The news published in the newspaper these past two days has received a great response. Zhang Xin received praise from Lu Zhenhua and felt very pleased.

Moreover, a letter was sent from his hometown, saying that his mother would be coming to Yongning City to see her grandson soon.

He hadn't been home for a long time, and upon hearing that his mother was coming, he walked with a spring in his step these past two days.

Chen Yan invited him to lunch at Yongning Central Street. Zhang Xin got up early, took a hot shower, changed into clean clothes, and polished his black leather shoes until they shone.

Chen Yan's parents were both government officials; her father was the director of the government office in Yongning City, and her mother was an accountant at the Education Bureau.

Zhang Xin also saw her advantage in having connections in the city, thinking he could help her when she was transferred from the military.

In the private room, he put his arm around Chen Yan's waist and took out the flowers he had prepared beforehand.

"Honey, I bought this especially for you."

Zhang Xin kissed Chen Yan on the cheek.

"You're really something. Have you ever fooled others like this before?"

Chen Yan took the flowers and nestled in Zhang Xin's arms.

"I'm only this good to you."

"I think you're talking nonsense. You said the same thing when you were dating your wife, didn't you?"

Chen Yan, being a little temperamental, pinched Zhang Xin's arm.

"Her? We were introduced by our parents. That country bumpkin wouldn't appreciate such beautiful flowers. I've only ever bought them for you."

Zhang Xin was secretly pleased even though he was being pinched. He put his arm around Chen Yan's waist and kissed her on the cheek.

"I don't like children. Even if we get married in the future, I won't have any. Don't make me have children like you, that haggard old woman."

Chen Yan sat up and said.

“No, no. Ge Qiuqin already had a child for us, so when I divorce her, you can just pick one of the four kids that you think is good and raise it with you.”

"Would that old hag agree? Besides, I, Chen Yan, am no ordinary person. My family is much better off than that old hag's. I don't care about the children she has."

Zhang Xin tugged at Chen Yan's chin.

“If she doesn’t agree, I’ll beat her until she agrees. Anyway, all she’ll do is cry after I beat her up.”

"Are you willing to do that?"

Chen Yan tilted her head and raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner.

"How could I not want to? Ge Qiuqin is just a baby-making machine. I've already done enough by supporting her all these years. Although she gave birth to four children for me, she eats and drinks my food, and I've treated her well. She'll be ungrateful when the time comes, and I'll teach her a lesson."

Zhang Xin said through gritted teeth, daring to say anything to make Chen Yan happy.

After lunch, Chen Yan took Zhang Xin's arm and went to the department store. Zhang Xin knew that Ge Qiuqin had no money and would not come to such a place, so he did not keep his distance from Chen Yan and put his arm around her waist.

Chen Yan accompanied Zhang Xin to pick out a white shirt and short-sleeved shirt for him, and she bought a pair of jeans for herself, all paid for by Zhang Xin.

Knowing that her mother-in-law was coming to Yongning City, Ge Qiuqin has been busy cleaning the house these past few days. She washed the curtains, took off the quilt covers and soaked them in a large basin, and wiped the stove inside and out again. It's almost like the New Year.

Seeing that there was too much fruit to give away and it was about to spoil, Xia Enruo simply took it back to the courtyard and made fruit tea. She brought a large pot to Ge Qiuqin and saw that she was busy with her hair and her nostrils were full of dust.

"Sister-in-law, are you preparing for the New Year? Why have you cleaned the whole house?"

Ge Qiuqin was so tired that she couldn't straighten her back. Even standing up made her back hurt, and the bruises from before made her body ache even more.

“My mother-in-law is coming to Yongning City for a while in a couple of days, and I thought I’d tidy up the house so it would look new and welcome her.”

"Sister-in-law, your mother-in-law must be a very particular person, making you all so busy."

Xia Enruo placed the fruit tea on the table and used a towel to wipe the dirt off Ge Qiuqin's body.

"Xia, don't laugh at me. My husband's family used to be very poor in the village. There were four children in the family. Zhang Xin was the second oldest, with an older brother, a younger brother, and a younger sister. My mother-in-law wasn't a clean person either. The house was so messy that there was no place to step inside. Even a cat would tremble when it went in."

Ge Qiuqin's description made Xia Enruo laugh uncontrollably.

"Sister-in-law, your description is really too exaggerated. Then why did you marry Brother Zhang?"

"How exaggerated. I'm telling the truth. Back then, my family was well-off, and my mother was very clean. She kept the house and yard tidy, and even the firewood was stacked neatly. Everyone who went there praised her."

Zhang Xin was a good student back then; he was the only one in our village who made it to junior high. My dad said Zhang Xin was smart and would definitely amount to something, so he agreed to the marriage proposal and let me marry into their family.

Xia Enru listened with great interest. In her previous life, not to mention college students, even graduate students were everywhere. Now, even a junior high school student can be highly sought after.

“Sister-in-law, no wonder you’re so clean. You’ve inherited your mother’s good genes. Stop cleaning. It’s already clean enough. Do you have to make the stove shine? How are the rest of us supposed to live?”

Xia Enruo knew that Ge Qiuqin was usually very clean, and that she was almost becoming a germaphobe.

"By the way, Xia, how is Chief of Staff Gu recovering lately? I've been busy tidying up the house these past few days and haven't had a chance to ask you."

"It's not bad. The doctor came over a couple of days ago and did another check-up. He said I can be discharged and go home to recover soon."

"That's good. I've noticed you've lost weight recently, have you been too busy?"

Seeing that Xia Enruo's face had become noticeably thinner, Ge Qiuqin asked with concern.

"Sister-in-law, this is perfect, I don't need to lose weight anymore. It's good to be thin."

Xia Enruo returned from Ge Qiuqin's house, packed up the fruit tea, and took it to the hospital.

Ever since Jiang Pei left, Xia Enruo had been feeling very unhappy. That evening, she made Gu Shaoxuan nothing more than steamed buns soaked in water for dinner, as a form of punishment. Who told him to be so disrespectful? Even if they were to divorce in the future, she would still be his wife in name only; there was no need for him to be in such a hurry.

Gu Shaoxuan knew he was in the wrong and didn't dare to say anything. At least he used hot water to soak the steamed buns.

Xia Enruo vented her anger and then it was over; she didn't hold a grudge. For the next few days, she continued to cook him a variety of delicious meals, which made Gu Shaoxuan gain weight. Even his attending physician said that his rapid recovery was largely due to Xia Enruo's care.

When she arrived at the ward, she first collected Gu Shaoxuan's urine and poured it out. Because she had done this many times, she was now very skilled at it. Her positioning was not only steady, accurate, and decisive, but she was also not shy at all. Gu Shaoxuan also cooperated very well and was no longer embarrassed at the beginning.

Xia Enru poured a cup of fruit tea and fed Gu Shaoxuan a sip.

"How is it? Does it taste good?"

"Is this a new soda?"

Gu Shaoxuan took a sip, and the taste was truly unique; he had never tasted anything like it before. It was sweet and sour with a fruity flavor.

"Yes. The new Shane Ruo brand soda."