Chapter 108: Li Chen Couldn’t Bear to Be Separated from His Wife

Shen Yiyi sensed something and tried to divert his attention. “Brother Chen, you haven’t told me yet—if there were a job position available, would you want to take it?”

Li Chen countered: “Do you really want me to work in the county town? If I go, I won’t be able to be with you and the Three Baos all the time.”

“It’s fine, the county town isn’t far.” Shen Yiyi said. “You can still live at home—ride your bicycle to work in the morning and come back in the evening. It’s just that we don’t know what kind of job Sister Ling would offer. Plus, at first, you’d definitely be a temporary worker. It would take some time before she could find a way to make it permanent.”

Right now, most jobs assigned were position-based, and there were only so many vacancies. If someone wanted to be placed into a job, someone else had to leave.

With Yang Pengshan’s downfall, his trusted subordinates would definitely be dismissed. When that happened, many positions at the textile factory would open up. However, there was still a process to go through.

Thinking about this, Shen Yiyi felt that getting a job at the textile factory seemed too troublesome. Moreover, Li Chen didn’t seem particularly suited for such work either. She then said: “Maybe we should wait a little longer. Actually, I went to the transportation team today, but both the station chief and deputy chief weren’t there. They’ll be back in three days. I’ll go again then and see if I can find a way to get you into the transportation team…”

“You want me to join the transportation team?” Li Chen was a little surprised.

Shen Yiyi nodded and explained: “I just think that for what you do, being in the transportation team would be much more convenient!”

Li Chen was involved in reselling goods, and his market was primarily outside the local area. If he could join the transportation team, it would be like adding wings to a tiger—it would not only make things easier but also allow him to fully utilize his skills.

Li Chen’s expression turned a little strange.

Shen Yiyi noticed it and asked: “What’s wrong?”

Li Chen looked at his wife. “The station chief of the transportation team has always wanted me to join.”

“???”

Shen Yiyi’s eyes lit up. Wasn’t this like getting a pillow delivered just when one was dozing off? “Really?”

“Really.” Li Chen nodded. When he was a teenager, he used to travel far and wide with the current station chief, Liang Jun, back when he wasn’t yet in charge. Because of that, they had a good relationship.

That was also why it was so easy for him to transport goods out now.

Liang Jun had always recognized his abilities and had been trying to recruit him for a long time.

“Then go talk to him. You should go!” Shen Yiyi said decisively.

“But if I join the transportation team, I’ll have to travel frequently…” Li Chen brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead and voiced his hesitation.

Previously, he had refused because his wife… and the Three Baos were still young, and there was no one to take care of them.

Now, he hesitated because his wife had changed her mind—but he couldn’t bear to be apart from her…

Shen Yiyi instantly saw through his thoughts. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. “I’m not going anywhere. And… I also hope you’ll become stronger, so you can shield me and the Three Baos from the storms.”

Li Chen felt a warmth spreading in his chest as he listened. He still didn’t know that the college entrance exams would eventually be reinstated, but if he didn’t want her to spend her whole life struggling alongside him, he needed to find a stable job in town. And right now, joining the transportation team was his best option.

“Alright.” Li Chen agreed.

The two of them embraced for a while. After some time, Shen Yiyi, feeling a bit breathless under his weight, pushed him. “Why are you still not done?”

“This isn’t my fault.” Li Chen said, sounding a little aggrieved. His hand, itching to move, rested at the hem of her clothing.

“?”

Shen Yiyi grabbed his hand. “No! The Three Baos will be back soon, and didn’t we say we’d be going to Qiangzi’s house for dinner later?”

Li Chen turned his hand over and held hers instead, his dark eyes locking onto her with a look full of unspoken meaning.

“???”

“Did you lock the door?”

“I did. Wife, I’ll finish quickly!”

“…” Shen Yiyi turned her head away, silently acquiescing.

But as for what Li Chen meant by “quickly.” Shen Yiyi had no idea.

She only felt fortunate that the Three Baos didn’t return midway.

By evening, the couple carried a tin of malted milk and a bag of White Rabbit Creamy Candy and headed to the Chen family’s house.

Xiao Bao was the one who opened the door for them. As soon as he saw his mother, he excitedly grabbed her hand. “Mother.”

Shen Yiyi patted his head.

“Brother Chen, Sister-in-law.” Chen Qiang greeted them as he stepped out, holding little An’an in his arms.

