“Or what?” Cheng Yu raised an eyebrow, a hint of provocation in her eyes. “Oh, you’ve got a face and a big asset—you could always sell yourself.”
Xing Yanheng: “…”
Was that something a girl should say?
Even with all of Xing Yanheng’s patience and good temper, he couldn’t stomach such an insult.
He reached out and grabbed Cheng Yu’s hair, forcing her to tilt her head up.
“Stubborn girl, are you miserable if you don’t piss me off for even one day?”
The man’s body heat pressed against her, and Cheng Yu’s cheeks flushed crimson. She didn’t dare provoke him further.
“I’m just stating facts. If you’re angry, is it because I hit the mark—are you actually planning to sell yourself?”
Cheng Yu turned the tables on him. Xing Yanheng released his grip, though his body still pressed over hers as he patted her cheek.
“Brother’s asset is only for you. I’m being serious—I’ve got a way to make big money to support you.”
Xing Yanheng spoke gruffly, easing his body’s reaction. Perhaps he himself knew he’d been a bit excessive from last night until now. Considering Cheng Yu’s body couldn’t take much more, he didn’t touch her again.
But Cheng Yu thought what he was saying was utterly far-fetched.
“Xing Yanheng, you’re crazy! You’d dare do something that violates policy?”
It was still 1982, with a year to go before the college entrance examination was reinstated. Free trade wouldn’t open up until next year.
Whatever money-making scheme he was talking about now certainly wasn’t above board.
“Shh, keep your voice down.” Xing Yanheng covered her mouth, chiding softly, “How can you say such things carelessly? It’s not as serious as you make it sound. I know what I’m doing—just pretend you don’t know anything.”
Did Xing Yanheng want to be poor all these years?
A real man has obligations to provide for his family—a man should have ambition and drive!
But his mother’s health had always been poor, and someone needed to stay home to care for her. Xing Yanheng was also afraid that if something went wrong on his end, it would worry Ren Caifeng.
But things were different now. He’d married a wife. With her at home keeping his mother company, he could go out and work with peace of mind.
“Xiaoyu, trust me.” Xing Yanheng looked at her sincerely.
Cheng Yu met his gaze. She’d thought he was just a stubborn, sharp-tongued brute, but unexpectedly, he had a sense of responsibility?
“Anyway, let me tell you—do whatever you want out there, just don’t leave a mess for your family to clean up!”
Xing Yanheng thumped his chest with conviction. “Don’t worry. A real man lives and dies out in the world—disaster never touches his family. Even if I die, I won’t drag you down.”
Cheng Yu found his words inauspicious and immediately shoved him aside. “Pfft, pfft—shut your crow’s mouth! What’s all this about dying? Is your life really that fragile, that you’d lose it just from going out to earn a bit of money?”
What if?
If the King of Hell decided to take his life some other way, wouldn’t his angry words today be a curse upon himself?
Seeing her get anxious, Xing Yanheng smiled, his beautiful peach-blossom eyes curving into crescents.
“My life isn’t that fragile, of course. I was just saying. Wife, I know you’re worried about me. I promise I’ll come back safe and sound.”
Cheng Yu got goosebumps all over from his sudden change of address.
She turned her back to him. “Who’s your wife! Stop bothering me!”
Xing Yanheng shamelessly leaned in. “I’ll bother you all I want. Wife, wife, Xing Yanheng’s little wife…”
That night, Cheng Yu fell asleep to Xing Yanheng’s endless chatter.
Early the next morning, Xing Yanheng started getting restless ideas again. Cheng Yu bit down hard on his hand and kicked him once.
“Are you some kind of animal? Thinking about that kind of thing all day long?”
Xing Yanheng nearly fell off the bed. He sat up straight, smoothed his clothes, and didn’t get angry with her.
“All day long? I’m heading out today—might be several days before I’m back. That’s why I wanted to be close to you.”
With that, he glanced at the clock on the wall and got up off the bed.
