A tall, dust-covered man was slowly pushing a wheelbarrow, his steps firm and resolute.
Who else could it be but Chu Jiangchuan!
She stood there watching him until he finished and wiped his sweat, then quickly stepped forward to take his towel.
The towel draped over his shoulder was filthy, and her fair hands, clad in a floral-print blouse, formed a stark contrast against the grimy cloth.
Chu Jiangchuan froze, stammering an explanation: “I… I just, my leg is better now, and I wanted to earn more money. Our family… can’t rely on you alone…”
“I know.” Tang Ximian smiled gently, but her vision gradually blurred.
She shook her head and wiped away her tears: “Are you done? I’ll wait for you, and we can go home together?”
“Hey, Jiangchuan, is this your wife? Dressed so nicely!” A coworker nearby eyed her with a suggestive look: “What does your wife do? You never mentioned it before?”
Tang Ximian’s tone shifted slightly: “Hello, I’m the host of the morning news at the County Radio Station! My name is Tang Ximian.”
The coworkers’ eyes widened instantly, their expressions turning serious.
They were all too familiar with that voice!
So the host of their County Radio Station was Chu Jiangchuan’s wife!
Their family must have struck gold!
Chu Jiangchuan had finished his work for the day—he had an agreement with the boss to earn eighty cents a day, with no rush or pressure. On Fridays, he left early.
Most workers were paid by quantity, earning at least a yuan a day by month’s end, but Chu Jiangchuan knew the state of his leg. He’d rather earn less than risk undoing all his wife’s efforts.
On the way home, Tang Ximian remained silent but never forgot about Chu Jiangchuan’s leg. She asked him many questions, and only when she learned his leg hadn’t been bothering him again did her expression soften.
Once home, after greeting the family, Tang Ximian shot Chu Jiangchuan a glare and turned to enter their room.
Seeing the dust all over her brother’s shoes, Chu Jiangrong guessed Tang Ximian had caught him working and couldn’t help but smile: “Mom, it seems Mianmian really cares for her man!”
Xu Guangfen didn’t respond, but her expression softened noticeably.
Inside the room, Chu Jiangchuan stood behind Tang Ximian for a long while, rubbing his hands nervously until they were nearly raw, unsure how to explain himself.
“Mianmian… Um, I…”
Tang Ximian sighed, her voice catching slightly: “Come sit down!”
Chu Jiangchuan hurriedly sat beside her, cautiously taking her hand: “You… don’t be angry. I won’t go again if you don’t want me to…”
“Do you think I’m ashamed of seeing you do such physical labor?” Tang Ximian frowned, her big eyes making Chu Jiangchuan feel uneasy: “No…”
Tang Ximian pointed at him.
Chu Jiangchuan fell silent.
She pinched his cheek, pulling him closer: “Don’t you know your leg still needs rest? I’m already earning money—what’s the rush? Huh? Didn’t I say ‘sharpening the axe won’t delay the chopping’? Have you forgotten? If you injure it again, you might never stand up for the rest of your life!”
The memory of this foolish man in her previous life, dragging his once-treatable leg through a lifetime of despair, overwhelmed her with sorrow. Her eyes reddened frighteningly.
Releasing Chu Jiangchuan, she turned away to calm herself, taking deep, ragged breaths.
Chu Jiangchuan’s nose also stung at her words, holding her tightly: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, my dear wife, I always make you worry…”
“You’re going to be the death of me!” Tang Ximian pounded his shoulder a few times: “What would I do if something happened to you…”
Chu Jiangchuan cupped her face and gently kissed her.
Forehead, nose, eyes, lips—every kiss was filled with affection and cherishment, overflowing with unspoken tenderness.
His Mianmian was the best, the very best girl in this world…
A short absence feels sweeter than a honeymoon. That evening, Tang Ximian had her meal in the room.
The next morning, Tang Ximian—her back aching and legs weak—placed the money on the table: “This is what I’ve saved over the past few days, totaling two hundred and forty-two. Mom, please keep this for Nana. Once we’ve saved enough, we’ll take her for treatment!”
Nana couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, so much money!”
Tang Ximian ruffled the child’s head: “Nana, have you been feeling unwell like before recently?”
“No! Auntie, I drink that milk powder every day, and now I can even help Grandma hang the laundry!” Nana stretched out her arm—still thin and bony—but her face was indeed no longer as sallow as before.
Xu Guangfen stared at the money on the table for a long time before pushing it back: “Mianmian, you keep it yourselves! In the past… it was all my fault! Now that you’re all living well, I still have the money from selling the wheat!”
Chu Jiangrong’s eyes reddened as she held Tang Ximian’s hand: “Mianmian, with you by my brother’s side, I can truly rest assured! If Nana can really recover after the surgery, I’ll serve you like a horse or an ox for the rest of my life!”
“I’d rather you just be my sister!” Tang Ximian laughed lightly: “Then I’ll take this money and use it to sell something else! Don’t worry, two years is enough for me to earn all this money!”
“Don’t push yourself too hard either; we’re here for you.” Chu Jiangchuan’s heart ached for her.
That night before, she had cried from the pain… Such a delicate little thing, afraid of pain and exhaustion, carrying the burden of the family’s livelihood on her slender shoulders—she was truly too tired!
But Tang Ximian relished this feeling—the feeling of being needed by her family!
After lunch, Nana wanted to go to the river. Unable to dissuade her, Tang Ximian took her along, bringing a small basin to catch shrimp.
As for whether the little girl would actually catch any, that was another matter!
Due to her health condition, Nana rarely went out, but this time, with her aunt back, she felt a bit braver.
When the two arrived at the river, they unexpectedly found Fang Juan there washing clothes.
Seeing them walk further away, Fang Juan beat the clothes more fiercely with her stick: “Bitch! Bitch!”
Tang Ximian pretended not to hear, holding Nana’s hand as they rolled up their sleeves to scoop up pebbles and translucent green shrimp.
“Auntie! Look!” Nana scooped up a plump, round snail and laughed joyfully: “I got one!”
Tang Ximian patted her head: “Nana is the best child!”
Fang Juan finished washing her clothes and left shortly after. Tang Ximian waited until she was far away before saying, “Nana, you play here for a bit. Auntie needs to use the restroom!”
There was only a simple outhouse nearby. After letting Nana know, she hurried straight to the toilet.
In just two or three minutes, as Tang Ximian was pulling up her pants, she heard a sharp scream: “Ah!”
“Nana!”
Tang Ximian rushed out and saw Fang Juan running away in the distance, with Nana struggling in the water.
“Nana!” Tang Ximian stepped into the water, smoothly scooped Nana up, and carried her running home.
Seeing the two drenched figures enter, the whole family was startled: “What happened?”
“Never mind that, find clothes for Nana first!” Tang Ximian’s gaze was profound, burning with anger.