Chapter 200: Chapter 200: I’m Back

Chen Fengqin snapped back to her senses instantly. “You little rascal, you’re just a kid but you sure have a lot of demands. Come out and go home with me now.”

Zhong Zijun looked at Gu Qinghuan, a bit at a loss, worried that Chen Fengqin would spread the word about their visit and cause trouble for Gu Qinghuan.

Gu Qinghuan gave her a reassuring look.

“Qinghuan, this must be your mother from your maiden family, right? By seniority, I should call you ‘auntie’, but you look even younger than me—I really can’t bring myself to say it.” Chen Fengqin joked with practiced ease.

She was always quick-witted and adaptable, and now she looked completely relaxed and at ease.

Zhong Zijun let out a sigh of relief and gave her a friendly smile.

Gu Qinghuan said, “Fengqin, you guessed right. It’s almost New Year’s, so I invited them over for a meal.”

Chen Fengqin nodded. “Of course, of course. It’s the New Year, after all. You’re so filial. Don’t worry, I’m tight-lipped.”

“Oh, and about the fish today—thank you. Here, this is some pickled cabbage I made myself.”

“I figured since you just got back from the capital, you probably didn’t have time to pickle any cabbage at home, so I brought you some. If you like it, just come get more. I don’t have much else at home, but there’s always plenty of pickled cabbage.”

Gu Qinghuan had actually brought back some kimchi, dried radish, and a bit of pickled cabbage.

But she didn’t have much out in the open; most of it was stored away in her space. Having this extra pickled cabbage was great.

She happily accepted it. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. This pickled cabbage is just what I needed.”

“As for the fish, it wasn’t really my doing—just good luck. If anyone deserves credit, it’s your eldest who helped us pick the ice hole.”

“Oh, wait a second, let me get you something.” Without another word, Gu Qinghuan picked up the jar and ran to the main room.

Honestly, she really did have to thank them for helping her out with the fish today. If not, she would have become everyone’s target. Thanks to the team leader’s status and how well things were handled, the whole incident blew over smoothly.

She reminded herself to be even more careful when using the spiritual spring in the future.

Gu Qinghuan set down the jar and came out with a box of pastries.

“These are pastries I brought back from the capital. Take them home for Erdan and his brother to try.”

Little Erdan held his mother’s hand, his eyes glued to the pastry box. He really wanted to eat some—they looked so fancy. He’d never seen pastries packaged like this before.

Chen Fengqin took it, a bit embarrassed. “Look at me, always taking your good stuff and only giving you cheap pickled cabbage in return. I feel bad.”

“Don’t say that. What you need is what’s best. I just happen to need pickled cabbage. Besides, you can’t eat pastries as a meal, right?” Gu Qinghuan reassured her.

“Qinghuan, you really know how to make people feel good.” Chen Fengqin’s heart felt warm.

That’s what matters in relationships—feeling comfortable with each other. In the whole Xujiatun, there’s no one more pleasant to be around than Gu Qinghuan.

Of course, that kind of ease comes from having enough financial security. If everyone was starving, people would be much more petty. That’s just human nature.

After their chat, Chen Fengqin left, turning back every few steps.

Erdan called out loudly to Dabao, “Dabao, Beibei, we’re going to the market at Sanlitun tomorrow. Are you coming?”

Dabao looked at Gu Qinghuan. Family matters needed Mom’s approval.

Gu Qinghuan saw the hopeful looks on the kids’ faces. She couldn’t bring herself to say no. Besides, she was interested in the barter market herself.

So she nodded.

Dabao and Beibei instantly cheered up. “Thank you, Mom! We can go too!”

Yuran grinned along with them. She’d made a lot of progress lately, already imitating many of Dabao’s actions and words.

Kids really do need to be around other kids. Especially those who are more withdrawn—they need more exposure to normal children to experience their world.

Of course, the key is that Dabao and Beibei were always kind to Yuran and never bullied or laughed at her.

Erdan jumped up with excitement. “Great! We’ll set out together tomorrow. Let’s meet at the village entrance at seven and walk over together!”

Gu Qinghuan was speechless. “We have to get up that early?”

Getting up in winter was the hardest thing for her.

Chen Fengqin explained, “It takes more than an hour to walk to Sanlitun, and the market starts early. It’s usually over by ten, so we have to leave early.”

More than an hour? Oh my god. Gu Qinghuan’s whole body resisted. She hated walking, especially in the snow, and for so long.

But she couldn’t bear to disappoint the kids, so she gritted her teeth and nodded. “Alright! We’ll all go together tomorrow.”

Chen Fengqin seemed to see right through her and hid a smile.

“You can also bring some extra things from home tomorrow. Maybe someone at the market will need them, and you can trade for something you want.”

“Okay, thanks, Fengqin.”

After everyone left, Gu Qinghuan carefully locked the door this time, afraid someone else would drop by unexpectedly. It was nerve-wracking.

