Chapter 20: Staying Overnight, Sharing a Bed

"Ajin, you two keep Xiaoyu company and chat with her. I'll go prepare dinner." Dinner time was approaching.

Weijin nodded.

"Auntie, let me help you," Sang Yu said as she stood up.

"No need. Why would you be cooking? Just stay here and play with Ajin and the others. If you get bored, you can go to the backyard," He Xiulan patted Sang Yu’s shoulder.

Hearing this, Sang Yu didn’t insist on helping in the kitchen.

"Xiaoyu, I’ll take you to the backyard for a while," Weijin said.

"Okay," Sang Yu nodded.

So the three of them went to the backyard.

There were some vegetables planted, along with fresh flowers, and a small pavilion stood in the middle.

Having such a life back in the 1980s was truly enviable.

There, Sang Yu learned about the love story between Weijin and Jiang Chunhe.

It turned out that Weijin was Jiang Lan’s elementary school Chinese teacher.

Once, when Jiang Chunhe came to pick up Jiang Lan from school, he happened to meet Weijin.

At first glance, it was love at first sight.

From then on, Jiang Chunhe found reasons to go to the school frequently.

Gradually, he got to know Weijin and began pursuing her.

At first, Weijin wasn’t interested in this somewhat clumsy man, thinking he was silly.

But eventually, she was won over by his persistence.

Although a bit awkward, he was attentive.

After a year, Weijin agreed to marry him, and the following year, they tied the knot.

Weijin was afraid of childbirth, and when Jiang Chunhe and He Xiulan found out, they never pressured her.

Everything proceeded according to Weijin’s wishes.

She was deeply touched and tried her best to overcome her fear.

However, even after half a year of marriage, Jiang Chunhe’s attitude towards Weijin remained unchanged, just as it was in the beginning.

Sang Yu admired such a relationship.

Even in the twenty-first century, men and parents as open-minded as these are rare, let alone in the 1980s.

Here, everything was harmonious and joyful.

But on the other side, things were different.

"Ugh! What is this? Is this even edible?" Lu Ting took a bite of the food on the table, her face full of disgust.

Song Jiajia’s expression darkened.

She wasn’t good at cooking to begin with, and after two attempts, she had suffered countless setbacks.

Now that she had finally made something, it was criticized as inedible.

"I say, sister-in-law, did you put all the salt in the house into this? Is this even edible?" Lu Ting complained.

"Then why don’t you cook!" Song Jiajia could no longer hold back and shot back.

"You’re my brother’s wife. If you don’t cook, then who will?" Lu Ting retorted confidently.

"Enough, stop arguing. Jiajia, your cooking definitely needs improvement. These dishes are either burnt, undercooked, or raw. That’s money wasted," Lu Hao interjected.

Song Jiajia felt deeply wronged. They insisted she cook, and when she did, they complained it wasted food.

Hadn’t this family eaten meals before she came?

Liu Fenglian rolled her eyes and said, "Alright, Haozi, Ting, you two should hold back a bit. Jiajia just learned to cook; doing this well is already quite good. I believe with more practice, she’ll make delicious food. Don’t you think so?"

Song Jiajia had planned to take this chance to declare she wouldn’t cook anymore. After all, she had money and could just give them some.

But with Liu Fenglian’s words, she felt too embarrassed to say so.

She could only nod hesitantly.

Liu Fenglian exchanged a glance with Lu Hao, who understood immediately.

His attitude softened considerably as he looked at Song Jiajia kindly.

"Jiajia, I’m not blaming you. I know you didn’t have to cook at home before, but you also know Grandma is old now, and they’ve worked hard all their lives and deserve to enjoy some comfort.

Don’t worry, I’m going into business soon. When I start making money, we’ll move to a bigger house and hire a maid so you won’t have to cook anymore. How does that sound?"

Hearing Lu Hao’s words, Song Jiajia’s expression finally eased.

Indeed, once Lu Hao became successful, they could afford a maid.

Then she could fully embrace life as a wealthy wife.

"I know, Brother Lu. I’ll take good care of Grandpa and Grandma," she said.

Lu Hao looked touched and said, "Jiajia, I always knew you loved me."

Lu Ting rolled her eyes so hard it seemed they might pop out.

She was promptly glared at by Liu Fenglian and immediately restrained herself.

That night, Lu Hao earnestly rewarded Song Jiajia.

This time, Song Jiajia sensed something was off.

If the wedding night was the first time and she was inexperienced, that was one thing.

But this was not the first time.

Why did she still feel nothing before it ended?

Looking at the man who had already fallen asleep beside her, she wondered if she should find a time to have him check his health.

What if it was really his problem?

Song Jiajia found it hard to sleep.

Sang Yu was facing her own dilemma.

After dinner with Jiang Jingming, night had already fallen.

Although they had a car, Jiang Songwen and He Xiulan insisted they stay the night.

Sang Yu wanted to refuse, but hearing He Xiulan say Jiang Jingming hadn’t been home for a long time and seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, Sang Yu felt awkward to say no.

So she nodded in agreement.

However, when it was time to sleep, she began to regret it.

He Xiulan had only prepared one room for them.

Which meant there was only one bed.

Did that mean they would have to share a bed?

When Jiang Jingming returned from the study, he saw Sang Yu standing by the bed, lost in thought.

A fleeting expression crossed his mind.

He stepped forward. "What’s wrong?"

Sang Yu turned to Jiang Jingming. "There’s only one bed," she said, pointing at it.

Her eyes were as pure as a fawn’s, tinged with surprise.

Jiang Jingming instinctively looked away. "One room, of course there’s only one bed."

Sang Yu nodded seriously. "True."

"I’ll sleep on the floor," she offered.

This room was prepared for Jiang Jingming by He Xiulan and the others.

Because he rarely came home, the room was simply furnished, not even a sofa.

Sleeping on the floor? That didn’t seem right.

Sang Yu looked at the floor. Although it was midsummer, the floor was quite cool. What if she caught a cold?

"Forget it, the bed is big enough. Let’s just sleep on the bed," she said.

He had treated her well; she couldn’t repay kindness with ingratitude.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jingming’s eyes brightened and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Still pretending to be reluctant, he said, "No need. I’m fine. I can sleep on the floor."

"It’s okay. We’re married now. We can each take one side of the bed." Saying that, Sang Yu climbed onto the bed decisively.

Jiang Jingming pressed his lips together. If Sang Yu looked closely, she could see the joy shining in his eyes.