Reborn as a Tough Army Wife
Chapter 171 - 166: Attracting Attention

Chapter 171: Chapter 166: Attracting Attention

Sitting across from Zhiyong, Huang Lin sighed heavily after seeing him sigh, and said, "My sister-in-law was just busy for a day and didn’t come back, my wife has hardly been at home recently, and my mom keeps urging me to bring her back, but once I do they just argue nonstop. I really don’t know what to do."

Seeing that Huang Lin genuinely looked distressed recently, almost devoid of any smiles, Zhiyong directly advised him, "Don’t resent me for saying this, Huang Lin, but the way your mom is handling this isn’t right. If Juzi’s child turns out to be a girl, are you really going to consider abortion?"

"I..." Huang Lin himself didn’t have a good solution, and he also thought it would be best if a son was born, since his wife did not care about the gender, but it would make things easier to explain to his mother.

He hesitated for a moment, with a helpless look on his face, and said, "I have no way out, my hometown places great importance on having boys, I can’t convince my mom."

Seeing that Huang Lin had a mindset of preferring boys over girls, Zhiyong sternly admonished him, "Huang Lin, I must tell you, we are both soldiers, we shouldn’t have such a gender-biased mentality. If everyone thought like you, what would become of our country, the gender imbalance isn’t a solution either."

Huang Lin glanced at Zhiyong and muttered softly, "Look at you talking like that, don’t you mind if your sister-in-law ends up having a boy or a girl?"

"Of course, as long as it’s my wife who gives birth, I’ll love the child," thinking about how if it’s a girl she would be as pretty and well-behaved as his wife but also impossible to handle when angry, Zhiyong’s heart softened slightly and felt quite pleased.

Hearing Zhiyong’s words, Huang Lin felt moved, and suddenly also thought that having a daughter like his wife, petite and lovely, kind-hearted, would indeed be a nice thing.

Actually, for him, although he hoped for a son from Xiao Juzi, he wouldn’t dislike it if it were a daughter. The main issue was getting past his mother.

Sometimes, he knew his mother was too much, but what could he do? His father died early, and his mother had suffered a lot over the years, he couldn’t completely disregard his mother’s feelings.

Zhiyong also knew his difficulties and had himself experienced being caught between his wife and mother, understanding the dilemma.

With the wisdom of someone who had been through it, he advised Huang Lin, "Huang Lin, I think you shouldn’t side with anyone, just stand with what’s right. Speak out against whoever is wrong, do not protect anyone. Yes, you only have one mother, you must be filial, but you also only have one wife, you can’t completely ignore her feelings."

"Alright, I’ll go back and lie to my mom to appease her for now, let her go back first, and wait until Juzi has given birth before letting her come over," said Huang Lin in utter helplessness, "Anyway, once the baby is born, whether it’s a boy or a girl, it won’t be up to her anymore."

Zhiyong nodded his head, agreeing that this indeed was a solution.

After all, for them men, such trivial matters, as long as the immediate issue is resolved, the future can be dealt with later.

At the store, Fang Pingying and Luo Honglan had rushed for a few days in the store, managed to produce some inventory.

They planned to open the store immediately. With three people running the shop, one would handle sales while the other two worked on the products in the back, thinking it would definitely be manageable.

On the afternoon of the third day, Luo Zhiming and Fang Xiu returned.

Fang Xiu looked quite spirited, holding some things in her hands, which she said were some daily necessities she bought. But Luo Zhiming looked pale and extremely tired, sitting anywhere as if he could fall asleep at any moment.

Fang Pingying twitched her mouth. She suspected that the two didn’t go out anywhere these days and just stayed in the guesthouse, otherwise Luo Zhiming wouldn’t look this way.

And seeing that Fang Xiu was empty-handed, if she really went out, she surely would have bought something.

Fang Pingying knew this, but Luo Honglan did not understand.

Seeing Luo Zhiyong looking unwell, she naively asked, "Second brother, sister-in-law, where have you been these days? You look like you haven’t woken up."

"Childish antics, don’t ask recklessly." Luo Zhiming coughed uncomfortably, then turned to Fang Pingying and said, "By the way, sister-in-law, I’m going back to the lumber mill. Are you heading back today?"

"Going back, leaving now." Fang Pingying did not go back yesterday, thinking Luo Zhiyong must be worried, she had already packed her things. She was planning to leave if Luo Zhiming didn’t return soon.

She tidied up the shop carelessly, instructed Luo Honglan and Fang Xiu, "Honglan, Xiu’er, stay here tonight. It’s chaotic in the provincial city at night, don’t go out. I’ll come over early tomorrow morning. For dinner, I bought vegetables at noon, just cook and eat yourselves."

Luo Honglan immediately responded, "Alright, sister-in-law, head back. You haven’t gone back these past few days, my big brother must be worried too."

Fang Pingying smiled at Luo Honglan, casually tidied up some things, and picked two portions of pastries from the shop, giving one to Luo Zhiming to take back and eat in the evening, and carrying one back for Luo Zhiyong to eat.

When Fang Pingying was taking a bus back to the compound, she unexpectedly encountered Bai Jing, who was also returning from work in the city on the same bus. Bai Jing just nodded faintly upon seeing Fang Pingying. There was an empty seat beside her, but she didn’t gesture for Fang Pingying to come sit.

However, there were only two empty seats on the bus, one taken by Luo Zhiming, so Fang Pingying had no choice but to sit next to Bai Jing.

After sitting down, Fang Pingying smiled at her and took the initiative to greet, "Doctor Bai, off work?"

"Uh-huh." Bai Jing replied indifferently, but it was a bit delayed. She pointed toward Luo Zhiming, "The one who got on the bus with you, is he the younger brother of Battalion Commander Luo?"

Fang Pingying thought Bai Jing wouldn’t chat with her, and didn’t plan to talk.

Hearing Bai Jing suddenly ask such a question, she was stunned, then immediately nodded, "Yes, he also works over there, so we are going back together."

Bai Jing stared at Luo Zhiming for a little while, then suddenly frowned and said, "Compared to Battalion Commander Luo, his brother is much inferior."

... Fang Pingying didn’t know how to respond to that; generally speaking, even if there is a big difference between two brothers, people wouldn’t say it so bluntly.

But Bai Jing seemed not to care whether Fang Pingying responded or not, she continued indifferently, "Battalion Commander Luo, although he came from a rural background, is upright, decisive in work, and has broad insights; he doesn’t at all seem like someone from an ordinary rural background."

Fang Pingying didn’t miss that when Bai Jing mentioned Luo Zhiyong, her mouth didn’t only praise him – her eyes actually shone with a brilliance others might not notice. She playfully sized up Bai Jing, then smiled and responded to Bai Jing’s earlier comment, "In my view, there isn’t much difference between people from the countryside and the city. It’s just different regions after all. It doesn’t mean that rural people are inherently less honest or less knowledgeable."

"That’s true too. You, Sister Fang, even seem more like a city person than us city folks." Bai Jing paused, then raised an eyebrow and said, "I suppose, that’s also why Battalion Commander Luo was willing to marry you." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)