A Couple's Rebirth to 1977 Before Marriage

"Mom, I know. I’ll be fine."

Mrs. Zhou gently pulled Zhou Lian into her arms and stroked her hair. "You know what your father is like," she said. "Your older sister has been married for years, but he’s never once let me stay over at her place. The reason he let me stay today is because he’s worried about you. Of all eight of you kids, you’re the one your father and I worry about the most. You’ve been a handful for us ever since you were born. We finally managed to raise you, and you’ve always been the most honest and well-behaved one. Your father and I were just so afraid you’d be mistreated after you got married."

"We approved of Li Xiu at first because he seemed like a man who valued relationships. But by the time of the engagement, your father could see that he wasn’t the type to take things lying down. He actually regretted it a little, worrying you were too timid and would get pushed around by him. But Li Xiu kept visiting, over and over, and I saw how much he cared for you. Your father told me that as long as a man’s heart is in it, you can build a good life together."

"It wasn’t until after you were married and we saw how well he treated you that your father and I finally felt at ease. For this past year, all we’ve thought is that as long as he’s good to you, it doesn’t matter what he’s like out in the world. Then, the day before yesterday, we heard you got into university. You’re my daughter, I know you. You’re smart, but you would have never thought of going to university on your own. I told your father that your husband must have encouraged you. Now that I have an idea of your plans, I won’t pry. I still can’t quite see why Li Xiu treats you so incredibly well, but I do know this: you have to live with a clear conscience. And from the moment you two started courting, he has been completely devoted to you."

"My dear girl, tell me the truth. You didn’t really like him at first, did you?"

"Mom, he was so tan and scrawny back then, and not even that tall. Isn’t it perfectly normal that I didn’t like him?" Zhou Lian said with a pout. ’I didn’t like him in my past life, either. In both lives, Li Xiu only shot up after they got married. He must have grown seven or eight centimeters!’

"Oh, you... Even after the engagement, you paid him no mind. I knew you weren’t fond of him," Mrs. Zhou said, then asked curiously, "But now, that boy looks like a completely different person. Can marrying a wife really change a man so much?" ’My son-in-law’s appearance and height are so different from before he got married. And my daughter has changed, too. How did they both transform just from getting married?’

"Mom, just think about it. What did Li Xiu eat before? What did he wear? What kind of hard labor was he doing? After I married him, he was afraid I was a picky eater, so he started making all kinds of different dishes every single day. I can only eat so much, and I don’t like leftovers for the next meal. So, he’s been eating well and getting proper nutrition. Of course he’s going to grow taller!"

"Tell Mom the truth. Do you like him now? Do you regret marrying him?"

"No, Mom, I don’t regret marrying him. He pampers me so much... I’m not sure even my own father would dote on me this much. Since we married, I can count the number of times I’ve cooked on one hand. I haven’t washed a single load of laundry, and I’ve basically done no chores whatsoever. The only exception was right after we got married last year, I worked in the fields a few times. And even then, he went to the production team leader to get me the easiest tasks. Once I got pregnant, he never let me work in the fields again."

"Mom, he once went into Daqing Mountain to find ginseng for me. He stayed there for three days and two nights and even ran into a tiger. He nearly died that time. I don’t know how other couples live their lives, but this is how it’s always been for us. Whatever I say, whatever I want, he moves heaven and earth to get it for me. Mom, I’m not a fool. I would never do something stupid to a man who treats me this well. Honestly, besides you and Dad, who else in this world could ever treat me this good?"

Zhou Lian murmured softly, nestled in her mother’s embrace. ’Even Mom and Dad probably haven’t done as much as Li Xiu has. It’s not that they’re inferior to him, but they have other children and can’t possibly devote all their attention to me. Li Xiu is different. To him, not even our precious daughter Nuonuo is more important than I am. How could I be foolish enough to leave a man who values me more than his own flesh and blood?’

"It’s good that you’ve thought it through. But that time your husband went into the mountains and ran into a tiger—why didn’t you say anything!" Mrs. Zhou said with a sigh. ’Her son-in-law really was willing to put his life on the line for her, all for a stalk of ginseng to help her recuperate.’

"Say anything? And get an earful for it? No thanks! But I did punish him. He won’t go deep into the mountains again."

"You punished him? How?" Mrs. Zhou asked doubtfully. ’Her daughter’s personality had changed so much since getting married, but surely she wouldn’t have done anything too outrageous.’

"Made him kneel on a washboard!"

Mrs. Zhou slapped Zhou Lian on the back. "You’ve really got some nerve now," she said, exasperated. "Making your husband kneel on a washboard! Where do you even come up with these things?"

Zhou Lian sat up straight, rubbing her shoulder. ’That’s my own mother, all right. She really doesn’t pull her punches!’ Disgruntled, she said, "Mom, he acted so recklessly. What’s wrong with me punishing him for it? He was lucky that time and managed to kill the tiger. But what if his luck had run out, and the tiger had killed him instead? What would Nuonuo and I have done then?"

Seeing her daughter’s self-righteous expression, Mrs. Zhou frowned and asked, "You punished him, and he just obediently knelt?"

"Hah! As if he’d dare not to. He’d see what I’d do to him!" Zhou Lian said. The memory still made her angry, though it was mostly just lingering fear. ’What if something had gone wrong!’

"Alright, fine. I won’t say any more. Just as long as you know what you’re doing," Mrs. Zhou said after a moment’s thought. "No one cares what you two do in private, but out in public, you have to be more careful. You can’t make your husband lose face." ’This son-in-law of mine really does spoil my daughter rotten. He’s letting her walk all over him!’

"Don’t worry, Mom. With Li Xiu around, I won’t be mistreated. A man who won’t even let me have more children because he’s afraid it’ll harm my body probably isn’t going to do anything to betray me."

"That’s true. Your husband really adores you. Alright, it’s getting late. Go wash up and get some sleep. Why isn’t Li Xiu home yet?" Mrs. Zhou decided not to press the matter further. ’Even if I ask, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just have to see how things go. My daughter has matured a lot; I’m sure she won’t let herself be wronged.’

"Honey, Mom, I’m back," Li Xiu called out with a smile, holding his sleeping daughter in his arms.

After putting the child down, Li Xiu sat in front of his mother-in-law and said, "Mom, please stay here for a few more days. I have to make a trip to the Capital City in the next day or two. How about you head back after I return?"

"Why are you going to the Capital City now?" Zhou Lian asked curiously. ’School doesn’t start for another month!’

"Bao’er, I’m going to go to the Capital City ahead of time to look at houses," Li Xiu whispered to Zhou Lian. "You stay here with Mom and our daughter, okay? I’ll be back before you know it." He couldn’t stand the thought of his wife and child suffering on a trip in this scorching heat. He’d go find a place—buy one if possible, or rent if not. Regardless, he needed to have everything settled before she started university so she wouldn’t have to worry about a thing.

"Bao’er, you go take a shower first. It’s late; you should be resting," Li Xiu said, sending her away when he noticed his mother-in-law’s puzzled look. ’I need to reassure her properly so she doesn’t worry.’