During the night watch, Tian Jing and Li Min competed in knitting sweaters.
Before long, Li's mother began to feel the strain. Reluctant to waste kerosene, she declared it time to rest.
Li Zhengguo fetched hot water. Tian Jing stopped him, insisting on washing herself. She didn't want this foolish man to work himself to the bone all year.
After getting on the kang, Li Zhengguo hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Tiantian, can we...?"
Tian Jing blinked. "What?"
"Sleep... sleep together."
Tian Jing burst out laughing.
As Li Zhengguo became flustered by her laughter, as he prepared to retreat,
She directly threw herself into his arms. "You silly thing, you don't need to ask about this."
Li Zhengguo held her tightly, his voice trembling. "I... I was worried you weren't mentally prepared."
Tian Jing looked up and offered her red lips.
This foolish man only ever thought of her.
Encouraged, Li Zhengguo happily took the lead...
...
In Tian Jing's understanding, after a man had his way, he would become insatiable, continuing to demand more regardless of the woman's well-being.
She had already prepared herself for the possibility of not being able to get out of bed on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
To her surprise, her man, after just one encounter, carefully released her and went to the kitchen to boil water.
Then, he placed her, groggy and disoriented, into the bathtub and gently washed her, coaxing her as he did, "Tiantian, besides those few days each month, I want to have you every day, okay?"
Tian Jing: "..."
Her understanding was flawed. Her man was also insatiable, but he was very good at suppressing himself, preferring to savor it slowly.
"Okay?"
His gentle voice continued to coax her. Could she say no? With this man's foolishness, if she refused, who knew what kind of nonsensical thoughts he would conjure up?
"Okay."
Immediately after, she was kissed by the overjoyed, foolish man.
"Zheng Ge~"
"Hmm?"
"I'm sleepy."
"Alright, stand up, I'll carry you out."
Drowsy Tian Jing felt like a baby, a carefully cherished baby.
When she woke up, she saw a pair of bloodshot eyes. "What's wrong? You didn't sleep?"
"I couldn't sleep. I was afraid you'd disappear, afraid it was all a dream."
Tian Jing's heart ached inexplicably. This foolish man, what was she to do with him? She could only cover his lips with hers, comforting him with action.
Li Zhengguo endured and endured before restraining himself, grabbing the little hands that were being mischievous on him. "Be good, wait until tonight. I... I like it when you call me in the dim lamplight."
"Then are you still so anxious and insecure?"
"No longer. I just felt it wasn't real. It must be that I'm too happy, so happy I don't know what to do with myself."
"Then close your eyes and sleep."
"It's New Year's Day today."
"I don't care. If you don't sleep, I won't let you get up."
"Alright, alright, I'll sleep. I'll sleep."
Tian Jing imitated Li Zhengguo's coaxing, gently patting his back.
Li Zhengguo pulled her tightly into his embrace. "Tiantian, I don't need you to coax me. Let's sleep together."
"Don't you like it?" Tian Jing didn't understand. She herself quite enjoyed being coaxed to sleep by him.
"It's not that I don't like it, it's that I can't bear it."
Tian Jing hid in his embrace and chuckled. This man was calm and self-controlled, only occasionally losing it when it came to her.
Li Zhengguo affectionately kissed the top of her head. "Good girl, let's sleep together properly."
"Mmm."
They were woken by Li Min because it was time for lunch.
If there hadn't been leftovers from last night, Li Min would have knocked on their door long ago. Sleeping in on New Year's Day.
Li Min immediately regretted it. It would have been better not to wake them. The way her elder brother doted on his wife, he was practically spoon-feeding her.
Li's mother's gaze swept over her son and daughter-in-law before she secretly smiled. This time, she would likely be holding a grandson soon.
"Zhengguo."
"Yes?" Li Zhengguo looked up at his mother.
"We've already been to see the village chief and the party secretary with Minmin."
"Oh."
"Your cousins Rongguo and Baoguo have also come by."
"Oh."
"Do you think it's necessary to go visiting?"
"There's no need to make a special trip. We're not asking them for anything. Let's leave it for now and discuss it later. Tiantian doesn't like complicated family matters."
Li's mother quickly explained to her daughter-in-law, "Tiantian, this is still your house to manage. I was just asking Zhengguo about his plans. I won't overstep you and make any decisions."
"I understand, Mother-in-law. You're worried I don't know those two families well. But Li Zhengguo is right, there's no need to proactively get closer."
If they wanted to restore kinship, fine. Everyone valued their interests. But to still put on airs as elders felt like taking advantage of their age. She didn't like it.
"Mmm, mmm," Li's mother responded. "I'm just stating facts. I have no feelings for them anymore. To get closer now feels forced, it leaves a knot in my heart."
"Then just do what you feel is right. We didn't ask for help when we were struggling, so we certainly don't need to now. Mother-in-law, you should maintain a dignified stance."
"Yes, I understand."
In the afternoon, Li Zhengguo didn't go out. He held Tiantian in his arms as she knitted a sweater. They stayed quietly in the room for the entire afternoon.
Li Zhengguo was content, occasionally bestowing a kiss on the crown of her head.
In the evening, after an early bath, he boiled another pot of water in preparation before returning to the room to enjoy his feast.
Tian Jing once again admitted her understanding was flawed. Her man's insatiability was unusual.
Last night, her man had been considerate of her. Tonight, he was still considerate, limiting the number of encounters, still just once, though he doubled the duration.
He had let her go only when she was on the verge of collapsing.
She couldn't help but wonder who among her and Li Zhengguo was the one with the special ability.
Completely drained, she lay in Li Zhengguo's arms, unwilling to move.
Li Zhengguo gently shifted her and brought hot water from the kang.
"Tiantian, get up and take a bath. You'll recover after a soak."
"I don't want to move."
"Be good. Use your special ability."
"I don't want to use it."
Unable to rouse her, Li Zhengguo had no choice but to pick her up and get into the bathtub himself, thankfully large enough for both of them.
With her eyes closed, Tian Jing leaned into Li Zhengguo's embrace. Under the massage of his rough palms, she drifted off to sleep.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the day she was supposed to visit her parents, Tian Jing was still knitting her sweater.
When she saw Tian Lifu arrive, she smiled brightly. "Does your back not hurt anymore?"
"I've come to take you back to your parents' house."
"I don't have a parents' house. Please leave. It's the New Year, and I won't send you off."
Tian Lifu cast a reluctant glance at the piles of bricks and then turned to leave.
Tian Jing raised an eyebrow. Was he eyeing her bricks? Who informed him? Had Zhang Fangcao not given up yet?
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Fang Qiuhong arrived with a bag of sunflower seeds. "Tian Jing, look at my face."
Tian Jing looked up. Fang Qiuhong's birthmark had turned pink and should disappear soon.
Fang Qiuhong had very fair skin and was more delicate than Zhang Fangcao. Coupled with the red birthmark, it actually gave her a unique kind of beauty.
"Very good. It looks like it's almost healed."
"Yes, I don't need your help. I can still get the ointment, and the effect is much better than Li Min's."
Tian Jing was taken aback, then smiled. "That's right. I didn't expect you to have such unconventional sources. Congratulations."
"Thank you," Fang Qiuhong replied insincerely. "I came to tell you that you're not the only one shining in Kushan."