Here, having a man willing to protect her was, at the very least, a strong backer and ally.
As for the rest, she wouldn’t consider it for now.
In these turbulent times, she needed shelter.
Ji Shuyu cleared her throat and began the negotiation: “He Yuan, this matter of you misunderstanding me earlier isn’t over.”
He Yuan immediately straightened his back, his expression extremely serious. “You name it. Any punishment is fine.”
Ji Shuyu nodded with satisfaction and started counting on her fingers.
“First, I came this time to join the army and rest during my pregnancy. You have to ensure I live comfortably here, eat well, and stay happy. Second, before the child is born, you are not allowed to make me angry! Third…”
She paused, a sly glint in her eyes.
“You just said you’d even give me your life? Fine, I’ll remember that. From now on, my matters are the top priority. You must be available at my call, ready to go wherever I point. Understood?”
These weren’t just conditions; they were a declaration of sovereignty.
Listening to her list these one-sided terms, He Yuan didn’t find them excessive at all. Instead, it felt like he had taken a reassurance pill.
She set conditions, which meant she was planning to settle down here for good.
“I understand.”
He Yuan reached out again and took her hand.
“Let’s go home. From now on, this will be your and the child’s home.”
He protected her as they walked towards the He family home.
As soon as they arrived, He Yuan called out.
“Dad, Mom, we’re back.”
He held Ji Shuyu’s hand and told her not to worry.
Back when they got married in a rush, the original host had only met He Yuan’s parents once.
They had been quite satisfied with Ji Shuyu.
Because He Yuan had never told his parents that Ji Shuyu didn’t want to join him; he only said he didn’t let her come, afraid she would have a hard time.
The father-in-law, He Junshan, was a stern-faced old worker. Seeing his son and daughter-in-law return together, he nodded as a greeting.
The mother-in-law, Wang Shufen, was much more enthusiastic, her face all smiles as she came forward.
“Oh my, Shuyu, you’re finally here! You must be exhausted from the journey? Come inside and rest quickly.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Ji Shuyu’s stomach, seeming a little curious.
The eldest brother, He Jiang, was a simple, honest worker. He smiled kindly and said, “It’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back.”
His wife, Li Cuihua, standing beside him, didn’t look nearly as pleased.
She stood with her arms crossed, looking Ji Shuyu up and down.
Especially when she saw the obviously good-quality Dacron shirt Ji Shuyu wore and the shiny little leather shoes on her feet.
She snorted coldly, somewhat disdainful.
With Ji Shuyu here, her own boy, who was neither small nor grown, would have to squeeze into one room with the second uncle’s son.
The vacated room, the nice sunny one, would be given to this delicate young lady from the city.
Just thinking about it made her fume.
The second brother, He Hai, worked at the cultural center. Wearing glasses, he had a gentler demeanor and greeted her with a smile. “Shuyu’s here. Now Yuanzi can finally settle down.”
His wife, Su Wenjuan, was a teacher at the island’s only primary school. Her smile was warm and gentle, her tone sincere. “Shuyu, welcome. You’ve had a long journey. Please, sit down and have some water.”
There were also two boys, neither small nor grown: He Qiang, son of He Jiang and Li Cuihua, and He Ming, son of He Hai and Su Wenjuan.
They were at that age when even dogs disliked them. They had been roughhousing inside but stopped when they saw Ji Shuyu enter.
He Qiang looked at her with resentment.
It was because she was coming that he had to live in a cramped room.
Ji Shuyu took in everyone’s reactions, understanding the situation perfectly.
A polite, faint smile hung on her face as she responded gracefully and confidently.
“Dad, Mom, Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, I’ve caused you all concern.”
He Yuan didn’t notice Eldest Sister-in-law Li Cuihua’s cold expression or his eldest nephew’s resentment.
His mind was completely focused on settling his wife.
Once inside the room, He Yuan helped Ji Shuyu sit down on a chair, his actions full of care and attentiveness.
Seeing this, Li Cuihua rolled her eyes again.
She’s so precious, huh? Needs the chair wiped before she can sit?
“Dad, Mom, Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, sorry about this. I’m pregnant, and the journey was exhausting. I really can’t stand for long.”
