A stunning beauty arrived on the island; she invented everything from childcare to babysitting.

On Lunar New Year's Eve, the entire family quarters were filled with joy. The soldiers had returned, and even though it was only eight o'clock in the morning, family members and soldiers helping out could be seen everywhere.

Some were kneading dough to prepare dumplings, while others were washing various ingredients. Everyone was busy chatting and laughing.

The children were also busy, chasing and playing in front of their house, and occasionally stopping to help the driver with his things.

Anning isn't too busy, since there are only two people in her family. Even during the Lunar New Year, four or five good dishes are enough for her and her daughter to eat for a day.

She was slowly frying a whole piece of fine pork belly in a pan when Yan Fei arrived carrying some things.

His face beamed with joy: "Happy New Year, sister-in-law! I wish you a happy new year, good health, and all the best! I noticed I haven't put up the couplets on your door yet, let me help you!"

"No need, no need. It's the New Year, why didn't you go and celebrate with your comrades? Ni'er, call him Uncle Yan."

Yan Fei came by the day before yesterday, bringing a lot of things, saying they were gifts from the military to the families of soldiers. There were many items in the package, and An Ning figured that Li Bowen had probably contributed some. As a result, he came again today.

Shen Changle ran over and obediently bowed, saying, "Hello, Uncle Yan!"

"Hello to you too!" Yan Fei's smile widened when he saw Shen Changle. He patted her head and replied to An Ning, "I'm a service soldier. I have to follow the regimental commander during holidays. Leave is another matter."

Hearing this, An Ning asked, "Commander Li, is there something you need from me?"

"That's nothing, but they gave us a few sets of Spring Festival couplets. We don't need that many at home, so they asked me to bring them over to you."

He was supposed to deliver it last night, but something came up and he came over early this morning.

Yan Fei took out a Spring Festival couplet and several folded lanterns from the bag.

An Ning looked at the tiger on the Spring Festival couplet and it seemed familiar: "Isn't this the Spring Festival couplet sold at the department store in the county town?"

She even scolded Chen Hai for this thing back then, because it was not only flashy but also expensive, which was a waste.

Later, in order to appease Chen Hai, she bought red paper and asked him to write something for her.

As it turned out, Chen Hai's attempts to give him a chance were in vain. He was good at writing with a pen, but not so good with a brush. He ruined several pieces of calligraphy he wrote, so she went to town and bought a cheaper one.

Yan Fei replied without changing his expression, "Yes, it's new merchandise sold at the town's department store. I heard it was brought over from across the street. You know our regimental commander's status; there are always people..."

Yan Fei left it at that, not explaining it too clearly, but those who heard it understood what he meant.

This is the head of a regiment, and there are always plenty of people who want to get close to him. Even if he doesn't accept expensive gifts, there will always be clever people who will send him small gifts.

Moreover, there are more than one person who thinks this way. If you give one and I give one, then there will be extra.

An Ning took the initiative to help Yan Fei make up a reason.

She didn't think ordinary couplets were ugly at first, but when Yan Fei compared the exquisitely crafted ones with the couplets written by the old man in town, An Ning tacitly agreed to let Yan Fei help her put up the couplets.

She had originally intended to have Yan Fei stay for lunch, but after helping her put up the couplets and hang the lanterns, Yan Fei said goodbye outside the door and ran off without giving An Ning a chance to stop him. He didn't even grab the peanuts, melon seeds, and candy that An Ning had prepared for the guests.

Not long after, Anning welcomed another familiar person—the military postman.

This time, he didn't bring Chen Hai's letter, but two large bags of things.

After repeatedly confirming that these items were all sent to her, Anning signed for them with some doubt.

When they were opened, the top of the two large bags contained a letter, one from Tang Qiuqiao who had gone to the new military unit with her husband, and the other from Wu Dingguo.

The letter from Tang Qiuqiao was very concise and clear. This proud woman only wrote one sentence, saying that these things were a thank-you gift for Anning saving her son, and that was all.

She had only been away from the army for a short time, so she probably packed and sent these things as soon as she arrived at her new location, and they arrived just in time for Lunar New Year's Eve.

The package she sent contained many things, all kinds of dried goods, including cured meat, sausages, mushrooms, seafood, and even an old ginseng root; in short, it was quite expensive.

The package did not contain the sender's information. If Anning did not try to find Tang Qiuqiao's contact information through the military, this would likely be their last connection.

However, Tang Qiuqiao left because of her, and in the future, she probably wouldn't want to have any contact with An Ning. Otherwise, every time she saw her, she would think of the stupid things she had done, and she would feel ashamed.

But her pride wouldn't allow her to receive Anning's kindness without repaying it, so she sent her this big package.

As for Wu Dingguo's letter, the handwriting was delicate, and An Ning suspected that Cao Huiyun might have written it for him.

Inside were some common New Year's goods, but the prices were still quite high. The note expressed gratitude to Anning for her help last time and apologized again for what her grandson and daughter-in-law had done.

An Ning's guess was correct; this letter was read by Wu Dingguo and written by Cao Huiyun.

That day, he learned about Anning's situation from his old subordinates in the army, and immediately took his son back home, using the incident as an excuse to hold a family meeting.

When Deputy Chief of Staff Wu learned that it was Qiao Shanshan who had told his wife these rumors about Anning, he finally couldn't help but reveal what he had heard about Qiao Shanshan in the army. This enraged Wu Dingguo, who almost went to Li Bowen on the spot to "talk" about his good niece, but was stopped by Deputy Chief of Staff Wu.

Although Wu Dingguo has quieted down, Deputy Chief of Staff Wu received a difficult task from his father: to go and have a serious talk with Li Bowen.

This matter caused him a great deal of trouble.

The military custom is to handle official matters with official matters and private matters with private matters. His father asked him to meet with the other party in his capacity as deputy chief of staff. How could that be allowed?

Besides, that guy is a full regimental commander, while he's just a deputy regimental commander. He's only been a deputy chief of staff for a short time, so how could he dare to challenge him?

His father is really confused!

That's what he thought, but Deputy Chief of Staff Wu didn't dare disobey his father's orders.

His wife almost made a big mistake because of a few words from Qiao Shanshan. That Comrade Shen Anning provided the army with so many blueprints, including entrenching tools, multi-functional bayonets, and drones.

If his father hadn't known those things and had just used his status to intimidate people, would he still be able to get along in the army?

Comrade Shen Anning has just made so many contributions to the army, but he didn't get any benefits and was instead bullied like this. How would he feel?

This matter is difficult, but it must be done.