TIPS – Chapter 134

Yang Shi’s eyes widened in shock. “Did your wife really say that? He’s really going to give us a second grandson?”

“Mhm.” Shen Junxi nodded with a beaming smile, confirming it without hesitation.

“Then, then, then… you and your wife now are…” Yang Shi was so excited that she almost asked about their bedroom matters, but caught herself just in time—how embarrassing.

“Our relationship has improved. He’s willing to be close to me now,” Shen Junxi gestured.

“…” Yang Shi looked at him and slowly nodded. Things had truly taken a dramatic turn—better than she’d dared to hope. Upon hearing this, her first reaction wasn’t to laugh but to sigh with emotion. “Then you don’t have to worry anymore. Your wife will soon be truly yours.”

She still remembered the “wife theory” she had talked about with her son not long ago—it really hadn’t been that long. She hadn’t expected things to change like this.

“Mother, we’re doing well, don’t worry,” Shen Junxi signed, his face steady with a reassuring smile.

“Ah, that’s good.” Yang Shi said with a gratified smile and patted his shoulder. “Now go back to your room. Your father and I will take care of Benben. Don’t worry.”

“Mhm.” Shen Junxi played with his son one last time, then thanked his mother and took his leave.

Walking through the courtyard of the house, his heart was light, full of relief and anticipation. Because of the yearning and eagerness in his chest, his steps quickened.

Tonight was destined to be a night of tenderness—no cold wind could extinguish the fire burning in his heart.

“I love you, I really love you…” Shen Junxi lay atop his lover, whispering again and again in his heart. If only he had a healthy voice, he thought—he wanted to shout those words to his wife.

But even without that, it didn’t matter. What he had now was already enough to make him grateful for a lifetime.

“…” Song Jingwei held the youth close, letting go of all restraint, moving with him through the waves of passion. He had grown increasingly used to this kind of closeness—being completely open and unguarded with this person. It was as if the other had become a part of him, and there was no more separation between them. Whether Junxi was good or bad, excellent or flawed—it no longer mattered.

At the end of their bliss, panting in the youth’s arms, Song Jingwei suddenly remembered his old criteria for choosing a partner. Then he thought of Shen Junxi and laughed.

Before meeting the right person, relationship standards seemed important. But after meeting the right one, those criteria were worthless.
How many people actually ended up with someone who matched their initial expectations?

Song Jingwei had once demanded a good family background, academic credentials, and emotional intelligence. Shen Junxi had none of those. What he had was something innate.

It wasn’t easy to describe that gift in words. But after being close to him, Song Jingwei knew—he was the perfect match.

Suddenly, Song Jingwei turned and kissed the youth who was still catching his breath, causing his breathing to quicken again.

“…” Shen Junxi sweetly welcomed this affection, capturing his partner’s lips and tongue, indulging in playful entanglements, chasing and nibbling.

He truly loved this kind of intimacy—loved it deeply. Curling up under the covers at night, doing whatever they pleased, just the two of them, with no one else to know or interrupt—those were the happiest moments of all.

To think that in this world, there existed someone like this—someone he loved, and who loved him back. No matter what happened, they would stay by each other’s side. Even if they fought or got upset, they wouldn’t leave. They would care for and cherish one another. You understand me, and I understand you—what a beautiful and precious bond.

A surge of heat rushed through Shen Junxi’s chest. He flipped over and pressed himself against the other’s body. The two clung closely together, grinding skin against skin.

As they kissed, Song Jingwei once again wrapped his arms around the youth’s waist and hips. The youth lifted him gently, starting another round of passion.

After a night of intense love, morning arrived with the lazy warmth of winter. The two stayed curled under the cozy blanket, neither willing to get out of bed. For once, with Benben not around, they didn’t need to wake up early to tend to the little one.

“…” Shen Junxi quietly rested his chin in the crook of his wife’s shoulder, his palm softly stroking his waist and back. This was the ultimate form of bliss—he loved doing this.

