"So what?"
Nan Sheng met Lin Han's gaze head-on, taking the initiative.
"Nothing, let's go back."
Lin Han backed down, turning to head inside, his voice tinged with an inexplicable note of grievance. Before their marriage, he’d heard rumors that Nan Sheng might have been involved with a fellow educated youth in the village, but he hadn’t paid it much mind—after all, he was a divorced man himself!
But now, for some reason, his chest felt tight and uncomfortable. He couldn’t help wondering: who did his wife truly love more?
Nan Sheng reached out and tugged at Lin Han’s arm, pulling him back effortlessly. She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and led him outside for a walk.
"You probably heard earlier—before marrying you, I was involved with an educated youth in the village."
Lin Han gave a quiet hum, letting her continue.
"Truth is, he already had someone he liked. He only dated me to swindle money for a ticket back to the city. I didn’t find out until after we were married. I managed to squeeze over three hundred yuan and a pair of bracelets out of him before cutting ties completely."
As for their late-night meeting… better to keep that to herself. She had a feeling Lin Han’s jealousy ran deep.
Lin Han’s brows furrowed instantly, his tone turning stern, as if he wanted to rush out and confront the man on Nan Sheng’s behalf.
"I’m going to the educated youth dorm right now to settle this! If a man wants to return to the city, he should work for it himself. How dare he deceive a woman’s feelings? Disgraceful!"
Nan Sheng didn’t explain that Yu Sheng had done it all for Su Jinyan. The more details she gave, the more it would gnaw at Lin Han.
"Don’t you dare!" Her voice was sharper now, but it softened as she pulled him back.
"It’s all in the past. Besides, I didn’t come out empty-handed. I just worry he might marry the Village Chief’s daughter for the same reason, so I had Mingli give the Village Chief a heads-up."
"Good call."
Lin Han clasped Nan Sheng’s hand in his. "Wife, don’t worry. I’d never deceive you. Every penny I earn will go to you. Let’s build a good life together."
For Lin Han, such heartfelt words didn’t come easily. His ears burned red, but after hearing his wife’s story, he wanted to reassure her.
Nan Sheng was a woman who held grudges. Lin Han trusted she’d never soften toward that man again—so why should he dwell on it?
Nan Sheng felt the sincerity in his words, her heartbeat quickening. "Alright," she replied. "Let’s make it a good life."
Love was beautiful but fleeting. Given this chance, Nan Sheng wouldn’t hesitate. She had the courage to start over.
Mingli had worried his sister and brother-in-law might clash over Yu Sheng, but before long, the two returned arm in arm, sweet as could be.
He suddenly thought his sister was a bit of a fox spirit—how did she manage to wrap Lin Han around her finger so easily?
Zhong Yanyan doted on her daughter and son-in-law, cooking every bit of meat and bone they’d brought. A pot of chicken soup sat right in front of Lin Han. This meal was even more lavish than the Lin family’s New Year’s feast, and the two children ate without looking up.
Grandpa Nan had been staying with his eldest son’s family and had put on some weight. He rarely meddled in affairs, spending his days strolling after meals.
Zhong Yanyan announced, "Your father and I have decided—Grandpa will live with us from now on. He’s not going back."
During the New Year and the first day of the lunar calendar, Nan Jingdang had come again, insisting on taking Grandpa Nan home. But the old man hid in his room, and when they sat down to eat, they realized he’d been crying. Nan Jingyu’s heart ached.
Zhong Yanyan thought, With how well-off we are now, can’t we spare him a bowl of rice?
She volunteered to care for Grandpa Nan in his old age, moving Nan Jingyu to tears.
When Grandpa Nan heard his daughter-in-law mention him, he looked up with a smile before returning to his meal. Nan Sheng supported her parents’ decision—sending him back would only mean suffering.
After dinner, the men gathered to talk, while Zhong Yanyan pulled Nan Sheng into the kitchen.
"Sweetheart, if your brother gets caught working in the black market, could it affect your and your husband’s jobs?"
When Mingli handed over his earnings, she’d been stunned—but the risks were too high.
Nan Sheng reassured her. "I told Mingli to stick to deliveries and errands. He’s not a ringleader. Even if he’s caught, Lin Han and I have connections to protect him."
She had ties with Secretary Ma in town and Deputy County Chief Yu. A small matter like this was manageable.
"But keep an eye on him. He shouldn’t get carried away with money—save it for building a house or marrying later."
While their conversation warmed the kitchen, Lin Xue’s family arrived at the Lin household, asking to borrow grain.
Every year on the second day of the New Year, Jiang Hua accompanied his wife and children to her parents’ home. On the way, he told Lin Xue, "Xue, don’t listen to Mother. I’ll find a way to buy grain. Don’t bring it up at home."
He was grateful his in-laws had once given him five hundred pounds of grain to tide him over. Yet in just a month, their stock had dwindled to less than a hundred pounds.
Lin Xue was furious—she’d even fought with her mother-in-law over it. But the old woman refused to leave, and Lin Xue was no match for her.
"What else can we do?" she muttered. "Grain prices are too high now. We can’t afford it."
Jiang Hua fell silent, too ashamed to face the Lin family.
The Lin elders had prepared a meal, simple but filling.
Sizhong had recently married, and Lin Xue hadn’t attended. Zhou Wei wasn’t pleased, but when Lin Xue handed the gift money to her daughter-in-law personally and showered her with compliments, Zhou Wei forgave her.
Lin Xue was surprised to see Third Brother Lin at home. While it made sense for the eldest sister-in-law to stay after clashing with her own family, why were Third Brother and his daughter here too?
"Third Brother, didn’t Sister-in-law go back to her parents’ place today?"
"She went alone."
Third Brother Lin forced a smile. Sun Qian had left on the first day of the New Year, abandoning their child. No one knew when she’d return.
Lin Xue sensed trouble, but the Lin family kept their lips sealed.
After the meal, Jiang Hua prepared to take the children to pay respects to Lin Han—he wasn’t one to neglect courtesy.
Fan Shuting could tell Lin Xue hadn’t told her husband about the falling-out with her siblings. She covered for her daughter.
"Jiang Hua, don’t trouble the children. Your second brother and his wife went to Wangshan Village. They might not be back today."
Jiang Hua relented. They’d stay the night and leave tomorrow.
That evening, Lin Xue slipped into her parents’ room to plead for grain. Lin Guozheng refused outright.
"I’ve said it before—you and the children can live here, but you refuse. If you’re out of grain, figure it out yourself. Your mother and I can’t support you forever."
Lin Xue said nothing, sitting on the kang and wiping tears. Lin Guozheng chain-smoked, unmoved.
It wasn’t cruelty. If her mother-in-law had given away their grain once, she’d do it again.
The family didn’t have a fortune to feed an endless line of mouths.
