TPW – Chapter 17 She Was Kissing Him (Combined for Three Updates) (1)

Qiao Guobin was momentarily stunned; his face remained calm, but inside, waves were crashing.

He pondered for a long time, and after a while, he ended up speaking on Xu Haizhou’s behalf.

“Qiaoli, then… let’s just listen to Haizhou. The money goes to Mom.”

He had finally understood: from now on, if he wanted Xu Haizhou to do anything for him, he’d have to take good care of the elderly couple of the Qiao family first. They both knew well which was more important.

Niu Qiaoli suppressed her displeasure and smiled obsequiously: “I was just worried Mom would be too tired going back and forth, and honestly, doing everything herself is exhausting for me too. So let’s give the money to Mom. I can rest a bit as well.”

After saying this, she pulled out a stack of bills from her pocket and handed them to Lu Xiuhua: “Mom, this is the leftover money from our family this month. It’s all for you.”

The moment the money reached Lu Xiuhua’s hands, it felt like a knife stabbing her heart.

Lu Xiuhua hurriedly took it, her hands trembling.

Niu Qiaoli wasn’t stupid and naturally caught the undertone in Xu Haizhou’s words. Although she thought those two old folks didn’t need so much money and food, since Xu Haizhou was so capable, she would definitely have to ask him for favors in the future, right?

To ask for favors meant showing proper attitude and completing the “tasks” assigned.

Suppressing her frustration, she pinched her thigh and didn’t forget to remind him of the most important thing: “We’re family from now on, Haizhou. Our two families should interact more often, don’t be strangers!”

Xu Haizhou smiled but said nothing.

Putting a warm face to a cold backside, Niu Qiaoli felt quite uncomfortable inside.

But thinking about Xu Haizhou’s connections… that guy was so impressive. A bit of arrogance was reasonable, wasn’t it?

Well, from now on, she’d have to treat those two old folks like ancestors!

After dinner, Niu Qiaoli volunteered to wash the dishes, while Qiao Lu pulled Xu Haizhou aside.

“Hey, what if she really brings relatives and friends to the city to visit us?”

Xu Haizhou smiled confidently: “Don’t worry, she won’t get the better of us.”

With that, Qiao Lu relaxed and gave him a thumbs-up: “Then I’m counting on you.”

Before the family of three left, Lu Xiuhua’s eyes were red and tears wouldn’t stop flowing.

Thinking about everything her two daughters had done for her, her heart felt like it was being slowly and painfully cut by a dull knife…

“Once you get to the city, live well with Haizhou, raise my good grandson well. I don’t have many wishes in this life. As long as you and your second sister are safe and healthy, I’ll be satisfied.”

“Also,” Lu Xiuhua wiped her tears, “when you go back, see your second sister, and remember to tell her that your parents always care about her, and to tell her not to… not to overthink things…”

Qiao Lu nodded with complicated feelings: “Okay, I will.”

Regarding the conflict between the second sister and the parents, the original self had seen it all since childhood. The parents and elder brother’s favoritism made Qiao Yan hate every member of the Qiao family. Although Qiao Lu was the exception, she hadn’t escaped being disliked by her.

But who she hated most were the parents.

Qiao Yan’s college entrance exams were also to prove herself in front of her parents, to show how wrong their judgments were.

The beloved eldest son only graduated elementary school, doomed to be a rural farmer for life; the beloved youngest daughter was always on the road to self-destruction.

Only she was the most successful and sensible one. But why? Why was she the most ignored one… How could she accept that? How…

Usually quiet and reserved, Qiao Yuefu was surprisingly emotional, his voice hoarse: “Go with peace of mind. Your mom has me to take care of her. Live well with Haizhou. Don’t worry about things at home…”

“All right, you two take care of yourselves. If you have any difficulties, come to the city anytime to find me and second sister.” Then she looked at the belated Niu Qiaoli: “Sister-in-law, take good care of Mom and Dad.”

Niu Qiaoli had just finished washing the dishes and was wiping her hands on her apron, smiling awkwardly: “Ah! Okay, okay, don’t worry! I’ll take good care of Mom and Dad. Go with peace of mind! Your brother and I are here at home!”

Most importantly, whenever there are benefits in the future, remember your own family!

Qiao Lu gave a perfunctory smile, not reaching her eyes, but at least half the weight in her heart had finally lifted.

