Qin Zhicheng finished his training and returned to the family courtyard.
He was slightly taken aback when he saw the middle-aged woman working in the yard—right, this was the person his neighbor, Madam Chang, had found for him.
Aunt Luo saw him too.
She immediately smiled and greeted him, "Oh, Mr. Qin, you’re back."
Qin Zhicheng nodded at her, then asked, "My wife hasn’t gotten out of bed today, has she?"
Hearing his question, Aunt Luo was startled for a moment.
Then she quickly said:
"No, she hasn’t. Aside from going to the latrine, I haven’t let her get out of bed at all. Mr. Qin, you can rest assured! I’ll make sure your wife has a proper postpartum confinement."
"Good. I’ll be troubling you, then. Cook whatever’s in the kitchen for my wife. She needs nutrients right now."
"Sure, I know. I already stewed the chicken this morning—and look, I’m cleaning a fish now to make fish soup for tonight."
"Then I’ll let you get back to it. I’m going inside to check on her."
With that, Qin Zhicheng went into the house.
Su Yun had just heard him talking with Aunt Luo in the yard.
So when she saw him walk in, she wasn’t surprised at all.
’Still, this man looks impossibly handsome in his military uniform.’
’What a pity—he’s going to die an early death next year.’
’Or maybe... could she warn him?’
’After all, no matter what, he is her child’s biological father.’
’But how could she warn him?’
Qin Zhicheng noticed her staring at him. He knew he was decent-looking, but was he so handsome she’d get lost in a daze? Besides, hadn’t she wanted a divorce the moment she arrived?
’Heh. Figures. Women always say one thing and mean another.’
"Have you had your fill of looking?" Qin Zhicheng’s voice was cold.
Lost in thought, Su Yun hadn’t realized she had been staring at the man.
Hearing his words now, her heart skipped a beat. She looked up and met Qin Zhicheng’s dark, piercing gaze.
’Wait, what has he misunderstood?’
’He doesn’t think I was staring at him in a daze, does he?’
’I was just thinking about how to save my child’s father’s life, that’s all.’
"I—I wasn’t looking at you—"
Qin Zhicheng was baffled. ’Her eyes were practically glazed over, and she claims she wasn’t looking at me? Such a terrible liar. Whatever. I’m not going to argue with her about it.’
"How is the baby?"
"He’s doing well. Aunt Luo is great, too. Oh, right, Madam Chang from next door came by today. She brought twenty eggs and half a kilogram of red sugar."
This exchange of social courtesies made her feel a bit awkward.
But she couldn’t just ask her to take them back.
"Understood. From now on, if anyone brings gifts like eggs, just make a note of it. I’ll get you a notebook later."
Su Yun nodded. "Okay."
’It’s a good idea to record it. That way, there’s a record when it’s time to return the favor.’
A thought seemed to cross Qin Zhicheng’s mind, and he said to Su Yun:
"If you can get along with them, then do so. If you can’t, you don’t have to force yourself to please them. You’re my wife, you’re not here to make friends with them."
Su Yun was taken aback by his sudden words, feeling a bit dazed.
’What does he mean by that?’
Seeing her blank expression, Qin Zhicheng knew she was used to being bullied at home.
"If anyone is rude to you, you don’t have to be polite back. Just fight back, curse them out if you have to. You need to be assertive. Don’t live your life feeling wronged."
Su Yun looked at him in astonishment. "Are you telling me to be a shrew?"
Qin Zhicheng was speechless. ’She really has a way with interpretation.’
’Did I say that?’
’Or is she just naturally inclined to be a shrew? Would she even know how to be one properly?’
"If you want to think of it that way, fine. In any case, as Qin Zhicheng’s wife, you don’t have to bend over backward for anyone—not for outsiders, and not for the Qins either."
Su Yun mulled over the meaning behind his words, then looked at him. "Are you encouraging me to go against your mom?"
Qin Zhicheng was at a loss for words. ’You really have a wild imagination. You know what? Just stop thinking.’