Chapter 23

In fact, apart from those overly confident individuals, the vast majority of people still needed recognition and affirmation from others.

Unfortunately for Yan Lei, having been illiterate until he joined the army, he held a deep respect for knowledge. So he went against the opinions of many and married a cultured girl.

As a result, the educated woman looked down on his rural background and never acknowledged his strengths and abilities in their marriage, being indifferent to them.

In later times, some low-quality men using PUA tactics to manipulate their girlfriends would belittle them.

“You’re so ugly; who else would want you except me?”

“You’re so stupid; you can’t do anything except with me.”

Over time, the girl would lose confidence and become afraid to leave the man.

Although the original Qiao Wei didn’t resort to belittling Yan Lei in such a way, the prolonged disregard and lack of acknowledgment for his strengths and abilities had the same effect.

People need compliments. Seeing Yan Lei, capable and always praising others but also in need of acknowledgment, Qiao Wei understood how to soothe this man’s heart.

Yan Lei, with his straight posture and ability, was still someone who needed affirmation from others. So, Qiao Wei deliberately informed him when she used two industrial coupons, and he stood even straighter. Observing this, she gained some insight into the unmet emotional needs within Yan Lei’s heart.

She changed the topic: “That elder brother at the supply and marketing cooperative, surnamed Xu, I had a chat with him. He said that in the future, if there’s something good, he’ll save some for me.”

Yan Lei smiled. “That’s great. People in these units really live well. He said they received two boxes of canned goods, but let me tell you, they must have received at least three. Otherwise, why would they dare to display them only today, even though they arrived yesterday?”

Qiao Wei was surprised. “Why? Are they embezzling?”

“Why would you suddenly think of embezzlement? How could they embezzle?” Yan Lei was also surprised by her train of thought: “For public goods, they have to spend money from their own pockets if something is missing. They are just good at internalizing things. If there’s something good, they buy it themselves first and then invite relatives and friends to buy. Otherwise, they’ll be scolded by their relatives and friends.”

“So difficult,” Qiao Wei sighed. “I cut a bit more meat, and the aunties behind me had something to say. It scared me, and I quickly ran away with the meat.”

Yan Lei stopped his chopsticks and asked, “Is there not enough meat to eat?”

Qiao Wei scooped a spoonful of vegetables into his rice bowl with a ladle and said, “This is to fry some oil residue and refine some lard.”

Today’s dishes were all stir-fried with oil residue, and they were especially fragrant. It was so delicious that Yan Xiang didn’t say a word and kept eating non-stop.

Yan Lei was relieved, ate a few bites quickly, and praised, “Especially fragrant!”

“Tomorrow we can have another meal,” Qiao Wei said. “Finish it quickly; the weather is too hot; don’t let it spoil.”

Yan Lei said, “Fry as much as you want; don’t be stingy.”

With his assurance, Qiao Wei felt much more at ease. Of course, she wanted to eat well and live well, but in this era of scarce resources and a culture that valued simplicity and frugality, she was afraid that Yan Lei would always tell her to “save a bit.” That would make life uncomfortable.

So, the charm of the boss’s “buy, buy, buy” was indeed there.

Even Qiao Wei found that Yan Lei, looking at him, felt that his handsome face became even more attractive.

“Alright,” she said, smiling, and added more dishes to the father and son.

Yan Lei shifted his gaze away, pretending not to care, and bowed his head to eat.

How could he not care? His wife’s smile was bright, and her eyes were charming, making people’s hearts sway.

After dinner, the husband and wife didn’t need to speak; there was a tacit understanding. Yan Lei took the initiative to wash the dishes.

In other households, it was rare to see such an arrangement. Usually, it was the daughter-in-law’s responsibility to cook, wash dishes, take care of the children, and tidy up the house, and she also had to do the laundry.

Yan Lei convinced himself, “It is indeed annoying to cook and wash dishes.”

“But yeah,” Qiao Wei said, “it’s not that I won’t do it, but let’s distribute the housework more reasonably, shall we?”

“Sure.” The two words sounded tender, a tone that Yan Lei had never heard before.

He glanced at Qiao Wei, who was smiling at him, mischievous and charming.

The two locked eyes, seemingly engaged in an unspoken competition.

Qiao Wei scooped up a can from the bucket and smilingly walked away.

Yan Xiang had been eagerly waiting, and when he saw her with the can, he cheered, “Canned food, canned food!”

He followed her into the kitchen like a little tail.

Qiao Wei left, and only then did Yan Lei burst into laughter, shaking his head as he laughed.

She, not wanting to do household chores, could actually come up with twisted reasoning.

But this feeling was really good. After several years of marriage, Yan Lei finally felt the sensation of living with a living person.

Just washing a few dishes—what did it matter? Just wash them.

The canned peaches were ice-cold.

In the late afternoon, the family sat in the yard, listening to the insect chirps. They shared the canned peaches, feeling extremely refreshed.

The syrup in the canned fruit was too sweet. In later years, Qiao Wei wouldn’t drink this sugary liquid. But now, in this world, nothing could be wasted.

She diluted the syrup with cold, boiled water, holding a cup in each hand, and they drank together.

Not to mention the sugary liquid, even the glass jars from the canned fruit couldn’t be thrown away. When washed, they could be used as cups or containers.

In this era, nothing could be wasted. Even if she didn’t use them herself, such as old clothes or old shoes, they could be given to others.