After a long while, he kissed his partner’s neck and cheek, then gently nudged his waist, signaling it was time to get up.

“So sleepy. You go ahead.” Song Jingwei murmured with his eyes half-closed, blinking once or twice before dozing off again.

“…” Shen Junxi smiled and kissed him again, then carefully got out of bed, making sure the chill in the air didn’t reach the one still lying under the blanket.

He dressed layer by layer, putting on thick clothes, socks, and cotton shoes, then headed out to wash up.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw the world blanketed in white. Snow had fallen last night? He looked at the pristine scenery and smiled, then turned back to glance at their bedroom door—he wanted to go tell his wife it had snowed.

And that’s exactly what he did. He turned around, went back inside, and poked Song Jingwei’s cheek with his cool fingers until the other opened his eyes.

When Song Jingwei saw Shen Junxi’s gestures, indicating that it had snowed, he said in a low voice, “Perfect for sleeping in.” After all, they’d made love twice the night before—his whole body was sore and limp.

“…” Shen Junxi smiled so wide his eyes curved. His wife was just too adorable. He nodded and let him go back to sleep, while he would take care of everything else outside.

In a very good mood, he warmly bid farewell to his wife once again before stepping out of the room.

He went to the kitchen to get some hot water to wash up, then helped Yang Shi make breakfast.

“You’re up so early. Why didn’t you stay in bed a little longer with your wife?” Yang Shi asked. She had just arrived herself. The baby had woken up very early and made a fuss in the room for quite a while. Now, it was Shen Junxi’s father who was looking after him.

“Mhm.” While doing chores, Shen Junxi gestured and said, “You work so hard. My wife asked me to come help you.” With so many people in the household now, these daily tasks could be quite exhausting.

“Oh, so if your wife doesn’t tell you to come, you wouldn’t have come on your own?” Yang Shi teased, clearly joking.

Shen Junxi just smiled. Of course not. Even if Song Jingwei hadn’t said anything, he was always very diligent, okay?

Not long after, Lin Shi also arrived. As the only young woman in the family capable of handling chores, she had been helping Yang Shi with everything these past few days.

Yang Shi always laughed in front of others and said, “Mengyang’s wife is really capable. She gets things done faster than me. I have no choice but to admit I’m getting old.”

Everyone laughed and nodded in agreement, giving Lin Shi a thumbs-up for her capability.

Lin Shi, given the chance to prove herself and receive recognition, not only brought honor to herself but also to her husband, her child, and her husband’s family. It was a proud moment. Her efforts were deeply appreciated by her in-laws. Her relationship with her husband improved, she got along even better with the family, and the emotional ties within the family grew closer than ever.

Actually, everything in life is like that. It’s a virtuous cycle—the more you’re willing to give, the more you’ll gain. It’s the same with loved ones and family. It never hurts to be the one to take the first step. Even if you feel like you’re at a disadvantage, it’s still a blessing.

Once the three of them had made breakfast together, they went to call their respective family members.

Shen Junxi carried a wooden tray with hot water and quickly returned to their courtyard. He opened the door and entered the room. His eyes landed on the bed—there was still a lump curled up under the covers. He hadn’t gotten up yet. Shen Junxi placed the hot water in the washroom, then came over and gently nudged the lump, or touched his face with slightly cool fingers.

“You’re always using cold hands to chill me,” Song Jingwei said, grabbing the young man’s fingers and giving them a playful bite. It didn’t hurt, but it made Shen Junxi chuckle softly and use his fingers to tease the tip of his tongue.

It seemed that when no one else was around, Shen Junxi became bolder and more shameless. Like now, he seemed addicted to playing with his lips.

“Get lost.” Song Jingwei slapped his hand away and got up to get dressed.

Since it was cold, Shen Junxi quickly set aside his playful mood and helped him get his clothes ready, handing them over piece by piece. He even helped him put them on and buttoned them up.

