In the fifth row of the family quarters, there was a small commissary. The layout was much smaller than a standard courtyard house, and it didn't stock many items—just the commonly used oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. At this moment, eight or nine women were sitting together in a circle, heads bowed, working on their chores.
"Oh my, did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"About that Young Shen, the Second Company Commander. He went home to pick up his elderly mother and children, but his mother passed away."
"His mother passed away? Then what about the children? Who did he give them to?"
"He didn't give them away. He found a wife. That new wife brought two children of her own, so there are four kids in total, and they all moved in."
"Isn't that great? Now there's someone to take care of the children."
"What's great about it? She's a black-hearted stepmother! I live right behind them. Early this morning, Young Shen's child was shouting over there, 'Stepmother is hitting people! Stepmother is hitting people!' Oh my, it really makes one's heart ache."
Hearing this, several women present finally looked up.
Speaking of Vice Regiment Commander Liu, he was respected by everyone. However, his elderly mother, despite being the oldest in the family quarters, didn't have a great reputation. This auntie loved to gossip about others' domestic affairs whenever she had nothing to do. Most of it was baseless hearsay, and everyone usually listened with half an ear. But this time, her words surprised everyone.
"Oh my, really?"
Seeing everyone looking at her, Auntie Liu shook her leg and curled her lip. "Could it be fake? I was feeding my troublesome granddaughter malted milk extract at the time, and I heard it plain as day."
Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Someone scanned the crowd and asked one of the women, "Zhiguo's wife, the Second Company Commander lives right next to you. Did you hear it this morning?"
Liu Xiumei was concentrating on stitching soles for shoes. Caught off guard by the question, she jumped. She looked up at the woman, saw everyone staring at her, hurriedly lowered her head again, thought for a moment, and said, "I heard it."
Auntie Liu tossed her head back. "See? And you thought I was lying! Look, Xiumei is known for being honest, and even she heard it."
Liu Xiumei glanced at Auntie Liu, opened her mouth, and added in a small voice, "I... I didn't hear the sound of hitting."
"Would hitting let you hear it?" Auntie Liu scoffed. "You are all young and don't know that when a stepmother wants to be wicked, she has plenty of methods."
She opened her mouth and rattled off several stories about stepmothers harming their husbands' children from previous marriages. Just as she finished, she saw the Logistics Minister's wife, whose face had darkened a bit. She hurriedly added, "Ermei, I'm not talking about you. We all know you treat Han Shi's two children like your own."
Seeing Jiang Ermei smile without speaking, she curled her lip inwardly. Of course, she treats them like her own; she can't give birth herself. Thinking this, she scanned Liu Xiumei again and rolled her eyes. Then, latching onto Su Xingye, she started listing the evils of stepmothers again.
Everyone here was a military family member. Although some couldn't read many characters, they weren't malicious gossips. Even though Auntie Liu spoke vividly, they didn't all jump on the bandwagon to curse the woman.
Wang Feng, the Political Commissar's wife, saw Auntie Liu rambling on and interrupted her directly. "The Second Company Commander just arrived yesterday. Their house surely isn't fully stocked, so she'll definitely have to come to the commissary to buy things. Whether a person is good or bad, you can usually tell from their face. Let's wait until she comes, and we'll see for ourselves."
"That's right. Maybe she'll come soon."
"Right, right, right. Sister Feng is right. Let's see."
Auntie Liu, seeing the Political Commissar's wife convince everyone with a few words, felt a surge of anxiety. "Hey, hey, hey! So you don't believe me? Fine, then let's just wait and see."
The Political Commissar's wife threaded a needle against the light from the window, tied a knot deftly, continued altering clothes, and smiled at her. "Auntie, it's not that we don't believe you. Isn't this just 'proceeding from reality'? Don't those rough soldiers always say 'seeing is believing' or something like that?"
What 'proceeding from reality'? Auntie Liu was baffled. Back in the countryside, when she sat at the village entrance, everyone believed whatever she said. Her son was a Vice Regiment Commander—that was a big deal! Why was it that since coming to the military unit, no one believed her anymore?
