Chapter 17

Han Zecheng was slightly stunned.

Since Su Ruo called out to him and he turned around, he had been looking at her.

He saw her step forward to grab his hand, saw her lower her head silently, and then say that one sentence.

Of course, he knew she was not the kind of person they talked about—someone who would abandon her husband and child just because she returned to the city or got into university.

But many things weren’t as simple as they seemed on the surface.

He really wanted to lift her chin to see her expression now.

Actually, even without looking, he could roughly guess.

That kind of expression was probably irresistible to him.

He restrained himself, reached out with his other hand and gently patted her back, saying, “I know. It’s nothing. It’s just that these past few days have been hard on you. Pack up your things; tomorrow there won’t be any more of these messy troubles.”

Su Ruo sniffled and softly responded, “Mm,” belatedly feeling a bit shy, then released his hand and said, “Thank you.”

Han Zecheng looked at her for a while longer, then reached out to tuck the stray hair from her forehead behind her ear. Seeing her ears slowly flush red, he pulled the corner of his mouth slightly, then withdrew his gaze.

He then looked toward his son, who had been watching him and Su Ruo with wide, thoughtful eyes—those eyes bore a strong resemblance to Su Ruo’s.

His mood had lifted considerably. He patted the boy’s head and said, “Let’s go.”

This time, he really took Han Guo’s hand and turned to leave.

During the day at home, Su Ruo had mostly packed her things. Now, she sorted out the items she wouldn’t take with her and, after some thought, decided to give them away—to her sister-in-law Liu Xiumei and her third brother’s wife Wu Jiaoyan.

Su Ruo noticed that Liu Xiumei had probably taken good care of her before, so without feeling guilty, she packed the nice things she wouldn’t bring—like malted milk, candies, pastries, fabrics—into boxes and gave them to the eldest brother’s family. As for Wu Jiaoyan, she only gave some bulky but actually inexpensive items, like some racks, Han Guo’s old clothes and toys…

Liu Xiumei hadn’t been long before she brought over some things herself.

She handed Su Ruo a bag of salted duck cut into pieces and, embarrassed, said, “Second sister-in-law, I don’t have much good stuff either. This is homemade by my family. I’ve already given half to the house. Mom knows about this leftover part, so it’s not like I took it from home secretly. If you don’t mind, just take it with you and steam it with rice later.”

The Han family hadn’t split up, so food like this usually had to be handed in, but since Liu Xiumei’s family specially sent it for their grandson, and she had already given half to the family, Wu Guizhi had nothing to say.

Su Ruo knew how precious the salted duck was to Liu Xiumei—that was probably the best thing she could offer.

Other foods were family property and she couldn’t give them away.

Su Ruo was very grateful.

She smiled and said, “Thank you, sister-in-law. You know this is my favorite. It’s the best to eat when I don’t have an appetite.”

Han Zecheng had been in the room the whole time.

Liu Xiumei was a bit intimidated by Han Zecheng and planned to leave after delivering the food, but Su Ruo glanced at Han Zecheng and said, “Big Brother Han, I want to talk to sister-in-law for a moment.”

Han Zecheng responded with a “Okay” and turned to go to the neighboring son’s room.

Liu Xiumei sighed in relief and smiled at Su Ruo, “Second brother treats second sister-in-law really well.”

Su Ruo: …

Everyone thought he treated her well.

Everyone also thought she would run off if she got into university.

She exhaled, forced a smile, and braced herself, saying, “But mom talks as if I’d leave Big Brother Han once I get into university. Actually, sister-in-law, I’m not sure about that myself…”

Liu Xiumei’s face showed some worry at her words, as if wanting to say something but hesitating. She knew there was a misunderstanding, so she quickly lowered her head and explained, “It’s not me, sister-in-law, I just… Sister-in-law, you’ve seen how much mom hates me. Now because of me, Big Brother Han and mom are in such a conflict. Mom probably hates me to death.”

“I’m worried that since everyone says these things, and you know, these years I’ve spent so little time with Big Brother Han—almost no days together—I don’t even know if he truly treats me well. What if, when I get into university, Big Brother Han really listens to mom and divorces me, then marries someone else?”

Su Ruo was just talking nonsense.

She knew from what she’d seen over these two days that Han Zecheng definitely wasn’t that kind of man.

But she wanted to use this to probe a bit through sister-in-law about her and Han Zecheng’s relationship. After all, she was about to follow him to the army, and after just these two days of being together, she still felt uneasy.

Hearing this, Liu Xiumei laughed out loud.

She knew this second sister-in-law hadn’t followed the second brother to the army before, partly because second uncle was stationed in the northwest and was hard to visit, and partly because the second sister-in-law herself was unwilling.

Her relationship with second uncle had always been rather distant… a normal couple shouldn’t be like that, so she herself was also worried that if the sister-in-law got into university, she might divorce second uncle.

