"Are you always this busy every day?"
Shen Xianjun didn’t stand on ceremony either, picking up the water and drinking it in large gulps.
"It’s good to be busy. Having income every day keeps the worries away. This is much easier than planting cotton and beans in the fields—no wind, sun, or rain to endure. A whole year’s toil in the fields doesn’t compare to what we earn in a single month now."
Gui Xiang couldn’t help but sigh.
"Farmers depend on the heavens for their harvest. After the flood, the fields yielded poorly that year. If not for your mother pulling some strings to get us sweet potato seedlings to plant, we might not have made it. And this time, if we’d relied solely on the meager income from farming, your uncle and Ershun wouldn’t have survived, even if they’d been saved."
It wasn’t that farming was bad—it was just brutally hard.
Now, even though her husband couldn’t do heavy labor, he managed all the lighter tasks just fine. As long as he was whole and healthy, what more could she ask for? And Ershun was getting better day by day.
"You’re right. Well, Auntie, Uncle, I’ll head back now. You should rest a bit. We’ll have lunch here, but I won’t be able to join for dinner—the kids have classes at my mother-in-law’s place in the evening. I’ve got a half-month break coming up, so when the kids are free, I’ll bring them along."
Knowing they still had business to attend to in the evening, Shen Xianjun didn’t linger.
"Alright, alright."
She’d meant to go grocery shopping but had forgotten in the rush. Gui Xiang made a mental note of when the twins would next be off and decided to buy the ingredients ahead of time.
Shen Xianjun rode his bicycle back to the family compound. The house was still locked, so he took out his keys and let himself in.
Seeing everything neatly in place, he grabbed a broom to sweep the floor, then went to the backyard to feed the chickens.
The garden was spotless—typical of his mother’s meticulous ways.
Checking the time, he figured it was about right and rode over to his mother-in-law’s place, where, sure enough, he found his mother.
"Auntie, is the fish prepared like this okay? Should I slice it into fillets?"
Hu Jun held up the cleaned fish for Yang Yufen to inspect.
The moment Shen Xianjun walked in and saw this, two words flashed through his mind: We’re doomed!
"No need, no need. We’re stewing the fish today—just make cuts about two fingers wide."
Yang Yufen smiled warmly as she chopped side dishes, while outside, Professor Wen kept an eye on Little Baby.
"Xianjun’s here."
Hearing the commotion, Professor Wen turned and spotted Shen Xianjun. With guests around, the front door was naturally left open.
"Mother-in-law, I’ll go help in the kitchen."
Shen Xianjun hurriedly greeted her.
Professor Wen almost said the kitchen was too crowded for more people, but she hesitated and held her tongue.
"Mom, let me help you."
"Xianjun’s here? I’ve already finished helping Auntie. Why don’t you sit on the sofa?"
Hu Jun grinned, but Shen Xianjun only saw mischief in it.
"Then I’ll tidy the kitchen. Brother, why don’t you help Mother-in-law watch Little Baby? She must be tired after teaching all day."
Yang Yufen added the sauce to the pot, and the rich aroma instantly filled the air.
"How about you two go pick up the kids? They’ll be out of school soon."
Yang Yufen eyed the cramped kitchen—she could handle it herself.
"Sure, we’ll do that. Thanks for the trouble, Auntie."
Hu Jun agreed readily, leaving Shen Xianjun no choice but to follow.
As they stepped outside, they heard Professor Wen’s laughter from inside.
Professor Wen walked into the kitchen, unable to hold back her amusement, and burst into laughter the moment she locked eyes with Yang Yufen.
"Yufen, since you arrived, life’s been full of little joys."
"Heh, I feel the same way—there’s never a dull moment now."
Yang Yufen chuckled as she slid the prepared fish into the pot—a big one Hu Jun had brought back earlier.
"Got lucky today and snagged a big fish. When Auntie came back, I just mentioned how much I missed her braised fish with sauce, and she went straight home to fetch the ingredients to make it for me."
Hu Jun spoke leisurely.
"It’s not just for you. Aren’t we picking up Zhenghao? This is the way to the kindergarten."
Shen Xianjun pointed out. Hu Jun paused mid-step, then changed direction.
"Forgot."
Hu Jun shrugged it off.
When they reached the elementary school gate, they realized there was hardly any need to pick up kids here—no one ever went missing.
Still, it was nice to check in on the children’s daily lives.
Hu Jun’s gaze swept across the playground before landing on a figure perched high in the branches of a persimmon tree—Hu Zhenghao. Instantly, his fingers itched for action.
"Wow, how’d the kid get up there? That persimmon tree looks pretty healthy."
Shen Xianjun remarked casually.
Hu Zhenghao never expected his father to show up at school, let alone with his uncle in tow, catching him red-handed picking fruit.
But he’d already climbed the tree and grabbed the persimmons—no way was he letting go. He’d promised his little brothers he’d bring some back. The persimmons from this tree were delicious, just too high up.
With the teachers in a meeting and the last period being free play, he’d seized the chance.
His father couldn’t enter the school grounds yet—he still had time.
Hu Zhenghao carefully descended, tucked the fruit into his backpack, and approached the gate, staying just out of reach.
"Uncle, hold these for me. Otherwise, they’ll get smashed when Dad wallops me later. They’re for my little brothers."
Shen Xianjun took the bag, then glanced at Hu Jun.
"Hmph. Think that little of your old man? We’ll settle this at home."
Since they were in public and his son wasn’t a toddler anymore, Hu Jun spared him the embarrassment.
Hu Zhenghao shot his father a look—those two words might as well have been carved on his face.
When the dismissal bell rang, Hu Zhenghao stepped out, and the three of them headed to the kindergarten to fetch the others.
Wang Xing and the twins were already waiting eagerly.
"Here, little brothers. Enjoy. Your big brother here traded a beating for these, so remember my sacrifice."
Hu Zhenghao put on a dramatic show, but his hands moved swiftly to distribute the fruit. Either way, a spanking was coming—might as well get it over with early since his homework was done. It wouldn’t interfere with cartoon time.
"I never said I’d hit you."
Hu Jun finally spoke up.
"Really?"
Hu Zhenghao’s face lit up.
"Alright, your grandmas are waiting at home for dinner."
"Yay! Let’s go home!"
The kids clutched their persimmons, too excited to eat them right away, chattering and laughing all the way back.
The two fathers trailed behind.
After dinner, the men handled the cleanup.
"Tomorrow, let’s get some planks to rebuild the kids’ desks and bookshelves."
Hu Jun suggested.
"My mom mentioned it last night."
Shen Xianjun swept up the last of the trash.
"While we’re home, we should handle these things so the elders don’t have to. We’ll take stock of what needs fixing before winter hits."
"I was thinking the same."
"Good. We’ll start early tomorrow—drop Mom and Auntie Yang at the department store on the way."
Professor Wen had no classes tomorrow and had mentioned wanting to shop for a few things.
