Transmigrated as the Evil Stepmother, I Bully the Whole Family, Yay!

Chapter 270

The day before Han Yongxiang's wedding, Nan Sheng took half a day off to take her child back to the family compound. Though she called it taking time off, given her current rank, no one but the director could actually manage her.As for the director, he turned a blind eye to Nan Sheng's schedule. He figured he should give the kid some freedom before he retired, knowing that once he left the research institute, Nan Sheng would be the only one capable of taking on his heavy responsibilities.

A while ago, Lin Han had gone out on a mission. He returned uninjured but had lost quite a bit of weight. When Nan Sheng asked about it, he simply said the mission required him to lie low, and since the weather had turned cold, he hadn't eaten much.

Upon arriving at the family compound, Nan Sheng immediately started stewing a chicken. Following Zhong Yanyan's recipe, she added medicinal herbs like ginseng and goji berries, preparing to nourish her husband's body.

Once the chicken was done, she kept it warm in a clay pot. She tore off a drumstick for her daughter and, worried it might be too bland, specially prepared a dipping sauce.

Mom, you take a bite first, then I'll eat!

Qiqi dipped the chicken in the sauce and held it up to Nan Sheng's mouth. Nan Sheng took a tiny bite; she wasn't fond of the flavor.

By the time Lin Han came home, Siqi was already asleep. As she grew older, she felt too shy to sleep in the same room as her parents, so she would just run to her own room to rest whenever she felt sleepy.

Lin Han opened the door and saw Nan Sheng reading academic papers. He asked softly, Sweetheart, are you still busy? Give me a hug!

The thought of seeing his wife and child as soon as he got home made Lin Han anxious to leave the military base. Nan Sheng habitually opened her arms to him.

I stewed some ginseng chicken for you. It's keeping warm in the clay pot. Eat as much as you can, though the herbal taste is a bit strong.

Hearing this, Lin Han happily went to the kitchen to fetch his special meal. He ate more than half before stopping. After washing up, he immediately slid into bed to snuggle with his wife.

The next morning, Lin Han polished off the rest of the stewed chicken. Nan Sheng and their daughter had handmade noodles, each topped with a poached egg.

Honey, I'm heading to the base first, I'll be right back. The underlying message was: wait for me at home, and we'll go to the Han family's wedding together.

Siqi had reached the age where she loved to dress up. She rummaged through her little clothes in the closet. It was a pity the weather had turned cold, so she couldn't wear her little dresses anymore.

Mom, can I wear my new jacket with the white pants?

No problem, but you'll have to wash the clothes yourself if they get dirty.

Nan Sheng hated wearing white clothes the most. They got dirty too easily, and even a tiny stain was super obvious and required a lot of scrubbing by hand.

Qiqi wasn't afraid of getting dirty as long as she looked pretty. She happily changed into her outfit and waited to attend Uncle Han's wedding. Niuniu would definitely be there today.

Once Lin Han returned, the family immediately set off for the Han residence. By this time, Han Yongxiang was already on his way back with the bride. Commander Han was highly respected in the military region, and even the regional commander-in-chief had arrived.

When Commander Han saw Nan Sheng and her husband, he immediately called them over to greet the commander-in-chief. Qiqi didn't want to go over, so she ran off to play with the other children.

Lao Yan, this is Xiao Lin and his wife. They are both exceptionally outstanding comrades and also the matchmakers for my son and daughter-in-law.

Nan Sheng and Lin Han greeted Commander Yan, Good day, Commander!

After greeting them, Nan Sheng went over to chat with the female guests. Lin Han was kept behind by Commander Han so he could make his presence known among the senior officers.

But he was completely smitten with his wife and had no idea how to flatter people. Although his ears were listening to the commanders, his eyes unconsciously kept tracking Nan Sheng.

Division Commander Zhao was sitting right across from him. After watching for a while, he figured out what was going on and couldn't help but laugh. Usually, he only saw Lin Han with a cold face at the base, strictly demanding the best from his subordinates. He never expected him to have such a different persona in private.

Stop staring, Xiao Lin. Your wife isn't going to disappear in just a little while.

It was a wedding banquet today, so everyone spoke casually. Hearing Division Commander Zhao tease Lin Han sparked everyone's interest, and they all chimed in. Seeing Lin Han's ears turn red, Commander Han had to step in and defend him.

Alright, that's enough. Are you guys done yet? Watch out, or his wife might come over and settle the score with you. She's got quite a sharp tongue.

This ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‍piqued Commander Yan's interest. What does Xiao Lin's wife do? I don't think I've ever seen her around the base.

To answer the Commander, my wife works at the research institute and doesn't live in the family compound.

With that said, the commander remembered. It seemed Lin Han was transferred here originally because of his wife, though he hadn't paid much attention to it afterward.

So you two have been living apart all this time?

Commander Yan was a very traditional man. He preferred that a wife manage the household well. If you came home to a cold, empty house every day, could it even be called a home?

Not exactly. When I have time off, I go to the city, and when my wife has time off, she comes back to the family compound.

