Cheng Dabao and Cheng Xiaobao giggled mischievously, “Kiss, kiss.”

Jiang Lin blushed so much it seemed like her face might bleed.

She reached to pinch Cheng Rushan’s chest, but his muscles were too firm, so she only grabbed his clothes.

Cheng Rushan smirked slightly and leaned down towards her for a kiss.

Startled, Jiang Lin quickly lowered her head, and his kiss landed on the top of her head.

Jiang Lin exclaimed, “In broad daylight, are you trying to make a mistake? If you get caught acting like a hooligan again, you’ll be paraded around!”

Cheng Rushan let go of her and said, “Who cares if I kiss my own wife? I was just teasing you. Could you really have dodged?”

Jiang Lin blushed and said, “But not outside.”

Cheng Rushan nodded and smiled, “Okay, from now on, only at home.”

Jiang Lin sighed internally, “That’s not what I meant.”

The two boys hugged each other’s shoulders, watching their Dad playfully tease Mom. Though they didn’t understand, they found it amusing.

Jiang Lin quickly walked away, saying, “Let’s grind the millstone, don’t waste time.”

Cheng Rushan pushed the millstone, Jiang Lin managed the grains, and Xiaobao climbed onto Cheng Rushan’s back to add weight.

Dabao sometimes sat on the millstone, helping to pour the grains inside.

Jiang Lin instructed, “Only eat the grains directly, don’t make a mess.”

Cheng Xiaobao replied, “I’m okay bare-bottomed, not dirty.”

Cheng Dabao added, “But won’t it stink?”

Cheng Xiaobao insisted, “I’ve taken a bath.”

To prevent them from playing with the millstone, Jiang Lin said, “Come here, I’ll teach you how to play ‘Peace Under Heaven’.”

The two children quickly learned and happily played.

Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan focused on pushing the millstone.

After a while, Cheng Rushan stopped and let Jiang Lin clean the millet flour.

He chuckled, “It’s your turn to push.”

Thinking he was tired, Jiang Lin naturally took over the millstone handle.

Unexpectedly, he immediately pulled her into his arms, holding her hand with his large one as they pushed together.

Jiang Lin was engulfed in his strong masculinity, her back against his chest, with no escape from the millstone handle in front of her.

Her heart raced, feeling like it might leap out of her chest.

Cheng Rushan lowered his head and whispered near her ear, “Still scared?”

His voice was magnetic but not too deep, carrying a masculine and steady force.

At first, Jiang Lin’s heart raced faster, nervous and sweating.

But as he pushed her around, her heart gradually calmed down.

She knew he wouldn’t hurt her; he would protect her.

In her mind, she saw him playing with the children, gentle and soft.

His claws were only for enemies, his soft belly for loved ones.

To her, he was harmless.

He conveyed that signal to her.

Somehow, she miraculously calmed down, no longer so afraid of his closeness and touch.

“That’s enough.” He lifted his head, his lips lightly brushing against her earlobe before releasing her.

Jiang Lin’s back was soaked with sweat, her face flushed and hot.

She hurriedly ran outside to cool off, watching Dabao and Xiaobao playing games.

She stood there fanning herself with her hand and happened to see Cheng Ruhai coming down the road in a bustling manner.

Was he headed to the commune?

Shuihuai Village was very close to the commune, just a short walk away.

She returned to the mill door, leaning against the frame as she said to Cheng Rushan, “It looks like Cheng Ruhai is going to the commune to complain.”

Cheng Rushan swept the scattered millet flour into the basket and glanced at her. “Don’t worry, Cheng Fugui won’t dare to do anything. Times have changed.”

Jiang Lin, seeing his confidence, was reassured and stood there enjoying the breeze, admiring the pastoral scenery.

It was early July in the lunar calendar, still hot, with lush green trees and clusters of wildflowers—a quite picturesque scene.

Unconsciously, she glanced at Cheng Rushan inside the house again.

His figure was quite eye-catching—tall but not bulky, lean but not thin, with balanced strength hidden beneath.

Feeling her body heat up again, she quickly looked away.

After everything was packed up, Cheng Rushan carried the grain and his son, while Jiang Lin slung the basket over her shoulder and carried the tools.

The family headed home together.

On the way, Jiang Lin saw Qianbo and a female educated youth approaching.

The female educated youth was named Wei Qiongfang, a sent-down educated youth from the city who had come to stay with her cousin, who was the wife of Cheng Fugui’s younger brother, Ma Kaihua.

Cheng Fugui’s younger brother, Cheng Fuwan, was the production team leader of the Second Team, while Ma Kaihua was in charge of propaganda work in Shuihuai Village, often challenging Cheng Yulian, the head of the Women’s Federation.

“Jiang Lin, who is this person with you?” Wei Qiongfang deliberately asked loudly.

Of course, she knew it was Cheng Rushan.

Even if they hadn’t been familiar before, Cheng Rushan’s recent headline-making incident involving his own brother was widely known.

Jiang Lin knew that the original host had a strained relationship with the educated youth and Wei Qiongfang in particular.

Both were attractive young women, but Wei Qiongfang’s slightly yellowish skin made her less appealing.

