Chapter 32 Handing in wages

“Mom, Yuchu and I will buy what’s needed. Please keep this money—we have enough,” Lin Qiyue said, relying on the original host’s memories. She knew these two families had once been very kind to the original Lin Qiyue’s family. It was just that life in the countryside was hard, and they couldn’t afford a better life.

She refused the money and placed it back into her mother-in-law’s hand.

“No, you have to take it,” Qian Xiuying insisted, pushing the money back into Lin Qiyue’s hands. She gently instructed, “Good child, Uncle Li’s wife—your aunt—passed away. He has four children to raise on his own. He doesn’t want them to suffer, so he insists on sending them to school, hoping they’ll have a better future. Your father and I can’t help much, so when you go back this time, you must give him this money. Let the kids study hard. One day…”

She wanted to say: maybe one of them could get into college. Even if they didn’t get a recommendation now, maybe in the future things would change. The current situation was slowly improving, and she was well aware of it.

Lin Qiyue understood what she meant, and wanted to say that the future would indeed be bright—things were heading in a good direction.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll make sure Uncle Li receives the money,” she promised.

Qian Xiuying nodded in satisfaction. They talked for a while longer, until Lan Yuchu came to remind Lin Qiyue to go to bed. Only then did the conversation end.

Back in the room, after Lin Qiyue showered and came out with damp hair, she started organizing her belongings. She noticed that Lan Yuchu had already packed several sets of clothes for her, along with some towels and other necessities. He even remembered to include her snow cream.

In this era, everything was scarce, and people didn’t have much, so packing was simple. Lin Qiyue felt a bit moved—he was quite attentive.

Lan Yuchu was lying on the bed watching her bustle around, but he couldn’t take it anymore. He got up and found a dry towel.

“What are you doing?” Lin Qiyue asked quickly as he pulled her over.

Lan Yuchu sat down on a stool and pulled Lin Qiyue onto his lap. “I’m drying your hair. Don’t move.”

Lin Qiyue obediently leaned back against him as he gently dried the ends of her hair.

She was applying snow cream while looking into the mirror. As she watched herself, she noticed that the original host’s body had changed slightly over the past few days—perhaps due to better meals and improved nutrition. She had put on a bit of weight and looked healthier, even prettier.

Through the mirror, she saw Lan Yuchu’s face. He looked so serious while drying her hair, not the slightest bit impatient.

He looked really good when he was being attentive.

The electric fan spun toward them, its breeze sweeping over both their bodies. Lin Qiyue’s long hair floated against her face, carrying a faint fragrance.

Lan Yuchu noticed the scent—it was very pleasant. A small smile formed at the corner of his mouth, and Lin Qiyue caught it clearly in the mirror.

They didn’t speak, but the room was filled with a warm, intimate atmosphere.

“Mmm, just a little longer and your hair will be dry.”

He continued drying while the fan blew. Her hair wasn’t very long, just past her shoulders, which made it easier.

Then Lan Yuchu wrapped his arms around Lin Qiyue’s waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. Looking at her in the mirror, he asked curiously,
“What were you and Mom talking about for so long? I’ve been waiting for you forever.”

He’d been alone in the room, growing more anxious by the minute—not because he didn’t trust her, but because her absence made his mind restless.

His body burned with impatience. He was completely captivated by Lin Qiyue.

“What else could we talk about? Just the countryside—Mom was feeling nostalgic, so we talked a while longer,” Lin Qiyue answered truthfully.

Lan Yuchu hugged her tighter and said reassuringly,
“Don’t worry. When we go back, we’ll talk to your parents properly. I’m sure they just want us to live a good life. I’ll treat you well—I won’t let you down.”

“Is that a promise?” Lin Qiyue asked, raising a brow.

“Yes, it’s a promise,” Lan Yuchu replied with a nod.

Lin Qiyue pouted slightly and said, “I don’t need your promise.”

Promises can be dangerous. She didn’t want to live her whole life clinging to someone’s vow.

Feelings fade. They were in the honeymoon phase now, but eventually, that heat would cool.

Lan Yuchu didn’t argue. He stood up and let her sit. Then he opened the wardrobe and took out a red booklet along with some documents and receipts.

