Once Shen Yan’s wedding festivities concluded, it was time to return to Jixing Town.
Lu Gu and Lingjun rode in the carriage while Shen Xuanqing drove it at a leisurely pace. Shen Yaoqing had already left with another cart carrying poultry and Guaizi.
“This time, Auntie is in town too. If you miss her, you can just walk over to see her,” Lu Gu said cheerfully to Lingjun.
“Mm,” Lingjun nodded, then placed his small hand on Lu Gu’s belly before looking up. “Amu, where’s little sister?”
Lu Gu chuckled. “Little sister is sleeping. I’ll call you when she wakes up.”
The first time the baby kicked, he had let Lingjun feel it, and the child remembered. Now, he checked daily.
When Lu Gu and Shen Xuanqing had asked Lingjun whether he wanted a brother or sister, the child had agonized before spotting an adorable little girl on the street and insisting on a sister.
“Sit properly, the road ahead is bumpy,” Shen Xuanqing warned the two inside the carriage.
Country roads were far from smooth.
By the time they reached town, Shen Yaoqing had already been sipping tea at the house for a while.
As soon as Lu Gu entered, Guaizi trotted over. Their dog was clever—no matter how excitedly he wagged his tail, he never jumped up on Lu Gu’s belly since the pregnancy.
“Granny, Granny, these are fried dough twists from my grandma, they’re delicious!”
Lingjun’s bright voice drew a rare, shy smile from the usually reserved Granny Hua. Her kindness to Lingjun had won the child’s affection, and even at his young age, he recognized her goodness.
While Lu Gu and Granny Hua sorted through the items brought from home, Shen Xuanqing took portions of meat and fried dough twists to deliver to Luo Biao.
Speaking of Luo Biao, his own happy occasion was approaching.
The trip to the town outskirts wasn’t far, so Shen Xuanqing walked. When he arrived, Luo Biao was eating. After settling down, Luo Biao had learned to cook for himself—though his skills were mediocre, it saved money.
“Second Brother Shen, come in! Have you eaten? There’s more in the pot if you haven’t,” Luo Biao said warmly, accepting the gifts and setting them on the table.
“No need. We ate before leaving home. Not hungry yet,” Shen Xuanqing glanced at the blackened food and replied.
Luo Biao scratched his head sheepishly. “As long as it fills the stomach. Honestly, even if it’s charred, it tastes better than my earlier attempts.”
Shen Xuanqing laughed. “Once Wanyun marries you, you’ll have someone to cook properly.”
At the mention of Li Wanyun, Luo Biao grinned and said between bites, “Exactly! I already told her—once she’s here, I’ll buy her meat every day.”
His courtship of Li Wanyun had begun with him mustering courage to ask Shen Xuanqing and Lu Gu to act as a matchmaker. Back then, he hadn’t dared hope for success, figuring a rejection would at least settle the matter.
Due to his former work as a brothel guard—a disreputable occupation—most families wouldn't accept him as a son-in-law. He understood his prospects were restricted to either widows or daughters from destitute families.
Still, he had to try.
Li Wanyun originally had no intention of remarrying, but the longer she stayed at her parents' home, the more gossip spread in the village. She earned money by weaving and raising silkworms, which made some people jealous.
After many twists and turns, she eventually became engaged to Luo Biao.
After the troubles with the Zhang family, the biggest advantage of marrying Luo Biao was that he had no parents-in-law. That was why she dared to agree. Now, she was just waiting for the auspicious wedding day.
Shen Xuanqing and Luo Biao were close friends. Seeing Luo Biao’s life gradually improve, with a home and a wife, Shen Xuanqing was naturally happy for him.
Lingjun grew day by day, but the little sister he had been hoping for never came.
On the day Lu Gu gave birth, the room was chaotic—shouts could be heard, and basins of bloody water were carried out. Granny Hua took Lingjun to the neighboring house to play.
Only after the baby was born was he allowed back into the room to see his amu. When he learned the little bundle in the swaddling clothes was a boy, he pouted unhappily. But after touching his little brother’s face, he smiled again.
Shen Xuanqing named the child Shen Wenmian, following the pattern of Zhao’er’s name.
When Lu Gu woke up and learned the name, Shen Xuanqing even wrote it out for him. Hearing that it sounded scholarly, Lu Gu was overjoyed.
The child sleeping beside him was tiny, while on the other side, Lingjun climbed onto the bed, lying sideways with his little feet resting on Lu Gu’s blanket, calling out, "Amu, when can we go out to play? Having a little brother isn’t fun at all."
The childish words made both of them laugh.
On the first night after Mian’er was born, Lu Gu had fallen asleep but, as usual, instinctively reached out in the middle of the night to check Lingjun’s blanket.
He gently tucked the child in, and Mian’er began to fuss.
Shen Xuanqing woke up, not even opening his eyes, and lightly patted the baby sleeping between them. Sensing Lu Gu’s movement, he said, "Go back to sleep. If he cries, I’m here."
"Mm," Lu Gu responded. The thought that there were now two children in bed—four people in total—filled him with contentment.
Years ago, when he was still with the Lu family, he had never imagined he would have two children, let alone with Shen Xuanqing.
The torment and mistreatment of the past had gradually faded. Though he sometimes felt resentment or sadness, those things were over, and those people were gone. There was no point dwelling on them. Shen Xuanqing treated him well, and that was enough.
Outside the window, a half-moon hung in the sky, casting its glow over the world.
The small town was quiet in the middle of the night, but in the courtyard, there was no longer that helpless person who could only gaze at the moon and think of his mother.
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