To Each His Own
Gu Sheng had cooked a whole table full of dishes, and together with Zhang Shuyang, he brought them out. Xie Wan looked at the beautifully presented and fragrant dishes, thinking that Old Gu’s cooking skills were quite impressive.
As the meal was about to start, Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan, the sibling duo, sat quietly at the table, unusually well-behaved—neither making a fuss nor causing any trouble.
Zhang Shuyang was surprised, “These two kids are so obedient?”
Just earlier, they had been complaining about their dad, yet now they were acting so well-behaved in front of Gu Sheng?
Little Tangyuan clutched her bowl and said honestly, “We are always well-behaved.”
Guobaorou nodded, “We love Daddy and Mommy the most.”
Xie Wan chuckled, “Pingping, your kids change faces really fast.”
Gu Sheng pinched the cheeks of the two little ones and scolded playfully, “You two only bully my wife at home.”
Little Tangyuan shook her head. “No, we don’t.”
“I don’t either,” Guobaorou echoed.
Zhan Aiping kicked Gu Sheng lightly. “Stop talking nonsense. How could the kids possibly boss me around?”
Gu Sheng sighed, “Wife, you’re all talk, but your heart is too soft.”
Qin Lu took a few bites of the dishes and was surprised to find that Gu Sheng’s cooking was even better than her husband, Teacher Zhou’s. Zhang Shuyang and Xie Wan also noticed.
“Pingping, your husband’s cooking is impressive. It tastes even better than restaurant food.”
“I used to think Qin Lu’s husband, Teacher Zhou, was the best cook I knew, but now I have to say—your husband is the best home cook I’ve ever seen! How long has he been practicing?”
Gu Sheng replied, “Ever since my wife got pregnant, I’ve been the one cooking. I couldn’t bear to let her do it.”
Xie Wan asked, “What about when you’re not home?” After all, compared to ordinary men, soldiers spent less time at home.
Zhan Aiping shrugged, “What else? I cook for myself.”
Little Tangyuan chimed in, “Mommy’s cooking is good too.”
Zhan Aiping was touched, “Daughter, that’s the most reasonable thing you’ve ever said.”
Guobaorou added, “But Daddy’s cooking is even better.”
Mommy’s cooking was everyday home food, while Daddy’s meals were a rare luxury. As for the food from the mess hall—plain carrots and greens—it was like enemy fire.
No luxury food and forced to endure enemy fire? That was truly suffering.
Qin Lu smirked, “You two seem to have a good relationship. You’re not just putting on an act because we’re here, right?”
She spoke from experience. Back in the day, she and her husband, Teacher Zhou, had been famously affectionate. Even now, as their relationship had faded and they were on the verge of divorce, they still put on a loving front in public to save face.
Gu Sheng said, “You can ask anyone in our compound. You think we could pretend for three or four years?”
Xie Wan laughed, “Your neighbours say Pingping is a virtuous and considerate wife and that you ‘discipline’ your wife every day when you come home.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
“I ‘discipline’ my wife every day?” Gu Sheng glanced at Zhan Aiping. “Wife, do I even dare?”
“In our house, the Gu family listens to her.”
Guobaorou let out a deep sigh, like a little adult.
Zhan Aiping raised an eyebrow. “You’re three years old. What are you sighing about?”
Their eldest son always acted far beyond his years.
Guobaorou asked solemnly, “Will I grow up to be like Dad?”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “Don’t overthink it.”
Little Tangyuan giggled, “Then I’ll be like Mommy!”
Gu Sheng said, “You better not overthink it either.”
The salty-sweet sibling duo: “…”
Xie Wan laughed, “Your kids are really smart.”
Meanwhile, Zhou Ting was eating quietly, watching the Gu siblings with dissatisfaction. The adults were all talking about them when originally, she should have been the centre of attention for her dancing.
That little sister, Little Tangyuan, could dance too—and even better than her.
Not being the focus of attention was unacceptable to Zhou Ting.
She turned to Qin Lu and whined, “Mommy, I want to go home!”
Qin Lu forced a smile. “Why?”
“I want to eat Daddy’s cooking.”
Qin Lu sighed, “She must be feeling homesick. How about Mommy sings you a song?”
With that, Qin Lu started singing ‘Jasmine Flower’ a cappella. Zhang Shuyang and the others played along, praising her singing.
Qin Lu, delighted by the attention, couldn’t help but glance at Gu Sheng. But he wasn’t looking at her—his gaze was fixed on Zhan Aiping.
Qin Lu then suggested with a smile, “Zhan Aiping, why don’t you sing a song too? Your daughter’s dancing is beautiful. You could sing while she dances to your voice.”
She pretended not to know that Zhan Aiping was tone-deaf.
Zhan Aiping flatly refused, “I’ll pass.”
“Come on, give us some face. It’s rare for us old friends to gather like this. You’re so beautiful—you must have a great singing voice too.”
Xie Wan stepped in to smooth things over. “How about I sing instead?”
She knew very well that Zhan Aiping’s singing was truly awful.
