The miners Wang Lei had brought were quick and efficient, digging pits, mixing mortar, and building walls, working with lively energy.
By the time Gu Ye and Lin Wan returned home, most of the work was already done.
When the men saw the two of them carrying so many things through the door, they glanced in surprise but didn’t linger, turning back to their own tasks.
People focused on their own work rarely had time to care about others.
Gu Ye went inside to put the items away, planning to check on the workers’ progress. He bent down to instruct Lin Wan to organize what he personally needed, leaving the rest for him to handle later.
Better to be clear; he didn’t want to get accused again.
“Okay, you go ahead. I’ll handle things here,” Lin Wan waved her hand, already bent over, selecting her “spoils” from the bargains she had struck.
Receiving her reply, Gu Ye turned and left.
The workers were orderly in their tasks. Most of the time, Gu Ye simply observed silently, occasionally stepping in to help at critical moments.
Strong and efficient, his movements earned the miners’ quiet admiration. They thought to themselves that Gu Ye truly was skilled at labor—not for nothing had he survived the depths of the mine.
Lin Wan didn’t idle either.
She sorted the items she had brought, leaving the heavy or irrelevant things aside.
She stood to check the window lattice Gu Ye had patched with old newspapers and found it satisfactory.
Then, turning to the old bedsheet she had set aside the night before while tidying the bedding, she carefully cut it to fit a proper spot.
Sitting in the light by the window, she threaded the needle, preparing to turn it into a curtain.
In another household, this would surely be scolded as wasteful: “Why turn a small old sheet into a curtain?”
But Lin Wan didn’t care.
Her home consisted only of her and Gu Ye. Since Gu Ye wouldn’t object, she had the final say.
This was the perfect ideal of married life: both sets of parents gone, a house and money, a man who could fight, hold the family’s reputation, and even conceal his true identity.
If this were modern times, she wouldn’t dare dream of such perfection.
Though her mind wandered, her hands moved steadily.
Sunlight filtered through the newly patched window, casting a serene glow on her focused profile.
Occasionally, she glanced outside.
Gu Ye’s tall figure stood among the workers, and a strange, almost “homely” feeling quietly blossomed in her heart.
But she quickly shook it away. This wasn’t her final home—she was going out with Gu Ye to enjoy life.
She couldn’t be fooled by a fleeting moment of peace.
Wang Lei arrived with more materials, realizing that the two had returned.
Seeing the scene, he nudged Gu Ye with his elbow, lowering his voice:
“Ye, not bad. This little life of yours is starting to take shape.”
Gu Ye didn’t reply, simply tossing him a cigarette.
Wang Lei chuckled as he lit it, leaning closer: “But, Ye, you need to stay sharp. When I went to get materials, I heard some stirring over at Section Chief Liu’s place these past two days.”
Gu Ye’s eyes stayed on the work: “What stirring?”
“Can’t say exactly. Didn’t he go out to meetings the past two days? Seems related to this—maybe he met someone? You know, people in the mines belong to different groups.”
“Also, I heard from his underlings this morning, asking around among the workers… seems like it has something to do with… your wife.”
Wang Lei scratched his head. “They asked where she came from and how you know her. I don’t think they got anything useful.”
Gu Ye nodded slightly, his expression unreadable.
For some reason, he recalled the car he had seen on the way back—and the people inside it.
“Got it.”
He turned to look inside. Lin Wan was bent over, biting off the thread ends, her slender neck pale and delicate.
By evening, the newly built toilet had taken shape, and protective walls around the yard had been reinforced and raised.
Lin Wan came out to bring water for the workers.
She was still wearing the outfit she had deliberately chosen that morning—her plain face carrying a slight post-illness pallor—but her elegance and appearance still surpassed most women at the mine.
One of the younger miners took the bowl, grinning shyly: “Thank you, sister-in-law. Gu Ge is a lucky man.”
Hearing “sister-in-law,” Lin Wan paused slightly, then smiled without denying it.
Gu Ye glanced once at her from the side, saying nothing.
Only Wang Lei laughed aloud.
“Jealous? Then go down to the mine and earn some money. Someone like sister-in-law isn’t easy to come by without skills.”
Before he could finish, Gu Ye gave him a swift kick.
The others burst into laughter.