T.N: I’m back with this week’s update! Starting next week, I’m going to post a new chapter twice a week, on Wednesday and Friday. The chapters are getting increasingly longer and longer, and I can’t keep up updating on Mondays as well. Happy reading!
…………
Xu Shen had just come back from outside. His clothes were dusty, and he only had time to wash his hands and face. Coming upstairs, he planned to kiss his sleeping wife and go take a shower.
As a result, there was no way to leave once he entered his bedroom.
They hadn’t been intimate in a while, and it was Xu Shen’s first time to see Shu Ran as embarrassed as he was now. He felt his heart was overflowing with a kind of special feeling, making his eyes full of tenderness.
“Do you want me to leave?” Xu Shen asked in a low voice.
“…” Shu Ran looked back and stared at his man… What nonsense was he even talking about?! He wanted to curse, but he could only use his eyes to send him a vicious glare full of all his unspoken feelings.
Xu Shen’s treacherous temper was wiped out by this glare, and he immediately started to comfort the man in his arms. “Okay, I won’t leave.” He was quite happy when Shu Ran was mad at him…
Although his wife probably didn’t love him very much yet, at least there was no hate between them. Shu Ran could accept him as a man and was willing to tolerate this kind of behavior between lovers.
What nonsense…How could Shu Ran let him go at this moment?! Even though he was sure it meant nothing to him, he still coveted the other man’s warmth and tenderness…
Not long after, Xu Shen smiled and spoke quietly: “Wife, you can lie down for a while. I’ll go wash first.”
Now that they were about to have a conversation that used words, the awkward feeling suddenly returned. Shu Ran didn’t want to talk to this person at all! Although it was human nature and the shameful moment had passed, he had not yet come out of his embarrassment. Being seen by Xu Shen like that… was absolutely mortifying!
At this time, he needed to tell Xu Shen that he only read that type of novel because he was… well… bored. Such a bad excuse! But he really was bored. But there was no way Xu Shen would believe that, so there was no need to even attempt to explain.
Seeing his wife ignoring him, Xu Shen looked at him reluctantly and started to coax him: “I really need to go take a shower. Please wait for me…”
“…” And so, Shu Ran missed his best opportunity to explain his shameful behavior.
Xu Shen entered the bathroom. After calming down, he began to think about why Shu Ran acted like that in his absence. Did he not take enough care of his wife in bed, making him look for satisfaction elsewhere?!
Impossible, that could absolutely be denied!
Xu Shen really didn’t want to admit that Shu Ran might be happier without him by his side. The more he thought about it, the more Xu Shen felt there was a raging fire burning in his heart, making him feel dumb and aggrieved.
After finishing his shower, Xu Shen went back to his room and asked the other party directly, otherwise he felt this question might fester in his heart and render him useless.
“Wife, did you read that kind of book because you’re unsatisfied with me or…?” Xu Shen came to Shu Ran and nervously asked.
“…” No matter how Shu Ran wanted to answer, the answer was still no… It was just a foolish mistake, and he was bored at home alone, okay?! But would Xu Shen believe that?
“Don’t want to tell me?” Xu Shen squinted. “Okay, then I’ll just think I didn’t do a good enough job…”
When Shu Ran heard this, a sense of crisis immediately surged throughout his whole body. He felt like some weak and incompetent prey, targeted by a hungry beast.
No, was it too late to explain now?!
While his mind was busy brainstorming, Shu Ran smelt a vague hint of cigarettes, an indicator that Xu Shen had been smoking outside.
He remembered what Xu Shen had said on their wedding day, so he took the time to ask: “Brother Shen, did you encounter something troublesome?”
“Huh? Why do you ask?” There was no trouble outside, only here, in his own bedroom…
“I smell…” Shu Ran wrinkled his nose and continued. “You smell like cigarettes.”
So that was it. Xu Shen glanced at Shu Ran in surprise. Surprisingly, he was quite attentive. He even remembered how he randomly admitted to only smoking when he was stressed about something…
Somehow, the depression in his heart dissipated without a trace.
Did Shu Ran ask because he was worried about his mood?