Shen Yiyi responded while looking at An’an. The baby had grown sturdy and chubby, his newborn redness and wrinkles fading into soft, fair skin. With his round head and big eyes, he looked at her curiously.

“She’s not afraid of strangers.” Shen Yiyi remarked.

“That’s right.” Someone had just praised his daughter, and Chen Qiang looked a little proud. “She’s very well-behaved.”

Just as he finished speaking, little An’an reached out toward Shen Yiyi, babbling and asking to be held.

Shen Yiyi found it amusing and reached out to take An’an into her arms.

Not even ten seconds later, An’an started whimpering, as if uncomfortable in her embrace. Shen Yiyi adjusted her hold, but before long, the baby stopped whimpering—only to start crying outright.

Shen Yiyi: “…”

Chen Qiang, standing beside them, hesitated. He wanted to adjust Shen Yiyi’s hold but didn’t dare to directly intervene—after all, his older brother was watching like a hawk.

He could only offer verbal advice: “Sister-in-law, relax a little. Don’t hold her so tightly… Put your hand here…”

Shen Yiyi followed his instructions and loosened her hold slightly, but An’an kept crying.

“…” Shen Yiyi felt a little embarrassed and was about to hand the baby back to Chen Qiang.

Behind her, Li Chen handed the items he was holding to Chen Qiang and reached out. “Let me do it.”

Shen Yiyi wasted no time and quickly placed An’an into his arms.

Li Chen held the baby skillfully, bouncing her lightly a couple of times. To everyone’s surprise, An’an immediately stopped crying.

Shen Yiyi: “…”

From the kitchen, Lin Daniu peeked out with a grin, still holding a spatula. “Yiyi, Brother Chen, you’re here?”

“We’re here.” Shen Yiyi replied.

Lin Daniu quickly noticed the tin of malted milk and the bag of White Rabbit Creamy Candy they had brought and said somewhat sheepishly: “Why did you bring such expensive gifts?”

“They’re for An’an.” Shen Yiyi said. “Don’t turn them down.”

Since she put it that way, Lin Daniu didn’t insist any further. Instead, she invited them in: “Alright, then. Make yourselves comfortable. I’m already cooking—it’ll be ready soon.”

With that, she disappeared back into the kitchen.

Shen Yiyi was about to follow her to help when Chen Qiang hesitated for a moment before standing up. “Sister-in-law, I’ll go. You and Brother Chen can just help watch An’an for me.”

Shen Yiyi glanced at Chen Qiang, then at Lin Daniu, before sitting down. “Alright, you go ahead.”

Chen Qiang then headed to the kitchen.

Li Chen sat down while holding An’an. Shen Yiyi and Xiao Bao curiously leaned in. Just as they did, little An’an yawned, then reached out toward Shen Yiyi again upon seeing her.

“How fascinating.” Shen Yiyi marveled.

“Do you want to try holding her again? I can teach you.” Li Chen offered.

Shen Yiyi shook her head and sat back down. Instead, she scooped Xiao Bao onto her lap, resting her forehead against his and playing with him. “I’d rather hold our Xiao Bao. Doot doot doot~”

Xiao Bao giggled, then pointed at An’an in his father’s arms. “Mother, little sister!”

“That’s my little sister!” Wangcai, along with Da Bao and Er Bao, ran out of the room.

Er Bao’s eyes lit up as he ran up to her, his gaze sparkling with excitement. “Mother, can you give us a little sister to play with too?”

Da Bao also looked at her expectantly.

Shen Yiyi: “…”

“You already have a younger brother.” Shen Yiyi reminded them.

“Can’t we have both a younger brother and a younger sister?” Da Bao asked curiously.

Before Shen Yiyi could respond, Er Bao cut in: “Then we don’t want a younger brother anymore.”

Xiao Bao’s lips quivered, and he looked incredibly wronged. “Why don’t you want me?”

Seeing Xiao Bao about to cry, Er Bao immediately felt guilty and quickly comforted him. “I was just joking! I like you very much!”

Tears clung to Xiao Bao’s long eyelashes. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm, really!” Er Bao nodded earnestly.

Only then did Xiao Bao cheer up.

Shen Yiyi: “…”

The Chen family had prepared quite a feast for dinner. After the meal, they sat and chatted for a while before the family of five finally headed home.