It was only after they entered the tent that Qiao Mei dared to lean on Xia Zhe and flirt with him. She pointed at her arm and said to Xia Zhe, “Please give me a massage. After cooking for so many people, my arm is so sore.”
Xia Zhe held on to Qiao Mei as she took a seat on the side and reached out to massage her arm and make her feel better.
“You, I don’t even know what to say about you. You’re pregnant and you should not exert yourself. Yet you even went to help at the cookhouse. Don’t you find it tiring!” Although Xia Zhe nagged at Qiao Mei, his hands continued to massage her.
Qiao Mei knew that Xia Zhe had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. It was his way of caring about her!
“Oh well, I just want to show them how good Commander Xia’s wife is at cooking and make you proud,” Qiao Mei said sweetly to Xia Zhe.
Xia Zhe shook his head resignedly, but there was a faint smile on his lips. Qiao Mei was right. Everyone outside was full of praise for Qiao Mei, which greatly satisfied his vanity, but her health was still the most important thing.
“You’re already good enough. Don’t do things that would hurt yourself, do you understand?” Xia Zhe said sternly.
Qiao Mei nodded and brought the mess tin over. “Yes, Battalion Commander! I promise to complete the mission! Hurry up and eat the food I made, or it’ll get cold in a while!”
Xia Zhe smiled when he heard what Qiao Mei said. He was indeed hungry by now. He had been so focused on Qiao Mei that he forgot he had not eaten since coming out of the ruins and his stomach was already growling.
Xia Zhe took the mess tin and tasted the food seriously. The fragrance of the food made him feel very satisfied. Looking at his loved one beside him and holding the hot meal made by his loved one in his hand, he thought that this was probably what happiness felt like.
Xia Zhe looked at Qiao Mei affectionately and said, “Thank you.”
“Huh? Why are you thanking me?” Qiao Mei looked up from her mess tin and asked in confusion.
“You came all the way here to look for me and even care so much about me. I just think that it’s quite nice to have a feeling of being home.” Xia Zhe looked at Qiao Mei with fondness.
Qiao Mei did not immediately respond after hearing this. Instead, she thought for a long time before speaking.
“Actually, I should be the one thanking you. You could have left me behind at that time, but you gave me a dignified wedding and even gave me a child. I feel very happy now.” Qiao Mei smied very sweetly.
Qiao Mei did not tell him that there was going to be more than one child, that there were two babies in her belly. She was afraid that she would give Xia Zhe a scare.
Xia Zhe reached out and touched Qiao Mei’s belly.
“I will be a good husband and a good father. Trust me,” Xia Zhe said firmly as he looked at Qiao Mei.
“Yes, yes! I believe you!” Qiao Mei said with a smile.
Outside the tent, Zheng Yuan secretly eavesdropped on the conversation inside. She gritted her teeth so hard that cracking sounds could be heard. She had clearly been the one taking care of Xia Zhe all this while, so how could a woman suddenly appear and take everything away from her.
Zheng Yuan looked at the tent door indignantly. The loving relationship inside should have belonged to her, but Qiao Mei had snatched it away.
Zheng Yuan changed directions and made a detour to the center of the camp, pretending that she had never gotten close to Xia Zhe’s tent. However, all she could hear were praises for Qiao Mei and envy for Xia Zhe.
“Commander Xia really married a good wife!”
“That’s right. Not only is sister-in-law beautiful, but she’s also a good cook!”
“Sigh, if only that wife of mine was like sister-in-law…”
“Come on! Your wife’s culinary skills are not bad either! Previously, you were still showing her off to us, but now you’re even complaining about your wife!”
“Hahahahaha, that’s right!”
The people around her were chatting and laughing away. Zheng Yuan stood in the middle of the crowd and felt like a clown. It was clearly Qiao Mei who had snatched Xia Zhe away from her, so she could not understand why everyone was praising Qiao Mei.
“Hey! Deputy Commander Zheng, you came at the right time. Please be the judge. Who do you think is better, Commander Xia’s wife or his wife?” a soldier next to her said.
Zheng Yuan’s expression was dark as she looked at the soldier without saying anything. She looked as though she wanted to skin him alive.
“About that… we should all get back to work… let’s all disperse…” Another soldier saw that Zheng Yuan’s expression did not look right and quickly interrupted.
