Chapter 18: Mama, I Want to Be a Good-for-Nothing

Still, Ruan Jiaojiao’s heart ached for her man.

She kept her emotions in check so as not to slow down Fu Ting’s pace, and very soon, he carried her back home on his back.

“Mama!”

Dabao and Xiaobao had woken up in the middle of the night. Seeing that no adults were beside them, they didn’t go back to sleep. But they were obedient to Fu Ting’s words—since he told them not to run around, they stayed quietly on the bed.

When Fu Ting returned carrying Ruan Jiaojiao, both of them were covered in snow like snowmen. Especially Jiaojiao—her lips were turning pale.

Fu Ting laid her down on the bed. Dabao and Xiaobao rushed over, wanting to hug her, but Jiaojiao pushed them away.

“Don’t touch me, babies. My body’s cold, I don’t want to pass the chill to you…”

Xiaobao didn’t listen, but Dabao stopped him: “Mama’s hurt. You have to be good. Come, let’s go light the stove.”

The two little ones clumsily got out of bed and went to the stove.

It was dangerous for children to handle fire, but Dabao and Xiaobao had long been used to managing on their own. Their skill with the stove was so practiced it made one’s heart ache.

Fu Ting helped set Jiaojiao’s dislocated bone back into place. The pain made her cry out so loudly that the neighbor, Shen Junmei, thought Jiaojiao was being beaten at home and laughed happily at the thought.

“Jiaojiao, it’s better to get it over with quickly. If it hurts too much, just pull on your husband’s hair.”

Seeing his wife like this made Fu Ting feel terrible. In his mind, her injury was entirely his fault. If only he had gone with her into town, nothing would have happened.

In his eyes, no matter what, it was always his fault. His Jiaojiao could never be wrong.

But Jiaojiao wasn’t a pampered girl. After crying out a couple of times, she forced herself to stop.

Since she couldn’t move her foot, Fu Ting helped her change clothes.

At first Jiaojiao wasn’t embarrassed—after all, they were husband and wife, he had seen everything before.

But Fu Ting’s movements slowed, his fingers grew hotter, lingering too long on her skin. That was when Jiaojiao realized something wasn’t right.

Meanwhile, Dabao and Xiaobao were standing in a row, “reflecting on their mistakes.” Xiaobao kept asking impatiently, “Papa, are you done yet? Has Mama changed clothes? Xiaobao wants to see Mama!”

“Dabao wants to see too!”

Jiaojiao had no choice but to pinch Fu Ting’s arm muscle. “Hurry up, stop fooling around. The children are waiting.”

Only then did Fu Ting behave himself.

He made ginger soup to warm her stomach. Jiaojiao normally didn’t like ginger, but since it came from Fu Ting, she drank it gladly.

Women are like that—saying one thing but feeling another. All the standards they once imagined for an ideal partner vanish after marriage, leaving only four words: As long as it’s him.

Soft-hearted—that was why women so easily fell in love.

Since Jiaojiao couldn’t bathe, Dabao boiled hot water for Fu Ting to wipe her down. Then they wrapped her tightly in the thickest quilt at home.

Dabao and Xiaobao didn’t sit idle either. Each clung to one of her arms, using their small bodies to keep her warm.

“Mama, please get better soon.” Xiaobao’s eyes were red—he was clearly heartbroken.

Dabao bit his lip, sneaking glances at her from time to time.

Being cherished by three men at once—it was almost too sweet to bear.

Only after serving Jiaojiao with the utmost care did Fu Ting finally bathe, change into clean clothes, and hold his fragrant wife in his arms as he drifted off to sleep.

Behind her was her husband, beside her were her two adorable and sensible sons. That night, Jiaojiao slept soundly, not waking until the sun was high in the sky.

She was awakened by the crackle of firecrackers outside.

“Mama! Mama! Firecrackers! Hahaha! Boom boom boom! Xiaobao, that scaredy-cat, is hiding!”

Dabao rushed in excitedly.

Jiaojiao rarely saw him so lively and couldn’t help chatting with him more: “Why are there firecrackers? And listen, you can watch, but stay far away, otherwise you’ll get hurt.”

Dabao nodded obediently. “Sister Zhaodi is getting married! Of course there are firecrackers. Mama, come see Xiaobao—this coward went and hid in the firewood pile!”

Jiaojiao frowned. Zhaodi? Wasn’t she sent away by her father? How could she be getting married? Could this marriage be fake?

But for now, the most important thing was to check on Xiaobao.

Since her ankle hadn’t healed, Dabao supported her as they walked slowly toward the kitchen.

“Mama, maybe you should rest instead,” Dabao said, regretful. He shouldn’t have told her about Xiaobao. She should be resting!

“No need. Patients should move around a little, otherwise they’ll heal slowly.” Jiaojiao knew exactly what her son was thinking. But she wasn’t the type to lie around idle—if she were forced to stay in bed doing nothing, she would go crazy.

In the kitchen, they found a chubby little bottom sticking out of the straw pile, shivering in the cold wind.

Jiaojiao couldn’t help but laugh. At the sound, Xiaobao scrambled out and ran to hug her thigh, wailing, “Wuu wuu, Mama, I’m scared!”

Usually Xiaobao seemed clever, but in reality he was a paper tiger—he couldn’t take much.

Jiaojiao rubbed his fluffy little head. “Don’t be scared, you’re a man.”

“Mama, Xiaobao doesn’t want to be a man.”

“Then what do you want to be?”

“Mama, I want to be a good-for-nothing.” Xiaobao looked at her seriously. “Like that big fool at the village gate—always cheerful, just feeding himself and not worrying about anyone else!”

“…It’s feeding himself and no one goes hungry.”

Jiaojiao almost spat blood. She had graduated high school with a stellar score of 698, admitted to Huabei University, and yet her child wanted to be a good-for-nothing?

She really wanted to smack him awake—but her rationality barely held her back.

Don’t get mad. He’s your own child. If you hit him, your heart will ache.

“…Fine, do whatever you want.” Jiaojiao quickly changed the subject. “So… Sister Zhaodi got married? Did you two see clearly? Are you sure it was her on that ox cart?”

In the countryside, without money for a bridal sedan, brides were usually taken away on an ox cart.

Dabao nodded firmly. “It was definitely Sister Zhaodi. Her head was covered, but I recognized her hands. I’m sure it was her!”

Zhaodi often did farm work, so her hands were rougher than other girls’.

Jiaojiao didn’t know what to say. She had tried to help Zhaodi, but Zhaodi had refused.

“Alright, let’s go back.”

“Okay, Mama!”

The firecrackers had stopped, and Xiaobao’s spirits returned. He hopped and skipped along happily.