Reborn in the 70s: Pampered by Regiment Commander
Chapter 423 - 291 Warmth

Chapter 423: Chapter 291 Warmth

First update is here, and there’s one more to come. I’ve already coded nearly two thousand words, so I’m going to keep fighting on.

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"So you’ve played everyone for fools?" Zhou Jiping said, half irritated and half amused as she ruffled her sister’s hair, "Looks like I’ll have to be more careful from now on, so I don’t end up selling myself and still help you count the money."

"I had no choice," Zhou Xiangping sighed, "My mother-in-law is just too good at pretending. If I didn’t expose her this time, who knows how much more I would have suffered in the future."

Lin Yanqiu glanced at her daughter with some concern, "Have you thought about it? Right now, Liao Hui is angry, so he went back to settle accounts with his mom, but after he calms down, he’ll definitely blame you."

"Mom..." Zhou Xiangping stared at her mother with wide eyes, disbelief written all over her face, "Did those words really come from your mouth? I... I... I must have heard wrong, right?"

"Sigh, it’s all because I spoiled you too much," Lin Yanqiu stroked her daughter’s head, full of regret, "Think about it, why does Cai Hongying like Jiang Xue more than he likes you?"

"Mom, you can’t be serious? Sis, pinch me... Ow! Mom, why are you pinching so hard?" Zhou Xiangping glared at Lin Yanqiu, her face pained, "Are you really my mom?"

"It seems I still pinched too lightly." Lin Yanqiu pretended to pinch her again, which frightened Zhou Xiangping into running behind Old Madam Zhou, "Grandma, what’s gotten into my mom? It’s only been a month since we last saw each other, and she’s like a completely different person."

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?" Zhou Jingping glared at his daughter, then looked apologetically at his wife, "Yanqiu, I will get justice for the hardships you’ve endured."

"What happened? What exactly happened?" Zhou Xiangping dashed to Zhou Jingping’s side, tugging at his arm, anxiously asking, "Who bullied my mom, Dad? Tell me, and I’ll teach them a lesson!"

Everyone had a deadpan expression... Indeed, this was the real Xiao Si, Zhou Xiangping...

...

The kitchen.

Zhou Mikang skillfully stir-fried dishes, while Chuxia stood on the side watching, her face full of surprise. Liang Xiaohong and Yu Tao had already snuck out when he came in; whether they were off to watch the drama or wanted to give the couple some space, she didn’t know.

"You can cook?" Chuxia asked, surprised, as the scent of cooking made her involuntarily swallow, "That dumpling wrapper you rolled yesterday... How’d it turn out that way?" Embarrassed, she grabbed a teacup and took a sip of water, "Thirsty."

"Are you thirsty or just greedy?" Zhou Mikang asked without turning around.

"Can’t you be decent?" Chuxia pouted; this guy, if he doesn’t tease her for even a moment, he seems to feel uncomfortable, and he’s so much older than her too, she despised him!

"During our training, we only had compressed food. After eating it for a long time, my mouth felt bland, so I figured out a solution – bring a small pot and, during camping, pick some wild vegetables and stir-fry them to mix things up," Zhou Mikang explained.

Chuxia was stunned for a moment before she realized that Zhou Mikang was explaining why he could cook; this guy really knew how to make a simple explanation so vague and unclear.

"Didn’t you have a cooking team with you?" Chuxia asked curiously.

"On dispersed training by squad, there’s no cooking team."

"Oh, I see. You were just upset because I criticized your dumpling wrapper rolling skills? So you decided to make fun of me, is that it?" Chuxia turned the conversation back to the previous topic.

"Yeah, every time you mention the dumpling wrappers, I remember how you and Jing Zhe ganged up on me. How could I be happy?" Zhou Mikang just finished cooking a dish and smudged his oily hand on Chuxia’s rosy cheeks, "Step back a bit, be careful of the oil splashing on you."

"Stop it!" Chuxia glared at him and darted off to wash her face, but in her heart, she wasn’t really angry. Her aunt and sister-in-law had said that this was the first time they saw Zhou Mikang enter the kitchen, and if he didn’t like her, she believed he wouldn’t have done this. Plus, those small intimate gestures from someone who liked her and she didn’t dislike were quite charming.

Maybe this was the rhythm of love? Chuxia thought as she washed her face. When she left the washroom, she happened to see Liao Hui bringing a middle-aged woman hastily inside.

After a moment of hesitation, she quickly went back into the kitchen to report to Zhou Mikang, "Liao Hui has brought his mother over."

"Hmm." Zhou Mikang’s hands didn’t stop moving.

"Shouldn’t you go out there?" Chuxia tentatively reached out her hand, then drew it back, "I can also stir-fry this dish, but... but I can’t guarantee it will taste as good."

"Lin Chuxia."

"Hmm?"

"I hope that one day you’ll want to learn to cook, and you’ll do it for me. Do you understand?"

Chuxia blinked her big eyes, "I sort of understand, and yet it feels like I don’t."

