When Yan Jigang heard he could continue sleeping with his sister, his face lit up with joy. He obediently fetched water to wash up by himself. After finishing, he squeezed into the middle of the bed—Yan Xue on his right and Qi Fang on his left—prompting him to pull the blanket up to his nose.
"What are you secretly smiling about?" Yan Xue tugged the blanket down for the young boy.
Yan Jigang reached out as if to write in her palm, but Yan Xue didn’t offer her hand. "Just speak. There are no outsiders here."
This made Yan Jigang sneak a glance at Qi Fang, feeling both nervous and shy.
"It’s fine. When I first married your brother-in-law, he spoke even less than you do," Yan Xue said with a smile, casting a playful look at the man.
Yan Jigang’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if he couldn’t fathom someone being more tight-lipped than him, who struggled with speech.
Under the gaze of two very similar pairs of eyes, Qi Fang paused for a moment before reaching out to pat Yan Jigang’s head. "Go ahead. Say what you want."
Yan Jigang stammered out, "F-feels… l-like…"
Yan Xue’s expression remained encouraging, while Qi Fang, though reserved, showed no impatience or mockery. Emboldened, the boy continued, "Like… Dad… and Mom."
With that, he took Yan Xue’s hand and glanced at Qi Fang on the other side, though he hesitated to reach out.
Yan Xue’s heart melted. The boy had barely known the comfort of parents—losing his mother at five and his father at eight.
She looked at Qi Fang, about to silently prompt him, but he had already taken Yan Jigang’s small hand on his own.
Yan Jigang’s face flushed, his little body stiffening briefly from the surprise.
Yet the grin on his face was unstoppable. He even gave Yan Xue’s hand a happy little shake before pulling both their hands to rest against his chest.
"Sl-sleep now," he declared louder this time, shutting his eyes tightly to signal his intent. But Yan Xue could still see his eyelashes fluttering.
The sight was utterly endearing. Qi Fang, watching, unconsciously gave the small hand in his a gentle squeeze.
However, since both he and Yan Xue were being held, the movement caused the back of his fingers to brush against hers.
He froze, then glanced at Yan Xue.
At first, she didn’t notice. But soon, a slender finger curled around her pinky.
Right under Yan Jigang’s nose? She immediately shot Qi Fang a look.
In the darkness, the man’s peach-blossom eyes were calm—not only did he not let go, but his grip tightened slightly.
Yan Xue checked on her brother again.
The boy’s eyes were closed, genuinely drifting off, completely unaware of the two shameless adults secretly entwining fingers.
So Yan Xue didn’t pull away. Instead, she even curled her finger around his a little tighter.
She knew exactly what Qi Fang had been hinting at when he checked the calendar earlier. Even if she hadn’t realized it then, she understood now.
The seven-day "probation" had long passed. But even if it hadn’t, his actions—supporting her return to her hometown, standing by her, proposing to bring her grandmother over, and helping save the old woman’s life—were more than enough to earn him an early release. Yan Xue had only invited Yan Jigang to sleep over out of concern for her brother, not to prolong Qi Fang’s "reflection period."
With that in mind, she hooked her finger playfully, even giving his hand a teasing scratch.
The mischievous gesture sent a ticklish warmth straight to the heart. Qi Fang immediately tightened his grip in response.
Yan Xue could feel the shift in his hold. "Don’t wake Jigang," she whispered.
Qi Fang didn’t reply. Instead, he turned and gently pulled both her and Yan Jigang into his arms.
In the middle of the night, Yan Jigang woke from a nightmare, gasping and crying out.
Yan Xue immediately reached to comfort him, her hand briefly meeting Qi Fang’s before they instinctively adjusted, each patting the boy soothingly.
From the opposite room came the sound of quiet footsteps, but they didn’t approach. Only when everything settled did the unseen presence retreat.
Moving day required the proper relocation of pots and pans—especially the cooking pot. Yan Xue rose early the next morning to return to the old house.
By the time Yan Jigang arrived with Qi Fang and Second Old Lady, thick rice porridge and crispy flatbread were already on the table, along with halved salted duck eggs, their yolks glistening with oil.