“It’s my first time formally coming home, and I didn’t know what everyone likes, so I just brought some small things as meeting gifts. I hope you won’t find them distasteful.”
Before her in-laws could fully process the “I’m pregnant” part, Ji Shuyu asked He Yuan to bring her bag over.
For her father-in-law, He Junshan, she brought a thick, warm shearling “Lei Feng” hat and a package of high-quality pipe tobacco.
“Dad, I heard your ears get cold during winter patrols. This hat is warm. Please try this tobacco and see if it suits your taste.”
A slight crack finally appeared on He Junshan’s stern face. He took the hat and tobacco, running his hand over the thick fur.
“Shuyu, you’re very thoughtful.”
For her mother-in-law, Wang Shufen, she brought a piece of sturdy, soft pure cotton fabric in navy blue with a dark red character for ‘fortune’ printed on it, along with two exquisitely packaged boxes of pastries.
“Mom, this fabric is thick and sturdy, perfect for making a spring coat. Please try the pastries; they’re from a time-honored brand in Shanghai.”
The smile on Wang Shufen’s face became a few degrees more genuine. She took the fabric and pastries, saying repeatedly, “Oh my, the color of this fabric is so nice, and the pastries look wonderful. Shuyu, you shouldn’t have spent so much.”
For Second Brother He Hai, it was a Hero brand gold-nib fountain pen.
He Hai was an intellectual who loved reading and writing; this gift hit the mark perfectly.
For Second Sister-in-law Su Wenjuan, it was an elegantly colored and tasteful pure silk scarf and a box of imported hand cream.
For the two boys, neither small nor grown, Ji Shuyu gave each a brand-new tracksuit and a pair of Warrior sneakers.
He Qiang and He Ming stared wide-eyed at the new tracksuits and the coveted Warrior shoes.
He Qiang wanted to reach out but felt a bit embarrassed, his eyes constantly darting towards his parents.
He Jiang smiled kindly and nodded: “Thank you, sister-in-law. You shouldn’t have spent so much.”
Su Wenjuan also quickly nudged her son: “Hurry up and thank your aunt.”
He Ming, blushing, said shyly, “Thank you, Auntie.”
He hugged the gifts, unable to put them down. He liked this aunt who was pretty, spoke nicely, and gave him presents.
Ji Shuyu pulled out a safety helmet—claimed to be safe and sturdy, exchanged from the Points Mall—and a tool set, handing them to He Jiang.
He worked on construction sites, where safety was paramount, and He Jiang usually liked tinkering with things, so this tool set was just right.
He Jiang repeatedly thanked her, his honest face showing a bit of embarrassment.
Finally, it was Eldest Sister-in-law Li Cuihua’s turn.
Ji Shuyu took an exquisitely wrapped box from her bag and handed it over with a smile. “Eldest Sister-in-law, this is for you.”
All eyes focused on Li Cuihua.
Having watched everyone else receive their gifts, especially the fountain pen and pure silk scarf given to the second brother’s family, Li Cuihua’s heart had long been bubbling with envy.
Let’s see what fine thing this delicate young lady has for me.
She deliberately took the box slowly and opened it in front of everyone.
Inside was a synthetic fiber scarf in a very bright color with a large peony pattern.
The texture and color of this scarf, compared to the elegant pure silk one given to Su Wenjuan just moments ago, immediately revealed its inferiority.
Moreover, the peony pattern, in loud reds and greens, exuded a strong sense of rustic tackiness and cheapness.
She could buy dozens of these here herself! Why would she need it as a gift?
Li Cuihua’s face instantly darkened.
She felt deeply insulted.
The second brother’s family got a gold pen and a pure silk scarf, the in-laws got good fabric, good pastries, good tobacco, even the two brats got new clothes and shoes.
So why, when it came to her, was it just this cheap, worthless synthetic fiber scarf worth a few dimes from a street stall?
And such a tacky pattern! This was clearly looking down on her, deliberately making her feel shabby.
Seeing Li Cuihua’s expression, Ji Shuyu smirked coldly.
She had done it on purpose. From the moment she entered, this eldest sister-in-law had been rolling her eyes.
So, just now, Ji Shuyu had directly exchanged the gift originally prepared for her in the Points Mall.
“What’s wrong, Eldest Sister-in-law? Don’t you like it?”
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