Wang Xiaoe's body stiffened upon hearing this. She then turned her head to see Zhang Liunian striding over with a formidable presence.
"Liunian, you're back." Jiang Qingqing's serious little face bloomed with joy, as if bathed in spring breeze, upon seeing her man return.
"Are you alright? Did they bully you?" Zhang Liunian came to his wife's side, wrapping a large arm around her fragrant shoulders, his face full of concern.
Jiang Qingqing's small face flushed as she shook her head. However, Hua Bao, clenching his little fists behind her, piped up, "They said they wanted to be rough with Mommy and bully Mommy. Daddy, you have to beat them away!"
The moment this was said, Wang Xiaoe and her son's faces turned pale. They simultaneously cursed Hua Bao, a mere child, for sowing discord like this. They hadn't done anything to Jiang Qingqing yet.
"Liunian, we haven't harmed a single hair on their mother and daughter. Don't listen to Hua Bao's nonsense." Wang Xiaoe's expression was one of panic, clearly showing her fear of Zhang Liunian. She had merely been feigning composure moments ago.
Hearing this, Zhang Liunian let out a cold laugh and stepped forward, saying, "My Hua Bao doesn't lie, so you really intended to be rough with my Qingqing, didn't you?"
Wang Xiaoe choked. She wanted to repeat what she had said earlier, but as she was about to speak, she met Zhang Liunian's icy gaze. Her tone immediately shifted, "A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. How could we dare be rough with her? She was the one who was practically rough with us. Everyone in our village knows how much you dote on Qingqing, cherishing her like your own eyeballs. We'd have to be bored out of our minds to come looking for trouble. We just didn't explain ourselves clearly earlier, causing Qingqing and Hua Bao to misunderstand. We only came to see Su Jie. After all, she's considered our daughter-in-law, and she was injured yesterday. As elders, of course, we had to come and see her."
Zhang Liunian glanced at their empty hands, a cold smile playing on his lips. Was this how one visited Su Jie?
Wang Xiaoe followed his gaze to her own hands and, with nowhere to put them, instinctively hid them behind her back. "We really just came to see her."
"You came uninvited and then intended to be rough with Qingqing. It seems I've been too gentle with you in the past, giving you the mistaken impression that I'm easily dealt with." Zhang Liunian said, stepping forward as if to grab Wang Xiaoe. However, Jiang Qingqing's arms wrapped around his midway.
"Liunian, forget it. They didn't do anything to us. They just said a few unpleasant words. You don't need to lay a hand on them." Jiang Qingqing was deeply touched by someone standing up for her, but Wang Xiaoe was her husband's paternal aunt. If he were to resort to violence, it would inevitably lead to gossip in the village. She didn't want to hear anyone speak ill of Liunian.
"Qingqing, let go. If I don't act today, they'll think you can be bullied by anyone in the future. No one bullies Zhang Liunian's woman." Zhang Liunian tried to pry Jiang Qingqing's hands off, intending to continue his actions, but Jiang Qingqing refused to let go.
Seeing that Zhang Liunian was serious, Wang Xiaoe grabbed Zhang Liujie and turned to flee.
Back home, she couldn't help but grumble, "Is this Zhang Liunian on medication? There are so many women, is there any need for him to value one so highly? We didn't even touch a hair on her, and he's ready to beat us. Truly commendable, commendable."
Zhang Liujie listened without a word and walked back into his room.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liunian circled his wife and returned to the house, only to see Su Jie getting out of bed. "Qingqing, are you alright? If my issues caused you harm, I would become a sinner in your family."
Jiang Qingqing looked at the worried and self-reproaching Su Jie, quickly broke free from Zhang Liunian's embrace, and personally helped Su Jie back into bed. "I'm fine. Don't worry. Hurry and lie down and rest."
Hearing this, Su Jie secretly glanced at Zhang Liunian's expression. However, she saw that Zhang Liunian's gaze was entirely fixed on Jiang Qingqing, his face wearing an indescribable concern and adoration. What woman could resist such a look? It was a pity that she, Su Jie, did not have such good fortune to possess such a man. If only Zhang Liunian loved her as he loved Jiang Qingqing.
In the evening, Zhang Liunian, for once, sat at the small table in the room, writing and drawing, busy preparing for his trip to the South City Food Factory tomorrow. Jiang Qingqing, lying on the bed, coaxed their daughter to sleep and then lay down, her body turned to watch Zhang Liunian working. The more she watched, the more handsome she found her husband. Unconsciously, she became lost in his gaze.
Zhang Liunian finished preparing the contract materials needed for tomorrow, stood up, and stretched his limbs. Turning around, he met his wife's bright eyes and strode over, sitting in front of her and asking, "Why aren't you asleep yet? What are you looking at?"
"N-nothing," caught red-handed, Jiang Qingqing quickly burrowed under the covers, her entire body disappearing into them.
Zhang Liunian looked at her with amusement, reached out, and tugged at the covers. "Don't suffocate yourself?"
"I'm not suffocating, don't pull," Jiang Qingqing's muffled voice came from within.
Zhang Liunian sighed helplessly, took off his clothes, got into bed, turned off the light, and crawled in, pulling her out from inside. "I bought the Du family's kiln today. It cost a thousand yuan. Tomorrow, I plan to go to the South City Food Factory to discuss their staff dormitory matters. If I can secure this cooperation, I can earn some money."
"A kiln? We have another factory?" Jiang Qingqing looked up in shock, meeting Zhang Liunian's starry eyes with an incredulous expression. The factories in the village were almost ready, and now there was suddenly another kiln. This was rather sudden, and Jiang Qingqing didn't know how to react.
"Yes! I also plan to have the descendants of the eighteen uncles go with me to South City for construction." Although it wasn't yet the time for the real estate boom, it was the era of building bridges, roads, and staff dormitories everywhere. As long as he seized the opportunity, he could grow big and strong. Perhaps then he could even accelerate the arrival of real estate.
"Can you handle it all by yourself? Will it be too tiring?" After the initial shock, Jiang Qingqing's primary concern was whether Zhang Liunian's body could withstand it. Two shops and two factories were indeed a lot of work.
Zhang Liunian held her small hand and kissed it. "No, as long as I can sleep holding you every night, I will never be tired."
"Oh, you're so cheeky! What kind of thing are you saying?" What did he mean by not being tired if he slept holding her? It was so embarrassing. Jiang Qingqing buried her face in Zhang Liunian's chest, her heart filled with sweetness.
"It's the truth. With you here, I feel happy and content, and I have endless energy. You'll understand when you give birth to our little one." Zhang Liunian was somewhat impatient, but unfortunately, the child wouldn't be born for more than a month.
"Stop talking," Jiang Qingqing playfully punched Zhang Liunian's chest with her small fists, causing him to burst into laughter.
"Qingqing, you're so cute." Zhang Liunian finished laughing, picked up her chin, and slowly leaned in. Jiang Qingqing watched his handsome face enlarge before her eyes, her cheeks flushing and her heart pounding. Her beautiful eyes slowly closed.
After an unknown amount of time, sounds of pleading could be heard in the dark room.
"Liunian, mmm, no, we yesterday..."
"Yesterday is yesterday, today is today."
"I want to sleep."
"You sleep yours, I'll eat mine."
"Annoying, can't you just... mmm!"