Luckily, it was just Chen Fengqin earlier. She was a good person and wouldn’t gossip.

Even though having her own mother over for the New Year wasn’t a big deal, they were still labeled as “stinking intellectuals.” Until that label was gone, people would always criticize them.

She didn’t want to bring more trouble on them.

“Jie, if you don’t want to walk, I’ll pull you on a sled tomorrow. I’ll even modify it so you can lie down comfortably,” Gu Lanting said, having noticed his sister wanted to go but didn’t want to walk.

He doted on his sister, and at that moment, he looked especially cool.

A wave of warmth washed over Gu Qinghuan, making the whole world feel cozy.

Zhong Zijun went back to making dumplings, a smile tugging at her lips. Life was peaceful.

“Uncle, we want to ride the sled too!” Beibei shouted.

Yuran echoed, “Uncle, us too!”

Gu Lanting was stumped. He only had two hands—just pulling Gu Qinghuan would be hard enough.

Gu Qinghuan deliberately didn’t help him out, curious to see what he’d do.

Ji Linhai spoke up, “I’ll go with you all tomorrow. I can pull a few of the little ones on the way.”

During the New Year, even people from the cowshed were allowed out to buy necessities.

They usually didn’t go with others, though—no one wanted to be seen with people of their status.

But Gu Qinghuan’s family was different.

Gu Qinghuan was about to say there was no need to go out of his way for them—she didn’t really need the sled, she was just teasing Gu Lanting.

But the kids were already cheering even louder.

“Awesome!”

“Great!”

Dabao thought Ji Linhai looked even stronger than Gu Lanting, so his sled would be faster and steadier.

Gu Lanting, unaware he’d just been outclassed, felt relieved the problem was solved.

Just then, the door was knocked again.

Gu Qinghuan thought it was Chen Fengqin coming back and opened the door while saying, “Fengqin, did you forget—”

But as soon as she opened the door, she froze, speechless.

A pair of deep, affectionate eyes looked at her. The next second, she was swept into a tight embrace.

“I’m back!”

It was Xu Huaian.

After more than half a month apart, he looked thinner, but full of energy.

Gu Qinghuan was held so tightly, it was as if he wanted to merge into her.

A soft whisper sounded in her ear: “I missed you.”

Gu Qinghuan was at a loss.

People in the yard, peeking in, couldn’t help but stifle their laughter.

Only then did Xu Huaian notice that her mother, brother, Ji Linhai, Dabao, Beibei, and the others were all watching them.

He calmly let go of Gu Qinghuan and helped smooth her hair.

There was a trace of disappointment—only he knew that it was the thought of this long-awaited embrace that had carried him through gunfire and danger, bringing him home safely.

Gu Qinghuan actually blushed, though it was too dark for anyone to notice.

“Mom, Brother Ji, you’re all here.” Xu Huaian greeted them as he put down his bag and picked up Beibei.

Gu Qinghuan, like a little wife, naturally took his bag inside—actually, she just wanted to hide for a bit. It was so embarrassing.

“Have you been listening to Mom at home?”

Beibei answered proudly, “Dad, I’m the most obedient!”

“Our Dabao and Beibei have been very good. Huaian, you must be hungry after your journey. I’ll go make you a bowl of noodles,” Zhong Zijun said, getting up.

Dumplings when you set out, noodles when you arrive.

“Mom, don’t bother. Let’s all eat together later!” Xu Huaian’s nose was sharp—he could already smell the chicken and mushroom stew.

Gu Qinghuan came out and said, “Mom, don’t worry about it. The food in the pot is almost ready. We’ll eat soon, and he made it back just in time.”

“That’s good! Now that Huaian’s home, the family is complete.”

Xu Huaian suddenly remembered something, put down the child, and went inside to greet the elders. That was etiquette—he couldn’t forget.

His return brought joy to the whole family."

"Chapter 201: The Fish-Splitting Dispute

On the other side, the Xu family wasn’t happy at all.

Xu Huaizhi had caught some fish in the morning, and the whole family was happily bringing them home. But just as they reached the doorstep, they saw his mother waiting outside, not even afraid of the cold north wind.

Here we go, someone’s here to freeload again.

Lin Xiaomeng’s eyes widened in anger. This lazy bunch just waits for a free meal and never puts in any effort themselves.

What, is Xu Huaiyu dead? Even if his leg is injured, his wife is perfectly fine, isn’t she?

Even Dacheng knows that if you want to eat fish, you have to work for it. But these people? They just keep leeching off them.

“Mom, what are you doing squatting out here? It’s freezing!” Xu Huaizhi pretended not to understand.

“Huaizhi, you caught so many fish? Perfect, give me a few. I’ll stew them for your dad to help him recover—he’s been coughing at night lately.” Liu Guifang said it without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

Xu Huaizhi knew perfectly well whose stomach those fish would end up in, but he still had to give them—after all, she was his mother.

But Lin Xiaomeng wasn’t about to indulge the Xu family’s bad habits anymore.

