Chapter 7

Wang Guiying, Chen Guo, Ge Yun, Chen Qiang, and Fan Chun kept glancing repeatedly, their shocked and disbelieving eyes all turning to Gu Zhenqi. Each of them wore the same peculiar expression on their face.

Ge Yun leaned close to Chen Guo and whispered, “Possessed by a ghost?”

Fan Chun leaned close to herself and whispered, “Very strange!”

Even Wang Guiying was utterly confused—Gu Zhenqi had suddenly changed into someone she didn’t even recognize. Considering her usual nature, she glared at Ge Yun and Fan Chun each with a warning look in her eyes.

After Gu Zhenqi sat down, she looked seriously around the table at everyone.
“Mom, eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, second brother, second sister-in-law—
I’ve been married into our family for three years, just eating and doing nothing, like a lazy rice bug living off you. I truly feel uneasy about it. I can’t do farm work, and the kids are still little so I need to take care of them at home. From now on, let me be in charge of the three meals a day for our family. Chen Kuo has a stipend. I promise I’ll make sure you all eat well and eat your fill every day!”

“Zhenqi, are you serious? Actually, you don’t need to do that. You’re such a beautiful girl, and you married into our Chen family to bear children for the third son. He hasn’t come home in three years. You’re basically living like a widow. Mom feels guilty. You just take care of the kids. As for cooking, your sisters-in-law and I can take turns. You don’t need to.”

“Mom, sisters-in-law, you all work so hard. Ruiduo and Feian are really well-behaved. I can handle cooking while looking after them. Since you all treat me as part of the family, it’s only right that I contribute. Besides, Chen Kuo will come back someday. I have no plans to divorce him. So, our family still needs to go on—and we should live better than anyone else in the village or township!
Mom, eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, second brother, second sister-in-law, please just give me this opportunity to do something for our family.”

When Wang Guiying heard that Gu Zhenqi had no plans to divorce and even wanted to continue a good life with Chen Kuo, the heavy stone on her heart finally dropped. What reason could she have to say no?

“Alright, alright. Mom agrees. Just one thing—don’t overwork yourself. Keep the third son’s stipend for yourself. Don’t spend it on the household. We can just scrape by.”

Chen Guo and Chen Qiang were honest, down-to-earth farmers. They only knew how to work; they thought household matters were women’s business. The two of them stayed quiet and left it to their wives to decide.

Ge Yun and Fan Chun exchanged a look. Not having to cook and just coming home to ready food—they couldn’t ask for more.

Ge Yun grinned and said, “Then we’ll trouble Zhenqi.”

Fan Chun, being blunt, added, “You asked for it yourself!”

When Gu Zhenqi was reborn, she had already made up her mind while cooking. In her past life, because of the kids, she had created a rift between herself and the Chen family, as well as with her own parents and brothers.

After she turned thirty in that past life, she had lived alone. Daytime was fine, with endless work and clients, but once night fell, all she had was a big empty house and herself. Even when she made a full table of dishes, most of the time, she was the only one sitting there—sometimes until dawn.

As she grew older, she became incredibly envious of those lively, joyful big families—chattering, bickering, loving parents, children clinging around them, and a husband who cared.

She had none of that. Or more precisely, she once had it—but lost it all because she didn’t cherish it.

Now that she had the chance to start her life over, she wouldn’t allow herself to repeat the regrets of her past life. Every dream she once had, she would make come true with her own hands.

Gu Zhenqi picked up a large steamed bun and handed it to Wang Guiying.
“Mom, have a bun. Try it and see if it’s good.”

Then she gave one to each person at the table, her tone sincere:
“I’ll do my best!”

Ruiduo chimed in support: “Mommy is the best!”

Feian added: “Mommy is awesome!”

Gu Zhenqi took another bun, split it in half, and gave a piece each to Ruiduo and Feian, smiling warmly:
“You two are the best. Because of you, Mommy has the motivation!”

Ruiduo took a big bite and said, “Yummy! Mommy, so yummy!”

Feian quickly took a bite too: “Mommy, delicious! Super yummy! Half’s not enough!”

“You two sweet-talkers! Keep praising your mom like flattery is free, huh?” Wang Guiying laughed affectionately.

