The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 94

Chen Che returned home that evening to a feast. Wang Yufen had pulled out all the stops, preparing a table full of hearty dishes to help him recover his strength.

His unit had distributed quite a few New Year’s supplies—pork, rice, soy sauce, and more. Usually, he didn’t pay much attention to these things, simply bringing them home for Song Mingyue to handle. But when he was collecting them, he overheard his colleagues talking about how thrilled their elderly parents were to receive these government-issued goods. So, Chen Che had gone to great lengths to bring everything home in one trip, tying the packages to his shoulders with ropes.

His efforts were rewarded with high praise from Song Jianguo and Wang Yufen. Wang Yufen, in particular, was overjoyed to see the pile of daily necessities, which was far more than what Song Jianguo had received from the Power Bureau after decades of service. Being a soldier, she concluded, was truly different.

While she cleaned up, she couldn’t help but nag her son, Song Mingnian: “I told you to apply to the military academy back then. Look at all these high-quality supplies they issue!”

Mingnian sighed helplessly. “Mom, not every branch of the military gives out these kinds of things. Many are purely labor-intensive, and I’m just not cut out for that.”

Seeing the contrast, Wang Yufen found her son lacking compared to her son-in-law. Before today, Chen Che had never thought his job was particularly special, but hearing Wang Yufen’s pride made him feel a sudden, quiet sense of professional satisfaction. His work had profound meaning—a value far beyond the price of simple goods.

Because Song Mingyue was pregnant, Wang Yufen constantly sought ways to nourish her. After dinner, she stewed a bowl of rich, fatty knuckle soup for Mingyue to drink before bed. The soup was so oily that Mingyue struggled to even look at it, let alone finish it. But under her mother’s expectant, loving gaze, she found it impossible to refuse.

Chen Che, meanwhile, was in the study wrestling with a theoretical data problem for his research. Mingnian had been playing in the room, but Wang Yufen chased him out. “Chen Che is working—no one is allowed to disturb him!”

Taking advantage of her mother’s trip to the kitchen, Song Mingyue slipped into Chen Che’s room. She presented the bowl of knuckle soup to him, looking pitifully distressed. “Mom is forcing me to drink this, but I can’t finish it!”

Chen Che had already been overfed all evening and his stomach was tight, but seeing her helpless expression, his heart melted. He took the bowl and forced himself to drink every drop, nearly gagging by the end. Song Mingyue wiped the spilled soup from his chin with a handkerchief and kissed his cheek. “Husband, you’re the best.”

Hearing that, Chen Che felt like he could walk through fire for her. Just as she turned to leave with the empty bowl, Chen Che pulled her into his lap. They hadn’t been intimate since her parents arrived, not even a simple touch, and Chen Che had been craving her closeness. He leaned in to kiss her, and Song Mingyue rested the bowl on the table, looping her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.

They broke apart the moment they heard movement outside. Song Mingyue scrambled off his lap and resumed her “soup-drinking” ruse. Wang Yufen entered the room, shooing her out. “Chen Che is studying! Don’t you go causing trouble.” Seeing the empty bowl, she was pleased. “Good, eating well means the baby will be big and healthy. I’ve made your bed—hurry to sleep.”

Before Song Mingyue left, Chen Che brushed his hand against her palm. She turned back and made a quick heart shape with her fingers. Chen Che, ever the “blockhead,” didn’t quite understand the gesture, but his gaze remained fixed on her.

Two days before the Lunar New Year, the house was fully stocked. Song Mingyue planned to help her parents tidy up the following day in preparation for the celebration.

Zhang Jingjing had returned home with Old Yu, and Pei Xiaoyu was back home tending to her ailing mother. With her own shop closed, Song Mingyue felt uncharacteristically bored—the days of constant busyness had made the sudden quiet feel strange. Fortunately, with her parents and brother there, the house was full of life.

She was now treated as a VIP, sitting back to supervise while her parents handled the heavy cleaning. It was Chen Che’s final day of work. When he returned home that evening, he found the apartment spotless and filled with fresh flowers—a romantic touch Song Mingyue had added. He was inexplicably moved; the empty shell he lived in had truly become a home, all thanks to Song Mingyue.

But how much longer would this home last?

Before leaving work that final day, Zhao Hongwei had pulled him aside. His current research project was nearing its end, and as a core team member, he would be required to move to a new location in the Northwest for the next phase. It was a harsh, rugged environment. Zhao sighed, “Chen Che, I know your wife is pregnant and shouldn’t move. I’ve applied to headquarters—you can keep this apartment for another year, but you won’t be able to stay here.”

Choosing this profession meant sacrifices were inevitable, but Chen Che was deeply worried. Mingyue was pregnant and had a demanding job; he didn’t trust her to take care of herself when he wasn’t watching. He didn’t tell her the news when he got home. Let’s just get through the New Year, he thought. We’ll deal with this after the holiday.

On the morning of New Year’s Eve, the family went out for some final shopping. The streets were quieter than before, though still bustling. Song Mingyue ran into a regular customer who chased her down to ask why the shop was closed. Mingyue promised her new styles after the holiday.

“Our Moon is really capable—people are stopping her on the street to ask about her clothes!” Wang Yufen remarked proudly. Song Mingyue felt a deep sense of satisfaction; being recognized made her even more motivated for the future.

Back home, they ate a quick lunch before Wang Yufen dove into preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner. Song Mingyue, being pregnant, was tasked only with resting. By evening, the table was loaded with dishes, anchored by Wang Yufen’s handmade dumplings—the exact filling Mingyue loved.

A year ago, the family had been trapped in the shadow of a scandal involving their former son-in-law, Liu Jiabao. They had been terrified to even step outside. Now, the clouds had lifted. Watching her daughter and son-in-law’s happiness, Wang Yufen doubted she was even awake—was this a dream?

Song Mingyue bit into a dumpling. It tasted exactly as it should. Just as she turned to tell her mother how delicious it was, she saw Wang Yufen wiping away tears.

“Mom, what’s wrong? Is it because you did all the cooking by yourself?” Song Mingyue asked, worried.

Wang Yufen shook her head, muttering through her tears, “You silly girl, stop wasting money on restaurants—home-cooked food is better. These aren’t sad tears; I’m just happy. My Moonlight finally married the right person, and I’m enjoying this blessing because of you.”

Song Mingyue promised her, “Mom, in the future, I’ll make sure you eat even better than this.”

“It doesn’t matter what I eat. As long as you are safe and happy in the new year, I’m satisfied.”

That evening, they toasted with various wines. Song Jianguo and Wang Yufen expressed how happy they were to celebrate in the military compound. Though their children were officially married, the parents still insisted on giving them red envelopes, a symbol of peace and prosperity. Song Mingyue accepted them with a sweet, “Thank you, Mom and Dad.”

It was a night filled with laughter. But they were on a short deadline—Mingnian’s girlfriend was coming to visit in a few days, and Chen Che was carrying a heavy weight on his heart.