Chen Shouwang arrived home quite late, and although he initially felt a bit guilty, that feeling dissipated significantly when he saw that the house was dark and Hualing had already gone to sleep; a bitter smile appeared on his face.
He had hoped she would wait up for him, but that was just wishful thinking.
After a quick foot wash, he quietly got into bed, turning his back to Hualing. Soon, he fell asleep and dreamed of the mother and daughter smiling sweetly at him, which made him smile sweetly in his sleep.
Hualing had thought it through; she had waited for quite a while, but Chen Shouwang didn’t utter a word or make a move, just started snoring. She couldn’t help but feel cold inside.
For a married couple to be in the same bed with different dreams, there was nothing more pitiful and sad than this.
In the house next door, Cheng Su and her husband were enjoying a springtime atmosphere; after a bout of affection, they were not yet sleepy and lay in bed talking, still embracing each other.
"She had to show off in front of me, mentioning your demerit. Isn’t that just to make me look bad? Tell me, why are people like this? Acting as if her man is so amazing, so worthy of showing off at my expense," Cheng Su said with disdain as she talked about Hualing’s behavior.
Qi Taiguo said, "That’s just the way she is. Why bother with her? Don’t be angry. The other day, I saw a book about health that said getting angry easily makes one look older."
"Oh, someone actually said that?" Cheng Su touched her face and said, "I’m not really angry with her, it’s just that I can’t stand her behavior. She comes over uninvited, always bringing up the most inconvenient topics. She can’t stand to see others doing well; she finds joy in other peoples’ misfortune. To put it plainly, she has a dark heart."
Qi Taiguo grunted in agreement.
"I think she must have a black witch living in her heart, the kind with a poisoned apple." Cheng Su added, and seeing that Qi Taiguo remained quiet, she turned to look, "Going to sleep?"
"Hmm, you talk, I’m listening," Qi Taiguo turned over, embracing her waist and caressing it.
"Let’s not talk about her anymore, it’s pointless. Talking about our family, we have a phone now; we should tell the folks back in the village. I also need to ask my older sister how she feels about coming here to work. Our shop is about to start up, and we’re recruiting people. It would be good for her to come earlier and get used to things," Cheng Su said.
"Sure thing, you should talk to your sister about it," Qi Taiguo’s hand reached her chest, "Do it again?"
Cheng Su pushed him away, "Stop it, we’re out of condoms!"
Qi Taiguo lifted his head, "Once or twice, we could go without. I always feel uncomfortable with those things on."
Cheng Su’s nose flared as she glared at him, "Go without, and what if I get pregnant?"
"Then we’d have the baby," Qi Taiguo stated matter-of-factly.
"Tsk, I knew it, that’s exactly what you were hoping for. Dream on!" Cheng Su turned her back to him and said, "I have my exams next June, I need to conserve my energy."
Qi Taiguo leaned in and said, "What if I pull out?"
Cheng Su couldn’t help but scream, "Who taught you that?"
What era was this, and he knew about that? Where had the old pure-hearted, bashful Commander Qi gone, and why had he become so vulgar?
Qi Taiguo simply said, "Does someone need to teach that? I hear that’s what they all do. Either they’re sterilized or they have an IUD inserted and they don’t usually use condoms. Those things are uncomfortable!"
Cheng Su pinched him hard, "It’s dangerous for a woman to get pregnant, and then she’d have to get an abortion at the hospital, which is the real discomfort. It’s not just uncomfortable; it’s life-threatening. Do you understand the value of a life? That method of pulling out is totally unsafe; don’t even dream about it, unless you want to ruin my health!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Taiguo immediately said, "Unsafe, huh? Then forget it, we won’t do it. Let’s sleep."
Cheng Su glared at him and sighed repeatedly in her heart; without having children, she didn’t know how long they could hold on like this!