Chapter 368: Chapter 368: Return to the Military Region

Yang Peiying returned home and promptly apologized to Yang PeiMin.

Yang PeiMin shook her head with a smile, “It’s alright. You just don’t know how to say no to people. Actually, we can refuse others in a different way without offending them. Just be a bit more tactful. If someone can take a hint, they’ll stop pestering of their own accord. If not, you can just tell them plainly. It’s no big deal.”

Shen Yixiang on the side, however, seemed to hesitate to speak up.

Yang PeiMin glanced at her and explained, “Yingzi is timid by nature; let’s give her some time to adjust.”

Shen Yixiang also nodded with a smile, “Yes, it’s good that Yingzi has realized this issue. We’re not stopping them from coming in, but at night, everyone is resting. It’s disturbing to have commotion, and this place isn’t like our village where everyone knows each other. If some mischievous kid were to take something and run off with it, whether we chase after them or not, it would damage our relationship with the neighbors. But take your time, Yingzi, I won’t laugh at you.”

Once the matter was brushed aside, everyone went back to their own business.

A few days passed and there was still no sign of Shen Yiguang, nor any news from him.

Yang PeiMin felt somewhat uneasy, not knowing if something had happened.

She was just feeling particularly insecure now, on edge at the slightest disturbance.

On the rest day, she returned to the military base with Yang Peiying and Shen Yixiang.

They went to inquire with the Political Commissar, who said that Yiguang had been called away on an urgent mission during training exercises and hadn’t had time to contact his family. However, he had managed to send a letter back with a comrade.

Yang PeiMin took it out and read it. It didn’t say much, just that he was on a mission with an indefinite duration and asked her to not worry.

Yang Yixiang quickly offered her comfort, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Your husband has been through many battles. Thinking of you and the child, he will surely come back safe and sound.”

Yang PeiMin could only suppress the unease in her heart and rallied her spirits. Since she had come back, she decided to chat a bit with the neighbors, the Military Wives, just to show consideration and maintain good relations.

Seeing her return, the neighbors all expressed great warmth, their gazes immediately landing on her belly, “Haven’t seen you in months, and your belly has gotten so big.”

Yang PeiMin greeted each of them in turn.

“Wow, there’s an extra girl behind you. Is that your younger sister?”

“No, she’s my little sister.”

“She doesn’t look much like you; one must resemble your father and the other your mother.”

Yang PeiMin smiled and tacitly agreed.

Approaching them, Du Juanjuan paused her steps, took a couple of looks at Yang Peiying, and suddenly said with a laugh, “Comrade Yang, your sister doesn’t look like she was picked up from somewhere, does she? Or did your mother eat something wrong when she was pregnant with her?”

Yang Peimin’s smile faded from her face, “It seems like Mr. Du is the one who ate something wrong with how filthy his mouth is.”

Du Juanjuan also stopped smiling, her face turned cold, and she snorted, “If you have the guts to bring her out, then don’t be afraid of what people say. If you really don’t want to pique people’s curiosity, you might as well not bring her out at all. That way, no one has to rack their brains wondering what her problem is.”

Yang Peiying lowered her head and subtly shifted her feet slightly behind Yang Peimin.

Shen Yixiang burst into furious swearing, “Shut your damn dog, fart—do you even know how to speak to people? You look decent enough, but it’s a waste of a human skin. You think you’re so good-looking? With that dead fish eye, sky-reaching nose, fish gut, and witch-face like some old mountain demon, you should stop scaring people!”

Shen Yixiang’s fighting spirit was indomitable, leaving Du Juanjuan speechless from the scolding.

“Just with that little bit of tolerance, you dare to come out and ask for insults? Roll back into your mother’s womb and learn some more, it’s truly embarrassing!”

Du Juanjuan glared at her with a voracious look.

Everyone, seeing that she looked like she was about to pounce and start a sit-in, quickly grabbed hold of Du Juanjuan and started trying to break up the fight, “Little sister, calm down. We’re all from the same camp; don’t ruin the good relationships. This girl didn’t mean any harm; let’s not hold it against her.”

Amidst the multitude of voices trying to defuse the situation, Du Juanjuan, with a face ashen and eyes filled with resentment, glared at Shen Yixiang and Yang Peimin before finally leaving.

Shen Yixiang had won a complete victory, and she couldn’t have been happier.

Yang Peimin shook her head helplessly as she watched and also thanked Shen Yixiang for standing up for Yingzi.

After speaking with the neighbors, she returned to her own quarters.

The room was the same as before, just a bit dusty from not being lived in for some days. Yang Peiying entered and immediately began wiping down the tables and chairs with a wet cloth.

It was nearing evening, and there was no need to cook as everyone had bought food in town and only needed to boil water. Shen Yixiang went to help with lighting the stove, while Yang Peimin organized the clothes and food they brought back.

In a short while, Sister Li from the logistics department came with news, “Now, in our military unit, we have built a residential building for families, and the number of family members has also increased. Many military personnel have brought their children with them, so we’ve considered that it’s not really good to just let the children of underage who can’t attend school be left to roam around. Although the military wives take care of them at home, many have more than one child, and it’s hard to keep an eye on all, posing a safety risk. To allow the military personnel to serve the country with peace of mind, we are planning to build a kindergarten here in our compound. The children here can go there, and if any military wives have an education, are patient, and responsible, they can also apply to be teachers at our kindergarten. This also provides a solution for a few military wives looking for work. I’m here today for three purposes: to notify everyone, to encourage teacher sign-ups, and to register children for the kindergarten.”

Shen Yixiang, listening on the side, couldn’t help but ask, “My sister-in-law wouldn’t be eligible to sign up for either of those two things, right? First, she hasn’t graduated, and second, her child hasn’t been born yet.” She couldn’t help but laugh to herself as she said this.

Sister Li laughed as well, “That’s true. Now, enrolling children isn’t just something the kindergarten run by our military logistics department can handle—many things will depend on everyone’s cooperation. Honestly, the logistics department has just taken the lead, and the rest is up to us to complete together. Funds are also limited, so if there are any unused items at home, like tables, chairs, clothing, or toys, they could all be donated to the kindergarten… The kindergarten belongs to all of us, to our children, and we hope everyone can lend a hand and support it as much as possible.”

Everyone understood.

Yang Peimin replied earnestly, “I understand, thank you for coming over so late in the evening.”

“What’s there to thank, I was just pulling you back to tell you, wasn’t I? Everyone else already knows. How many months along are you? It looks like it won’t be long before you can send your child to the kindergarten.”

Yang Peimin smiled, “It is soon.”

After sending Sister Li on her way, Luo Dahua came over. She met Sister Li just outside the door, so as soon as she entered, she said, “Sister Li came over to talk about the kindergarten, didn’t she?”