The last patch of dim clouds gathered at the edge of the sky. Alongside the sorrow of parting was a sliver of hopeful anticipation.

Though the past was too painful to revisit, the future that belonged to her and Xu Haizhou would be beautiful.

The sun was setting, and dusk gradually faded. A breeze blew, lifting the hems of their clothes and brushing against the skin with a slight chill.

Xu Haizhou held Qiao An’s hand with one hand, and with the other, he clasped Qiao Lu’s cold fingers, gently rubbing them — as if to comfort her, as if to warm her.

They were truly saying goodbye to the past.

“Qiao Lu, I’ll make you happy.”

Qiao Lu, through tears, burst into a laugh and lightly hit him. “What’s with the sudden sentimentality?”

It only made her want to cry more.

But he smiled and said, “It’s a promise.”

A vow as well.

Qiao Lu clutched the introduction letter and household registration booklet tightly in her arms and turned to leave.

From this moment on, they were truly husband and wife.

Everything had finally settled — their life together was just beginning.

The next day, the weather was clear with endless blue skies. As soon as the Civil Affairs Bureau opened its doors, they were the first couple to receive their marriage certificate. After that, they hurried to move their things.

The courtyard Xu Haizhou lived in wasn’t originally a crowded compound. Before the liberation, it had been a wealthy family’s large residence. After going through a special period, the mansion was split into a compound, where one original household had been divided into eight, now shared by over a dozen people. Generally, each household had one room. Old locals like Sister Liu had two. Xu Haizhou’s family also had two — each room about twelve to thirteen square meters.

The courtyard was paved with blue stone bricks, but due to age and various other factors, there were often loose stones. On rainy days, you had to tread carefully, or you’d splash mud all over your legs.

Xu Haizhou borrowed a tricycle to help move his wife and son. When the tricycle stopped at the courtyard gate, curious neighbors enthusiastically came out to help, their eyes scanning the mother and child like searchlights.

“Has the iron tree really blossomed?” There hadn’t been any signs at all — they went to bed, and the next day they heard Xu Haizhou was getting married! And to a widow with a child!

Liu Xiaohong proudly said, “Of course! The man’s already twenty-five. If not now, then when?”

“Tut tut, is it really Qiao Yan’s younger sister — the one with the kid?”

Liu Xiaohong: “Exactly!”

“What! A first marriage with a second? Haizhou agreed to that?”

Liu Xiaohong gave her a sideways glance: “If he didn’t agree, could they still get married? Listen to yourself. Qiao Lu is such a good woman — what’s wrong with her being paired with Haizhou? What era are we living in now? Haven’t you heard on the radio? Even the news is promoting free love among young people these days — who still cares whether it’s a first or second marriage?”

In this compound, Sister Liu was practically an unchallengeable presence. She was senior in age and a martyr’s family member. She helped everyone in need and was highly respected by the neighbors.

If anyone said Qiao Lu wasn’t a good match for Xu Haizhou, weren’t they just criticizing Sister Liu’s matchmaking?

A few of her old pals immediately chimed in, “They’re perfect together — talented man, beautiful woman. A perfect match!”

“Exactly!” The woman who had spoken out of turn quickly added, “That’s true — you’re absolutely right!”

Xu Haizhou’s home was a bit more spacious than Sister Liu’s — a two-room setup, clean and neatly organized. The house was a bit old. The ceiling was mottled and cracked, and a bare lightbulb hung from a floral-patterned cord in the center of the room. It was low wattage and didn’t give off much light.

The entry room was the dining area. There was a wooden table with chairs and a dish cabinet. The furniture was old and of unclear wood type, but in this era, it counted as decent belongings.

Next to the main room was the bedroom. The window facing the courtyard had newspaper pasted on the inside, already yellowed, hinting at Xu Haizhou’s strong sense of privacy.

Below the window was a bed, not too big or small, about 1.5 meters wide. In the corner opposite the bed stood a tall double-door wardrobe with a mirror. The mirror was inside the door panel — invisible unless the wardrobe was opened.

Halfway through the move, Xu Haizhou brought over two chairs for Qiao Lu. “Take a break, have some water. I’ll handle the rest.”

