Chapter 41

As Jiang Zhe drove toward home, he asked Jiang Yu, “So, are we heading back home now?”

Jiang Yu glanced at his expression. He seemed a bit upset. Given the circumstances, it was understandable for anyone to feel down after what had just happened.

Looking around the area, Jiang Yu shook her head and said, “Let’s not go home just yet. How about we find a park to walk around?”

Jiang Zhe agreed and found a nearby park for them to stroll through. It was a classical garden-themed park, complete with pavilions, towers, and a serene lake where mandarin ducks glided gracefully on the water. The peaceful scenery was a soothing contrast to their earlier tension.

Surrounded by blooming flowers, trees, and delicate rock formations, the tranquil environment lifted Jiang Yu’s spirits. She turned her head to look at Jiang Zhe and asked, “Are you feeling a bit better now?”

Jiang Zhe glanced at her and nodded, “Yes, a bit better.”

Jiang Yu slipped her hand into his and asked. “And now? Feeling even better?”

Her hand, much smaller and softer than his, nestled gently in his palm, sending a wave of warmth through him. Jiang Zhe’s expression softened further as he nodded, “It seems… a lot better.”

Jiang Yu’s eyes curved into a smile as she led Jiang Zhe toward another gate of the park. “It looks like there’s a street over there. Let’s go take a walk.”

“Sure,” he agreed.

The park wasn’t very large, so they quickly reached the other gate, which opened into a quaint, ancient-style town. Though smaller than the places they had explored before, it was charming, with various stalls lining the streets, selling items with a distinctly traditional feel.

As they strolled along, Jiang Yu paused in front of a stall selling oil-paper umbrellas. She began to examine the umbrellas with interest, clearly drawn to them. Jiang Yu had a fondness for these umbrellas, finding them different from the ordinary ones in a way that appealed to her sense of nostalgia.

She said to Jiang Zhe, “I want to buy one of these umbrellas. Is that okay?”

Jiang Zhe had no objections, “Of course. You can buy as many as you like.”

Jiang Yu shook her head, “Just one is fine. I just think they’re beautiful and want to get one for fun.”

“Alright.”

There were many different designs and varying prices. Jiang Yu wanted to buy a better-quality one, and the artwork on those was particularly lovely. However, she couldn’t decide between two umbrellas. Just as she was about to ask Jiang Zhe for his opinion, she turned around and realized he had wandered off somewhere.

“Which one do you think is better?”

“Jiang Zhe?”

After searching for a while, she found him at a stall selling hairpins, intently selecting one. Jiang Yu put down the umbrellas and walked over, asking, “What are you buying?”

Jiang Zhe held two hairpins in his hand, carefully choosing the one he thought suited her best. He then said, “I thought this one would look good on you, so I came over to take a closer look.”

Seeing that he was relaxed enough to pick out a hairpin for her, Jiang Yu felt reassured that his mood had improved. 

“It’s beautiful,” she commented.

Jiang Zhe had picked out a hairpin adorned with apricot blossoms.

After paying the vendor, he said, “I noticed they were pinning hair, so I learned a bit. Would you like to give it a try?”

His eyes sparkled with anticipation. Since Jiang Yu had brought him out to cheer him up, she was more than willing to be his guinea pig.

“Sure.”

The stall was run by an elderly couple, and at that moment, the old woman was pinning another girl’s hair. Jiang Zhe watched closely and then carefully gathered Jiang Yu’s long hair, twisting it into a loop before gently securing it with the hairpin, his actions precise and delicate.

The old man, noticing Jiang Zhe’s impressive first attempt at pinning a girl’s hair, immediately praised him, “Young man, not bad! You made your girlfriend look beautiful.”

Jiang Zhe corrected him, “She’s my wife.”

His voice was soft and tender, and hearing it made Jiang Yu’s heart flutter.

The old man immediately remarked, “You two have a great relationship.”

Jiang Zhe, in high spirits, held Jiang Yu’s hand and led her back to the umbrella stall.

In the end, Jiang Yu chose a blue umbrella with a delicate orchid design. The blue dye was particularly striking. As she opened the umbrella, with her hair half-pinned up with the hairpin, she resembled a graceful lady straight out of an ancient painting.

“You look stunning like this,” Jiang Zhe said. “Would you like me to take a photo of you?”

Jiang Yu, feeling confident in her appearance, agreed, “Sure!”

So, Jiang Yu posed with the umbrella by the flowerbeds along the riverbank, under the willow trees, and took several beautiful photos.

After the photo session, Jiang Yu hurried over to take a look and, sure enough, found the pictures to be quite stunning.

