"Tingting, Tingting, why are you still here? Something's happened at your home! You should hurry back and see!"
The person calling out was Little Zhangqian, who was on very good terms with Zhou Tingting.
The two often kept in touch by phone, which was also how Zhou Tingting knew that Si Nian's family had made a lot of money.
Zhou Tingting wiped her sweat and asked, puzzled, "What's the matter?"
Little Zhangqian looked left and right, and after making sure no one was around, whispered, "It's about that colleague you told me about, the one who was trying to seduce your husband. The man you introduced to me just called and said he saw Li Jiaming having a meal alone with her outside..."
Zhang Qian was the same age as Zhou Tingting. She remained unmarried because she was determined, just like Zhou Tingting, to marry into the city.
It was just that she wasn't as pretty as Zhou Tingting and hadn't been chosen back then. Zhou Tingting was lucky enough to find Li Jiaming, a city man with an iron rice bowl job.
She leaped straight into becoming a wealthy city dweller.
Zhang Qian and Zhou Tingting had been birds of a feather since childhood, playing together since school days, and could be considered good sisters.
Zhou Tingting was very loyal and couldn't bear the thought of her good sister being ruined by some worthless men in this wretched countryside. So, encouraged by Zhang Qian's flattery, she promised to introduce her to a city husband, so they could still hang out together in the city later on.
Therefore, whenever there was the slightest stir at home, Zhang Qian would find an opportunity to notify Zhou Tingting.
She was her most loyal informant.
Of course, the reason Zhang Qian's family hadn't pressured her despite her age was that they knew Zhou Tingting was arranging an introduction for her.
They had been waiting all along, hoping, like Zhou Tingting's family, to see their daughter marry gloriously into the city.
In these times, if a family married their daughter into the city, it brought glory to the ancestors.
It was just a pity that it wasn't easy for a country girl to marry over. City people weren't fools; why would they inexplicably choose someone from the countryside?
So Zhang Qian had waited all these years.
She waited until her age was advancing and she began to panic. After repeated urging, Zhou Tingting finally introduced her to a divorced man.
She heard he was a team leader in a factory, earning fifty yuan a month, owned a house in the city, had a bicycle, and was over thirty.
Although it didn't sound great at first glance, he was a city dweller and owned a house!
So what if he was a bit older? The children weren't with him either.
Most importantly, he was a team leader.
To become a team leader at just thirty, he'd probably be promoted to supervisor soon.
By then, when Zhang Qian went over, he could even get her an easy position, earning a good monthly wage!
Moreover, he didn't mind that Zhang Qian was from the countryside and had actively arranged several meetings.
It was just a shame he wasn't very good-looking, which disappointed Zhang Qian greatly.
But she didn't want to lose this chance either, so she forced herself to endure the discomfort and interacted with him. Back and forth, they became familiar.
Nowadays, as soon as Zhang Qian had a bit of money, she would go to a payphone to call him for long chats or write letters, afraid he might find someone better in the city.
Coincidentally, he mentioned seeing Li Jiaming having a meal with another woman.
Zhang Qian remembered Zhou Tingting had returned to her hometown.
Zhou Tingting had told her before that there was a woman at Li Jiaming's workplace who kept approaching him privately, acting like a seductive vixen trying to lure him away. Zhang Qian immediately came to inform Zhou Tingting.
Now, Zhou Tingting was the bridge building her path into the city; of course Zhang Qian had to help her.
Mainly, she wasn't very satisfied with that man herself and hoped Zhou Tingting could introduce her to someone better.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Tingting immediately lost her grip on the broom.
Her lips trembled. "What did you say?"
As the saying goes, domestic shame should not be made public. Only Zhou Tingting knew exactly what kind of man her husband was.
He had always been ambiguous with other women before, but back then, she relied on her eldest brother's wealth and status as a boss, plus his younger brother worked in their family's factory, so Li Jiaming was relatively well-behaved.
But ever since she fell out with her eldest brother and even had her brother-in-law sent to prison, Li Jiaming had found a reason to argue with her.
Every time they argued, he wouldn't come home all night.
One day, Zhou Tingting grew anxious and hurried to his workplace to ask what was going on.
Who would have thought she'd see him strolling and chatting happily with a woman, even buying jewelry for her.
Zhou Tingting nearly fainted on the spot from anger.
Although Li Jiaming claimed they were just colleagues and he was buying something for a company leader at the time, Zhou Tingting wasn't a fool.
What kind of relationship they had, couldn't she tell?
She was both furious and panicked, afraid her man was having an affair, and even more afraid of being abandoned.