The lavish spread made the boy rub his eyes, wondering if he was still dreaming.
Yan Xue chuckled and nudged him. "Go wash your hands."
He scurried to the washstand. But even at the table, he hesitated before picking up his chopsticks.
Second Old Lady also paused, studying the meal before scooping the duck egg yolk onto her grandson’s plate.
"Eat up," Yan Xue said, handing them each a flatbread. "I bought the fine grain from a nearby village, but there isn’t much. We’ll mostly have cornmeal."
Cornmeal was still a luxury compared to what they’d had. Yan Jigang’s wide eyes said it all, even if he didn’t speak.
Yan Xue tapped his nose with her chopsticks. "It’s different here. No sweet potatoes. Seventy percent of the rations are cornmeal. You’ll get sick of it soon enough."
Yan Jigang took a careful bite of the flatbread, then a sip of rice porridge, his eyes closing in bliss.
He couldn’t imagine ever tiring of cornmeal—real grain was far better than endless sweet potatoes.
Second Old Lady, being more practical, asked, "Can we register our household here?"
Yan Jigang immediately looked up.
No registration meant no rationed grain. Yan Xue had already considered this. "We’ll try to get it sorted through connections. If not, we’ll register temporarily in a nearby village. Even if we don’t earn work points for grain, we can buy it from the production team—cheaper than black-market prices."
"Don’t worry about me. Focus on Jigang first," Second Old Lady insisted. "He needs to start school."
Yan Xue nodded. "I’ll ask Secretary Lang how difficult it’ll be."
But that could wait. For now, they had to finish moving. Yan Xue took some money next door to Aunt Guo’s.
Temporary workers here were paid in two tiers: light labor at 1.32 yuan a day, heavy labor at 1.68.
Yan Xue’s seasonal work in the family labor team counted as heavy labor. She intended to pay Aunt Guo the lighter rate, but the older woman refused.
"All I did was tend the fire. Don’t treat me like a stranger."
In the end, Yan Xue gave her eight yuan, adding to the previous five—averaging one yuan per day. Even then, Aunt Guo saw her off with, "No need to come so early tomorrow. I’m an old woman—I wake early anyway. I’ll just stoke the fire for you."
With the warmer weather, the fire only needed tending morning and evening.
After thanking her, Yan Xue stepped out just as Qi Fang returned with a borrowed horse cart—followed by Liu Weiguo, whom they hadn’t seen in weeks. "Back already? You didn’t say anything!"
"Too much to handle," Yan Xue replied, fetching a few pairs of cotton gloves.
Since their marriage was recent, they didn’t have much to move. The cart was mainly for hauling her saplings.
In the end, Yan Jigang followed them out, seemingly intending to help with the move, but Yan Xue’s household didn’t have gloves that small, so she shooed him back inside.
"Is this your brother?" Liu Weiguo asked as he took a pair of gloves and slipped them on.
Yan Xue nodded. "Tell Chuncai and the others to come play with him when they have time."
"No problem," Liu Weiguo agreed readily. "Wei Bin’s always complaining that playing with his two sisters is boring—he’s been wanting a little brother."
"Well, our Jigang might not dare to roughhouse with him just yet. He’s still new here and a bit shy around strangers."
Yan Jigang couldn’t avoid interacting with outsiders forever, but given his condition, Yan Xue worried he might face ridicule. The best she could do was entrust him to the care of families they were close to.
The Liu children were all well-behaved—Chuncai was spirited, Chunni was shy, and though Wei Bin was a bit mischievous, he still listened to discipline, as evidenced by the fact that he never went ice-skating on the river.
Children like these wouldn’t mock Yan Jigang even if they noticed his stutter. Plus, Wei Bin and Jigang were around the same age and could play together.
With everyone pitching in, the first cart was soon loaded. Liu Weiguo patted his gloves clean and asked, "Do you remember how many bricks you used when you built that house?"
No one would ask such a question unless they had a reason. Yan Xue gave him a look. "Are you asking for someone else or for yourself?"
Qi Fang, who was about to guide the cart driver to the new house, cut straight to the point. "Did it work out?"
