Chapter 19

Currently, the situation at home follows a very traditional structure, with a clear division of roles: the man is responsible for external matters, and the woman is responsible for internal affairs.

Yan Lei is in charge of earning a living, while Qiao Wei takes care of the children and household chores. In the absence of a washing machine and flush toilet, Yan Lei takes on tasks like laundry and cleaning the dry toilet—heavy and dirty work.

Qiao Wei currently doesn’t have a job and finds the current division of responsibilities acceptable. In a household, everyone has their duties. When she lived with her mother before, they shared the responsibilities of life.

She doesn’t mind cooking; in fact, she enjoys it. She likes being able to eat heartily, consuming food normally instead of relying on nutrient solutions to sustain life.

She’s not opposed to washing dishes, either. Both household chores can be done separately. However, she really dislikes having to both cook and wash dishes. It’s too troublesome to wash dishes right after cooking.

In the past, when she lived with her mother, they took turns. The person who cooked didn’t wash dishes; the one who didn’t cook did the dishes.

Qiao Wei made her preferences clear to Yan Lei, but he coolly responded, “If you don’t want to wash, I’ll do it.”

Who can’t live without whom?

He’s worked the fields and been on the battlefield; there’s nothing he can’t handle. Even if Qiao Wei were to leave now, he could still live well on his own.

It’s just that she doesn’t want to do housework. Why complicate things?

Qiao Wei feels helpless when Yan Lei applies his old-fashioned thinking to her. After all, she can’t directly tell him that the soul inside this body has changed and that she is not the same person.

She really doesn’t want to wash dishes, but the previous division of household chores was already quite fair, taking into account her physical weakness and sensitivity to hygiene. If she were to push another task onto Yan Lei, it would feel inappropriate.

After all, Yan Lei wasn’t idle in the military. Judging by his muscular physique, he must have expended a significant amount of energy every day.

Imagine coming home like this and having to wash clothes and then wash dishes; it does seem a bit too much. Cooking shouldn’t be equated with washing dishes, and the same goes for doing laundry.

So, Qiao Wei plans to find a middle ground and exchange the responsibilities they each take on.

If there’s this “human-powered washing machine,” washing clothes can be significantly easier, and she can choose to wash clothes while letting Yan Lei wash dishes.

That way, it would be fair and reasonable.

Qiao Wei explains her thoughts to Yan Lei, who is somewhat surprised.

In his eyes, Qiao Wei has a serious bourgeois mindset, often pursuing unrealistic things and holding a negative, perfunctory attitude towards real life. When did she start talking about “fairness” with him?

He ponders for a moment.

Qiao Wei presses, “Can you do it?”

Since coming back, her eyes have always been sparkling and full of vitality. Her gaze, so expectant, makes it hard to refuse her.

Moreover, it’s not a complex task.

“Got it,” he says as he folds the blueprint and puts it away.

And then? Is that all?

Can’t he provide a straightforward answer about whether he can do it or not?

Although Qiao Wei understands that, given Yan Lei’s “husband” status, he surely has the ability to handle it. However, this seemingly “already read” response leaves her speechless.

Just as she is about to retort, her mind activates memories of how indifferent the original owner was to him.

Even scenes of a man seeking intimacy being rejected, sitting on the bed silently smoking.

Qiao Wei’s slightly opened mouth closes again.

Fine. Since she has taken over the original owner’s role, she must bear the burden for her.

However, Yan Lei speaks up: “Have you really changed your ways?”

She’s actually talking about fairness or unfairness with him now. Didn’t she used to think that marrying him was a cruel twist of fate and injustice?

He sneers.

Qiao Wei activates many fragments of memories, looking at this man, who seems unhappy in his marriage, with a bit of pity.

Seeing his mocking smile and his seemingly provocative but actually defensive attitude in his eyes, it’s not worth bothering about. Let it go.

Her gaze carried a hint of pity and affection. “The old me is already gone. You’ll have to adapt to this new me.”