Lin Han didn't think much of it, but there were quite a few people who shared Commander Yan's mindset. They all said they couldn't handle living apart from their spouses and felt sorry for Lin Han.

Lin Han said, When I was in Rongcheng, my wife worked very hard raising our child by herself in our hometown. At the time, she was working in the government, highly valued by her leaders, and had chances for promotion. But to accompany me as a military spouse, she moved to Rongcheng to start all over again. She has sacrificed a lot for me.

Even if the commanders meant no harm, Lin Han had to clear his wife's name. Regardless, he wouldn't allow anyone to say a single bad word about her.

Hearing Lin Han say this, the others were deeply moved. After all, who among them hadn't climbed up from the bottom step by step? And it was precisely because of those struggles that their marital bonds were so profound.

Where are you from, Xiao Lin?

Huaishan Town, Huaishan County, in the Northern Province.

Division Commander Guo mentioned that the fried New Year's goods Lin Han had gifted last time were exceptionally delicious. The folks in the Northern Province are incredibly hospitable to guests. I went there once before, and they treated me to good wine, fine dishes, and great meat. I ate until my belly was completely round.

Commander Yan paused for a moment when he heard Huaishan Town, recalling what Lin Han had just said about his wife working in the government and then moving to Rongcheng to join him.

Just as he was about to ask a few more questions, Han Yongxiang brought the bride back, and everyone followed them outside to join the festivities.

During the toasting segment, Han Yongxiang and his wife specially came over to toast Nan Sheng. Han Yongxiang said cheekily, Sister Nan, you are like a real sister to me. Not only did you let me freeload on food and drinks, but you also helped me settle the most important event of my life. Your little brother toasts to you!

His words made everyone laugh, and Nan Sheng raised her glass to wish the young couple a harmonious and beautiful life together.

Before the New Year, Nan Sheng received a letter from the south. Xiao Yi said he had made connections over there and had already started getting busy. He specifically thanked her for asking someone to look out for him, saying it had helped him a lot.

In this era, anyone who dared to dream and act could make money, but they also had to bear multiple times the risk. One careless mistake could cost a life, perhaps without even leaving an intact corpse.

Before returning to their hometown, Nan Sheng's family bought a lot of things and went to the military academy to visit Sizhe. The boy hugged the food, looking incredibly aggrieved, and complained, Why did you guys take so long to come?!

It had been over four months since school started. Moreover, the military academy's requirements were ridiculously strict. They said there were no holidays in the first year, and they only got half a day off each week. The boy was exhausted to death and terribly homesick.

Nan Sheng had personally cooked a few dishes for him, bringing them over in a lunchbox. She also bought him roast duck and dried meat. She deliberately teased her son, saying:

Look how thin my son has gotten. Listen to Mom, let's not be a soldier anymore. How about we go home and retake the university entrance exam?

"That won't do!"

Sizhe pouted. What kind of parents were they, always teasing their child every day? Their meeting time was brief. Watching Sizhe's tall, straight back, Nan Sheng suddenly felt a wave of realization, thinking how fast time was flying by!

Lin Han stood beside Nan Sheng, his gaze also fixed on their son. "I told you this kid was doing fine. Stop worrying about him from now on. He's even gained weight, yet he still complains to you."

It wasn't that Lin Han didn't care about his child. Although he hadn't visited, he knew exactly how Sizhe was doing at school. Both husband and wife wanted to use this opportunity to let him adapt to an independent life.

The profession he chose meant he was destined not to live under his parents' wings forever.

Sizhe returned to his dorm with a pile of food, making his classmates green with envy. Today happened to be a day off, so he opened his lunchboxes and called everyone over to eat together.

"God, Lin Sizhe, what kind of background do you have to eat this well? This is all meat!"

"You wouldn't know this, but on the first day of school, I saw Lin Sizhe arrive in a car. He just keeps a low profile, that's all."

"Stop talking, this is too delicious! Your mom's cooking is amazing!"

Everyone took bites one after another, and in less than ten minutes, all the food was gone. They were always like this; whoever had good things never kept them to themselves. Sizhe only saved some dried meat for himself.

After seeing their child, Lin Han and the others bought evening train tickets to return to their hometown. Taking the train at this hour meant they wouldn't arrive at the county town until night, so they called Mingli in advance.

Speaking of which, Nan Sheng hadn't been back to her hometown for several years. Hearing that her maternal grandparents' health had deteriorated significantly, she was very worried. This winter was colder than usual, and she was genuinely afraid they might not make it through.

Nan Sheng took a nap after getting on the train. When she woke up, she saw Lin Han and Qiqi staring at each other in a standoff, which was quite a comical sight.

"What are you two doing?"

Qiqi immediately tattled, "Dad is mean. I woke up a long time ago, but he wouldn't let me speak."

Lin Han thought to himself, what if your constant chattering woke up my wife?

"Don't pay attention to her. Go freshen up, I'll go check the dining car to see if there's anything good to eat."

