"Why are you back alone? Where's Xue?"
When Chen Yang brought the children home, Qin Lifen looked around, noticing someone missing, and was a bit puzzled.
Her daughter-in-law and son were always inseparable; why was Chen Yang back with the children alone this time?
"I ran into Lin Xiaoxiao on the way."
Chen Yang had nothing to hide from his parents. He and Lin Xiaoxiao used to play together often, and his parents knew her.
When he married Shen Xue, he had already let go of that relationship.
However, he had been too cowardly back then and hadn't told Lin Xiaoxiao everything when he got married, delaying her youth for years. Chen Yang felt a pang of guilt whenever he thought of Miss Lin.
When he was young, he was indeed muddled and lacked any sense of responsibility. Otherwise, Shen Xue and their child wouldn't have suffered so much in his previous life.
In this life, he had to be clear-headed.
Having cleared the air, and as the one who had wronged her, he could only hope that Lin Xiaoxiao would move on quickly and find her own happy life.
As for him, he should focus on earning money to support his family, which would be a worthy act for Shen Xue and the children.
After dinner, Shen Xue finally returned. The two little ones had already been bathed and put to bed by their grandparents.
Chen Yang sat in the main hall waiting. When Shen Xue came in, their eyes met.
"When I was at home doing nothing like a lord, did you ever feel wronged?"
Chen Yang glanced at Shen Xue, recalling the foolish things he had done in his youth.
Sometimes, people only truly wake up and cherish what they have after experiencing loss. But by then, it's often too late.
Looking at the person before him, Chen Yang had only one thought in this life: to take good care of Shen Xue and the children.
"It's not exactly 'wronged'."
"When I married you, I was prepared to have children with you, do the laundry and cooking, and live my life with you."
"Back then, you were a sent-down youth from the city, and I was just a country girl. Marrying you was already a step up for me."
Shen Xue hugged Chen Yang, resting her face on his chest, feeling the warmth of his embrace. She closed her eyes, as if reminiscing about their early days of courtship.
Back then, Chen Yang was fair-skinned and exuded an scholarly aura, often reciting poetry.
She didn't understand it all, but she felt he had a special charm, a kind of man she had never seen in her seventeen years of life.
She quickly fell for him.
She loved him deeply and uncontrollably. Even though she knew there was a vast gap between them, she leaped into it without hesitation.
Even after having children, he remained full of dreams and never thought of sharing the burden of their family life.
But she was content, working tirelessly and earning the same work points as the men, just to keep their family afloat.
"Silly."
"What do I have that makes you so willing?"
Chen Yang's large hand gently stroked the top of his wife's head, his heart filled with an indescribable emotion.
"You call me silly, so I must be silly. I was never smart to begin with."
"But I'm a lucky fool."
"Look at us now. Who in the village doesn't envy me? My husband is the most accomplished man in Shenjiaba, and even the entire Wanli Commune."
"Our house is the most impressive brick and tile house in the village. You work hard and give me everything I want, dote on me, and dote on the children. I feel that the hardships of the past are nothing compared to the sweetness I receive these days."
"We used to struggle to even eat. Now we can eat meat every meal, and our two children are healthy and by our side. What more could I ask for?"
"I'm just a simple woman with no grand ambitions. As long as I can be with you, with our two children, and with our home, I'm perfectly content."
Shen Xue looked up, gazing into Chen Yang's eyes.
She was usually shy and rarely met Chen Yang's gaze so directly.
But this time, she looked with great sincerity.
She loved this man holding her.
She loved everything about him, even when he wasn't perfect. Now that he was gradually maturing from his youthful immaturity, understanding his responsibilities as the head of the family, taking care of her and the children, and even her parents and relatives, how could she not love him even more?
She was willing to be the woman who grew better with him.
Chen Yang buried his head in her hair, greedily inhaling her delicate scent.
At this moment, his heart was filled with peace.
He knew what attracted him most to his wife.
It was Shen Xue's tolerance, and her determination to face any situation with him.
She was willing to accept all his imperfections and, with love, help him transform from imperfect to perfect.
Perhaps they didn't have a dramatic love story, but this kind of ordinary giving and companionship was not easily achieved.
Husband and wife are like birds of a feather in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly in different directions. But Shen Xue wouldn't.
Through the most difficult times, she stayed by his side. How could he, Chen Yang, betray such a woman?
"Wife, I promise I will treat you well this lifetime. I swear."
Chen Yang held Shen Xue tightly, his heart as an older man filled with unwavering resolve.
"I never doubted that."
Shen Xue smiled slightly, her small hands gently pinching Chen Yang's large earlobes.
Her elder sister said that people with large ears have good fortune. From now on, the mission of pinching Chen Yang's ears would fall to her.
"Then I've sent that girl home."
"She cried for a while, and felt much better afterward. She told me your story, and I told her mine."
"She blessed us. I could tell she was sincere, not just saying it out of anger."
"She said she'll be fine, and that when she finds her Mr. Right, she'll invite me for drinks at her wedding, but not you, just to spite you."
Shen Xue tugged at Chen Yang's ear. The old man winced, feeling the strength of her pull this time.
What woman wouldn't get jealous?
However, the old man's heart felt a little lighter. He also hoped that Miss Lin would move on soon.
But he was amazed by his wife's charm that she could talk to Miss Lin without fighting. He knew he'd never fully understand women's minds in this lifetime.
"Ahem."
"Well, the children are asleep. Let us old folks take care of them tonight."
"I saw Shen Xue come back, so I came to have a look. You two carry on, carry on..."
Just then, Chen Liming, who had just opened his own door, awkwardly closed it again. He had heard the commotion and wanted to come out and see.
But as soon as he opened the door, he saw his son and daughter-in-law being affectionate. He had worried that they might argue because of Miss Lin, but seeing that everything was fine, he quickly retreated.
Shen Xue pushed Chen Yang away as if struck by lightning. Her face was so red it looked like it would bleed, from being seen by her father-in-law embracing Chen Yang.
"It's all your fault! Why didn't you take me inside directly? Why were you hugging me in the main hall? You've embarrassed me to death."
Shen Xue playfully punched Chen Yang's chest. The old man scratched his head.
Come on, let's go inside!
...
---
Writing about their childhood sweethearts was meant to set the stage for this emotional arc. The book is almost 400,000 characters long, and perhaps at first, everyone only saw Chen Yang making amends out of guilt from his previous life. However, I believe a little guilt alone cannot sustain the entire emotional thread of the book. For a couple to last, there must be mutual understanding and certain qualities that attract each other. Perhaps my handling of this is a bit clumsy, as I myself haven't been married and my own romantic relationships have been bumpy and ended in failure. But I've always tried my best to write this book well. I hope everyone can be a little more patient and have a little more faith in me. I've written this much, and I haven't introduced any morally questionable content.