After explaining the family's situation, Mr. Bai said to his son:
"Wen'an, you've graduated now and have such a great job."
I'm so happy to have such a good son like you; you are the pride of your mother and me.
Bai's mother also had tears in her eyes.
Bai Wen'an stood up and poured wine for his parents, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister, and wife.
Then, he raised his glass and said to everyone:
"I owe my success today to my parents' years of frugality and support, which allowed me to continue my studies all the way to university."
Thank you to my sister and brother-in-law for their help.
I also want to thank my mother-in-law and Wen Tong for their support.
You are the ones who made me who I am today, and I will definitely work hard to live up to your expectations.
I raise a glass to everyone, hoping our lives will get better and better.
Everyone raised their glasses, and the room was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation, creating a lively atmosphere.
Seeing that Yan Ci had already drunk several cups, Bai Xiaoyue was afraid he would get drunk, so she whispered:
"Aci, drink less, being drunk is very uncomfortable."
Yan Ci's face flushed slightly, and he whispered in Bai Xiaoyue's ear in a low, husky voice, "Wife, I'm not drunk."
Seeing that Yan Ci was already slightly tipsy, Bai Xiaoyue put some food in his bowl so he could have something to eat.
Wen Tong would occasionally serve food to Wen An, while Wen Xiya watched everyone with a smile.
After the meal, Bai's mother laid out candies, hazelnuts, and melon seeds, and everyone sat and chatted.
Bai Xiaoyue went to the kitchen to help tidy up, and when she came out, she saw Bai Wen'an standing there.
He secretly handed Bai Xiaoyue 50 yuan:
"Sister, take this. I told you before that I would support you and Chang Le once I started working."
Bai Xiaoyue was afraid that Yan Ci would hear and punish her, so she quickly declined:
"Wen'an, no need, no need, you keep it to support your wife."
Bai Wen'an insisted on giving it to her, and stuffed it into her pocket:
"Wen Tong knows, and she agrees."
Bai Xiaoyue's refusals were useless, and Wen An ran away in a flash.
She had no choice but to accept it. Just as she was about to go inside, she looked up and saw Yan Ci standing by the door, watching for who knows how long.
She took a few steps forward, grabbed Yan Ci's arm, and winked at him:
“Aci, I didn’t want it, really, Wen’an forced it on me.”
Yan Ci's eyes were deep: "Yes, take it!"
But in his heart he was thinking that he had a good reason to have some fun that night. His wife was usually very spoiled, and she would be more cooperative when she was in the wrong.
Yan Ci's tone was normal; he didn't seem angry.
Bai Xiaoyue found Yan Ci very easy to talk to today and immediately perked up:
"Aci, see? See? I told you I was destined to be a leech off my little one!"
Yan Ci narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded meaningfully: "Hmm!"
It's only right to celebrate the New Year with your wife!
On the first day of the Lunar New Year in 1965, Bai Xiaoyue ate breakfast while lying on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Yan Ci, like a cat that has stolen fish, happily served his wife dinner.
He licked his lips, thinking that if his wife had a little more stamina, it would taste even better.
Hmm, I'll have to encourage my wife to exercise more in the future.
After the New Year, Bai Xiaoyue said to Yan Ci:
"Aci, let's find a chance to stock up on some food. I'll go to the doctor to get some medicine to stock up on. I can't get much at once, and I'll have to go many times."
Yan Ci frowned: "Do we need to stockpile medicine too?"
Bai Xiaoyue nodded:
"Yes, you should. Both times you had a fever, you used the cold medicine I stocked up for Chang Le. You should also prepare some wound medicine."
The two embraced silently, neither speaking, both knowing in their hearts that the days ahead would be difficult.
Yan Ci finally spoke after a long pause:
"Wife, don't worry, I'm here. I can protect you and the three of you without any problem."
Bai Xiaoyue remained silent, clinging tightly to Yan Ci as if she could draw more power from him.
The two embraced for a while, then Bai Xiaoyue pulled Yan Ci aside and said:
“Aci, there’s a small cellar in this room where we store grain.”
Yan Ci asked in surprise, "Wife, did you dig it yourself?"
