Dare to shirk responsibility? This adorable little one will tear down your military district!

The red-lacquered door of the logistics department was wide open, and Zhao Fang's shrill voice was like a saw, making people's brains ache.

"That courtyard has been empty for half a year, why can't I have it? I'm the head nurse of the medical team, and I'm still unmarried because of my revolutionary work. Shouldn't the organization take care of the housing problem for single cadres?"

The senior cadre in charge of allocating housing looked troubled, adjusting his reading glasses: "Cadre Zhao, that No. 6 courtyard is designated for the families of officers at the regimental level or above. According to regulations, single officers can only live in collective dormitories..."

"Rules are rules, but people are flexible!" Zhao Fang slammed the folder she was holding onto the table, making the teacup lid bounce around. "Isn't Chief Gu single too? Doesn't he also occupy a spot? Since he's not staying there, what's wrong with letting me stay there?"

A large hand reached out and slammed a brass key onto the table with a dull thud.

"Who says I don't bet?"

Gu Changfeng had a cold face, and his tall figure blocked the light from the doorway, casting a shadow over Zhao Fang.

Zhao Fang was startled by the sudden aura. She turned her head and saw Gu Changfeng. Before she could even put on a smile, her gaze fell on Lin Wanrou, who was holding the child behind him.

His patched clothes stood out starkly in the logistics department, where everything was green with the colors of military uniforms.

"Commander Gu," Zhao Fang forced a smile, her nails scraping against the folder with a sickening sound, "what are you up to? Bringing a nanny to pick up the keys? That's against the rules. The family compound isn't a shelter."

Gu Changfeng ignored her, took out the marriage certificate, which was still warm from his body, from his shirt pocket, unfolded it, and laid it flat in front of Lao Qianshi.

"The formalities are complete. I'm moving into Courtyard No. 6 now."

The red stamp, the black and white photograph, and the steel seal clearly visible in the sunlight.

Old Ganshi's eyes lit up, and he quickly picked up the marriage certificate to look at it. He then laughed loudly, "Great! Changfeng, now your problem with that person is finally solved! The No. 6 courtyard has been reserved for you for a long time. I was worried about it getting moldy and I was just worried that no one would open the windows to ventilate it for you."

As he spoke, the old cadre deftly pulled out a bunch of keys tied with a red string from the drawer and handed them to Gu Changfeng with both hands.

Zhao Fang stood to the side, her face flushing red and then pale, as if she had been slapped in public. She stared intently at the marriage certificate, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets.

How is that possible?

Why is this rustic country woman allowed to marry Gu Changfeng? Why is she allowed to live in the best detached house in the entire military region?

"Wait!" Zhao Fang exclaimed urgently, stepping in front of the counter to block the way. "Old Li, this isn't the proper procedure! Has she...has she passed her political vetting? What if a spy infiltrated? This house can't be allocated!"

Gu Changfeng gripped the key tightly in his hand, the metal edges digging into his palm. He took a step forward, his military boots slamming onto the floor with a chilling sound.

"My soldiers, my families, I vouch for them." Gu Changfeng looked down at Zhao Fang. "If Officer Zhao thinks there's a problem, you can report me to the security department directly. But before that, get out of the way."

Zhao Fang shivered from the cold tone, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot, and she refused to move.

If she lets him go, how will she survive in the medical team? Everyone knows she's been eyeing Gu Changfeng for years, but a country woman snatched him away, and even took his house.

"Commander Gu, you can't say that..."

"Aunt."

A soft yet clear voice broke in.

Meng Yaya peeked her head out from beside Gu Changfeng's legs, peeling the last White Rabbit candy in her hand, tilting her head with an innocent look: "Are you going through early menopause?"

Zhao Fang was taken aback: "What?"

"Grandpa Sun said that if an old woman can't get married, she'll have hormonal imbalances and won't be able to stand seeing others doing well."

Meng Yaya crumpled the candy wrapper into a ball and flicked it precisely into the wastepaper basket two meters away.

"My parents have already registered their marriage, so they are legally married. You, an outsider, insist on going into a married man's home. What do you call that? That's called having a problem with your moral character, and you should be paraded through the streets with your 'broken shoes' hanging up your sleeves."

There were a few junior soldiers in the logistics department who almost burst out laughing when they heard this.