“Yes.” Xu Shen admitted. “I just smoked half a stick. You can even smell that?”
Shu Ran: “What happened? Can you tell me?”
“It’s not what you think.” Xu Shen approached him and continued. “It’s because I haven’t seen you for a long time and accidentally put one in my mouth while I was distracted.”
Shu Ran didn’t expect such an outrageous reason, so he had no idea how to answer.
“…”
“How about you? Did you miss me at home?” Xu Shen asked, but he didn’t seem to be obsessed with hearing an answer.
And the truth was Shu Ran really didn’t miss him…
He needed some private time when the other party wasn’t at home, and there was nothing wrong with relaxing and enjoying his freedom. It also didn’t mean that he wasn’t free or felt uncomfortable and constricted when Xu Shen was with him.
Staying at home alone was his private time, and the time he spent with Xu Shen belonged to each other. But now was not the time to talk, so Xu Shen smiled and said nothing more.
Zhou Hui was downstairs, concentrating on her knitting. During this time, she thought about how Xu Shen came back so late, and she wondered if he had already eaten or not. Although her brother had said that there was no need to worry about him and that Xu Shen was good on his own, she still felt sorry for the man.
There were sweet potatoes at home. Zhou Hui put them in a pot of boiling water, simmering them. Late at night, she was too tired to fall asleep, catching Xu Shen downstairs.
“There are sweet potatoes simmering on the stove. You two can have some if you’re hungry.”
“Oh, okay.” Xu Shen nodded at Zhou Hui, feeling a little guilty.
It was so late, and the two men were still awake. Zhou Hui guessed they were up discussing some important business matter. After telling Xu Shen about the potatoes, she could finally go to her room and rest with peace of mind.
…………
Early in the morning, Xu Shen got up and tidied the house quietly. He had always done the trivial things at home, unwilling to let Shu Ran touch not even the dirty laundry. When he came back, his wife was already up, leaning on the bed and yawning.
“Brother Shen, why did you come back so late last night?”
Xu Shen came over, bent down, and kissed his forehead. “The convoy that went to get goods is back. I had to pay them and order more things along the way.”
Shu Ran snorted: “Your goods? What kind of goods?”
“Not my goods.” Xu Shen explained. “It’s things ordered by the boss of the cooperative. This time there are wholesale clothing items from the coast.”
At this point, Shu Ran raised his eyebrows with an interested glint in his eyes. Wholesale clothing from the coast? Then that boss was good, doing the right kind of business in the 80’s…
Shu Ran had a general understanding of the future economic development of the country. After the reform and opening up in 1978, the opportunity to become self-employed gradually emerged. At that time, the first batch of domestic businessmen who became rich all had one thing in common… wholesale businesses, especially dealing in the clothing market.
After that came the electronics and digital industry, which continued to be profitable for the next forty years or so.
Of course, the best of all was the real estate market. It seemed that as long as someone had enough money in this era, they could pick a business with closed eyes and still stumble across something good.
Shu Ran had enough financial information to make money and become a wealthy businessman himself. All that he needed was to take action and some start-up capital. But he was reluctant to let these things go to his head. Sometimes, whatever seemed easy to grab was most likely to cause trouble…
“Brother Shen, since you have a fleat, why not sell your own goods?”
Xu Shen saw his wife was interested, so he felt like chatting: “We just want to get the transportation fee and pocket the price difference. There’s no need to care about the ending point of the goods.” Knowing that Shu Ran still had questions, he smiled. “Someone has a monopoly over the Nanshi distribution area. It’s not so simple.”
Shu Ran understood that the profitable business was already in someone else’s hands, and it was hard for any other aspiring stars to raise their heads…
After all, Xu Shen was just an ordinary man with no background. He couldn’t go head-to-head with the big companies that already divided the local market.
Indeed, he thought too simply about this matter. Shu Ran nodded his head. It was better to stop using his modern thinking when looking at the current market environment. Not to mention meeting those big bosses, Xu Shen and his brothers were probably just running around trying to make ends meet, dealing with countless ups and downs along the way.