Besides Qiao Lu’s luggage, there were also things they had bought from the department store and market earlier that morning — from something as small as a soy sauce bottle to something as large as a vanity. There weren’t too many items, but after just this one trip, she was already sweating from exertion.

Qiao Lu stopped to rest for a bit. The little one was toddling along behind the neighbors, huffing and puffing as he carried a small vase with winter sweet blossoms into the room. His steps were light and cheerful, and he looked delighted.

“Flowers! Smell good.”

“An’an, come rest a bit,” Qiao Lu called out. The little guy put down the vase and charged into his mom’s arms like a cannonball.

“Mama, smells good~”

Qiao Lu kissed his cool little cheek — white and soft like tofu.

“Do the flowers smell good, or does my little boy smell better?”

Little Qiao An bit his lip, then laughed aloud: “Flowers smell good. An’an smells good too!”

The little one was a bit sad about moving today. He tugged pitifully at Qiao Yan’s hem, asking if he’d never see Aunty again. But once he heard the two homes were close by, he immediately perked up, beaming as he hopped onto the tricycle to say goodbye to his second aunt.

His quick change of mood made the adults laugh nonstop, and it was the first time Qiao Lu realized her son might have a knack for comedy.

Watching the mother and son interact, Xu Haizhou felt his heart melt into a puddle.

Smiling, he undid a button and rolled up his sleeves to cool off, revealing two strong, muscular forearms as he got ready to continue moving.

Qiao Lu stopped him. “Take a break. After that help me hand out the wedding candy to the neighbors first.”

“Alright.”

The two of them grabbed the candy they had just bought—sour plum, peanut, and fruit flavors—all mixed together. Everyone would grab a handful and get whatever they got; it was all down to luck.

It was only 7 a.m., so most neighbors were still home, getting ready to eat breakfast before heading to work. When they saw wedding candy being handed out, they excitedly gathered around Xu Haizhou’s place to offer congratulations and cheerful greetings for the newlyweds. They also asked about Qiao Lu and praised little Qiao An for being so sweet and lovable.

The young couple thanked everyone warmly. When they reached Sister Liu’s family, they gave out an extra handful. Finally, they arrived in front of Sister Liu’s mother-in-law.

“Come on, An’an, grab a handful of candy for Grandma Feng.”

The little guy grabbed a big handful with all his might and held it out with both hands. “Grandma.”

Granny Feng took it with trembling hands, smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum. “What a sweet little grandson!”

Qiao Lu praised him too. “Good job, baby.”

The praise made the boy’s face flush red, and like an ostrich, he buried his head into his mother’s neck.

Qiao Lu unwrapped a candy. “Here, a peanut candy as a reward for our good boy. Ah—open wide.”

The little one obediently opened his mouth and took the candy. It was sweet and fragrant. His long, delicate lashes fluttered with each chew. Such a soft, adorable little dumpling—who wouldn’t want to give him a squeeze?

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before a few young women nearby burst out in delight.

“Your kid is so well-behaved! And so pretty.”

“His skin is amazing—so soft and tender!”

“Can I touch him?”

All the compliments made little Qiao An’s face turn red like an apple.

The courtyard was divided into two sections: an outer yard with six households and an inner yard—where Xu Haizhou’s home was—with five.

Across from them was Sister Liu’s family. Next door were the Hu, Chen, and Tian families. Qiao Lu wasn’t very familiar with them and had trouble telling people apart, so Xu Haizhou helped introduce everyone one by one.

After receiving his candy, Tian Jianzhong, the eldest son of the Tian family, asked in surprise, “You got married?”

Tian Jianzhong was the son of old carpenter Tian Yongkui and about the same age as Sister Liu’s son. But unlike Sister Liu’s boy who was still in high school, Tian Jianzhong had finished middle school and gone straight to work as an apprentice at a rosewood factory. After two years, he had just become a full employee this year. Young and with a stable job, he was considered one of the courtyard’s most eligible bachelors.

“Yep, this is my wife,” Xu Haizhou finally got to introduce Qiao Lu proudly.

Tian Jianzhong looked Qiao Lu up and down carefully. He’d heard she was Qiao Yan’s younger sister—no wonder she looked a bit familiar. The two sisters didn’t resemble each other much, though. You wouldn’t really see the connection unless you looked closely. They both had big almond eyes, but Qiao Lu was clearly more beautiful.