When two proud and beautiful girls come together, if both restrain themselves, everything will be peaceful.

But if they don’t, conflicts will escalate naturally.

The original host had been trying to marry someone off because Wei Qiongfang had a cousin to lean on, which meant she could arrange things with ease and also secretly deal with rivals.

Jiang Lin heard the tone of Wei Qiongfang’s voice, as if suggesting there were other people besides him.

She raised an eyebrow, bluntly giving the other a dismissive glance, making it clear she couldn’t be bothered to explain.

Cheng Dabao shouted, “My mother’s man!”

Cheng Xiaobao chimed in, “Our Dad!”

The two children laughed heartily.

They didn’t understand Wei Qiongfang’s meaning, but boasting about having both a dad and a mom was like scoring points whenever possible.

Qianbo immediately sensed Wei Qiongfeng’s implied meaning and said, “This is Jiang Lin’s husband. What nonsense are you talking about?”

Saying this made him feel sour inside, wondering if Linlin would appreciate it or not.

Originally, he was also one of those men.

Wei Qiongfeng exclaimed in surprise, “Cheng Rushan?” Only then did she look at Cheng Rushan and smiled, “Hello, Cheng Rushan. I’m Wei Qiongfeng, I live at the home of Cheng Fuwan, the team leader of the Second Team.”

Cheng Rushan didn’t look directly at her, only turned his head to urge Jiang Lin, “Let’s go, wife.”

Jiang Lin hurriedly caught up.

Cheng Rushan carried a shoulder pole on his shoulders, one hand free, and casually held Jiang Lin’s hand.

Jiang Lin instinctively wanted to pull her hand back but he held on tighter.

Qianbo was still watching from behind; he needed to make that young man completely give up and stop thinking about his wife.

Seeing the two of them walk away, Wei Qiongfeng sneered and deliberately said loudly, “Qianbo, didn’t they say she sold her child to raise money to go back to the city?”

Qianbo’s face changed, “Nonsense, who told you that?”

Wei Qiongfeng sneered coldly, “Several people know anyway.”

Qianbo asked, “Did Meng Yiyi say that?”

Wei Qiongfeng replied, “She and Jiang Lin are as close as sisters. If anyone would know, it would be her, right? So Meng Yiyi knows? I’ll go ask her.” Ignoring Qianbo’s objections, she turned on her heel and ran off.

As Jiang Lin heard Wei Qiongfeng’s mention of selling children, her heart skipped a beat.

She chuckled and turned to Xiao Bao, saying, “Just now someone said they’d pay ten thousand for you, but no one did.”

Xiao Bao giggled, “My dad would!”

Jiang Lin glanced quickly at Cheng Rushan, who was looking at her with a half-smile.

She wondered what he was thinking.

Cheng Dabao chimed in, “Three dog eggs and half a bag of sweet potatoes.”

In the village, children were often joked about having a price tag.

Xiao Bao, proud of his achievements, added, “I’m the most expensive!”

Seeing Cheng Rushan dismiss the comment,

Jiang Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

The only concern now was the Zhao family.

When they arrived home, Cheng Rushan released Jiang Lin’s hand, and she opened the courtyard gate for him to carry the things inside.

Yan Runzhi had already prepared lunch.

She had made various vegetable pancakes, mixing different kinds of flour and fillings such as celery with tofu, leek with egg, mung bean, and pumpkin with dried shrimp.

Since there was an abundance of vegetables from their garden and leftovers from their neighbor, she made a few extra.

To save oil, Yan Runzhi only made a few fried pancakes for Jiang Lin and the children.

She and Cheng Rushan would eat the dry pancakes. Knowing Jiang Lin’s preferences, she made them smaller.

Seeing the family return, Yan Runzhi immediately felt that her son and daughter-in-law seemed different.

She chuckled to herself, thinking that they needed some time alone to get used to each other.

The vegetable pancakes smelled delicious, and Jiang Lin ate one, then another filled with dried shrimp—it was too tasty to resist!

Cheng Da Bao and Xiao Bao also ate until their bellies were full.

Yan Runzhi and Jiang Lin went to the courtyard to relax.

Yan Runzhi whispered to Cheng Rushan, “Once Dongsheng is back, we can finally eat our fill. He shouldn’t stay away so long in the future.”

Cheng Rushan pulled his gaze away from Jiang Lin and the children, saying, “Mom, don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”

After lunch, Cheng Rushan thought about tidying up the bed in the eastern room.

Yan Runzhi said, “Do it later. No rush.”

Finally back home, he wanted to work on his relationship.

He made sure to give Jiang Lin and the children space.

Holding a basket of sewing supplies, she went out, skipping her nap.

Cheng Rushan told Jiang Lin to take the children for a nap while he went to the commune.

Jiang Lin replied, “They usually rest at noon.”

Cheng Rushan smiled, “I know.”

Jiang Lin didn’t say anything more.

Cheng Rushan took a shower outside, changed clothes, and came back into the house.

He gently touched the heads of Cheng Da Bao and Xiao Bao, then caressed Jiang Lin’s cheek. “I’m heading out.”

Jiang Lin responded with a soft “Mm-hmm,” and continued to fan herself with a palm-leaf fan.