"Oh, oh, you better protect Sienna, or next time I'll break your legs and make you retire and go home."
"Okay, I understand."
"Remember, since you've married Sienna, you must protect her and not let her be bullied. She's so small, she looks like an easy target."
Hearing his mother's words, Rowan wanted to show her how fierce Sienna could be when she trained or fought someone, but he decided against it. He didn't want to ruin her image as a gentle wife in his mother's eyes.
"Okay, I got it."
After that, Rowan's mother and father changed into new clothes and went out. Seeing them, Rowan knew they were probably going to show off.
It couldn't be helped. So many people were jealous of his parents. All their children were obedient. At first, there were rumors that his mother wouldn't enjoy life, that she wouldn't be taken care of by her daughter-in-law, and that she and her husband would be living separately.
But the more they said it, the more she would show off the things bought by her daughters-in-law, sometimes even showing off the things bought by her son-in-law when going out.
His father didn't do this at first. After all, he was the squad leader and cared about his reputation. But after his mother forced him a few times, he started doing it willingly.
Rowan didn't care about it. He went straight to the house because he wanted his reward.
"Hubby, you're back."
"Wife, it's all because of you that I got beaten. Shouldn't you make it up to me?"
"No way, how could it be my fault? You made Mom angry. You can ask her if you don't believe me."
"Wife, look. At first, Mom was nice, but when you said you were beating someone bad, she thought it was because I didn't protect you well, so she hit me."
"Yes, that's right."
"Then, wife, do you think I protected you well?"
"No, if you protected me well, I wouldn't have been kidnapped. Plus, you're so weak, how could you protect me?"
"Okay, then, wife, didn't you say you would protect me? Now I've been beaten and hurt."
"Yes, but I shouldn't hit Mom, right? Or do you want me to beat Mom and get revenge for you?"
Upon hearing his wife's words, Rowan pinched himself. He was afraid he might pass out. He didn't know whether to be happy that Sienna was thinking for herself or not. At least, she wasn't acting like a robot following preset commands and trying to get revenge for him.
"Wife, you don't need to get revenge for me. I just want you to make it up to me. I got hurt, don't you feel bad?"
"Fine, how should I make it up to you? Don't feel bad, Mom said you're tough, a few hits won't hurt you."
Hearing that his wife agreed to make it up to him, he stopped worrying about the rest.
He felt like there was no need to return home, not until he knew what his mother was going to teach his little wife. He just wanted to see if his obedient, gentle wife would still be the same when he came back.
"I'll tell you what kind of compensation later. Just remember to keep your promise."
"Okay, fine."
"Can I go outside now?"
"Yes, let's go take a walk. I'll show you the village."
Then, the two went out, and Rowan took Sienna to the terraced fields where people were working.
"Sienna, those are cornfields, and in the middle, there are soybeans. They're weeding right now, and in a while, they'll be harvesting the rice. Busy times are coming soon."
"Did you do this kind of work when you were young?"
"We've all done it. You're probably the only one in our team who hasn't. She's the only daughter, and her family really loves her."
"Alright then."
After walking around for a while, the two of them decided to go home. On the way, they ran into a new female educated youth.
One of the girls walked up to them. "Comrade Rowan, I'm Aran. I'm from the capital, and I'm 18 years old." After saying that, she suddenly leaned towards Rowan as if she was about to fall into his arms.
Rowan quickly moved aside. "Please move out of the way."
He didn't even respond to her strange introduction and fake fall. Ever since he was young, his mother had always told him and his two brothers to stay far away from girls. Unless they planned to marry one, it was better not to talk to them at all.
Aran didn't expect Rowan to react like this. Wasn't his wife supposed to be stupid?
When Aran first saw Rowan, she became interested. But when she saw he was already married, she gave up. Later, at the educated youth spot, someone mentioned that Rowan's wife, Sienna, seemed a little off in the head.
After learning that Rowan was an officer, Aran's plan changed. She wanted to leave this place, and marrying a soldier was the best way. It was even better because Cuilan was known as a kind mother-in-law who didn't make things hard for her daughter-in-law.
"Rowan, I'm the educated youth who came back with you yesterday. Don't you remember?"
"I don't remember."
He took his wife's hand and led her away without saying anything else.
One of the other girls nearby said, "Wow, she failed big time. He's already married, and it's a military marriage. So shameless. She doesn't even think—if his wife was really stupid, would Rowan's mom have allowed the marriage?"
"There would be gossip all over the village if a soldier really married someone with mental problems. There hasn't been any gossip, so clearly, it's not true."
What they didn't know was that the reason there were no rumors was because Cuilan was powerful. Not many people had seen Sienna when she was in bad condition, and later on, she seemed fine. So the villagers weren't sure if she had really been out of her mind. They thought maybe she had just been scared and hadn't recovered for a while.
"What's it to you? Mind your own business." Aran said and left angrily.
When Rowan and Sienna got back home, his parents were already there. Rowan went forward and said, "Dad, you should warn those female educated youths. Just now, someone blocked my way and wouldn't move even when I asked. She introduced herself to me and then pretended to fall on me."
Cuilan wasn't calm after hearing that. "Who? Which shameless girl?"
"I think her name is Aran."
Sienna quickly corrected him, "Mom, it's Aran."
"Come, Sienna. I'll take you to tear that white lotus apart. You need to watch carefully and learn. Next time I'm not around, you have to do the same. Don't give them face. Men can be blind and foolish sometimes."
"Oh, okay. I'll learn."
Hearing Cuilan's words, Sienna thought it must be a powerful skill. She nodded eagerly. She wanted to protect her husband and make sure he didn't become blind and foolish.
Rowan, following behind, heard his mom telling his little wife all that. He started to seriously suspect that in a few days, his sweet and gentle wife would be gone. But he didn't dare stop his mom.
Soon, the three of them arrived at the educated youth courtyard. Cuilan pushed the door open and walked straight in.
One of the educated youths inside asked, "Who are you? What are you doing? Why are you barging in without knocking?"
Right after saying that, they saw the couple behind Cuilan. Everyone looked at Aran. It was obvious they were here because of the incident on the road.
Cuilan didn't bother wasting words with them. She asked directly, "Which one of you is Aran?"
As soon as everyone heard that, they all turned to look at her. From that, Cuilan already knew who she was.