Fine. She would just wait and see what good could come of that stepmother.
Su Xingye didn't know she had become the center of conversation. She was calmly waiting out Shen Jiabao. After the crying, the fussing, and the rolling on the ground, the little fellow was now sitting on a small stool facing the wall, sniffling loudly every now and then.
Aside, Zhou Xiaoyang and Zhou Xiaoliu had finished eating and were reading comic books. Only Shen Yueyue was still eating. She ate very slowly, looking at her mother with almost every bite.
Su Xingye watched her while asking Shen Jiabao, "Are you going to apologize?"
Shen Jiabao looked back at her aggrievedly, then looked at the meat bun placed on the highest shelf of the five-drawer chest. He gave a sob. "Apologize."
"Then come over."
Shen Jiabao stood up, his voice halting and choked, and mumbled to Zhou Xiaoliu and Shen Yueyue, "Sorry. I... I won't snatch your things anymore."
Su Xingye nodded. "Good. See, it wasn't that hard." She took his food out and handed it to him, wiping the tears hanging on his cheeks. "When I took your food away, you were so sad. When you snatched your brother and sister's food, they were sad too."
Shen Jiabao nodded while gnawing on the bun. After making a fuss for so long, he had gained nothing and was starving. After finishing his meal, he regained his energy. Su Xingye gave him a comic book, and he took it with a humph.
Zhou Xiaoyang looked up from his comic book and glanced at him. "Eating your own, snatching from your brother and sister, and crying on top of it. Shameful." It was the exact same tone Shen Jiabao had used on him on the train yesterday.
"You bad big brother!" Shen Jiabao exploded instantly.
Su Xingye glanced at the eldest—this vengeful little guy—and asked Shen Jiabao, "You did something wrong and you still think you're right? If you don't read the comic book, I'll put it away."
Shen Jiabao hurriedly clutched it in his hands. "Who said I won't read it? I'm reading." He held the book tightly to embolden himself and glared at Su Xingye. "Wait until my dad comes back. I'll tell him and let him beat you."
"Oh my, I'm so scared." Su Xingye poured water for the children. "Your dad will be back for lunch soon. You hurry up and tell him."
Shen Jiabao accused, "I'll tell my dad you put my food so, so high and made me stand in the corner."
Su Xingye couldn't help laughing. This spoiled brat needs disciplining. "Fine." She looked at Zhou Xiaoyang. "Mom is going to buy some things and will be back soon. You watch your younger siblings."
Zhou Xiaoliu looked up. "Mom, I want to go too."
Su Xingye saw all the children looking at her and explained gently, "Because I don't know the way and don't know anyone, Mom isn't comfortable taking you along. Today, Mom will go alone. Eldest and Second Brother will take care of the younger siblings, and the younger ones must listen to the older brothers. Mom will be back in a while. If you behave well, I'll reward you with candy when I return."
The children didn't say anything more. Su Xingye gave a few more instructions, locked the kitchen and the main gate, and walked quickly toward the commissary.
Yesterday at the supply and marketing cooperative, they hadn't bought soy sauce or vinegar. Shen Kaiyue had mentioned there was a commissary in the compound, so Su Xingye thought she would check it out. They had bought oil and salt for the house, but no other seasonings. Since she wanted to nourish the children's bodies, she needed to cook well, and oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were essential. If there were other things, she would buy some if suitable.
It was freezing cold, and there wasn't a soul outside. Su Xingye walked quickly to the fifth row and found it without much effort. It was two very low, single-story rooms, much smaller than their house. Next to it was a large open space, presumably a place for children to play. A wooden board was nailed to the door with the words 'Commissary' carved on it. Faint sounds of talking could be heard from inside.
Su Xingye stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Come in, it's not locked," someone inside responded.
Su Xingye pushed the door open and entered. The inside instantly fell silent. Su Xingye was also a bit stunned. She hadn't expected the commissary to be so lively. Eight or nine women were sitting in a circle; some were knitting sweaters, some stitching shoe soles, others sewing clothes—a scene of bustling labor. Compared to them, the items on the wooden shelves in the back looked somewhat lackluster.
