’s only one Camp Commander Xie in this military district. That would be Xie Huaizheng. And Xie Huaizheng’s wife is Su Zhaozhao?’

’They’re already married and have moved in here?’

If this really was their apartment, then no matter how good it smelled, she wouldn’t have the guts to knock on the door.

The memory of being warned last time sent a chill down Zhang Jufang’s spine.

She clamped a hand over Erhu’s mouth and hurried away with him.

She knew to steer clear of trouble she couldn’t handle.

But the jealousy in her heart was practically overflowing as she stared at the apartment with resentful eyes.

’Camp Commander Xie’s family must have such a high standard of living! You’d have to be willing to use a lot of oil to cook something that smells so fragrant!’

’Hmph! Since we’re neighbors and we’ll be seeing each other all the time,’ Zhang Jufang thought, ’I’ll definitely find some dirt on Xie Huaizheng and Su Zhaozhao eventually.’

’Just you wait and see!’

Su Zhaozhao was oblivious to the little drama that had unfolded outside her door. She never imagined the aroma from her cooking had spread so far.

She simply finished preparing the meal.

Soon enough, Xie Huaizheng returned.

As he opened the door, a fragrant aroma filled the air, and he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Su Zhaozhao was still busy in the kitchen. She wore an apron, her hair tied up, revealing the delicate lines of her face and her slender neck.

Even without a trace of makeup, her face was bright and full of life, possessing a natural, unadorned beauty.

’She’s so beautiful.’

Xie Huaizheng couldn’t help but marvel.

’And this beautiful woman was his wife.’

"You’re back?" Su Zhaozhao said, looking toward Xie Huaizheng.

"I am." Xie Huaizheng stepped forward and pulled Su Zhaozhao into his arms.

"You’re dirty," Su Zhaozhao said quickly.

"It’s fine. I’m dirty too." Xie Huaizheng grinned. After all, he had been training all afternoon. Although he had quickly rinsed off upon returning, he hadn’t had a proper wash.

’Su Zhaozhao had never minded him being dirty, so how could he possibly mind her?’

’Besides, she smelled wonderful.’

Su Zhaozhao let Xie Huaizheng hold her for a moment before giving him a gentle push. "Alright, go set the table. They’ll be here soon."