“Make sure you send them to me when we get home,” she told Jiang Zhe.

“Of course.”

With the umbrella in hand, Jiang Yu continued to enjoy her stroll. The area was filled with all sorts of snacks, and at one point, she was holding a candied hawthorn in one hand and a meat pie in the other. She turned to Jiang Zhe, who was carrying the umbrella for her, and asked, “Hey, we’ve left our child at home and sneaked out to have fun. Do you think this is… not so great?”

Seeing how happy she was, Jiang Zhe couldn’t help but share in her joy. “It’s fine. She’s still young. When she’s older, we’ll bring her along to enjoy these outings.”

Jiang Yu found that idea very appealing.

As they passed by a bridge, a flower-selling girl approached and asked Jiang Zhe, “Sir, would you like to buy a flower for your girlfriend?”

Jiang Zhe corrected her, “She’s my wife.”

The girl immediately flashed a sweet smile with dimples, “Well then, sir, how about buying a flower for your wife? She’s so beautiful, and a fresh flower would complement her perfectly.”

Jiang Zhe glanced at the flowers in her basket and asked Jiang Yu, “Would you like one?”

Jiang Yu shyly turned her head to the side, feeling a bit embarrassed.

The girl quickly added, “Sir, you shouldn’t ask if she wants one. Just give it to her, and she’ll be delighted.”

Jiang Zhe understood and promptly said, “Alright, wrap them all up.”

The girl excitedly responded, “Sure, sure!”

After bundling the flowers and handing them to Jiang Yu, she blessed the couple, “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and love, with many years together.”

Jiang Yu knew it was just a sales pitch, so she remained calm. However, Jiang Zhe, flattered by the well-wishes, couldn’t help but beam. When he noticed Jiang Yu watching him, he tried to rein in his smile a bit.

With her hands full of food, Jiang Yu found it inconvenient to hold the flowers. After the girl left, she asked Jiang Zhe, “What should I do? I don’t have a free hand to eat.”

Jiang Zhe immediately took the flowers from her, saying, “I’ll hold them for you. You go ahead and eat.”

Jiang Yu glanced at the flowers and the umbrella he was holding, and with a contented smile, continued eating.

The food tasted excellent.

The next morning, Jiang Yu woke up a bit late. Groggy, she noticed that not only were her parents home, but Jiang Zhe’s mother was there too.

Puzzled for a moment, she went to have breakfast.

After breakfast, she played with the baby.

When Jiang Zhe came out, Jiang Yu asked, “Isn’t your mom supposed to be at the hospital with your dad? Why did she come over?”

While Jiang Zhe’s mom did visit often, it wasn’t as frequent as her own parents. She hadn’t been around much these past few days, so Jiang Yu was curious about her sudden appearance.

Jiang Zhe replied, “Maybe it’s because my dad’s words were harsh yesterday, and she got upset.”

Recalling the scene at the hospital, Jiang Yu asked curiously, “Has your dad always treated your mom this way?”

Jiang Zhe nodded, “Yeah, it used to be a little better, but not by much. Now that he’s older, his temper has only gotten worse.”

Jiang Yu rested her hand beside the baby’s crib and said, “It’s a good thing you don’t take after your father; otherwise, I’d be running away by train tonight.”

Hearing her words, Jiang Zhe immediately became anxious and hurriedly said, “I won’t, never.”

Seeing his worried expression, Jiang Yu gave him a reassuring look. “Of course, I know you won’t.”

Mother Jiang was also puzzled. After lunch, she asked curiously, “What’s the matter? You didn’t go to the hospital to visit your old man today?”

Jiang Yu had planned to take a nap in her room, but hearing this, she quickly sat down on the sofa, pretending to watch TV, though she only fidgeted with the remote. Glancing over, she noticed her father holding a book, but it was upside down.

Jiang Yu cleared her throat, “Dad.”

She signaled with her eyes.

Realizing the book was upside down, he quickly turned it right-side up.

Shen Qiuli looked tired today, her face showing signs of fatigue. “There’s no point in going. The hospital has caregivers. I’m not needed there.”

Mother Jiang exchanged a knowing glance with her husband.

She comforted Shen Qiuli, “What couple doesn’t have disagreements?”

Shen Qiuli remained silent.

In the evening, after Shen Qiuli left, Mother Jiang said to Jiang Yu, “It seems your parents-in-law are having some serious issues.”

Jiang Yu didn’t believe her mother at first, but after seeing Shen Qiuli come over every day for the next few days, she started to think there might be some truth to it.

Sure enough, one day, Shen Qiuli, while they were all in the room, quietly confided in Mother Jiang, “Azhi, I need your advice on something.”

