CHAPTER 243: 231 MOM, DAD IS SO GOOD TO YOU!

Tian Sangsang thought it was Jiang Jinghuai coming back. She opened the door with a smile, only for her expression to freeze when she saw Qin Lan. "Sister-in-law, is there something you need?"

"Oh, it’s nothing." Qin Lan forced out a smile, peering curiously into her room. "Sister-in-law, you’re stewing chicken? Smells so good, I could smell it from afar. Captain Jiang’s really lucky to have married a woman like you!"

"Well, that’s true." Tian Sangsang nodded humbly. This was the most straightforward compliment she’d ever heard from Qin Lan—it sounded fine, quite genuine, like an actual praise.

Seeing Sangsang’s cheerful face only made Qin Lan even angrier. "Still celebrating Mid-Autumn over at your place, huh? How come it’s big fish and big meat every day? Really living the good life~

You know, people can’t be showing off all the time. Sometimes crying poor is very necessary." Tian Sangsang naturally caught the acidic undertone in her words. She wasn’t trying to show off, but she wasn’t about to downplay herself either. "Today’s Yanyan’s birthday. It’s his first birthday, so I specially bought a chicken—it cost quite a bit. If not for celebrating my child’s birthday, I wouldn’t have spent the money. After all, Mid-Autumn was just two days ago."

At that, Qin Lan suggested, "Isn’t that a bit much? You could’ve just celebrated the birthday ahead of time during Mid-Autumn—it’d save both money and time! Or, if not that, celebrate during National Day next week—won’t that work too?"

"I mean, you’re not wrong, but the child comes first, no matter what. Even if the cost is high, I’m happy to spend it on him. It’s just one birthday; as long as he has fun, that’s what matters." Tian Sangsang replied with a smile.

"Sangsang."

Jiang Jinghuai was coming up from downstairs. When he saw Qin Lan, he nodded lightly, "Sister-in-law."

"Captain Jiang’s back." Qin Lan looked a little nervous, her gaze lingering on his tall figure, his sharp, youthful features—even his voice was pleasing to the ear. She cursed herself for not being a few years younger; if she were, marrying him would’ve been ideal. He even accepted a woman like Tian Sangsang, so there was no reason he wouldn’t accept her. Why did she have to marry someone with the surname Luo, an older man far from Jiang Jinghuai’s level, just a lowly squad leader? Worse, the man hadn’t been promoted for military merit but had climbed the ranks simply through brown-nosing and aging into the position.

Her gaze made him uncomfortable. Jiang Jinghuai’s eyes darkened slightly as he said to Tian Sangsang, "I’ll go in now; you two chat."

"Sister-in-law, have you eaten yet? Would you like to join us?" Tian Sangsang offered politely, intending to head indoors. That was supposedly the closing remark of any conversation—it signaled the end and the parting.

Qin Lan’s heart leapt with joy, ready to agree, but Squad Leader Luo called out from next door, "Qin Lan, the food is about to burn—can you come check on it?"

Given Luo’s words, Qin Lan had no choice but to leave reluctantly.

"Oh well, you all enjoy yourselves and have a great birthday celebration for the child. Honestly, we didn’t know it was the kid’s birthday today; otherwise, we would’ve prepared something—even a gift was too rushed. Our squad leader really didn’t tell us; otherwise, wouldn’t it be more festive if everyone celebrated together, too?"

This Squad Leader Luo sounded like someone who really knew how to talk.

Truth be told, Tian Sangsang had considered inviting the nearby neighbors over for a meal. But it was her son’s birthday; she felt it was better for her family to celebrate it privately, simply. Inviting people over for a birthday—well, that kind of extravagance would just be too wasteful. It wouldn’t reflect well if others heard about it.

**

Tian Sangsang tied her apron and continued preparing the food—long-life noodles, duck eggs, everything necessary. At this moment, she genuinely missed the braised noodles her mother used to make for her birthdays, richly garnished, with a pair of duck eggs on top—the taste of her mom. It was so much better than fancy cakes. She still favored this kind of traditional celebration.

However, even though she liked tradition, Tian Sangsang still made a small cake, complete with four little candles. She placed the dishes on the dining table one by one, along with a pot of simmered chicken soup in the kitchen. With just a light poke of her chopsticks, the pristine chicken meat was tender, smooth, and soft.

Tian Sangsang smiled as she glanced at the two figures—one big, one small—sitting by the dining table. "Alright, comrades, time to eat. I’ll go fetch the birthday chicken soup from the kitchen."

"Sit down, Comrade Tian." Jiang Jinghuai stood suddenly, speaking in a low, steady voice. "I’ll go."

Huh?

"Mommy, Daddy is so kind to you." Meng Shuyan said, grinning with crescent-shaped eyes.

"No, no." Tian Sangsang shook her head and adopted a serious air. "Men like your father, who’s a tad bit chauvinistic, who won’t boil water for his own baths and rarely gets involved in chores, who even has ulterior motives when helping wash vegetables—him volunteering to carry soup? It’s rare... he must’ve done something shady."

Is Dad really like that? Meng Shuyan thought Mom was overthinking things.

Carrying the chicken soup, Jiang Jinghuai emerged from the kitchen, pursing his lips. "What shady thing?" he asked.

Jiang Jinghuai placed the soup steadily in the center of the table, and Tian Sangsang could feel his intense gaze locking onto her from above.

"Haha." Tian Sangsang quickly cut herself off, glancing at her son before explaining, "Oh, nothing, I was just teaching Yanyan a life lesson. You know, people shouldn’t do shady things. Otherwise, they’ll live in constant fear, always trying to redeem their guilty conscience. But what’s done is done—it can never be erased."

"Good point." Jiang Jinghuai gave her a sidelong glance and sat back down, his tone carrying an almost maddening trace of praise.

Tian Sangsang: "..."

This guy. He had the nerves to act completely oblivious to her thinly veiled jab, pretending as though he didn’t understand a single thing directed at him. His shamelessness truly had no bounds.

"By the way, I need to mention something." Tian Sangsang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Is there someone named Chen Xiaobing on your team? He came over today and told me his belongings were stolen from the dormitory. He suspects there’s a thief, possibly someone from outside rather than local. He even gave me an item the thief left behind and asked me to pass it to you..."

Jiang Jinghuai squinted slightly. Yes, there was someone by that name. "Where’s the item?" he asked calmly.

Tian Sangsang lowered her gaze sorrowfully, wearing an apologetic expression.

"What happened?"

She raised her eyes, her gaze pure as spring water. "I’m sorry. After taking the item, I went to the market to buy groceries. And, you know... taking Yanyan and Little Milk Tea along just made everything inconvenient. And inconvenience leads to carelessness. I was carrying so many things, you see—look at this overflowing table, all of it! Grocery shopping isn’t easy, you know? Then, I..."

Meng Shuyan, who had been named, was currently cracking open sunflower seeds. He placed the crispy seed in his palm, and Little Milk Tea snuck out its tiny tongue to scoop the seed into its mouth, chewing away.

Adults were talking; it was better for children to stay quiet. Life, sigh ╮(╯▽╰)╭

Jiang Jinghuai lifted his eyelids and issued a stern order, "Get to the point."

"The point is, the item is gone." Tian Sangsang answered briskly. She had already destroyed it. Completely.