Chapter 3: Lullaby

A group of workers who had just finished their shift began trickling back home.

“Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle—you’re back! Mom made so much delicious food, it smells amazing!” From afar, Dahu spotted Chen’s father, mother, and uncle in the returning group and dashed toward them.

“Ay, my precious grandsons! Come on, let’s go home and eat!”

Chen’s parents looked at the table filled with four dishes and one soup, along with golden, crispy corn pancakes, and couldn’t help but feel content.

“Our Manman is truly amazing—her cooking skills are as good as a chef from a state-owned restaurant!” Chen’s mother beamed with pride.

“Mom~ stop exaggerating. You’re all tired—let’s eat quickly.” Chen Manman wrapped her arm around her mother’s and sat down beside her.

“Come, Manman, eat more. You need to nourish your body—you really suffered yesterday.” As Chen’s mother mentioned what happened the day before, she grew angry again and shot a fierce glare at Lin Shuhe, who sat silently across from them.

That infuriating son-in-law—Chen’s mother had opposed their marriage from the start. If not for her daughter’s insistence on marrying only him…

He’s usually quiet like a gourd—just looking at him is annoying!

What Chen’s mother didn’t know was that her daughter had schemed against Lin Shuhe back then, and he had never brought it up after the marriage, silently enduring it all.

“Alright, let’s eat quickly. We have to go back to work later.” Chen’s father quickly stepped in to smooth things over before his wife went off on another tirade.

“Dad, Mom, try the cured pork I made. Isn’t it delicious?” As she spoke, Chen Manman placed a slice of fatty meat into their bowls.

The thin slice of cured pork, with its translucent fat, burst with rich flavor as soon as it entered the mouth.

Delicious!

“Not bad—Manman’s cooking has improved.” Chen’s father smiled faintly.

“Mom~ it’s so good!” Dahu’s rosy cheeks lit up with joy, his mouth greasy from the food.

“Good boy~ eat more if you like it.” Chen Manman added more dishes into Dahu and Erhu’s bowls.

Lin Shuhe looked up, dazed, staring at Chen Manman. What was this woman up to now?

Forget it! As long as she didn’t bother him, he didn’t care!

Still, the food was really good today.

And so, under the blazing summer sun, the family had a hearty meal.

—-

“Mom~ take a rest, I’ll clean up.” Chen Manman said as she saw her mother busily clearing the dishes.

It was harvest season, and everyone was rushing to collect the crops. They didn’t dare waste a single moment during lunch.

“No need, I’ve got this. It’ll be done in no time.” Chen’s mother looked at her daughter with heartache.

“Then I’ll help you.” Chen Manman stood up and joined in cleaning the kitchen.

“Manman, your second brother’s allowance for this month arrived yesterday. Here, take it. Buy yourself something nice—but don’t let your sister-in-law know.” Chen’s mother pulled out a large-denomination bill and slipped it into Manman’s hand.

She and her twin brother Chen Guangye had joined the army three years ago. His monthly stipend was 48 yuan, and he sent home 40. Their mother often gave Manman 10 or 8 yuan as pocket money.

“Mom, I don’t want it. I still have money—keep it.” The money her mother had given her before hadn’t even been spent yet. Besides, she now had a warehouse worth 20 million—there wasn’t anything she needed to buy for now.

The private economy hadn’t opened up yet, and the black market was too risky. She wasn’t planning to take that gamble at the moment.

“How much could you possibly have? Take it. Even if you don’t need it, Dahu and Erhu do.”

“Alright, I’ll keep it for now.”

“Ay, that’s better. Everything’s about done—take Dahu and Erhu back to the room and rest a bit.” Chen’s mother wiped down the stove quickly.

“Okay. You and Dad should also rest at noon.”

Chen Family Village was located in the north. They finished the morning shift at noon and resumed work at 1:30 PM.

Inside the room, Lin Shuhe leaned against the edge of the heated brick bed, holding a book. He was tall and well-built, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black pants. His sharp brows, deep-set features, and composed expression exuded a calm indifference.

Chen Manman pushed the door open and saw this scene. As expected of the male lead in the book—he even looked attractive just reading.

But she didn’t spare him another glance. Though Lin Shuhe was the male lead and a future political heavyweight, in her eyes, he wasn’t a qualified husband or father. He didn’t love the original host, nor did he show much affection for the two children.

When the time came for him to return to the capital, she would let him go and use that as a perfect excuse for divorce.

For now, her top priority was to raise Dahu and Erhu well and make sure they didn’t become villains like in the book.

Pulling her thoughts back, she called, “Dahu, Erhu, time for a nap!”

She saw Dahu still chasing chickens around the yard while Erhu quietly watched from the side.

“Mom~ I’m coming!” Dahu stopped chasing the chicken and dragged Erhu into the house.

Chen Manman helped the two little ones wash up briefly and climb onto the kang (a traditional northern heated brick bed used in winter).

The kang was quite big, about five meters long. Manman lay with the boys on each side, close to the window.

“Mom, sleep with me~” Dahu clung to her arm, tilting his head and acting cute. His little red cheeks rubbed against her shoulder.

“Me too~” Erhu chimed in, not to be left behind. His milky voice was too adorable!

Chen Manman looked over—Erhu had clutched her other arm tightly, eyes watery and slightly red, like he’d cry any second.

Oh my god, too cute!

Chen Manman had been single all her life in her past world and never had kids. Now, seeing these two soft, cuddly little ones, her heart was melting.

“Alright~ Mom will sleep holding both of you~” So she hugged one child in each arm and kissed them both on the cheeks.

“Time to sleep—Mom will sing you a lullaby!”

The breeze is gentle,
The little birds chirp low,
The puppy trots slow,
The room is quiet,
And baby sleeps so~

Her singing voice flowed like a gentle spring, sweet and soothing. Even in the heat of summer, it brought a refreshing coolness to the heart.

Hearing her song, Lin Shuhe glanced over.

When he saw the blissful smile on Chen Manman’s face, his long, narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with a mysterious look.

What was she up to now?

Lin Shuhe looked away and continued reading.

—-

When Chen Manman woke up, Lin Shuhe was already gone. Judging by the light outside, it was about 3 PM. They were probably back at work.

Turning to look at the two kids sleeping on either side of her—rosy-cheeked, delicate little dumplings—her heart warmed again.

She kissed them gently on the cheeks and got up.

In the kitchen, she checked their food supply and decided to make mung bean soup to cool off her parents in the fields.

She scooped out a bowl of mung beans, rinsed them, added water, and lit the stove.

After the beans had softened and the soup thickened, she added a small piece of rock sugar. Then she slipped into her courtyard warehouse and came out with a 2-liter jug of fresh milk.

Adding the creamy milk into the pot, a rich fragrance filled the air.

She poured out two bowls for the boys to enjoy when they woke up.

Then she filled a metal pot with the mung bean soup, secretly adding some ice cubes from her courtyard fridge. By the time it reached the fields, the ice would have mostly melted.

She glanced back at the two kids—still sleeping—and wasn’t quite reassured.

“Dahu, Erhu, Mommy’s going to take mung bean soup to Grandpa and Grandma. When you wake up, go to the stove to eat, okay?” she whispered in their ears.

“Mama~” The boys didn’t wake up fully, only murmured softly in reply.