In this current unstable situation, Shu Ran just wanted to live safely.
“I was too naive. Do your job well and don’t think about becoming rich overnight!” Shu Ran actively admitted his mistake and reminded Xu Shen: “Our current life is very good. Cherish it!”
“You are so young, but you speak in such an old-fashioned way…” Xu Shen was amused and came over to pat his head.
Shu Ran pushed his hand away. “Who cares if I’m old or not, as long as what I say is true?!”
“Yes.” Xu Shen really wanted to pat his head, but…
Shu Ran blocked him again. “Don’t touch a man’s head! It will make me shorter!”
“Not short…” Xu Shen recalled that the height difference between them was not that big. He was already quite tall… Then he remembered that both Zhou Hui and Zhou Qiang were just as tall. “Your family has good genes.”
Shu Ran wanted to complain: “Not as good as yours…” But he didn’t dare to mention it. He remembered that Xu Shen was very resistant to any mention of the parents that abandoned him.
Xu Shen had to go out today as well, in order to settle accounts with the big boss he worked with. Shu Ran also wanted to go to the Chen house and deliver the designs. He got up, dressed himself, and asked Xu Shen to give him a ride.
“How about you go another day?” Xu Shen glanced at his wife, his thoughts pausing for a moment. Remembering last night, he was worried that riding a bicycle might be uncomfortable for him. “Maybe I should go and deliver them for you?”
“Not good. Do you know how to explain it to Aunt Feng? It’s all technical terms, besides… You already have something to do today.”
“But your butt might hurt.” Xu Shen worriedly glanced at his behind.
“…” Only then did Shu Ran understand what he was worried about!
The atmosphere became a bit awkward for a moment. After a while, Xu Shen still asked with concern: “Is it still uncomfortable now?”
“It’s okay…” Shu Ran sighed and decided to forget about his unnecessary shyness. “Since you already know I’m uncomfortable, please try to be more polite in the future!”
Every single time, that man went as hard as wanting to kill somebody. Shu Ran suspected that if one day they might break up, it would definitely be because of disharmony in that aspect…
Xu Shen said nothing but looked ashamed.
“It’s fine. Just find a cushion for me.” Shu Ran comforted him. In fact, he just felt a little bit strange when waking up, and it usually got better by noon. It wasn’t even an uncomfortable feeling, just his body sort of wanted to fall apart… he just needed some time to relax, no big deal.
While riding the bicycle, Shu Ran poked the back of the man seated in front of him, wanting to breach the subject. “Brother Shen, how about we keep in good health in the future and reduce the frequency a little bit?” In fact, what he really wanted to propose was: “How about twice a month? On the first and fifteenth of the lunar month?”
Right. So outrageous! There was no way Xu Shen would agree to that.
Xu Shen was startled and it took him a second to understand. Then he was stunned again. No… why were they discussing this in broad daylight?!
The front of Xu Shen’s bike almost fell into a ditch. He looked back at the culprit. “Wife, let’s talk about this when we get back home tonight, okay?”
Shu Ran realized it was indeed not a good idea for a man to discuss this subject while driving, so he smiled gleefully and replayed obediently: “Okay, Brother Shen!”
He was so rash, sorry~
Xu Shen sent Shu Ran to the door of the Chen family, also dismounting his bike with the intention of sending him in. “No, it’s not my first time here. You can go and do your thing!” Shu Ran said.
Xu Shen explained to him carefully: “You should stay with them for lunch, and I will pick you up in the afternoon.”
“No need, I remember the way. It’s not that far to walk back.”
“It’s too hot. You’ll dry in the sun.” Xu Shen’s tone was a bit tough when he continued: “Listen to me. Don’t go out and run by yourself.”
Shu Ran felt a little uncomfortable: “I’m not a child…” Why was walking home by himself equal to running around making trouble?!
In a few days, he also planned to get out of the house and look for some lucrative jobs. Would Xu Shen oppose that as well?
“Don’t be stubborn, I know you are not a child…” Xu Shen looked at him and patiently explained his worries: “Wife, I’m afraid someone might want to cause trouble with me and start with you.”