"Sort of," Liu Weiguo rubbed his head. "We got engaged three days ago. Planning to pick an auspicious date in August or September to marry—definitely before the logging team heads up the mountain."
That was fast. Qi Fang, ever blunt, asked, "Was it your family who proposed the engagement?"
"Yes and no," Liu Weiguo replied. "My family discussed it. Remember that old ginseng we gave them as a gift to smooth things over? We were worried they’d go back on their word later, so we wanted to count it as part of the betrothal gifts. But before my mom could bring it up, Zhou Wenhui suggested it herself."
"Didn’t go smoothly, did it?" Yan Xue had a feeling Father Zhou would prefer a high-ranking official as an in-law over the Liu family’s ginseng.
Sure enough, Liu Weiguo nodded. "Her dad wasn’t happy. She told him if he forced her to marry into the Jiang family, she’d go to the factory and expose how he was selling off his daughter."
That would ruin Father Zhou’s chances of keeping his deputy director position—if he even got it in the first place. He had no choice but to relent.
Still, some drama was inevitable. Fortunately, Jiang Debao’s earlier outburst provided a ready-made excuse to avoid the match, leaving the Jiang family with nothing to say.
There was a more drastic solution, of course. Since Zhou Wenhui’s household registration was with the educated youth unit, she could marry Liu Weiguo without her family’s consent if she was determined enough.
But that was a last resort—one Yan Xue and Qi Fang couldn’t suggest. Marrying without parental approval was tantamount to eloping, inviting gossip that could tarnish the Liu family’s reputation.
What decent girl would marry without her parents’ blessing? What decent family would let their son "steal" a bride without paying a single cent in betrothal gifts?
This wasn’t like decades later, when cities were vast and people moved freely, minding their own business. Back then, such a scandal could even affect the marriage prospects of the other Liu children.
Now that the betrothal gifts had been paid and the engagement settled, any further issues would be the Zhou family’s problem.
Still, the whole affair left a sour taste. Otherwise, given Liu Weiguo’s usual demeanor, he would’ve been beaming with pride the moment he walked in.
Qi Fang studied his friend. "You’re not having second thoughts, are you?"
"Of course not!" Liu Weiguo retorted. "Ginseng can always be dug up again. People are more important."
If Zhou Wenhui had quietly accepted the gift without a word, he might’ve felt uneasy. But she hadn’t, so he didn’t.
Qi Fang didn’t press further. After all, the reason he’d suggested the idea in the first place was because he’d initially mistaken Yan Xue for the fiancée his family had broken off with.
Though it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, by then, Yan Xue’s father had already ceased to matter to him.
Liu Weiguo’s choice depended on what he valued most. Qi Fang had merely offered a suggestion—whether to take it was up to the Liu family.
As Qi Fang left with the cart, Liu Weiguo helped Yan Xue clear the remaining logs and asked, "When are you planning to move?"
"The day after tomorrow is an auspicious date for relocation," Yan Xue replied after checking the calendar.
They couldn’t delay any longer—if they did, the second round of sapling cultivation would begin.
On moving day, Liu Weiguo arrived punctually to help. Zhou Wenhui came along too. Yan Xue carried the family’s cooking pot, Qi Fang shouldered a bucket of rice, and they officially settled into their new home.
Even Yan Jigang was entrusted with an important task—carrying Qi Fang’s small chest as he trailed behind his sister and brother-in-law.
Yan Xue teased him, "Your brother-in-law must really trust you. Even I’ve never opened that thing."
Yan Jigang just smiled, handed the chest to Qi Fang inside, then went out to watch them install the stove.
The brick base for the large wok had already been built. Qi Fang applied a layer of yellow mud inside, and Yan Xue set the wok in place.
Of course, simply placing it wasn’t enough—it needed to be rotated a few times to eliminate gaps, and the seams between the wok and the stove had to be sealed with more mud to prevent smoke leakage when cooking.
After sharing a meal in the new house, the move was complete. The next day, Yan Xue immediately took the family to town to see the doctor.
