I was reborn after my cousin stole my life.

Chapter 29: I simply can't stand her

The next morning, Yuan Xiu got up at almost the same time as Jiang Zhou.

After breakfast, Jiang Zhou went to the army base, and Yuan Xiu went to the market.

She went alone this time. Her family was hosting a dinner party, and one fish definitely wouldn't be enough. They would need to add at least one meat dish.

There was still a long line of people in front of the butcher shop, but by the time it was her turn, all the good meat was gone, and all that was left were some big bones and half a pig intestine.

"Big pork bones only cost two ounces of meat coupons per pound, and the same goes for pig intestines. Which do you want?"

The butcher at the meat stall, seeing that she was a stranger, said a few more words to her.

These days, very few people have meat coupons to buy pork bones, and the same goes for pig intestines. If they're cooked well, they're delicious; if they're not, they're just so-so. Buying these things is not as worthwhile as buying fatty pork.

Yuan Xiu wasn't disappointed that she couldn't buy any meat. "I want two pork bones, and could you give me all the pig intestines?"

Seeing that there was no meat left, the people behind Yuan Xiu had already dispersed. The butcher glanced at her, nodded, and said, "Okay, you can have it all."

Using half a jin of meat coupons, Yuan Xiu bought the meat and vegetables needed to entertain guests the next day.

"...Xiao Jiang's wife."

When Yuan Xiu first heard someone calling, she didn't realize who Xiao Jiang's wife was calling until the person stopped her.

The person who called out to her was in his forties, carrying a vegetable basket, wearing a Lenin suit and black leather shoes. He looked somewhat serious and resembled the women's director of their brigade.

"Hello Xiao Yuan, my name is Wu Yufen. I am the wife of Minister Jiang of the Logistics Department of Xiao Jiang's regiment. I also work in our family committee. My main responsibilities are to do ideological work for the military families, mediate conflicts between husband and wife and disputes between neighbors, and provide logistical support for the men in our families."

Yuan Xiu greeted her with a smile, "Oh, it's you, sister-in-law. Did you call me over because you need something?"

She only learned today that there was a family committee.

Isn't this similar to the work of a women's affairs director?

"Nothing much, I just saw you and wanted to say hello. I wasn't home when you and Xiao Jiang got married, so I didn't attend your wedding or speak to you. I just wanted to say hello since we met today. If you ever encounter anything you can't handle in the future, remember to come to our family committee. Also, remember to actively participate in any activities the family committee has in the future."

Yuan Xiu nodded. "Thank you, sister-in-law. I understand."

Wu Yufen nodded in satisfaction. "That's good. By the way, Deputy Battalion Commander Zhou is getting married today. When are you going? How about we go together?"

Yuan Xiu shook her head: "I won't go, my husband will go."

"That won't do." Wu Yufen frowned disapprovingly. "I've heard about what happened between you and Xiao Zhou's wife. It was indeed her fault, but now you're both married, and to outstanding military officers in our unit. We can't let things get too strained, lest it affect the camaraderie between Xiao Jiang and Xiao Zhou!"

Yuan Xiu: "..."

Before she arrived, there was no indication that Jiang Zhou and Deputy Battalion Commander Zhou had any relationship.

If the two of them don't get close in the future, will it still be her problem?

"Sister-in-law, I don't think they necessarily want me to go. It would be so awkward," Yuan Xiu said casually.

"You don't need to worry about that. I'll also try to talk to Xiao Zhou's wife. It would be best to arrange a time for the two of you to have a calm talk. The army is like one family. As military dependents, we are all relatives. Between relatives, it's best to clarify things. There's no need for so many conflicts."

Yuan Xiu: "Sister-in-law, don't bother. I don't have any conflict with her. I just can't stand her, no matter what. I can't force myself to be loving and affectionate with her, can I? Wouldn't that be hypocritical? Who would dare to be close to a hypocrite? Don't you think so, sister-in-law?"

Wu Yufen stared wide-eyed in surprise; she hadn't expected Yuan Xiu to say such a thing.

Logically speaking, since her partner holds a higher position than her husband, she should give him face and agree to this.

Surprisingly, this young woman from the countryside who had just come to the army to live with her husband had quite a strong temper.

"Xiao Yuan, what you're saying isn't right..."

"Sister-in-law, I know you mean well, but that's just how I am. I treat people the way they treat me. I can't be a saint, and I don't want to be. If you want to talk to me about other things, I will definitely support you if I can. I can definitely take good care of the family and do a good job of the logistics at home. As for other things, I'm sorry, I have something to do. We just settled down, and there's a lot of work to do at home. I have to go back and do the work, otherwise I won't be able to do the logistics work well."

After saying that, she smiled, picked up her shopping basket, and left.

When Yuan Xiu passed by Guiying's house, she saw Guiying taking out the trash. Yuan Xiu asked, "Sister-in-law, do you know Comrade Wu Yufen?"

Sister-in-law Guilan, holding the broom, asked, "Did you run into her?"

Yuan Xiu nodded. "She said that the husband of Minister Jiang of her logistics department is still working at the family committee."

"Yes, her husband is a leader in the logistics department, and she also works in the family committee office, but it's nothing special, she's not a cadre."

Yuan Xiu could tell that Guiying's sister-in-law seemed to have a problem with her.

"I ran into her on my way back from grocery shopping. She immediately started talking to me, telling me to actively participate in the activities organized by the family committee, and to come to her if I had any difficulties."

Sister-in-law Guiying rolled her eyes. "Look how capable she is. If it weren't for her age and the fact that she seemed capable of handling family conflicts, the higher-ups wouldn't have chosen her. Let me tell you, she has a problem: she wants to meddle in everything. If you ever run into her, don't tell her everything."

Yuan Xiu: "She was indeed very enthusiastic. She even said she wanted to talk to Yuan Juan to ease the tension between us."

"What enthusiasm? She's just bored. She's not in charge of the parents' committee. It's Chairman Gu, Ye Junzhang's wife, who manages it. Even Chairman Gu doesn't interfere that much. She's the one jumping around like she's afraid people won't know how capable she is."

Sister-in-law Guiying pouted. "My father-in-law doesn't like to go out usually. He just wants to stay home and tend to his medicinal herbs. But she, during the family committee meeting, said that if there are elderly people in the family, they should be taken out for a walk every day. We can't let the elderly stay at home just because they can't walk properly or because we're afraid of the trouble. We have to take good care of their needs and not let the men in the army worry."

"What does she mean by that? She's practically pointing her finger at me and saying I'm an unfilial daughter-in-law! I can't stand that, so I stood up right there and had a huge argument with her!"

Sister-in-law Guiying snorted, "It's not just my family, other families do too, especially those who just came to the army to accompany their husbands. She goes there the most often. At first, people thought she was very helpful, but after a while they realized that this was not helpfulness at all, but just having another mother-in-law."

Yuan Xiu nodded, understanding. This Comrade Wu Yufen liked to lecture.