Jiang Qingqing had unwavering faith in her husband's words, indignantly saying, "How could they be so unreasonable, forcing us to sell our formulas? Don't they know we rely on this to earn a living?"
"They only care about their own gains and losses. We are just insignificant people."
"So we're just insignificant people." Jiang Qingqing felt quite disappointed. She had thought her second brother and his wife came to visit out of genuine concern for them.
Turns out, it was still about the formula, for their own benefit.
With this thought, Jiang Qingqing leaned closer to her husband, resting her face against Zhang Liunian's chest and listening to the strong, powerful beat of his heart.
"Don't dwell on their affairs. If they don't care about us, we don't need to waste our thoughts on them." Zhang Liunian's right hand gently stroked his wife's back, rhythmically.
"Mmm, I don't care about them, only you," Jiang Qingqing murmured softly, then quietly savored the peaceful moment that was theirs alone.
However, Zhang Liunian's heart raced and his emotions surged at her whispered words, "I only care about you too."
Hearing this, Jiang Qingqing suddenly lifted her head, her gaze fixed directly on Zhang Liunian. Then, their distance closed, so much so that Zhang Liunian only needed to lower his head to meet her glistening, dew-kissed eyes. In them, he saw his own reflection.
On that familiar, young face, a smile brimming with happiness was now present. Was this truly him?
Was this how his expression appeared when facing Jiang Qingqing?
"Hmm?"
As he fell into thought, Jiang Qingqing suddenly leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
Zhang Liunian snapped back to reality. Discovering his wife's rare initiative, he was overjoyed. His right arm wrapped around her, deepening the kiss.
Ten minutes later, Zhang Liunian released Jiang Qingqing. She gasped for breath, then leaned in again.
"..." Zhang Liunian didn't know what was happening to her. After a few more embraces, he stopped her, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Qingqing pushed away Zhang Liunian's large hand, her small face etched with fear, "Liunian, promise me you'll never leave me here alone. If you have to go, you must take me with you."
"I haven't been doing anything! Why are you bringing this up again?" Zhang Liunian gently caressed her small face, filled with tender affection.
Jiang Qingqing knelt on Zhang Liunian's lap, embracing his neck and resting her forehead against his, her voice choked with emotion, "I can't live without you, Liunian."
Boom!
Zhang Liunian's heart trembled. His heart pounded so fiercely it almost leaped out of his chest. Wasn't he the same? Wasn't he?
"I can't live without you either. That's why we both must live well and grow old together." Zhang Liunian cupped her small face, tilted his head up, and kissed her eyes, her nose...
The next moment, his hands touched smooth skin. Zhang Liunian's eyes flew open. He looked down and indeed, she had already shed her clothes, her eyes filled with longing.
"Liunian, we can go gently," Jiang Qingqing extended her slender white hand, hooking it around Zhang Liunian's neck, and then proactively sat up.
Zhang Liunian's expression stiffened. He quickly reached out to steady her waist, "Qingqing, let's wait a little longer. Wait for the little one to come out, okay?"
His wife's belly was so big. If they were to do anything now, it could easily lead to trouble.
If anything went wrong, both mother and child could be in danger. Therefore, he absolutely could not do such a thing.
Even facing his wife's sudden seduction, he desperately suppressed his instinctual urge.
Just wait a little longer, just wait until the little one is born, and then he would be complete.
However, after last night, Jiang Qingqing didn't want to think about anything else. She only wanted to merge with the man she loved the most, to never be separated, as if only then would she not lose him, and could she always be with him.
"Don't wait, I want it now." Jiang Qingqing bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes like water. She swayed her body a couple of times, causing Zhang Liunian's eyes to gleam, almost turning him into a ferocious wolf ready to pounce and fight for three hundred rounds.
But, he couldn't!
Zhang Liunian sighed and pulled her into his arms, looking her directly in the eye. "I can make you feel my presence. As for this, it's too dangerous for you. Let's wait for another three or four months!"
After saying this, without waiting for her reply, Zhang Liunian lifted her chin and kissed her cherry lips.
Outside the door, Zhang Xiaomei and the mute, who had come to bring the sleeping Hua Bao, accidentally overheard the intimate sounds of Zhang Liunian and his wife. Their faces flushed, and they quickly retreated.
After placing Hua Bao on the bed, Zhang Xiaomei was about to send the mute away, but the latter suddenly grabbed her hand and refused to let go.
Zhang Xiaomei looked at the mute with a slight blush on her face, wanting to pull her hand away.
But the mute held her hand tightly, her face even redder than Zhang Xiaomei's.
"It's getting late. You should go to bed early," Zhang Xiaomei said softly, seeing that she couldn't withdraw her hand.
Hearing this, the mute suddenly stepped forward, hugged her, and then turned and ran as if pursued by a demon.
His fleeing demeanor amused Zhang Xiaomei. She stood in the room, looking at the spot where the mute had disappeared, a smile involuntarily spreading across her lips. She then closed the door and began to hand-make her wedding dress.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liushui also saw his second brother that evening.
After dinner, the brothers chatted for a while.
"A lot has changed in the village and with everyone since I haven't been back for a while," Zhang Liuxing spoke his true feelings.
Zhang Liushui didn't have the same affection for his second brother as he did for his third. After all, Zhang Liuxing had always been distant from them since childhood, preferring to go his own way. No one knew what he was thinking about all day.
"You didn't come back for New Year's last year, so naturally, you're unaware of the changes in the village." Zhang Liushui's words carried a hint of displeasure.
Nancheng wasn't far from Zhangjia Village; it was only the hearts of people that had drifted apart.
Zhang Liuxing understood his elder brother's implied meaning and smiled helplessly, "It seems your relationship with third brother is getting better and better. I heard you're even helping him with his work. How much does he pay you a month?"
Zhang Liuxing was purely curious. Zhang Liushui didn't hide it from him and held up a finger.
Zhang Liuxing guessed, "Ten yuan a month?"
If it was just for looking after the lake, that would be acceptable.
Zhang Liushui smiled and shook his head, "It's a hundred yuan."
"What?" Zhang Liuxing exclaimed in surprise. After regaining his composure, his heart was shaken.
A hundred yuan a month? That could be equivalent to two months' salary for him.
Third brother was truly generous. But why did he never get a good reception when facing him? It was clearly preferential treatment.
"For brothers, third brother treats elder brother and me completely differently." Zhang Liuxing's words sounded like he was complaining, but it wasn't the case. He was simply shocked by Zhang Liunian's generosity, but he couldn't articulate it.
Zhang Liushui said earnestly, "Perhaps it's because I borrowed money from him to get by." And you didn't. That's why there's a disparity.
"..." Are you mocking me for not helping third brother? Zhang Liuxing realized it. The entire village and family had changed. Their eyes were only on third brother, and he was no longer in their sight.