Han Zecheng was slightly stunned.

From the moment she called out to him and he turned around, he hadn’t taken his eyes off her.

He saw her walk forward to grab his hand, saw her lower her head without saying a word, and then say something like that.

Of course, he knew she wasn’t the kind of woman they were talking about — the kind who would abandon her husband and child just because she returned to the city or got into college.

But many things weren’t as simple as they appeared on the surface.

He really wanted to lift her chin and see her current expression.

In fact, even without looking, he could more or less guess.

That kind of expression was probably something he couldn’t resist.

He restrained himself and used his other hand to gently pat her back, saying, “I know. It’s nothing. You’ve just been wronged these past few days. Pack up your things. Starting tomorrow, there won’t be any more of this messy nonsense.”

Su Ruo sniffled, responded with a soft “mm,” and then belatedly felt a bit shy. She let go of his hand and said, “Thank you.”

Han Zecheng looked at her for a while longer, then reached out and tucked the strands of hair on her forehead behind her ear. When he saw her ears slowly turning red, he tugged at the corners of his lips in a smile and then withdrew his gaze.

Then he looked toward their son, who had been staring at the two of them wide-eyed and deep in thought. That pair of eyes looked very much like Su Ruo’s.

His mood had improved quite a bit. He reached out and patted the boy’s head. “Let’s go.”

This time, he really did turn and leave with Han Guo.

During the day at home, Su Ruo had already packed up most of their things. Now she sorted out the items they wouldn’t be taking and, after thinking it over, decided to gift them to her eldest sister-in-law, Liu Xiumei, and third sister-in-law, Wu Jiaoyan.

Su Ruo could tell that Liu Xiumei had taken good care of her over the years. So, without any guilt, she packed the nicer items — malted milk, candy, pastries, fabric — into a box and gave them to the eldest household. As for Wu Jiaoyan, she only gave some larger-looking but not very valuable things, like racks, Han Guo’s old clothes and toys…

Not long after Liu Xiumei received the gifts, she came over carrying a bag.

She brought a bag of salted duck cut into pieces and said sheepishly, “Second sister-in-law, I don’t have much to give. This is homemade by my family. I already gave half to the household. This bit I kept — mom knows about it, so it’s not like I’m hiding anything. If you don’t mind, take it with you and steam it with rice sometime.”

The Han family hadn’t split households, so food like this normally had to be reported. But since her maiden family had specially sent it for their grandson, and she had already handed over half, even Wu Guizhi couldn’t say anything.

Su Ruo knew how valuable this salted duck was to Liu Xiumei. It was probably the best thing she could offer.

The rest of the food belonged to the family, and she couldn’t give that away.

Su Ruo felt deeply grateful.

She smiled and said, “Thank you, eldest sister-in-law. You know this is my favorite. When I have no appetite, this is the best thing to eat.”

At that moment, Han Zecheng was also in the room.

Liu Xiumei was a bit intimidated by him and was about to leave after delivering the gift, but Su Ruo looked at Han Zecheng and said, “Brother Han, I want to chat with eldest sister-in-law for a bit.”

Han Zecheng replied “Okay” and turned to go into their son’s room next door.

Liu Xiumei breathed a sigh of relief, smiled at Su Ruo and said, “Second brother treats you really well.”

Su Ruo: …

Everyone thought he was good to her.

Everyone also thought she would run away after getting into college.

She exhaled, forced a smile, and braced herself to say, “But mom talks as if once I get into college, I’ll leave Brother Han. But, eldest sister-in-law, honestly, I’m not that sure myself…”

When Liu Xiumei heard this, a trace of worry appeared on her face, and she hesitated to speak. Su Ruo realized she’d misunderstood and quickly explained, “It’s not like that, eldest sister-in-law. I just… you’ve seen how much mom dislikes me. Now because of me, Brother Han is at odds with her. She probably hates me to death.”

“I’m worried because everyone keeps saying these things. And you know, over the years, Brother Han and I have spent so little time together, barely a few days. I honestly don’t know if he’s really good to me or not. Do you think if I get into college, Brother Han might actually listen to mom and divorce me, then marry someone else?”

Su Ruo was talking nonsense.

Based on what she’d seen the past couple of days, she knew Han Zecheng wasn’t that kind of person.

But she wanted to use this as an excuse to probe more from her sister-in-law about her and Han Zecheng — after all, she was about to follow him to the army base, and despite their time together, her heart was still uneasy.

Liu Xiumei, however, laughed when she heard that.

She knew that this second sister-in-law had never followed Second Brother with the army before. Partly because he was stationed in the northwest and it wasn’t convenient, and partly because she herself hadn’t wanted to go.

They had always had a distant relationship… and a normal couple shouldn’t be like that. So she had worried that Su Ruo would divorce him after getting into college.

