Chapter 55.2

Translated by Aviana

(4/4)

*****

The two took an ox cart and returned to Luoxia village. Lin Qingwan went to Yang-shi’s place and let her know to take the pork that Yang Tiegen would be bringing later and briefed the situation.

After coming out of Yang-shi’s courtyard, the two walked home.

After they entered the gates, they found a visitor in the house. It was a middle-aged woman; she seemed to be a matchmaker from her dressing. She and He-shi were speaking about something while they stepped into the main room.

Lin Qingwan glanced at the woman’s back, feeling slightly puzzled.

Yao-shi whispered to her from the side, “That’s matchmaker Ma.”

Lin Qingwan let out an oh in understanding as the two walked towards the second branch’s room.

Matchmaker? Is anyone from Yang jia getting married? Is it Yang Xuezhang or is it Yang Ermei? Both of them seemed to be of marriageable age.

As soon as they pushed open the door, Yang Tiezhu leaning on the kang and the two girls sitting on the corner of the kang while playing with the cat’s cradle came into their sight.

As soon as Yang Tiezhu saw his wife, Yang Tiezhu’s eyes gleamed as the string of words flew out of his mouth swiftly.

“Wife, are you tired? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Did you have lunch? “

Lin Qingwan interrupted him with a smile, “I am not tired and am not feeling uncomfortable anywhere. Third younger brother, third dimei, and I had noodles for lunch. How about you? Did you have lunch?”

Before leaving in the morning, Lin Qngwan had prepared lunch for them and had put it on the stove to keep it warm, fearing that she might not be able to come by noon and starve the adult and two kids.

Yang Tiezhu was all smiles, “I too had my lunch,” and asked, “You went to look for the third brother along with third dimei? You could have discussed with him after he returned in the evening.”

Lin Qingwan’s expression became slightly embarrassed. Could she say that she was beside herself with excitement and had assumed that Yang Tiegen wouldn’t come back home anytime soon? Thus, she just gave Yang Tiezhu a smile in response as she removed the thick cotton-padded jacket and the cloth she had wrapped around her head. Yao-shi also went back to the room to tidy up.

Lin Qingwan brushed the dust on her with that kerchief while telling her ‘achievements’. After listening to her, Yang Tiezhu showered her with praises and sweet words.

Lin Qingwan sent him an annoyed glare before untying her hair, combing it, and rolling it into a bun. And while doing so, she also told him that she had asked Yang Tiegen to buy more pork to make another batch of lap cheong.

Yang Tiezhu didn’t say anything after listening, for he had a complete belief in his wife. Not only was his wife smart, capable, beautiful, and gentle, but any random dish she cooked could be sold for silver.

Dreading that Lin Qingwan might be burdened, he didn’t forget to comfort her, “Wife, it doesn’t matter even if it wasn’t sold. We can eat it at home. Moreover, you see.” To validate his words, he even gave an example, “We bought pork for 12 wen per jin, and sold 10 jin for 60 wen per jin, earning around 600 wen approximately. Buying 50 jin of pork would also cost roughly 600 wen. If we calculate it in this way, it didn’t cost us any silver at all. “

Lin Qingwan glared at him as a slight smile played on her lips, understanding his intention. She was aware that he was afraid that she might feel worried if all of that had gone to waste and even came up with a vague calculation to fool her into believing that she wouldn’t have anything to lose.

However, where did the initial ten jin of pork come from? Did they fall from the sky?

But she didn’t point this out since her husband wanted to let go of all her burdens in her heart. And regardless of whether she was feeling truly feeling burden or not, she decided to bear it sweetly.

“Well, originally, I was a bit worried about losing the silver, but when you put it that way, I feel completely relaxed.”

A husband and wife should get along by sharing each other’s burdens. It wouldn’t be good if a woman was overly smart. Sometimes, it is better to pretend to be a bit naïve to satisfy a man’s approach of trying to be responsible and mature.

What’s more, ever since her husband got injured, he unconsciously seemed to have a feeling that he was burdening her. Although Yang Tiezhu never spelled it out, Lin Qingwan could see it. Particularly, every time she carries water or does heavy work, he would be itching to hop over and help her. If it wasn’t for her seriously reprimanding him to properly recuperate, he would have been unable to sit still till now.

This was also why Lin Qingwan didn’t lend money to the third branch’s husband and wife. In fact, if she had lent the money to them, they would have been able to get through these difficult times by themselves. But, every time she saw her husband look guilty seeing her working alone, Lin Qingwan decided to remain silent. Now, with the two families having meals together, Yao-shi would always be there to help her do some chores, making Yang Teizhu feel better in his heart.

And sure enough, when Lin Qingwan replied in such a manner, Yang Tiezhu’s face blossomed like a flower with a delightful smile.

He couldn’t help but tug his wife’s hands, unable to let them go. Lin Qingwan glared at him before glancing at the two girls playing with the cat’s cradle on the corner of the kang.

Suddenly realizing, Yang Tiezhu unwilling let go of her hand. Lin Qingwan pulled her hand back, gave him a sweet smile before walking to the little girls to play with them.

Not long after, Yao-shi came with an embroidery basket.

The two women and little girls sat in the corner of kang while languidly conversing. Lin Qingwan liked to play with these two girls and make them cackle with laughter. Subsequently, seeing them as such, she also began laughing with merriment.

From the side, Yao-shi nagged her to pay attention to her body. Initially, when she first became aware of her pregnancy, she would always be conscious of herself. But ever since the beginning of the gestation period, she was never felt nauseous or had any other difficulties, making her almost forget of her own pregnancy.

Fearing that she would feel uneasy while sitting, Yao-shi took out a quilt from the kang cabinet, spread it on kang, and gave her the bolster pillow that Lin Qingwan had previously made and let her wrap herself in kang.

Lin Qingwan had to nestle under the quilt with a bolster pillow paced behind her as a backrest with no other choice.

Currently, the two bolster pillows she had made were favorites of everyone in the house. One was used by Yang Tiezhu, while another one by her. Seeing this, Yao-shi also intended to use the cotton from her old cotton-padded jackets to make two bolster pillows for herself as well.

Regarding this decision of Yao-shi, Lin Qingwan also raised her hands in approval and also contributed Yang Tiezhu’s old cotton-padded jacket, which had become inconvenient to wear because of hardened cotton inside.

From the side, Yang Tiezhu watched with envy as his wife and Yao-shi talked and giggled over there, feeling snubbed.

Just as he was about to be completely enshrouded with depression, Lin Qingwan glanced at him and sent him a sweet smile.

At once, warmth and delight flooded his heart, extinguishing all the depressing feeling.

Lin Qingwan chuckled in her heart. She had used this trick many times, but not only did he not get tired of this, but he even accepted it heartily.

Read only at Travis Translations