Walking alone in a place that he was not familiar with… Shu Ran might not even notice if somebody tied him up with a sack.
Of course, Xu Shen was also a little bit selfish. He just wanted to come and pick up his wife, and then go home together. It was what he should do.
“…” Shu Ran forgot for a moment that the man in front of him was not always a good person. Maybe he already had a lot of enemies.
Xu Shen assured him in a low voice: “I’m doing this for your own good, not to control you. I’m not that kind of person.” If he really was that kind of person, Shu Ran would already be locked up in his room, with no chance to ever set foot outside.
Shu Ran glanced at his underdeveloped arms… There was not a single trace of confidence that he could beat others up, so he had to sigh and compromise: “Okay, I’ll wait for you to pick me up.”
“Good.” Xu Shen breathed a sigh of relief. If Shu Ran insisted on walking back home by himself, he would definitely give in. “Then, I’m leaving.”
“Okay.” Shu Ran nodded.
Xu Shen didn’t leave, and the two stayed for a while, looking at each other. Finally, he kissed Shu Ran on the forehead and said: “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Xu Shen rode his bike away, looking back before exiting the alley.
At the gate of the Chen family’s house and under the sun of June, Shu Ran was wearing a white shirt with a bookish look, holding a stack of rice paper in his hands, and looking as clean and beautiful as the blue skies above his head.
Realizing that Shu Ran was not in a hurry to go in, and instead kept looking at his back, Xu Shen felt his heart beating so fast, as fast as wanting to escape his chest. The feeling was indescribable, even more exciting than the adrenaline rush of holding each other in bed.
Watching Xu Shen’s figure disappear at the corner of the street, Shu Ran turned around and walked into the Chen family’s courtyard.
Xue Feng had the habit of visiting her shops every morning and was now just about to leave. When she saw Shu Ran combing, she greeted him with a smile: “Xiao Ran? You’re alone?”
She didn’t see Xu Shen’s figure, thinking it was quite strange.
“Yes, Aunt Feng, Brother Shen sent me here and left. He’s busy.” Then he pointed to the rice paper in his hands: “The designs I promised you yesterday… shall we go in and have a look?”
“So fast?” Xue Feng was surprised. She thought Shu Ran’s “tomorrow” was just a polite statement, and it would be two or three days until he came back with the work.
“It’s fine.” Shu Ran smiled. “It’s not much.”
“Come on, let’s go to the tea room and have a look.” Xue Feng said happily, but her pace was windy and s he looked quite anxious.
Upon entering the room, Shu Ran laid down the fruits of his labor and introduced them one by one to Xue Feng. She was pleasantly surprised and liked them very much. “You drew all this in just one night?”
“Yes.” Shu Ran nodded.
“Really not bad.” Xue Feng looked at the papers on the table, unwilling to let them out of her hands. “I’ve never seen anything like this on the market. It looks very pleasing to the eyes.”
Seeing that she liked it, Shu Ran’s lips curved. “Do you think you can use them?”
“Of course I can! I will go to the printing factory today and talk with the masters.”
Not only was it useful, but they were also designed with so much care, not looking like random drawings at all. It was professional work and if Xue Feng wanted to use it, she couldn’t get it for free. “Xiao Ran, I want to pay you a design fee. If I need more in the future, I’ll come back to you. What do you think?”
Shu Ran felt it was not lucky to charge design fees for the first work, so he said: “Aunt Feng, there’s no need this time. If these designs do well, you can ask me again next time. How about charging it then?”
Xue Feng was a very cheerful person: “Okay! I’ll listen to you then! Come with Aunt to patrol the shops. I’ll take you to eat delicious food along the way.”
The sun was not strong yet, so the two of them went for a walk.
Despite being in her early fifties, Xue Feng still walked with a spring in her step, making Shu Ran look a little sloppy and unable to keep up with her peace. It wasn’t that Shu Ran became a waste at an early age, it was all the fault of that man who stabbed him a thousand times last night… He tormented him for three hours and still had the audacity to appear unsatisfied with his meal.
“Hiss…” Shu Ran secretly punched his lower back and inhaled.
