Wei Kaiyun was getting more and more excited as he thought about how to decorate his daughter's room.
The first thing to do upon returning was to find someone to build a house, and the old house also needed a renovation.
In the afternoon, the three of them invited Wei Kaiyun to play cards, but he declined.
He's not here to entertain kids, and he didn't want to get too close to female comrades. His wife said if he didn't behave, nothing would have to do with him in the future.
Actually, the two girls and his wife are probably around the same age. Wei Kaiyun felt proud; his wife was so great that others couldn't even compete at all.
The day had reached the thirteenth, and Jiang Xinyu still felt spiritless. Bai Hongying saw that this couldn't go on.
"Xiao Jiang, today is a big market day at place S. Aren't you going to check it out?"
"Aunt Bai, is there anything missing at home?"
"Nothing's missing, but you always seem spiritless. How about taking Shi Jing out for a walk?"
"That's fine." Might as well go out and have a look. Since coming here, it's all about pregnancy and studies.
"Aunt Bai, give Feifei some formula. Otherwise, you'll still have to heat the milk for her."
Shang Zhenkun, of course, wanted to go along, but with only one bicycle, they had no choice but to walk.
"Xiao Jiang, you must know this is the emperor's tomb."
Jiang Xinyu nodded. She knew this.
"You could collect some old items here."
Jiang Xinyu also knew but never really had the chance to go out. Besides, she was a bit scared, worried it might be national relics, which would mean she'd be held accountable. So while tempted, she refrained.
"Master Shang, I'm afraid of causing trouble."
Shang Zhenkun gave her a side-eye, "What are you thinking? You can only collect some old folks' belongings."
"But if I see something really good and miss out, I'll regret it."
The market was quite bustling. Jiang Xinyu bought over ten catties of dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, the latter having a more intense flavor here.
From an old lady's stall, Jiang Xinyu bought many toys for Feifei.
Shang Zhenkun bought a head toy for Shi Jing, which seemed quite aged, and Jiang Xinyu understood Master Shang's intention.
So all morning, Jiang Xinyu bought a basket of odds and ends, purchasing anything with signs of age, yet without spending much.
The three returned home at 1 p.m., having eaten out.
Upon returning, Shang Zhenkun looked at the items Jiang Xinyu bought, shook his head but said nothing.
Jiang Xinyu maintained a good attitude, indifferent yet happy. This cheered her up considerably.
By the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, several people gathered to eat Tangyuan. Jiang Xinyu thought about Wei Kaiyun on the train, believing he definitely didn't have Tangyuan to eat.
But she was wrong; there was indeed Tangyuan available in the dining car. Wei Kaiyun spent one yuan on a bowl, just for the occasion.
As he ate, he thought of his wife and child at home.
Zhang Jianfeng and the two girls came over with their lunchboxes. He sat beside Wei Kaiyun, while the two girls sat opposite. In these five days, the two girls had grown curious about Wei Kaiyun.
Yet, he paid them no attention, always politely dismissing them. Actually, it's not only men who have that type of desire to conquer; women do too.
Wei Kaiyun was already attractive, and holding a position of power for some time, he possessed a sophistication absent in younger men.
The two girls tried various ways to engage him in conversation, but to little effect.
The three watched Wei Kaiyun eat Tangyuan, knowing he really wasn't short of money. He hadn't run out of meat these days, eating quite richly. There were even rich creamy pastries—just smelling them was tempting.
"Mr. Wei, is this all you're eating? Won't fill you up. I have a steamed bun here for you?" Xiao Chen smiled, handing over a bun.
"No, thank you." Wei Kaiyun didn't even raise his head, efficiently declining.
"Mr. Wei, a bowl of Tangyuan with just these few pieces, is it enough?" Zhang Jianfeng followed Xiao Chen's remarks.
"This much is fine for me." On the train with no exercise, should he eat more? What if he gets fat and his wife dislikes him?
After finishing his meal, he nodded to the three and left.
"Xiao Chen, this Wei Kaiyun is really too cold." Lantian whispered.
"Yeah, what does his wife look like? Mr. Wei is really good to her." Xiao Chen said enviously.
She looked at Zhang Jianfeng, "Can you get me Wei Kaiyun's mailing address?"
Zhang Jianfeng looked up at Xiao Chen, "He won't give it." Then he lowered his head to continue eating.
Zhang Jianfeng didn't lift his head, feeling dismissive inside, but he nodded nonetheless.
When the train parked at the station, Wei Kaiyun got off for a stroll, feeling that without moving, his legs were becoming stiff.
How did his wife manage this journey pregnant? Just thinking about it pained him. Being a strong man, he was uncomfortable enough, let alone back then when she worried about him, pregnant and in the middle of summer. How did she cope?
So when he returned to the cabin, he felt a bit down.
Zhang Jianfeng, eager to complete what Xiao Chen asked, said, "Mr. Wei, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Wei Kaiyun lay in his berth, not in the mood to read the newspaper. Suddenly, he sat up, opened his bag, pulled out a photo album, and flipped through it.
Seeing the smiling face of his wife, he couldn't help but smile.
His gaze paused on his wife's face, his smile growing unconsciously deeper.
Sitting across from him, Xiao Chen saw Wei Kaiyun , immediately stood up, and quickly stepped over to see the photos.
Wei Kaiyun closed the album, gave Xiao Chen a slight glance, laid back down on his berth, and turned to face the wall.
Though slightly embarrassed, Xiao Chen saw the person in the photos clearly—a regular girl with nothing remarkable, though the two seemed to be a couple, right?
So his wife looks ? Not much to speak of.
She returned to her bunk, saw Lantian staring at her in surprise, and the disapproving glance from Zhang Jianfeng in the upper bunk across. She just smiled.
She said nothing as she lay down. Originally meant to be on the upper bunk, she had swapped places with Lantian.
Facing inward, she felt a strong disdain for her two companions. Initially sent alone by her stepmother to the Northeast, she wasn't satisfied. She leveraged connections to have Li Lantian accompany her. Two girls wouldn't be safe, so she brought along the compliant Zhang Jianfeng as well. This way, she'd have company.
The two believed they had offended someone, and indeed they had, but it wasn't them.
Li Lantian had never disappointed her, truly her best shield. And that was enough.