Chapter 54

Su Qianqian and Su Yinhua turned to see Cheng Yue standing not far away, dressed in a military uniform and watching them.

His sharp brows and eyes, chiseled features, and upright posture made for an impressive figure.

Su Yinhua was completely stunned. She had always known Cheng Yue was handsome, but now, in his uniform, he looked almost unreal.

“You’re back. Let’s go home,” Su Qianqian said, quickly steadying herself. If Cheng Yue were just a passerby, she might have stolen a second glance. But since he was about to become her ex-husband, it was better not to look. The more she looked, the more unwilling she felt.

Thinking about this man being with someone else in the future left her with a strange bitterness.

She took a deep breath and reminded herself: Men only slow down your ability to make money!

Focus on the goal: Get rich, stay away from distractions!

As Cheng Yue and Su Qianqian walked away, Su Yinhua snapped out of her daze and rushed off. On her way home, she told everyone she met that Cheng Yue was back. Soon, more than half of Tianshui village knew the news.

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When they got home, the house was empty except for the three children.

The three little ones froze at the sight of Cheng Yue, staring blankly at him.

“What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me after just a few days?” Cheng Yue scooped all three children into his arms effortlessly.

Su Qianqian was surprised by his strength and caught a glimpse of his muscular arms.

Hmm… very manly!

“What are you standing there for? Greet me!”

The three kids blinked, then in unison called out, “Uncle!”

Pfft! Su Qianqian burst out laughing.

Cheng Yue was mortified.

“Why are you calling me uncle? Call me dad!” he said through gritted teeth.

The kids collectively fell silent.

“Didn’t we agree last time that you’d call me dad the day after? But then you all sneaked off! A promise is a promise, and you need to keep it!” He glared at Erbao, who had tricked him back then with a cunning little plan.

At the time, Cheng Yue had been happily waiting for the kids to call him dad, only to find them gone the next day.

“That day has long passed. Hmm… Mom, what’s that saying? About something going bad after a certain time?” Erbao turned to Su Qianqian.

Su Qianqian thought for a moment and replied, “Shelf life.”

“Yes, that’s it! The promise has passed its shelf life. It’s expired and doesn’t count anymore. Mom, what’s that phrase? Something about being too late and missing the chance?”

“‘Overdue and no longer waiting!’”

Their mother-son banter darkened Cheng Yue’s expression. Were they seriously putting on a double act?

Seeing that Cheng Yue was on the verge of blowing a gasket, Su Qianqian stepped in to smooth things over. “Mom and Dad are in the wheat fields harvesting. Let’s go find them. They’ll be happy to see you back.”

“Alright.”

The family of five headed out. Su Qianqian took Sanya from his arms, leaving him to carry Daya and Erbao. Watching him walk, she noted how steady he was—clearly fully recovered. Daya and Erbao weren’t light, but he carried them with ease.

Along the way, familiar faces greeted them with smiles.

“Cheng Yue’s back! It really is Cheng Yue!”

Cheng Yue greeted everyone he met, all familiar faces. “Yes, I’m back.”

“Wow, you’ve done well for yourself! You look so sharp! That uniform suits you so well!”

A group of young people and children ran over to see Cheng Yue up close, particularly envious of his military uniform.

In this era, boys had a special fondness for military uniforms. Wearing one, even just once, would make them feel like their life was complete.

The Cheng family came running to meet Cheng Yue, likely informed by someone. They couldn’t wait and encountered him halfway home.

“My son!” Zhu Tianfang rushed up and hugged Cheng Yue tightly, gently pounding his back. “You’re finally back, finally back!” Her voice cracked with emotion as she spoke.

Cheng Yue felt a deep sense of guilt. “Dad, Mom, I’m sorry for worrying you. It’s my failure as a son.”

The ancient dilemma of loyalty and filial piety never being fully compatible weighed on him.

“Big Brother and Sister-in-law, thank you for your hard work!”

“It’s fine as long as you’re back safe!” Cheng Song, not one for many words, gave his brother a firm hug. The hardships of the past five years suddenly felt worth it. The bond between the brothers had always been strong; a little suffering was nothing as long as they were reunited.

“Let’s talk more at home,” someone suggested. Expressing too much emotion out in public was a bit embarrassing.

“I’ll help with the work first,” Cheng Yue said. “Let’s finish it before heading back. It’s the busy farming season, and I don’t want my return to hold things up. I have a half-month leave this time, so I can stay longer at home.”

Hearing that he had a half-month leave delighted the Cheng family.

“Uncle, can I touch your military hat?” Chuanchuan asked with wide-eyed admiration.

Cheng Yue took off his hat and placed it on Chuanchuan’s head, making the boy so excited he couldn’t help but cheer. Realizing he should act more serious, Chuanchuan straightened up and stood at attention, making everyone laugh.

The family headed to the fields, drawing plenty of attention.

Though the Cheng family wasn’t large, having someone as accomplished as Cheng Yue elevated their status.

Cheng Yue worked swiftly, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing strong forearm muscles. His speed and precision significantly improved the efficiency of harvesting wheat.

Before long, he was sweating, wiping his face hastily before continuing.

“Here, use a towel,” Su Qianqian approached and handed him one. She noticed how his eyelashes, surprisingly long for a man, kept the sweat from dripping into his eyes.

Cheng Yue took the towel, wiped his face, and instantly felt refreshed. He draped it around his neck and returned to work.

“After so many years away, you’re still so skilled!” someone teased.

“I’ve done this since I was little; it’s muscle memory. The moment I pick up a tool, it all comes back,” Cheng Yue replied with a smile.

Not long after, the team leader and secretary arrived, suggesting they hold a welcome banquet for Cheng Yue. Being one of the village’s most successful young people, they felt it should be celebrated in style.

“There’s no need to go through so much trouble,” Cheng Yue said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“It’s no trouble at all! Each household will contribute two dishes, and we’ll have everything together in no time. Don’t worry, we’ll organize it to avoid delaying the harvest.”

Seeing their enthusiasm, Cheng Yue could only graciously accept.

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After finishing the work, the Cheng family returned home to prepare dinner.

Cheng Song brought back some meat for Su Qianqian to cook. Now, she was the head cook of the household. After tasting her cooking, the family had become quite picky about their meals.

Wu Yuexiang stoked the fire, Zhu Tianfang helped with prep, while Cheng Youmin and Cheng Song sat with Cheng Yue, chatting about everything that had happened in the past five years.

As dish after dish was served, Cheng Yue swallowed hard. He had missed Su Qianqian’s cooking so much.

The family sat around the table and began eating.

Cheng Yue ate quickly, savoring the long-lost flavors that filled him with comfort and warmth. As he ate, a thought crept into his mind, scolding himself: What the hell was I thinking? Divorce? Seriously?

Just then, Cheng Youmin broke the silence with an unexpected question:

“Cheng Yue, are you really planning to divorce your wife?”