Chapter 141: Why Don’t We Get Any?

Fu Mingxue was all too familiar with that voice—after all, her ears had suffered enough during the three days on the train. Her face darkened instantly—could it really be such a coincidence?

Wang Xiang also heard the commotion next door and smiled at Fu Mingxue, saying, “What a coincidence! The courtyard to your right is where Deputy Commander Hao’s family lives. His family members also just arrived today.”

She just wasn’t sure if Deputy Commander Hao’s family would be easy to get along with.

Now Fu Mingxue was certain—the people next door were the same mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from the train.

Mother Fu recognized the voices too. Her face darkened a little.

“How can it be such a coincidence?”

Wang Xiang happened to hear her muttering and asked instinctively, “What’s a coincidence?”

“It’s nothing,” Mother Fu shook her head, not intending to say more.

Seeing that the cleaning was almost done, Wang Xiang picked up her broom and got ready to leave. “Alright, I’ll let you get on with things. I’ll head back now. If you need anything, just come find me.”

“Okay, sister-in-law, thank you!”

Wang Xiang smiled. “No need to be so polite—we’re neighbors, after all.”

“Wait a moment, sister,” Mother Fu called her back and went inside to fetch a package of pastries. “These are homemade—we brought them from home. Please try some.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary—” Wang Xiang tried to refuse.

Pastries were precious; she really shouldn’t accept them.

But Mother Fu didn’t give her a chance to decline. “Sister, don’t be so formal. We made them ourselves—they’re not worth much. Take them, or I’ll just have to bring them over again.”

Unable to refuse, Wang Xiang accepted the pastries. She thought they were really too polite—she’d have to bring over some vegetables or something later in return.

Once Wang Xiang left, Mother Fu turned to Fu Mingxue and said, “We can get along with these neighbors. But as for the ones on this side—there’s bound to be trouble.”

She was referring to the family on the right.

“Mom, just ignore them. We’re not the type to shy away from trouble. If they don’t bother us, fine. But if they do, we won’t be polite.”

Fu Mingxue didn’t think much of that difficult mother-in-law.

Mother Fu wasn’t too concerned either—she just found troublemakers annoying.

“I’ll go check the kitchen, see what we have. We can cook for ourselves tonight.”

“Alright. I’ll tidy up the rooms.”

Qin Wenhuo’s room especially needed a good cleaning and fresh sheets.

An hour later, Yang Ming showed up again.

Fu Mingxue was surprised to see all the things he was unloading from the vehicle. “Comrade Yang, what’s all this?”

“These are some supplies—rice, flour, grains, oil, and some vegetables. Instructor Xie asked me to deliver them. He said the cost will be deducted from Commander Qin’s allowance.”

That made Fu Mingxue breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thank you so much.”

There was quite a lot—not just rice, but flour too. There was also a five-pound slab of pork, half fat and half lean. There were three to five pounds each of cabbage and potatoes, plus some other items.

Fu Mingxue planned to make a note of everything later.

“Thank you!”

“No need to thank me, sister-in-law. I’ll be off, then.”

Yang Ming was just about to leave when a voice stopped him. “Wait a minute! You’re giving things to them—what about us?”

Yang Ming turned to see who was speaking.

“I’m talking to you, comrade! Where are our supplies?” Hao’s mother said, clearly displeased.

Yang Ming was baffled. “Excuse me, which family are you with?”

“My son is Hao Rong—your Deputy Commander Hao. Why does her family get things, but not ours?”

Yang Ming: …?

“You’re Deputy Commander Hao’s family?”

“Yes, my son is Hao Rong,” Hao’s mother replied, a little unhappy that this comrade kept calling her son ‘deputy.’ They’re both commanders—why make a distinction? What’s the difference, anyway?"