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Only this time, he did not maintain his usual sleeping position. Instead, he turned sideways, placing one hand under his wife’s neck and the other on her waist, pulling her into his arms.
Lin Ting’s whole body stiffened in surprise.
Why are we getting closer instead of farther apart?
She was about 165 cm tall, and in his embrace, she could bury her face in his shoulder and neck. The position was unfamiliar but not uncomfortable—and surprisingly, not unpleasant.
As Lin Ting’s mind raced with thoughts, she heard him say, “Go to sleep. Don’t you have to wake up early tomorrow to make breakfast for your parents?”
Lin Ting…
How can I sleep like this?! she screamed inwardly.
Sensing her silent protest, Huo Xiao smoothed her long hair and reassured her, “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you.”
Lin Ting, who was about to explode with anger, stiffened again but quickly relaxed… What is wrong with this man?
“Don’t overthink it. If you get pregnant, traveling will be inconvenient.”
Wishful thinking! Lin Ting blushed and kicked him.
Huo Xiao chuckled, letting her kick him without complaint.
After some time, he pulled her back into his arms and sighed contentedly. “A small bed has its advantages.”
Realizing what he meant, Lin Ting kicked him again.
Huo Xiao…
The next morning.
Huo Xiao, waking up at 5:30 as usual, glanced at his wife, who was still asleep in his arms.
After a moment of silence, he slowly pulled out his numb arm, massaged it to relieve the tingling, and quietly got out of bed.
After dressing, he returned to the bed and, unsurprisingly, saw his wife burying her face in the quilt. Amused, he pulled the quilt down just enough to expose her nose and mouth. Then he gently smoothed her furrowed brows, waiting until her breathing was steady before leaving the room.
“Why are you up so early? Go back and rest,” said Li Taohong, who was used to waking early. She had just gotten ready to head to the kitchen when she saw her son-in-law already dressed. Her face lit up with a warm smile.
“I can’t sleep. I’m used to waking up at this time in the army,” Huo Xiao replied. “I’ll prepare breakfast after I wash up.”
Li Taohong hesitated, recalling what her daughter had said yesterday.
She sighed, half amused, half helpless. “That girl has been spoiled since childhood. Don’t overindulge her.”
Huo Xiao’s expression softened. “I’m not spoiling her. I just let her sleep in.”
Hearing this, Li Taohong said no more but felt deeply relieved. Her daughter had endured so much—now, she finally had a happy life.
Her son-in-law seemed cold and indifferent, but in reality, he was thoughtful and caring.
That was enough for her to be at peace.
After breakfast.
Lin Ting and Huo Xiao prepared to leave.
They still had to visit her uncle’s house to pick up her mother-in-law and the twins, and Huo Xiao had to depart again in the afternoon. Time was tight.
Before they left, Li Taohong walked alongside her daughter, giving her advice about married life. She emphasized how fortunate she was to have a good mother-in-law, Hu Xiu, and encouraged her to be filial. “I don’t want you to struggle too much after marriage, but now that you’re married, you can’t live like an unmarried girl. You should help with the housework.”
She was referring to how Lin Ting had slept while her husband made breakfast.
Lin Ting felt wronged. She had asked Huo Xiao to wake her up, but he had ignored her request, choosing instead to impress her parents.
Still… she had to admit, it was kind of nice.
So, no matter how much her mother lectured her, Lin Ting just listened patiently.
Only when Huo Xiao finished tying the large bags of return gifts from her parents onto the bicycle did she finally escape her mother’s advice.
Sitting sideways on the padded seat with ease, Lin Ting said goodbye to her family. “Mom, I’m leaving. I’ll prepare some food for Huo Xiao for the trip. If you miss me, come visit, or I’ll come back. It’s not far.”
“Nonsense! You’re married now. You can’t come home every day!” Li Taohong chided, lightly slapping her daughter. Then, remembering that Lin Ting would be leaving for the army next month, she softened. “I’ll come visit you in a few days.”
Lin Ting…
The ride home.
Huo Xiao drank a bowl of hot tea before heading out again.
