Sensing something, Lin Jiayi’s face blushed with embarrassment, “Cut it out, I’m asking you about how the business is going? It’s been so many days, when can we start doing business?”
Speaking of doing business, Li Guangyuan’s enthusiasm cooled a bit, “Doing business isn’t so easy. The corn in the fields needs fertilizing and I can’t spare the time. How about this, you come to the fields with me these next few days, we’ll start by fertilizing the corn, and once we’re done with the work there, I’ll go to the city to look around.”
“You want me to join you working in the fields?” Lin Jiayi asked incredulously.
In her last life, she had never labored in the fields even when she was married to Qin Yang.
“Is this your mother’s idea? Li Guangyuan, have you forgotten what you told me when we first got married? You said I would be treated the same in your family as I was in my parents’ home, and I never did fieldwork there.”
“No, no,” Li Guangyuan embraced her again, “It’s just that I’m in a rush to do business. If I can’t finish the work in the fields, I won’t have time to look for business opportunities. Besides, you see how upset you get with my two sisters around the house, so it’s better if you come to the fields with me. Out of sight, out of mind; I’m doing this for your own good.”
“Why can’t you make Hongmei and Dongmei help you in the fields? They’re grown adults, mooching off without doing any work at home all day.”
“If they both leave, who will be left to take care of my mother? If you come with me to the fields, we’ll be away from everyone, and once there, you can do as much or as little work as you want. I will let you be.”
Lin Jiayi was finally swayed by these words, nodding her head, “Alright, but let’s be clear, I’m not doing any heavy labor.”
“No, no, even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t bear to let you work hard,” Li Guangyuan reassured, wrapping his arms around her as his hand slipped inside her clothing.
Lin Jiayi swiftly halted his movement with her hand, “There’s one more thing. Your two sisters are not getting any younger; it’s about time they look for a husband. I’ll see if there are any suitable matches around and have a matchmaker introduce a few.”
Li Guangyuan felt a bit awkward, “This matter… Mom hasn’t said anything yet.”
“That’s just because she has just been busy with arranging your marriage. She is of age and you expect her to trouble herself with your sisters’ marriages as well? You’re the eldest brother and I’m the eldest sister-in-law; it’s our responsibility to arrange your younger sisters’ marriages. Don’t worry, don’t you trust my judgement? We may have our differences usually, but when it comes to marriages, I’ll definitely find them good matches. If they marry well, it reflects well on us too, doesn’t it?”
Li Guangyuan finally showed a smile, feeling he’d been small-minded.
When his wife mentioned marriage, he was indeed worried she might cause trouble over his sisters’ marriages.
He was being too suspicious.
“My wife truly understands the greater good, I’ll leave this matter to you and I’ll talk to Mom about it.”
Lin Jiayi released the hand that restrained his and kissed him voluntarily, “I knew it, in this family, you care for me the most.”
A trace of triumph flashed in her eyes.
She intended to marry these two sisters-in-law off far away so when they prospered, they couldn’t come to share the fortune.
Li Guangyuan, relishing in the tenderness of the woman, heaved a sigh of relief in his heart.
Having persuaded his wife to work in the fields, would this satisfy his mother?
…
Amidst the vast Gobi desert, the setting sun cast a fervent glow across the land.
The sound of a bicycle bell echoed in the distance, and upon sighting the postman in green, the nearby people all crowded around.
Communication was inconvenient in their area, with the postman visiting only a few times a week on a rotational basis.
“For Mr. Qin, Mr. Zhao, there’s mail and packages for you,” someone who spotted the mail shouted to the figures in the distance.
Qin Yang put down the blueprint in his hands, glanced at his watch, and said to the people around him, “That’s enough for today. We’ll continue the rest tomorrow.”
After giving instructions, he then walked towards the postman.
The others had already collected their own mail and packages, smiling and opening their letters as they walked away. Those who had not received anything were filled with envy.
Upon seeing Qin Yang, the postman retrieved a hefty package from the saddlebag, “Mr. Qin, someone from your family sent you some goodies. It’s quite heavy.”
Qin Yang’s eyes flashed with tenderness when he saw the package, and he took out a pen to sign for it.
“There’s also a letter for you.”
Qin Yang thanked the sender, held the package in one hand, and the letter in the other, the corners of his lips lifting slightly when he noticed the delicate handwriting on the envelope.
“Mr. Qin, are you smiling?” Suddenly, a big head popped out diagonally, and Qin Yang, without a second thought, kicked out.
Zhang Dawei was kicked square in the butt and squatted down, provoking laughter from everyone else.
Bai Xiaoming pointed at him and said, “What did I tell you, you better not mess with Mr. Qin right now, but you just had to budge in.”
Zhang Dawei got up, rubbing his butt, “I really did see Mr. Qin smile.”
Mr. Qin smiling, what a novelty.
Li Wei, a colleague, said, “How could Mr. Qin not be happy? With both a package and a letter, newlyweds sure are different. It’s nothing but lovey-dovey for them. Unlike my conscienceless wife, who clamors for me to write her three letters a month, and I’m lucky if she even replies to one, let alone send a package.”
“That’s enough. You guys who live far away at least have something to look forward to, unlike me, I see my wife as soon as I walk through the door every day. There’s nowhere to hide if I want some peace.”
After Bai Xiaoming spoke, several people turned their gaze toward him.
Bai Xiaoming looked innocent, “Why are you all staring at me like that, did I say something wrong?”
Li Wei spat twice into his palm, “Are you bullying us because we’re either single or our wives aren’t by our side, huh? Brothers, let’s beat him up.”
Zhang Dawei was the first to charge, yelling as he pounced.
Li Wei and Wu Zhenfa followed suit, jumping on Bai Xiaoming and giving him a good beating with punches and kicks.
Qin Yang, with a package in one hand and the letter in the other, couldn’t free up his hands, but recalling Bai Xiaoming’s words, he walked over and landed a kick on his butt.
After a sound thrashing, Bai Xiaoming pleaded for mercy and promised to treat everyone to drinks, then they let him off.
Getting up and rubbing his butt, “Who kicked me just now? That was a nasty hit, damn.”
Ever since he got married, it had been years since anyone dared to hit his butt.
Zhang Dawei was the first to raise both hands, “Not me.”
Li Wei and Wu Zhenfa also shook their heads, “I didn’t.”
Bai Xiaoming’s gaze turned to Qin Yang, who also shook his head, “I didn’t use my hands either,” it was his foot.
“You guys…”
Bai Xiaoming didn’t further pursue the matter, being the oldest among them, he wouldn’t hold it against them.
On the way, Bai Xiaoming had someone send a message home for him, and the five men headed straight to the cafeteria.
For dinner, there were only two dishes in the cafeteria, so they got the master chef to stir up another two, and they ordered a bottle of baijiu, sitting together around the table.
The five of them worked in the same department, enjoying the closest relationships.
Qin Yang held the highest position, Bai Xiaoming was the oldest, Li Wei and Qin Yang joined the company the same year, and Zhang Dawei and Wu Zhenfa joined two years later.
“Xiao Wu, did your fiancée write you a letter too? I say just take the time to go home and get married already, saves you the constant yearning.”
Everyone poured themselves a drink, and as the eldest among them, Bai Xiaoming began.
A bit embarrassed, Wu Zhenfa scratched his head, “My family’s hoping to have the wedding before the New Year. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get the time off; I want to spend more days there.”