When he saw the pale skin with a few faint, ambiguous red marks, Shen Junxi wanted to stop and admire it, but he was afraid Song Jingwei would catch a chill, so he quickly covered them up with clothes.

After dressing him, he gently smoothed his messy hair and urged him to go wash up quickly before the water cooled.

“Mhm.” Song Jingwei ran a hand through his own hair, which was a complete mess—perhaps they’d gotten a little too carried away last night? “My legs are sore…” He took a few steps and came to that conclusion.

Shen Junxi was both sweetly amused and distressed. Maybe once his wife was done washing up, he could give him a leg massage.

It was getting late. As soon as Song Jingwei came out of the washroom, he pulled Shen Junxi along—no need to keep everyone waiting.

Not having seen his daddy all night, Bèn Bèn immediately stretched out his little arms to be held when he saw Song Jingwei. Song Jingwei quickly scooped up his precious son and gave him a big, affectionate kiss.

“Pa-pa…” They’d taught Bèn Bèn to say “Daddy” many times, but all he could say was “Pa-pa.”

Song Jingwei was already very pleased with that. He lowered his head to kiss him again and said, “Such a good boy. I’ll give you a candy.”

“Candy! Candy!” Bèn Bèn got so excited when he heard that word—he clearly knew what it meant.

Everyone laughed, and Yang Shi said with exasperated fondness, “Eat your meal first, then you can have candy. Come, let Grandma feed you.”

Seeing how much Yang Shi adored her grandson, Song Jingwei handed him over and let her feed Bèn Bèn breakfast.

The morning passed in a warm, cozy atmosphere. Everyone sat around the table chatting and laughing, talking about the light snowfall last night.

“I saw it started right before dawn—otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so little.” And it stopped as soon as the sun rose, such a pity.

“Well, since it snowed, it means it’ll be a cold year.” Maybe they’d get a few heavy snowfalls. But no one was too worried. It was already almost mid-December—any heavy snow wouldn’t last long.

“Sigh, when will the war begin? Life is so peaceful right now, I almost don’t want it to start.”

Everyone chimed in, “What nonsense. Who wants a war?” Then they all laughed together. To say they weren’t nervous would be a lie, but after so long, their emotions had settled. It felt like even if war came, they’d be able to face it calmly.

It was a shift in their attitude toward life—a kind of growth. After enduring this ordeal, their understanding of life would deepen, and their lives would be more complete and happy.

In mid-December, after that first light snow, it continued to snow for several days. Sometimes it was heavy, sometimes just a few flurries.

The weather was getting colder and colder, and Song Jingwei couldn’t help but worry about Old Master Yuan, who was living alone over in the Xiao Liang Mountain area. Although the conditions there were quite good and the house had everything he needed, spending winter alone would inevitably feel lonely. And with the New Year approaching, they couldn’t be sure when war might suddenly break out, so an idea took shape in his heart.

After discussing it with Shen Junxi, they went to visit Old Master Yuan again.

When Yuan Jinyun heard they wanted to bring him over to stay with them, he felt a wave of melancholy. The New Year was near, and it was clear that Yuan Guanlin, that rascal, wouldn’t be coming back to keep him company. His eldest grandson, Yuan Qingsui, held an important position and couldn’t return either.

If he were to spend the New Year all by himself, it truly would be bleak.

That same day, Song Jingwei and Shen Junxi helped Old Master Yuan pack his things and brought him home with them. And so, their household welcomed another person, making it livelier than ever. In the face of the looming danger, it seemed that the more people there were, the more secure they felt. In short, the Lu family, who lived in the Shen family’s main house, felt truly at ease. With everyone together, supporting and helping one another, there was nothing to fear.

Old Master Yuan hadn’t seen Benben in a long time. After arriving, he became the main person looking after the child, saving Yang Shi a lot of effort.

