Marriage is seriously exhausting.
During the day I have to manage the housework, and at night I have to attend to my husband.
Minmin half-heard the roosters crowing outside, feeling a hundred thousand times unwilling to get up.
Yet, there was a force within her compelling her to rise.
With her eyes still closed, she reached out for her clothes beside her.
After "that business," both tired and sleepy, who would bother tidying up their clothes?
Then, unexpectedly, her hand touched something warm, firm, and smooth.
Before she could retreat, the owner of that hand pressed her down.
Shen Yiguang turned his head, a smile playing across his brows, his voice still a bit husky, "Awake?"
Minmin pulled up the blanket a bit, hummed affirmatively, but her eyes remained shut, still trapped between dreams and reality.
Shen Yiguang looked at her amused, reminded of that time in his car when she had that same dazed, pre-wake-up expression.
He pinched her nose gently, "Wifey?"
Minmin swatted his hand away, "Stop it, I’ll get up soon..." she muttered and then turned over, her back to him.
Shen Yiguang’s gaze drifted lower, under the gradually brightening sky, her pale skin gleamed.
Minmin felt the unstinting attention from the man behind her.
Her drowsiness considerably reduced.
With a lingering trepidation, she sat up.
"No thanks, my parents are probably up by now, I’ll go boil some water."
Minmin didn’t dare dilly-dally, she quickly got ready.
When she left the room, she shivered.
Shen Yiguang followed her out, draping a scarf around her neck, "How can you not wear a scarf in the morning?"
Minmin took his meticulously wrapped scarf, unwound it, and tied it into a stylish shape, asking, "Why are you up too?"
Shen Yiguang watched her movements, shaking his head with a smile at her vanity.
"I’m used to it, I’ll go clean the yard, just call me if you need anything."
Minmin’s lips curled slightly, she sneakily glanced at him and asked, "Shen Yiguang, are you really worried about me? About handling the chores?"
"I’m worried about everything, it’s just there’s a lot to do at home, the folks are getting older, so I can only trouble you. I spoke with Yiyue and Yixiang yesterday, they’ll help you out from now on too." Ever since he found out that Yixiang was instigating the kids, he realized that his sister had too much free time.
Minmin looked up at him with sparkling eyes, then tiptoed quickly to kiss him on the lips, tilting her chin up, "That’s your reward!"
Shen Yiguang wrapped his arms around her, his gaze deepening, "What’s given shall be returned."
As Minmin caught Chen Guizhi coming out of the main house from the corner of her eye, she quickly pushed him away, "Mom’s coming out."
Shen Yiguang sighed regretfully, following behind her.
Minmin briskly approached Chen Guizhi and cheerfully called, "Good morning, Mom. Why are you up so early?"
Chen Guizhi watched her with a cheerful smile, "My daughter-in-law is up early, too. I’m getting older and sleep less."
"It’s really cold now, mom, you shouldn’t come out. I’ve boiled the water, I’ll bring it inside for you."
"It’s okay, I just came out to take a look."
Seeing her determination, Yang Peimin gave up, waiting for her to boil the water. When she had filled the basin and was carrying it out,
She saw Chen Guizhi mixing chicken feed to feed the livestock.
She called out, "Mom."
Chen Guizhi smiled a bit guiltily at her, "It’s okay, I saw you were still busy, and the livestock were hungry, so I fed them some..."
"Then come and wash your face after you’re done," said Yang Peimin, helplessly.
Chen Guizhi was quick with her tasks, and soon followed her into the house, "From now on, let me handle the water; these little things I can still manage..."
"Were you very tired yesterday?" Her gaze towards Yang Peimin was affectionate, the girl before her not much older than her own youngest daughter, her face still carrying traces of youthfulness; one might believe she was only sixteen.
Although her own son was excellent in many ways, other people’s daughters were just as precious in their parents’ eyes. She could tell this girl wasn’t skilled in housework, but what mattered was her sincere heart—looking after her by bringing her wash water.
Yang Peimin nodded, "I was a bit tired, but everyone goes through this, and I’m still not as good as others."
Chen Guizhi quickly reassured her, "You’re doing very well, and for the things you can’t do, just take it slow and ask me if there’s anything you don’t know."
"Okay, mom. I actually wanted to ask you about feeding the livestock, I really don’t know how to do it," Yang Peimin said.
Chen Guizhi was even more delighted, "That’s nothing difficult..."
After breakfast, with nothing pressing to do, Chen Guizhi discussed with her daughter-in-law about the etiquette of the visit home the next day.
"Two roosters, two pounds of pork, two packs of cigarettes, two bottles of wine, two pounds of pastries... What do you think of these?"
"Mom, I’m young and don’t understand these things, you decide," Yang Peimin knew it was a generous gift for visiting home.
"Let Yiguang have a look too, to see if anything is missing."
Yang Peimin nodded, acknowledging that Shen Yiguang really had a knack for these social interactions.
After Shen Yiguang had looked it over, he added two pounds of tangerines.
Yang Peimin couldn’t help but ask, "Where did the tangerines come from?"
Knowing that these fruits were not grown locally,
Shen Yiguang laughed, "A comrade sent them over, there are plenty where he is, and they keep well. I’ll go to the post office later to collect them."
Shen Yidong chimed in upon hearing this, "This is a rare treat. I had some the year Xiao Fen was born, it’s been many years since I tasted them last, and your brother-in-law loves them, too."
"Take a few back when you go, sister. When are you leaving?"
Shen Yidong laughed lightly, touching her hair, "In a few days, there’s nothing pressing at home right now."
"Okay, I’ll take you back before I return to the unit. It’s safer for you not to take other transport given your condition, and I’m sure your husband is missing you," Shen Yiguang said.
Shen Yidong chuckled and moved a bit away from him, "We’ll see, mom surely can’t bear to part with her youngest daughter."
Yang Peimin, sitting next to Shen Yiguang, couldn’t help but want to smile.
Shen Yiguang lowered his head, glancing at her with a smile in his eyes.
Chen Guizhi, unaware of the banter between the siblings, heard the word "military" and her facial expression darkened slightly; she couldn’t help but mutter, "Looking at the time, it won’t be long before you have to return to the unit."
Yang Peimin also looked up at him.
"Mom, brother has a heavy burden to bear, we all have to be understanding," Shen Yixiang glanced at Yang Peimin, "At least, with the sister-in-law here, it won’t feel too lonely."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yidong perked up again, "Exactly, who knows, mom might be holding a grandchild soon."
Chen Guizhi glanced at Yang Peimin, wanting to say something but hesitated.
It was Yang Erniu who voiced her concern, "Can your position qualify for spouse accompaniment in the army?"
"Yes," Shen Yiguang glanced at Yang Peimin, "I’ll have to submit a request at the unit, it won’t happen right away. The new family quarters are still under construction..."