Chapter 117 – Lively

The double bathtub was now full of hot water. Xi Junjie gently lowered Zhenzhen into the tub, then turned to shut off the tap. The moment Zhenzhen’s newly changed nightdress was soaked through and clung to her body, she couldn’t help splashing water at him. “I just put this on, now it’s all wet—how am I supposed to wear it again?”

Xi Junjie’s eyes fixated on how the wet fabric clung to her, revealing every graceful curve. A wave of heat surged in his lower abdomen, and his breathing began to grow heavier. Sitting in the tub, Zhenzhen noticed the change in him right away. Though she’d always been the bold one when it came to confessing or kissing, in both her lives she’d been untouched, and her heart fluttered with embarrassment as she turned her face away.

Gazing at his new bride in the tub, Xi Junjie casually stripped off his expensive suit and shirt. Hearing the sound of clothing being removed, Zhenzhen couldn’t resist stealing a glance—and was instantly caught by the sight of his sculpted abs. But just as she began to admire them, he loosened his belt. The moment his pants slipped down, Zhenzhen quickly turned away again, her ears and slender neck blooming with a soft blush.

Tossing his pants aside, Xi Junjie stepped into the tub and pressed closely against Zhenzhen’s back. Wrapping his arms around her, his lips brushed her ear as his voice dropped into a sultry whisper: “Let me help you take off the nightdress, okay?”

Zhenzhen said nothing, her face red, but her subtle lean into his chest was all the permission he needed. He gently slid the wet nightdress off and tossed it outside the tub. Then, with a light touch, he turned her toward him.

“So beautiful,” Xi Junjie murmured with reverence, lifting her blushing face and sealing her lips with his own.
—

After a night of passion, even someone with Zhenzhen’s stamina couldn’t help sleeping in until late morning. When she opened her eyes and saw Xi Junjie’s sleeping profile beside her, she couldn’t resist leaning over and tracing his face with one finger.

He opened his eyes, turned, and gently caught her mischievous finger in his mouth. Zhenzhen giggled and pulled her hand back, then rolled over and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket.

Xi Junjie scooped her up, blanket and all, trying to sneak his hand inside to feel that smooth warmth again. Dodging his touch, Zhenzhen glanced at the clock on the wall and suddenly panicked—they’d slept far too long. Pushing at him, she said in a voice softer and lazier than usual, “Get up, I’m hungry.”

Xi Junjie planted a satisfied kiss on her forehead before getting up to fetch their clothes from the wardrobe. Zhenzhen peeked out from under the covers, her big eyes darting toward him. But with his intense gaze on her, she was too shy to get up naked and start dressing. Xi Junjie came over and tugged at the blanket with a raspy, teasing tone: “You probably need another shower before you put anything on.”

Zhenzhen blushed as memories of the previous night rushed back. She grabbed a pillow and smacked him. “Shut up. No talking.”

“I won’t talk, I won’t talk,” he said with a chuckle, standing up gallantly. “You go shower first, then I’ll go. I promise I won’t peek.”

Zhenzhen gave him a skeptical look. Xi Junjie raised a solemn hand in mock oath. “Scout’s honor.”

Zhenzhen snorted. “If you’re that sincere, how about putting your underwear on first?”
—

Freshly cleaned up, Zhenzhen picked out a red dress, while Xi Junjie chose a casual suit. He threw an arm around her shoulders and led her to the full-length mirror. Looking at their reflection, he smiled with satisfaction. “Perfect match. Just like the elders say—made for each other.”

Zhenzhen couldn’t help but laugh, giving his waist a playful pinch. “Who brags like that? So shameless.”

Their eyes met in the mirror. Xi Junjie’s confident grin didn’t falter. “If we don’t qualify as a perfect couple, no one dares use that term.” He pulled her into his chest, his chin resting lightly atop her dark hair. “My Zhenzhen is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Zhenzhen grinned and tugged him down by the neck, giving him a loud smooch on the lips. “You’re making my heart bloom. That’s your reward.”

Xi Junjie looked dissatisfied. “That’s it? That’s way too stingy. At least give me a one-minute one.”

“In your dreams.” Zhenzhen wriggled out of his arms and darted toward the door laughing. Xi Junjie immediately gave chase. Zhenzhen had been confident she’d make it to the courtyard first—after all, she’d been doing morning runs for four years. But to her shock, Xi Junjie caught up in just a few steps and pulled her into his arms.

