Chapter 20

Tang Yajun knew this was a rare opportunity. Only once her elder brother had a house and a registered residence in the city would things be truly settled.

Tang Yashan was still a little dazed when Tang Yajun had already pulled him away by the sleeve.

Director Liu stared blankly at the baskets of melons and vegetables left on the table—he had really stumbled upon a treasure.

“When did I get a fiancée? Why don’t I know about this?” Tang Yashan asked from the back seat of the jeep.

From the passenger seat, Tang Yajun turned back to give him a cold glare.

“Do you not want to stay in the city anymore?”

“I do!” He absolutely refused to go back to that remote mountain valley.

“Then you must have a fiancée—and you need to get the marriage certificate within these few days.”

Her tone was calm and decisive.

Driving in front, Cuishan caught a glimpse of Tang Yashan through the rearview mirror; the expression on his face was nothing short of spectacular.

Tang Yashan was troubled. He wanted to stay in the city and have a home of his own. He was willing to endure any amount of hardship at work. Even if work tormented him a thousand times over, he would still love it like his first love.

But now, to suddenly be forced to swallow the hardships of romance—and on top of that, to marry immediately—it felt harder than climbing to the heavens.

They returned to the small courtyard in silence.

Lu Zhongyun came to visit Lu Chongjin. This elder sister, who normally never set foot here, had come no fewer than three times in the past two days, each time staying for half the day before leaving.

Her intentions were plain for anyone to see—except for the very person concerned, Tang Yashan.

Tang Yajun had agreed to this arrangement precisely because of that.

Lu Zhongyun asked how things had gone.

Tang Yajun nodded, saying it was settled, then went inside to check on Lu Chongjin, leaving the two of them in the yard to talk.

Tang Yashan scratched his head gloomily. “Work went smoothly, but the housing issue—without a marriage certificate, they can’t assign me a place, nor finalize my residence registration. Where am I supposed to find a suitable girl to marry within just a few days?”

He looked utterly dejected. A strange light flickered in Lu Zhongyun’s eyes.

She was about to speak when Tang Yashan suddenly brightened and asked in delight: “Zhongyun, are there any young women of marriageable age at your workplace? Could you introduce me?

“Not to brag, but I’ve got the looks and the charm, don’t I?”

He looked at her with eager anticipation. But the joy that had just blossomed on her face suddenly dimmed, her eyes welled with tears, and she turned to run out of the courtyard.

“Don’t run! We can talk this out properly!” Tang Yashan, completely baffled by her sudden change, chased after her.

Inside, listening at the wall, Tang Yajun could only shake her head.

If it came to glib talk, her senior brother was unmatched at the research institute, always quick with his tongue and sharp with his wit. But when it came to matters of the heart, he became as clueless as a child—constantly asking “why” and understanding nothing.

Seeing her laughing at the door, Lu Chongjin said gently, “Since there are feelings, why not help them pierce that thin paper window? Sometimes it’s best to lay things out clearly.”

Tang Yajun turned back. “You don’t understand. Both people need to realize their feelings on their own. If they just keep guessing in silence, even if they marry, it won’t last.”

Lu Chongjin bowed his head, thoughtful, moved by her words.

Still immersed in the glee of her eavesdropping, she added, “Don’t interfere in this—it’ll be best when they speak out their feelings themselves.”

A while later, Tang Yashan returned with a dark face, a fresh palm print burning red on his cheek.

Tang Yajun, lounging in a chair, looked at him. “Well? How’d it go?”

“What do you mean, how? Your second sister is impossible. She seemed fine at first, then when I caught up to her and tried to ask clearly, out of nowhere she slapped me!”

Tang Yajun laughed so hard she nearly fell off the chair.

The next day, Tang Yashan officially started work at the Agricultural Research Institute.

Meanwhile, Tang Yajun stayed at home to help Lu Chongjin practice walking. Thanks to the aid of the special medicine, his recovery was going very well.

Learning from past mistakes, this time he insisted on pushing himself forward in the wheelchair first. At the beginning, his movements were as slow as a snail, inching forward step by step. Later, he tried taking larger steps—at last managing to move nearly half the stride of an ordinary man.

By his side, Tang Yajun cheered him on, fed him water, and wiped his sweat, attentive in every detail.

She kept a close eye, afraid he might overexert and injure his legs again. She made him stop once he was only lightly sweating.

At night, she massaged his acupuncture points, determined to help him recover faster—after all, a husband who could stride confidently was far more useful than a crippled one.

Everything seemed to be moving exactly in the direction she hoped, and Tang Yajun’s confidence grew stronger by the day.

Somehow, Wen Mulan had heard that there were always “noises” in her son and daughter-in-law’s room at night.

She called Tang Yajun over for a casual chat and asked about Lu Chongjin’s condition.

Remembering his instructions, Tang Yajun only said he was still recuperating, and it was too early to say if it would succeed.

Wen Mulan, afraid her daughter-in-law was anxious about children—and also worried her son might not withstand too much—tried to drop hints, speaking in roundabout ways.

She reminded her that the two were still young, that there was no rush to have children, that moderation was key, that too much was never good, and that it was better to take breaks from time to time.

Her words left Tang Yajun puzzled, until suddenly she thought she understood—her mother-in-law must have found out about the nightly leg treatments.

Deciding it wasn’t something she had to hide, she replied cheerfully: “Don’t worry, Mother. At night, it’s all me running up and down, while Chongjin just lies there and enjoys it. He’s not tired at all.”

At that, Wen Mulan nearly spat out the tea she had just sipped, coughing violently.

What kind of wild, indecent words were these? What did she mean, she did all the “work” while he just lay there? Was that even something to say out loud?!

Lu Zhongyun quickly patted her mother’s back until she could breathe again.

Wen Mulan, too flustered to say more, simply offered a few other reminders before sending her daughter-in-law away.

Outside, Lu Zhongyun walked her out, looking hesitant, as if she had something to say.

Knowing it was about her brother, Tang Yajun spoke first: “Second Sister, whatever you decide, I’ll support you wholeheartedly!”

Hearing that, Lu Zhongyun’s face lit up with joy, then quickly clouded over again.

“But your elder brother—he still wants me to help introduce other women to him. Do you think he’s deliberately trying to upset me?”

Tang Yajun shook her head like a rattle drum. “He’s too straightforward for that. He doesn’t have so many schemes.”

Lu Zhongyun tilted her head and scrutinized her, clearly unconvinced.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Tang Yajun kept her face calm, but inside she was screaming.

She had almost forgotten—the elder brother of this body was a brooding man of hidden depths, not at all like her senior brother, who wore his thoughts on his sleeve.