"When you understand, it’ll mean you’ve fallen for me, got it?" Zhou Mikang dished out the last course onto a plate, his greasy hand reaching out, frightening Chuxia into quickly huddling and squatting on the ground with her head in her arms, "Gentlemen use their mouths, not their hands. Of course, it would be best if nothing moved at all."

"What a mess, I told you to move, I need to get out." Zhou Mikang shook his head, strutting out of the room.

"You..." Chuxia thought for a moment, then followed him out, after all, Zhou Xiangping had been pretty good to her and wasn’t happy with how the Liao family had acted, but with her new bride status, it really wasn’t good for her to get involved in these kinds of matters.

Cai Hongying, having been forcibly dragged here by her son, of course felt utterly humiliated, especially since her in-laws and husband were present when her son dragged her over; not one of them had intervened or followed, clearly showing they wanted her to apologize to the Zhou family, making her feel even more aggrieved.

Once inside, she kept her head down and remained silent, indifferent to Liao Hui’s words, responding with no more than silence.

After a standoff, Zhou Xiangping magnanimously waved her hand: "Liao Hui, don’t be hard on Mom. It’s probably because I didn’t measure up as a daughter-in-law that made her angry, wanting to replace me for you.

Any mother would be protective of her son, naturally wanting a woman who has eyes only for her son, only cares for her son. In this regard, I certainly don’t compare to Jiang Xue.

But, I’ve been like this since childhood, never pretending in front of you. Since you chose me from the start, you have to accept everything about me, right?

Let’s do this; I’ll stay at my parents’ home for a while. When Mom’s grudge is resolved, I’ll return to the Liao family. If you think replacing the daughter-in-law is a better option, go ahead, I have no objections."

"What are you saying?" Liao Hui glared at her, "I’ll stay with you then." Looking at Cai Hongying, who had kept her head down all this time, "Mom, you said earlier that Xiao Si wronged you, so I brought you here to confront her. But now, your behavior has already told me the real answer. Never mind, I won’t ask any more, you can go home."

"If you stay with the Zhou family, you are no longer my son." After Cai Hongying said this, she turned and left.

"Wait!" Zhou Xiangping pushed Liao Hui, "Go back with Mom. Don’t worry, as long as you don’t give up on me, I won’t give up on you. I just need some time to adjust."

"No, I’ll stay here with you."

Cai Hongying abruptly turned around, her gaze searing as she stared at Zhou Xiangping, "Xiao Si, I really misjudged you. I always thought you were a carefree and straightforward child, but your behavior today has been quite an eye-opener.

This could have been resolved at home, why did you escalate it so much? When the Zhou family hadn’t cleared your name, why didn’t you speak then? As for you being a child with no guile, who would believe that?"

"Her carefree nature doesn’t mean she’s foolish. If she had mentioned it at our home, the matter would have been immediately stifled, and you would assure us, pounding your chest, that you wouldn’t hurt her again.

But the moment I’m not around, and neither are grandpa and dad, you would probably start your schemes again. She’s looking for a permanent solution, Mom, shouldn’t you reflect on this?"

"I really raised my son in vain," Cai Hongying said, leaving without looking back.

"Thank you." Zhou Xiangping sniffled and again said, "Liao Hui, thank you."

Liao Hui watched her, his expression serious, "Helping you doesn’t mean I agree with what you’ve done. We are spouses, how can you trust me so little?"

Zhou Xiangping’s lips quivered, but she said nothing; indeed, if she had trusted him, she wouldn’t have waited for this moment to speak up.

"Just as you said yourself, I’ve always known your personality. Since marrying you, I’ve naturally accepted both your strengths and weaknesses. If I wanted a woman who loved me so much she lost her sense of self, why would I have chosen you to begin with?

The problem started with your lack of confidence, suspicions arose, and instead of asking me directly, do you think I’m the kind of person to lie and conceal? Anyway, I’m quite disappointed with how you’ve handled this."

"Alright, alright, you two, have your chat later, let’s eat now," Old Madam Zhou said, standing up to nudge Liao Hui, "Give your grandma some face, let’s eat first, okay?"

So the two sat awkwardly at the table, others gathering around. Zhou Mikang’s head peeked out from the kitchen, "Bring out the dishes!" He had just glanced briefly from behind, then dragged Chuxia back into the kitchen.

Whether it was an account of confusion or one beyond their touch, he had seen it, their Xiao Si was certainly not one to suffer; with the likes of Cai Hongying, she was really no match for their Xiao Si.

"Hehe..."

"Hehe..."

"..."

Almost everyone who came into the kitchen to carry food and dishes gave Chuxia a chuckle, causing her to falter momentarily in confusion, her hand groping her face, wondering if she had soot on it?

"Hahaha..." And now the prior "hehe" turned into full-blown "haha." She hurried to the bathroom to check the mirror, and upon standing in front of it, saw round black fingerprints on her cheeks and forehead; her previous rubbing had connected the three black marks, forming circles...

"Zhou Mikang!" Chuxia yelled as she ran out...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)