Bai Xiaoyue looked at Yan Ci suspiciously and asked:

"Are you just using this as an excuse to say I didn't cook you anything good because you want to go up the mountain?"

Yan Ci's aggressive rhetorical question:

"Am I wrong? You're not lying to me?"

Bai Xiaoyue said anxiously, "Aci, how could I lie to you? I love you so much."

Yan Ci's body stiffened, his eyes widened, and he suddenly hugged her, staring at her intently: "Wife, you said you love me?"

Bai Xiaoyue frowned: "Aci, what kind of question is that? If I don't love you, who will I love?"

Yan Ci immediately said, feeling wronged:

“You never told me that you were reluctant when we went to get our marriage certificate, and you even yelled at me on the second day after we slept together.”

Bai Xiaoyue was speechless: "That was then, but haven't I made it obvious all these years?"

Yan Ci said eloquently:

"I've never heard you say that, how would I know what you're thinking? Many couples can make do and live a lifetime without any feelings for each other."

Bai Xiaoyue suddenly realized, "Aci, this is because she lacks a sense of security."

He lost his parents at a young age, and his childhood left a scar on his heart.

No matter how powerful he is, he still longs to be loved.

I was so careless. I was fooled by his strong appearance and always thought he was invincible. I didn't realize his inner desires.

Because of my personality, I don't like to express my love verbally. I thought that as long as I was good to him, that would be enough, not realizing that he also needed a response.

Bai Xiaoyue was heartbroken. She held Yan Ci's head in her hands, staring intently into his eyes, and said:

"Aci, I love you, and I will only love you in this life and the next."

Yan Ci's eyes reddened: "I don't agree with just this life. I want you to love me for all eternity."

Bai Xiaoyue said solemnly, "Aci, I don't know if there is an afterlife. If there is, will you come to me?"

Yan Ci hugged his wife tightly: "Then it's settled, you come to find me."

Bai Xiaoyue nodded, feeling guilty, and took the initiative to kiss Yan Ci, a rare gesture filled with deep affection and tenderness, brimming with love.

Yan Ci returned the kiss passionately, wanting to devour the little woman before him.

...

The next day, Bai Xiaoyue woke up very late. She got up and looked around, and found that only Ruyi was home.

Ruyi brought her breakfast and said, "Auntie, have breakfast. Uncle took Changle and Xiaobai to exercise."

Bai Xiaoyue didn't pay attention; Yan Ci took the child out for a run every day.

After finishing her meal, she watched Ruyi make clothes for a while.

Ruyi threaded the needle, skillfully sewing the coat with meticulous care, each stitch precise and precise.

She admired it greatly, thinking that Ruyi could definitely support herself with this skill in the future.

When it was noon, Ruyi said she was going to cook lunch, but Yan Ci and the child still hadn't returned, and Bai Xiaoyue realized something was wrong.

Last night, Yan Ci insisted on going up the mountain, saying it would be a good opportunity to take the children for exercise.

None of these people have returned yet; they've probably gone up the mountain.

Bai Xiaoyue was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth. Was Yan Ci's rebellious phase coming a little too late?

I clearly told him not to go, but he insisted on going anyway, just like a teenager going through a rebellious phase who insists on doing the opposite.

I really don't understand why he would insist on going through that hardship in this freezing weather.

Seeing that the three wouldn't be back anytime soon, the two of them made a simple cabbage and dumpling soup to tide them over.

Ruyi continued making clothes, while Bai Xiaoyue went to Wen'an's courtyard to visit her mother.

Bai's mother had recovered and was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) sewing shoe soles, while Rui Rui and her younger brother Qi Qi played beside her.

When the two boys saw Bai Xiaoyue arrive, they called out in unison, "Auntie!"

Bai Xiaoyue took out a few candies from her pocket and gave them to the two brothers: "Rui Rui and Qi Qi, be good."

When Bai's mother saw her daughter arrive, she was very happy and quickly took out some melon seeds and said, "Daughter, come and have some melon seeds."