Nan Sheng had been busy with work these past few years, and her meals were irregular. Now, she couldn't really eat anything cold or spicy, as it would upset her stomach. Lin Han went and bought some porridge, along with two stir-fried dishes, settling their breakfast.

By the time they arrived at the county town, Nan Sheng and Qiqi were almost brought to tears by the freezing cold the moment they stepped off the train. The temperature difference from Jingdu was simply too drastic, making them shiver uncontrollably.

Lin Han wanted to take off his overcoat to shield his wife and daughter from the wind, but Nan Sheng refused. Fortunately, Luotong was thoughtful and had asked Mingli to bring thick clothes before he came out. Once they put them on, they felt much warmer.

"Sis, I missed you to death! If you hadn't come back soon, I would have gone to Jingdu to get you myself!"

Upon reuniting, Mingli hugged his sister like an impulsive young boy; despite not seeing each other for a few years, there was no sense of distance between them.

"I didn't let Luotong and our parents come. It's too cold today, and it would be bad if they slipped or bumped into something."

Nan Sheng expressed her understanding. How could she mind such things? "I haven't even congratulated you on your promotion yet!"

Qiqi also joined in the fun, "Uncle is so amazing, you're a director now!"

Mingli just smiled sheepishly. He knew very well in his heart that compared to his sister, his promotion speed was like a snail's pace.

Arriving at the Yu household, Yu Feng's entire family was waiting in the living room, including the youngest child, Nanfeng. The food and drinks on the table were exceptionally lavish, making it seem like they planned not to rest until everyone was drunk.

The elderly Yu couple were extremely happy to see Nan Sheng's family. "Hurry and sit down, have a bowl of hot soup first. This is made from pork bones, it's very flavorful."

Sitting at the dining table, Little Nanfeng was curious about everyone, especially his newly met aunt and older cousin. As for his uncle-in-law, Nanfeng found him a bit intimidating and didn't dare look him straight in the eye.

During the meal, the Yu family's grandson kept busy, helping to serve rice and pour wine. His mother had remarried, and he had been living with his grandparents all along.

Yu Feng told Nan Sheng that he planned to work for one more year and then retire. Through his hard work over the past few years, he had reclaimed his position as the county magistrate.

"Your Uncle Yu is getting old, I don't have the drive I used to. Retiring to help the young couple look after their child is pretty good."

Mingli comforted his father-in-law, "Dad, what are you saying? I'll still need your guidance with my work in the future. Are you planning to wash your hands of me?"

Yu Feng was most satisfied with this son-in-law of his; he was ambitious in his work and filial in his character. "Of course I'll guide you, as long as you don't find me too nagging."

Before leaving, Nan Sheng brought out the clothes she had bought for the Yu family's grandson. "The size might be a little big, so I'll have to trouble Auntie Yu to alter them a bit."

Because Yu Feng and his wife were older and didn't want to make the tiring trip to the town, they planned to spend the New Year in the county town. Thus, Nan Sheng took the clothes out in advance. The child's eyes lit up when he saw the new clothes, and Auntie Yu quickly prompted.

"Aren't you going to thank your aunt and uncle?"

"Thank you, Aunt and Uncle!"

Nan Sheng had also bought two sets for her own nephew. Since they were going home together, she didn't specifically bring them out at this time.

When they arrived at the town, Mingli's expression was a bit disappointed. "If Brother Yi and Brother Shitou were home, they definitely would have run over to pick us up by now. Nowadays, staying at home is so boring for me."

Nan Sheng knocked her brother on the head. "Is work not keeping you busy enough, or is your child too easy to handle?"

Seeing his aunt smack his dad on the head with a thud, and his dad not daring to speak but only shrinking his neck, Nanfeng suddenly felt that his aunt was incredibly formidable.

He was no longer shy now, proactively walking up to his aunt to ask for a hug. Mingli laughingly scolded his son for being a little flatterer, adding that when he was at home, he was an expert at currying favor with Yu Feng and his wife. Luotong also nodded in agreement.

"How is mom and dad's health? I haven't seen them for over a year."

Ever since Grandpa and Grandma Zhong's health declined, Zhong Yanyan stopped going out much. She visited her parents every few days to cook them something delicious.

Mentioning their parents made Mingli worry too. "Their health is quite good, it's just that farming is too exhausting. I tell them not to farm, but they won't listen."

Farming meant there was no rest all year round. They had to plow, sow, weed, and fertilize. In the autumn, they had to harvest and burn the crop stalks. Working in the county town, the time he could spend at home was limited, so he was constantly worried about them.

"If they want to farm, let them. If you don't let them work, they'll just feel like they're old and only a burden to their children."

Nan Sheng thought that in a couple of years, when small businesses were allowed, she would bring their parents to Jingdu and open a storefront for them. They could make money doing just about any small trade.

Taking advantage of the low housing prices right now, she could save up for a few years to buy a house and a storefront in Jingdu. That way, when Nanfeng grew up, he wouldn't have to worry about anything.

With her parents nearby, she could frequently go over to take care of them. However, she hadn't revealed this idea yet, and she didn't know if her parents would agree to it...