“He’s probably homesick; his soul has returned.” Wang Meixiang, a well-known fortune teller in the courtyard, lowered her voice and said, “Actually, a person’s soul doesn’t only appear at night; sometimes it appears during the day too. It’s just that he doesn’t know he’s gone and thinks he’s still alive.”
“No wonder I couldn’t see his shadow…” Zhang Guo’s face turned ashen. “I’ve heard that ghosts that appear during the day can’t communicate with people, is that right?”
“Yes, let’s not talk later.” Wang Meixiang saw Zhao Jingyu getting closer and closer. He was wearing a dark blue uniform and a black hat, which further confirmed her deduction. She hurriedly said, “He can’t get any human contact, so he can stay at home a little longer. Poor thing, he still knows to come back to see his mother and wife.”
"Okay, we won't say anything." Wang Cuifen simply closed her eyes, leaned against the wall, and murmured, "Let him go quickly, we'll be fine once he goes home."
"Yes." The other old ladies echoed in unison, falling silent in unison.
A moment later, Zhao Jingyu arrived at the door. He saw the old ladies sitting in the sun by the wall and greeted them as usual: "Grandma Wang, Grandma Zhang, hello, I'm back."
The old ladies didn't say a word, closing their eyes and pretending not to hear.
Zhao Jingyu, puzzled, stopped and looked at them. Strange, why were they all sleeping with their eyes closed? Were they asleep because sunbathing was so comfortable?
Seeing that they didn't say anything, he didn't bother them anymore. He strode into the yard and walked towards his house in a few quick steps.
After half a year, he's finally back!
Xu Qingning was taking a nap in the room, while Yang Yuelan was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) knitting a sweater. She was currently knitting Zhao Futang's sweater; she had already finished knitting Zhao Jingyu's woolen pants, which were simple.
Xu Qingning repeatedly told her to knit a new sweater for Zhao Futang, and said that she would buy some new yarn in a few days so that she could knit a sweater for him too.
Yang Yuelan heard someone come in, put down her sweater, got up and went out. She was stunned when she suddenly saw Zhao Jingyu. She wondered if she was dreaming.
"Mom, I'm back." Zhao Jingyu put his luggage bag on the chair. Looking at Yang Yuelan's face, which was both unfamiliar and familiar, he felt relieved. Yang Yuelan then realized what was happening and couldn't help but hug him, choking back tears, "Jingyu, you're finally back."
"We came back half a month early because we needed to repair the boat." Zhao Jingyu patted Yang Yuelan on the shoulder and asked her, "Mom, where's my wife?"
"She's sleeping inside." Yang Yuelan wiped away her tears. "Have you eaten? I'll cook for you."
"I'm not hungry, let's eat together tonight!" Zhao Jingyu eagerly pushed the door open to go back inside, but the door was locked from the inside and he couldn't open it.
“She’s been tired these past few days, let her get some sleep.” Yang Yuelan stopped him and said in a low voice, “You go to my room to rest first, I’ll go out and buy some meat, I’ll make dumplings for you tonight.”
"Okay," Zhao Jingyu replied with a smile.
Yang Yuelan went back into the house, took out money and meat coupons from the drawer, and went out. She was too late, and the good meat had already been bought. She wanted to buy some other vegetables to treat her son.
As for other things, we can talk about them later.
Zhao Jingyu took out a towel and toothbrush cup from his bag, washed up at the public sink, and then went back to his room, took off his shoes, and got onto the kang (a heated brick bed).
He lay on the kang for a while but couldn't stay still. His wife was right in front of him, but he couldn't see or touch her. What was going on?
After thinking for a moment, he took a small steel ruler from the windowsill, reached it through the crack in the door, and gently pushed it open.
He tiptoed in and immediately saw her pregnant belly. In just six months, the little one inside had grown so big.
The woman on the bed was fast asleep and didn't even notice him coming in.
Zhao Jingyu sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching his wife. She was wearing a light purple nightgown, her skin was fair and delicate, and her peach blossom eyes were slightly upturned, still so beautiful.
He excitedly reached out and touched her belly. The baby inside was clearly not asleep and kicked him playfully, which made him overjoyed. The little one knew he was back and was greeting him!
Noticing someone touching her stomach, Xu Qingning opened her eyes, looked at the man in front of her, and was stunned for a moment. Was she dreaming, dreaming about him?
He was different from before; his hair was shorter, and the scar on his forehead slanted down to the corner of his eye, not yet fully healed, looking rather shocking.
Is this Zhao Jingyu?
"Wife, I'm back." Seeing her bewildered expression, Zhao Jingyu stepped forward and hugged her, excitedly saying, "Look at me, it's me, I'm really back."
"Why did you suddenly come back?" Xu Qingning finally realized that this was not a dream, he really came back.
She tried to sit up, but he pushed her back down into the covers. He quickly took off his shoes and got into bed. "You don't need to get up. I'll lie down for a while too."
As soon as Zhao Jingyu lay down, he hugged her and whispered, "You promised me you'd give me a reward."
Unlike before, there was now a round, bulging belly between them. He was somewhat at a loss, like facing a treasure he had longed for, unsure of what to do.
"I did promise you..." Xu Qingning felt her face burning. After not seeing him for half a year, she suddenly felt that he was a complete stranger. She looked at him as if he were a stranger.
He was really different from how she remembered him.
"You promised, so you have to keep your word." Zhao Jingyu quickly got up, locked the door, drew the curtains, and kissed her lips without thinking. Xu Qingning blushed even more and instinctively pushed him away. "What are you doing in broad daylight?"
After a long separation, shouldn't we chat?
Is this all he ever thought of her...?
"We're husband and wife, what's there to be afraid of in broad daylight?" Zhao Jingyu chuckled when he saw her looking like she was facing a formidable enemy. "Mom won't come in and bother us, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"I don't trust your sense of propriety." Xu Qingning's gaze fell on the scar on his forehead, and she reached out to touch it. "Does it still hurt?"
She was telling the truth.
It felt like being hugged by a strange man; it was really awkward.
"It doesn't hurt anymore." Zhao Jingyu took her hand and pressed it against his face. "My hair was shaved off because I injured my forehead, but nothing else has changed. You can check if you don't believe me..."
"It's good that it doesn't hurt." Xu Qingning slowly withdrew her hand, and said coquettishly, "We haven't seen each other for half a year, don't you have anything else to say to me?"
“I’m not planning to go to sea this time. I’ll tell you everything slowly.” Zhao Jingyu lowered his head, his gaze falling on her fair neck, and said gently, “I want to find a job nearby so I can come home every day. I don’t want to leave you and the child.”
“Okay, then let’s wait until after the New Year and look for it slowly.” Xu Qingning thought it was better for him not to go out, since he had ways to make money anyway.
"Don't worry, I will definitely work hard to earn money and take good care of you and the baby." Mentioning the baby, Zhao Jingyu reached out and touched her belly, and smiled, "The little guy kicked me just now, he knows I'm back."
“You’re his father, of course he knows that.” Xu Qingning smiled. “From now on, the task of prenatal education will be entrusted to you. You need to get to know him better first.”
As the two were chatting, they heard footsteps outside the window. Wang Yaqiang called out loudly, "Sister-in-law, is my brother back?"
"Boss, we've come to see you," Liu Dawei shouted.
Thank you to the reader, "辔, the summer breeze, the watermelon, the swimming pool, and you, 曧嗰就够 (dear, I really can't type the other symbols)," for the monthly ticket.
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