Chapter 9: Expenses

“Well, I’ll also start finding ways to earn money to share some of the burden. After all, the expenses of raising children will only increase, so you can be more relaxed.” Luo Jiaojiao looked at Leng Mohan, speaking softly.

“I know every penny you earn is hard-earned, even earned at the risk of your life.” Luo Jiaojiao continued, her tone full of concern and admiration for Leng Mohan.

Leng Mohan was deeply moved by Luo Jiaojiao’s words, a warm current surging in his heart. He hadn’t expected that this woman, who had just become his wife, would care so much about his sacrifices.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine, and I won’t put myself in danger. Rest assured.” Leng Mohan interrupted her, opposing her idea of going to work. “You don’t need to go to work; I really can’t bear to let you. I still have enough money to support you and the children.”

Over the years, he had lived frugally, accumulating a certain amount of wealth, and also lending out a portion. Now that he had a wife and would have children in the future, it was time to recover those debts.

He had always lived simply, occasionally going to a state-run restaurant for a meal, which was already his biggest expense.

“Let’s consider having children in a few years,” he added calmly, his tone revealing his thoughtful consideration of the future.

When Luo Jiaojiao heard his suggestion to wait a few years before having children, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Children were the strongest bond between her and Leng Mohan. With children, even if she couldn’t help Leng Mohan, she wouldn’t easily abandon him. This thought gave her some comfort.

She was only eighteen years old and not yet mature; conceiving a child now seemed premature. She knew that waiting two years to have a child, until she was twenty, would allow her body to mature further, reducing the risks of childbirth.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you,” Luo Jiaojiao readily agreed. Her body was in good condition, and with regular checkups, her health was impeccable, so she wasn’t worried about conception.

At this moment, she and Leng Mohan were just getting to know each other, knowing nothing about each other. She planned to use these two years to slowly understand him and gradually bridge the distance between them. She simply couldn’t accept the idea of rushing into intimacy with someone she had only known for a few days.

“Yeah, it’s safer for your body to wait two years before having a child,” Leng Mohan also thought she was still young, after all, she had only just turned eighteen. Waiting a few years to have a child would be safer. He had seen women who had starved themselves and suffered complications during childbirth, ultimately because their bodies weren’t well-nourished.

He would spend these two years nurturing her body, but this didn’t mean he would give up their intimate moments. After all, he was a normal man and couldn’t expect to live like an ascetic after marrying his wife.

He understood that they had only just met and were still strangers, and that Luo Jiaojiao could only rely on herself.

Leng Mohan’s thoughts drifted, he didn’t know what he was thinking, but he knew that no matter what, he would do his best to provide her with a comfortable life.

In Luo Jiaojiao’s eyes, Leng Mohan was undoubtedly a good husband.

However, Leng Mohan was unaware of this. If he knew Luo Jiaojiao’s inner thoughts, he would probably laugh at her naiveté.

He wasn’t as perfect as she imagined; every decision was carefully considered. Taking her as his wife, for example, although Luo Jiaojiao’s parents had saved his life, leading him to decide to marry her, how he treated her was entirely up to him.

Luo Mei Hui, to him, was someone he married only out of gratitude. He would give her the status she deserved, but beyond that, he wouldn’t interfere too much in her life. He had already noticed her disdain and naturally wouldn’t treat her sincerely.

However, Luo Jiaojiao was different from what he had imagined. Her appearance was as if meticulously sculpted to his liking, making her irresistible.

In his eyes, she was almost flawless, except for a bit of petulance. But this petulance, to him, wasn’t a flaw, but rather added to her charm. He had the confidence and the ability to cherish this fragility; Luo Jiaojiao was as if born for him.

Leng Mohan’s eating speed was also astonishing; Luo Jiaojiao watched in amazement. However, although he ate quickly, his manner was not at all crude, but rather exuded an elegance.

Luo Jiaojiao secretly attributed this elegance to his handsome appearance.

Leng Mohan packed the remaining food into a lunchbox and then led Luo Jiaojiao out of the restaurant. They didn’t go directly back to the car but walked towards a nearby photo studio.

Luo Jiaojiao looked at him with full of questions, were they going to take photos?

“I’ll take you to take wedding photos, and then take a separate photo of you to send to your cousin. Next month, I’ll have a vacation and take you back to your hometown to pay respects to your biological parents.”

“Your cousin will be transferred here soon. While I’m out on missions, he’ll take good care of you. He’ll love you like a real brother. He treats your parents as his own.” Leng Mohan lightly introduced her family members.

“Your uncle was a soldier but died heroically. Your aunt couldn’t bear the blow while pregnant with your cousin, and died of postpartum hemorrhage, leaving only your cousin. He is your only relative in this world, the only person besides me who sincerely protects you without asking for anything in return. You can trust him.”

“Your cousin, due to his weak physique, has long relied on medication to maintain his life. Two-thirds of your parents’ monthly salary goes to medicine. This also means they haven’t been able to save any money for you. Your cousin is a good person. He has learned medicine through self-study and was fortunate enough to apprentice last year. His medical skills will surely improve in the future.”

Leng Mohan looked at Luo Jiaojiao and couldn’t help but say a few more words. Although his relationship with Luo Xingchen wasn’t deep, it was harmonious. He knew Luo Xingchen’s hardships and understood Luo Jiaojiao’s situation.

Luo Jiaojiao was a little confused by his sudden words. She didn’t understand why he would equate money with life.

In her eyes, how could money be compared to a precious life? “I understand,” she said softly, “My cousin’s health is the most important thing. Losing money is a small matter, but his health is more important.”

In her eighteen years, Luo Jiaojiao had never worried about money. To her, money was useless, just like waste paper. Although the Luo family spoiled her and gave her pocket money, Lin Li strictly controlled her diet, not allowing her to buy food outside, and even her clothes were chosen by Lin Li. She really didn’t have anywhere to spend her money.

It was a coincidence that she had just graduated from high school last month, but she hadn’t even received her diploma yet, but it didn’t matter, after all, she didn’t need it.