Chapter 1282: Who Raises a Child Like This?

She went to the storage room and took out the single-strap carrying basket Fu Yan Cheng had prepared: "Sister-in-law Cui, I've arranged with a few other sisters-in-law to go to Baifu Village to trade for some ingredients, so I won't invite you inside to sit."

Zhang Lianhua's face darkened a little at those words: "It's our first time visiting, and you're being terribly impolite."

Liu Chuxue gave a light scoff in her heart: "There's an order of priority, isn't there? I already promised others I'd go to Baifu Village together — it wouldn't be right to cancel on them just because you've shown up."

Zhang Lianhua felt Liu Chuxue was doing it on purpose and was about to say something when she heard from outside: "Sister-in-law, are you ready yet? We should be going."

Liu Chuxue called back: "Coming now."

As she slung the basket on her back and walked out, she made a "after you" gesture toward Zhang Lianhua: "Sister-in-law Cui, let's go together."

Zhang Lianhua was furious but couldn't make a scene — after all, Battalion Commander Fu doted on this woman terribly.

Seeing her mother about to leave, Cui Yu, who was being pulled along, refused: "You haven't given me candy yet, I'm not going."

Liu Chuxue heard this and looked straight at Zhang Lianhua.

Zhang Lianhua hadn't expected her own little girl to remember what she'd said back at home, and gave the child a hard tug: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Afraid her little girl would throw a fit and make a laughingstock of them, she no longer cared about being angry at Liu Chuxue and dragged the child straight out of the courtyard.

But her little girl had long been spoiled by her and hadn't a clue about the situation: "I don't want to go back, I want candy, they have candy at their house."

The military wives waiting outside the courtyard exchanged awkward glances.

Standing beside Mo Ruhua, Vice Battalion Commander Feng's wife Tang Xinrui whispered: "How do you raise a child like that? This Zhang Lianhua is something else, and Company Commander Cui too — can't he rein in his wife?"

Vice Battalion Commander Sun's wife Feng Guifang beside them said: "It's not that he doesn't manage her, it's that Zhang Lianhua is too shrewish — every time it ends in a huge row."

Liu Chuxue naturally overheard what they were saying. In her view, it was simply that Company Commander Cui didn't want to manage her — if he got serious, she wouldn't believe he couldn't bring her to heel; it was probably just a show for everyone.

She locked the door and walked over to the waiting group.

Seeing one person she didn't recognize, she was about to ask when Tang Xinrui, who was going along, said: "Chuxue, may I call you that?"

Liu Chuxue smiled: "Of course you may."

Ever since Liu Chuxue had helped her at the hospital, she had decided they were friends; hearing from Mo Ruhua earlier that Liu Chuxue was going along had made her quite happy.

Seeing Liu Chuxue look toward Ma Guifang, she took the initiative to introduce her: "This is Vice Battalion Commander Sun's wife, Ma Guifang."

Liu Chuxue had heard Fu Yan Cheng mention that the Third Battalion's vice battalion commander's surname was Sun, and quickly asked: "The Third Battalion's vice battalion commander?"

Ma Guifang was easy to get along with; hearing Liu Chuxue's question: "Yes, my husband is Sun Qianjin of the Third Battalion."

After Liu Chuxue exchanged greetings, the four of them headed out of the family quarters.

Once in the village, Ma Guifang, who knew the way well, led the three to an old villager's home at the back of the village: "Auntie Ding, are you home?"

In a moment an elderly woman of advanced years came out of the house: "Oh, it's Guifang — come in, come in."

"Auntie, I brought a few military wives today to introduce you. They'll be coming by often from now on."

The old woman, kind-faced and gentle-eyed, said: "Good, good, good, come in and sit."

Liu Chuxue's hearing was sharp; the moment she entered the courtyard she caught the sounds from the back yard. She released her spiritual sense for a quick scan and was surprised the old woman had such nerve — in the back yard she'd dug a large pit in the ground, set up a frame over it, and was raising quite a few chickens inside. She noticed straw curtains hanging along the wall too — clearly she'd put a great deal of thought into it.