“Mom, honestly, we’d be happy to give you and Dad some fish. But once you take them home, we can’t control whose mouth they end up in.

This isn’t the first time you’ve done this lately. What, now that we’ve split households, we’re still responsible for feeding your whole family?

Does Xu Huaiyu not have hands or feet? He’s a grown man, still eating from his parents, and now from his big brother’s house too? Is he still not weaned?”

She deliberately raised her voice at the end, making sure the people in question could hear—she wanted to shame them!

The neighbors all poked their heads out to watch the commotion.

Liu Guifang was thoroughly embarrassed and hated Lin Xiaomeng to the core.

“What, I raised my son, and I can’t even eat a few of his fish? And you, you good-for-nothing woman, what are you blabbering about?”

“Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, you know in your heart. If you’ve got the guts, take the fish home and don’t give any to the third son and his wife!”

The houses were right next to each other, separated by only a wall, so Xu Huaiyu and Yan Lijun next door heard everything.

Xu Huaiyu had long since developed a thick skin—nothing could hurt him. But Yan Lijun felt embarrassed, being called out for being lazy.

“Stop pacing around, who cares? Mom will handle it. Just wait and eat,” Xu Huaiyu said, resigned.

“Huaiyu, why don’t we try fishing too? If they can do it, so can we! Always eating for free, no wonder people talk,” Yan Lijun still had some pride.

“Why not eat for free if you can? You think catching fish is easy? My big brother’s been learning to fish since he was ten, that’s why he can catch them. If we go, we won’t even see a fish scale.”

Yan Lijun felt a chill in her heart—how did she end up marrying such a lazy man?

She used to think he was pampered at home, so if she married in, she could have a good life and her mother-in-law wouldn’t make things hard.

She never expected he could be this lazy.

A grown man, waiting to be served hand and foot.

“If your big brother was willing to learn, why can’t you? Now we get scolded just for eating fish. I don’t care, you have to learn!”

“What, you think I’m not as good as my brother? Look at yourself—your sister-in-law manages everything inside and out, and she’s pretty too. What about you?”

“So you finally said what you really think, huh?”

The couple started arguing, and just then, Liu Guifang came back carrying two big fish.

“Third daughter-in-law, come help me with these.”

Despite Lin Xiaomeng’s scolding, Liu Guifang still brought back two fish, and insisted on taking the biggest ones.

When the eldest son was still at home, she never noticed, but now she realized—there really wasn’t anyone left to do things around the house.

In winter, when there’s no work, Xu Mingshan either goes to meetings at the commune or acts like a lord at home.

Liu Guifang couldn’t bear to let the third son work hard, so she had to figure things out herself.

Yan Lijun was feeling frustrated.

The whole family was upset over the fish.

By evening, they heard the brigade leader had caught a lot of fish and was dividing them up by the riverbank, so they hurried over with their buckets.

Since it was Gu Qinghuan’s family who had done the work, Liu Guifang, as the mother-in-law, came to collect fish. Chen Fengqin and Xu Huainian didn’t make things difficult for her and gave her two shares.

One share for her and Xu Mingshan, and one for Xu Huaiyu—a total of eight big fish, which was quite generous.

Xu Huaizhi also came and got a share.

But when it came to Xu Meiling, things didn’t work out.

Technically, Xu Meiling was a married daughter and wasn’t entitled to a share of the village’s goods.

Plus, Chen Jianghe was a “sent-down youth” and couldn’t get a separate share—at most, he could be counted with the other sent-down youths.

After all, there were so many of them—if everyone insisted on a share, where would all the fish come from?

So no matter how much Xu Meiling argued, Chen Fengqin stood her ground and didn’t give her any, to avoid breaking the rules.

Chen Fengqin wasn’t worried about Gu Qinghuan being upset either.

She knew Gu Qinghuan had no fondness for the Xu family at all.

She’d already done more than enough.

But Xu Meiling was shameless—feeling shortchanged, she went to Xu Mingshan to ask him to get fish for her. After all, her father was the brigade leader, his word carried weight.

Xu Mingshan didn’t know the fish came from Gu Qinghuan’s side—he thought Xu Huainian had managed to get them.

Even though he’d gotten some benefits, he wasn’t happy. Usually, he was the one organizing everything in the village, but this time Xu Huainian had gone behind his back, clearly trying to win people over.

He was unhappy, but there was no way he’d go make trouble for Xu Huainian or ask for fish for his daughter and son-in-law. After all, as the Party Secretary, he had to save face.

Xu Meiling, heavily pregnant, cried and made a scene in the snow, but it was useless.

In the end, Liu Guifang made the decision to give her two of the four fish they’d received, and only then did Xu Meiling stop making a fuss.

Xu Huaiyu and Yan Lijun were already upset after their argument, and when they saw their parents give two of the family’s fish to their sister, Xu Huaiyu exploded! He started scolding Xu Meiling.

