"What's wrong, Nian Nian?"
"The pants I bought for Xianjun seem too big."
Qin Nian spoke somewhat sheepishly.
"I thought it was something serious—you gave me a scare! Wait here."
After saying this, Yang Yufen turned and returned shortly after.
"Here, take this for him. I’ll chat with Aunt Liu for a bit."
Qin Nian looked at the hemp rope in her hand, then at her mother-in-law, who had already settled back on the sofa to continue her conversation with Aunt Liu. She reached out and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Shen Xianjun had already pulled up his pants. That earlier mishap—well, best to skip over it.
"Mom asked me to give you this."
Qin Nian didn’t enter but instead cracked the door open and extended her hand inside.
Shen Xianjun was speechless at the sight of the hemp rope, but he took it anyway—he really needed it right now.
His mother’s habits really hadn’t changed.
After securing it with a few quick knots and ensuring it wouldn’t slip, Shen Xianjun opened the door and stepped out.
"Mom, Aunt Liu, I’ll go use the restroom first."
"Go ahead, go ahead. Xiao Qin, take care of things here. I’ll just chat with your mom for a bit before heading back to look after the kids."
Aunt Liu glanced at Shen Xianjun. "Your son looks a lot like you."
"More like his no-good father—opens his mouth and says things that make people furious."
Yang Yufen huffed in annoyance.
"Men are all like that. He seems to be recovering well—you’ve finally come out of hardship into better days. I should head back now; the house is full of kids."
Aunt Liu’s daughter-in-law had refused to quit her job, returning to work just days after giving birth.
Since she’d already helped raise the eldest son’s children, it was only fair she did the same for the younger son’s. After all, both were her daughters-in-law, and with her sons busy working, she could only rely on them in her old age.
After Aunt Liu left, the house gradually filled with more visitors—some genuinely concerned, others just curious. After all, a man who’d vanished for two years had not only come back from the dead but returned home. How could people not be curious?
Some had once whispered that Qin Nian was a "husband-killer," but after Yang Yufen beat up Yi Mengling, those rumors died down. Still, a few muttered in private, especially those jealous of Qin Nian’s rapid career rise at such a young age.
But Yang Yufen fiercely protected Qin Nian, never indulging in gossip, and Qin Nian herself was too busy with work for anyone to dare provoke them openly.
"Ah, Comrade Xiao Qin is truly blessed! Now that her husband, an officer, has returned, and her mother-in-law even does the laundry and cooking—no one in the entire residential compound lives as well as Comrade Xiao Qin!"
Yang Yufen was in the kitchen at the time, while Qin Nian and Shen Xianjun entertained the guests.
"Comrade Xiao Qin’s husband, let me tell you—every daughter-in-law in this compound envies her! When she was pregnant, her mother-in-law did all the laundry and cooking. She went straight back to work after giving birth, leaving the baby with the old folks. By the time the child could walk, it was already calling her ‘Mom’—what a cushy life!"
Qin Nian’s face darkened. Shen Xianjun, meanwhile, found it all unbelievable. His mother had never had the patience for childcare—these people were clearly spouting nonsense just to flatter her.
Shen Xianjun stayed silent, though his expression turned odd.
Yang Yufen, standing at the doorway, immediately scowled.
The speaker suddenly felt a chill down her spine and turned to meet Yang Yufen’s glare. Stuttering, she backtracked.
"Hahaha, I was just praising how well you dote on your daughter-in-law! Ah—my kids are waiting for me, I should go. Yes, I’ll go now!"
"Mine too! Let’s leave together!"
The crowd of onlookers quickly scrambled past Yang Yufen, forcing smiles as they fled, terrified of being called out.
"Mom, what’s wrong? Weren’t the aunties having a lively chat?"
Shen Xianjun was puzzled. During his undercover missions, he’d had to keep his mouth shut to avoid mistakes, often left staring at the sky in silence. Now that he was back in a safe place, he actually enjoyed this kind of lively atmosphere.
"Hmph, opening your mouth when you shouldn’t and keeping it shut when you should. If you’re bored, go read a book. Don’t just laze around all day. Nian Nian, find him a couple of books you don’t need."
If not for fear of damaging their marital harmony, Yang Yufen would’ve smacked Shen Xianjun.
No, no—out of sight, out of mind.
"Get back to your room and don’t come out until dinner."
She couldn’t hold back after all.
Qin Nian obediently went to fetch books. When Shen Xianjun entered, she placed two thick volumes in front of him—one of them in a foreign language.
"I can’t understand this."
Shen Xianjun pointed at the foreign book.
"Mom said you should study hard. The country needs talent right now, and learning another language will help you. This is a dictionary. We have a radio at home—keeping up with international developments is essential. I’ll teach you some basics for now. If you forget anything, just ask me later when you have time."
Qin Nian thoughtfully added a notebook and pen to the pile.
What she considered "simple," however, left Shen Xianjun dazed. But pride kept him from admitting it, so he nodded as if he’d understood.
"Alright. If you forget, just ask. I’ll go help Mom now."
Qin Nian, satisfied with her teaching, left without another word.
Shen Xianjun gnawed on the pen cap. He’d hated studying even as a student—his mother really knew how to punish him. Here he was, a grown man and a father, forced to sit with pen and paper like a schoolboy.
In the kitchen, Yang Yufen handed Qin Nian vegetables to wash while she chopped.
"That boy never liked reading or homework. Not that he couldn’t learn—he just couldn’t sit still. Making him study was like pulling teeth. That’s why I sent him off to the military."
The rhythmic thud of her knife against the cutting board was oddly soothing.
Qin Nian listened, her heart settling.
"Yeah."
Remembering what she’d just done, Qin Nian smiled—not aloud, but her eyes curved with quiet amusement.
Yang Yufen noticed and relaxed, relieved her daughter-in-law wasn’t holding any grudges.
Still, it wasn’t enough. She’d have to make that rascal do more later.
Her mind made up, Yang Yufen focused on cooking while Shen Xianjun struggled with the English dictionary in his room.
Hu Zhenghao had been playing with the twins for a while when Yaoyao, hearing her baby sister cry, rushed home to help soothe her.
"Want to see what your dad’s up to?"
Hu Zhenghao suddenly whispered to the twins.
The two little heads leaned in, exchanged glances, and nodded, though they weren’t sure why he’d ask.
"Alright, we won’t go through the door. Let’s peek through the window instead. Adults always do things behind kids’ backs."