Even if some old clothes were so worn out that they couldn’t be worn, they could be recycled into reclaimed cloth. Reclaimed cloth wasn’t durable, but it was cheap, and it didn’t require cloth coupons. So, many people were still willing to buy reclaimed cloth to make clothes.

Even Qiao Wei, who had come from a society with abundant goods, had to adapt to the local customs now.

Thinking ahead to winter, the variety of food might be even scarcer. She had heard her mother talk about eating stored Napa cabbage throughout the winter when she was a child. She washed the peach jar, shaking off excess water. “Buy some tomatoes later; we’ll make tomato sauce.”

Being prepared in advance, make some preparations for winter as much as possible.

Yan Lei said, “Okay.”

Qiao Wei put the jar and lid on a small table to air-dry.

“Hey,” she kicked the chair Yan Lei was sitting on. “This chair, is there a bigger one, the kind that can recline? If there is, get me a big one, preferably with a footstool to rest my feet.”

The chair Yan Lei was sitting on was a small bamboo chair with a low seat and a slanted backrest. It was common in the countryside and often seen in period dramas. They were almost non-existent in the big cities of later years.

In these two days, Qiao Wei found it quite comfortable to sit on, so she wanted a bigger one. To put it plainly, what she wanted was a recliner.

With a yard at home, trees in the yard, and shade under the trees.

Rocking in a recliner under the tree, it was simply Qiao Wei’s dream life.

Yan Lei said, “Okay.”

Qiao Wei lifted her head, propping up the small table to look at him.

The setting sun had not completely set, and the sunlight was bronze-gold, reflecting on the man’s skin, giving it an extra texture.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Qiao Wei said, “You always just say ‘okay’.”

Yan Lei chuckled, explaining, “Okay, that means I agreed to it.”

“What could be ‘not okay’ then?” Qiao Wei insisted on asking.

Without hesitation, Yan Lei said, “Things that violate principles are not allowed.”

“That’s going too far. I’m talking about life matters, things between us two.” Qiao Wei looked at him.

Yan Lei raised his head, his facial features particularly upright.

“As long as you’re willing to live a good life with me, between us two, anything I can do, there is no ‘not okay’.”

“You are a man……” Qiao Wei couldn’t help but smile, covering her face. “You, this kind of man…”

He was too much of a domineering CEO, right?

A bit unbearable.

But Yan Lei didn’t find it funny; he was very serious.

“I promised you back then,” he said. “You agreed to come with me to this place, and I promised you anything you wanted. As long as it’s something I can do.”

However, Qiao Wei didn’t grasp the depth of his feelings.

This man still didn’t know that Qiao Wei had never loved him until his death. She was unwilling to spend her life with him.

Qiao Wei felt a bit melancholic, unable to say for whom.

She didn’t want to blame anyone. Beyond life and death, there were no major issues. She didn’t even want to blame her father for abandoning her or her lover for leaving her.

Compared to fate, human nature was weak and indifferent, as tiny as dust.

She didn’t want to blame Qiao Wei or Yan Lei. These were just two incompatible people, forced into an emotionless union in a special era, resulting in a tragedy.

But the light of the setting sun fell on the man’s face, casting a tall and deep shadow on his nose.

A strange softness arose in her heart, and she felt a slight envy for Qiao Wei.

She lifted her hand and touched Yan Lei’s face.

“Can you promise me too?” she asked softly.

Yan Lei pulled her hand away and held it, puzzled. “What do you mean by ‘too’?”

“You promised the Qiao Wei you mentioned earlier, but she’s dead now. I told you that.” Qiao Wei said, “The one you’re going to live with from now on is me, Qiao Wei.”

“So, can you promise me too?”

The sun had sunk below the eaves, casting a dim light over the yard.

Her eyes shimmered in the twilight, filled with anticipation.

Alone and lonely, she died, and the first person she saw when she woke up was this man.

Fate arranged for him to become her husband.

At this moment, Qiao Wei seemed a bit sentimental, wanting to hear this man promise her with his own words to say the same words he had once said to the other Qiao Wei.

Being anticipated, being coquettish.

Yan Lei held her hand, feeling that the present time was rare and beautiful. It seemed like a fantasy he had about married life before getting married.

This fantasy had never come true until now, at this moment.

Yan Lei held Qiao Wei’s hand, rubbed it with his thumb, and lifted his eyes.

“You married me and live with me,” he said. “Anything I can do, I’ll do it for you.”

“I keep my promises.”

“What about my job?”

“I’ve asked someone. This might take a while; it’s not something that can be done in a day or two. Don’t worry.”

Qiao Wei heard what she wanted to hear and revealed a satisfied and happy smile.

She wanted to retract her hand but couldn’t pull it out.

Yan Lei held it tightly, not letting her withdraw. He also continued to rub her hand with his thumb, creating a tingling sensation.

In the dim light, Yan Lei’s voice seemed to be slightly hoarse.

A tingling sensation surged from the back of her hand.

There was a restless warmth within her body.

Yan Xiang shouted from inside the house, leaning against the windowsill, “Mom, Mom, I want to listen to ‘The Adventures of Little Butou’!”

The atmosphere dissipated in an instant.

Qiao Wei pulled her hand back, and Yan Lei let go of her.

“I’m coming,” Qiao Wei said as he walked past him.

Yan Lei’s peripheral vision followed her until she was out of sight.

He leaned his long legs on the ground and raised the front legs of the small bamboo chair, swaying it back and forth, making a creaking sound.

A slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.