She shook her arm and picked up a peach slice, stuffing it into her mouth. With a meaningful look at him, she turned and left.

Yan Lei also picked up a peach slice.

A small piece, cut so delicately. It was evident that the petite-bourgeois mindset was resurfacing, with no trace of the proletarian style of eating heartily and rolling up sleeves to work.

He tossed the peach into his mouth—a tiny piece, just enough for one bite.

Picking up another piece, about to put it in his mouth, he suddenly paused.

When did she ever cut fruit for him? Even if she washed it, she wouldn’t actively invite him. She just placed it on the dining table—eat it if you like, ignore it if you don’t. It had nothing to do with her.

Their relationship was just that distant.

But today… Yan Lei’s gaze fell on a small plate of peach slices.

Was she trying to please him?

With limited education, he could only think of the phrase “a prodigal son coming back” to describe the current situation.

Outside the window, he could hear her and Yan Xiang’s voices, chatting and laughing while getting ready.

Women and children are lively and cheerful.

Other families were like this, warmth around the hearth with wives and children. Only their hearts were cold and empty.

Yan Lei tugged at the collar of his training suit.

“Husband and wife quarrel at the head of the bed; make up at the foot of the bed.” After this incident, she repeatedly claimed to have transformed herself. It was his own sluggishness that made him realize it just now.

Yan Lei pressed on the side of his neck and twisted his neck, feeling a bit unsettled.

He picked up another piece of peach and put it in his mouth, his fingertips touching his lips.

Qiao Wei’s fingers were slender, gently pressing against his lips. They were soft but managed to silence him. The breath carried the fragrance of peaches, her eyes smiling, and her gaze as gentle as water…

Yan Lei fiercely rubbed his own lips, feeling a slight warmth there.

Shouldn’t their husband-and-wife relationship also have a reconciliation at the foot of the bed?

And today, he also took a shower.

Qiao Wei still had to coax Yan Xiang to sleep. After Yan Lei finished washing up, he could only lie down first. After lying with his eyes open for a few minutes and listening to the faint storytelling sounds from the neighboring room, he knew Qiao Wei still needed some time.

Feeling that waiting for her like this seemed too deliberate, he got up again, went to the study, and took a book from the shelf, half-laying on the bed, “reading with a critical perspective.”

The more he read, the more he felt that the characters in the book had significant ideological problems. Sometimes, the choices made by the men and women in it infuriated him.

He wished these people were standing in front of him now, so he could give them a proper ideological and political class. If his level wasn’t enough, he could invite the political commissar; with the commissar’s level, he could surely reform them.

Unfortunately, they were just characters in a book, not real.

Just as he was itching with anger, Qiao Wei came back after putting the child to sleep.

“You’re still awake,” she said, a bit surprised. After taking another look, she smiled and said, “Reading?”

Her eyes curled, and her smile was lively and cunning, as if she had seen through something.

If he argued with her about “critical reading” or something at this moment, it wouldn’t be conducive to the matter of reconciling at the foot of the bed.

Yan Lei has always been good at seizing the moment, so he held back. Closing the book, he casually said, “I didn’t have time to read during the day. If I can read a little more now, I’ll finish it sooner and deal with it as soon as possible.”

Qiao Wei nodded approvingly. “Yes, finish it as soon as possible.”

Thoughtfully, she asked, “Do you encounter any unfamiliar words? If you do, you can ask me.”

“No need,” Yan Lei said. “I can figure them out by looking at the context, both before and after.”

This indicated that he was actually a self-learner.

“Then you should read more books. Not only can you distinguish between right and wrong thoughts, but you can also expand your vocabulary. Education can be obtained through learning from teachers in school, and another method is self-reading,” Qiao Wei encouraged him.

A person with a mind full of petite bourgeois erroneous thoughts was actually lecturing this staunch communist warrior.

