"The hot spring in the space is still the most comfortable."

Ruan Qiushui breathed a long sigh of relief.

Taking a bath in a tub outside is nothing like this kind of enjoyment.

After soaking in warm water, Ruan Qiushui, who hadn't eaten much to begin with, now had a rumbling stomach.

"I'm hungry, what should I eat?"

Looking at the boxed lunches prepared by the warehouse, I couldn't muster any interest at the moment.

"It's the dead of winter, let's have some hot pot."

Thinking about the hot pot she hadn't had in so long, Ruan Qiushui couldn't help but swallow.

"Beef tripe, duck intestines, baby squid, kidney, pork intestines, beef rolls, and catfish."

Ruan Qiushui prepared a lot of meat dishes.

"Give me some more Kung Fu potato slices, lotus root slices, and konjac noodles."

"And you absolutely can't miss the brown sugar sweet rice balls."

With the ingredients prepared and the hot pot broth ready, Ruan Qiushui mixed the dipping sauce and officially began cooking the hot pot.

"Although the chefs at the Imperial Kitchen are really good at cooking, I still prefer hot pot the most."

Feeling her bloated stomach, Ruan Qiushui quietly unbuttoned her pants to catch her breath.

After digesting most of her food, Ruan Qiushui took another shower, sprayed on deodorizer, and left the space.

It was already three in the morning. Ruan Qiushui looked at the sleeping Gu Changfeng, lay down peacefully next to him, and soon fell asleep.

Hearing the even breathing sounds beside him, Gu Changfeng, who should have been fast asleep, opened his eyes.

At this moment, Gu Changfeng nervously looked his wife up and down, and after confirming that she was safe, he pulled her into his arms.

He had always known his wife had a secret, but this was the first time he had felt its existence so directly.

The moment his wife disappeared from his side, Gu Changfeng completely panicked.

But he dared not utter a sound, dared not let anyone else know. He could only try his best to calm himself down and pray that his wife would come back.

Fortunately, he got his wish.

He wouldn't pry into his wife's secrets, nor would he feel the slightest curiosity.

All he needed to know was that his wife was safe. He would wait there, and that was enough.

…

A month later, Xie Xiuying and Gu Guangrong, thinking about their two sons in the brigade, decided to pack their things and return to Hongqi Brigade.

"Mom, this is some local specialties and new clothes that Changfeng and I bought for you and your older brother."

Ruan Qiushui went out to shop these past two days and prepared several large boxes of items.

Everyone in the Gu family, from the elderly couple Gu Guangrong to He Chunhua and Zhou Lan's son, received a gift.

"So much stuff, how much money must it have cost?"

Gu Guangrong and Xie Xiuying were a little embarrassed.

It's already a great trouble for the young couple to come to Beijing for the New Year. Spending so much money on gifts now would be better saved for their older and younger children.

"Father, Mother, the Shunfengshunshui transport team will pass through City C in a couple of days. I'll have someone deliver it to your doorstep then."

Gu Changfeng wouldn't let the two elders carry so much stuff home themselves; that would be too much of a strain.

I have an order coming up in two days, it's on my way.

"Okay."

Gu Guangrong decided not to push himself. Since his son had already made arrangements, he would save his energy.

"Then Mom and Dad, you can leave your packed luggage at home. I'll have someone send it back with the gifts. Just bring some food with you on the way."

This way, the elderly couple can have an easier time.

"good."

Xie Xiuying agreed with her son's words.

There were many things on the road, and she was afraid that thieves would take advantage of them.

Even if it's just some old clothes, she can't bear to lose them if they're stolen.

She and her husband weren't worried about bringing just some food, and they could get a little more sleep at night.

"Father, everything I discussed with you before, and all the things I mentioned, are prepared and are in the box. Please take a look when you get back."

Ruan Qiushui pointed to one of the boxes.

"Don't worry, Third Brother's wife, Dad will definitely take care of it for you."

Gu Guangrong nodded and readily agreed.

…

"Oh my, let me see who these are. Aren't they Xie Xiuying and Gu Guangrong, who just took a trip to the capital?"

Wu Guihua was chatting with the aunties under the tree at the entrance of the brigade when she saw Gu Guangrong and Xie Xiuying walking back empty-handed.

"Xiuying, how was it? Was Beijing fun? Tell us about any interesting things that happened."

Wu Guihua walked to Xie Xiuying's side, and a group of aunties gathered around her.

"I have to go home and get some sleep now."

Xie Xiuying had no energy at all.

I thought I could get a good night's sleep with my husband since I had no luggage when I took the train back this time. But the snoring in the carriage to my left was louder than thunder, and the crying of children and the arguing of the couple in the carriage behind me were also deafening.

She and the old man couldn't fall asleep even with pillows covering their ears, and now they could barely keep their eyes open.

"Okay, let's talk again later."

Seeing that Xie Xiuying looked exhausted, Wu Guihua decided not to pester her any longer.

"Wu Guihua, Xie Xiuying is a worldly person, she doesn't even bother with us. Does she think she's superior?"

"Tch, what's there to be so smug about? It's just a trip to Beijing, nothing special."

"Exactly, look at that smug look on his face, he thinks he's become a city dweller."

"Hmph, if you're so capable, why don't you live in Beijing permanently? You were still kicked out of your home by your daughter-in-law."

Seeing that Xie Xiuying left without even stopping, a group of aunties, their mouths watering, gathered together and started criticizing Xie Xiuying.

"Watch your mouth, what did Xie Xiuying do to you?"

"Why don't you go to Beijing if you're so capable? It's just sour grapes, how pathetic."

Wu Guihua strongly supported Xie Xiuying, and when she heard someone saying bad things about Xie Xiuying, she quickly went up to argue with them.

Wu Guihua alone cannot silence everyone.

The fact that Xie Xiuying and her husband went to Beijing back then was known to everyone in the village.

The news that the elderly couple had returned empty-handed and dejected, without even bringing any local specialties or gifts, had spread throughout the brigade.

…

As soon as Gu Guangrong and Xie Xiuying got home, they locked the door and went straight to sleep.

Even when his two sons, who had heard the news, came knocking on the door, he didn't get up to open it.

The two slept from the afternoon until the next morning, when they woke up feeling refreshed.

"Xiuying, are you home?"

When Wu Guihua saw black smoke coming from the Gu family's chimney, she knew someone was cooking, so she quickly knocked on the door.

"They're here, they're here."

Xie Xiuying wiped her hands and quickly welcomed Wu Guihua in.

"Guihua, have you had breakfast yet? Let's eat together."

Xie Xiuying steamed a large pot of multigrain buns, sliced ​​cured meat, stir-fried a plate of pickled vegetables, and made a bowl of egg drop soup.

"I've already eaten."

Wu Guihua shook her head.

She got up early today, ate breakfast, and even washed and hung out her clothes to dry.

"I'll eat first, and we can chat later."

Xie Xiuying had been sleeping for so long, she must be starving.

They quickly called Gu Guangrong over, and the two of them hurriedly filled their stomachs.