Gu Sheng spoke up. “I’ll sing.”
Instead of choosing a new song, he sang ‘Jasmine Flower’, the same song Qin Lu had just sung. His voice was warm and rich, deep and soothing, sending shivers down the spine.
His daughter, Tangyuan, happily danced along to his singing.
Qin Lu’s expression turned sour. When Gu Sheng first said he would sing the same song, she had been flattered, thinking it was meant as some kind of romantic gesture. But the moment he started singing, anyone with ears could tell he sang far better than her.
She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. The compliments she had received earlier from Zhang Shuyang and the others now felt like a loud slap to her face.
Xie Wan, ever the peacemaker, laughed and said, “Gu Lao Wu’s fourth brother was a soloist in the army’s performing arts troupe—his voice was amazing. Pingping, your husband isn’t any worse than his brother!”
Zhan Aiping nodded. “Yeah, I think he should’ve joined the entertainment corps instead.”
Little Tangyuan chimed in, “My dad sings lullabies so well.”
“Really?” The others were surprised. So, at home, it was the dad who sang lullabies to put the kids to sleep?
Little Tangyuan continued, “But he only likes singing them for Mommy.”
Xie Wan teased, “Pingping, I’m starting to envy you now.”
She truly did. A handsome husband from a good family, who could cook, handle household chores, and even sing—what more could a woman want?
Zhan Aiping playfully hooked an arm around Gu Sheng’s shoulder, her gaze sweeping across the room before landing on Qin Lu. She smirked challengingly and declared, “Envy all you want—it won’t change a thing. He’s my man.”
“Some people should learn to control where they’re looking.”
Qin Lu had been casting flirtatious glances at Gu Sheng while singing, as if Zhan Aiping wouldn’t notice. Aiping hadn’t expected a married woman to be so shameless.
The moment those words left her mouth, Qin Lu’s face darkened instantly. “We’re leaving. Tingting, come with Mommy.”
She stormed out, dragging her daughter with her. No one stopped her.
But the moment she stepped outside, regret hit her like a brick. Her face turned even uglier.
However, she was too prideful to turn back. Gritting her teeth, she took her daughter to a guesthouse. This trip had been a strategic one—she was looking for a high-status husband for herself post-divorce. She couldn’t rely on her cousin’s connections, as she had spent years flaunting how loving and devoted her husband, Mr. Zhou, was. She had annoyed her cousin so much that asking for help now would only humiliate herself.
If she went back and used her cousin’s ties to marry a high-ranking officer, she’d be slapping herself in the face.
After Qin Lu left, Xie Wan remarked, “She reacted so strongly—was she just embarrassed and angry?”
She had already sensed Qin Lu’s intentions. Turning to Zhan Aiping, she admitted, “I really didn’t see this coming. She always seemed so close with her husband. I even envied her relationship…”
Xie Wan was dumbfounded. This completely upended her perception.
Zhang Shuyang, sitting nearby, chuckled at her naivety. “You’re too simple-minded. In the Zhou household, it’s always been Mr. Zhou showering Qin Lu with affection. But no matter how much a man gives, he can’t warm a cold heart.”
Qin Lu had ambition. She simply didn’t think a man like her husband was good enough for her.
“But her husband, Mr. Zhou, treats her so well! Even other teachers envy her—” Xie Wan recalled all the times Qin Lu had put on a show of affection in front of her and couldn’t process the contradiction.
Why did everything feel flipped upside down?
Zhang Shuyang cut in, “Mr. Zhou is a good man, but he lacks ambition. And women don’t like men without ambition.”
Xie Wan was speechless. “…How is that possible?”
Zhan Aiping sighed, “People often fail to appreciate what they already have.”
Just like how, as a child, she had resented Ai Feihong for not being a gentle, doting mother. Unlike other moms who were warm and caring, Ai Feihong had been like a cold, iron umbrella—unwavering in the storm, but never a source of softness.
Xie Wan shook her head. “She’ll regret this.”
“Everyone has their own path,” Zhan Aiping replied.
Then she turned to Xie Wan and noticed something strange in her expression. Her gaze lingered on Zhang Shuyang—her fiancé. And in him, Aiping saw shadows of Regiment Commander Luo.
That realization made her pause.
**Nomad:
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for being so patient with me during this long wait. Life’s been pretty hectic and stressful lately, and honestly, I didn’t even notice the site was down for a few days until I finally had a moment to check. Once I got that sorted, I realised I needed to renew a bunch of things to keep the site up and running.
When I saw the renewal cost was over £250, I was completely shocked! Thankfully, I managed to figure out a way to bring it down to around £180 for everything. But even that wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support and donations from so many of you over the past year. Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much—every single donation, no matter how small, has made a huge difference.
I’m working hard to get back on track with translating chapters for all the novels I’ve been handling. As a way to say thanks, I’m planning to drop some extra chapters (and maybe even a fully translated novel or two if I can find the time!).
Thanks again for sticking with me through all this. You guys are the best!**
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