Chapter 12: Is this how a married couple should be?

Their first time together happened when Su Ai barged into Ji Yang’s room, tricking and tying him up before taking advantage of him.

“You…”

Ji Yang really wanted to say that Su Ai was shameless, that she shouldn’t say such things so casually.

But he had to admit that this Su Ai seemed more vibrant than before.

It made his heart flutter again.

However, he didn’t want Su Ai to see, so he hid his emotions, concealing his feelings behind a calm expression.

Su Ai, seemingly oblivious, put him back in bed, brought him water to wash, served him noodles in bed, and then picked up Lele.

She took the child to wash up as well.

When Ji Yang came to his senses, he had already finished his noodles.  Su Ai then placed another bowl of noodles with an egg in front of Lele.

“You should eat quickly too. I’ll watch Lele eat.”

“Okay.”

“Put your bowls here; I’ll wash them later. I need to pack our bags.”

Su Ai went out again, busy with something. Ji Yang wanted his son to eat faster, so he fed him. Lele rubbed his eyes, still sleepy, and mumbled to Ji Yang:

“Dad, you were right.”

“What’s right?”

“You were right when you said Mom doesn’t like vegetables!”

“Mom didn’t have an egg in her noodles this morning.”

“Mom doesn’t like vegetables, meat, or eggs.”

The child was too young to understand the implications, but Ji Yang paused his feeding.

Last night, they had shared chicken legs and vegetables; this morning, they shared eggs.

She gave all the good things to him and their son.

Ji Yang’s heart felt warm, but he was also very confused.

He didn’t understand what had caused such a drastic change in Su Ai. Was it because of his broken leg?

He didn’t think so.  His leg had been broken for several days. If there was going to be a change, why did it happen days later?

Ji Yang couldn’t figure it out.

His son had already eaten his egg, and Ji Yang, without thinking much, had already eaten his.

There was nothing to say now.

He quickly finished feeding his son.

Su Ai finished her noodles in a few bites and hurried to pack their bags.

Hospital conditions weren’t as good then as they were later. Hot water, toilets, bedding everything was inconvenient.

Since they were going to the city, they would need to stay for several days at least, so Su Ai needed to pack everything they needed, especially with a child.

Su Ai found a large bag and packed two sets of clothes for Ji Yang and Lele, and one set for herself.

The clothes were thick, making the bag quite bulky.

After some thought, Su Ai decided not to bring a blanket but packed a teapot, two teacups, several bowls, two towels, and toiletries.

She quickly washed their bowls and chopsticks, realizing it was almost time.

Because they woke up early, it was only seven o’clock.

The bus left at 7:20.

Su Ai took the large bag and Lele to the bus stop at the village entrance.

“Baby, Mommy will be back to get Dad.  Can you watch our luggage here?”

“Okay.”

Su Ai returned to carry Ji Yang.  As soon as she entered the room, she saw him leaning against the headboard, holding a small box.

Seeing Su Ai, he handed her the box.

“What is it?”

“Open it and see.”

Su Ai opened it cautiously, revealing neatly arranged banknotes.

Remembering her earlier outburst and the damage she’d caused at home, Su Ai recalled that Ji Yang would only give her a few yuan at most maybe ten or twenty.

Now, he was giving her this box, possibly his entire savings probably one or two hundred yuan.

Ji Yang, as the only doctor in the village, had a decent income, but he’d been forced to give his future father-in-law a thousand yuan when he married Su Ai.

In those days, a ten-thousand-yuan household was celebrated throughout the county.  A thousand yuan was a significant sum.

After giving away that thousand yuan and Su Ai’s subsequent spending sprees, having one or two hundred yuan left was quite something.

“I should have enough money. Keep this.”

Ji Yang didn’t take it back.

“It’s for my leg treatment. I can’t be completely stingy.”

Su Ai suddenly bent down, getting very close to Ji Yang.

“What’s ‘yours’ and ‘mine’? Do we need to be so formal as husband and wife?”

Ji Yang’s face flushed slightly, but he shyly pursed his lips, remaining silent.

“Hmm?” Su Ai’s voice rose slightly, her slightly hoarse tone alluring.

“No need.”

Su Ai was overjoyed by his answer.  Those two words meant Ji Yang still considered her his wife.

His family.

That answer brought her peace of mind.

Who would want a broken family if they could have a good husband and obedient child?

She wanted a good life for herself, her husband, and her child.

Seeing Ji Yang’s blush, Su Ai couldn’t help but tease him.

“Since we’re not being so formal, is this all your savings? Is all your money here?”

Snapping out of his daze, Ji Yang looked at Su Ai cautiously.

“There’s some more, but that’s for Lele.”

“Lele will be going to school soon.”

But under Su Ai’s gaze, Ji Yang’s confidence faltered.

He worried that his resistance might upset Su Ai, who had only recently changed her ways.  After thinking, he relented:

“If you think it’s not enough, I can give you another hundred yuan at most.”

“Lele will need money later.”

Seeing Ji Yang’s nervousness, Su Ai found her husband incredibly endearing.

She picked him up on her back, whispering, “I know Lele will need money later.  Don’t worry, I’ll earn money too. This should be enough; we don’t need more.”

“Mm.”

After adjusting him on her back to ensure she wouldn’t hurt his injury and he wouldn’t fall, Su Ai was about to leave when Ji Yang said:

“Everything in this house is ours. You can have your share of everything, whether it’s chicken or eggs.”

“Don’t just cook for me and Lele anymore.”

Su Ai stopped, a fire igniting in her heart.

Then she put Ji Yang back on the bed.