Because the other woman was younger and prettier than her.
She didn't dare tell outsiders about this, afraid it would spread and she'd become a laughingstock.
She only told her closest friend, Zhang Qian.
So Zhang Qian knew about it too.
Zhou Tingting's main tasks for returning this time, besides repairing her relationship with her eldest brother Zhou Yueshen, were to get the recipe for that braised meat from Si Nian.
She was thinking that once she had that, she'd have some leverage when she returned.
As long as she had leverage in her husband's family, Li Jiaming wouldn't dare fool around outside.
But now, before she had even gotten the recipe, Li Jiaming was getting restless again.
Zhou Tingting was fuming with rage. She didn't even care about sweeping anymore and left the Zhou household with Zhang Qian without even saying goodbye...
...
With Zhou Tingting gone, everyone in the Zhou family, young and old, was overjoyed.
They even slept more soundly at night.
Zhou Yueshen returned late, and it was unclear what he had been doing.
He carried a faint smell of alcohol on him.
Perhaps because he had been drinking, the man didn't go upstairs immediately.
The lights were on in the living room downstairs, casting a yellowish glow on the man's shoulders.
Normally, Si Nian would be asleep by now.
But today, she had a feeling that Zhou Tingting's sudden, urgent departure might have something to do with Zhou Yueshen.
The more she thought about it, the more curious she became. What kind of thing could make Zhou Tingting, who was even willing to kneel to stay, leave?
Once her curiosity was piqued, she couldn't fall asleep no matter what.
So she decided to wait for the man to return and ask him about it.
She had just lain down when she heard sounds.
She walked out of her room and stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor.
She saw the man's tall figure standing by the dining table, standing upright. He wore a military-green short-sleeved shirt on top and somewhat worn camouflage pants below. His large hand with distinct knuckles held the pink mug she bought, drinking water.
Si Nian was drawn to the indifference in his eyes.
Zhou Yueshen noticed and also looked towards the second floor.
In his deep eyes, there was an emotion Si Nian couldn't quite decipher.
Si Nian paused, stood still, and the words on the tip of her tongue remained unspoken.
Zhou Yueshen drained the water in the mug in one gulp, breaking the silence first.
"Zhou Tingting left?" It was a statement, not a question.
Clearly, he had anticipated it.
This sentence successfully pulled Si Nian back from her earlier thoughts. She nodded and said, "Yes, she left in the afternoon. Not sure what happened."
Zhou Yueshen gave a slight nod. "That's good. Without her here, you'll all be more comfortable."
Si Nian glanced at Zhou Yueshen and asked, "What did you do?"
Zhou Yueshen didn't hide it from her, his voice low as he said, "Li Jiaming is having an affair."
Si Nian was taken aback, exclaiming in surprise, "Zhou Tingting knows?"
Zhou Yueshen gave a slight nod, his voice deep and tinged with mockery: "She probably has some idea in her heart, but she believes she can win back the heart of a playboy."
Even before Zhou Tingting got married, Li Jiaming had a bad reputation.
Li Jiaming was a smooth operator, focused on personal gain.
Someone like Zhou Tingting, with a head full of fluff, was completely incapable of keeping a man like him steady.
Zhou Yueshen saw it clearly.
However, Zhou Tingting wouldn't listen to advice, even thinking he was jealous of his younger sister marrying into the city and disowning him, believing he was just speaking ill of her.
So, Zhou Yueshen simply stopped bothering.
A while ago, a friend from the city happened to see Li Jiaming going to a hotel with another woman. Out of consideration for Zhou Tingting being his sister, the friend informed Zhou Yueshen immediately.
Zhou Yueshen knew very well that once Zhou Tingting lost her usefulness, Li Jiaming's true colors would show immediately.
Yet, even after seeing it, this sister of his still didn't take it seriously, convinced she could make the playboy reform.
Her coming back now to butter them up was probably also for the Li family's sake.
But after being used repeatedly, Zhou Yueshen was fed up.
He didn't want to give Zhou Tingting another chance.
Upon learning her husband had gone out to eat with his mistress, how could Zhou Tingting sit still?
Naturally, she hurried back to salvage her crumbling marriage...
After listening, Si Nian also felt a bit sighing with regret.
But recalling that Li Jiaming had come here once before, that shrewd and cunning look about him made it obvious he wasn't a settled man.
Zhou Tingting was probably going to take a fall this time.
She shook her head, not feeling particularly sorry for her either.
Those who invite pity often have their own blameworthy flaws.
She studied Zhou Yueshen's expression carefully for a moment, wondering if the emotion he showed earlier was because of Zhou Tingting?