Bai Xiaoyue: "Mom, you rarely get a day off, and you're still sewing shoe soles."

Bai's mother: "Since we're just idling around anyway, we might as well do something light and it won't be tiring."

Bai Xiaoyue thought to herself, "Can't you poke someone's eye with an awl without using force?"

It takes a lot of effort to sew a pair of shoe soles yourself, so why do these old ladies do it like it's nothing?

While cracking sunflower seeds, she chatted with Bai's mother: "Mother, are you feeling alright now?"

Mother Bai smiled and said, "Daughter, don't worry, I'm all better now."

Bai Xiaoyue asked, "Mother, no one's talking about what happened that night, right?"

Bai's mother shook her head: "I haven't heard anyone say it, so no one should know."

Bai Xiaoyue: "That's great, I can finally have some peace and quiet."

Mother Bai nodded: "That's right. I pray to the Bodhisattva to bless those bad people so that they will stay away and never come to our village again. They'll really kill us."

Bai Xiaoyue teased, "Mom, aren't you afraid people will say you're superstitious and believe in the Buddha's blessing?"

Bai's mother quickly covered her mouth and cautiously looked at the doorway. She only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that there were no outsiders.

Bai Xiaoyue spent half the afternoon sitting with her mother before returning home.

Seeing that Yan Ci and the children had not yet returned home, he sighed inwardly.

Thinking that the three of them would be in the mountains all day, they decided to have something warm to eat in the evening.

She found a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and then went to exchange it for a piece of tofu.

Wash the radishes and cabbages, and soak the glass noodles.

I'm going to cook a big stew and steam some rice.

Seeing that it was almost time, she started frying meat and tofu, adding vermicelli, cabbage, and radish to stew in a pot, waiting for Yan Ci and the children to return before starting dinner.

The three of them were lucky. Bai Xiaoyue finished cooking the dishes and was just about to go outside to take a look when Chang Le and Xiao Bai returned.

Xiao Bai ran ahead, while Chang Le lagged behind, both carrying bags.

Bai Xiaoyue didn't see Yan Ci and asked anxiously, "Xiaobai, where's Daddy?"

Xiao Bai hurriedly said, "Mom, Dad is right behind us, he'll be back soon."

Bai Xiaoyue was relieved and asked the siblings, "Was it tiring to go up the mountain?"

Chang Le smiled and said, "I'm not tired, it's quite fun."

Xiao Bai also said, "I'm not tired, I'm not tired, I want to go again tomorrow."

Seeing the two siblings' excited expressions, Bai Xiaoyue knew they genuinely liked each other, so she swallowed her words of reproach.

Tell the two of them to go change their clothes and shoes.

Soon after, Yan Ci returned, and the family enjoyed a lively dinner together.

After dinner, Yan Ci went to clean up the pheasants and rabbits he had brought back. Bai Xiaoyue moved a stool to keep him company. After he finished cleaning up, they went to bed together on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Yan Ci was puzzled. He had taken the child into the mountains without informing his wife first, so why hadn't she gotten angry today?

They're so patient with me, I hope they're not driven crazy by me!

Bai Xiaoyue noticed that Yan Ci glanced at her every now and then, his eyes filled with confusion.

She found it somewhat amusing and asked Yan Ci, "Ci, why do you like going hunting in the mountains?"

Yan Ci asked cautiously, "Wife, you're not angry, are you?"

Bai Xiaoyue shook her head: "I'm not angry, I just want to know why you and the child both like to go hunting in the mountains."

Seeing that his wife wasn't angry at all, Yan Ci said in a good mood, "It feels great!"

Bai Xiaoyue: "Aci, I think that feeling must be amazing! When you have the chance, take me to experience it!"

Yan Ci beamed, "Wife, you really want to go? Then I'll find a chance to take you."

Bai Xiaoyue nodded: "Okay."

She plans to spend more time with Yan Ci doing what he enjoys, because she wants him to be happy!