Chapter 106 - 104: Warm Daily Life
After their daughter had played herself out, Li Xiu cleaned her up, changed her diaper, and carefully handed her to Zhou Lian. Zhou Lian smiled as she took the baby into her arms. Once she was fed, Li Xiu took her back to burp her. His movements were practiced, and he quickly coaxed the child to sleep. He laid their sleeping daughter on the kang, and the two of them exchanged a smile.
After blowing out the lamp, Li Xiu held Zhou Lian as they lay on the kang and spoke quietly about what had happened that afternoon. "My uncles are no fools. Everything’s out in the open now, so their side of the family won’t have anything to complain about. This matter is settled for good."
Bathed in the moonlight streaming through the window, Zhou Lian could dimly make out the roguish charm on Li Xiu’s indistinct face. She couldn’t help but ask, "Do you still dwell on things like that?"
Toying with his wife’s delicate, jade-like fingers, Li Xiu said nonchalantly, "It’s not a question of holding a grudge. The people from the old family home are like a toad crawling over your foot—it doesn’t bite, but it’s disgusting. I can’t be bothered to get tangled up with them. As it is now, with my three uncles backing me up, that mother of mine will finally have to settle down. As for the others, they really wouldn’t dare to stir up trouble again."
’Thinking about her mother-in-law, she was just like one of those cockroaches you can’t kill, causing trouble time and time again. She never came out on top, but just as Li Xiu said, it was incredibly unsettling. Even though they had no affection for those people, the ties of blood and name were there. They couldn’t be too harsh, but they couldn’t be too lenient either, not when she and her husband still wanted to maintain a good reputation!’
"Bao’er, don’t worry. Your man is here, and I’ll never let you be wronged," Li Xiu said gently, smiling at the somewhat distracted Zhou Lian.
She shot him a sidelong glance. ’This man really does express his possessiveness at every possible moment. What did she have to worry about? Ever since she married him, she’d never been wronged by anyone. The last time, when she’d deliberately provoked Li Hua, trying to bait him into laying a hand on her, hadn’t Li Xiu gotten revenge for her right then and there? He’d even managed to screw over that whole crowd from the old family home in the process.’
Since the matter was completely resolved, Zhou Lian couldn’t be bothered to think about all that nonsense anymore. She said to Li Xiu, "The weather’s getting warmer. It’s starting to feel a little hot sleeping on the kang. Let’s tidy up and move into the bedroom in the next day or two!"
Li Xiu agreed in a soft voice. ’If his wife said they should move, then move they would!’
"Nuonuo’s hundred-day celebration is over, and the wheat harvest is coming up. I should go work in the fields then, too." Zhou Lian was just speaking her mind. ’There really wasn’t much to plan for in life right now. During the busy farming season, you worked; during the off-season, you rested. You went to work and came home with everyone else in the production team. This way of life would probably continue for another two or three years.’
Gently stroking his wife’s hair, Li Xiu whispered, "You don’t have to. Don’t go to work in the fields anymore. That work is exhausting and dirty, and I can support you. I’ve already arranged everything, so don’t you worry. Just stay home and play with our daughter."
"Li Xiu, you know I can do it. I’m not that fragile," Zhou Lian said disapprovingly.
"Bao’er, I know. I know my Bao’er is very capable." He thought back to their previous life, how the two of them had scrimped and saved, working themselves to the bone just to pay off a one-hundred-yuan debt. ’I was such a fool back then.’ Just because he’d promised Uncle Ge he wouldn’t go into the mountains, he had stood by and watched as his wife suffered. At this thought, Li Xiu paused before continuing, "But my treasure, I can’t do it. I can’t watch you suffer and toil at work. My heart aches. I can’t stand it. Bao’er, please, just put your man’s heart at ease, all right? I can’t bear it!"
Sensing her husband’s agitated state, Zhou Lian felt a little bewildered. ’Was this really something to get so worked up about? Was Li Xiu trying to turn her into some useless, pampered doll? If she didn’t do anything, what would she even do? Even their child... whenever Li Xiu was free, he was the one who took care of her.’
Li Xiu immediately sensed the shift in Zhou Lian’s mood. He gave her a gentle kiss and soothed her in a low voice, "Bao’er, don’t you like reading? It’s possible to go to university now. Does my Bao’er want to go?" ’His wife had always admired educated people. All this time, he’d only thought about pampering and spoiling her, forgetting just how ambitious she really was.’
"Bao’er, go to university. Once we’re past this busy spell, I’ll go and ask around for details. You love to read, so you should go to school. You can study until you don’t want to anymore!" The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and Li Xiu spoke with fervor. ’If his wife admired educated people, then he would help her become one.’
"Li Xiu, let’s not even talk about whether I could get into university. Even if I did, what about our child? What about you?" Ever since being reborn, Zhou Lian hadn’t really thought about making any changes. Li Xiu’s words had tempted her, but the reality of her situation immediately set in.
"You don’t need to worry about any of that. Just tell your man whether you want to or not. Don’t answer me right away. Think it over carefully." Li Xiu understood her concerns. ’All of those external factors could be resolved.’
Hearing Li Xiu’s words, Zhou Lian fell into deep thought. It was undeniable that what he said had opened a new door for her. ’Having been reborn, was she just going to repeat the life she’d lived before? Even if Li Xiu’s doting love for her was the envy of many women...’
Seeing his wife lost in thought, Li Xiu also began to consider the plan’s feasibility. ’He had money, and he would have even more in the future. In this world, a problem that could be solved with money wasn’t really a problem at all. It was 1979 now. Their son would probably be conceived next year and born in the first lunar month of ’81. While his wife was clever and quick-witted, she’d never had any systematic education, so she would need two or three years to study. By that time, their son would have been born, the production teams would be disbanded, and everyone would be working for themselves. When she got into college, he’d encourage her to aim for a university in the Capital City. They could buy a house there, and he’d take the kids and go with her. They could even hire a nanny. All it took was money, and the one thing he was least likely to lack in this life was money!’
"Bao’er, have you thought it over?" Li Xiu asked softly.
"Li Xiu, I don’t know... I don’t know what to do."
Stroking her hair, he gave her a kiss full of tenderness and said softly, "Bao’er, don’t worry. Just listen to my idea first, okay?"
Seeing Zhou Lian nod, Li Xiu said softly, "Look, since you haven’t been to school before, you’ll have to start from scratch. With how smart you are, about three years should be enough. Then, you can get into a university in the Capital City. We’ll buy a house in the Capital City, and I’ll take the children and go with you. You’ll go to school, and I’ll look after the kids and make money. You don’t have to worry about a thing. Your man can provide for you and the children. Just focus on your studies, okay? Our family won’t be separated. Wherever you go, I’ll take the kids and follow you!"
"Li Xiu... what about you? You were always a better student than me. Why don’t you go to university?" Zhou Lian asked, confused by his words. ’This man had so much faith in her that he’d send her to college. Besides, with his level of knowledge, he’d have no problem getting in if he just reviewed a little. If he could make it possible for her to go, then what about him? Why wouldn’t he go himself?’
"Bao’er, you need to understand, there’s no point in me going to university. I don’t have any grand ambitions. In this life, I just want to stay by your side and watch over our children. I’ll be wherever you are. I will not be separated from you!" Li Xiu said, his tone firm. For him, the idea of going to university held no real appeal.