Chapter 203: Trivial Matters
“Hide the things first. Besides Maternal Uncle Yan’s two crates here, don’t even think about those in Jiaming’s Treasure Mountain Cave.”
Fu Rong said it lightly, as if he wasn’t talking about enviable gold, silver, and jewels but a pile of worthless cabbages, with a face full of matter-of-factness.
These words also made the other two nod in agreement.
Scratching the back of his head, Fu Jiaming didn’t believe deep down that Su Ning and Maternal Uncle would agree and accept it, but he didn’t voice any opposition.
Otherwise, if they thought he was coveting those things and unwilling to be a proper person, the old man would probably start beating him right away with his body that couldn’t walk far anyway.
“As for these, give them all to Shuang Shuang as betrothal gifts for when you two get married later.”
“That won’t do. Big Brother hasn’t gotten married yet either, and there are also the jewelry I specially picked out for Mom inside.”
Fu Jiatan chuckled softly, feeling very comforted in his heart at the sight of his younger brother in such a hurry.
But moved as he was, their family’s tradition couldn’t be broken—earn your own wife’s dowry yourself; handle as much as your abilities allow.
Moreover, when leaving Shanghai City, the marriage with Ren Xuan had already been called off properly. All the betrothal gifts from back then had been returned entirely, even the used ones that couldn’t be returned had been compensated in cash without any loss. He really didn’t lack a wife’s dowry.
But knowing his younger brother’s temperament, when anxious, he could turn into a little stubborn ox in seconds.
“Then I have to thank our Jiaming on behalf of your future big sister-in-law, but two or three pieces will do.”
“How can this…”
“Alright, then Mom accepts your filial piety too. Two or three pieces are very nice.”
……
Su Ning, who was already in her own backyard watering the vegetable patch, heard the faint sounds of laughter and annoyance coming from Fu Family. She didn’t need to look to know who was laughing and who was annoyed; a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
The vegetable patch that Aunt Gao Fen had planted back then was growing well, all cold-resistant cabbages, radishes, and such. Southern winter days wouldn’t have the heavy snow of the north, so no worry about them freezing and having no vegetables to eat.
After watering, she pulled up two more radishes, then got up and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
The sky had just darkened when Yan Bei arrived right on time, his long legs striding into the steamy kitchen.
“Ning Ning, I’m here.”
“You’re back.”
Their conversation carried the flavor of an old married couple, and with perfect tacit understanding, they looked up and couldn’t help but smile at each other.
Ever since confirming their relationship, Yan Bei would finish making dinner for his grandparents every day and then come to keep her company, actively fulfilling his duties as her partner, never missing a day.
All because of her one sentence: companionship is the longest confession of love.
“Does Grandpa Yan and them still have enough grain?”
“The brigade’s allotment plus what you gave last time is enough. I’ve quietly opened up a vegetable patch in the small mountain hollow behind the house. Once the seedlings sprout, we won’t lack vegetables after spring either.”
Chatting about these daily trifles, though the topics were mundane, the feeling was very warm.
After dinner, as usual, he accompanied her walking around the courtyard to aid digestion, then either went to the study room to read or to the pharmacy to fiddle with herbs.
Both of them really liked enjoying this free and leisurely way of being together.
……
Days passed like a white steed flashing by; in the blink of an eye, it was already the twelfth lunar month.
During this time, letters from various places continued to arrive one after another.
Among them, little Ying Ying naturally took the lead, with Grandpa Fu coming in second.
Through their letters, she not only learned that the sister and brother who had originally planned to sneak over with Tingzi to find her had been caught red-handed.
She also learned that the two of them were now enduring daily brutal physical punishment and disciplinary education under martial suppression.
Her younger brother far away in Jilin Province sent good news, saying that before the New Year, Jiang Xiaojun and his siblings would accompany him to Xiangnan to spend a lively New Year with her.
As for Shanghai City, the three Xiao Qiao brothers were doing really well at their jobs, exceeding their targets every month.
Besides work matters, they would also occasionally write about their current living situations, with satisfaction evident between the lines, along with gratitude to her for giving them these good days.
And Zhang Qi, who had originally planned for late October but kept delaying, had finally finished all his hand matters and successfully gotten a super long vacation, and accurate news of his arrival had come.
He said they had already started preparing to bring Godfather, Godmother, and Xiao Qiu to Xiangnan.
Calculating the time, they would arrive at dawn tomorrow morning.
So that day, after Su Ning arranged her hand matters, she took a car back to the city.