Well, after all, no matter what, Zhou Tingting was his biological sister.
His sister's husband had cheated; as the eldest brother, he must be feeling down.
Thinking this, Si Nian stepped forward and patted the man's chest soothingly, saying, "It's alright, it's all in the past now."
Zhou Yueshen: "..."
The mysterious quiet was soon broken by a sudden downpour.
Si Nian belatedly exclaimed, "Oh no~", "The clothes on the rooftop aren't brought in yet."
It was like this: Si Nian's clothes were all too eye-catching, plus her underwear and such, all different styles from what rural folks wore.
Of course, Si Nian wasn't exactly embarrassed, but hanging them at the main entrance might make passersby feel awkward.
But they needed to be dried, so after much thought, she hung them on the rooftop.
That way, they could get sun and she could hang whatever she wanted without worry.
No more fearing others seeing her little lace panties.
Who knew it would suddenly rain? She immediately grew anxious.
Zhou Yueshen, unhurried, grabbed her frantic hand, dropped a low-voiced "I'll go," and strode up to the rooftop.
Zhou Yueshen was fast, but still got half-drenched.
In his arms were all of Si Nian's little dresses and little panties.
Just as Si Nian walked out of the bathroom, she saw the man calmly open the wardrobe and use hangers to put her clothes inside.
When it came to the little panties, Si Nian fought hard not to blush.
Mentally chanting, it's not weird, it's not weird.
They were married, had done what married couples do, though mostly with the lights off.
But while she could stay composed, this older man, being from an older generation, should feel embarrassed, right?
She stole a glance at Zhou Yueshen's expression, only to find him looking perfectly calm.
Ok, the older man was steadier than her...
Hmph, so that earlier innocence was all an act, right?
Seeing he wasn't embarrassed at all, Si Nian felt even more nonchalant. Anyway, having her hands freed was great; she hated hanging clothes the most.
She simply walked around the man to the table nearby, picking up bottles and jars to start applying cream.
She didn't notice that when Zhou Yueshen pinched that piece of fabric, the large hand that had held cleavers and gripped guns steady as a rock... trembled slightly.
Si Nian was just rubbing cream on herself when suddenly—"click—"
The power went out.
Power supply in the countryside wasn't long-lasting unless you paid extra.
Zhou Yueshen was willing to spend the money, so they had electricity all day.
Unlike other households who only dared use it for an hour or two daily.
The sudden blackout startled Si Nian.
Her eyes hadn't adjusted to the darkness inside, she didn't know where to step.
Instinctively, she called out: "Zhou Yueshen?"
The moment her voice sounded, the man walked over, his large hand resting on her shoulder. "I'm here."
Si Nian relaxed, one hand still smoothing the cream on her face, pouting: "Why's the power out?"
"Probably a wire burned out."
Such things happened often in the countryside; Zhou Yueshen was used to it.
His night vision was good; even in the dark he could clearly see Si Nian's movements.
Noticing how she instinctively leaned close to him, tenderness flashed in his eyes.
"You go to sleep first, I'll go check."
He let go, about to leave.
Who knew the next second, a warm softness wrapped around his arm.
"Don't..."
Si Nian hurriedly stopped the man's movement.
If a wire was burned out, that could be really dangerous.
When she was little, someone in their village died from electrocution while fixing wires.
"Don't go. It's late anyway, we don't need the electricity. Let's check tomorrow. Besides, it's still raining outside... it's dangerous if you get electrocuted..."
Her worried voice reached him.
Zhou Yueshen paused for a moment, then nodded slightly and said okay.
They stayed like that, frozen in position, until Si Nian finished smoothing the cream on her face.
Only then did she realize the man was still standing there.
Her eyes adjusted to the light, and looking at the man standing there dumbly, she couldn't help but let out a "pfft—" laugh.
"Why are you standing there like a fool?" When she was happy, her voice was softer, more pleasant than usual.
Zhou Yueshen froze. After a long pause, he said, "Waiting for you."
The room was so dark; he was afraid she couldn't see and might trip.
Her skin was delicate; if she fell, it would surely hurt a lot.
Just imagining that scene made Zhou Yueshen's thick brows subconsciously furrow.
Hearing this, Si Nian felt both amused and thought this man was truly excellent, so considerate.
This kind of thing could easily make even a tough-as-nails Chinese woman fall for him, okay?
Thinking they hadn't been close for a while, she felt a mischievous urge. She pressed closer to the man, her slender, pale arms hooking around his neck, and said, "I can't see. Carry me over..."
