After changing into clean clothes and coming back inside, Jiang Huan saw Erbao sitting obediently on the kang. Xu Anyan sat on a chair beside it, her arms crossed as she stared at him unblinkingly.
Under the dim light of the oil lamp, Xu Anyan finally got a clear look at the man before her.
He wore an ordinary black outfit, his belt cinched tightly around his waist, making his already tall figure appear even more upright and imposing. His features were regular and handsome, but the more one looked at him, the more attractive he became—the kind of face that made you want to keep looking. Especially those eyes of his, deep and dark like a cold pool.
No wonder the original owner of this body had fallen in love with him at first sight.
As someone who appreciated good looks, she felt her heart flutter a little too. Mainly because being pleasant to the eye was important.
She remembered that Jiang Huan was only twenty-two this year. Although this body was only twenty, her soul was already thirty-two.
Wow…
Did this count as an old cow eating young grass? What a sin!
Jiang Huan didn’t greet Xu Anyan. He strode forward and picked up one son with each arm.
“Have you two been good lately? Did you miss your father?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Dabao asked first, “Dad, why did you climb over the wall?”
A fatal blow.
As the saying went, if you walk by the river often enough, your shoes will eventually get wet.
Jiang Huan had already thought of an excuse.
“Well… I thought you were all asleep.”
Dabao nodded his little head and didn’t ask any further.
But Xiaobao refused to let him off.
“Dad, next time you have to knock. Mom said that people who climb over walls are thieves.”
Hmph…
Dad had scared both him and Mom just now.
Xu Anyan widened her eyes and looked at Xiaobao.
Had she said that? Or had the original owner said it?
Seeing that Jiang Huan had no response, Xu Anyan said calmly,
“There’s hot water in the pot. There’s no cooked food, but the buns and steamed buns are in the cupboard.”
Did he expect her to cook for him?
No way.
Dabao hurriedly said, “Dad, the buns are really delicious. Hurry and eat.”
Xiaobao nodded vigorously beside him.
“Alright, I’ll go eat first. I’ll come back and hold you afterward.”
As he spoke, Jiang Huan set both boys back on the kang and turned to Xu Anyan.
“Okay, I understand.”
Xu Anyan: “…”
That was it?
Even if you’re handsome, you should at least say thank you!
Watching his departing figure, Xu Anyan rolled her eyes dramatically.
Only after eating four buns did Jiang Huan finally feel full.
As he bathed, he thought about everything he had seen.
Not only had the main room changed completely, but the kitchen looked brand new as well. It was spotless, the rice and flour jars were filled, and everything in the cupboards was neatly arranged.
Had she suddenly come to her senses?
Or was she planning some new kind of trouble?
Normally, whenever she saw him, she either demanded money or caused a scene.
Wasn’t she being a little too calm just now?
Something unusual was definitely going on.
He’d ask the boys about it later.
With that thought, Jiang Huan quickly finished washing and put on clean clothes.
When he arrived at the main room, the door was tightly shut and the oil lamp inside had already been extinguished.
She’d gone to sleep already?
Their two sons hadn’t even come out yet.
He sighed inwardly.
Forget it. Everything could wait until tomorrow.
Lying on the kang, Xu Anyan stared at the dark ceiling, lost in thought.
This man had been away for so long that she had practically forgotten he existed.
Now that he had suddenly returned, she was completely caught off guard.
She hadn’t figured out how to face him.
Two choices kept circling in her mind:
Divorce, or don’t divorce.
If they divorced, the children had to stay with her. But judging from Jiang Huan’s earlier behavior, that seemed unlikely. He would definitely fight her for custody.
If they didn’t divorce…
Then she’d observe him a little longer. If he passed inspection, they could continue being roommates.
As things stood between them now, the only difference between them and roommates was a divorce certificate.
She sighed.
Forget it. She’d wait and see.
When Xu Anyan woke up, she discovered that the two little ones were already gone from the kang.
She found it strange.
Usually, the two of them slept late and loved to laze in bed.
Now that Jiang Huan had just returned, they had gotten up earlier than chickens.
Clearly, these two sons’ filial devotion toward their father could be witnessed by the sun and moon.
After getting dressed and stepping outside, she saw Dabao and Xiaobao facing the courtyard gate.
Their legs were spread apart in a half-squat, and their fists were held out in front of them.
Were they doing horse stance?
Hmm…
It didn’t look very standard.
They looked more like two little penguins.
Forgive her, but she couldn’t help wanting to laugh.
She quickly covered her mouth and barely managed to suppress it.