“You’re not…” Tian Jianzhong almost blurted out “a widow” but quickly changed it to, “You have a child?”

Qiao Lu smiled. “Yes.”

His mother, Xie Xia, saw that he was about to make things awkward and smacked him on the back. “What’s wrong with you? Just because a woman’s husband dies doesn’t mean she can’t marry again!”

From over by Aunt Chen’s place, her second daughter, Chen Simei, was holding candy and asked, “Aunt Tian, whose husband died? Why can’t we ask about it?”

“…”

Her mother, Zhang Hongyan, shot her a look. “Tsk. Why are you kids nosing into grown-up business?”

Chen Simei rolled her eyes and muttered, “I’m not a kid, jeez!”

The neighbors laughed and changed the subject, tossing compliments around like a ball.

“The three of you already look like a real family! The kid’s only two or three, right? He won’t even remember much—he’ll definitely see you as his real dad when he grows up!”

“I used to wonder why Haizhou married a woman with a kid, but now I get it. It’s not bad at all. Marriage is about compatibility. What’s one more child anyway?”

“Exactly. Look how great you two look together.”

The courtyard aunties really knew how to talk, and their words practically wrapped the little family in warm praise. The atmosphere got more and more cheerful, and even Qiao Lu started to relax and chat freely.

Everyone told Qiao Lu that if she ever needed anything, she could turn to the neighbors—they’d be happy to help.

Qiao Lu responded with a smile, and after all the greetings, followed Xu Haizhou back inside to unpack and do a big clean-up.

While Qiao Lu was making the bed in the bedroom, Xu Haizhou suddenly handed her a stack of cash.

She froze, not taking it at first. Instead, she asked in confusion, “What’s this?”

“It’s all the money I have on me. And these are ration tickets.” Then he held out his other hand. “This is my bankbook. There’s 1,700 in it.”

“So much?” Qiao Lu counted—there was a total of 256 yuan, 8 jiao, and 5 fen in cash, plus a savings passbook with 1,700 yuan, and a handful of various ration coupons. No wonder he said a 200-yuan bride price was within his means—turns out he had over a thousand saved up!

In this era, most ordinary families had savings around 100 yuan. Even the better-off households rarely exceeded 1,000 yuan. If you had 500, you were already considered moderately wealthy. And Xu Haizhou actually had over 2,000!

Back then, Sister Liu had said Xu Haizhou’s financial condition wasn’t good, but how could that be true? If anything, it was her own condition that wasn’t good—bringing along a little “burden” and not a cent to her name. Marrying Xu Haizhou was really “marrying up”!

Catching the astonishment in Qiao Lu’s eyes, Xu Haizhou smiled and placed the money and passbook into her palm, wrapping her fingers around it.

“I saved a bit while working, then made more selling at the market. Living alone, I didn’t have many expenses—it just added up over time.” Even with him sending money to his parents back home each month, he could still save quite a bit.

In the early 1980s, two fen could buy a pound of bok choy, five fen a pound of tomatoes. If someone could casually pull out a “Great Unity” note (100 yuan) from their pocket, they were basically a local tycoon. People usually carried coins and small notes worth a few fen or jiao. One or two yuan was considered a large bill. The value of a “Great Unity” note could be equivalent to 300–400 yuan or more in thirty years.

Take Qiao Lu’s parents in the countryside, for example—they worked themselves to the bone all year and only earned a few dozen yuan!

Qiao Lu was overwhelmed with emotion. “Why are you giving all this to me?”

“You’re my wife now, right? It’s only natural for the wife to manage the money.” His voice was as gentle and magnetic as he was, making her heart flutter like it was being tickled from the inside out.

Qiao Lu’s heart thudded hard when he called her “wife.” It echoed like thunder in her chest.

She rubbed her chest absentmindedly. “Who told you that?”

The two of them stood facing each other, golden sunlight pouring through the window, casting a clear, angular silhouette across his face, highlighting his striking features.

“I forgot who said it. I just think that’s how it should be.”

Meeting Qiao Lu’s teasing gaze, Xu Haizhou’s voice grew a little sheepish: “I’ll work hard to earn more in the future so you and the child can live comfortably without worries.”

He said “you and the child”, not just “you.”

These little details always touched Qiao Lu’s heart so easily. A warm feeling spread inside her.