“Xu Meiling, have you no shame? Always coming back to your parents’ house to freeload. Where’s your husband? Why don’t you visit his family for New Year’s?

Didn’t you say your husband was so capable? Let him buy you some fish! Why do you have to take from us? Don’t you know your sister-in-law is pregnant too and needs nutrition?”

That hit Xu Meiling’s sore spot. She’d been planning to go to the city for New Year’s to meet Chen Jianghe’s parents and experience city life.

But Chen Jianghe refused to take her back, always saying it was inconvenient because she was pregnant, or that his family was about to have a baby, or that train tickets were expensive and they needed to save money.

Bottom line, Chen Jianghe just didn’t want to take her home.

Xu Meiling wasn’t stupid—she realized he probably hadn’t even told his parents about their marriage.

She’d secretly seen letters from Chen Jianghe’s family, and there was never any mention of her—clearly, his parents didn’t even know she existed.

Honestly, Xu Meiling was very disappointed. She’d been spoiled and pampered growing up, and naturally had her pride.

But with Chen Jianghe, her pride was trampled into dust.

Still, she held onto a sliver of hope, telling herself that as long as she gave the Chen family a healthy son, things would get better.

And Chen Jianghe was slowly coming around, treating her better, wasn’t he?

She could talk herself into it, but that didn’t mean others could mock her about it.

Xu Meiling, furious, lunged at Xu Huaiyu to hit him, even throwing the fish on the ground.

Yan Lijun, startled, quickly protected her own belly and backed away to avoid getting caught up.

Xu Huaiyu, though his leg was bad, was still stronger than a woman. He grabbed Xu Meiling’s hand, and the two started fighting.

Liu Guifang rushed over. “Huaiyu, your sister’s pregnant! Be careful, don’t mess around.

Meiling, your brother just has a sharp tongue, don’t stoop to his level. Have you forgotten about the baby?”

That last sentence finally brought Xu Meiling to her senses—right, she couldn’t risk her last bargaining chip.

She let go.

But Xu Huaiyu wasn’t done—he’d been the family bully since childhood, always getting his way. No way was he going to let a married sister push him around in his own house.

After Xu Meiling let go, he gave her a hard shove. Xu Meiling stumbled back, stepped on a slippery fish, and fell flat on her back.

Luckily, Liu Guifang threw herself down to cushion the fall, but it only softened the impact a little.

Xu Meiling still took quite a tumble.

Immediately, she felt a dull pain in her belly and was extremely uncomfortable.

“Wuwuwu… Mom, what do I do? My stomach hurts.” Overwhelmed by helplessness, she burst into tears.

Liu Guifang, pinned underneath, groaned, “Get up first, my back…”

Yan Lijun, watching from the side, was terrified. If Xu Meiling miscarried, that would be a disaster—a life lost!

Xu Mingshan usually stayed out of these messy family matters, but seeing things get out of hand, he finally stepped in and scolded everyone: “None of you can give me any peace! Fighting over a few fish—now look, no one gets to eat.”

What a way to spend the New Year—utterly miserable.

He got up and went to find Chen Jianghe to deal with the situation.

Xu Huaiyu, unfazed, said, “Xu Meiling, stop pretending. That thing in your belly doesn’t scare me. Don’t come back here to freeload anymore—there’s no place for you in this house.”

He thought Xu Meiling was faking it to scare him—she’d always been like this, using any means to get what she wanted.

Liu Guifang finally managed to get up, her back aching.

She noticed her daughter really seemed to be in pain—her face was pale and sweaty.

“Meiling, what’s wrong?”

“Mom, it hurts…”

Liu Guifang, furious, punched Xu Huaiyu. “I must’ve owed you all in my past life! How could you be so rough with your own sister? If anything happens to Meiling, you’ll be sorry!”

She hurriedly helped Xu Meiling inside to lie down.

Upon checking, she saw some blood—just a little, but still.

Liu Guifang started praying to every god she could think of, begging them to protect her daughter and grandchild.

Xu Meiling was filled with regret—she shouldn’t have lost her temper, but Xu Huaiyu’s words had been so hurtful.

Yan Lijun, anxious, went straight back to her own room, afraid the trouble would spill over to her. Besides, Xu Meiling was the vengeful type—if she pushed her again, who knows what would happen.

Chen Jianghe waited at home for Xu Meiling, but she didn’t come back. She’d said she was going to get fish, but she’d been gone for ages—probably off gossiping somewhere.

Just as he was about to go look for her, his father-in-law came with the news.

He was furious but helpless—what could he do, stuck with a wife and in-laws like this?

If she was hurt, what did that have to do with him? He wasn’t a doctor.

Chen Jianghe quickly rode his bicycle to the Xu house, found out what happened, and went to the commune to get a doctor.

The roads were slippery with snow, but he didn’t care.

Liu Guifang waited anxiously at home, and when she smelled the aroma of fish stew from Lin Xiaomeng’s house next door, she was furious.

