The Mu family arrived on the third day after Mu Yi'an and her family moved in, giving them ample time to tidy up and organize.
"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, Ziyi, come in quickly."
Mu Yi'an and Jiang Shuyun greeted her family, while Shao Ming took the children to their room.
“Yi’an, Shuyun, we’ve also bought a house in the county town. In a few days, my parents and the children will move here.”
"You bought a house?"
Brother Mu's words surprised Mu Yi'an and Jiang Shuyun. That speed is impressive!
"After buying the house, Ziyi came back and said that the teacher of the school he used to study at was also a scholar who had given up the imperial examinations, and he taught very well. He suggested that we send our children there to study."
Mu Xuan is nine years old, Mu Lin is six, and Mu Yang is seven; they've all reached the age for formal early childhood education. After discussing it with our parents, we asked Zi Wu to find a brokerage firm in the county to see if they had a suitable place to live.
Unexpectedly, by sheer coincidence, there was a courtyard house not far from the school. After seeing it, we thought it was suitable and bought it. A few days later, your parents, your second sister-in-law, and the children moved in.”
Sister-in-law Mu took over from Brother Mu and gave Yi'an a detailed explanation.
"Isn't your sister-in-law coming?"
"Yes, your older brother is still farming at home. I'm at home with Mu Hui. We don't live far apart, so we go there more often when we have time. The child's education is the most important thing."
Sister-in-law Mu was very grateful for her parents-in-law's arrangement, so she didn't have to come along. She was worried about her husband being alone in the old house, as he was so busy that he didn't have time to eat or sleep.
"That's true, having a carriage at home is quite convenient. Where is the school? Is it far from here?"
"It's not far, it's near the county government office, so it'll be convenient for your second brother to come back from his term of office."
Sister-in-law Mu has gone to see it. The layout of the courtyard house is quite good, and it's a bit bigger than Yi'an's courtyard. They'll need to buy one or two servants, so there'll be enough room for everyone.
"It's fine, but it will be hard on you, sister-in-law."
“What’s so hard about it? Life is getting better and better. The children study hard, we farm hard, your second brother’s job in the government office isn’t easy either, Ziyi studies hard, and our parents are healthy. What more could we ask for?”
Sister-in-law Mu smiled warmly, and her words were even more comforting.
People are afraid of being compared to each other.
Both being eldest daughters-in-law, Sister-in-law Mu and Sister-in-law Jiang are truly different, Mu Yi'an thought to herself, secretly making a few complaints.
Knowing that her parents' family was also moving in, Mu Yi'an felt both scared and happy.
She was worried that if they moved to the county town, the children would suddenly lose their playmates and wouldn't be able to adjust. Shao Ming went to a private school, Shao Yun was too young to go yet and would have to wait another year, and Chu Yue was already looking for people to play with.
Now that's great, her nephews from her maternal family are coming over, and the three children in her family will have company. Besides, they usually get along well. Mu Yi'an thought that the distance between the two families wasn't far, so it would be more convenient for her to visit her maternal family in the future.
Second Sister-in-law's family was also from the county. Her father was the county's chief constable, bold and meticulous, with considerable ability in solving cases. Second Brother Mu was practically his apprentice, having learned a great deal of real skills from him. The happiest person about the Mu family moving here was Second Sister-in-law, as not only was she closer to her parents' home, but Second Brother could also go home when he wasn't on duty.
Before, I could only go home during my days off, but now I can go home almost every day. It's better for couples to spend time together often; being separated all the time affects their relationship.
The Mu family stayed for a meal and then left in a hurry, as there was still a lot of tidying up to do at home.
“Yi’an, we’re going back now. We’re closer this time, so it’ll be easier to go home, and Mom can come to see you more often.”
"Yes, that's why I'm happy. It will be much more convenient to visit each other in the future."
Mu Yi'an smiled broadly; her relationship with her mother was a very normal and harmonious mother-daughter relationship.
In her past life, her mother, preoccupied with making a living, had no time for a good parent-child relationship. Later, after she started working, the two argued incessantly over marital issues, even resorting to verbal abuse. Her mother unilaterally severed ties with her, declaring that she shouldn't come home until she got married. Unexpectedly, she really couldn't go home.
After seeing off the Mu family, Mu Yi'an and Jiang Shuyun could finally get some rest. From the Lunar New Year until now, they had been busy moving and entertaining guests, and hadn't had a moment's rest.
"Yi'an, after this trip to the prefectural city, I plan to take leave once every one or two months to come back."
"May I?"
“I’ve inquired, and it’s possible. Although the academy is very strict, most of the students there have families and jobs, and it’s impossible for them to stay away from home forever.”
Jiang Shuyun is now enjoying family life and has developed a deep bond with his children. He has also experienced the joys and responsibilities of being a father.
Therefore, he didn't want to miss out on his child's growth, nor did he want Yi'an to bear too much alone.
"That would be best. The children miss you, especially the two older ones."
Don't you miss me?
Jiang Shuyun looked at Mu Yi'an, feeling a little uneasy. He knew that Mu Yi'an was quite independent and didn't have any illusions about love.
"I miss you too. I feel lost when you're not here, especially at night when I'm lying alone in that big bed and I always feel like something's missing."
Mu Yi'an wouldn't feel embarrassed, and developing feelings for Jiang Shuyun wasn't something shameful.
In her past life, she refused marriage because she hadn't met the right person. She had also been struggling alone for too long and had become accustomed to it. She was also afraid of encountering an unhelpful partner who would dull the luster of her life.
"Mu Yi'an, I like you!"
Jiang Shuyun, I like you!
Two people who lacked love in their past lives both lacked emotional fulfillment, whether familial or romantic. Unexpectedly, in ancient times a thousand years ago, they were able to find someone they liked and live a normal family life in the eyes of the public.
"Yi'an, I don't know if I'll change in the next few decades, but right now, I like you, and I even think I love you. I don't have much experience in love, so I hope you won't dislike me."
"Shuyun, we both have some shortcomings in our families of origin, which makes us somewhat resistant to love and marriage. Now that we are fortunate enough to meet here, let's not think about the future, let's not make promises we don't know if we can keep, let's just live in the present and cherish every day. When we pass away peacefully, and look back on our lives before we close our eyes, we will know whether we have fulfilled the promises we made. I am a realistic person, and living a good life is what I have always wanted."
Mu Yi'an wasn't love-struck; she was pleased that Jiang Shuyun liked her. However, she wouldn't completely entrust her life to a man's affection.
Love enhances life, but its absence won't cause catastrophic consequences. She would never allow herself to rely solely on a man or love to live.
“Great, we're on the same page. Let's live life to the fullest and enjoy every day. I think it's better to show our love through actions than just saying 'I love you.' Let's show our love for our partners in real life.”
"Yes, I prefer actions to sweet words. In life, we support each other and work together towards common goals; that's what makes life worthwhile."
The two smiled at each other; they shared the same values and had a promising future.
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