"What? She was almost driven to death? What happened?" Jiang Qingqing hadn't expected things to be so serious, to the point of life and death.
"When I arrived, I saw my sister about to dash her head against the wall to commit suicide." Fortunately, he had arrived in time; otherwise, his sister might have truly died. Thinking of this made Zhang Liunian even angrier.
"..." Hearing this, Jiang Qingqing could no longer speak of them being elders, because their actions were too improper.
What a pitiable woman his sister-in-law was. After finally mustering the courage to start anew, her parents still pushed her towards a dead end. No wonder she would have such thoughts.
"After dinner, go find Big Brother. Help Little Sister and the mute get their marriage certificate as soon as possible. We'll pay for a banquet then, to send Little Sister off grandly."
Realizing her sister-in-law had contemplated suicide, Jiang Qingqing wished she could immediately help settle her marriage.
Zhang Liunian was deeply touched by his wife's words. He tightly encircled her shoulders with his arm and leaned in, saying, "Qingqing, that's a wonderful idea. Little Sister will be very moved when she hears it, and will think of you as a great third sister-in-law."
Jiang Qingqing blushed at her husband's praise, lifting her head shyly and saying, "Little Sister is your own sister; you dote on her. I am your woman, and loving you means loving her too."
It was precisely because she knew her husband doted on his sister that Jiang Qingqing suggested sending her off with a grand wedding.
If her husband and his sister didn't have a good relationship, no matter how pitiful his sister was, she wouldn't have paid out of her own pocket to ensure her happiness.
All of this was because she knew her husband cherished this sister.
"So you like me this much." Suddenly hearing his wife's confession, Zhang Liunian was extremely touched. He lowered his head and kissed her cheek. When he looked up again, his spirits were high.
Jiang Qingqing was flustered and delighted by her husband's bold action. She raised her hand to touch where he had kissed her, feeling an intense heat there, causing her cherry lips to curve upwards.
After the joy, she remembered their location and couldn't help but remind him, "We're still outside; it wouldn't be good if the villagers saw."
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum. If Zhang Liunian hadn't been half-embracing her, he might not have heard it.
"Alright, we'll kiss again at home."
"You're so improper."
"Only improper with you."
"..." Jiang Qingqing was defeated by her husband. She found that ever since Zhang Liunian started shouldering the family's responsibilities, he had become increasingly fond of teasing her, body and soul, making her feel as if she were immersed in honey.
Seeing his wife's face flushed like rouge, Zhang Liunian caressed it twice. Before he could get his fill, she grabbed his hand and placed it beneath her. "Don't be mischievous."
"It's because you're too beautiful that my hands can't stop themselves." Zhang Liunian gazed affectionately at his wife, smiling happily.
"You're so annoying." Why did he have to say such embarrassing things? Jiang Qingqing couldn't stand this side of Zhang Liunian, and turned her back to him, secretly trying to calm her breathing.
Zhang Liunian watched his wife turn away, wondering what she was thinking. Suddenly, he remembered something and leaned closer to her ear, whispering, "Qingqing, guess how much money we earned today?"
Upon hearing about money, Jiang Qingqing immediately shed her previous annoyance. She turned around, her eyes shining brightly, with an expectant look. "Did we break two thousand?"
Zhang Liunian nodded. "Mm, guess higher."
Given her husband's affirmative nod, Jiang Qingqing's eyes brightened further. "Two thousand... one hundred?"
Zhang Liunian shook his head. "A bit higher."
"Two thousand... two hundred?"
Seeing that his wife was too timid to guess higher, Zhang Liunian directly leaned in and told her the real number, "2400."
"What?" Jiang Qingqing covered her mouth in surprise upon hearing the figure, looking at her husband incredulously.
Their daily earnings hadn't just broken the two-thousand mark; they had reached two thousand four hundred. This made her extremely happy.
After all, what could be more delightful than seeing one's savings grow?
Nothing, at least in Jiang Qingqing's heart. Besides her husband, nothing made her happier or more excited than increasing wealth.
"Liunian, you're amazing! You're my pride!" Jiang Qingqing was so overjoyed that she stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Zhang Liunian's neck, and gave him a kiss.
But after the kiss, she realized what she had just done. Her face instantly turned crimson, and she buried herself in Zhang Liunian's arms, pulling his clothes over her head as if she couldn't face anyone.
Zhang Liunian grinned widely. "Qingqing, you're so incredibly cute." When had he not noticed how adorable his wife was?
Zhang Liunian's face was beaming. He placed his hand on top of his wife's head, gently stroking her hair. The joy in his heart was indescribable. As he casually looked up, he saw the setting sun painting the sky. For some reason, he found the sunset exceptionally beautiful today.
"I'm happy!" Feeling his hand on her head, Jiang Qingqing muffledly expressed her joy.
"Seeing you happy makes me happy too." Zhang Liunian's desire to earn money, to earn more money, was solely to see his wife happy every day.
If she was happy, he was happy.
"..." Jiang Qingqing didn't reply. She was so overcome with happiness that she felt dizzy, as if fireworks were exploding in her mind. She didn't know how to respond.
Zhang Liunian remained silent, simply holding his wife until the sky darkened. Only then did he have to say, "Qingqing, let me carry you home."
Hearing this, Jiang Qingqing stomped her foot shyly, stepped back, her face bright red, and tilted her head, avoiding his gaze. "I can walk." With that, she walked towards home ahead of him.
Zhang Liunian, afraid she might fall, smiled dotingly and followed, extending his arms to shield her from behind.
Jiang Qingqing noticed her husband's action, her eyes full of smiles.
Meanwhile, in Nancheng, Fang Ru was receiving criticism from her elder sister.
"Second Sister, how could you say Zhang Liunian molested me? That excuse is too flimsy." Fang Yan thought of Zhang Liunian's mocking face today and was filled with rage.
Seeing her elder sister's displeased expression, Fang Ru exclaimed in surprise, "Big Sister, how do you know? Did my brother-in-law tell you?"
Impossible, her brother-in-law wasn't a gossip; how could he have told her elder sister directly?
"If not him, then who?" Fang Yan was truly angry. She wanted her second sister to get the formula, not to use her reputation to get it. How could she say Zhang Liunian molested her?
"Second Sister, don't you know your Big Sister values her reputation? How could you make up such a reason? When Zhang Liunian questioned me today, do you know how embarrassed I was?"
"Didn't I do it to help you get the formula? I didn't think that far ahead," Fang Ru retorted softly, enduring her elder sister's reprimand.