Yan Lei looked up at the ceiling beam, not wanting to speak.

Qiao Wei turned around and took off her outer and inner clothes with her back to him.

Yan Lei happened to take his gaze away from the ceiling beam.

Snow-white back, slender waist, and beautiful butterfly bones.

Yan Lei’s gaze lingered for a few seconds.

Qiao Wei picked up a casual little vest and put it on.

This kind of vest was rarely seen in the future, and if there were any, it must have been worn by rural old ladies. Since it had only a thin layer of fabric and no padding, it would reveal outlines when worn. But now, it was loose and perfect for sleeping.

Turning around, she saw Yan Lei getting off the bed. He went to the study to put away the book.

With perfect timing, Qiao Wei said, “Turn off the lamp.”

After saying that, she laid down on her own.

Yan Lei put away the book, stepped into the bedroom, and saw Qiao Wei lying down. The weather was warm, so there was no need for a blanket. Her legs were fair and exposed, and the vest was short, only covering her chest, revealing a portion of her slender waist.

Yan Lei reached out to the wall, feeling around. It took him a second attempt to find the lamp cord.

“Click,” the electric light went out, and he got onto the kang.

Lying down first.

Of course, with his eyes open, he vaguely saw the large beam above his head in the darkness.

Thinking about whether he should say something first, but hearing Qiao Wei make a “hiss” sound with perfect timing, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Qiao Wei was rubbing her own arm, gritting her teeth. “Dare not exert too much force; it’s so sore when I do…”

Really great.

Yan Lei said, “If you don’t rub it out, it will be sore for several days. Rub it out, and it’ll be fine.”

He paused for a moment, somewhat expectantly, and said, “I’ll rub it for you.”

 Qiao Wei didn’t hesitate and extended her arm.

Yan Lei sat up, one hand supporting her arm and the other hand loosening her muscles.

His grip was strong, and it felt incredibly refreshing!

Qiao Wei couldn’t help making moaning sounds.

In the darkness, these sounds were particularly enticing, sparking countless imaginations.

Yan Lei’s thoughts were running wild.

Qiao Wei turned over, lying on her stomach, and presented the other arm to him. She praised, “It really feels much better. Use more force; I can endure it.”

Yan Lei reached out, grabbing her wrist. His hand was large enough to encircle it, with his fingers positioned at the bone’s recess. The other hand slid up from the wrist, moving smoothly to her slender shoulder, gently caressing.

The feeling in the palm of his hand was smooth and slippery.

Qiao Wei made a “Hmm” sound and said, “The upper part is fine, but this section of the forearm is particularly uncomfortable, from the wrist to the elbow. Press harder.”

Yan Lei’s hand had no choice but to slide down again, obediently massaging her.

Qiao Wei felt her muscles were sore, and she couldn’t bear it. The moaning sounds resounded again.

After enduring through it, Yan Lei released her arm and, seamlessly, moved his hands to her waist.

Delicate and smooth.

Qiao Wei, lying on the pillow, joyfully said, “Right! The waist! Massage my waist too!”

Washing clothes involved sitting on a stool and bending forward to wash in a large basin placed on the ground—it really strained the waist! Her waist had been aching all day.

Yan Lei: “…”

Massaging the waist was much more comfortable than squeezing the arms. There was no feeling of being so sore that one couldn’t move—just pure relaxation.

Yan Lei had strong hands and strength, and they were still warm. Massaging her waist was incredibly pleasant.

Qiao Wei sighed.

Slowly, she closed her eyes.

…

In the darkness, the man held his chin, helplessly watching the woman, who was sleeping soundly.

It seemed impossible tonight.

But now he couldn’t sleep either. Yan Lei had restless energy in him. Lying down was uncomfortable, so he decided to get off the kang. He tightly pulled the curtain from the wall window, separating the bedroom from the study. Sitting at the desk, he turned on the desk lamp and pulled out the book he hadn’t finished.

Continuing to read.