The family reached a consensus, eager to seize the business from Zhang Liunian.
Unaware of this, Zhang Liunian was handing over the more than twelve hundred yuan he had earned that day to Jiang Qingqing.
Jiang Qingqing accepted it with trembling hands, her eyes shining with a starlight that almost burned Zhang Liunian's eyes.
“Liunian, am I dreaming? You said yesterday you might break a thousand, and today we did? So fast? I wasn’t prepared.”
Zhang Liunian gazed intently at her smiling face, pulling her into his embrace and asking, “Prepared for what?”
What was there to prepare for?
Jiang Qingqing blinked her long, thick eyelashes and said blankly, “Of course, preparing to pay off our debts. Think about it, if we broke a thousand today, we’ll definitely have cleared all our debts in five days!”
After a pause, she sighed again, “I used to think debts of a few hundred yuan were so hard to repay, and saving ten yuan was harder than climbing to heaven. But now, a thousand yuan, we earned it just like that. Thousands in debt don't seem like much anymore!”
Was she getting ahead of herself? She must be, and it was her man who made her so; he was truly capable. Earning over a thousand yuan just like that, all in one day. His capability made her feel a sense of unease.
With this thought, Jiang Qingqing suddenly hugged Zhang Liunian back, her voice low, “Liunian, you’re so amazing, so capable, I’m scared.”
Zhang Liunian was utterly bewildered, holding her and asking, “Scared of what?”
Jiang Qingqing was stumped and fell silent. Zhang Liunian couldn't fathom her thoughts, but he knew a truth: women often overthink. With a change of heart, he continued, “Don't be scared. I work hard just for you and Huabao to live a good, carefree life. All my motivation comes from you being by my side; without you, nothing has meaning.”
This actually had an effect. Jiang Qingqing suddenly chuckled, “Really?”
“As true as can be,” Zhang Liunian cupped her face, his tone incredibly serious.
Looking at the handsome and charming Zhang Liunian so earnestly, Jiang Qingqing’s small face flushed again, her lips pouting slightly like ripe cherries.
Zhang Liunian’s gaze fell upon her lips, his starry eyes narrowing, about to taste them with a kiss, when Jiang Qingqing suddenly stood up, resulting in a “bang” as they collided.
One hit her chin, the other his forehead.
“Ah!” Jiang Qingqing cried out in pain, her small hand covering her forehead, tears welling up.
Zhang Liunian also felt the pain; he thought he had almost broken two teeth. But seeing his wife in tears, he immediately forgot his own pain, holding her forehead and gently blowing on it.
“Hoo hoo hoo… Does it still hurt?” After Zhang Liunian’s ministrations, he saw his wife’s forehead was still red, and he frowned with great concern.
Jiang Qingqing looked at his chin and reached out her small hand to gently caress it. “You must be in a lot of pain too. Let me blow on it for you.”
A puff of hot air brushed his chin, ticklish and numbing, igniting a desire in him.
Zhang Liunian cursed inwardly and quickly stopped her, “I’m fine. Your forehead is all red, I’ll call the doctor to take a look!”
He couldn't let Qingqing be hurt. Thinking this, he turned to leave. But before he could take a step, Jiang Qingqing hugged him from behind.
“Qingqing?” Zhang Liunian looked down at her small hands clasped around his waist, then placed his large hand over hers, turning his head to see her, but he couldn’t see her expression.
“I just wanted to hug you,” Jiang Qingqing’s voice sounded a little weak.
Zhang Liunian thought something was wrong with her, turned, and pulled her into his embrace, saying anxiously, “Is it too painful? I’ll carry you to the clinic right now.”
With that, he didn't wait for Jiang Qingqing’s reply, bent down, scooped her into a princess carry, and then strode out of the house.
Just as they stepped out, they encountered Zhang Liusha and his brothers. Seeing Zhang Liunian rushing out of the house in a panic, they stepped forward and asked, “Brother Liunian, where are you two going in such a hurry?”
“Qingqing hit her head, I’m taking her to the clinic to get it checked,” Zhang Liunian, sweating profusely, uttered this and was about to dash off.
However, Jiang Qingqing reached out and grabbed his clothes, stopping him, “Liunian, don’t go. I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
The pain she felt earlier had subsided; Jiang Qingqing felt it was unnecessary.
“No, my chin is hard, it must have hurt you badly. You’re so soft and beautiful, what would I do if something happened to you?”
Caught off guard by the sweet words, Jiang Qingqing blushed even more and could hardly face anyone. She simply pulled up Zhang Liunian’s clothes to cover her face, “You, you put me down, it’s not good for others to see?”
“What business is it of theirs if I carry my own wife?”
“I’m embarrassed.”
“…”
The three brothers, force-fed a mouthful of affection, stared blankly at Zhang Liunian, who, just because of a minor bump with his wife, was as anxious as a child. An indescribable feeling resonated in their hearts.
Later, upon returning home, Zhang Liusha sat at the dinner table and uttered a soulful sigh, “Brother Liunian is so good to his wife, just a bump and he wants to take her to the clinic. It even makes me want to be his wife.”
“Bang!” A ladle hit Zhang Liusha’s head, making him chew on his bowl. When he looked up again, not only was his face covered in food, but he also had to endure the disdainful gazes of the entire family.
“Are you stupid? You’re a man, and Liunian is a man, so you can’t be his wife. Don’t ever say such baseless things again.”
Wang Xiaoe was almost furious, looking at her youngest son as if she didn't recognize him.
Zhang Xinhua also said, “Liusha, you’re about to get married. Don’t speak carelessly in the future. If you say things like that, the whole village will laugh at you, and I, your father, can’t afford to lose face.”
Zhang Liusha scraped the food off his face, put it into his mouth, and then said, “I was just speaking casually, why are you all taking it so seriously?” He had genuinely just spoken his mind, not thinking much about it. However, Zhang Liunian was indeed too good to his wife.
“Even casual remarks shouldn’t be made,” Wang Xiaoe glared at her younger son, feeling an urge to hit him.
Seeing his mother like this, Zhang Liusha shrunk his neck and fell silent.
Wang Xiaoe, seeing him like this, simply commanded, “I’ve decided to set up a stall at the market tomorrow. Liusha, you’ll accompany me to sell crayfish.”
“No, I’m not going,” Zhang Liusha immediately protested upon hearing this.
Wang Xiaoe grabbed the ladle, ready to hit him on the head. “Are you going or not?”
Zhang Liusha instinctively flinched, but then, remembering Zhang Liunian’s kindness to him, he immediately said, “I’d rather die than go.”
“You really have itchy skin, watch me beat you to death.” Wang Xiaoe, exasperated, picked up the ladle and was about to hit him.
Zhang Liusha wasn't foolish; he stood up and ran.