She stared at him in disbelief. “How did you catch me? You’re not even faster than me!”

Seeing his mysterious smile, realization dawned. “You’ve been holding back this whole time!”

Xi Junjie pressed his forehead to hers, chuckling. “Otherwise, how would I catch my mischievous little kitten?”

As Zhenzhen puffed out her cheeks in indignation, he kissed one of them and coaxed, “Come on, come on. Give me that one-minute kiss now.”

Zhenzhen gave him an exasperated look. “Can you think of something more wholesome this early in the morning? Maybe recite some Marxist theory to calm yourself down?”

Xi Junjie ignored the suggestion entirely. His intense gaze fixed on her lips. “This is the healthiest thing I can do. A kiss a day adds ten years to your life.”

“Such nonsense.” Zhenzhen giggled and leaned in, her tongue teasingly tracing his lips before slipping inside.

One minute turned into five before Zhenzhen finally pushed him away. She glanced down at her half-peeled dress and stomped on his foot. “Knew I couldn’t trust you.”

She freshened up again while Xi Junjie stood by the window taking deep breaths. By the time they were both properly dressed, another ten minutes had passed. Seeing the clock almost at eleven, Zhenzhen opened the door with a grimace. “Now we’re really late. Auntie’s going to tease us for sure.”

Xi Junjie chuckled and reminded her, “You mean ‘Mom.’”
—

Hand in hand, the couple walked to the main house. Xi Changbo and Ling Xiulan were sitting by the window playing chess. Seeing them approach, Ling Xiulan took the opportunity to mess up the board and stood up with a bright smile. “There you are! I asked Aunt Yang to make soup for you two—it’s just ready now.”

Zhenzhen’s cheeks were flushed as she stood in front of Ling Xiulan and Ling Junjie, smiling sweetly as she said, “Thank you, Mom.” Then she quickly turned to greet the man beside her. “Dad, you didn’t go to work today?”

“I took a day off, going in tomorrow,” Ling Changbo replied, visibly pleased with his freshly minted daughter-in-law. “Don’t just stand there—Junjie, help Zhenzhen sit down. After yesterday’s long day, she’ll need several days to recover.”

Ling Xiulan chuckled. “Exactly! When your dad and I got married, it was even more exhausting. I was so tired after the ceremony that I could barely make it up the stairs.” Seeing the blush on her daughter-in-law’s face start to fade, she stood up. “I’ll have Aunt Yang bring the food in. Winning against your dad all morning drained my energy—I’m starving.”

“When did you win? Didn’t you lose three straight rounds?” Ling Changbo called out indignantly from the window, but Ling Xiulan pretended not to hear and briskly walked out of the courtyard.

Though it was already noon, since Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen hadn’t eaten much that morning, the meal was kept light. The black-bone chicken and chestnut soup that had been simmering all morning was clear and oil-free, with a faint sweetness from the chestnuts. Alongside it were a few carefully prepared dishes: poached round fish, garlic scallops, clear broth with agar, and stir-fried shrimp with water bamboo. There weren’t many, but each was delicious. Zhenzhen drank a bowl of chicken soup and followed it with a full bowl of rice.

Ling Xiulan adored how Zhenzhen made everything look appetizing. Using serving chopsticks, she picked up a few shrimp and placed them in Zhenzhen’s bowl. “Want another bowl of soup?”

Zhenzhen smiled and rubbed her belly. “I’m stuffed already. Aunt Yang’s cooking is amazing.”

Ling Xiulan grinned. “It’s all because Junjie is picky. He practically trained Aunt Yang from a homestyle cook into a gourmet chef.”

Zhenzhen glanced at Xi Junjie’s perfectly proportioned figure and couldn’t help but ask, “Junjie eats a lot too—how does he stay so fit?”

“He’s vain,” Ling Xiulan immediately sold her son out. “He eats a lot, sure, but he exercises just as much. His weight hasn’t changed in years. If he eats a little more during the day, he’ll do extra pushups at night. He’s terrified of gaining weight.”

Zhenzhen gave Junjie’s shoulder a playful pat. “That’s real discipline. I’m one of those people who can eat anything and still not gain weight, so I don’t understand the joys of working out.”

Xi Junjie chuckled and gently squeezed her hand. Then he looked up at his mom. “Mom, we’re going to take a walk in the garden.”

