Hearing his daughter praise him, Cheng Baokuan looked a little embarrassed. He scratched the back of his head. “I’ll go help your mother.”
Cheng Fangqiu then turned to Cheng Xuejun. “School starts the day after tomorrow, and there’ll be entrance exams. Are you nervous?”
“Not at all.” Cheng Xuejun shook his head. He had spent the past few days at home studying and memorizing lessons. While he couldn’t guarantee a perfect score, he was at least 70–80% confident.
Confidence comes from ability.
Seeing that he was well-prepared and self-assured, Cheng Fangqiu felt reassured.
While drinking the rock sugar pear soup, Ding Ximei shared some good news—Cheng Xiaohua was pregnant.
“Really? When she was my bridesmaid last time, I didn’t notice at all.” Cheng Fangqiu was slightly surprised. How long had Cheng Xiaohua been married? And she was already pregnant?
Ding Ximei shot her a playful glare. “It’s still early, so she’s not showing yet. If she hadn’t accompanied her mother-in-law to the health clinic for a check-up and had the doctor take a look at her as well, no one would have known.”
“That’s true.” Cheng Fangqiu realized her own foolishness and let out an awkward laugh. Then, she added, “It just so happens that the factory gave out two cans of malted milk for Mid-Autumn Festival. Mom, you can bring them to her later. I heard it’s good for nutrition.”
“You’re really generous, girl.” Ding Ximei nodded in agreement.
Malted milk wasn’t cheap. In the village, there were plenty of people who had never even tasted it in their lifetime, and yet she was giving away two whole cans without hesitation.
“Xiaohua is both my sister and my friend. Of course, I’m willing.” Cheng Fangqiu didn’t think much of it. If she were in Xiaohua’s shoes, she would have appreciated the same kindness. Xiaohua had always treated her as an older sister, so she naturally had to treat her well in return.
Besides, early pregnancy isn’t easy. Having proper nutrition would make things a little easier for her.
—
That night, after dinner, everyone washed up and got ready for bed.
However, since there were only two bedrooms in the house, there weren’t enough beds for everyone. The only option was for Cheng Xuejun to sleep on the sofa. Fortunately, the sofa was long and soft enough, and he actually found it quite comfortable. He even said it was more restful than his bed at home, which left everyone both amused and exasperated.
The next day was Mid-Autumn Festival. Zhou Yinghuai got up early and took Cheng Xuejun with him to the supply and marketing cooperative. Since it was a holiday, the store was packed inside and out, but luckily, they had arrived early; otherwise, they might not have been able to get what they wanted.
Since both the photography studio and the factory had already given them mooncakes, they didn’t need to buy any. This trip was mainly to buy meat and vegetables.
Once they finished shopping, they returned home. Ding Ximei and the others were already up and cooking rice. With everyone working together, a table full of dishes was soon prepared.
“To our family’s happiness and well-being, and may all our wishes come true.” Cheng Fangqiu was the first to raise her cup. Her auspicious words brought smiles to everyone’s faces. The five cups clinked together, ringing in their wishes with a crisp and joyful sound.
After the meal, they all went downstairs to make a phone call to Beijing and then took a stroll through the department store. The holiday atmosphere was lively, with people everywhere, filling the streets with warmth and festivity.
Meanwhile, at the Xu household—
Since Xu’s father had only recently been transferred to Enchuan County, he hadn’t made many acquaintances yet, making this Mid-Autumn Festival feel rather quiet.
Xu’s mother had prepared a full table of dishes, but both husband and wife ate absentmindedly.
“I wonder where Qiqi is eating today. Yan’an probably took her back to the Chang family, right?”
Xu’s mother put down her chopsticks, her gaze drifting toward a framed photograph on the cabinet. It was a family portrait they had taken last year. The girl in the middle had a bright, beaming smile—one that made anyone looking at it want to smile along.
“If I had known, I would have kept Qiqi with us for a few more years.”
But these were just empty words. Back then, if it weren’t for the Chang family’s help, they wouldn’t even be sitting here enjoying Mid-Autumn Festival in peace.
The atmosphere grew a little heavy. Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Xu’s mother and father exchanged a glance, both furrowing their brows in confusion. The former got up to open the door and called out, “Who is it?”
There was no response from outside. Cautiously, Xu’s mother cracked the door open—only for a familiar face to suddenly appear in front of her.
“Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!”
The face in front of her slowly overlapped with the one in the photograph. Xu’s mother quickly swung the door open, her eyes turning red with emotion.
“Qiqi? Why are you back?”
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Chang Yan’an standing behind Xu Qiqi. She stammered, “Yan’an? Did you two come back together?”
Xu Qiqi rushed forward, hugging her mother and coquettishly whining, “He’s my husband. If he doesn’t come back with me, where else would he go?”
Her words were blunt, but they made perfect sense. Xu’s mother laughed and hugged her back.
“Mom, Dad, happy Mid-Autumn Festival.” Chang Yan’an stood at the door, carrying numerous bags, and greeted them politely.
By now, Xu’s father had walked over from the dining table. Seeing that the two women were still huddled at the door, completely ignoring their son-in-law, he cleared his throat awkwardly and said, “Come in quickly. Have you eaten? We just started—come have some.”
“Not yet, we just got off the train.” Chang Yan’an nodded politely to Xu’s father in greeting before following his words and stepping inside.
Xu Qiqi also pulled her mother along, closing the door behind them as they entered the house.
