Chapter 15 – A Happy Occasion

Xiaobao still wanted to eat more, but Ruan Jiaojiao stopped him—

Children shouldn’t overeat; they had to learn control, otherwise it would harm their health.

Behind the house was a small plot of private land, and Ruan Jiaojiao planned to grow some crops there.

Next door, Shen Junmei had already planted rows of Chinese cabbages for the winter. They grew so large that people passing by often praised her as a capable, hardworking rural wife.

A few days later, Fu Jun’s eldest brother also returned from the city. Supposedly, he couldn’t stop worrying about Shen Junmei and the children, so he came back to work locally.

On the day he returned, he and Fu Ting drank together, chatting for quite some time.

When Fu Ting finally came home, Ruan Jiaojiao and the children were already asleep.

Worried that the smell of alcohol on him might bother his wife and children, Fu Ting didn’t climb into bed. But his little wife couldn’t bear to leave him alone—she snuck out of bed and nestled into his arms.

Fu Ting: “……” This was killing him! His heart melted completely. If he could die in such tenderness, it would all be worth it!

“What did your brother say to you?” Ruan Jiaojiao asked softly.

Husband and wife were supposed to be one. Fu Ting didn’t like keeping secrets from her, so he told the truth:
“Big Brother didn’t quit voluntarily. He was caught peeping on a female worker bathing and got fired. The factory fined him heavily. Life’s hard for them now, but he swore he’ll mend his ways.”

Fu Ting still believed in his older brother.

But Ruan Jiaojiao remembered clearly—in the original plot, Fu Jun hadn’t just peeped. He had an affair with a female worker ten years older than him. When her husband found out, Fu Jun was beaten so badly that one of his eggs got smashed.

Fu Jun hadn’t returned with honor; he was rotten at the core. He and Fu Ting were worlds apart.

But right now, Fu Ting still admired his brother. With no evidence, Ruan Jiaojiao couldn’t just speak against him, so she kept her suspicions to herself.

“No talking about other men… hmph… only look at me…”
Drunk, Fu Ting’s intelligence regressed. He acted sillier than Xiaobao.

Ruan Jiaojiao chuckled, “Alright, alright, I’ll hold you, I’ll only look at you. You’re the man I love the most, okay?”

“Hmph…”

Only then did Fu Ting fall asleep happily. He lay on her chest, drifting into slumber, still marveling at how soft and fragrant tonight’s pillow was.

Not long after Fu Jun’s return, the big house had a “happy occasion.”

On the day of the first snowfall that winter, Xiaobao ran in excitedly with two pieces of White Rabbit candy in his hand.
“Mama, candy! Sister Zhaodi secretly gave me candy!”

Zhaodi?

At that moment, Ruan Jiaojiao was making new padded jackets for the boys. Hearing this, she immediately came over.

“Zhaodi really gave this to you?”

“Yeah! Sister Zhaodi said not to let anyone else know except Mama. So Xiaobao only told Mama, hehe.”

It was obvious Xiaobao loved sweets. Yet he resisted temptation, carefully placing the candy in her palm.
“Mama, you and Daddy eat the candy. Xiaobao and Big Brother don’t like candy…”

Then he covered his eyes, whining, “Take it away, wuwu, don’t let Xiaobao see it. Xiaobao hates candy!”

In truth, he wanted it badly—he was just afraid he couldn’t resist if he saw it.

In this era, White Rabbit candy was still a rare treat—five cents apiece, and sometimes money couldn’t buy them.

Fu Jun had just come home in disgrace, and with two kids to feed, where did they get the money for candy? And why give it to Zhaodi, the eldest daughter who was least favored?

“What’s the happy event at your uncle’s place?”

“Sister Zhaodi’s getting married!” Xiaobao’s speech was getting clearer by the day. “They say she’s marrying a rich man, and he’s… pain people. Uncle’s so happy!”

“It’s love people, not pain people,” Ruan Jiaojiao corrected, half laughing. “Did you see the rich man? Is he handsome?”

“No! He’s over fifty, with a crooked head. His first wife died young, left him a son. That son just died in a coal mine accident, so the family got lots of compensation money. Now this crooked-head man wants to remarry, but no village girl wanted him. Somehow the matchmaker came here and found Sister Zhaodi.”

It was actually Fu Ting, back from the mountain early, who told her this.

Ruan Jiaojiao instantly understood. Shen Junmei had kept Zhaodi locked in tight, but last time, when Junmei was bullied by her, Zhaodi had stepped out to help. Someone must have noticed her then.

The news shook Ruan Jiaojiao’s worldview—Zhaodi was only fourteen, still undeveloped, yet they wanted to marry her off to a man older than her father.

What was worse, everyone was grinning ear to ear, praising it as a great match. No one cared what Zhaodi thought.

If she dared say “I don’t want to,” people would call her ungrateful. With her family background, marrying that rich crooked-head was considered her great fortune.

“I want to talk to Zhaodi. Brother Ting, will you help me?”

Her big grape-like eyes blinked, long lashes brushing like soft feathers against his heart.

Before Fu Ting’s brain could react, his mouth had already said, “Okay.”

Fu Ting: “……”
What was happening to him?

Ruan Jiaojiao left the candy with Dabao and Xiaobao, telling them to stay home and not wander. With the big house celebrating, there were too many people and things could get messy.

The two boys were used to being independent, obedient and worry-free.

Her heart softened again. In her past world, five-year-olds would still be home playing “freeze grandpa” and “freeze grandma.”

Sure enough, Fu Jun’s household was lively. Shen Junmei wore a red jacket, had drawn her brows with matchsticks, and smeared something red on her lips. She looked more like the bride than her daughter did.

When she saw Ruan Jiaojiao, Shen Junmei trembled instinctively—the shadow Jiaojiao had left in her heart still ran deep.

But with her husband home today, surely Ruan Jiaojiao wouldn’t dare lay hands on her again, right?

Thinking this, Shen Junmei’s confidence returned.

She bragged loudly to those around her:
“Pretty looks aren’t as good as a good marriage! My daughter’s found a rich son-in-law who truly loves her. Once she marries over, she’ll be a young madam!”

“My dear son-in-law even said he’ll renovate our house and give us three yuan a month for treats for his little brother-in-law! Oh heavens, after all my suffering, my days are finally looking up!”

Ruan Jiaojiao: “……”

Was this woman serious?

Dearest sister-in-law, do you realize? The grass on your head is already greener than the Hulunbuir prairie!