Chapter 25

So she only took a few pieces of rock candy back with her, intending to share them with her younger siblings later. That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about them falling into Chen Dashan’s hands.

In winter, the night falls quickly. By the time Taohua and Qin Feng arrived at the Chen family home, it was already pitch dark, and they couldn’t see their hands in front of their faces.

Luckily, Chen Dashan wasn’t home, so Taohua and Qin Feng went inside to sit for a while.

Zhou said to Taohua, “I already know he went to your house today. When he came back, he cursed at you, then took the money and went out to drink. The fifteen liang of silver your son-in-law gave him back then has already been mostly squandered. Taohua, just remember one thing—no matter what he asks from you in the future, don’t give him anything.”

“I understand, mother, but I’m afraid if I don’t give him anything, he’ll take it out on you. I’m afraid you’ll suffer. Mother, is it possible to stop living with him?”

“If we stop living together, what will happen to your two younger sisters and brother? If he divorces me, do you think he’ll leave me with my three children? Taohua, don’t worry about me. Look, I’m doing fine, he hasn’t beaten me. As long as you and your husband are happy, I’ll be content.

While you’ve been away, your two younger sisters and brother have missed you. Go play with them for a while. I have a few things to discuss with your son-in-law.”

Taohua nodded and looked at Qin Feng. Then, she went to the room to find her younger siblings.

“Xiao Guo, Xiao Ye, Xiao Bao! Have you missed your sister? Look what I brought you!”

Taohua smiled when she saw her three adorable younger siblings. She immediately took out a small cloth bag from her arms.

Chen Xiaoye, born in the year of the dog, had an especially keen nose and immediately caught the sweet scent.

“It’s something delicious! It’s definitely something delicious! Big sister brought us something yummy!”

As soon as Chen Bao heard “delicious,” he immediately stuck out his tongue and licked the small cloth bag in Taohua’s hands.

His small voice sounded sweet as he said, “So sweet, big sister, you’re so sweet!”

“Little one, no matter how sweet the candy is, it can’t beat how sweet your words are,” Taohua said as she opened the cloth bag, revealing the rock candy inside.

“Wow, it’s a big piece!”

“I want to eat, I want to eat!”

“I want some too!”

“Alright, alright, don’t rush, everyone will get a share.” Taohua said, knocking the cloth bag a few times on the table.

The big piece of rock candy broke into several pieces, and Taohua handed some to each of her younger siblings.

After the children finished their candy, Zhou and Qin Feng had also finished talking.

The couple didn’t want to stay too long at the Chen house, so they decided to return home.

Without a lantern, they had to rely on the faint moonlight to make their way back.

When Qin Feng saw this, he quickly bent down in front of her and squatted: “Come on, get on my back, I’ll carry you home.”

Taohua was momentarily stunned. As far as she could remember, only when she was very young had her parents carried her. Once she grew up, she never relied on anyone’s back again.

Now, staring at Qin Feng’s broad shoulders, she asked a silly question:

“I’m heavy, are you sure you want to carry me, Qin Gege?”

Qin Feng couldn’t help but chuckle at her words. Silly little wife!

“Come on, get on. Don’t I know how heavy you are? I can easily lift you with one hand.”

Hearing Qin Feng’s words, Taohua couldn’t help but blush.

Yes, he really seemed like he could lift her easily—just using his big hands to hold her waist. He only needed to lean against the bedpost to effortlessly lift and lower her…

Taohua slowly climbed onto Qin Feng’s back. At first, she was hesitant to get too close to him.

But when she remembered the intimate moments they’d shared in the past two nights, she let go and put her full weight onto him.

She wrapped her arms around Qin Feng’s neck and pressed her face against the nape of his neck as she asked, “Qin Gege, what did my mother say to you just now? Why didn’t she let me listen?”

“Hmm? What did you say?”

Qin Feng was a little distracted, his mind wandering due to the softness on his back and the warm, tickling breath on his neck.

In that moment, he suddenly felt all the blood rushing to his lower abdomen.

Meanwhile, Taohua, still on Qin Feng’s back, had no idea of the change in his body. She only felt that the hands holding her legs had suddenly become firmer, and his thumb seemed to press and rub against her leg a couple of times.

She didn’t think much of it, assuming that Qin Gege was just afraid she might fall off his back.

She repeated her question, a little sulky, “What did my mother really say to you?”

“Do you really want to know?” Qin Feng’s voice was a bit hoarse.

“Mm!” Taohua nodded against Qin Feng’s shoulder and neck, “I really want to know, I’m so curious!”

“Alright. I’ll tell you, but before that, you have to answer me one question.”

“What question?” Taohua was even more curious now. “Ask away, Qin Gege!”

“We both know that you’ve cut ties with the Chen family. You finally escaped that fire pit. But your mother is still a member of the Chen family. Now, if you want to interfere with your mother’s affairs, the Chen family will never allow it. They might even accuse you of meddling, so do you still want to get involved?”