An Accidental Military Marriage

"Sweet niece, go find a cool spot to play in the mud. That’s more suited to your intelligence."

With that, Jiang Moli closed the door.

Lu Tingting didn’t press the issue. She excitedly ran back to her dorm to share the "good news" with Jiang Qing and Qiao Wenjing, who hadn’t left yet.

"My uncle has never been a patient man. After Jiang Moli embarrassed him so badly, there’s no way he wouldn’t punish her severely!"

"You should have seen it! Jiang Moli’s neck and chest were covered in red marks. My uncle must have beaten her!"

She cackled as she spoke, happier than if it were New Year’s.

Jiang Qing had a strange feeling.

’When a man gets angry at a woman, it’s usually a slap or two, or maybe a couple of kicks. Who hits someone on the neck and chest?’

’Thinking about how Lu Cheng and Jiang Moli hadn’t consummated their marriage when they first wed, last night was, strictly speaking, their real wedding night.’

’Those red marks on Jiang Moli were almost certainly from a night of passion!’

’An indescribable feeling welled up inside her. Lu Cheng seemed so cold and ascetic... could he really be that wild in bed?’

Qiao Wenjing was also skeptical.

Although she hated Jiang Moli and wished she would get beaten.

But she couldn’t accept that the Lu Cheng she held in such high esteem would actually hit a woman.

She couldn’t help but defend Lu Cheng. "Your uncle isn’t that kind of person. He even said earlier that he was going to bring the chicken soup to Jiang Moli. The marks on her are probably just mosquito bites."

"Chicken soup? What chicken soup?"

Having gone several meals without meat, Lu Tingting’s mouth watered at the mere mention of chicken soup.

"I made it. It was originally for your uncle, but..."

Before Qiao Wenjing could finish, Lu Tingting interrupted her. "Why would you make chicken soup for my uncle?"

"Don’t tell me you like my uncle?"

"And you have the nerve to call Jiang Moli shameless? You’re no better! You know my uncle is married, but you’re still throwing yourself at him. Can’t you find another man?"

Lu Tingting’s words came out in a rapid-fire barrage.

Qiao Wenjing was livid. "I have no improper feelings for your uncle! I just see him as a benefactor!"

"If you just see him as a benefactor, then why were you mad that my uncle gave the chicken soup to Jiang Moli?"

"I... Hey, what’s with you? Don’t you hate Jiang Moli? Why are you taking her side now?"

"I’m not on Jiang Moli’s side. I just can’t stand it when someone tries to play the saint while acting like a slut."

Qiao Wenjing’s mouth twisted in a furious snarl. "Make yourself clear! Who are you calling a slut!"

"I didn’t name any names. Why are you getting so defensive? You should learn from Jiang Qing; she’s much more composed than you are..."

Jiang Qing’s eyelid twitched, terrified Lu Tingting would expose her. "That’s enough, both of you. Our goal is the same, so we should stick together. Let’s leave it at that for today. Wenjing, I’ll walk you out."

With that, she pushed Qiao Wenjing out of the dormitory.

Once they were some distance away and she was sure Lu Tingting couldn’t hear, she comforted Qiao Wenjing in a low voice:

"She’s got a princess temper just like Jiang Moli, always finding fault with everyone. Just bear with her."

Qiao Wenjing was furious. "Why should I have to put up with her? What’s so great about her anyway!"

"She’s Camp Commander Lu’s niece. She can help us pass news about Jiang Moli back to the Lu Family..."

Jiang Qing talked until her mouth was dry before she finally managed to placate Qiao Wenjing and convince her to leave.

When she returned to the dorm, she was immediately met with Lu Tingting’s scorn. "No wonder you can be friends with Qiao Wenjing. You two are two of a kind, always trying to steal other people’s men."

"Also, you’ve been back for a while, why haven’t you helped me put my duvet cover on? Hurry up and help me with it. I want to sleep."

Jiang Qing was absolutely furious.

’It was one thing to be sarcastic, but to order her around so brazenly was another.’

’Did she think I was some kind of doormat?’

"Lu Tingting, I’d thank you to show me some respect! I am your comrade, your partner. I am not your inferior, and I certainly have no obligation to do this and that for you!"