This time, it wasn’t just Qi Fang who needed attention—Yan Jigang had just suffered a fright, and the Second Old Lady hadn’t fully recovered. The only one in perfect health was Yan Xue herself.
When the four of them entered the clinic together, the doctor assumed they were all accompanying one patient and suggested the others wait outside.
But after Yan Jigang sat down, explained his condition with their help, and received his prescription, the Second Old Lady took his place.
The doctor took one look at her pallid lips and guessed the issue. A pulse check confirmed it. "You were poisoned before?"
The Second Old Lady nodded. "Mishandled some pesticide."
"Your constitution is also weak—you’ll need careful recuperation. And these two are…?"
"My granddaughter and her husband."
It was rare for a granddaughter and her husband to accompany their grandmother to the doctor. The physician gave them another glance before writing out prescriptions and advising Yan Xue and Qi Fang on care instructions.
Just when they thought the visit was over and were about to call the next patient, Qi Fang sat down.
The young man was handsome and seemed healthy, but the doctor asked anyway, "What seems to be the trouble?"
"Can’t sleep," Qi Fang said tersely.
Yan Xue, standing behind him, elaborated. "It’s been two or three years. At most, he gets four or five hours a night."
"Seen a doctor before?" The doctor pushed the pulse pillow forward, but before he could place his fingers, Qi Fang answered, "No."
The doctor gave him a look. "Two or three years without seeing a doctor? You’re quite the stoic."
After a brief examination, the diagnosis came. "Liver qi stagnation, heart and spleen deficiency—your pulse shows deep melancholy and excessive mental strain. Did you suffer a major emotional blow?"
Yan Jigang and Second Old Lady immediately turned their concerned gazes over, but Qi Fang didn’t respond. "Can it be treated?"
"It can, but some things depend on whether you can let go of them yourself." The doctor felt his pulse again and asked, "Have you been feeling slightly better recently?"
Better?
Qi Fang glanced back at Yan Xue and answered softly, "Mm."
"Then keep it up. If there are things you shouldn’t dwell on, don’t dwell on them." The doctor also followed his gaze toward Yan Xue. "Family members should try to comfort him more and keep him in a good mood."
Yan Xue nodded. Seeing the doctor about to write a prescription, she quickly asked, "Does he have any other health issues?"
"It’s just a bit of internal heat from the hot weather lately—nothing serious."
"Really nothing else?" Yan Xue clearly didn’t believe it.
If it was just insomnia, how could he have been so frail when he first appeared in the original story over a decade later, passing away in his forties?
As the patient’s spouse, she might know something the doctor didn’t, so the doctor checked again. "What other discomfort does he usually experience?"
This was a question neither Yan Xue nor Qi Fang himself could answer.
He glanced at Yan Xue. "No, I’m usually very healthy."
The doctor examined him for a long time but found nothing, frowning in thought.
Yan Xue had to hint, "Something more… hidden, not easily noticeable or spoken about, but with a significant impact."
This man was stubborn—who knew if he genuinely felt fine or was just hiding it from her?
Take his insomnia, for example. She hadn’t discovered it until months into their marriage, and only because she caught him in the act. Before that, he hadn’t even admitted it when Liu Weiguo brought it up.
Yan Xue thought her hint was clear enough, and the doctor seemed to understand, suddenly looking enlightened as he checked Qi Fang’s pulse again. "No, your husband is in good health, with strong kidney essence. There shouldn’t be any issues in that regard. Are the two of you… not harmonious?"
At first, Yan Xue didn’t grasp the mention of "kidney essence," but the follow-up about "harmony" made it click.
She felt Qi Fang’s gaze immediately land on her, and Second Old Lady looked even more worried. "This is serious, Doctor. Please examine him properly."
"There’s nothing to examine. Men with kidney deficiency don’t present like this." The doctor had already let go of Qi Fang’s wrist and instead turned to Yan Xue. "Would you like me to check you instead?"
Yan Xue had no desire to be examined—it would only make it seem like their supposed "disharmony" was her fault.
But Qi Fang stood up, silently pressing her onto the stool, so she had no choice but to extend her hand. "I’m not uncomfortable at all."
