Married but Untouched! Her Soldier Husband Came Home Dumbfounded! - Chapter 41

Shen Zhanqiang finished his exam and didn’t even go home. He flagged down a bus at the school gate bound for Dongping City.

Lately, he’d been living alone, and every Saturday after school, he’d harvest vegetables from his small plot before taking the bus into town to reunite with his family.

A few days ago, his sister-in-law had mentioned that his high school entrance exam was coming up soon, suggesting that Mom should come back and look after him for a few days. Shen Zhanqiang had politely refused.

He was a grown boy—what kind of “care” did he really need? Back at home, he did his homework, tended to the vegetables, cooked a little on his own, and if he didn’t feel like cooking, he’d just grab some egg cakes. Life couldn’t be more comfortable.

After getting off at the Dongping City bus terminal, he took bus No. 21 to the Industrial Park.

“Mom, sister-in-law, I’m done with my exams!”

Bursting with excitement, he rushed into the shop, grinning from ear to ear. Ye Fangfei and Sun Xiujue were busy helping a customer pack pastries.

Sun Xiujue, occupied weighing the pastries, barely glanced at her son.

Ye Fangfei smiled warmly, “Were the questions hard? Did you manage to answer them all?”

“…Sister-in-law, I did everything just like you said,” Shen Zhanqiang paused, his words dodging the real answer.

The day before the exam, his sister-in-law had advised him: tackle the ones you know first, and fill in something for the ones you don’t—don’t leave blanks; you might get lucky. He had followed her instructions, though this time, many questions had stumped him.

Ye Fangfei read his expression immediately. Judging by last week’s mock test, if he hadn’t performed beyond expectations, he would fall far short of the high school cutoff—almost certainly needing to repeat a year.

“Go wash up first. You must be hungry. Have some pastries and a pig’s trotter to tide you over.”

Sun Xiujue chuckled, sending the last customer on their way. “A pig’s trotter? We don’t even have enough to sell. Just eat a couple of egg cakes, the real meal will be ready soon.”

A single trotter sold for six mao, with hardly any meat—hardly worth eating.

Ye Fangfei shook her head with a smile. Once Shen Zhanqiang had gone to the backyard, she whispered to Sun Xiujue, “Mom, he’s at that age where he’s growing. He needs proper nutrition. And since we make this stuff ourselves, why should we skimp on his meals?”

Sun Xiujue sighed with a smile. “You let him take home egg cakes every week, give him pocket money… He’s got it good. Truly lucky to have a sister-in-law like you, someone who always looks out for him.”

She meant it sincerely. She knew Ye Fangfei was generous, always willing to help her family. Yet Sun Xiujue, ever frugal, believed in saving wherever possible. The store was doing well, but expenses were still significant—every bit saved counted. Egg cakes were nutritious enough; there was no need to splurge on trotters every day.

Since Ye Fangfei opened the shop, their standard of living has jumped several notches. Egg cakes were plentiful, and they could afford a meat dish every night, a luxury unthinkable in the past.

Ye Fangfei smiled. “Mom, it’s because you and Dad were kind to me first. Now that I’m able, it’s only right I give it back. Zhanqiang respects me, and I treat him like my own brother. You don’t need to be so formal about it.”

In truth, Ye Fangfei wasn’t as extraordinary as Sun Xiujue made her out to be—she was simply doing what she could. Since she was occupying this body, it was natural to help her family within her abilities.

Sun Xiujue laughed joyfully. “Alright, alright. I won’t say anything more—promise!”

…

As expected, Shen Zhanqiang didn’t do well on the exam. His score fell far short of the high school admission threshold, leaving him with no choice but to repeat the year.

In the days that followed, he was dejected, moving through his days with little spirit.

One day, Chen Qian came by. Upon learning that her younger brother was planning to repeat a year, she asked, “Where’s your brother thinking of repeating? My sister-in-law is the head teacher of a third-year class at Huayang Middle School—should I ask her about a spot?”

Ye Fangfei’s eyes lit up. “If that works, that would be amazing! But we’re registered as rural residents… I don’t know if the school will accept him.”

Chen Qian reassured her. “It should be fine. Many schools handle situations like this. If the father works in the city and the child is registered as rural, it doesn’t mean they can’t study here.”