She kicked the makeshift fence Lin Xiaomeng had put up. “Are you all dead in there? Can’t you hear what’s happening over here?” How could they still eat at a time like this?

At the dinner table, Lin Xiaomeng shot Xu Huaizhi a look.

Xu Huaizhi, face gloomy, went out.

“Mom, it’s New Year’s—what are you doing now?”"

"Chapter 202: Xu Huaizhi Loses His Temper, Dinner

""You’re asking what I’m doing? With your younger siblings making such a racket, you all can still eat? Has your conscience been eaten by a dog?""

""Mom, we’re all married now. Everyone should mind their own business. Is it too much to ask for a hot meal in my own home, just once a year?"" Xu Huaizhi was half angry, half helpless.

Back when his younger siblings weren’t married, it made sense for him to look after them more. But now, they all had their own families, some were about to become parents themselves. As the eldest brother, he should have been able to step back long ago.

Yet every time something happened, Liu Guifang would come running to him, making him endlessly frustrated.

He still hadn’t gotten over the recent miscarriage incident.

Because of that, Lin Xiaomeng was still giving him the cold shoulder. Even though he hadn’t openly sided with his family, he’d let Xu Huaiyu off the hook far too easily.

No wonder Lin Xiaomeng was upset.

""You can eat any time! You clearly heard the commotion and didn’t even bother to check in. Is that how an older brother should act?"" Liu Guifang argued stubbornly.

Lin Xiaomeng stayed silent in the other room, watching the mother and son clash with cold detachment.

She’d gotten smarter now—let the man handle family disputes, she’d just watch from the sidelines.

""So, in the end, it’s all about a few fish!""

Xu Huaizhi was angrier than ever. His mother kept siding with his siblings against him, and his patience had long since run out.

He grabbed the bucket from the yard and dumped it out with a loud bang.

Inside were some small fish he’d caught that afternoon, still frozen stiff, untouched.

""Here, split them up!""

Fish scattered all over the ground, one even landing on Liu Guifang’s foot. She didn’t dare pick it up, nor say a word.

Xu Huaizhi’s voice was calm, but carried a dangerous edge.

Liu Guifang suddenly shivered in fear. This son felt like a stranger to her.

""Who—who wants your fish! I—I’m leaving!""

A soft person can be scary when they finally stand up for themselves.

Seeing her leave, Xu Huaizhi calmly returned to the dinner table.

""Alright, let’s eat!""

Lin Xiaomeng was a little surprised by him.

Turns out, even the quiet ones shouldn’t be underestimated when they get angry.

Meanwhile, Chen Jianghe had gone to the commune to fetch a doctor. The doctor was reluctant to make a house call—heavy snow, late at night, and the New Year approaching, no one wanted trouble.

Chen Jianghe gritted his teeth and offered an extra five yuan as a hardship fee, and only then did the doctor agree to come.

After examining Xu Meiling, the doctor said she’d disturbed her pregnancy and needed bed rest. He prescribed several doses of Chinese medicine to help stabilize things.

Xu Meiling let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thank goodness she hadn’t miscarried like her sister-in-law, or she wouldn’t know how to face Chen Jianghe.

Judging by his dark expression, he was clearly furious.

Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang tried to console him, ""Jianghe, don’t be angry. This was Meiling’s fault, we’ve already scolded her.""

They didn’t dare mention Xu Huaiyu’s involvement, afraid their son and son-in-law would fight again. The family couldn’t handle any more drama.

Chen Jianghe was angry—angry that Xu Meiling kept causing trouble.

But since he was in someone else’s home, he wouldn’t lose his temper.

""It’s late, I need to see the doctor off. You stay here tonight, don’t go back. I’ll come get you tomorrow,"" he said to Xu Meiling, then left.

At the village entrance, he spotted a tall figure striding purposefully toward the compound.

Looking closer, it was Xu Huaian.

He’d married the woman he’d always wanted and was now living a happy life.

Fate really does play tricks.

Why hadn’t he acted sooner back then? Just one step earlier would have changed everything. But there are no what-ifs in this world.

Xu Huaian didn’t notice Chen Jianghe—he was eager to get home, his mind full of the person he was about to see.

—

After a brief greeting and washing up, Xu Huaian’s family sat down for dinner.

Ten adults, three children.

The big table wasn’t enough, so Gu Qinghuan set up a separate table for the kids on the heated kang bed—cozy and warm, with the same dishes as the adults.

Seeing this, Ming Ruxue shamelessly insisted on joining the kids’ table.

With so many people, the atmosphere was full of polite small talk, which she wasn’t used to. She’d rather eat freely with the children.

Zhong Luoning, worried about Youran, joined the kids as well, leaving eight adults at the main table.

Though it was their first gathering like this, everyone felt at ease, chatting and laughing.

Gu Qinghuan brought out her homemade wild grape wine from her space—it was rich and mellow, suitable for all ages.

Just in case, she’d also prepared some sorghum liquor.

