Chapter 138: After All She is a Married Woman

On the 56th day since Cheng Jingmo left, it was raining, and it was cloudy but rainless in South City.

Yu Xiangnian took the morning off to take Xiao Jie to the beach to hunt for seafood.

The last time they went beachcombing was three months ago, when Cheng Jingmo was still with them.

Now, it was Yu Xiangnian riding a bicycle with Xiao Jie sitting on the back seat, holding two buckets filled with shovels and tongs.

While they were on the beach collecting seafood, a father and daughter arrived.

Even though Yu Xiangnian was squatting on the ground and wearing a hat, the father recognized her immediately.

“Comrade Yu!”

Yu Xiangnian looked up.

It was Yang Wanli, who had helped her a couple of days ago.

She stood up and greeted him with a smile, “Hello, Director Yang.”

“I didn’t expect to run into you here!” Yang Wanli smiled, revealing slightly yellowed teeth, possibly from drinking tea over the years.

“Yes, I didn’t expect it either. Are you here to hunt for seafood with your child?” Yu Xiangnian asked, glancing at the little girl beside him.

The girl was about ten years old, sturdy-looking, with her hair in two braids, wearing a thick floral dress.

“Yes, we’re here to hunt for seafood!” Yang Wanli said, tugging at the girl’s arm. “Qiu Yue, say hello to your aunt.”

The girl curled her lips and lazily lifted her eyelids, reluctantly saying, “Aunt.”

Yu Xiangnian noticed her reluctance and forced a smile. “Hello, Qiu Yue.”

Yang Wanli pointed to a spot not far away, “Is that your child?”

Yu Xiangnian looked over and saw Xiao Jie squatting by the edge of the beach, eyeing them with hostility. He had been squatting there for some time, with the water now covering his feet.

Yu Xiangnian smiled at Xiao Jie and then looked away. “Yes, he is.”

Yang Wanli remarked, “You don’t look more than twenty, so this child must be around seven or eight.”

Implying that the child wasn’t Yu Xiangnian’s.

Yu Xiangnian didn’t want to explain to someone she wasn’t familiar with, so she just nodded and said, “He is my child.”

Xiao Jie suddenly came over, tugging on Yu Xiangnian’s hand, “Aunt, let’s go over there.”

Yu Xiangnian took the chance to extricate herself, “Director Yang, I’m going to check out that side.”

After Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie walked away, Qiu Yue complained angrily, “I don’t like her!”

Yang Wanli then withdrew his gaze from Yu Xiangnian’s back. “You don’t like anyone except for the next-door Aunt Xuehua!”

He paused and then softened his tone, speaking gently, “Qiu Yue, Dad really doesn’t like Aunt Xuehua. It’s hard for me to find someone I like after so many years. Please, just help me out.”

Qiu Yue maintained her stance, “I don’t think she likes you.”

Yang Wanli confidently replied, “With my conditions, who wouldn’t like me?”

After all, back then, working at the post office was quite a desirable job.

Yang Wanli continued, “Let’s go over there too. You go play with that boy, and I’ll talk to her.”

He had overheard that the child called Yu Xiangnian “aunt,” which meant the child was definitely not Yu Xiangnian’s.

Looking at Yu Xiangnian’s figure, she didn’t seem like someone who had given birth.

The two of them followed after Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie.

Yang Wanli signaled to Qiu Yue to try to lure Xiao Jie to another spot for seafood hunting.

Qiu Yue reluctantly tried a couple of times, but Xiao Jie ignored her, sticking closely to Yu Xiangnian.

Qiu Yue gave up and stopped trying.

So, the beachcombing became a four-person activity.

Yang Wanli didn’t press too hard; their conversation focused on the seafood they found and the two children, so Yu Xiangnian didn’t sense his intentions.

Although he had investigated and knew that Yu Xiangnian’s husband was most likely deceased, Yu Xiangnian was still legally married.

If he made his intentions too obvious, it might make Yu Xiangnian worry about her reputation and distance herself from him.

He never considered that Yu Xiangnian might not be interested in him!

Given his conditions, he was no worse than her late husband!

He had a high income, no dangers, and could be with her every day!

Even if a married woman was beautiful and cultured, she was still a married woman!

Two hours later, the tide began to rise, and the four of them were ready to head back.

Yu Xiangnian and Xiao Jie each collected half a bucket of seafood.

Yu Xiangnian hung the two buckets on either side of the bicycle basket, said goodbye to Yang Wanli and his daughter, and went home with Xiao Jie.

Xiao Jie was sensitive.

During dinner, he asked Yu Xiangnian, “Aunt, if my uncle doesn’t come back, would you marry that man from today?”

Yu Xiangnian was first surprised, then laughed, “What are you thinking in that little head of yours?!”

Xiao Jie asked seriously, “Will you?”

Seeing him so serious and remembering others’ comments about her remarrying, Yu Xiangnian understood Xiao Jie’s concern.

She stopped smiling and said firmly, “No! I don’t even consider him a friend.”

Xiao Jie sighed in relief and then lowered his head.

He thought that even if his aunt didn’t marry this man, she might still marry someone else. His aunt couldn’t possibly spend her whole life with him alone.

Having been with Xiao Jie for almost ten months, Yu Xiangnian could somewhat guess his thoughts.

She said seriously, “I don’t plan on getting married for now!”

After a moment, she added, “If your uncle doesn’t come back, I’ll first take you to the house I bought.”

Some things needed to be planned for the worst-case scenario.

Planning for the worst meant being able to face it rationally if things did turn out badly.

If things didn’t turn out as badly, it would be a pleasant surprise! She would be grateful to the heavens for their mercy and for not giving up on each other!

Yu Xiangnian continued, “In the future, I plan to go to college and move to Beijing. If you want to come with me, I’ll take you there, and you can grow up and study in Beijing. If you don’t want to come with me, I’ll send you to my family’s home, where you can grow up and study with Duoduo and Guangming. I’ll come back to visit you during holidays.”

Xiao Jie asked with concern, “What will happen to the chicks if we leave?”

Yu Xiangnian: “…”

Children’s thoughts are so unpredictable!

“Roast chicken, stewed chicken, braised chicken, beggar’s chicken… You choose!” Yu Xiangnian said, “I can’t possibly take two chickens with me to Beijing!”

Xiao Jie protested, “They’re still so small, and you want to eat them?”

To him, these two chickens were more than just chickens! They were a responsibility, a protection!

Yu Xiangnian said, “By then, they’ll be just right! Not too tough, not too tender!”

Xiao Jie: “…”

He murmured to himself, his aunt had forgotten what she said again!

Just yesterday, she said that Aunt Liu Zhen wanted to eat the chickens while they were still small.

Today, his aunt was already planning to eat these two little chicks.

He was going to follow her to Beijing.

With her memory, he wasn’t sure he could trust her to go so far alone!