“It’s so beautiful,” Da Bao squatted down at Xu Yan’s feet, staring at the chain.

"Beautiful," Xiao Bao said, squatting down as well.

"Thank you for the compliment," Xu Yan also thought it looked good, and bent down to scoop the two kids up. "I'll give you gifts for your birthdays too."

"Really?" Da Bao's attention was immediately diverted.

“Of course it’s true,” Xu Yan said. “Just tell us in advance what you like, and your third aunt and third uncle will buy it for you.”

"Can I have some candy?" Xiao Bao asked.

“Okay,” Xu Yan nodded.

Even after Xie Zhuo took them to take a bath and they lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), the two of them were still chattering about what gifts they should get for their birthdays.

It's been cloudy for the past few days, and it looks like it's going to rain, but it hasn't rained yet.

It's not so hot anymore.

Xu Yan had just finished breakfast when Li Aihua stood at the gate and called out.

Xie Zhuo paused in his hand, which was holding a piece of pickled vegetable, and looked at Xu Yan, "Are you going out today?"

“Hmm,” Xu Yan stood up and went inside to change her shoes. “Sister-in-law Li said she’d take me to the market, and she can make two sets of clothes for you, Da Bao, and Xiao Bao.”

“I don’t need it,” Xie Zhuo said.

"I won't make any Dacron," Xu Yan said, putting the cloth into the basket. "I'll make a few pure cotton ones. The collars on your usual ones are all frayed. Aren't they uncomfortable to wear?"

“It’s alright,” Xie Zhuo said.

Xu Yan clicked his tongue.

As Xie Zhuo walked out carrying the basket on his back, he quickly finished the porridge in his bowl and reached for the basket, saying, "I'll go with you."

"No need," Xu Yan dodged slightly. "I'll go with Sister Li. Why are you joining in? I can carry this much stuff."

Xie Zhuo glanced into the basket on his back.

Xu Yan didn't carry much on his back, just a few pieces of cloth.

She bought the same fabric in the city for her two children, but she hadn't had time to make it before because she was busy. As for the fabric she wanted to use to make clothes for Xie Zhuo, she planned to buy it after she went there.

According to Sister Li, there is also good cotton cloth at the market, as long as she brings enough money and coupons.

Thinking of this, Xu Yan ran back to her room.

She took a soft measuring tape out of the drawer, turned around and quickly measured the shoulder width, sleeve length, and garment length of the two little ones and Xie Zhuo.

When Xie Zhuo spread his arms to help her take the measurements, he couldn't help but gently hug her.

Then let go.

"Buy less when you come back," Xie Zhuo instructed Xu Yan as she walked towards the gate again. "I'll buy whatever you need, or..."

Before he could finish speaking, a young woman squeezed into the doorway at some point. She probably hadn't heard what was being said before, but she heard him tell Xu Yan to buy less stuff.

He immediately shouted, "Hey, Xie Laosan, I've never seen anyone as stingy as you."

"What are you going to the market for if you're not going to buy anything? Little Xu's parents came to your house and helped you a lot, and they seem to treat you quite well."

"Now that they're gone, you're bullying Little Xu, the educated youth?"

Xie Zhuo: "..."

Xu Yan hadn't expected to be misunderstood. He glanced at the woman and explained with a smile, "No, sister-in-law, he was worried that I couldn't carry the basket, so he told me to buy less."

“I thought you’d really stood up for yourself,” the woman frowned. “It seems you’re being bullied but don’t dare to speak up, and even have to cover for Xie Laosan.”

have to.

People don't believe your explanation.

There's nothing we can do about that.

As they walked toward the market, several people came up to talk to Xu Yan, and Xu Yan spent a long time getting to know the people with Li Aihua.

Little did she know that the little incident at home had been spread around again, and many people in the brigade now felt sorry for her.

"I thought she was a real tigress, but it turns out she's just all bark and no bite."

"If you ask me, women should be more gentle. It's a man's job to be in charge of the household. Women should just raise the children."

"It seems she's had a tough time too!"

"Who says otherwise? I saw bruises on her arm just a couple of days ago."

"Oh? Really?"

"No way, Xie Laosan actually made a move?"

"I don't know, but that day she took Xiaobao to pick vegetables in her private plot. When she rolled up her sleeve, I saw a bruise. She's very fair-skinned, so it looked scary."

"That's serious..."

After Xu Yan left, the task of teaching Da Bao and Xiao Bao to write fell to him.

Teaching them to write is easy, but he's really not good at making up stories. He told several, but the two little ones said they weren't interested.

“That’s interesting,” Xie Zhuo flicked each of their foreheads lightly.

“What my third aunt said was interesting,” Da Bao said.

"Third Uncle," Xiao Bao called to Xie Zhuo, "Will Third Aunt stay with our family from now on?"

"You're not leaving again, are you?" he said, then added when Xie Zhuo didn't respond.

"You like your third aunt so much?" Xie Zhuo asked, looking at him.

“I like him,” Xiao Bao answered quickly, “and I like Uncle San too, just as much as I like Aunt San.”

Xie Zhuo was amused by his roundabout words.

“Third Uncle used to never like to laugh,” Da Bao sighed dramatically, “but ever since Third Aunt came to our house, Third Uncle has been laughing almost every day.”

at this point……

Xie Zhuo also admitted it.

Since he and Xu Yan got engaged, the atmosphere at home has been very good, filled with laughter every day.

After getting married, this atmosphere reached a new level.

Every time he goes out, he can't stay outside and always wants to go home as soon as possible.

He had never enjoyed going home this much in his life.

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