As it turned out, she was blessed with robust health in both lifetimes. Back when she’d suffered a head injury and been bedridden for half a year, she’d bounced back just fine. Now, three of the four of them left with medicine, while she walked out empty-handed.
Yan Jigang, the little troublemaker, clearly wasn’t thrilled about taking medicine, his small face drooping as they walked.
Yan Xue couldn’t resist pinching his cheek. "Your grandma and brother-in-law are drinking their medicine too. Be good, and I’ll buy you candy."
No sooner had she spoken than she felt a gaze on her back. Turning, she found Qi Fang watching her.
His dark eyes were intent, making sure she knew he was looking. After a brief stare, he said, "There’s a photo studio nearby. Let’s take a family portrait."
At that, Yan Jigang’s face immediately brightened, though he still glanced at his sister for approval.
"Let’s do it," Yan Xue agreed. Now that the four of them were living together, it would be nice to have a keepsake.
Yan Jigang eagerly straightened his collar, then smoothed his clothes, even adjusting Yan Xue and Second Old Lady’s outfits. At the studio, he followed every instruction—sitting, standing, mouthing "cheese" silently. After the shoot, he whispered to Yan Xue, asking how long it would take to get the photos.
"When you come back for your next dose of medicine," Yan Xue said, successfully making the boy’s face fall again.
Then she felt that gaze again—sure enough, Qi Fang was watching her.
This time, he averted his eyes quickly, telling the photographer, "Take a couple of just the two of us as well."
It was only then that Yan Xue remembered—their rushed wedding had skipped the wedding photos, and they’d never gotten around to it later.
Before she could move, Yan Jigang nudged her forward, grinning mischievously.
Yan Xue had no choice but to stand beside Qi Fang. They took a half-body shot first, then, at the photographer’s direction, she stood on a small stool.
The height difference between them was too great—without the stool, a close-up shot was impossible.
Perhaps worried she might fall, Qi Fang steadied her with a hand on her back. Then she heard his low voice by her ear: "I didn’t know you were dissatisfied with me."
At first, Yan Xue didn’t understand, but meeting his meaningful gaze, she instantly recalled the misunderstanding at the clinic.
Of course this man would hold a grudge. No wonder he kept looking at her every time medicine was mentioned.
Now, without even trying to recall their newlywed days, Yan Xue’s ears burned—mostly from embarrassment, with a hint of irritation.
And who knew what this grudge-holding man might do? She’d have to explain herself later.
After the photos, they visited the supply and marketing cooperative. When it was time, the four of them took the small train home.
On the way, Yan Jigang quietly asked Yan Xue if ginseng could really turn into spirits. The photographer had told them a story—once, a young woman in a red coat and red hair ribbons had come to Chengshui Photo Studio. But when he looked through the lens, he saw a giant ginseng root instead.
When he moved the camera away, she was a woman again. But peering back through the lens—still ginseng.
What child wouldn’t be fascinated by such tales? Yan Xue thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to go dig for ginseng in the mountains?"
"You can do that?" Yan Jigang’s eyes sparkled as he nodded eagerly.
"Then I’ll ask around. We’ll go in autumn. But whether we find any depends on luck."
Yan Xue knew a thing or two about this—in her past life, her shop had sold ginseng, and she’d even bought wild ginseng from foragers.
All in all, the trip was pleasant—except for the impending medicine. As soon as they got home, Yan Jigang dashed inside.
But he went to Second Old Lady’s room, where his things were. These days, he only slept with his sister at night, returning to the old lady during the day.
Alone with her husband, Yan Xue immediately noticed Qi Fang’s meaningful look. "How much longer is Jigang staying with us?"
She recognized that tone—the prelude to settling scores.
Straightening up, she said, "The doctor misunderstood. I was just worried about hidden health issues, since you never tell me anything."
Whether Qi Fang took it to heart was unclear. His peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly as he opened his little box.
Seeing him tuck away the photo receipt, Yan Xue was about to say more when he suddenly paused, rummaging through the contents with a darkening expression.
Qi Fang: Am I the first male lead whose wife suspected him of having that kind of problem? [sobbing][sobbing][sobbing]