Old Master Ji preferred the sorghum liquor, while everyone else requested grape wine.

Except for little Gu Lanting, everyone could have a drink or two to celebrate and relax.

Gu Lanting got to enjoy the ""flying dragon soup"" he’d been dreaming of—the milky-white broth was delicious and nourishing.

There were only two flying dragons, just enough for everyone to have a small bowl. The limited portion made it even more memorable.

Xu Huaian took the opportunity to share good news: he was completely cured!

Ever since he’d recovered his lost memories, he felt more clear-headed than ever, certain that he was truly well.

Zhong Weiqian and Cheng Shuying teared up at the news.

They remembered how Gu Qinghuan had sacrificed her own future to raise money for Zhong Zijun’s treatment. The guilt had weighed on them for so long—even though Xu Huaian was a good man, his illness made them feel they owed Gu Qinghuan. Now, they could finally let go.

Zhong Zijun was overjoyed, tears streaming down her face. ""That’s wonderful!""

Ji Linhai, sitting beside her, quietly handed her a handkerchief from his pocket.

Gu Qinghuan noticed this little gesture and wondered—could it be what she thought?

Was Uncle Ji interested in becoming her stepfather?

Should she approve or not?

Uncle Ji was a good man—filial, strong, responsible, a hundred times better than Gu Yunchuan, and he’d never been married before. He was a good match for Zhong Zijun.

She just didn’t know why he’d been sent down to the countryside. Hopefully, it wouldn’t cause trouble for them later.

The Zhong family was finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

But she was getting ahead of herself.

Xu Huaian gently squeezed her palm and whispered in her ear, ""What are you thinking about? Eat up—your favorite, rabbit stew.""

She could feel his breath on her ear, tinged with the sweet scent of grape wine. Her heart fluttered and her face flushed. ""Just eat already!""

The elders didn’t miss their little interaction, exchanging knowing smiles.

This pair was finally about to get their happy ending—it hadn’t been easy.

Before their trip to Beijing, the two had gotten along well, but there’d always been a bit of distance. Now, they were clearly more in sync and closer than ever.

Of course, Xu Huaian had always been head over heels for her—it was Gu Qinghuan who’d been uncertain.

But after returning from Beijing, it was clear her attitude toward Xu Huaian had changed.

They might have gotten together by accident, but if they truly loved each other, it would be a beautiful story.

Gu Qinghuan couldn’t quite explain it.

Maybe it was the long separation that made her realize her true feelings.

Habit is a powerful thing. In just a few months, she’d already gotten used to Xu Huaian’s presence.

The thought of never seeing him again made her heart ache.

Especially when he’d gone on his mission—he’d promised to be back in a week, but ended up gone for over half a month with no word.

She kept herself busy during the day, but at night, she’d dream of their moments together and wake up feeling lost and sad.

So she quietly told herself: if he came back safe, she’d give him—and herself—a chance.

It was just a shift in her heart.

No one was happier than Xu Huaian. He could sense that Gu Qinghuan’s attitude had subtly changed since he returned.

Before, she’d always shy away from his touch or pretend not to notice.

Today, she actually blushed.

Xu Huaian couldn’t help but smile with joy. Gu Qinghuan was stunned for a moment—when he smiled, he was truly captivating, almost enchanting.

Throughout the meal, he kept teasing her, testing her reactions.

Gu Qinghuan found the food tasteless, thinking, When will this dinner end?

This guy is getting way too bold!

In the end, the two of them toasted Ji Linhai together, thanking him for taking care of Zhong Zijun and her family.

Old Master Ji, perhaps tipsy or just on purpose, stood up and said, ""We’re all family here, no need to be so formal. We help each other out.""

Well, everyone at the table could see that the Ji men had their eyes on Zhong Zijun—except for the person herself, who was still clueless."

"Chapter 203: Heart-to-Heart, Sanlitun Market

Ji Linhai’s expression was hard to read.

The meal was lively and satisfying, with every dish on the table polished off.

Ji Linhai volunteered to escort the Zhong family of three back to the cowshed, and Gu Qinghuan saw them to the door.

Xu Huai’an accompanied Old Master Ji back to the cowshed.

Zhong Luoning and Gu Lanting took the initiative to clean up and wash the dishes.

Ming Ruxue looked after the children.

Only then did Xu Huai’an finally have some time to talk properly with Gu Qinghuan.

The two of them quietly slipped into the space.

""Why have you lost weight? Your face is even smaller now,"" he said, concern in his eyes.

Gu Qinghuan avoided his intense gaze, afraid she’d lose herself in it.

""It’s nothing, you’re imagining things.""

She was tired, yes, but she’d also been eating less lately, so she had slimmed down a bit.

""Thank you for taking care of the family,"" Xu Huai’an said sincerely.

""It’s nothing, really. The kids are all well-behaved. By the way, did you finish your mission this time?""

""I did."" Xu Huai’an paused, then added, ""Huanhuan, there’s something I can’t decide on.""