Xu Anyan secretly marveled.
They were working so hard.
Were these really her two spoiled sons?
When she walked closer, she saw that their little faces were flushed red and beads of sweat covered their foreheads.
Who knew how long they had been standing there?
As soon as the boys saw their mother, their eyes lit up.
As though they had been granted amnesty, they quickly lowered their hands and bent over to rub their sore legs.
Xiaobao muttered, “Mom, my legs are numb.”
Dabao looked at his younger brother and said seriously,
“Don’t say that, little brother. Dad said the whole day’s plan begins in the morning.”
If Dad heard them complain, they’d probably have to continue.
The two brothers exchanged a glance, and Xiaobao immediately understood, promptly shutting his mouth.
Xu Anyan was dumbfounded.
Her sons had completely changed overnight.
Had someone possessed them?
“Kids, what’s going on with you two?”
Dabao replied, “Mom, Dad said that if we want to learn martial arts, we first have to master horse stance.”
Xiaobao added, “Dad also said that my brother and I have been neglecting our morning exercises lately, so we have to make up for it by training extra hard.”
Good heavens…
What was all this?
Why didn’t the original owner’s memories mention any of this?
Unable to refute them, Xu Anyan asked,
“Where’s your father?”
The two boys pointed toward the backyard and answered in unison,
“Fetching water.”
Then Dabao added,
“Mom, Dad said breakfast is ready.”
Xiaobao immediately followed,
“Dad also said there’s hot water in the pot. When Mom wakes up, she can wash up.”
The brothers took turns talking, and Xu Anyan’s head was filled with the words:
“Dad said…”
She’d heard of mama’s boys.
Could her two sons actually be daddy’s boys?
Why hadn’t they shown these symptoms before?
She sighed deeply.
She had thought he was a doting father.
Who knew he was actually such a strict one?
“Come on, Mom will help you wash your little hands and little faces.”
Xu Anyan took the two boys by the hand and headed toward the kitchen.
Opening the lids of the large and small pots, she found food warming in the big pot and hot water in the smaller one.
Just as she carried the hot water to a stool in the courtyard, Jiang Huan emerged from the backyard carrying two full buckets of water.
He was incredibly steady—not a single drop spilled onto the ground.
Jiang Huan glanced at her and said,
“I’ve finished making breakfast. Once I fill the water jars, we can eat.”
Xu Anyan didn’t reply.
This man acted as though he were completely at home, while she still needed time to adjust.
As long as she played her role well, it would be fine.
As for her drastic personality change, she had already thought of an excuse.
While Xu Anyan’s thoughts wandered…
Jiang Huan had also fallen into deep thought.
After listening to the boys’ account that morning and speaking with Aunt Wu, he had already formed a vague idea.
After waking up from her injury, Xu Anyan’s personality had changed dramatically.
Not only had she put the house in perfect order, she had even started a business.
Those white-and-red fruits in the kitchen basket…
The boys called them “sugar snowballs,” and apparently they sold quite well.
Yesterday, she had even bought new clothes for the children.
She seemed like an entirely different person.
Although he didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, this was indeed unusual.
He would have to keep observing.
Breakfast consisted of a bowl of thick porridge for each adult, a serving of steamed egg custard for each child, four buns and four steamed buns in a large porcelain bowl, and two small dishes of vegetables—pickled cabbage and stir-fried cabbage.
Looking at the meal on the table, Xu Anyan was momentarily speechless.
His cooking deserved praise.
But could he please stop making cabbage?
The two adults each had their own thoughts.
Dabao and Xiaobao looked at their father, then at their mother.
The two little ones tacitly kept silent.
The meal was extraordinarily quiet.
After breakfast, Jiang Huan volunteered to wash the dishes, much to Xu Anyan’s delight.
After everything was cleaned up, Xu Anyan prepared to head to Qili Street to set up her stall.
At that moment, Jiang Huan suddenly spoke.
“Your arm hasn’t healed yet. I’ll take you there.”
Xu Anyan looked at him, puzzled.
“You’re not going to work today?”
She had wanted to ask earlier.
If she remembered correctly, he should have started work at mao hour—around seven in the morning.
But it was already chen hour now, a little after eight.
Jiang Huan replied,
“I have the day off.”
Xu Anyan still hadn’t made up her mind when Dabao and Xiaobao made the decision for her.
“Dad should take you,” Dabao said. “Mom works very hard every day.”
“The basket is heavy,” Xiaobao added. “Mom can’t carry it.”
Xu Anyan: “…”
What wonderful sons.
You two are really good at creating opportunities for your father.