Fortunately, they arrived at the shop soon, and the server offered them some tea. While Xue Feng got busy, Shu Ran sat down to rest by himself. He took a look around and found out that the store was in a good location and about thirty square meters. The room was filled with various tea leaves. Shu Ran looked at the prices, realizing that Xue Feng was indeed a good businesswoman. Everything was affordable and suitable for the public to choose from.
Watching people bustling in to buy tea was very cheerful. After staying for about twenty minutes, they left for the next shop.
This store was much more spacious, with new furniture. It should have been opened in the past year or two. After all, the country has only recently allowed self-employment. The store was about fifty square meters, separated by two tea rooms, and the tea variety was also relatively high-end. At first glance, it looked like a store for wealthy tea drinkers.
The shopkeeper was a lady in her thirties, with outstanding looks and very eloquent when receiving guests. Her name was Meng Xia.
“Sister Feng is here?” Meng Xia finished greeting her guests and looked at Xue Feng and Shu Ran. “Hey, look at this handsome guy! Is he a relative of the Chen family?”
Shu Ran observed the scene when she was entertaining customers earlier, and knew why Aunt Feng chose her as a shopkeeper. She was smooth, smart, and good at doing luxury business.
“How could that be? What relatives of mine could give birth to such a smart child?” Xue Feng was not fond of the word “relatives”. They were all white-eyed wolves, only looking for advantages. “This is Xu Shen’s friend, his name is Shu Ran. He is a scholar, different from Xiao Kai and the other boys…”
“No wonder, you look bookish, like a college student!” When she heard that Shu Ran was Xu Shen’s friend, Meng Xia smiled and continued: “Xu Shen hasn’t been in the store for a long time. I don’t know what he’s been doing recently.”
“He must have been frightened by the little girls chasing him.” Xue Feng kept chatting while getting busy. “Xiao Ran, you don’t know but Xu Shen is very popular with the little girls in this area.”
They were talking so loudly that Shu Ran couldn’t get a single word in. When he heard there was gossip, he quickly asked: “Really?”
“Yes!” Xue Feng continued: “It’s a story from last year. Meng Xia went home to visit relatives and the store was short of manpower. I asked Xu Shen to look over it for more than ten days. Guess what… In those ten days, no boy came over to buy tea. There were so many young girls, all coming to see him.”
She recalled vividly: “All those little girls have been in love for a long time. Some of them still come over from time to time to inquire about him.”
“Didn’t Xu Shen get married recently?” Meng Xia answered with a smile. “I would tell them when they come, and they would probably never set foot in this store again.”
“Oh, I don’t understand it either.” Xue Feng continued: “There are so many girls in the city who like Xu Shen, all of them good-looking and with good families… But Xu Shen just doesn’t like them.” She stopped to take a sip of tea as if to moisten her throat. “I heard that he married a rural girl with poor family conditions and a shy personality. I don’t know what he wants… Maybe they knew each other from childhood or something.”
“What does she look like?” Meng Xia was curious.
She knew that Xu Shen was the kind of man that was one in a million. Everybody liked him as soon as they laid eyes on him, and it was not surprising that his admirers went crazy.
“Haven’t seen her. It’s been several days since the wedding, and Xu Shen is still covering her up.” Xue Feng teased.
As the one being discussed, Shu Ran’s smile didn’t fade, and he listened to Xu Shen’s adventures with great relish. He might be a jealous person, but to get jealous over this kind of thing was crazy. It was normal for many people to like Xu Shen when he looked like that. Not to mention that Xue Feng didn’t understand why he didn’t marry a city girl, Shu Ran couldn’t understand it either. Where did Zhou Hui “win”?!
After much deliberation, Xu Shen might have been worried about his past and believed a city girl who came from a loving family might never get along with him. it was better to find someone willing to endure hardship and know that life was not easy. Such a person would never cause trouble for him.
Shu Ran didn’t know if his guess was right. After all, Xu Shen didn’t marry any girl in the end but married a guy.
Meng Xia finally concluded: “Xu Shen’s wife is truly lucky. I wonder when I will meet her…”
