He Yuan turned the pair of boots over and over in his hands, the corners of his mouth stretched so wide they nearly reached his ears.
This gift was perfect. Patrols and training were toughest on shoes, and these boots were clearly high quality.
So, she really did care about him this much. A wave of warmth rose in He Yuan’s heart.
His long arm reached out, wanting to pull her into his embrace for some proper intimacy.
He was at that vigorous age, and they hadn’t seen each other for a long time. Of course, he missed it.
But Ji Shuyu was pregnant, so they couldn’t do anything. He Yuan just wanted to hold and kiss her, to ease his longing.
Seeing He Yuan reach out for a hug, Ji Shuyu, already prepared, nimbly sidestepped and poked his solid chest with her finger.
“Getting carried away after just a little praise?” she said.
After Ji Shuyu finished speaking, He Yuan paused, his gaze dropping to her abdomen. His full enthusiasm instantly transformed into careful tenderness.
He said sheepishly, “Wife, are you tired? Come, sit down and rest.”
He helped Ji Shuyu sit on the edge of the bed. “It’s fine, you rest first. I’ll call you when the meal is ready.”
Seeing his boyish demeanor, Ji Shuyu’s heart softened.
She was indeed quite tired. The weariness of the journey, plus the earlier confrontation, had taken its toll. Now that she relaxed, drowsiness washed over her.
She let out a small yawn.
He Yuan carefully helped her take off her outer coat and pulled the quilt over her.
“Mmm, you rest for a while too,” Ji Shuyu’s voice carried a sleepy nasal tone as she closed her eyes. Soon, her breathing became even and long.
He Yuan sat by the bed, watching her for a while. Only after confirming she was sound asleep did he quietly leave the room.
She had been on a boat for so long; she must be exhausted.
Let her rest properly.
In the evening, Ji Shuyu, still muddled with sleep, felt He Yuan help her up.
He fed her a little rice porridge and let her go back to sleep.
Ji Shuyu only felt incredibly, incredibly tired. Smelling the pleasant soap scent on the man, she sank back into a deep sleep.
The next day, the sun was already high in the sky.
The He family courtyard had long been bustling.
The rooster crowed, pots and pans clanged.
Li Cuihua, in particular, had been up early washing and scrubbing in the yard, slamming the washbasin around loudly, as if afraid no one knew how diligent she was.
Only the door to He Yuan and Ji Shuyu’s room remained tightly shut.
He Yuan had gotten up before dawn, moving quietly to go for drill. Before leaving, he had kept porridge and eggs warm on the stove and specifically told his mother not to wake Ji Shuyu.
Ji Shuyu slept exceptionally deeply.
The lethargy of pregnancy, combined with the mental exhaustion of adjusting to a new environment, meant she slept until almost noon.
Warm sunlight streaming through the window paper finally roused her slowly.
She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling beams, confused for a few seconds before remembering where she was.
Her stomach growled twice. She rubbed her eyes and slowly got up to wash up.
Pushing the door open, the glaring sunlight made her squint.
In the yard, Li Cuihua stood with arms akimbo, directing He Jiang to stack the newly chopped firewood neatly.
Seeing Ji Shuyu finally appear, Li Cuihua’s mouth twisted. Her sarcastic voice instantly rose in pitch.
“Finally decided to get up now that the sun is scorching your backside? You really are the delicate young lady from the city, so precious. Out here in the countryside, we don’t have rules about sleeping until noon.”
She snapped the rag in her hands loudly, the jealousy and mockery in her eyes unconcealed.
Wang Shufen peeked out from the kitchen doorway, wanting to say something but swallowing it back.
He Jiang awkwardly lowered his head, pretending to focus on stacking the wood.
Ji Shuyu, just awake, her mind still a little foggy, frowned at the sound.
She looked up at Li Cuihua. Early in the morning, and she already had so much energy.
It seemed she wasn’t satisfied with yesterday’s exchange and was back for more.
Ji Shuyu smoothed her slightly sleep-mussed hair. Instead of showing shame or anger, a lazy, innocent smile spread across her face.
Meeting Li Cuihua’s provocative gaze, she spoke slowly.
“Eldest sister-in-law is right, I did get up a bit late.”
She paused, raising a hand to cover a slight yawn. A ripple of natural, unapologetic ease passed through her eyes.
“Can’t help it, probably… just born lucky? Someone at home dotes on me, so I don’t need to rush up early to work. No one nags if I sleep a little longer.”
“You!”
The smug look on Li Cuihua’s face instantly froze. She never expected Ji Shuyu to retort so bluntly.
Hearing those words made her absolutely green with envy.
It was true. Some people were just born lucky.
A pampered city girl, married to a capable army officer, and pregnant with a ‘golden child’.
Her mother-in-law favored her, and her husband protected her like she was the apple of his eye.
Meanwhile, Li Cuihua worked herself to the bone serving the whole family, getting up before dawn. Why?
Li Cuihua trembled with rage, wanting to retort but lost for words.
Wang Shufen hurried out from the kitchen, trying to smooth things over: “Shuyu, you’re awake? Hungry? Yuanzi left porridge and eggs for you, keeping warm in the pot. Go eat…”
Just then, laughter accompanied by the crisp ring of a bicycle bell came from the courtyard gate.
“Mom! I’m back! Look what goodies I brought!”
A young girl, wearing a blue student dress and two glossy black braids, walked in briskly.
She looked about sixteen, with a rosy complexion and big, bright eyes full of youthful vitality.
She held several sticks of bright red candied hawthorn berries, and a cloth bag hung from the bicycle handles. This was the He family’s youngest daughter, He Min.
As soon as He Min entered, she sensed the tension in the yard.
She glanced at her eldest sister-in-law, Li Cuihua, who looked ready to explode, then at Ji Shuyu standing by the doorway, composed and even wearing a hint of a lazy smile. Her big eyes blinked, quickly grasping the situation.
Ignoring the stalemate, she ran up to Ji Shuyu with a bright smile. “You must be Third Sister-in-law! Wow! Third Sister-in-law, you’re so pretty! A hundred times prettier than in the photos! I’m He Min!”
She shoved the largest, reddest stick of candied hawthorn berries into Ji Shuyu’s hand.
“Here! Third Sister-in-law, have some tanghulu! It’s really sweet!”
“I traded a bunch of stuff with a classmate for these.”
He Min’s affectionate and natural manner instantly treated Ji Shuyu as family.
Ji Shuyu looked at the lively, bright young girl in front of her and softly said, “Thank you, little sister. You’re very pretty too.”
She was the type who returned the respect she was given.
He Min had just defused the conflict for her, so of course, she wouldn’t say anything more.
Li Cuihua stamped her foot hard, picked up the washbasin, and splashed the dirty water far away with a splash. She then turned and rushed back into her room, slamming the door shut with a heavy thud.
He Min made a face at the closed door, then linked arms with Ji Shuyu, saying warmly,
“Third Sister-in-law, don’t mind her. She’s always like that, finds fault with everyone.”
He Min had never gotten along with Li Cuihua and couldn’t understand how her honest eldest brother had ended up with such a shrewish wife.
Li Cuihua had even tried to set her up on a blind date before, making He Min so angry she directly confronted her about it.
She was only sixteen, still studying! Trying to arrange a marriage for her? That was just ridiculous.
But Wang Shufen didn’t know about it. If Wang Shufen found out, she’d definitely make Li Cuihua cry.
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