The military spouses from the city had asked Shen Yunfang a lot about the Capital, and by the end, it was still unclear whether they had come to flaunt their superiority or ask for favors.
Shen Yunfang didn't care about these distinctions; her principle was simple: she wouldn't allow herself to be taken advantage of. If you aimed sarcastic remarks at me, I'd reply with a few pointed words to rile you up. If you were polite, I'd treat you warmly in return.
Fang Yan and Zhang Ping were relatively fine in the end, but Qu Fanhua, perhaps because of her job, which entailed frequent interaction with mature ladies, had picked up some of their undesirable habits and always tried to put down Shen Yunfang, who came from a rural background and was a regimental commander's wife, in conversation. She even shamelessly asked several times if Shen Yunfang could get television tickets, insisting that if Yunfang could, she should help her get a few.
