The clothes are washed clean, shaken out, and directly hung outside, where the sporadic sound of firecrackers can already be heard.
The stove is blazing now, a clay pot is set on it to stew porridge.
Last night had exhausted his wife; she used to wake up at any noise.
The porridge is cooked, and two eggs are boiled. Then he finds some cabbage but doesn’t dare to stir-fry it with his skills.
He goes inside, looks at his wife sleeping sweetly, bends over, and gives her a deep kiss.
Jiang Xinyu opens her eyes confused, Wei Kaiyun sees her expression and almost transforms into a wolf, but he holds back.
"Darling, get up and eat. I made rice porridge and boiled eggs, but didn’t stir-fry any dishes."
Jiang Xinyu immediately widens her eyes, "You didn’t put the eggs in the porridge pot to cook them, did you?"
"No, no, I boiled them separately."
Jiang Xinyu’s expression finally relaxes. She hates it when eggs are cooked in porridge; when she was a child, her grandmother did that, and she was too small to refuse, but didn’t have to eat it.
Wei Kaiyun sees his wife’s reaction and shakes his head helplessly.
"Go cut a piece of braised pork liver, and a pig’s hoof, and some sausages."
"Alright, I’ll go prepare it right now." He knows his wife is embarrassed to dress in front of him, so he leaves the room with a smile.
Jiang Xinyu struggles to sit up, feeling sore all over, like her bones are rusted.
She dresses and then folds the quilt. The mattress cover is still the same, making Jiang Xinyu blush. She has no choice but to tear it off, pull a clean one from her space, and sew it in ten minutes.
Wei Kaiyun comes in and sees his wife’s actions, and the sheet beside her, smiling triumphantly.
Jiang Xinyu doesn’t bother looking at him. Wei Kaiyun sets the table, brings the bowl and chopsticks, along with the dishes. This life is truly luxurious.
Wei Kaiyun serves Jiang Xinyu throughout, peeling the eggs and putting them in her bowl, "Darling, eat more. Pork liver is good for replenishing blood, and pig’s hoof too."
"Eat yourself, I’ll pick what I want to eat."
After breakfast, Wei Kaiyun cleans the table and then goes to wash the sheets.
Today is the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, but Jiang Xinyu has prepared everything, so they don’t need to go out.
"Is this your letter?"
"Yes, from my people. I have to know what’s happening here since I’m leaving. You read it first; I’m going to tend to the stove."
Jiang Xinyu doesn’t hesitate and tears it open.
The contents of the letter leave Jiang Xinyu with her mouth agape.
"Wei Kaiyun, Wei Kaiyun, come in quickly!"
"Look for yourself, why are there always such scandalous affairs? First Yuan Xinyun and Tong Mingzhu, then Kong Mengjie and Huang Hongwei, and now there’s another one with Tian Mingyan and what’s his name?"
"That’s a good name; actions can be false."
"Haha, indeed. But what is Tian Mingyan thinking?"
"Why? Does Jia Xingzhi have issues?"
"Is being married considered a problem?"
"That’s a major problem."
They put the matter aside, and Jiang Xinyu thinks her situation with Wei Kaiyun might as well be a scandalous affair.
"Darling, stop reading books. It’s the 29th of the twelfth lunar month today, why don’t you stay with me?"
"Wei Kaiyun, will you go again after New Year’s?"
"Yes, I’ll go until things are completed there, since I also have to handle the installation and trial run of the unit."
"So you won’t be done in a year or two?"
"A year should suffice."
"Oh, then will you stay there?"
"Not sure, I’ll listen to arrangements from above.
Darling, if I really end up staying there, will you come too?"
Wei Kaiyun hugs Jiang Xinyu happily and laughs, "Darling, shall we get our marriage certificate?"
"We need an introduction letter to get a certificate, right?"
"You’re the office director, the official stamp is with you, isn’t it at your discretion?"
"Is it really possible?"
"Of course, it’s possible."
"Can we get the certificate anywhere?"
"My household registration is in the Capital, either we go there or do it in T City."
"Oh, then you find time to come see me."
Wei Kaiyun gave her a loving kiss, "Sure, I’ll try to make time to come."
At noon, they feast on fish and meat, and there are four types of cold dishes, it’s particularly sumptuous.
Wei Kaiyun handles all household chores except stir-frying, everything else is done by him.
"Let me do it; you’ve been working hard for so long. Doing some chores is nothing."
"Darling, as long as I’m here, you can live a life where you don’t need to lift a finger."
Since Jiang Xinyu recovered, she hasn’t been eating dry or greasy food at night, but she’s concerned about Wei Kaiyun, so she makes wontons for dinner specifically for him. She adds noodles to the wonton soup.
At night, it’s a feast for Wei Kaiyun, naturally also for Jia Xingzhi.
Though he looks down on Tian Mingyan, having a woman who is well-built, well-paid, and good-looking with him in bed is still satisfying.
But due to his disdain, he’s rough in his actions, causing Tian Mingyan to suffer.
"Yan, you’re so great. I couldn’t control myself; sorry, next time I’ll restrain myself."
In front of Jia Xingzhi, Tian Mingyan completely becomes a little woman. She believes this shows Jia Xingzhi’s love and satisfaction with her, so she comforts him instead.
This only makes Jia Xingzhi act more aggressively and indulgently, experiencing on Tian Mingyan what he didn’t dare to try with his ex-wife.
The next morning is the same as yesterday; both of them are late again.
Tian Mingyan realizes this can’t go on, but she can’t refuse Jia Xingzhi.
"Yan, it’s New Year’s Eve. How about I go to work and you rest at home?"
Tian Mingyan struggles to sit up. Jia Xingzhi sees the bruises all over her and feels incredibly proud.
"No, I must work. I’m okay, it’s not a problem."
Jia Xingzhi approaches again, but he knows it’s really not suitable now; tomorrow is New Year’s Day, she has a two-day holiday, and he also has time off, so they can be reckless.
The guard sees Tian Mingyan’s unusual walking gesture and becomes even more gossipy.
Jia Xingzhi is now flourishing, having long set his sights on Tian Mingyan, carefully observing her for a long time before gambling on a divorce from his wife.
Unexpectedly, this woman was so easy to handle, rendering all his preparations useless.
He knows Tian Mingyan can’t leave him, satisfying his vanity in an unprecedented way.
At lunch, his friends joke with him, "Old Jia, what’s the good thing you encountered? Isn’t this because of some romantic encounter? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be late for work every morning continuously."
Jia Xingzhi just smiles, neither admitting nor denying, but with a proud expression.
Tian Mingyan eats the food the secretary brought, feeling particularly exhausted. After eating, she sleeps in the back lounge until after three in the afternoon.