“Your current savings are already enough for the whole family to live comfortably.”

“Still not enough.” Xu Haizhou shook his head with a smile and gently held her hand. “It’s hard to get ration tickets now. At least wait until we’re free to buy both with money and without rationing.”

“Wouldn’t that make you a rich man?” Qiao Lu joked, flipping her hand over to rest it on the back of his—it felt so warm and comforting.

Xu Haizhou thought for a moment and agreed, “If you say so, then that’s what it is.”

Even though he was still just running a street stall, people needed to have dreams. No harm in dreaming big.

Qiao Lu tucked the savings passbook away but didn’t take all the cash. She kept a hundred and returned the rest to him. “A man doing business outside should still carry some money.”

That made sense, so Xu Haizhou didn’t refuse this time.

“Oh right.” Before Qiao Lu could say more, Xu Haizhou suddenly pulled her into the main room, lifted the cloth from a small table, revealing a brand-new Butterfly brand sewing machine.

“I bought a new sewing machine. Do you know how to use it?”

“A sewing machine!?” Qiao Lu exclaimed in excitement. To a fashion designer, a sewing machine was life itself!

She suppressed her joy and ran her hand over the machine. The whole thing had been polished to a shine, smooth to the touch. For Qiao Lu, who was used to electric sewing machines, this Butterfly model felt like an antique—it had been obsolete for forty years.

“I can use it!”

Her second sister had always wanted to buy a sewing machine and already had a ticket for it, but the house was too small to fit one. She was planning to wait until they got assigned a bigger place. Until then, if Qiao Yan wanted to make clothes, she could just come to the courtyard!

Seeing his wife overjoyed, Xu Haizhou was happy too. “I asked around. These days, the standard for newlyweds is the ‘three rounds and one sound.’ We’ve got the sewing machine and a bicycle. In a while, I’ll try to get more tickets and buy a radio. I’ll also get you a watch.”

At that, Qiao Lu was overwhelmed by a rush of emotion. Although they had married quickly, this man gave her the kind of trust usually only found in couples who had been together for years.

Qiao Lu smiled and crooked her finger at him. Xu Haizhou got the hint and leaned in, thinking she was about to whisper something to him. But the next thing he felt was a soft warmth brushing against the side of his neck.

A delicate fragrance filled his nose—unlike anything he’d ever smelled before, intoxicating and surreal.

Through his slightly misty vision, Xu Haizhou could see the round tip of Qiao Lu’s nose, and above it, a pair of beautiful, gentle eyes.

At this moment, the fiery love burning in her eyes nearly took his breath away.

She was kissing him…

Before he could even savor it, Qiao Lu turned and went to hug her son.

“An’an, look! Daddy bought us a sewing machine. Now we can make new clothes ourselves! Isn’t it great to have a dad?”

The little one blinked his big eyes and stared at the man in front of him. Looking around the unfamiliar room, he suddenly felt shy. With a squirm, he buried himself in his mother’s arms and whispered in her ear: “Mama, did Uncle become Daddy now?”

Qiao Lu kissed him, then glanced at the stunned Xu Haizhou. “Yeah, have you decided to start calling him Daddy now?”

The little guy bashfully pressed his lips together, long lashes trembling over his eyelids.

“Mama…”

“Hmm?”

The child suddenly blurted out, “Can I have a cake?”

Qiao Lu burst out laughing.

This kid really was good at changing the subject when he didn’t know what to say.

Rubbing his face, Xu Haizhou went back to the bedroom to get the child some fried pastries. He’d bought them along with the wedding candies. The fragrance of the oil-fried treat was noticeable even before the wax paper was unwrapped.

Qiao Lu took it and held it to Qiao An’s mouth. “Eat up, eat up. If you turn into a little piggy, only Uncle Xu will be strong enough to carry you.”

The little guy was ecstatic, but the first thing he did when he got the pastry was to hold it up to Qiao Lu’s mouth.

His clear eyes stared unblinkingly at her, shimmering with hopeful mist.

Qiao Lu’s heart softened instantly. She kissed his chubby cheek. “You really are my sweet boy.”

Qiao Lu took a bite, eating about a third of the pastry. Qiao An stared at the bite marks for a moment, then hesitated and handed the rest to Xu Haizhou.

“You eat.”

Dividing a piece of pastry between Mom and Xu Haizhou—how much could he possibly have left for himself?