He squatted down in front of Lin Qiyue, looked up at her, and said:

“This is all the money I have. I’ve been in the army for nine years—this is everything I’ve saved. Including bonuses and commendation awards, it adds up to 12,000 yuan. I’m giving it all to you—along with myself.”

This was all the money he had.

Lin Qiyue looked at the stack. He’d saved for seven or eight years and had still sent her fifty yuan a month. Yet he had managed to save so much.

This man probably barely spent any money on himself.

“This is yours—you should keep it,” Lin Qiyue said. She didn’t feel right taking his money.

His body bore scars, even bullet wounds. This money had been earned with his life—it made her uneasy to accept it.

“No. From the moment you married me, this money became ours. After our wedding, I returned to the army and have been on special assignments until recently, when I transferred to my current unit. That’s why I finally had time to come home on leave.

All these years I haven’t been able to come back, and you’ve suffered because of it. You must take this money—and spend it all. That’s the only way I can feel a little less guilty.

I haven’t taken good care of you.”

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became—truly terrified. He was afraid that if he had come back any later, his wife might not have been there anymore.

Lin Qiyue reached out to gently touch the handsome man’s face. She smiled and nodded, saying, “Okay, I’ll listen to my husband. I’ll take the money—and I’ll make sure to spend every bit of it. So you’d better work hard! Otherwise, once I run out, I’ll have nothing left to spend!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll never let you run out of money. I’ll work hard and make sure you live a good life.” That had always been his goal.

Lin Qiyue leaned down and gave Lan Yuchu a kiss on the lips. The moment their lips touched, her heart skipped a beat—it felt like her heartbeat had fallen out of rhythm for a second.

Lan Yuchu responded to the kiss eagerly. He cupped her face in both hands, and this time, the kiss was far more experienced.

As they got lost in the kiss, he picked Lin Qiyue up and laid her gently on the bed. The red booklet in his hand fell to the floor, and the bills tucked inside scattered around.

Only when both of them were flushed and nearly breathless did Lan Yuchu finally let go.

“Lan Yuchu, you dog of a man—I almost couldn’t breathe!” she exclaimed, gasping for air.

Lan Yuchu, looking somewhat satisfied, got up to pick up the red booklet and the scattered money. Then he turned off the light and leaned in again.

“Honey, I’m not feeling up for it right now—it still hurts,” she said softly.

She wasn’t being coy—she genuinely wasn’t feeling well, and they had to catch a train the next day. Besides, Lan Yuchu was not exactly gentle in his nutritional output, and her body couldn’t take too much at once.

Lan Yuchu wasn’t disappointed. He realized he’d been a bit too much. He wrapped her in his arms under the blanket and whispered, “Okay, I’ll wait. I just want to hold you while we sleep.”

The man wanted intimacy, of course—but not at the expense of her health.

Lin Qiyue nodded in his arms. This time, she really didn’t dare tease him too much.

The night passed quietly, and she quickly fell asleep.

They woke up around five in the morning. Their train was at 7:30.

Qian Xiuying had gotten up early to make breakfast. She had even borrowed a car from her workplace to drive them to the train station.

Lin Qiyue had slept well. When she woke, Lan Yuchu coaxed her gently, even kissed her cheek, making her feel all tingly and itchy—it was only then that she finally got up.

After washing up, she wore a long suspender dress over a light blue floral bell-sleeve shirt. With white socks and clean cloth shoes, and her hair braided, she looked youthful and full of life.

Lan Yuchu wore a white shirt and black trousers, looking like an educated youth from the countryside.

Qian Xiuying had made millet porridge, some meat buns, and flatbreads. She had packed everything tightly and carefully, while constantly reminding Lan Yuchu to take care of Lin Qiyue on the road and not let her get too tired.

Her biggest concern—Qian Xiuying leaned in close to Lan Yuchu and whispered,
“There are people in the city who like to mess around and have bad intentions. When you’re back in the countryside, you must always protect Qiyue. Don’t let anyone hurt her—stay by her side at all times, understand?”

Lan Yuchu nodded and replied, “Mom, I got it. Don’t worry.”