Xinyan reached out and wrapped her arms around He Jinxuanās neck: "What do you think?"
He Jinxuan lifted her in a princess carry: "Youāre finally back at the staff quarters. I was thinking on my drive back that if you couldnāt make it back, I would just go over to your place. Now I can openly stay there."
Hearing this, Xinyan felt a bit touched: "Youāve had it rough before."
He Jinxuan gave her a big kiss on the cheek: "Itās not hard. Iām willing to do anything for you."
Thinking of something, he leaned over to Xinyanās ear: "From now on, I have official credentials to come and go. I donāt have to worry about what others might say. If you canāt come to the staff quarters, Iāll go to you."
Xinyan was moved. Though He Jinxuan wasnāt particularly handsome, his masculinity and tenderness made up for it. He might not be the most well-off among the people she knew, but he was the most hardworking.
Heās not great with sweet talk, but as long as theyāre together, he always takes good care of her. In her heart, to always put her first is enough: "Thank you, Jinxuan."
He Jinxuan held her tighter: "Silly girl, itās what I should do, why thank me?"
While the two were being affectionate, a voice called from outside the gate: "Brother He, sister-in-law."
Hearing the shout, Xinyan quickly struggled to get out of He Jinxuanās embrace: "Let go, someoneās coming."
Hearing the voice from outside, He Jinxuanās face darkened, but he still helped tidy his wifeās clothes: "You wait inside, Iāll go take a look."
He kissed Xinyan on the forehead before leaving the yard: "You better have an important reason."
The look in his eyes startled Wang Baoliang, who only then realized: "Ah, Iām sorry for interrupting.
Anyway, Iāll make it short. I ran into Fang Zhipeng yesterday. He asked me to let you know that heās been transferred back to Beijing from Guang Province. He wants to get together this weekend and asked you to bring your wife along."
After delivering the message, he hurriedly detailed the dinner location for the next night and quickly left.
He Jinxuan watched him go and closed the gate.
Xinyan came out of the house: "Whereās he gone?"
He Jinxuan pointed outside: "He had something urgent and left."
Before Xinyan could ask more, He Jinxuan recounted the matter to her: "Tomorrow weāll go together. After dinner, Iāll accompany you back to your place."
He originally wanted to cuddle with his wife a bit longer, but as it was nearing mealtime, he couldnāt let her go hungry: "What do you feel like eating, dear? Iāll cook for you."
Xinyan playfully replied with a smile: "Whatever you cook, Iāll eat."
The two then moved their intimate talk to the kitchen.
As the food was being prepared, He Jinxuan brought a chair for Xinyan outside the kitchen door: "Yanyan, you sit outside and eat some fruit, Iāll stir-fry the dishes, and dinner will be ready soon."
Xinyan, who had been on her feet non-stop for the past few days, really didnāt want to move. Obediently, she sat on the chair outside, ready to eat.
As He Jinxuan put the food in the wok, he asked: "Yanyan, has there been any outcome regarding second uncleās issues?"
Xinyan picked a washed grape from the plate and popped it into her mouth: "Yes, the children and grandchildren in the main Xue Family turned against Old Man Xue, not expecting heād betray his family, wife, and children by having another family outside.
Though nothing was successful in the end, Old Man Xue left his final assets to his illegitimate children, chilling the hearts of his legitimate descendants in Beijing, who then severed ties with him mercilessly.
The illegitimate children also resented Old Man Xue. Always hidden in the shadows, they could count on one hand the days they saw their biological father. Yet, they were fed empty promises, and ultimately it all came to nothing, so much so that even living became a luxury.
No matter the mutual dislike between the legitimate and illegitimate sides, they ended up meeting in jail. Old Man Xueās greed hurt others as well as himself, and now the Xue Family has met its karma."
She then added: "Grandpa said we should go together to pay respects to my eldest uncle next Wednesday."
What she didnāt say was that with the Xue Familyās downfall, all those with past ties to them were also uprooted, paying the price for their greed.
As the meal was served and the two were about to eat, there was a loud knock on the gate.