In truth, Uncle knew perfectly well that he was treated worse than a dog in this household. He hadn't left before simply because he had nowhere to go.
Now that he had someone to help him and a place to stay, he was naturally eager to depart.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liunian, accompanied by the mute, arrived at the female educated youth dormitory and began to survey the area.
He then discovered with delight that there were already five stoves, though no pots.
The compound had a courtyard wall over a meter high, with a well and a vegetable patch inside. As for the rooms, there were a full twelve of them.
Zhang Liunian was very pleased with the vegetable garden. His family's mud house had everything, except for a garden.
Now, it would be possible to plant here from now on.
"Aaah!" After circling the area, Zhang Liunian saw the mute pointing to a small room near the kitchen, indicating he was content to live there.
Zhang Liunian nodded. "Alright, then you'll stay in this room. I'll have to trouble you to look after this place from now on."
The mute nodded happily, put down his ragged clothes, and began to tidy up.
In no time, he had his room sorted. Zhang Liunian, on the other hand, went to the kitchen to tidy up before returning home.
Upon his return, Zhang Liunian went to his wife, who was sewing clothes with his sister, and asked, "Qingqing, the machinery factory wants me to deliver five hundred catties tomorrow. Do you have enough people to peel shrimp? If not, I'll go ask the village chief to find two more."
Jiang Qingqing stopped her needlework and replied happily, "We have enough. With Xiao Si, Xiao Wu, myself, my sister, and the mute, there are five of us. Seven to eight hundred catties is not a problem."
This morning, with Xiao Si and Xiao Wu joining them, they had peeled three hundred catties with ease. Therefore, adding another two hundred catties wouldn't be too much of an issue.
"Let's keep at it for now. If the workload increases, I'll find more people then."
Zhang Liunian moved on from the topic, then brought over the fabric he had bought, along with a pile of fruit candies.
"I'll make two outfits for everyone, including my sister. If it's not enough, I'll go buy more."
Zhang Liunian peeled a fruit candy and offered it to Jiang Qingqing.
Jiang Qingqing blushed slightly and opened her mouth to take it. "It's enough, more than enough. We might even have some left over. If there is, I'll make an outfit for your parents too."
Hearing about his parents for the first time, Zhang Liunian's expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "As you wish."
"Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, I don't need you to make them for me. I have money to buy my own," Zhang Xiaomei quickly protested, not wanting to take advantage of her own brother.
Zhang Liunian looked at her and said, "Before, Third Brother didn't have money and couldn't do anything for you. Now that Third Brother can earn money, what's wrong with making two outfits for his sister? No refusals."
"..." Zhang Xiaomei was speechless upon hearing this.
"Consider these candies as snacks. Eat them if you want. Xiaomei, don't be polite either. Come, Third Brother will peel one for you." Zhang Liunian placed the candies into a bamboo basket and then peeled one, offering it to his sister.
Zhang Xiaomei quickly reached out and took it, saying sheepishly, "Third Brother, you're really something. I'm not a child."
Though she said so, her heart was filled with warmth and happiness.
Zhang Liunian chatted with them for a while longer, then went to coax his daughter to sleep.
After his daughter was asleep, Jiang Qingqing entered the room and signaled to Zhang Liunian to get up so she could measure him for the clothes.
Zhang Liunian got out of bed wearing only his underwear and spread his arms wide.
"Don't move," Jiang Qingqing said, taking out a tape measure and began to measure, first his arms, then his bust, waist, and hips.
Zhang Liunian watched her voluptuous figure sway back and forth, her breath occasionally brushing against his chest.
"Done." Jiang Qingqing recorded the measurements and was about to step back and leave when Zhang Liunian's large hand pressed against her, pulling her directly into his embrace.
Jiang Qingqing was a bit bewildered, leaning dazedly against his chest, looking at her husband with confusion.
Zhang Liunian looked into her innocent, clear eyes, gently tightening his grip to hold her securely. "I'm not done yet."
Jiang Qingqing felt something, and her face instantly turned crimson. She stammered, flustered. "Liunian, the baby can see."
Ever since she became pregnant, Jiang Qingqing had been hesitant about this, fearing that the child might witness it.
Hearing her words, Zhang Liunian calmed down slightly. Although pregnant women could engage in such activities in this situation, he feared harming his wife and child.
"I'll just hold you for a bit, just a moment."
His hot breath sprayed onto Jiang Qingqing's neck, making her legs go weak. She bit her lip and murmured softly, "Perhaps, we could try?"
After years of marriage, this was the first time her husband had shown such restraint, and she felt reluctant to let him suffer.
"No need."
It would be over soon, it would be fine.
Zhang Liunian's intentions were good, but he overlooked one thing: he was a man who had lived a celibate life. With his cherished wife in his arms now, how could he possibly be alright?
"Liu, Liunian, carry me to bed." Jiang Qingqing reached out and wrapped her arms around her husband, pressing her face against his chest.
Zhang Liunian's body trembled. He smiled silently, then carried her to the bed, holding her close. "Sleep!" he said softly, then closed his eyes.
The next moment, two soft, fragrant lips met his. Zhang Liunian's eyes snapped open, only to see his wife looking at him with a shy, flushed face, her eyes holding a deep, watery gaze.
Zhang Liunian's heart jolted. The corners of his lips began to widen. He clasped her hand and deepened the kiss, but that was all. His wife was six months pregnant, and he couldn't risk harming her.
The next day, as dawn broke, Zhang Liunian got up to exercise, discarding shrimp shells. However, he didn't notice the small tail following him.
This little tail belonged, of course, to Tu Meili, who had always been looking for trouble with Zhang Liunian.
In order to uncover the truth, she had gotten up at five-thirty in the morning to stake out his place. Her persistence paid off, and she finally saw Zhang Liunian throwing something into a steep cave. Then, she saw him go to Daming Lake to catch shrimp, and finally, he transported the shrimp to the female educated youth dormitory.
After Zhang Liunian left, Tu Meili wanted to investigate. She found two stones to stand on and stretched her head to peer inside.
Just as she poked her head out, she met the mute's face.
"Ah!" the mute cried out, running forward to shoo Tu Meili away.
But even after the mute yelled a few times, Tu Meili didn't leave.
Seeing this, the mute turned and fetched a thin stick to hit her. Tu Meili, furious, began to curse.
"You mute old bachelor, you deserve to be a bachelor for life..." After the outburst, Tu Meili could only leave.
However, she was unwilling to give up. The more Zhang Liunian acted like this, the more it proved they were doing something shameful. With this thought, she walked towards the steep cave.
But the cave was not easy to navigate. She tried several times and almost fell. Finally, after failing, she returned home.