She didn't feign modesty or politeness by saying she wasn't pretty, or that she was only average-looking.
If someone is pretty, then they are pretty. Since others sincerely complimented her, she should express her gratitude frankly.
The car slowly stopped, and after about twenty minutes, it arrived at the Northwest Military Region.
Their arrival was seen by quite a few military wives.
Everyone knew that the Jade-Faced Yan Luo, Sheng Ze Xi, had returned with his country wife!
Sheng Ze Xi was already the focus of attention in the Northwest Military Region, and now that he had married, and moreover, a country girl, it caused even more discussion.
“I wonder what Battalion Commander Sheng's spouse looks like?”
“What else could she look like? A country girl. Surely she has dark skin, and is either thin and frail or big and strong, and probably isn't very educated.”
That's what they had seen in country girls.
“Why do you think Battalion Commander Sheng married a country girl?”
“Just because he married her doesn't mean he wanted to. I heard that country people are the most uncouth, and they have many ways to scheme against others. Maybe she used some trick to latch onto Battalion Commander Sheng.”
“I think so too. She schemed, forcing Battalion Commander Sheng to marry her.”
“It's sad for Battalion Commander Sheng.”
Thus, as Sheng Ze Xi and Gu Jia Ning got off the car, rumors about them spread through the military region like wildfire.
The rumors spread until they became that Sheng Ze Xi was tricked into marrying a country wife, and that this country wife was very ugly, with dark, rough skin and pockmarks.
The Jade-Faced Battalion Commander married an ugly monster! How pitiful, so pitiful!
Gu Jia Ning didn't know that others had portrayed her as an ugly monster, or that she had tricked Sheng Ze Xi.
At this time, the car had stopped in front of her house, a small house Sheng Ze Xi had applied for.
Getting out of the car, the cold wind forced Gu Jia Ning to put her hat back on and pull her scarf up.
Looking around, there were several neat rows of small houses, and the small house Sheng Ze Xi had applied for was in the front row, with several rows behind it.
Zhang Shuwan's family lived next door.
Sheng Ze Xi had said that the small houses in the front row were the best because they had courtyards, independent toilets and bathrooms, and wells.
The rows behind lacked courtyards, and were missing something or other.
However, few people lived in the back rows, and many houses were empty.
As for the reason...
One reason is that it's too cold in Northwest China. In winter, it snows almost constantly. Heavy snow will seal the mountains for at least two months, causing supply shortages.
Family members were reluctant to accompany their soldiers.
Another reason is that most people who accompany their soldiers prefer apartment buildings.
Therefore, the apartment buildings in the family compound are more populated.
But Gu Jia Ning thought that the small house with a courtyard was better, as it had a larger area. The apartment buildings had too little space, with many things shared, leaving little privacy.
Sheng Ze Xi went to get the key and opened the door.
After helping Sheng Ze Xi and his wife bring in their luggage, Lin Xing also returned to his own house next door with his wife and daughter.
“After I applied for this place, I had it thoroughly cleaned. It's quite tidy, don't you think?”
Gu Jia Ning looked around. It must have been soldiers who did the cleaning. It was very clean, and everything was neatly arranged, reminding Gu Jia Ning of Sheng Ze Xi's perfectly folded clothes.
“Let’s take a look around.”
So, the young couple began to explore their small house.
The middle of the small house was the living room, with two rooms on either side. On the east side were the kitchen and a storage room; on the west side were the toilet and bathroom.
A three-sided courtyard surrounded these rooms.
It wasn't very big, but it wasn't small either, especially the courtyard, which had a well.
Gu Jia Ning knew very well how important and convenient a well, and independent toilet and bathroom were in these times.
Except...
“Isn't there very little water in this well?” Gu Jia Ning asked.
The well water was clear, but it was almost empty. Was there really enough water?
“Water resources are scarce in Northwest China, especially in winter. It’s relatively good now, but the winter temperature is below minus ten degrees Celsius, so people rarely bathe in winter, sometimes only once a month, otherwise it’s too cold and you could get sick.”
Sheng Ze Xi first lit the kang in the living room and master bedroom, then boiled water on the stove, and then took out a broom to quickly sweep away the snow accumulated in the yard.
Although someone had cleaned it a couple of days ago, it snowed every day, so the courtyard still accumulated snow.
Gu Jia Ning was shocked to hear that they only bathed once a month.
“I won’t have to bathe only once a month, will I? Can I bathe today? I’m about to go bad!” Gu Jia Ning’s voice was a little aggrieved. Huaihua Village was in the south; even in winter, it didn't snow. Gu Jia Ning was very clean and bathed every day even in the coldest winter.
“Yes.” Sheng Ze Xi gave her a definite answer, then leaned in and whispered something in Gu Jia Ning's ear. Gu Jia Ning's eyes lit up, and she excitedly grabbed his arms. “Is that true?”
“Yes, I’ll take you there this afternoon.”
“Okay, it's a deal.”
“Then, is there anything I need to do now?” Although Gu Jia Ning was quite lazy and didn't like housework, seeing Sheng Ze Xi busy alone, she felt a little embarrassed, after all, it was their home.
“Organize your luggage, put away the small items, and I'll go to the dining hall to get food later.”
“Okay.”
Thus, one inside the house and one outside, the couple started their work.
Gu Jia Ning put the food she brought from her maiden family in the kitchen cabinets; there was a lot of cured meat, such as cured rabbit, smoked chicken, and smoked meat, as well as pickled vegetables made by her mother, Yao Chunhua.
Her family wanted her to bring rice and flour, but Gu Jia Ning refused. These days, every household lacked grain, so she couldn't take it, and the journey was too long, and these things were too heavy.
Gu Jia Ning had the Exchange Mall app, where daily necessities were inexpensive, and she could exchange some grain when she found the time and opportunity.
After putting away the food, Gu Jia Ning went to the master bedroom she shared with Sheng Ze Xi and found the kang very novel.
There were no kangs in the south, and Gu Jia Ning had never slept on one.
In this era, there was no modern heating, so people only had kangs.
Gu Jia Ning touched it. It might not have been burning long enough, it wasn't warm yet.
She placed the quilt on the kang, spreading it carefully, and then put the pillows and other things in place.
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