“Go on, maybe catch a movie or something,” Ling Xiulan said as she sipped her tea and sighed a little wistfully. “It’s a shame your wedding leave is so short. Would’ve been nice to go on a honeymoon.”

Zhenzhen could only smile helplessly. “There’ll be chances to travel later.”

The newlyweds strolled hand in hand along the covered walkway into the garden. Zhenzhen crouched down to fuss with the flowers Ling Xiulan had planted. Seeing how lively they looked, she smiled and then wandered into her own yard, which was now connected through the garden.

With the wedding over and nothing pressing to do, Min’nan took a group of nephews out for fun, while the adults sat around chatting. Wang Sufen was sitting by the window gossiping, but her eyes kept drifting toward Zhenzhen’s window. Even though Zhenzhen had often been away at school before, Wang Sufen had always known she’d be back on weekends. Now that she was married, the sense of loss was entirely different.

Liu Xiulan and Zhang Chunhua didn’t know how to comfort her—neither of them had daughters, so they couldn’t relate. All they could do was talk up the latest TV dramas to try to distract her.

Just as they were chatting away, Wang Sufen suddenly stood up. “Zhenzhen’s back!” Even Grandma Li, who had been lying down and listless, sprang up and rushed outside.

When the door opened and they saw Grandma Li and Wang Sufen flushed with excitement, Zhenzhen smiled right away. “Grandma, Mom, chatting at home?”

“Why are you back so soon?” Wang Sufen was both happy and a bit worried. “Isn’t it bad form to come running home the day after the wedding?”

“This is still home,” Zhenzhen said, handing Junjie an apple with a grin. “Our courtyards are connected—how are we not still two families?”

Wang Sufen finally relaxed, smiling as she lovingly patted Zhenzhen’s hair. “Our Zhenzhen really is blessed. What other girl gets to be married and still live like she’s at home?”

Zhenzhen took a bite of the apple, grinning. Seeing her eating so happily made Grandma Li’s stomach growl. She glanced at the wall clock and realized it was already noon. “Aiyo, I’ve been lying down all morning—it’s lunchtime already. Have you two eaten? Why not stay here?”

“We just ate,” Junjie replied, holding his own apple and laughing. “I’m not like Zhenzhen—she said she was stuffed, but now look at her, chomping on an apple.”

Zhenzhen mumbled through a mouthful, “Just filling in the cracks.”

Living so close had its perks. Zhenzhen and Xi Junjie could easily pop in and out of both houses. When it came time for the traditional “return to the bride’s home” three days after the wedding, it was as simple as strolling through the garden.

To Zhenzhen, dropping by to eat with her family a few times a day already felt like returning home. But Grandma Li and Wang Sufen still insisted on hosting a proper banquet. Instead of asking Auntie to cook, they ordered a few banquet tables from a large restaurant, inviting not only close relatives but also Xi Junjie’s parents and Zhenzhen’s mentors.

The weather cooperated. Though it was already late September, the day was sunny and beautiful. Just like the wedding, the banquet was held in the garden, now heavy with ripening fruit. A gentle breeze carried the scent of fruit through the air, making the whole place feel like a slice of paradise.

The elders of both families shared a table. Ling Changbo, wine glass in hand, looked at Li Muwu with great joy. “Old Li, who would’ve thought back when we first met that we’d become in-laws? Just look at you grinning—aren’t you thrilled to be related to me now?”

“What’s there to be happy about?” Li Muwu clinked glasses with him but kept his tone firm. “You couldn’t beat me at fishing back then, and now that you’re busy with work, you’re even worse. Honestly, I don’t want to fish with someone at your level anymore. These days, I only fish with the pros.”

Ling Changbo nearly spit out his wine. “I don’t believe it! You used to go all day without catching a single fish. You’ve improved that much?”

“Let’s have a match after lunch,” Li Muwu said, scanning the area before pointing to his backyard pond. “We’ll fish in my garden pond.”

When Ling Changbo nodded, Li Muwu burst out laughing. “Then you’re bound to lose. The fish in my pond know me—they’ll swim straight to my hook!”

Ling Changbo took another sip of wine, looking at the now vigorous Li Muwu, and couldn’t help but ask, “So you fish every day now? Still play chess with Old He and the others?”

“They wouldn’t take me with them.” Li Muwu was furious at the mention of it. “Said I’m a stinky chess basket. How am I stinky? Every move I make is through deep… deep thinking…”

“Careful deliberation,” Xi Changbo couldn’t help filling in the phrase.

