Chapter 85.1

Translated by Aviana

After Yang Tiezhu was done escorting the remaining few guests, he rushed back into the house to see his wife. Lin Qingwan had once come to greet everyone in between the banquet but had gone back to her room soon after. Being understanding of her closely approaching delivery date, no one criticized her either.

Soon after entering, he noticed a table full of dishes. Since they had been occupied with chores from the morning through noon, Yang-shi and others had yet to have their lunch. Lin Qingwan also happened to not have any appetite at noon, thus everyone sat together for lunch once everyone was sent off.

Yang Tiezhu’s hanging heart fell back into its place. Seeing that everyone had grabbed chopsticks and was about to dig in, he too grabbed a bowl of rice. At noon, he was busy toasting everyone, thus he was only able to eat a few mouthfuls, making him feel quite famished at the moment.

Right at that time, Yang Tiegen walked in, “Second elder brother, I had asked the catering team to clean after having lunch.”

Yang Tiezhu nodded, motioning for Yang Tiegen to sit down and eat something too. Similar to him, Yang Tiegen, too, was busy greeting people and toasting them with wine, and yet to have his lunch.

The same goes for the catering team – they were as busy as bees from morning through noon, serving the guests all the time. However, fortunately, this time around, their employer happened to be a good one, as they kindly permitted them to have lunch before cleaning up. Many times, stingy employers would urge them to quickly wrap up and leave with money, unwilling to let them even partake of the leftovers from the banquet.

Actually, it doesn’t affect them much. Whether their employer is willing to keep them for lunch or not depends on their willingness to do so. However, the only difference lies in that the latter’s act wouldn’t touch their heart.

Just because their employer was generous, the catering team didn’t dare be wasteful. After serving themselves a simple bowl of rice and a few random leftovers from the table, they began to dig in.

When Yang Tiezhu came in to get a bowl of soup for his wife, he sighed at their sincerity. He quickly brought out a few unserved dishes from noon and placed them on the table before them, and encouraged them to have more.

“You don’t have to be courteous. All of you have been swamped with chores since morning. Please take whatever you like and eat to your heart’s content, it’s not like we can’t afford this bit of food.”

Courteously thanking him, they partook of their meals till their stomachs were full, before cleaning up. Grateful for their employers’ kindness, they worked with renewed vigor.

The same group of youngsters, who had helped them borrow the tables and chairs also came back to help them return them back. When they were going back, Yang-shi sent them off with a big bowl of leftovers from lunch.

Although they were just leftovers, everyone cheerfully accepted them without any dislike. After all, having eaten the lunch, they were aware of the sumptuousness of the dishes. Although it was leftovers, no one disliked it, and everyone was very happy. Thanking Yang-shi, they returned home in high spirits.

Once the cleaning was done, Yang Tiezhu gave the catering team the amount as originally decided, who happily accepted it and left with gratitude.

Closing the gates, the rest, exhausted and drained, retired to their rooms.

Though Lin Qingwan wanted to be of help, she was unable to lend them a hand due to her pregnancy, leaving her to helplessly sit aside and watch them tirelessly work the entire morning.

Nonetheless, at this moment, she too wasn’t without fatigue. Having gotten up early in the morning, and missing her habitual nap at noon had in and of itself tired her out. Thus, she too returned to her room after informing her husband

Yang-shi and her family wanted to return to their home, but observing the color of the sky, Yang Tiezhu stopped them for dinner. Unable to refuse, everyone stayed back and ensconced themselves across the room. Fortunately, the room had ample space for the recline or leisurely sit down.

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Later in the evening, Lin Qingwan was woken up by Yang Tiezhu for dinner.

Actually, she wasn’t feeling hungry yet, but being mindful of Yang-shi and others’ presence, she woke up to accompany them to eat even a little bit.

Post supper, Yao-shi lent a hand in helping them wash the dishes. Everyone gradually dispersed to their houses. After seeing off everyone, Yang Tiezhu made sure that all the doors were bolted from inside and went back to the room.

Back in the room, Lin Qingwan had readily prepared warm bath water for him. At the rear of their bedroom was a well-equipped small bathroom, which housed a stove as well to boil the water. It also had a small door that led to a vegetable garden with a well at the back, making it convenient to fetch bath water.

After a nice warm bath, Yan Tiezhu fetched a basin full of warm water after Yang Tiezhu took a bath, he brought another basin of hot water to give his wife a nice foot bath. As Lin Qingwan entered into the late stages of pregnancy, her legs and feet developed swelling. Thus every night, he would give her a warm foot bath and massage her legs.

Waves of relief swept within her under his skillful massage causing Lin Qingwan’s eyes to squint in bliss.

‘So comfortable, ah!’ She gazed up to look at the man engrossed in the work .

The man seemed to be extremely focused on his work as an earnest look mixed with slight distress painted his face. She was aware that her complications in the pregnancy, particularly her worsening symptoms in the past two weeks, had caused distress in him as a week. Lately, she was unable to even move due to her swollen legs and feet. Thus, despite his busy schedule, as long as he was at home, he would help her massage her feet in the evening.

How was she able to find such a good man…

Amid such thoughts, she unknowingly drifted into a slumber.

Glancing at his dozing wife, Yang Tiezhu quickly wiped her feet dry before carrying her to the bed and covering her with a quilt. He, then, discarded the water, turned off the lights, and joined her in the bed.

He, too, was extremely tired that day.

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