This place was nothing like their old home. The space was smaller, the lighting was poor, and since it was on the second floor of a communal building, the soundproofing was terrible. Even while they were eating, they could clearly hear the laughter and running footsteps of children playing outside.
With Xu Qiqi’s return, the atmosphere at the dining table became much livelier. While serving them rice, Xu’s mother discreetly wiped at the corners of her eyes, her smile growing warmer.
The meal was filled with joy, but most of the conversation was between Xu Qiqi and her mother. Chang Yan’an and Xu’s father, on the other hand, were mostly just background figures.
“Oh, right, Qiqi, Xunian called your dad’s workplace a while back. He asked for your contact information. Have you two talked?” Xu’s mother suddenly asked, as if remembering something.
At these words, the motion of Chang Yan’an’s chopsticks paused for a brief moment, but he quickly resumed eating as if nothing had happened.
Xu Qiqi also froze for a second before responding with some surprise and excitement. “Xie Xunian’s research project is done? He can contact the outside world now?”
“It seems so. He didn’t say much about it, and we couldn’t ask too many questions either.”
Xu’s mother was happy about the news. After all, Xie Xunian was someone she had watched grow up. He had been incredibly talented from a young age, leaving Rongzhou alone to study at a prestigious university in Shanghai and working on research under a mentor. His future was full of promise.
But his life had never been very free. Since leaving Rongzhou, this was only the second time he had contacted his family’s close friends.
“I never got his call.” Xu Qiqi frowned. Had he called while she was out?
That didn’t matter. What mattered was—
“Does he know I’m married?” When she got married, he hadn’t attended the wedding. She had to seize this opportunity to extort a proper gift from him!
That was what she was thinking, but the others had a different reaction.
Xu’s mother nearly choked on her food when she heard the eager tone in her daughter’s voice. Instinctively, she glanced at Chang Yan’an sitting beside her, but his expression remained as calm as ever, giving nothing away.
Why did she bring up Xie Xunian in front of Chang Yan’an? Wasn’t this just making things awkward for everyone?
After all, back then, her daughter and Xie Xunian…
“Your father told him.” Xu’s mother lowered her voice and, at the same time, subtly kicked Xu Qiqi under the table to signal her to drop the topic. Then, she quickly changed the subject. “I made soup earlier. Let me go serve you some.”
She was about to stand up when Chang Yan’an suddenly stopped her.
“Mom, I’ll pass on the soup. I need to go check on the car and have a smoke.” Chang Yan’an put down his chopsticks and got up.
Since they had borrowed a car from his workplace for this trip, he wanted to make sure it hadn’t been scratched or damaged by playing children outside. If that happened, it would be a hassle to deal with repairs and accountability later.
Xu Qiqi understood and nodded. But when she heard the second half of his sentence, she immediately pouted. “No smoking!”
Chang Yan’an didn’t reply, simply patted her back and walked out.
Xu Qiqi wanted to say more, but her mother pulled her aside. “Qiqi, come help me with the soup.”
By the time she turned to call him back, the door had already shut behind him.
“He hasn’t smoked in so long. Why is he starting again?” Xu Qiqi puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction, her lips jutting out high enough to hang a soy sauce bottle.
“Yan’an carries a lot of pressure in his position. It’s normal for him to smoke a little. It’s not a big deal.”
Xu’s father had also been a smoker in his younger years, but after growing older—and under the firm supervision of his wife and daughter—he had long since quit. Even so, he still understood the occasional need for a cigarette to relieve stress, so he spoke up on Chang Yan’an’s behalf.
“I know, but…” Xu Qiqi pursed her lips.
She couldn’t help but think back to when they first got married. Back then, she had told him she wanted a child, and from that moment on, he had never smoked again.
Lately, however, she had been catching the scent of smoke on him again. Could it be that something had happened at work?
—
As Chang Yan’an stepped out of the communal building, a gust of cool night air brushed against him, momentarily relieving the tension in his mind. He paused briefly before striding toward the parked car not far away. The group of children playing nearby scattered the moment they saw him approach, disappearing like a flock of startled birds.
In an instant, he was the only one left in the area.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a cigarette and a box of matches. The flame licked at the tip of the cigarette, a brief scarlet glow reflecting against his glasses, masking the depth of emotions in his eyes.
A faint, bitter scent of tobacco drifted into the air.
Before he could finish his cigarette, something caught his eye. His brows furrowed sharply. Without hesitation, he stubbed out the cigarette and tossed it into the trash can downstairs before swiftly heading back up.
The door, which he had closed before leaving, was now ajar. Looking inside, his gaze locked onto two figures tightly embracing.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to suppress the fury rising in his chest, but ultimately, he failed to hold it back. In just a few strides, he reached forward and grabbed the back collar of the man, yanking him away.
In the midst of startled gasps and stunned expressions, his fist landed hard on the other man’s face. After just two punches, visible bruises had already appeared.
“Chang Yan’an!”
Xu Qiqi cried out in shock, rushing forward to intervene. But before she could get close, the other man retaliated, and the two of them began exchanging blows in earnest.
“Xie Xunian!”
The situation spiraled out of control in an instant. Xu Qiqi threw caution aside and wrapped her arms around Chang Yan’an’s waist, trying to pull him back. “Stop fighting!”
Taking advantage of the moment, Xu’s father quickly stepped in and grabbed Xie Xunian from behind, barely managing to separate them. “Enough!”