“Yes, careful deliberation!” Li Muwu slapped the table. “I’ve thought through every move, it’s all part of my grand strategy. They don’t know anything and still say my play stinks.” He took an angry gulp of wine, then turned to Xi Changbo. “Say, in-law, we can’t just fish for nothing, can we? Gotta have some stakes, right?”

Xi Changbo gave him a glance. “Then what do you want to wager?”

Li Muwu chuckled slyly. “If I win, you have to come over every night after dinner and play two rounds of chess with me.”

Xi Changbo calmly took a bite of food. “And if I win?”

“I’ll come to your place and play two rounds,” Li Muwu replied instantly.

As soon as he finished, not only did Xi Changbo burst out laughing, even Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen, who were coming over with a toast, couldn’t help but laugh. Xi Changbo grumbled, “See? Even the kids think you’re shameless.”

Li Muwu pretended not to hear, raising his glass toward Xi Junjie. “That’s settled then. Everyone here is a witness!”

Su Weiran turned around and smiled. “Let’s all compete then. We like fishing too—let’s see who catches the biggest fish.”

Seeing so many fellow enthusiasts, Li Muwu was delighted. “Now that’s what I call good company! Honestly, Zhenzhen’s bought me so many rods these past two years. If you all want to fish, just come over. You can take the catch home or cook it here. I’ll provide the booze!”

Everyone laughed at that. Looking at the radiant Li Muwu, Li Muwen couldn’t connect this lively man with the old, silent younger brother he used to know. He couldn’t help sighing, “Second Brother’s gotten so much more cheerful since coming to the capital.”

Thinking back on his days in Beicha, Li Muwu let out a long sigh. “Back then, the moment I opened my eyes each day, all I could think about was how many sacks I needed to carry just to feed the family. During busy times I was dead tired, and during slow times I’d worry about earning enough to keep everyone afloat. I was weighed down by worries—who had the heart to laugh or joke? But now it’s different…” He looked at Zhenzhen with deep emotion. “My daughter’s grown up. She’s made it so her old dad can enjoy life now. With a few filial kids around, my days are all about fishing and tea. My heart feels light—I couldn’t be happier.”

Li Muwen immediately raised his glass. “You’re right, Second Brother. It’s time for us parents to start enjoying life. Come on, let’s drink to that. We’ve worked hard our whole lives—it’s time to relax.”

One toast led to another, and the group drank for a solid two or three hours. By the end, not only was fishing out of the question, even walking straight was difficult. Luckily, both families had more courtyards than they could count. The Li family had plenty of visiting relatives filling up the rooms, but the Ling family’s place was still largely empty. Ling Xiulan had Roubao and Doubao help escort the gentlemen to their guest rooms next door, gave each a cup of strong green tea, and tucked them into bed.

They slept straight through till seven or eight in the evening. When they saw how dark it had gotten, the men all panicked a little. No one even wanted dinner—they just wanted to get home before the streetlights went out. Aside from Mr. Zhang Renzhe, the others all lived quite far away. Considering their age and how much they drank at noon, Zhenzhen adamantly refused to let them walk home in the dark. Xi Changbo chimed in, “Didn’t we agree this afternoon? We still have a fishing contest to settle.”

The old scholars weren’t the type to be dramatic. They checked their watches, saw that going home now would indeed be a hassle, and decided to make a night of it. After dinner, they all headed to the garden to fish. Because of the wedding festivities, the garden had been strung with wires and lightbulbs. When the switch was flipped, the place lit up like daylight. You could see not just the fish but even the shrimp swimming in the pond.

Zhenzhen and Xi Junjie sat on the swing chair in the back courtyard, listening to the elders bickering and bantering as they fished, each one more talkative than the last. With Zhenzhen’s abilities, the fish and shrimp in the pond were thriving. It wasn’t long before Xi Changbo shouted with delight, “Got a bite! Old Li, you’re losing this round!”

“No way!” Li Muwu fired back. “These are my fish. They’d never be biased. Just you wait—I’ll reel in a big one soon.”

Zhenzhen listened to the noisy back-and-forth with a soft smile on her lips. She leaned gently against Xi Junjie’s shoulder and looked up at the bright moon. In that moment, she felt like this—this was the best life could get.
—

In the blink of an eye, the wedding leave ended. Li Mulin, Li Mulin, and the entire Mingnan family packed their things and prepared to return to Heilongjiang. Zhenzhen had prepared all sorts of local specialties for them to take back. Grandma Li even saw them all the way to the gate and still refused to turn back. Watching her two elderly sons, her eyes welled up with tears. “I’m fine here, so don’t worry about me. Just call often.”