This kid really was generous.

Qiao Lu was surprised, and Xu Haizhou even more so. His heart felt full and warm, happier than if he’d received gold or silver treasures.

The tenderness in his eyes turned to a deep warmth. “I’m good, An’an, you eat it.”

The little guy tilted his head and carefully studied Xu Haizhou’s expression. Once he was sure he really didn’t want it, he finally took a bite himself.

He munched right from the place where his mother had bitten, then sucked his fingers clean after finishing—slurping seven or eight times—before giving them one final lick, fully satisfied.

Qiao Lu offered him another piece. “Want more?”

He licked his lips and shook his head. “No more.”

“Really not eating?” That didn’t sound like the behavior of a little foodie. Had he taken her earlier teasing seriously?

Qiao An really did seem worried that gaining weight would make it hard for Mama to carry him. He firmly refused a second piece, even though his eyes were glued to the pastry, his little mouth stayed tightly shut.

Seeing Qiao Lu insisting on feeding him, the little guy patted his belly. “Full~”

“Really? Let Mama check.” Qiao Lu slipped her hand under his shirt to touch his belly—and felt nothing but ribs.

Her fingers were a little cold, making him shiver.

“Full~” Qiao An squirmed from the ticklish touch, biting his lower lip and tilting his head back.

“Hmm… doesn’t feel full to me.” She brought the pastry back to his lips. “Eat?”

Qiao An: “No…”

But his mouth opened—and the food was delivered!

Qiao An: This was auto-fed to me! I didn’t ask for it! So it doesn’t count! I won’t get fat!

The little family of three spent the morning doing just one thing: cleaning and tidying up the house. The couple divided tasks clearly—Xu Haizhou swept, mopped, wiped tables and windows, while Qiao Lu organized luggage and clothes and rearranged the bedroom.

Qiao An followed them around like a little shadow, mimicking everything Qiao Lu did. When he saw her pasting old newspapers on the wall, he imitated her exactly.

His tiny hand gave a firm pat—splat—and the paste held the newspaper to the wall. Honestly, it looked pretty legit.

After all that activity, his little face turned red and flushed. Qiao Lu poured him a glass of water, and the little guy politely said, “Thank you, Mama.”

Qiao Lu laughed happily. “My son is so well-mannered.”

Qiao Lu was really good at decorating. With her background in design, she had a clear vision. The entire bedroom transformed. Partway through, she even dragged Xu Haizhou to the department store.

There were quite a few fabric options at the counters—not just cotton and linen, but also denim, homespun, floral prints, silk, and some newly released synthetic materials like polyester and chiffon. What surprised her the most was how many people were buying lightweight fabrics like those used for shirts.

Qiao Lu had assumed summer fabrics would be cheaper in winter, but when she asked around, she realized something. Most office workers only had one day off a week—Sunday—and even then, women still had to manage housework. They took advantage of the cool weather to make summer clothes in advance. If they waited until summer, there wouldn’t be time for the whole family’s outfits to be ready.

Make winter clothes in summer, summer clothes in winter—it actually made perfect sense…

Qiao Lu picked out a thick, light-blocking fabric to take home for curtains.

It had to be Xu Haizhou—someone who wasn’t short on money. If it were some other man, he might’ve already started complaining about how wasteful she was. In times like these, who actually bought new fabric just to make curtains? Most people just slapped some old newspaper on the window and called it a day.

Since they had a sewing machine at home, Qiao Lu could make the clothes herself. Thinking of their family of three, she continued picking out more fabric.

Cotton, plaid, plain-weave fine cloth… She went on a fabric-buying spree. After they finished, she glanced over at Xu Haizhou to see how he was taking it… Just as she looked up, he happened to look back. Their eyes met—his expression calm, with a slight smile, a bit puzzled.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Qiao Lu gave an awkward smile. She’d spent a thick wad of Xu Haizhou’s fabric coupons in just a few minutes—why was she suddenly feeling guilty?

“Nothing, nothing. Did you bring enough money and coupons with you?” She had stored the savings book back at home, so their only disposable funds today were the 200 yuan Xu Haizhou had on hand. She wasn’t sure if he had brought it all.