""What is it?""

""After I completed the mission, the Ministry of Defense said they could offer me a position.""

""That’s great! The Ministry of Defense is a good place to work. But your illness..."" Gu Qinghuan didn’t ask for details, just worried there might still be risks.

""I’ve recovered my lost memories, Huanhuan. From now on, I probably won’t have any more episodes.""

""That’s wonderful!"" Gu Qinghuan didn’t ask about the memories he’d lost—so long as he was well, that was enough.

""Since you’re better, you should do what you want to do.""

""But... I can’t bear to leave you, and I don’t want to dump my responsibilities on you."" Xu Huai’an pulled her into his arms.

""On one hand, I know a man should make something of himself. Honestly, I’ve always longed for an opportunity like this.

But now that it’s here, I’m torn and hesitant, afraid to accept it so easily.

These past two years have taught me to cherish what I have. Huanhuan, you’re the most precious thing in my heart. I’m afraid of losing you.

Tell me, what should I do?""

Take a step forward, and he can’t look after his family; take a step back, and he feels like a coward. No matter what he chooses, it’s a dilemma—such is the life of a soldier.

Gu Qinghuan felt the warmth of his embrace and gently hugged him back, feeling a sense of peace she’d never known.

For the first time, she opened her heart to Xu Huai’an and shared her own thoughts.

""Xu Huai’an, go. Go and become a better version of yourself. You belong to a wider world—an eagle shouldn’t be caged in a corner.

I hope we can both become better people.

Actually, I have a dream too. Once things settle down and the college entrance exams resume, I want to take the exam and study psychology systematically.

I want to use professional knowledge to help people with psychological issues.

Whether it’s post-war trauma, depression, or autism, I want to understand their world and truly help them out of their struggles—not just rely on spiritual spring water.

Heaven sent me here, gave me this space and the spring—not just for me to pass through. I think I’ve found my purpose for coming here.

I want to spread more advanced ideas on this land and help more people out of hardship.""

Gu Qinghuan wasn’t just speaking on a whim; she’d been thinking about this for a long time. In just half a year here, she’d already encountered so many cases of people suffering psychological trauma without timely help.

Xu Huai’an’s post-war trauma—if she hadn’t helped him, his future would likely have been a lonely, tragic end.

Zhong Luoning’s depression, Xu Youran’s autism—she didn’t know their fates in the previous life, but she could guess Xu Jianguo wouldn’t have let them live well, and their outcomes would have been miserable.

Then there was Fang Zhengping—without her help, his condition would have worsened without timely treatment.

His family was well-off, so he wouldn’t end up homeless, but his life could have been much brighter.

All these cases made her feel she had to do something meaningful with her time here.

She couldn’t build planes or cannons, or benefit all of humanity, but at least she could use modern ideas to change the fate of these vulnerable people.

She wouldn’t waste the gifts of space and spring water the King of the Underworld had so generously given her.

When she first arrived, she just wanted to treat it like a trip—to come and go freely.

Now, she saw herself as part of this world. She couldn’t be a savior, but she could do her part.

Xu Huai’an hadn’t expected his little wife to have such lofty ambitions, and was deeply moved.

""Huanhuan, it feels like I’m truly getting to know you for the first time, but also like I’ve always known you were this kind of person.

If I ever get the chance, I’d love to visit your world and experience its civilization.

If this is what you want, I support you—let’s both work hard to become better people, just like you said.""

In that moment, the two of them felt completely in sync. They didn’t need many words to understand each other.

Xu Huai’an already knew the course of history—soon, the world would change dramatically, and the future would belong to intellectuals. He fully supported Gu Qinghuan’s wish to go to university and pursue her dreams.

In fact, after hearing her thoughts, he felt a moment of shame. Gu Qinghuan, a soul from another world, was thinking about making this world better and helping more people, while he was only caught up in personal feelings. He knew he shouldn’t be like that.

In that instant, he made up his mind: he would work hard to forge a smooth path for himself, to pave the way for Gu Qinghuan, to protect her dreams, and be her solid support—not a burden.

Whether it’s love or friendship, two people must advance and retreat together, standing on equal footing, for the relationship to last.

They agreed: Xu Huai’an would return to work in Beijing next year, while Gu Qinghuan would stay in Xujia Village for now, to look after Zhong Zijun and the others, take care of the kids, and prepare for the college entrance exam.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to return to Beijing, but there were still too many things here she couldn’t let go of. She’d have to wait.

Wait until she got into university, until the Zhong family was cleared, until everything settled—hopefully, that day wouldn’t be too far off.

Xu Huai’an understood her decision.

By the time the two of them finished their talk and came out, the house was already tidied up. Everyone was sitting on Gu Qinghuan’s kang, cracking pine nuts and chatting.

Gu Lanting had already cleaned the rest of the fish—mostly thanks to Ji Linhai, who had gutted and washed them all, waiting for Gu Qinghuan’s next instructions.