By the time they reached home, it was around ten o’clock. Despite the cold, Lin Ting immediately started heating the kang.
As the freezing room gradually warmed up, she took off her thick coat and began making dough.
Her mother was right—now that she was married, and satisfied with her partner, she needed to take care of her household.
Besides, Huo Xiao had helped her elder brother find a job, and though she hadn’t mentioned it, she appreciated it deeply.
So, she planned the food for his journey.
At this time of year, everything outside froze solid. In addition to the sesame and peanut fried flour she had prepared earlier—easy to mix with hot water—she made two baskets of steamed buns.
It was a bit troublesome, but steamed buns could be easily reheated on the way. When soaked in hot water, they tasted even better than plain ones.
If that wasn’t enough, he could buy boxed meals on the train. Two and a half days wasn’t too long.
Scooping the flour, she suddenly remembered the lard and green onion flower rolls she liked. She decided to make extra for the twins and her mother-in-law.
Lin Ting shook the flour bag, scooped a spoonful with a gourd ladle, and got to work.
You can deceive others, but never yourself.
She kneaded the dough, let it ferment, and prepared the fillings. Although she had never made flower rolls before, she knew how to steam buns and had watched a tutorial on Hanamaki [1]also known as flower rolls, a type of Chinese steamed bun.. Relying on memory, she shaped them carefully. After the second fermentation, she placed them in the steamer, set the pot on the stove, and lit the fire.
As a rich aroma filled the kitchen, Lin Ting heard a bicycle bell. Knowing it was her mother-in-law and the children returning, she got up and walked to the kitchen door.
Outside, two little ones, bundled up like balls, spotted her. Their eyes lit up as they waddled toward the kitchen like penguins.
Lin Ting hadn’t expected such excitement. Stunned for a moment, she quickly squatted down, curved her peach blossom eyes, and opened her arms to catch the twins.
Before she could ask if they missed her, Guoguo exclaimed, “Mom, what did you make? It smells so good!”
So, he wasn’t running to her—he was running for the food.
Adults can be so cruel. Lin Ting removed the child’s thick coat and mimicked his tone, teasing, “It’s Huajuan [2]another name for flower rolls.! But Mommy made them all for Daddy. What will Guoguo do?”
Guoguo was stunned but didn’t cry. Thinking quickly, he raised his hand and negotiated, “Then… can Guoguo just try one?”
How polite. Human cubs are so amusing. Lin Ting suppressed a laugh and shook her head. “No way!”
Guoguo looked disappointed, but then his big eyes sparkled with an idea. “Sister has some! Guoguo and Sister will share.”
Miaomiao, who had been quietly observing, knew her mother was teasing her brother. She leaned against Lin Ting, waiting to see how silly Guoguo could get.
Lin Ting hung their coats on a chair, then removed their hats and gloves. Hearing Guoguo’s plan, she said, “Sister doesn’t have any either.”
“Then…” Guoguo looked anxiously at Grandma, hoping for help.
Lin Ting’s stomach hurt from holding back laughter, but she crushed his last hope. “Mom said, these are all for Daddy. Mom, Grandma, Guoguo, and Miaomiao don’t get any.”
The little guy was devastated. He glanced at the steaming steamer, then at his tall, strong father. Realizing he couldn’t win, tears welled up, and he burst into sobs. “Waaah! Mommy lied! You said you love Guoguo the most! But you love Daddy the most! Waaah!”
This was a classic case of shooting oneself in the foot.
Initially, Lin Ting planned to soothe him by revealing that the top layer was theirs. But his words caught her off guard, leaving her in an awkward situation.
She dared not look at her quietly laughing husband or her mother-in-law, who was chuckling openly.
Carrying Guoguo to the steamer, she covered his mouth and explained, “Mommy was joking! Look, the top layer is ours. You can eat as much as you want.”
At this, the child’s tears vanished. But only for a moment.
Guoguo, who could already count, carefully checked the steamer.
Three layers in total. And only one for them?
“Waaah! Mommy really loves Daddy the most!”
Lin Ting… couldn’t explain her way out of this one.
***
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