The topic shifted so quickly that Chen Bing was momentarily at a loss for words.
He was silent for a moment, then looked at Shang Yunmiao with a questioning gaze.
"Then, what is the relationship between us, Mom and Dad, and Amy and Cuihua?"
“Because we are Cuihua and Hongmei’s adoptive parents,” Shang Yunmiao replied matter-of-factly.
"So, should we help them win the inheritance?"
"No, we'll just live our impoverished daily lives."
"What do inheritance, castles, and illegitimate daughters have to do with us?"
"It can be used as something to think about when you're daydreaming, or as a source of inspiration in life."
While lost in thought... a scene involuntarily surfaced in Chen Bing's mind.
Night fell, and the fierce wind tore at the simple thatched hut. Although it looked shabby from the outside, it was undoubtedly a warm home for the people who lived there. However, at this moment, the home, like its exterior, showed signs of decay.
Old fisherman Chen Bing sat on his thatched bed, puffing on his pipe one after another. His eyes, glazed over, stared blankly at the crumbling wall, appearing so lifeless and clouded.
The loom beside him creaked and groaned incessantly, and Shang Yunmiao's coughs came incessantly. The fierce wind tore at the thatched hut, and illness eroded her health.
"Hey, Yunmiao, can't you just stop coughing like that? It's driving me crazy."
"Tormented to the point of madness? Oh my god." Shang Yunmiao tightened the wool shawl draped over her shoulders, which was covered with countless patches. It was part of her dowry when she married into the family, and the most valuable thing in the house besides the loom.
That is, assuming it is still brand new.
“If our daughters were still here, they would never allow their chain-smoking father to say such nonsense. Oh, my God. Cuihua and Hongmei, my poor daughters. This is like a nightmare, a nightmare from which we can’t wake up.”
As Shang Yunmiao spoke, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, and then coughed heavily twice.
"Oh my God. Stop saying that, I mean, honey, please stop saying that. Everything will be alright, I was just out of my mind to say such rubbish."
Our daughter will return sooner or later, bringing with her a multitude of servants and countless cattle and sheep. Perhaps she'll even give me a fishing boat bigger than this house, and give you a loom made of gold. Then everything will be alright, my dear.”
Chen Bing hurriedly stepped forward to comfort the tearful Shang Yunmiao, who then leaned into his arms.
"Oh, Chen Bing, you are truly the best husband in the world. I will definitely marry you again when I get to heaven."
"Stop saying those things, Yunmiao. There's definitely hope for your illness. Really, I mean it."
"Yunmiao? Yunmiao?! Oh my god!"
...
Damn, what is this?
Thinking of this, Chen Bing couldn't help but chuckle. His chuckle earned him a puzzled look from Shang Yunmiao.
"Ahem, alright, let's begin."
The actual house-playing scenario differed considerably from Chen Bing's imagination; the two simply repeated certain everyday actions. Overall, it was rather boring, but there were some interesting moments.
For example, because Shang Yunmiao often forgets the background setting of playing house, she often says things that sound like she has dementia.
"Honey, the kids should be getting out of school soon, could you go pick them up?"
"Honey, have you forgotten? They've already been taken away."
"Oh, I forgot."
The adorable little girl blankly said she forgot, and then called you "husband" in her cute little voice...
Ahem! That won't do, it's illegal.
That said, such a mundane pretend play scenario was to be expected. After all, Xiao Shang grew up in a loving and exemplary family, so it's understandable that he couldn't imagine the harshness of the world.
Speaking of the wickedness of the world, Chen Bing suddenly thought of her little cousin, Liu Xiaoxiao, and wondered how she was doing now.
My parents are divorced. I live with my grandparents who favor sons over daughters. My father is busy with work, and I only see my mother a few times a year...
Sigh, I hope she's doing well. After all, she's such a cute little sister; she even called me "brother" affectionately when she came to visit a few months ago.
Thinking of this, Chen Bing looked at Shang Yunmiao beside him and suddenly had the idea of teasing her.
"Call me brother," Chen Bing said, gently pinching the other's cheek.
Shang Yunmiao didn't understand what was going on, but she still obediently called out.
"Brother Bing".
"Brother Bing"... What kind of nickname is that? Are we just some idle people? Shouldn't a little girl this age sweetly call someone "brother"?
"Why don't you call me brother?" Chen Bing reached out her other hand and pinched Shang Yunmiao's other cheek.
It's so smooth and feels great to the touch.
Because both cheeks were pinched, Shang Yunmiao's speech was slightly slurred.
"Because the elder brother Bu Ling and the younger sister got married."
"Then can I just call him Brother Bing?" Chen Bing asked curiously, while putting down her hand that had been pinching his cheek.
After rubbing her cheeks, Shang Yunmiao answered with great certainty, "Yes! Sometimes Mom calls Dad 'Brother Xin, Brother Xin'."
Wow~ Teacher Yun, I never expected you to be like this behind my back...
"Time to eat fruit."
Chen Bing was gossiping in her mind when Yun Xuan happened to push open the door and enter. She handed over a plate of fruit, then closed the door and left the bedroom.
Perhaps inspired by the way she was addressed, Shang Yunmiao recalled her parents' daily behavior. She mimicked her mother's tone and mannerisms from her memories, picked up a piece of fruit with a fork, and placed it next to Chen Bing.
"Ah~ Honey, shall I feed you some fruit?"
As Comrade Xiao Shang said this, he even opened his mouth and made a gesture as if feeding a baby.
Holy crap, are all couples in the world like this? Why did Chen Bing see Liu Yue's shadow in Shang Yunmiao's actions?
Chen Bing ate the fruit that Shang Yunmiao handed her with slightly complicated feelings, and then saw the other party looking at her with a puzzled expression.
"W-what's wrong?"
"You ate my half too..."
"ah?"
Seeing Chen Bing's puzzled expression, Shang Yunmiao explained to him, "Every time Mom feeds Dad like this, Dad generously feeds her the fruit he's already half-eaten. They both..."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Honestly, please tone it down a bit in front of children!
Chen Bing quickly covered Shang Yunmiao's mouth, afraid that she would hear any more outrageous words.
Damn, this pretend play game is no longer working.
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