When Ji Linhai took Zhong Zijun home, Gu Qinghuan had already asked him to bring a bucket of fish for Zhong Zijun to use as he liked.

The rest were for her household.

To avoid having to thaw them tomorrow, Gu Qinghuan processed them all that night.

She kept some fresh and left them outside to freeze solid in the cold weather.

Half of the remaining fish she rubbed with salt and spices, then hung from the kitchen beam to make cured fish—the kitchen was warm, perfect for this.

The other half she cut up and marinated, so they could just take some from the jar whenever they wanted to eat.

All in all, delicious methods.

Xu Huai’an stayed with her the whole time, refusing to go rest even when Gu Qinghuan tried to send him to bed.

Luckily, it didn’t take long.

That night, sleeping arrangements were the same as the night before, except Gu Lanting, Dabao, and Xu Huai’an shared a room, while the others slept together.

Everyone was tired from the day and preparing for the market trip tomorrow, so they went to bed early.

Especially Xu Huai’an and Gu Lanting—one had traveled far, the other had cleaned fish. Both were exhausted and fell asleep as soon as they lay down.

The next morning, everyone got up early and got ready.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t have time for a complicated breakfast, so she just reheated a basket of yesterday’s buns, fried a pan of egg pancakes, and made everyone a cup of powdered milk.

After breakfast, the whole family set out.

Everyone was going today, and Ji Linhai was joining them.

Yesterday, Zhong Zijun said they had everything at home and wouldn’t join the fun, telling them to enjoy themselves.

Gu Lanting somehow produced two homemade sleds—one for Ji Linhai, one for himself.

""Come on, sis, hop on!"" he patted the sled, really intending to pull Gu Qinghuan along.

Joking aside, Gu Qinghuan was too embarrassed to actually ride.

Conveniently, they were bringing dozens of pounds of vegetables to trade, and Gu Lanting’s sled was perfect for hauling them.

Ji Linhai’s sled carried a big basket lined with warm blankets, perfect for the kids. He was strong and steady, so everyone felt at ease.

They had no shortage of vegetables at home—the cellar and the space were full—so Gu Qinghuan planned to bring some to trade for other goods.

This idea was inspired by Qian Caihua yesterday.

She was curious to see what she could get for the vegetables.

At the agreed time, the family set out for the village entrance. Erdan’s family was also ready to go, and many other villagers with big bundles seemed to be heading to the Sanlitun market as well.

When Erdan saw them, he quickly ran over and squeezed into the kids’ basket.

The group chatted as they made their way to Sanlitun. The road was tough, but with everyone in high spirits, the hour passed quickly.

Along the way, Zhong Luoning and Ming Ruxue got tired and took turns riding on Gu Lanting’s sled.

Gu Qinghuan, on the other hand, was sturdy and kept up without trouble.

Xu Huai’an leaned over and whispered, ""Are you tired? Want me to carry you?"" He looked eager.

Gu Qinghuan shook her head vigorously, her whole body radiating refusal.

They were legally married, but if he carried her in front of everyone, she’d be the talk of Xujia Village by nightfall—just thinking about it was terrifying.

Xu Huai’an looked a bit disappointed.

Gu Qinghuan quietly put some distance between them.

Don’t be fooled by Gu Lanting’s small frame—he was strong, thanks to the spiritual spring water. He pulled the sled the whole way without needing help.

Finally, they arrived at Sanlitun, where the crowd was visibly thicker.

Ming Ruxue and Zhong Luoning, having grown up in the city, had never seen a rural scene like this. They were as curious as Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, marveling at everything.

Some of their questions made Chen Fengqin laugh out loud.

As they neared the market, it was shoulder-to-shoulder with people.

Gu Qinghuan had the kids get off the sled and hold the adults’ hands so they wouldn’t get lost.

It was a busy market, and with so many people, you never knew if there might be child traffickers.

With the crowds, it was easy to get separated. Ming Ruxue, Gu Lanting, and Zhong Luoning wanted to explore on their own.

So Gu Qinghuan let them go off together, taking the kids with them, and told them to meet back under the big banyan tree at the market entrance when they were done.

Ji Linhai also needed to trade for some supplies, so he went off on his own.

Erdan’s family did their own thing too.

That left just Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huai’an with a sled full of vegetables, exchanging smiles.

Which was just as well—they could take the opportunity to sneak some things out of the space, like dried goods and pears they’d stored earlier.

Last night, Gu Qinghuan had already taken out a big bag of pears and left them in the snow to freeze—real frozen pears. Later, she could just sneak them out of the space and bring them back.

Wild pheasants and rabbits were always welcome—there were lots of mouths to feed at home.

It was a pity they didn’t have time today, or Xu Huai’an would have butchered a wild boar, goat, or deer from the space to bring back some meat.

But there’d be more chances in the future.

The two of them set off to explore the market."

"Chapter 204: Chen Ershu Trades for Woolen Cloth