"Why are you shouting so loud? If you won’t help, then fine! I’ll do it myself!"

"Then take your time. I’m going to rest."

Seeing that Jiang Qing really was lying down to sleep and wasn’t going to help her, Lu Tingting could only start working on it herself, puffing her cheeks in anger.

After fiddling with it for the better part of half an hour, she still couldn’t figure out how to get the cotton quilt insert smoothly into the duvet cover.

’Whatever, I’m not bothering with this anymore. I’ll just use it like this.’

’Saves me from having to wash the cover, too!’

’I’m such a genius!’

...

After lunch, Lu Cheng made a special trip to the new recruit training camp to meet with Jiang Peng.

"Settling in okay? What did you do today?"

"We were in meetings all morning, going over rules and regulations, and we were assigned to squads..."

After Jiang Peng finished his rambling account, Lu Cheng offered a few perfunctory words of encouragement before bringing up Jiang Moli’s visit.

"Last time on the phone, you said you were bringing me a local specialty. Did you mean you were bringing your sister?"

Jiang Peng chuckled. "When you give a gift, it should be something the recipient likes, right?"

Lu Cheng clasped his hands behind his back and looked him up and down.

’His wife had said her little brother was a bit of a blockhead, but he didn’t think that was entirely true.’

’Not only did his brother-in-law have a brain, but it was a pretty sharp one.’

"Focus on your training and studies. When the training period is over, come to my camp."

"Yes, sir! Brother-in-law! No, I mean, Camp Commander Lu!"

Lu Cheng’s expression turned stern. "In the military, discipline is always paramount. It doesn’t matter if I’m your brother-in-law or your own father—official matters are handled officially. Don’t let it happen again!"

"Yes, sir!"

"I’ve already spoken with your Commander Zhu. He’ll look out for you."

"Yes, sir!"

...

The sun began to set in the west.

The golden afterglow coated the soldiers’ skin in a bronze luster.

Lu Cheng took the sweat towel from his waist and wiped his face, then raised his wrist to check his watch before pulling out a whistle and blowing it.

"All units, knock off and assemble!"

The soldiers, who had been working scattered across the barren slope, quickly gathered at the foot of the hill into neat formations.

"Everyone grab your mess tins, go back, and line up at the barracks entrance. You’re getting extra food tonight! Half a spoonful of beef sauce and a spoonful of salt-boiled peanuts for each man!"

"Back to camp!"

The entire camp’s soldiers headed back to the barracks like a human train.

Though their postures were ramrod straight, they chattered amongst themselves.

"We’re actually not having extra training today?"

"Not only that, we’re getting extra food! For Camp Commander Lu to suddenly be so good to us... it makes me nervous."

It was no wonder the soldiers were making such a fuss.

Given Lu Cheng’s temper, after having to make a self-criticism that morning, he was surely bottling up a lot of anger.

Normally, wouldn’t he have drilled them mercilessly to vent his frustration?

"Camp Commander Lu’s wife is here. He’s in a hurry to knock off and get back to her, so of course he doesn’t have time to drill us!"

"Be careful that doesn’t get back to Camp Commander Lu, or he’ll make you pay!"

The speculation was rampant.

But on one thing, the whole camp was united: they were ecstatic about the extra food that night!

Salt-boiled peanuts and beef sauce... they sounded delicious!

Back at the barracks.

Lu Cheng handed the beef sauce and salt-boiled peanuts to his three company commanders and put them in charge of distribution.

He himself took the fastest shower of his life, changed into clean clothes, and headed for the guest house.

...

At the entrance to the barracks.

Zhao Hongbing was in charge of doling out the beef sauce, Li Lijun handled the peanuts, and Sun Jianhua was responsible for keeping a record to prevent anyone from taking extra or claiming a portion they weren’t due.

With resources so scarce, they had to be meticulous.

A half-spoonful of beef sauce was only about the size of an adult’s thumb.

But to soldiers who only got to eat pork twice a month, it was a delicacy.

Every soldier who received their portion of beef sauce buried their face in their mess tin.

Just inhaling the aroma was incredibly satisfying.

Then they would savor every chew of a precious salt-boiled peanut.

The fatigue from a full day of training and labor was washed away completely.