In the outer west wing, Zhang Guoqing checked the white fungus on the stove, which had already begun to boil. He opened the small valve on the coal stove and let it burn. This time, since he was inside, he didn't have to worry about it boiling over. He placed the old books he had bought in the cabinet in the outer living room, sorting them out with the books he had bought earlier. He looked at the outer living room, where people often came and went. So many books would be too eye-catching.

I looked at the pile of eggs in the small living room, and then at the brown sugar and red dates in the cabinet. The outer living room was full of things, including some bacon and dried chicken that my mother-in-law bought for them. There were all kinds of smells, and anyone who came in would be shocked.

He had only used a little of the rice and flour his mother-in-law had brought to the cellar, which was still full, so he didn't plan to move them to the cellar. He kept them in his room and cooked them whenever he wanted to eat them, so that his sisters-in-law wouldn't have any complaints.

Back in the inner room, Zhou Jiao was listening to music and talking to her son. When she saw Zhang Guoqing come in, she immediately waved.

"What's the matter? Is there something wrong?" Zhang Guoqing walked forward, took off his coat, and lay down on the kang.

Zhou Jiao smiled and shook her head, then moved over to lean next to him.

Zhang Guoqing did have something to do, "Jiaojiao, there are too many things in the living room. Now that mom is gone, people from the village will definitely come to visit, and the constant coming and going will be too eye-catching. There will be at least 500 eggs alone. When you have time, put the eggs, red dates, brown sugar, bacon and other things in the space. When our son starts eating solid food in 8 months, we won't have to worry about having too many eggs. Leave 30 at home in a small bamboo basket. When I have a chance to buy some, you can put some away. In this room, put all of our son's clothes, except for the ones he can wear now, in the space. To prevent those who don't know the rules from touching them. In short, put away everything that is not used now. Over time, not to mention others, even my two sisters-in-law will want them now that they have no children. Let's slowly collect them and put them in the space, and buy what we can buy outside first. Tomorrow, spring will start and the coupon system will be fully implemented. Even a single onion in the city requires a receipt."

Zhou Jiao immediately stood up and said, "Then let's put it away now. While everyone is asleep and no one is around, we can disguise ourselves."

The two looked at each other and decided to act quickly. Zhang Guoqing looked at his son and put his little hand under the quilt. Only then did he feel relieved and went to the living room with Zhou Jiao. After locking the door, he packed and sorted the things while Zhou Jiao put them away. They even put away all the books they had bought and would sort them when they had some free time.

After finishing up the outer room, Zhang Guoqing asked her to sit down and check if she had forgotten anything. He then placed a small bamboo basket of 30 eggs in the back corner. He added two pheasants and some bacon on top. In the cabinet, he placed two pounds of brown sugar, two pounds of red dates, and some white fungus for easy access.

"Honey, this space is so easy to use. We don't even have to move. But what should I say if Mom and the others ask about it tomorrow?"

"Just say that I cleaned it up and the things left in the living room got tainted with smell. For the rest, pretend you don't understand and it's hard to answer. Just say you don't know anything." Zhang Guoqing told her with a smile.

The two of them looked around and found nothing wrong with the outer room. They also knew that the meals for the next few days had been prepared and they could make soup at any time.

Back in the inner room, Lin Lishan had already tidied it, making it easier to organize. Zhou Jiao took out the two boxes that had originally been in the space and sorted out the empty one. She then placed the jewelry that had been given to her by Grandpa Zhang, Grandma Zhang, and Zhang Guoqing's father inside. Finally, she added the small wooden box her grandmother had given her father after they arrived, the boxes containing the savings certificates, property ownership certificates, and other items her mother had given him, and the box her grandmother had given Ping An. All of these were placed at the bottom of the larger box. She then added some valuable jewelry and 1,000 yuan in cash.

"Brother, this box is full of valuables. Please remember it for me so that it won't be messed up later. Leave half of the box empty and fill it with my dowry when we return to Beijing. My mother told me that she has prepared some precious jewelry and gold. I don't know when this box will be full." Zhou Jiao said with emotion.

Zhang Guoqing covered his mouth, his eyes twitching, his shoulders shaking from trying to hold back laughter. After a while, he smiled and said, "You already have so much, and you still want more? What's the point of just looking at it and not being able to wear it? It's better to have a piece of meat."

Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes at him. This unromantic guy glared at him angrily, "I'm in a bad mood. Can't I just feel happy by touching and looking at it? Can't I wear it secretly at home to look at it myself?"

Zhang Guoqing looked at her irritated expression with amusement and consoled her, "Don't worry, your husband will help you with the remaining half box. When we're older and the situation improves, how about you buy one box a day and I'll take you for a stroll every day? Think about it, this old lady is so cool!"

"Ha..." Zhou Jiao was so happy that she pointed at him and said, "You still wear a set every day. You are so old that you can't even catch up with a robber. You are just trying to attract hatred. It's like you are afraid that others don't know you are rich. When we are old, we will travel around the country. I haven't even been outside. When I was studying, I had no money and I thought about making money all the time. I wished that money could kill me. When we got married, I thought about how to get rid of the burden and live a good life with you. When I was no longer short of money, money would become a number. I thought every day that after our son was born, I would definitely go out for a good walk with my family. I didn't expect to go too far. Life is like a dream, and dreams are like life."

Zhang Guoqing watched her grow increasingly lost as she spoke, her voice growing deeper. He went forward, hugged her, stroked her hair, and whispered in her ear, "Whether life is like a dream or dreams are like life, as long as you're by my side in my dreams, my right hand can hold your left. Whether I look back or forward, with you, everything is worth it."

Zhou Jiao smiled at him and said, "I wish to find someone who loves me and we will be together till we grow old together."

She always remembered when she received the proposal letter, she opened it and saw this line of words on the entire piece of red paper: her name on the top and his name at the bottom, connecting them in this way in two lives.

Zhang Guoqing was delighted to hear this. "I racked my brains during that time, but couldn't figure out how to propose to you. Later, my friends suggested proposing with roses, proposing on one knee in public, or even booking a restaurant and having a ring found. I felt you didn't like any of these and I wasn't worthy of you.

You wouldn't like my superficial approach to relationships, nor would you appreciate me playing to the crowd. You have to understand the brains of science students. One day, I suddenly remembered the ancient ritual of "three letters and six gifts," all of which are given on red paper to the woman. I wanted to write a poem on red paper, staying up all night, but then I realized nothing could better embody my inner feelings: "I wish to find a true lover, and we will be together till old age." So I wrote it down, and after giving it to you, I was so nervous. I still remember that feeling. I thought you would understand, but I was also afraid you would think I was insincere.

When you smiled and nodded, I felt that I really understood you, and you understood me too. My heart ached, and I held back my tears, afraid to cry out loud. Finally, there is a lover in this world who understands me, and I am no longer the orphan Zhang Guoqing. I have a wife who I love, and I will have lovely children in the future. I finally have a home. I no longer have to envy others who can confidently shout "Go home."