The women were also stunned. The reason was simple: they knew everyone in this courtyard. Now that a stranger had arrived, without thinking, it must be the person they had just been talking about.
Wang Feng stood up immediately. "You must be the Second Company Commander's wife."
Su Xingye thought of Shen Jiabao's howling this morning; she guessed it had made her famous instantly. She remained composed and responded, "Yes, that's me. Hello, Sister-in-law. My name is Su Xingye." She took off her hat, revealing her whole face, which was full of smiles.
Wang Feng paused. "Hello, hello. I'm Wang Feng, the Political Commissar's wife. You can just call me Sister Feng. Xiao Xing, is it? You are really beautiful. Let me introduce you."
Wang Feng immediately threw Auntie Liu's words to the back of her mind. She trusted herself. Such a kind-looking young wife couldn't be bad. She knew Shen Kaiyue, that boy, was shrewd; he wouldn't find an improper stepmother for his children.
Su Xingye hadn't expected Sister Wang Feng to be so enthusiastic. She followed along, recognizing people roughly. She didn't remember the others clearly, but she remembered Auntie Liu. That auntie's condescending look was too annoying to ignore.
"Young Shen's wife, right? Why did I hear your child shouting 'stepmother, stepmother' this morning?"
Su Xingye knew exactly what she was thinking at a glance. She didn't argue. "Shen Kaiyue and I are both in our second marriage. I brought two children, so there are four in total. During breakfast this morning, the second child snatched his younger siblings' eggs, so I criticized him. He was throwing a tantrum."
Auntie Liu looked unconvinced, seeing how articulate this young wife was. "You criticized the child, and he wailed like a ghost?"
Su Xingye glanced at her. "His crying wasn't as loud as your child's voice."
This remark made several people around them nod secretly. The Vice Regiment Commander's youngest daughter was famous for crying. She never cried at night, but during the day, her voice was incredibly loud. Anyone passing by their alley was guaranteed to hear it.
Seeing Auntie Liu about to speak again, Wang Feng pulled Su Xingye toward the shelves. "Da Ni, come quickly. See what Xiao Xing wants to buy." She introduced Su Xingye. "Da Ni is the wife of the First Company Commander. He and your husband have a life-and-death friendship. Da Ni is also easy to get along with. You two should get along well."
Zhou Da Ni had an honest face and looked like a capable homemaker. "Hey, Xiao Xing, what do you want to buy?"
Su Xingye didn't stand on ceremony. Soy sauce, vinegar, pencils, notebooks, and a dozen pieces of candy.
"No meat?" she asked. They hadn't managed to buy meat in town yesterday either.
Zhou Da Ni was recording her account. Usually, when they bought things, they just paid, and the ration tickets were reported and cancelled uniformly later. This couldn't be sloppy. She explained, "Meat is scarce. We have to wait for the supply truck to deliver supplies; we can ask for some then. There isn't any right now."
Seeing Su Xingye look a bit worried, Wang Feng patted her hand. "Don't worry. Before winter truly sets in, the supply truck will come one more time. If you want to cut some meat, just come then. But you have to remember to come; the supply truck only comes this one time before the New Year." She thought for a moment. "If you want more, just have Company Commander Shen tell the supply station directly. If you want other rare items, ask them to send them over too."
Hearing this, Su Xingye breathed a sigh of relief. "I understand. Thank you, Sister Feng."
Wang Feng laughed heartily. "What's there to thank? When you're free later, come here to play. Bringing the children is fine too. The kàng fire is burning here. We can talk and chat; time passes quickly." Mainly, it saves firewood at home too.
Su Xingye nodded in agreement. "Okay, I'll definitely come. Sister-in-law, I'll head back first. The children are at home, and they're still small. I'm not at ease."
"Okay, okay, okay. We won't keep you then. Hurry back." Wang Feng opened the door for her.
Su Xingye said goodbye to everyone and hurried home. Just as she stepped out the door, someone snorted coldly.
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