And so, everyone was racking their brains every day, thinking: What else hadn’t they prepared? What else could they still prepare?

They had grains, all sorts of cured meats and pickled vegetables. Furniture, bedding, and clothes had all been moved into the mountain. Water jars, pots, bowls, and utensils—they seemed to have plenty of those too.

“What else?” became a common phrase heard in the house, tossed back and forth between family members.

Just like that, they smoothly made it to the evening of December 19th. The Shen family’s main house was bustling from the afternoon onwards, getting ready to slaughter a pig.

Shen Dongming said with a cheerful smile, “We’re slaughtering a bit early this year—let’s have a good feast tonight.”

Each year, on the day of the temple god’s birthday, it was tradition for every household to slaughter a pig. But some families in the village didn’t raise pigs—like Pei Hongxuan and Wu Xi. The two of them were both men and didn’t raise any livestock at all.

The Shen family had informed them early on to come join them for dinner.

So Pei Hongxuan and Wu Xi came over early with their child in tow and were now sitting with the other idle men, chatting while waiting for dinner.

The only ones sitting idle were Song Jingwei and the older members of the Lu family—most of the young men had gone to help with the pig slaughter, including Shen Junxi.

“Your man’s movements while slaughtering the pig are really practiced,” Pei Hongxuan said. Because of his leg, he hadn’t gone to help, and besides, he didn’t like the act of slaughtering pigs. He sat near Song Jingwei, making small talk while occasionally glancing out at the busy scene in the courtyard.

“He’s better than you,” Song Jingwei replied, picking up the conversation.

“….” Pei Hongxuan glanced at him, slightly surprised. He had thought someone like Song Jingwei would be disdainful of such things.

What he didn’t know was that Song Jingwei had already seen Shen Junxi helping slaughter pigs before and didn’t find it repulsive at all. Wasn’t this the kind of thing a real man should be doing? Far better than those who screamed at the sight of blood.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts that afternoon, the pig was successfully slaughtered, and the blood collected—ready for dinner.

It was a sumptuous meal, and everyone ate heartily and happily.

Shen Dongming said, “Everyone’s so cheerful, why not bring out some wine to drink?”

Yang Shi immediately retorted, “You wish! If you drink tonight, the incense offering at dawn tomorrow will go to someone else!”

That’s right—they were going to vie for the first incense offering at the temple the next morning!

Before dawn the next day, the Shen father and son rose early and left carrying the pig’s head.

That morning, breakfast was a classic bowl of pig’s blood congee. Everyone held large bowls in their hands, eating contentedly. As they ate, they felt warm inside and out. On a cold winter morning, nothing beat a steaming bowl of pig’s blood congee.

When the Shen father and son returned, once again claiming the first offering of the year, they were overjoyed.

“We were first again this year—another smooth and lucky year ahead!” they laughed.

Everyone was in high spirits and echoed the sentiment: “Let’s hope this year goes smoothly too. Look, there’s not even ten days left—may we all get through the New Year peacefully.”

“We can do it, for sure.”

They thought: After coming this far, there was no reason they couldn’t get through another ten days. So everyone waited calmly for the New Year. As for what came after, they’d think about it then.

But just as everyone was relaxing and preparing to enjoy a good New Year, the news of war, anticipated yet unwelcome, quietly reached the hearts of the villagers in Chashan.

It was around December 24th, on a quiet afternoon. The Shen family’s main house was having lunch when suddenly, Xiaohei and Dahuang began barking furiously in the yard.

Shen Dongming stepped out just as someone began pounding hard on the front gate. He thought to himself, What’s the rush? Thank goodness their gate was solid—otherwise, it would’ve been broken through.

“Coming, coming!” he shouted as he moved forward to open the door.

“Is this the Shen household?” a man with a vaguely familiar face asked. “Yes, yes, I recognize you—I’ve seen you at the docks before!” He was a boatman under Yuan Guanlin, here to deliver a message.