A flash of bewilderment crossed Chen Weiguo’s eyes.
“You…”
“Xiulan, I know I’ve failed you. I left home right after our wedding, abandoning you, and spent three years with zero communication, making you and the two kids suffer.”
“But… can you give me a chance? I’ll make it up to you properly now that I’m back.”
“After all, the kids are still young; they need a complete family.”
“The two of us… also need time to adjust to each other. I hope you’ll consider this carefully.”
Chen Weiguo didn’t have deep feelings for Zhou Xiulan; they were practically strangers.
However, he was not an irresponsible man.
Since he had married her and they had children together, he couldn’t just walk away from the marriage easily.
As a man, he had to shoulder his family responsibilities.
Of course, if Zhou Xiulan insisted, he would grant her freedom and provide financial compensation.
He could tell that over the past three years, Zhou Xiulan and the children hadn’t had an easy life in the Chen household.
The two children looked at the unfamiliar man, knowing deep down that this was their father.
He had finally come back.
Yet, Daddy and Mommy seemed like they were going to separate.
“Mom…”
The two children leaned dependently against Zhou Xiulan’s legs, tightly gripping the fabric of her trousers in deep anxiety.
Did the word “divorce” mean splitting up?
Zhou Xiulan snapped back to her senses, looked down at the two little ones by her legs, and let out a long sigh.
“My head is spinning. I’m going back to lie down for a bit.”
“Chen Yu’an, Chen Yu’ning, this is your father. Don’t be afraid; if you’re hungry, look for him.”
“Mom… is a bit tired and needs to rest for a while.”
Suddenly acquiring a pair of children and a cheap husband overnight meant Zhou Xiulan needed time to digest everything.
The two children released their grip on her trousers and nodded with tear-filled eyes.
“You go rest, Mom. We’ll be good and take good care of Little Sister.”
“Mom, Ningning will listen to Big Brother.”
“Good children!”
She couldn’t help but gently pat the tops of their heads.
Such obedient kids.
The children were innocent.
She closed the door, cutting off the sight of the father and children in the main room, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Outside, the one adult and two kids stared at each other in a standoff.
“Uh… Dad… is going to go make you something to eat. You two play for a bit first.” Having no experience with childcare, Chen Weiguo felt a bit nervous.
This was more nerve-wracking than going on a mission.
He could clearly see the unfamiliarity and timidity in the children’s eyes.
Fortunately, there would be time ahead.
Then, thinking about Zhou Xiulan bringing up the topic of divorce with him, and looking at the dilapidated house and courtyard, he realized he needed to have a serious talk with his father.
Frowning, Chen Weiguo picked up the grain and headed to the kitchen.
Inside the room, Zhou Xiulan was staring at the person in the mirror, feeling somewhat dazed.
This face actually looked seven or eight parts similar to her own.
It was just that the original body was too thin, and their personalities and temperaments were quite different.
Huh?
Isn’t this her safety pendant? How did it end up here?
Could it be some kind of spatial dimension?
She silently chanted in her mind to enter, and her body instantly vanished.
Once inside the space, she discovered an area about the size of a soccer field. Right in the middle was a jade spring eye, continuously gushing out sparkling spring water.
Could this be spiritual spring water?
A wave of joy washed over her. She picked up a nearby jade spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and drank it down.
Sure enough, a warm sensation spread throughout her entire body.
It seemed the heavens were treating her quite well.
Originally, Zhou Xiulan really wanted to rest for a bit because she was truly exhausted.
After all, the original body had suffered a severe illness and was physically weak—not to mention the intense physical exertion last night and fighting with her mother-in-law—so managing to hold on until now was already a minor miracle.
However, after drinking the spatial spring water, she felt immensely comfortable all over, and her entire mind grew much sharper and more energetic.
It looked like this spiritual spring water possessed miraculous healing properties.
This was a treasure indeed!
She wouldn’t sleep just yet; she wanted to check how much financial backing she had left for living here.
After all, money gives a person courage.
Without money, every step is a struggle.
Yet, she was destined for disappointment: she was completely broke.
That’s not right, she thought. Chen Weiguo gave her two hundred yuan for the bride price and a wristwatch, and the original body had also brought fifty yuan with her when she came down to the countryside.
Even if a portion of it had been spent over the past three years, it couldn’t possibly be completely gone, right?
Where is my money?!
Now that she was Zhou Xiulan, this money belonged to her!
She rummaged through boxes and cabinets, searching for a long time, but couldn’t find the money or the watch anywhere.
Looks like the house got burglarized.
“Knock, knock.”
“Food’s ready. Come out and eat.”
Chen Weiguo had cooked a pot of millet porridge and pan-fried some cornmeal flatbreads.
He had also traded twenty eggs with the auntie next door and boiled three of them.
The auntie had additionally given him a few pickled mustard tubers, and Chen Weiguo had sliced one of them up.
“Wow!”
The two children’s eyes lit up when they saw all that food.
Chen Weiguo’s lips curved up slightly. “This millet porridge is for you two. Dig in.”
He only ladled out three bowls and didn’t serve a portion for himself.
Eating the cornmeal flatbread with the pickled vegetables was enough for Chen Weiguo.
Seeing the mother and children all looking so emaciated, Chen Weiguo felt a pang of discomfort.
It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford to support a family.
Zhou Xiulan walked out of the room, and upon seeing the porridge on the table, her stomach let out a loud rumble.
“Mom, Dad made delicious food, come quick!” Little Ningning adapted well and directly called him Dad.
Hearing his daughter call him that, the corners of Chen Weiguo’s mouth twitched.
“Eat another egg; there’s one for your brother, you, and your mom.” As he spoke, he peeled the eggs for the two children.
The little girl blinked her eyes and said in a sweet, soft voice, “Thank you, Dad.”
Beside them, An’an curled his lips in a pout and lowered his head to drink his porridge.
“Later on, you’re coming to the front courtyard with me. I need to go over there.”
Zhou Xiulan wanted to see who exactly had stolen her money and watch.
The thief had to be someone familiar.
The members of the Chen family were the prime suspects.
She had to get her property back.
“Alright.”