“It’s enough. No need to save money for me.” His gaze softened with affection. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently kneaded it. “You and An’an spent years in the countryside and barely had any good clothes. Since we’re picking fabric today, buy whatever you like. If it’s not enough, I’ll say so.”

Qiao Lu pressed her lips together and nodded happily. “It’s enough, really. It’s just the three of us—definitely enough.”

“Alright, then let’s check out some face cream. I heard Wanzi Qianhong is pretty good—very moisturizing.”

“You know that much?” Qiao Lu was surprised.

Xu Haizhou lowered his gaze and smiled at her. “I asked a friend’s wife a few days ago. She told me.”

Qiao Lu secretly curled her lips in delight—this man’s heart is too meticulous!

She sat joyfully on the back of Xu Haizhou’s bicycle as they headed home. On the way, they passed a flower-and-bird market and stopped for a look. Qiao Lu picked out three small potted green plants—cheap, just forty cents each. They’d add a bit of life to the house; otherwise, it would feel too dreary.

She also bought two little goldfish for Qiao An. In those days, ornamental goldfish were usually kept in enamel basins. The setup was simple—just water in a basin. One fish cost eight cents, very cheap. She figured she might as well get two so the fish could have company.

When Qiao An heard the goldfish were for him, he practically jumped three feet high, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Mama, are they really mine? Just for me?”

The fish were so beautiful! He’d never seen red fish before. They were tiny—smaller than his hand—with tails like soft feathers, round bulging eyes, plump bellies, swimming around and blowing bubbles. So fun!

He really loved the little fish Mama bought him!

Qiao Lu rubbed his head. “Yes, they’re yours. Can you take good care of them?”

The little guy’s eyes turned serious. He nodded firmly. “Yes, Mama! I’ll take good care of them!”

Qiao Lu’s eyes curved into a smile. “Mama believes you.”

Xu Haizhou smiled too. “I believe you too.”

Qiao An had always been the one being taken care of. He never imagined one day he would get to take care of a life even smaller than himself. A surge of purpose filled him. He held the enamel basin gingerly as he sat on the tricycle, as careful as if he were holding a fragile bird’s egg.

The couple worked all the way until noon, sweating so much they had to take off their padded jackets. Looking at their freshly tidied-up home, both of them were thrilled—their exhaustion from half a day’s labor seemed to melt away.

Qiao Lu wore just a knitted top now, her hair tied up behind her head as she started preparing lunch.

When Xu Haizhou glanced over, the first thing he saw was the alluring curve of his wife’s figure, full and shapely. His throat went dry, his chest heated up, and he quickly averted his gaze in a panic.

The courtyard compound on Ziyuan Street could be divided into more than a dozen households. Maybe it was enough space at first, but as time went on and people got married and had kids, it became too cramped. So some families built small lean-tos beside their rooms—starting from a few extra square meters and slowly expanding over time—eating into more and more of the communal courtyard.

There was a small lean-to outside Xu Haizhou’s door as well, used as a kitchen. It was shorter than the main house—barely two meters tall—but it was enough to block wind and rain, which was all they needed.

For lunch, they planned a simple meal: cabbage corn cakes and stir-fried edible chrysanthemum greens. The vegetables had been bought earlier that morning. Xu Haizhou served as assistant.

They shredded the cabbage and mixed it into the cornmeal batter. There was lard in the kitchen—they scooped a chunk into the pan to melt. Once it was hot, they poured in the batter, cooking until the bottom was golden and crisp before flipping.

The flame from the gas tank wasn’t very strong, slower than the natural gas back in the modern home she’d known.

After about ten minutes, the aroma of cooked corn cakes filled the kitchen. The fresh scent of cabbage had blended completely into the batter. Both sides were golden and crispy. She sprinkled chili powder and fine salt on top—it smelled amazing.

Qiao An’s nose was incredibly sharp. Almost the moment it was done, he came pattering over like a little bird from the house. “Mama! It smells so good!”

He flopped down at the kitchen threshold, eyes locked unblinking on the iron pan.

Qiao Lu scooped one into a bowl. “It’ll smell even better when it’s in your mouth.”

Once the cakes were done, Qiao Lu reached into the pickle jar and pulled out two strips of sour radish. She diced them and gave them a quick stir-fry. They tasted better cooked than raw, though they used a bit more oil. Most families wouldn’t be willing to use so much oil this way.

