CHAPTER 371: CHAPTER 371 RESTART

Shen Yixiang nodded softly.

Yang Peimin didn’t bother with her, knowing that the more she obstructed, the more it backfired; it was better to let go and allow her to experience things for herself.

"You decide for yourself."

Strangely enough, Shen Yixiang was more surprised than pleased by how easily Yang Peimin relented.

She glanced again at her sister-in-law, "Sister-in-law, are you disappointed as well?"

Yang Peimin shook her head, "I’ve come to accept it, everyone has the right to choose their own life. However, you will have to speak with our parents and your brother yourself; I won’t help you with that."

Shen Yixiang’s eyes lit up, and she cheerfully said, "Okay, sister-in-law, you are truly understanding and reasonable. I was blind before to think poorly of you."

Yang Peimin rolled her eyes.

The next day, Yang Peimin woke up naturally. Her two sisters had already risen early and prepared breakfast, with Yang Peiying busily washing clothes.

Shen Yixiang was sitting on the sofa, daydreaming.

Yang Peimin glanced at her but didn’t say anything as she passed by. After washing up, she grabbed two steamed buns, pulled up a chair to the door, and sat eating, enjoying the warm sunshine—an uncommonly beautiful day.

After eating a few bites, she saw her neighbor across come out. Du Juanjuan stepped out, glanced at Yang Peimin sitting at the door, a flash of scorn crossing her eyes, then seemingly recalling something, she broke into a smile.

Yang Peimin didn’t want to engage with her and pretended not to see her.

Du Juanjuan walked a few steps closer, stood about two meters away from Yang Peimin, turned her head to glance towards the Shen family’s dormitory windows, and asked, "Where is your little sister-in-law?"

Yang Peimin finished the last bites of her bun, turned her body towards the sun, closed her eyes, and basked in the warmth of the sunlight.

Seeing her dismissive demeanor, Du Juanjuan’s face flashed with indignation and she bluntly said, "Your little sister-in-law, right? You can still sit there so calmly? Don’t you know she’s already infamous in the compound today? They say she sneaked into the barracks of the male soldiers late at night, trying to seduce them. I found it odd; you’re just pregnant, not seriously ill. Bringing two people with you to take care of seems premeditated. Even a three-year-old knows there are almost no single women in the military and the soldiers can’t go home often. Lots of bachelors are stationed here. Mr. Yang bringing a young lady here was certainly a calculated move. There are still several unmarried young officers."

Yang Peimin was startled upon hearing this; had last night’s events already spread? She quickly opened her eyes and looked at Du Dujuan, "Where did you hear all this?"

With a sarcastic smile, Du Juanjuan replied, "No need for specific sources, it’s being talked about everywhere. Just go and listen for yourself."

Hearing the noise, Shen Yixiang rushed out from inside the house and, looking incredulous, said to Du Juanjuan, "What are you rambling about? That never happened."

Du Juanjuan still held a grudge regarding Shen Yixiang’s sarcasm from yesterday, and today she unexpectedly got to hear Yixiang spew nonsense. She couldn’t help but breathe out deeply in satisfaction, "Oh, it’s not like I’m trying to meddle, but girl, you picked the wrong target. Didn’t you ask about your brother? That Lu Haijun is just a minor squad leader and can’t make any significant impact. Clinging to him won’t help; you’d be better off with someone older. Oh, right, I heard that Deputy Commander Hu’s wife passed away recently. He’d be a good choice; choosing him could lend your brother some support."

Du Juanjuan was smiling with schadenfreude. If she wasn’t concerned about her image, she undoubtedly would have laughed out loudly.

Shen Yixiang suddenly called out and lunged forward, grabbing Du Juanjuan and starting to hit her, "I’ll teach you to spout nonsense, your dog’s mouth can’t spit out ivory. I’ll tear your mouth apart!"

Du Juanjuan had not expected her to lash out like a madwoman. She was pushed back several steps by the assault and then grabbed by Shen Yixiang. As Shen Yixiang reached for her face, Du Juanjuan screamed, "You’re crazy! Help, she’s beating me..." Du grabbed Shen Yixiang’s wrist, and the two began to scuffle.

The pampered Du Juanjuan was no match for Shen Yixiang, who often helped with farming. Du Juanjuan quickly received a slap on the face and, holding her face in disbelief, she stared at Shen Yixiang, "You dare to hit me?" With a burst of fury, she reached out to scratch Shen Yixiang’s face.

Inside the house, Yang Peiying hurried out when she heard the noise to break up the fight. Yang Peimin also told them to stop, but hesitated to intervene, afraid of harming the baby.

Meanwhile, people from upstairs and downstairs were also drawn by the noise, and they quickly separated the two women.

Both of their faces bore marks from the fight. It was no surprise, as girls usually have nails and tend to go for the face. Shen Yixiang was somewhat better off, with a few red scratches from her jaw to her neck, and her hair and clothes somewhat disheveled. However, Du Juanjuan suffered more severe injuries, with her left cheek swollen visibly, a blackened eye, and nail marks on her face. She was infuriated, loudly threatening to take Shen Yixiang to military court for premeditated assault.

Everyone was momentarily stunned by the scene.

Seeing Du Juanjuan crying and shouting, they thought she really had gone mad.

Yang Peimin quickly asked Yang Peiying to bring some gauze and ointment to tend to the injuries, while he explained the preceding events to everyone and then apologized to Du Juanjuan, "I am truly sorry. My sister-in-law just acted impulsively. She’s an unmarried young woman and was furious upon hearing those words. She couldn’t control her actions. We will compensate for the medical expenses. Regarding my sister-in-law, seeing as you hit her too and considering we started the altercation, we won’t ask you to pay; we’ll handle it ourselves. Du Juanjuan, we have some external medicine here, let us treat your injuries."

Du Juanjuan spat in their direction, "Who needs your filthy money or your treatment? Don’t bother sweet-talking here. Just you wait, I won’t let this go!"

With that, she stormed down the stairs and headed straight to the military region building.

Someone advised Yang Peimin, "You should go over there too. If the Political Commissar hears only her side, you guys will be at a disadvantage."

Shen Yixiang immediately said, "Then I’ll go over."

Yang Peimin stopped her, "Hold on, just because someone speaks first, doesn’t mean they’re in the right. Let’s talk to Sister Li first before deciding anything after the Political Commissar sends word."

Shen Yixiang obediently stopped.

Once everyone else had left, she awkwardly apologized, "I’m sorry, sister-in-law, I got carried away."

Yang Peimin shook his head, knowing Du Juanjuan was unpleasant, "It’s good you understand. But what’s done is done, we’re not afraid of dealing with it. Let’s think about how we’ll explain it to the leaders later."

He took the iodine from Yang Peiying and applied it to her wounds, "Does it hurt?"

Shen Yixiang frowned but smiled, "It doesn’t hurt, and I didn’t lose out. I made sure to scratch Du Juanjuan’s face well, her scratches are deeper than mine."