"Back in our day, how early did we get married? Girls started meeting potential husbands when they were as young as sixteen or seventeen, and they were nearly all married and mothers by the time they were eighteen or nineteen. Unlike now, where they encourage freedom in love and late marriages. Actually, there’s nothing wrong with marrying early. The children of poor families had to take responsibility from a young age anyhow. Marrying early, having children, securing your life and carrying on - what’s wrong with that? The older you get, the more ’wild’ your heart becomes. If you delay marriage too long, who knows where your heart might wander?" After saying this, the uncle chuckled and turned to look at He Zhilan and He Teng. "Nowadays, there are less and less people like you two. Girls, don’t think that delaying marriage will give you more time to find better options. Actually, many people don’t realize that the good ones have already been taken. Where can you find the luxury of slowly choosing?"
Perhaps it is a trait of the elderly, the nursing uncle chatted non-stop, carrying the air of ’someone who’s been there’ as he gave advice to He Teng and He Zhilan. He mostly told them how a married couple should get along. Much like He’s father, he advised He Teng to be more tolerant towards his wife Zhilan. A big man like him should not be too nitpicky with a woman.
Since it was the weekend, the nursing uncle left after delivering He Teng back to his hospital room. As He Teng’s complexion improved, He Zhilan’s mood also gradually brightened. It seemed like a ray of sunlight had finally pierced her gloomy sky.
"Zhilan, come sit here. I have something to discuss with you." After He Teng settled back into his hospital bed, he saw Zhilan getting ready to fetch water for his face wash, so he called her and gestured for her to sit by his bedside.
During this time, He Zhilan had truly surprised He Teng. He had originally presumed that someone who’d been pampered since childhood would have no clue how to take care of others. However, the reality was totally the opposite.
He Zhilan was extremely meticulous in her care. When He Teng was immobile, her notebook was filled with tips on how to look after him. As he started to regain mobility and appetite, her notebook began listing foods he could and couldn’t eat. That small notebook was filled with densely packed information.
Just awhile ago, after a brief sunbath, they had just returned to his hospital room when Zhilan hurried to fetch water for him to wash his face and wipe his body, worried that any sweat bacteria might infect his wounds.
As a really tough guy, how could He Teng admit he had been so vulnerable?
Over there, He Zhilan responded with an ’oh’ before she came out carrying a small washbasin. She put the basin on a wooden chair and took a seat at the edge of the bed. While wringing out a towel, she cast an inquiring look at He Teng, wondering what he wanted to discuss.
He Teng had been ready to talk, but the sight of He Zhilan’s earnest eyes made him swallow his words.
He Teng awkwardly touched his nose tip with his hand, his gaze, however, still on He Zhilan’s face.
At this point, He Zhilan had already withdrawn her gaze. She was concentrating on wringing out the towel; probably worried about splashing, her movements were extra gentle.
At this time of the evening, the temperature had dropped. He Zhilan had already changed into her autumn clothing, simple long pants and a long top, which accentuated the fairness of her face. Her dark hair, as black as ink, draped over her shoulders, slowly falling onto her chest with her slight movements, covering half her face. Her clear, black eyes were as serene as a pool of spring water. Just one inadvertent glance, with laughter in her eyes and brows, left He Teng utterly spellbound.