Liu Xiumei had lived with Su Ruo for years and grown quite fond of her. She also thought Su Ruo had a good heart and personality and didn’t want to see that happen.

So now, seeing the rare blush on her face, she finally relaxed a bit.

It seemed this sister-in-law didn’t completely not care about Second Brother.

She smiled and said, “You! Why would you think that? Back then, Second Brother went against mom’s wishes to marry you. He was dead set on bringing you home. Now you two have a child, and you’re even following him to the base. As long as you’re a little bit good to him, he’ll cherish you. How could he bear to divorce you?”

Then, seeing Su Ruo’s face as red as a peach blossom, so shy and flustered, she couldn’t help feeling both amused and envious. Married five years and with a child that big, yet she still acted like a young girl.

But then again, Su Ruo had always been like this — clearly a good-hearted person, yet always so aloof on the outside. And Second Brother… always had that cold face too. These two stone blocks together — no wonder they still made people uncomfortable to watch even after five years.

She took Su Ruo’s hand, thinking that she’d be leaving tomorrow, and who knew when they’d meet again. They might not get a chance to talk like this again. Thinking of all the help Su Ruo had given their family and how she treated her children, she decided to speak her mind.

She said earnestly, “Second sister-in-law, back when Second Brother wasn’t home, there were some things I didn’t say because it wouldn’t have helped. But now you’re going with him to the army, and if you don’t mind, just humor me and listen.”

Of course Su Ruo didn’t mind.

The more she said, the better.

She said, “Go ahead, eldest sister-in-law. I’m feeling all kinds of unsure right now.”

Seeing her like that, Liu Xiumei opened up even more.

She smiled and said, “You say you’re not sure if Second Brother treats you well — that’s because you’re in it and can’t see clearly.”

She continued slowly, “But I don’t blame you. Second Brother’s always been cold and quiet, never says much to anyone. Looks like he doesn’t care about anything. But actually, he’s the most genuine one. You heard him talk about the past… sigh, your eldest brother told me that Second Brother had a hard childhood. No one ever cared if he was warm or cold. But these years, you’ve seen how he treats the family and mom.”

She shook her head, reluctant to say more about the elders, and quickly lowered her voice, “In the earlier years, Second Brother rarely came home and didn’t pay much attention to mom. But in recent years, the reason he sent so much money every month — I heard mom complain once — was because he made a deal with her. He gave her more money in exchange for her not making trouble for you.”

Su Ruo was stunned.

Then Liu Xiumei continued, saying a lot of scattered things about how good Han Zecheng was to her. But after hearing too much, Su Ruo’s initial shyness faded and her heart grew heavy.

Seeing her lowering her head and staying silent, Liu Xiumei thought she was doubtful, so she changed her approach.

She said, “No matter how much I say, it won’t help. You’ll be together more once you’re on base, and you’ll sense it yourself if you pay attention. But Second Brother is a reserved person, and you’re a bit too ladylike. That won’t do.”

“For a couple to get along well, you don’t need all those fancy things. You both have good characters, so that’s not the issue. What I’m saying is…”

She looked at Su Ruo and said seriously, “For a couple, what happens in bed matters a lot. If you can let Second Brother really care for you in bed, he’ll hold you in his heart for sure.”

Su Ruo: ?!?!?!

Did she mishear?

Seeing Su Ruo staring in shock, face red as blood, Liu Xiumei couldn’t help but laugh and sigh.

She’d been married over ten years. Rural wives usually spoke openly, and even shy newlyweds would get used to it over time.

She had even gone out of her way to use polite words with Su Ruo since she wasn’t like the others.

But seeing her like this, she remembered that this sister-in-law married Second Brother in her teens.

Her birth mother had a bad background, her biological father and stepmother had cut ties with her — it was likely no one had ever taught her about these things. And Second Brother, though a good man, was quiet, looked cold and intimidating, and was hardly ever home… No wonder they didn’t get along, and she hadn’t followed him to the army before.

In that moment, Liu Xiumei started imagining all sorts of things.

She also began to feel a great deal of sympathy and affection for Su Ruo.

She held her hand and said gently, “Second sister-in-law, this is all normal between husband and wife. Nothing to be shy about.”

“Second Brother is a soldier — discipline is important to them, and he’s always strict with himself. So sometimes, even if he wants something, he might not make the first move. You need to take initiative. He likes you. If you’re proactive in bed, he won’t be able to hold back.”

“But you can’t just give in to him completely either…”

Moved by pity, the eldest sister-in-law felt like Su Ruo had never been taught properly and began earnestly giving her bedroom advice.

Su Ruo was dumbfounded.

She wanted to say, Eldest sister-in-law, you don’t need to tell me this.

But for some reason, she opened her mouth several times and couldn’t get the words out.

Then her mind flashed to the kiss from last night.

She thought — something like that, probably doesn’t need her to be proactive?

No, no, what was she even thinking…