Ruiduo giggled and said, “Grandma, it is free. So don’t forget to praise Mommy lots too!”

Then she looked at the others at the table and said in her soft little voice, “Uncle, Auntie, Second Uncle, Second Auntie—you all have to praise my mommy too, okay? It’s free!”

“Haha…”

“Haha…”

“…”

Everyone at the table burst into laughter at Ruiduo’s adorable innocence.

After that, everyone gave Gu Zhenqi a compliment or two. She ended up feeling a bit embarrassed by it all.

—-

After the meal

During the lunch break, after coaxing the two kids to sleep, Gu Zhenqi went to Wang Guiying’s room.

“Zhenqi, did you come to see Mom for something?” Wang Guiying had just taken off her shoes and was about to nap.

“Mom, it’s nothing serious. I won’t interrupt your rest. Just one thing—I’d like to ask you for Chen Kuo’s address. I mean, we are husband and wife. We can’t have zero communication, right? I want to write him a letter, and when the weather cools down, I’ll make some preserved foods to mail to him.”

Wang Guiying’s face immediately lit up with joy. She excitedly grabbed Gu Zhenqi’s hand.
“Zhenqi, are you serious? You’re not teasing Mom, right?”

Gu Zhenqi looked into her eyes with sincerity and nodded seriously.
“Mom, of course I’m serious. Chen Kuo and I have children together. If I don’t live a good life with him, then with who? And the kids need their dad, too.”

Her last sentence carried deep meaning. In her past life, she had met Chen Kuo once again in their middle age.

She was a successful businesswoman. He was a military official. For some reason, she had foolishly gone up to him and asked,
“Do you hate me… for what happened with the kids?”

His face was full of guilt as he replied painfully,
“I was never a good father. What right do I have to blame you? It’s me who failed all three of you.”

After that, they never saw each other again. She knew little about his life afterward, only that he never remarried.

Having lived a whole life, Gu Zhenqi now saw things differently. Her outlook was broader and more mature.

Protecting the country was a soldier’s duty. Chen Kuo had done nothing wrong. A soldier giving up his own family was for the happiness of countless others. He was a true national hero.

Now, Gu Zhenqi felt immense pride and honor to be married to a soldier. Chen Kuo was a real man—upright and reliable.

He was protecting the country; she would protect the home he left behind. When he returned, she’d nurture their relationship properly.

If he no longer had feelings for her, or if the two couldn’t rebuild their bond, she wouldn’t force it. But for the sake of their children having a complete home, she’d still do her best.

“Good, good. That’s wonderful, really wonderful.”
Wang Guiying was overjoyed and deeply comforted. Those were the only words she could say to express how she felt.

She stepped off the bed again, unlocked a cabinet, and took out a letter to give to Gu Zhenqi.
“It just arrived. It’s the third son’s stipend for this month. I was planning to give it to you tonight. The mailing address should be on the envelope.”

Gu Zhenqi carefully put the letter away.
“Mom, you go ahead and rest. I’ll head out now.”

—-

When Gu Zhenqi went to clean the kitchen, she caught Ge Yun sneaking around inside.

“Big sis, what are you doing?”

Her sudden voice startled Ge Yun so much that the bun in her hand almost dropped.
“Uh, nothing, nothing! You carry on—I’ll just head out now!”

As Ge Yun reached the door, Gu Zhenqi called from behind her:
“Big sis, didn’t you eat enough? Taking six buns at once—you sure you can finish them?”

Ge Yun turned back awkwardly, laughing nervously.
“Ha… Zhenqi, it’s not like that. I’m full. Stuffed, actually!”

“Oh? Then are you saving them for your family?”

“N-no! No, I’m saving them for Xiaode and Zhizhi.”

Ge Yun quickly ran back, waving her hands in denial.

“I’ve already set some aside for Chen Xiaode and Chen Zhizhi. No matter what, the kids will never go hungry. When they come back from school, they’ll have dinner. Big sis, please don’t do this kind of thing in the future. It can easily lead to misunderstandings and make things unpleasant. Since I’ve taken on the responsibility of cooking, I promise the whole family will eat well. If you don’t trust me, we can go ask Mom to be a witness. What do you think, big sis?”