The small courtyard was well taken care of by Sister-in-law Tian. Except for the withered biannual flowers on the yard wall, nothing else had changed.
Casually strolling around the home she hadn’t returned to for a while, Su Ning went to the bedroom to prepare to take out the thick quilt stored in the cabinet and lay it out.
Of course, she also needed to fix up Little Round Circle’s dog bed.
“Woof~”
Someone’s here?
Hearing Little Round Circle’s bark, she stopped what she was doing and quickly walked out the room door. Sure enough, she heard a knock at the main gate.
When she opened it, she saw Zhang Ze with a face full of smiles.
“Brother Zhang? Didn’t Sister-in-law say you went out driving?”
“Hahaha, isn’t this just perfect timing? This trip wasn’t far, I just got back today. After handing over the truck and getting home, I heard from your sister-in-law that you were back!”
Hearing this, he hadn’t even had time to change clothes before rushing over hurriedly.
Looking at that smiling face like a flower in bloom, Zhang Ze’s smile deepened a bit more, but suddenly thinking of something, he restrained it somewhat.
“Ning Ning, the things you asked me to bring last time have been given to Xiao Qiao. They asked me to bring back some things for you—should I deliver them now, or wait until tomorrow when I’m off and take them to Team One for you?”
“Same as the last two times, wait until Brother Zhang has time to bring them to the village for me. I need to stay in the city for several days this time.”
“Sure, come over to our house for dinner after you’re done inside. The two old folks are waiting for you!”
“Good, then Brother Zhang, you go back first. I’ll lay out the quilt and such and come right over.”
After seeing off Zhang Ze and locking the main gate, Su Ning, in a good mood, jogged back inside and sped up her actions.
When she arrived at the courtyard with gifts, the meal was all ready and just being served on the table. The two anxious old folks, upon seeing her, each grabbed one of her hands from either side and held on for a good long while, reluctant to let go.
……
After dinner, she properly accompanied them chatting for a while. It was getting too late, so the worried Zhang Ze sent her back to the small courtyard gate.
But he didn’t hurry to leave; instead, he accompanied her into the courtyard.
As a reconnaissance soldier, his observation skills went without saying. Before dinner, Zhang Ze had already noticed that something was off with her.
Taking advantage of no one being around here, of course he had to ask clearly. The distance was a drawback; he couldn’t learn about her situation in time.
“Ning Ning, are you hiding something from me?”
She had glimpsed something bad through Grandma Zhang’s hand, but since it hadn’t happened yet, Su Ning couldn’t show any signs of foreknowledge.
She could only hesitate slightly and shake her head. Seeing he still wanted to say something, she spoke up to explain, “I’m just worried about things after Zhang Family comes.”
“Just this? No fooling me?”
“Brother Zhang, what are you thinking? It’s really just this.”
“Alright, is it Xiao Qiu’s maternal family? The Zhang Family that you said you recognized as godparents?”
“Mm.”
He naturally knew about Zhang Qin’s matter and had helped investigate afterward, so seeing her affirm it, thinking of this troublesome matter, Zhang Ze put aside other thoughts and stopped overthinking.
Separated from flesh and blood for many years, reuniting only to be separated by yin and yang—whoever it was couldn’t get past it.
But Zhang Qin’s matter was indeed somewhat complicated. If not handled well, it could easily invite trouble.
“Wait until they arrive and talk it over clearly, then see what their plans are. Ning Ning, if you want to help with this, it’s best to notify Luo Family in advance too.”
Not using such a great ready-made backer would be foolish.
“I’ll go there once I have time tomorrow.”
Since he’d figured out what he wanted to know, Zhang Ze no longer lingered, talking as he walked out.
“Ning Ning, I’ll be off these next couple days. If anything comes up, definitely come call me. Don’t do anything dangerous or uncertain on your own.”
“I know, Brother Zhang, rest assured.”
“As long as you have it in mind, then rest early. Aren’t you going to the train station to pick people up at dawn? I’ll come with you later.”
“Good.”
After days on the road, he definitely hadn’t rested well, but letting her go alone so late to the train station full of all sorts of people definitely made him uneasy.
Knowing she couldn’t dissuade him, Su Ning obediently nodded in agreement. After picking up the people then, she could have him go back and get a good sleep.
Seeing him out the gate, bolting and locking it, she took the wagging-tailed Little Round Circle to wash up and went to bed early.
Lying in bed, as expected, she tossed and turned sleeplessly, her mind full of those just-seen future visions.
After a long, long time, in the pitch-black night where she couldn’t see her hand, a sigh sounded.