Being a helpful person, Mother Jiang immediately agreed. “Of course, just say what’s on your mind.”

“What if I told you I’m considering a divorce? Do you think your Xiao Yu would be okay with that?”

Mother Jiang was stunned. She hadn’t expected things between them to reach such a point. She asked in surprise, “Are things really that bad between you two?”

There was no longer any light in Shen Qiuli’s eyes.

“He told me to leave, so I’ll leave. After so many years of marriage, I’ve endured so much, but all that patience has led to this—my son worked hard to achieve everything he has, and now, he wants him to hand it over to his daughter and son-in-law.”

Mother Jiang commented, “That’s really too much. Thankfully, Jiang Zhe isn’t clueless.”

Shen Qiuli looked at Mother Jiang’s relieved expression and felt a twinge of guilt.

She had really taken Jiang Yu’s words to heart that day. Although Jiang Yu’s temperament had improved a lot, she didn’t dare to imagine what might have happened if Jiang Zhe had agreed back then.

She knew her son well. If he didn’t have a family of his own, out of guilt, he might have gone out of his way to help them.

But why?

It was one thing for her to make sacrifices for them, but should her son’s family have to as well?

“Your Xiao Yu was right—they will never be grateful.”

After a sigh, Shen Qiuli said hesitantly, “I’m just a bit worried. Do you think your Xiao Yu can accept her mother-in-law getting a divorce?”

Mother Jiang was quite open-minded and said, “What’s not to accept? It’s your own decision to make.”

What Mother Jiang didn’t say was how great it would be to have one less troublesome in-law around.

She agreed to pass on the message, and before leaving that evening, she told Jiang Yu about it.

Jiang Yu nodded and later mentioned it to Jiang Zhe.

Jiang Zhe calmly wiped the mouth of the little one who had just finished drinking milk and said, “Okay.”

“Did your mom already tell you?” Jiang Yu asked.

Jiang Zhe denied it. “No.”

“Then why are you so calm?”

“Divorce might be a good thing.”

Jiang Yu couldn’t resist teasing him, “What if I don’t agree? Will your mom not get a divorce then?”

Jiang Zhe cradled the baby in his arms and shook his head. “You won’t disagree.”

Jiang Yu laughed, “You trust me that much?”

Jiang Zhe nodded. “Yes.”

“Besides, I think if my mom really goes through with it, you’d be even happier.”

That’s true, Jiang Yu thought.

She said, “Tell your mom I have no objections. But honestly, this is her decision to make, isn’t it?”

“Okay.”

Jiang Zhe quickly informed Shen Qiuli that they had no objections. With her family’s support, Shen Qiuli soon filed for divorce.

At first, Jiang Cheng didn’t believe it, but when he realized she was serious, he became both shocked and furious, yelling, “You’ll regret this!”

When Shen Qiuli completed the paperwork, Jiang Yu and Jiang Zhe went to pick her up. Hearing Jiang Cheng’s words, Jiang Yu nearly rolled her eyes.

This old man, what’s the point of saying that after everything is already done?

Shen Qiuli wasn’t the type to fight for things, so after the divorce, she only took her rightful share of the assets. She didn’t ask for the family house and decided to live closer to them, sharing a home with the family’s housekeeper. Most of her belongings were sent back to her grandmother’s house, and from then on, her life revolved around her children and spending time with her mother.

As they arrived home, snow suddenly started to fall. Shen Qiuli looked up at the snowflakes drifting down and sighed, “It’s snowing, the New Year is coming.”

The snow came late this year; it was nearly January before it finally fell.

Jiang Yu looked up as well, catching a few flakes in her hand. “It’s almost New Year’s already?”

Jiang Zhe nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Yu, who had been worrying about what to do with herself lately, sighed, “Another year gone, and I still haven’t accomplished anything.”

Jiang Zhe had thought she’d be thinking about how to celebrate the New Year, but instead, she was lamenting her lack of achievements.

He smiled wryly and said, “It’s fine. The plans for the year should be made in spring. If we wait until spring to start, that’s okay too. There’s plenty of time.”

Jiang Yu shot him a glare. “You’re making me lazy.”

Jiang Zhe replied, “Then I’ll supervise you.”

Jiang Yu retorted, “You think you’ll say, ‘I’ll support you’?”

He was not following the usual script.

Jiang Zhe said, “I’d actually like to, but I think you wouldn’t agree.”

Jiang Yu chuckled.

Jiang Zhe gazed into the distance and sighed inwardly.

Another year was approaching, and it seemed like their relationship hadn’t progressed much.