Xu Haizhou, watching this, suddenly hopped on his bicycle and left the courtyard. A few minutes later, he came back with a wax paper bag in hand.

Qiao Lu continued stir-frying the vegetables while glancing at him. “What did you buy?”

Xu Haizhou shook the greaseproof paper bag in his hand with a smile. “Just vegetables isn’t nutritious enough—added some meat.”

Qiao Lu’s eyes lit up. “Wow, following you means I get to eat meat!”

Xu Haizhou’s lips curled up slightly. “Money’s meant to be spent, don’t be stingy.”

Qiao Lu was touched.

In times like these, every household had to budget carefully. Of course Xu Haizhou was no exception. But ever since marrying Qiao Lu, he couldn’t bear to let her go without.

He didn’t know whether what he was doing was right or not. He just knew he liked her and wanted to treat her well—desperately so.

He wanted to give her the very best.

And of course, since he loved her, he’d treat Qiao An well too—that quiet, slightly shy boy who had trouble expressing himself but was obedient and kind at heart.

“You’re too good to me. I don’t even dare spend your money carelessly.” After all, as the new wife, she had to at least act like someone who knew how to run a household, right?

Xu Haizhou didn’t mind that she had a child, didn’t care that she came with nothing. On their very first day of marriage, he handed her all his savings. He was so good to her that it felt like a dream—like walking on clouds. This sense of floating made Qiao Lu instinctively cautious.

Before she transmigrated, she had seen too many men who were all show and no substance…

“We’re a family now. What’s yours and mine? Husband and wife are supposed to be of one heart.” He gave his heart to her, and she held it carefully in her hands. That made Xu Haizhou feel sweeter than if he’d eaten honey. “Buy whatever you want. You and the kid spending money—that’s my motivation to earn more.”

God, this man was seriously too good at this!

The essence of a marriage was mutual support and understanding. Qiao Lu had to admit—at this moment, her heart skipped a beat, hard!

Qiao Lu carried the pan-fried cornbread and the pickled radish cubes into the inner room. Xu Haizhou unwrapped the oil paper around the braised meat. The aroma filled the entire room, and mother and son both swallowed hard at the same time.

It had been a long time since they’d had a proper meal with meat.

That smoked meat back at the old home didn’t count—it was too salty to even taste the flavor of the pork.

At noon, with the fragrant cornbread, braised meat, and crisp, appetizing radish cubes, the little family of three ate till they were stuffed—so happy they were nearly moved to tears.

“By the way,” Qiao Lu said as she passed a piece of braised meat to her son, “for the wedding banquet in a couple of days, how about we just book the state-run restaurant where we had our blind date? I don’t have many relatives—just my parents, siblings, and a few close friends, around eleven or twelve. How many will you have?”

Xu Haizhou thought for a moment. “My relatives are all up north. Only a few friends will be able to come.”

Qiao Lu nodded. “Then between us we should be able to fill two tables?”

Xu Haizhou did a quick estimate in his head. “Should be enough.”

“Alright, then let’s look through the calendar this afternoon and pick a date—”

Before she could finish, a flurry of footsteps sounded at the door. A few seconds later, a familiar man’s voice boomed—harsh and grating like a pig being slaughtered.

The neighbors, all having lunch at home, poked their heads out with their bowls to watch the commotion.

“Qiao Lu! Qiao Lu, where are you? Get out here! Dumped me and already hooked up with some other bastard?!”

Pfft—sorry, Qiao Lu couldn’t help but laugh.

Turns out being uneducated really does affect your insults—wasn’t he scolding himself with that?

They were just about done eating. Qiao Lu set down her bowl and chopsticks, got up, and said, “Wang Bin, what are you doing here?”

Wang Bin stormed in, eyebrows furrowed, looking furious—anyone who didn’t know better would think he was here to catch someone cheating.

He stepped into the house and saw the three of them eating. His gaze finally landed on Xu Haizhou, his glare so fierce it looked like he was trying to bore a hole through him.

“You two really got married?”

“If we didn’t, would I be here eating at his house? Say what you came to say. And by the way, whatever we had is long over. If you’re here to cause trouble, don’t blame my man for not being polite!” She had someone protecting her now—why should she be afraid of him?

As soon as she finished, Wang Bin’s eyes darted to Xu Haizhou and he let out a mocking laugh.