“Yeah, Ma, don’t worry.” Li Mulin wiped his eyes. “I’ll come back next year for your birthday.”

Grandma Li nodded, her eyes red. “Okay, I’ll be waiting for you to bring me big birthday peaches.”

On the other side, Wang Sufen held tightly onto Mingnan, anxiously reminding him, “You all have to take care of yourselves. Don’t overwork—health comes first.”

Mingnan promised repeatedly. Wang Sufen hugged the children before finally waving goodbye as she watched them leave.

After half a month of liveliness, the house suddenly quieted down with over a dozen people gone. Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen returned to their daily work routine, and Grandma Li wandered next door to call on Ling Xiulan. “Why don’t we just play mahjong?”

At first, Li Muwu played a couple of rounds with them, but after a few days he couldn’t take it. Sitting all morning without being allowed to smoke gave him a headache so bad he couldn’t even recognize his tiles, let alone play.

Thankfully, just as he was about to collapse, Grandma Xi came over to have Mr. Zhang check her pulse. After getting a clean bill of health, she went to rest at her son’s house, and the moment she saw the two households forming a regular mahjong team, she perked up. Hanging her coat on the rack and rolling up her sleeves, she kicked Li Muwu out.

The two pairs of mothers and daughters-in-law, combined age over three hundred, were dead serious when they played. After each round, the three of them stared at Ling Xiulan to make her do the accounting. Only after she got it right could they continue. Every morning was two fixed hours of mahjong, and after their afternoon naps, Grandma Xi would teach them how to sing opera. Sometimes Yan Baozhu would stop by and sing a few lines, giving them expert tips. With this much fun, Grandma Xi didn’t want to go home anymore. Her eldest daughter-in-law came to fetch her several times, but the moment she turned her back, Grandma Xi had snuck off again.

While the house buzzed with activity, Zhenzhen was getting busy again too. Wang Xinzhi’s plan to acquire the clothing factory was starting to take shape. At first, he persuaded the factory director, Si Yaren, to sell, but after several days of deliberation, Si Yaren decided to take one last shot at turning things around—to see whether he truly had what it took to make the factory thrive.

To make money, a factory has to produce. After several days of careful deliberation, Si Yaren finally gave up on the now-unfashionable corduroy and instead brought in a batch of army green fabric. He planned to make a run of baggy green military-style coats—perfect for wearing over sweaters in autumn, durable and practical.

But making the clothes was only half the battle—they still had to sell. To avoid inventory buildup, Si Yaren was much smarter this time. Rather than diving straight into production, he had the workshop make a few samples and took them himself to various department stores and supply cooperatives, hoping to secure orders before scaling up. He figured a month’s production would let him pay the workers on time.

The plan sounded solid—but reality was brutal. These days, trends changed daily, with all kinds of new styles emerging. Who would want to wear shapeless old military jackets? The smart move would’ve been to observe what people were actually wearing on the streets and copy that—at least then they wouldn’t lose money. But Si Yaren and his team were stuck in their old ways. When they saw the fashionable styles on the street, they’d just shake their heads and scoff, unable to imagine making anything other than what they’d been producing for decades.

Si Yaren and a few department heads took samples around to nearby stores and supply centers, trying to pitch the factory’s products. But most places still had unsold military coats left over from last year, so everyone just shook their heads—no, thank you.

This time, instead of stockpiled inventory, he was stuck with unused raw materials. Helpless, Si Yaren had no choice but to turn to Wang Xinzhi. But Wang Xinzhi, intent on acquiring the factory, deliberately refused to offer any ideas. With the holidays approaching and no way to pay wages or bonuses, Si Yaren, dejected and desperate, went to the deputy mayor in charge of industry to ask for help.

The deputy mayor had long been aware of the clothing factory’s dire straits. And with the city’s finances tight, the municipal policy was now to support enterprises with clear prospects and solid returns. As for half-dead factories like this one—if someone was willing to take it off the city’s hands, all the better.

On Zhenzhen’s very first day back at work, she received a call from Wang Xinzhi:
“Boss, the government’s decided to sell the clothing factory.”