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

The wind stopped at night, but the heat inside the house lingered.

Gu Changfeng, however, could not fall asleep for a long time.

He turned slightly to the side, using the cool moonlight streaming in from the window to examine the person beside him.

This was the first time he had looked at Lin Wanrou so closely.

Back then, there were no feelings involved, and even glancing at her felt awkward. Now, looking at her now, I realize that although this woman is extremely thin, her bone structure is excellent.

Her nose was straight, and her eyelashes were long like small fans, covering her eyelids. Due to long-term malnutrition, her complexion was somewhat pale, but the gentle and graceful air that emanated from her very being could not be concealed.

The moonlight shone on her face, giving her a soft glow.

As Gu Changfeng watched, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The feeling was strange. It wasn't the adrenaline rush of the battlefield, nor the exhilaration of catching a spy, but a tingling, itchy sensation, like being tickled by a feather.

The itch spread along his chest, making his throat a little dry.

He instinctively tried to pull his hand back to reach for the cigarette, but stopped halfway through.

Lin Wanrou's fingers were still hooked around his. In her sleep, she seemed to sense the warmth leaving, and subconsciously tightened her grip, letting out a muffled hum, like a kitten seeking milk.

Gu Changfeng's large hand, which was decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, froze in mid-air before obediently falling back down, allowing her to hold it.

This woman is dangerous.

Gu Changfeng cursed inwardly, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up in a smile.

My heart beats a little faster.

Thump, thump.

In the quiet night, the sound was quite loud and disturbing.

Suddenly, Meng Yaya in the middle rolled over, straddling one leg across Gu Changfeng's stomach with an air of nonchalance, smacking her lips as she said, "Eat meat... a big pork knuckle..."

Gu Changfeng's lips twitched.

He carefully removed his daughter's legs and tucked them back into the blankets. His movements were as gentle as if he were defusing a landmine.

By the moonlight, he looked at his daughter and then at his wife.

An unprecedented sense of satisfaction filled my chest. Is this what they call a wife, kids, and a warm bed? It doesn't seem so bad...

The next morning.

Before the bugle call even sounded, Gu Changfeng's biological clock woke him up.

He felt a heavy weight in his arms. Looking down, he saw two heads, one big and one small, almost buried in his chest. Meng Yaya was lying across his waist, her sleeping posture extremely domineering. Lin Wanrou, on the other hand, was resting her head on his arm, half of her body pressed against him.

Gu Changfeng remained in that position, staring at the spider web on the roof beam for a full five minutes, until his arm went numb and he had no choice but to move.

Lin Wanrou woke up as soon as he moved.

She opened her eyes groggily, her vision blurry. When she finally saw Gu Changfeng's magnified face and realized she was clinging to him like an octopus, she recoiled as if her tail had been stepped on.

"Bang!"

The back of his head slammed solidly against the wall.

"Hiss—" Lin Wanrou cried out in pain, tears welling up in her eyes. She covered her head, her face turning as red as a large red cloth.

"What's the panic?" Gu Changfeng sat up, his arm, numb from being used as a pillow, hanging limply at his side. His tone held no blame, but rather a lazy, just-woke-up quality. "I'm not a tiger, I'm not going to eat you."

Lin Wanrou didn't dare look at him at all, and lowered her head to push Meng Yaya, who was still fast asleep: "Yaya, get up, the sun is already high in the sky."

Meng Yaya was shaken awake, rubbing her sleepy eyes, and looked at her awkward parents in front of her, her mind clear as day.

Was that heartbeat last night thunder? It's only because she has good self-control that she didn't jump up and applaud her cheapskate father.

Breakfast was millet porridge with pickled vegetables, and a plate of leftover dumplings from last night, which I fried.

Gu Changfeng received an important call from his workplace, so he ate quickly, finishing his dumplings in a few bites before heading out.

Not long after Gu Changfeng left, the courtyard became lively. Several military wives were washing vegetables around the tap, making so much noise it sounded like they were singing opera.

"Have you heard? Commander Gu's mother is coming!"

"Oh my, she's quite a character. I heard she had her daughter-in-law completely under her thumb back in their hometown."

"I think Lin Wanrou is in trouble. She's from the countryside and has a child to support. When the real Lin Wanrou arrives, she'll be treated like a grandson."

The loudest voice came from Qian Mei, who had been scared away by Meng Yaya. She was rubbing her clothes while glancing towards courtyard number six, her eyes full of schadenfreude.

Lin Wanrou was airing out her quilts in the yard when she heard every word of what was said.

Meng Yaya sat on the threshold, holding a handful of sunflower seeds, cracking them open as if nothing was wrong.

"Mom, they're talking badly about you." Meng Yaya spat out two sunflower seed shells.

"Let others talk," Lin Wanrou said, forcefully slapping the blanket, making a crisp "slap slap" sound. "Let's live our own lives."

"That won't do." Meng Yaya dusted off her hands and stood up. "Gu Changfeng said I'm the little tyrant of this compound. If word gets out that my mother is being bullied, I'll lose face."

Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Mrs. Li from next door rushed in, carrying a large bowl.

"Wanrou! Wanrou, are you there? Army Day is coming up soon, and our family compound is planning a support activity for the soldiers. Everyone's talking about showing off their cooking skills in the mess hall, with each family contributing a dish to improve the soldiers' meals. You're a newcomer here, and everyone's looking forward to trying your cooking!"

Sister-in-law Li had a smile plastered on her face, but the smile looked fake no matter how you looked at it.

Who doesn't know that Lin Wanrou comes from the countryside? In everyone's eyes, what good skills could someone from the countryside possibly have?

At most, they'd steam some cornbread and boil some sweet potatoes. This wasn't an invitation; it was a trap, a ploy to humiliate Lin Wanrou in public and hand her a knife to the wicked mother-in-law who was coming to visit.

Qian Mei also peeked in from the doorway and interjected sarcastically, "Yeah, Wanrou, your Chief Gu is a hero. If your skills aren't up to par, you'll be embarrassing him."

Lin Wanrou's hand paused.

She looked at the faces of those waiting to see a good show, and was about to refuse.

"Go! We have to go!"

Meng Yaya's cheerful voice rang out. She skipped in front of Lin Wanrou, hands on her hips, head held high: "My mom's cooking is amazing! A hundred times better than your pig slop! Not only do we want to go, we want to get first place!"

Everyone was stunned by these arrogant words.

Lin Wanrou looked down at her daughter's arrogant demeanor and felt a wave of helplessness. This child, she'd really blown her own horn! They only had one jar of rice and noodles at home; what did they have to offer to compete with others?

Meng Yaya turned around, winked at Lin Wanrou, and a sly glint flashed in her large, clear eyes.

It's time to bring out the spices stored in those few acres of land and let them see the light of day.

"Okay." Lin Wanrou took a deep breath and accepted the challenge. "I'll go."

Sister-in-law Li and Qian Mei exchanged a glance, their eyes practically brimming with smugness.

Just wait and see how you get out of this mess!