Bai Xiaoyue smiled and said, "You really think highly of me."
Yan Ci asked again, "Did your parents dig those up for you?"
Bai Xiaoyue asked Yan Ci to pry open the stone slab.
Seeing that the space was small and empty, Yan Ci asked Bai Xiaoyue:
"Honey, you didn't put anything in there?"
“I don’t usually need these things, but now I’m stocking up on some things that I can use right away.”
After Yan Ci restored the stone slab to its original state, Bai Xiaoyue pulled him to Chang Le's room.
Bai Xiaoyue opened the small cellar and took out a small box inside.
Show Yan Ci the small gold bars inside; there are 17 in total.
Yan Ci looked at the box in astonishment: "Wife, you're too rich!"
Bai Xiaoyue: "These two small cellars were there before; they must have been dug by your great-aunt's family."
When I discovered this little cellar, this little box was inside.
There were originally 5 small yellow croakers inside, plus the 12 you gave me later, they're all here.
I wanted to give you some food as compensation because I felt I should compensate you for what I had taken from your great-aunt.
Yan Ci, holding Bai Xiaoyue, said:
"Wife, don't feel guilty. Everything I have is yours, and everything in the Yan family is yours too."
Bai Xiaoyue rolled her eyes at him:
"I meant I wanted to make it up to you back then, not now."
Yan Ci covered the stone slab, tidied the ground, and carried his wife back to their room.
"Wife, now make it up to me." He said, reaching for her lips.
Bai Xiaoyue covered Yan Ci's mouth with her hand:
"What, you want me to sell myself for a few gold bars?!"
Yan Ci licked her fingers:
"Wife, I'll sell myself to you, I'll sell myself with gold bars, okay?"
Bai Xiaoyue: "Aci, be serious. I wanted to tell you that I keep my valuables in that place."
"If something were to happen to me, you'd know where all the family's money is."
Yan Ci's expression changed upon hearing this:
"I won't let you say that. There's no such thing as 'what if.' We'll all be safe and sound."
Seeing that Yan Ci was unhappy, Bai Xiaoyue wrapped her arms around his neck:
"Okay, okay, I won't say, I won't say."
She gently kissed Yan Ci's lips to soothe his emotions.
Yan Ci hugged her tightly and said, "Wife, don't say things carelessly in the future, or I'll be scared too."
Bai Xiaoyue nodded and said, "Okay."
Summer arrived quickly, and school summer vacation began.
Chang Le has grown taller. She runs every day, practices horse stance, and even learns kung fu from Yan Ci.
She has excellent stamina and can easily outrun Bai Xiaoyue in a run.
Every day she would take a group of friends up the mountain to play, using her beloved slingshot to hunt birds and pheasants.
Little Bai could only watch longingly as her older sister and friends went out.
His short legs couldn't keep up at all; he would be dragged back by his dad as soon as he ran out of the yard.
Xiao Bai is a very clever child. He couldn't catch up with his older sister in the past few days, so today he waited at the door early.
Just as Chang Le was about to leave, he pounced on her like a cannonball and grabbed her leg, refusing to let go.
Chang Le couldn't pry her younger brother's hands off and cried out anxiously, "Mom, come quick!"
Bai Xiaoyue was both amused and exasperated to see her son clinging to her daughter's leg.
She crouched down and asked her son, "What is Xiaobai trying to do?"
When Xiaobai saw her mother arrive, she loosened her grip a little. "I want to go, I want to go."
Bai Xiaoyue laughed: "Where can you go, you little rascal? Come on, let's go back with Mommy."
Xiao Bai shook his head, probably because talking to his mother had distracted him and he loosened his grip. Chang Le seized the opportunity and ran away.
When Xiaobai saw that her older sister had run away again, she sat on the ground and burst into tears.
Bai Xiaoyue was disgusted to see him with tears streaming down his face and snot running down his nose.
He called into the house, "Aci, come quick!"
When Yan Ci heard his wife calling him, he quickly ran out.
Bai Xiaoyue pointed at her son and complained, "Aci, he's making so much noise it hurts my ears."
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