Throwing on his jacket, he pinched Cheng Yu’s chin and gave it a little shake. “I’ll let you off today. Wait until your man gets back—then I’ll take good care of you.”
Xing Yanheng finished speaking, quickly dressed, and walked out the door.
It was only then that Cheng Yu remembered—tomorrow was her day to visit her parents’ home. If Xing Yanheng wasn’t around, how was she supposed to go back alone?
She hurriedly threw on clothes and chased after him, but Xing Yanheng’s figure had already disappeared.
Ren Caifeng assumed he was rushing off to the mine and wasn’t worried about him leaving. She greeted Cheng Yu warmly. “Xiaoyu, you’re up too. Breakfast will be ready soon. Go wash your face and wait inside.”
Cheng Yu knew Xing Yanheng didn’t want Ren Caifeng to worry, so she didn’t mention that he’d quit his job.
All she could do now was pray silently. She didn’t expect him to bring back much money—if he just kept his life intact, that would be a huge win!
…
The next day was her day to visit her parents’ home, but Xing Yanheng had gone out yesterday morning. The custom couldn’t be broken, so Cheng Yu had to go back alone.
Before she even entered the door, she heard laughter and chatter coming from inside.
There were relatives and neighbors, and of course, Cheng Dashan’s laughter was the loudest and heartiest of all.
“If the news is accurate and He Zhou really can return to the city as an official, then Yanyan will be an official’s wife in the future. Don’t you forget us poor relatives!”
As Cheng Yu entered, her aunt Lu Chuncui was busy fawning over Cheng Yan.
A smug smile hung on Cheng Yan’s face, clearly reveling in the relatives’ enthusiasm toward her.
“Of course, once He Zhou and I move to the city, I’ll find a proper city man for my cousin, so she can enjoy a life of comfort too!” Since bragging cost nothing, Cheng Yan’s vanity got the better of her as she made empty promises.
Then, catching sight of Cheng Yu, Cheng Yan couldn’t hide the mockery in her eyes.
She feigned surprise with a little gasp: “Oh my, Xiaoyu, you came back all by yourself? Why didn’t Xing Yanheng come with you?”
Cheng Yan knew all too well—in her past life, on the very first day she married Xing Yanheng, he’d gone off to the mine, and she’d returned to her family’s home alone too. The neighbors and relatives had shown superficial concern, but behind her back, they’d all laughed at her!
Now that she’d swapped marriage arrangements with Cheng Yu, the path she’d walked was now Cheng Yu’s to tread, letting her truly experience what she’d gone through!
Cheng Yu watched Cheng Yan’s taunting expression and gave a quick twitch of her lips.
“He went off to work; he didn’t have time to accompany me.”
“That brother-in-law of yours is really something—so careless with you. When I see him, I’ll give him a piece of my mind. How can he treat his new wife like this! It’s a good thing there are no outsiders here today, or people might think my sister isn’t valued by him, that his family doesn’t take her seriously!”
Cheng Yan appeared to be speaking up for Cheng Yu, but in reality, she was reminding everyone that Cheng Yu held no standing in the Xing family.
Guo Fengyan, as expected, grew displeased and put on a stern face: “How can Xing Yanheng behave this way? No matter how busy he is, how could he leave you to come back alone?”
Cheng Dashan also felt his pride slighted, but with his macho mentality, he wouldn’t criticize a fellow man like his son-in-law—only berate the weaker woman.
“When a man gets busy and forgets, aren’t you supposed to remind him? What’s that mouth of yours for!”
“Xiaoyu, if Xing Yanheng doesn’t take you seriously at all, have you been mistreated since marrying over there? I said from the start that this marriage to the Xing family wasn’t right, but your mother insisted on saving face and married you off anyway. Now look what’s happened—she’s ruined her own daughter!” Lu Chuncui seemed concerned, but everyone knew she was just enjoying the drama, stirring up discord between mother and daughter.