Zhao Fang's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, and her finger trembled as she pointed at Meng Yaya: "You...you ill-mannered wild girl..."

"Whether I'm well-mannered or not is none of your business." Meng Yaya's smile vanished instantly, her clear black and white eyes staring coldly at her.

"But I know that a good dog doesn't block the way. This house now belongs to both the Gu and Meng families. If you don't move aside, I'll shout 'Catch the pervert!'"

"Catch... a hooligan?" Zhao Fang was speechless with anger.

"Yeah, coveting a married commander and ruining a military marriage, what else is she but a female hooligan?" Meng Yaya retorted in her childish voice.

The whispers around them grew louder. Over the past few years, Zhao Fang had bullied newcomers in the government compound, taking advantage of her seniority; everyone had long been fed up with her.

"Get out of the way, Officer Zhao, don't make a fool of yourself." The old officer also put on a stern face and started to shoo people away.

Zhao Fang gritted her teeth, stomped her foot hard, shoved Lin Wanrou's shoulder aside, and stormed out.

"Let's go." Gu Changfeng put away the marriage certificate, didn't look at that back again, took Lin Wanrou's hand, and with his other hand lifted Meng Yaya by the back of her collar, carrying her over the threshold like a chick, "Let's go home."

Courtyard No. 6 is located at the easternmost edge of the residential area, backed by a small grove of trees, in a quiet location.

The two-story building with red bricks and gray tiles, though quite old, still looks impressive. What Meng Yaya is most satisfied with is the large courtyard, which is over 100 square meters.

Because no one had lived there for a long time, the yard was overgrown with weeds that were half a person tall.

Gu Changfeng used the key to unlock the rusty iron lock and pushed open the paint-peeled wooden door.

"Squeak—"

A wave of dust hit me.

"It's a bit dirty." Gu Changfeng frowned, put the bag he was carrying on the steps, and said, "You guys wait outside, I'll go in and fix it."

"Dad, this yard is amazing!" Meng Yaya, like a playful monkey, darted straight into the weeds.

She squatted down, grabbed a handful of soil, and squeezed it. The black soil was incredibly fertile.

If she planted the improved potatoes and corn she collected in the apocalypse, the yield would be enough to feed half a regiment in this yard!

"The weeds need to be pulled, the soil needs to be turned over." Meng Yaya stood up, her eyes shining, pointing out the possibilities. "Plant scallions here, garlic there, and build a trellis under the wall to grow cucumbers. Dad, can you fight?"

Looking at the overgrown weeds in the yard, Gu Changfeng initially thought it was a nuisance, but as he listened to his daughter's ramblings, a little green sprout seemed to emerge from the barren place in his heart.

"Yes." Gu Changfeng rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms. "As long as you want to plant it, I'll build it for you."

Lin Wanrou stood at the door, looking at the detached little building and her daughter planning her future in the grass, and her eyes reddened again.

Is this home?

No need to worry about my mother-in-law's attitude, no need to worry about being sold off, a home with walls to block the wind and tiles to shelter me from the rain.

"Don't just stand there." Gu Changfeng turned around, glanced at her, and although his voice was still harsh, it had a hint of warmth. "Come in. From now on, you are the mistress of this place."

These words were like a stabilizing force, calming all of Lin Wanrou's unease.

She took a deep breath, stepped over the threshold, and picked up the broken broom behind the door: "I can do chores too. I'll clean this place up."

The courtyard in No. 6 was bustling with activity all afternoon.

Gu Changfeng demonstrated remarkable efficiency. He borrowed a shovel and sickle from the logistics department and cleared the weeds from the yard in less than two hours, and even fixed the loose window frame.

Lin Wanrou took a rag and a bucket and wiped the tables, chairs and benches in the room until they shone. She worked meticulously, even picking out the dust from the cracks in the floorboards.

Meng Yaya wasn't idle either. She toddled around the yard with her short legs, ostensibly to inspect the area, but actually secretly scattering a few handfuls of seeds from her spatial storage in a corner.

However, she also discovered a row of fresh footprints near the dog hole in the corner of the wall.

The footprint wasn't large, it looked like a woman's, and the sole had a deep pattern, like those multi-layered cloth shoes.

Meng Yaya narrowed her eyes.

This yard has been empty for half a year, how come there are fresh footprints?

Unless, someone has been watching this place all along.