She leaned closer, whispering in Ye Fangfei’s ear, “There might be some fees, but it won’t be too much. I’ll ask my sister-in-law and get back to you in a few days.”

“I understand,” Ye Fangfei said, squeezing her hand with a smile. “Thank you so much for asking, no matter what happens.”

Chen Qian’s lips curved in a gentle smile. “It’s nothing! Why so formal?” She tugged at her skirt and twirled gracefully.

The yellow-and-pink plaid dress flowed like a butterfly in the breeze, drawing an elegant arc in the air—subtle yet captivating.

Chen Qian raised an eyebrow. “Do you like the dress?”

“It’s beautiful! I really love this color.” Ye Fangfei nodded eagerly.

“It’s a new arrival from the supply store. Want me to take you to pick one?”

Chen Qian glanced at her figure. “There’s a pink-and-blue one too—it’s even prettier than mine. But it’s small, and I felt a bit tight. You’re slimmer than me, it should fit you.”

Ye Fangfei, who hadn’t bought clothes or shoes since arriving here, thought about her recent earnings and nodded without hesitation.

“I’ll take it. Wait a sec—I’ll have someone watch the front for me.” She called over her shoulder, “Zhanqiang! Zhanqiang, come watch the shop while I step out!”

Shen Zhanqiang, plucking hairs off pig trotters, washed his hands and ran over.

“Sister-in-law, what’s up?”

“I’m going out to buy something. Watch the shop. If it gets busy, call Xi Ge—he’s napping inside.”

Ye Fangfei introduced them properly. “This is my friend, Chen Qian. Call her ‘sister.’”

Then to Chen Qian: “This is my brother, the one repeating a year.”

“Why are you introducing him like that?” Shen Zhanqiang pouted and glared. Only after a moment did he reluctantly call out, “Sister Chen,” forcing a small smile.

Ye Fangfei laughed, patting his shoulder teasingly. “Ah, so you know repeating is embarrassing. Then why didn’t you study properly?”

“Hmph!” Shen Zhanqiang turned away, sulking.

Ye Fangfei sighed, cutting him some slack—no point arguing with a petty boy.

Chen Qian stared at Ye Fangfei in surprise, pointing at Shen Zhanqiang. “He just called you… sister-in-law?”

Ye Fangfei nodded. “Yes, he’s my little brother-in-law.”

“You’re married?!”

“Ah, didn’t I tell you?”

“No.” Chen Qian shook her head in disbelief.

Ye Fangfei laughed softly. Though they got along well, they had only met a few times—the last being the day the pastry shop opened, too busy to chat properly. So naturally, she hadn’t mentioned her personal life.

“I’ve been married over two years. Our previous meetings were too rushed, and I forgot to tell you.” Ye Fangfei explained with a smile.

“You got married at eighteen?” Chen Qian gasped.

She had assumed Ye Fangfei was still a girl, not expecting her to be married already—two years, no less, at one year younger than herself.

Ye Fangfei nodded. “We marry early in the countryside.”

“Ye Fangfei… I really didn’t expect this. And you don’t even look married.” Chen Qian glanced toward the backyard, whispering, “Is your husband home? Can I meet him?”

“He’s in the military, not home right now. When he returns, I’ll introduce you.”

Ye Fangfei rummaged through her bag and pulled out a stack of coupons—fabric coupons, industrial coupons, sugar coupons, food coupons, canned goods coupons, malted milk tickets… even milk powder tickets.

These had been sent by Shen Zhanxun recently. The stack had grown considerably, along with a twenty-five-yuan remittance slip and a letter, collected by Ye Laifu at the commune yesterday.

Chen Qian’s eyes widened at the pile stamped with “Northwest Military District.” How high-ranking must someone be to receive such generous allowances?

Then she shook her head—Ye Fangfei was only twenty-one, and her husband was barely in his twenties. At that age, it’s impossible to hold a position with such perks.

Her cousin, serving in the Eastern Military District, was twenty-seven and had been in the army for nine years—just promoted to company commander this year. His benefits barely surpassed a regular worker, strictly rationed monthly.

Unlike Ye Fangfei’s husband, whose coupons and allowances came in a thick, impressive stack.