Well, well, so he’s already handing over his paycheck and savings?
Shen Man happily tucked away the money and the bankbook. When she looked up at Huo Changzheng’s stern, cold face, he suddenly seemed even more dashing and striking than when they first met.
A man who’s rich and handsome!
Could she have another dozen of these wealthy, handsome men? She certainly wouldn’t complain!
While the couple held a secret conversation in the bedroom, someone in the yard was growing anxious.
Lu Jinwen jabbed Lu Jinye, her annoyance boiling over. "Brother, do you know what Huo Changzheng and Shen Man are talking about? Why haven't they come out yet?"
Lu Jinye was still teasing Cheng Ze about being mistaken for someone else by Shen Man. Hearing this, his face immediately darkened.
"Why are you so concerned about what a married couple talks about? Even if they were talking for days and nights, it’s none of your business. I already told you not to come to their house. Commander Huo is married now—don't you think it’s completely distasteful for you to keep coming around like this?"
He shook his head, looking at her with a mix of frustration and disappointment.
"If you ask me, we should be lucky that Comrade Shen is broad-minded. If it were a more sharp-tongued woman, you wouldn't just be scolded away—you’d have been thrown out. Honestly, can't you just go find a decent man to date? Why must you obsess over Commander Huo? Look at his situation."
Lu Jinye had been quite blunt, but Lu Jinwen refused to listen.
"Brother! I’m your sister! How can you boost someone else's morale and belittle your own? Besides, maybe once Shen Man finds out about Huo Changzheng’s medical condition, she’ll despise him and regret marrying him. I’m different. I don’t mind his condition; I just love the man himself."
She didn't lower her voice as she spoke.
Huo Lin and Huo Zhi overheard her, but being young, they didn't quite grasp her meaning. They asked curiously, "Sister Lu, is Dad not feeling well?"
"Is Dad sick and hiding it from us? Sister Lu, tell us where he hurts, and we’ll give him a massage when we go to sleep tonight."
In the children’s eyes, being "unwell" meant either being chronically weak and bedridden like Huo Li, or having an actual illness with a specific point of pain.
Their innocent question caught Lu Jinwen off guard. Her face heated up, and she suddenly regretted saying those things in front of them, leaving her unsure of how to answer.
Seeing this, Lu Jinye shot her a glare and quickly explained, "That’s not it at all. Your father isn't sick; we were just discussing a different matter. You kids wouldn't understand. Go outside and play."
Adults always love to brush children off like they’re fools. Huo Lin’s expression darkened, and he decided to drag Huo Zhi away to ask their grandmother.
Just then, two more people arrived at the gate.
"Jinwen, what are you saying to them? Is that kind of talk appropriate for children?"
"Auntie!"
Seeing her, Huo Lin’s eyes lit up. He ran over to Huo Changyue. "Auntie, do you know what’s wrong with Dad? Why did she say a stepmother would despise him?"
Huo Zhi also looked up at her. "Yeah, Dad is so strong. Why would anyone despise him? If anything, Dad should be the one despising her!"
Although they had tentatively accepted Shen Man, if she dared to look down on Huo Changzheng, they would kick her out in a heartbeat!
Seeing the undisguised malice on the two children’s faces, Huo Changyue frowned and sighed. "Your father’s health is a little poor, but it’s nothing serious. As long as he gets plenty of rest, it’ll be fine. You don't need to worry."
With their own aunt confirming it, the boys assumed there was no major problem. They gave an "oh" and went back to wrestling with their yo-yos.
At that moment, the little girl who had been hiding behind Huo Changyue finally poked her head out, her voice crisp and curious. "What are you playing? Can I play with you?"
Zhou Nian was Huo Changyue’s daughter. Although she was half a year older than Huo Lin and the others, she had always been timid and shy. Even though their families lived close by, she had never dared to interact with them; to this day, they could count their conversations on one hand.
Huo Lin and Huo Zhi didn't like playing with girls, but out of respect for their aunt, they reluctantly agreed.
"Fine. You can play with this one. Be careful, don't break it."
Huo Zhi gave her the spare yo-yo he wasn't currently using, while Huo Lin added a rather crude threat: "This one tangles easily. If you mess it up and can't untie it later, I'm going to beat you, cousin or not."
"I-I’ll be careful," Zhou Nian said, cowering, but she wanted to play so badly that she braced herself and followed them anyway.
Rarely seeing her daughter take the initiative to play with others, Huo Changyue let it go and walked into the courtyard herself.
"Where are they? How can they just leave guests standing outside and go into the house?"
Huo Changyue was a traditional woman. She had originally felt that Shen Man was a principled and honorable woman for fulfilling the marriage promise despite her brother’s disability, but she didn't think so anymore.
"It’s one thing for Changzheng to be a man and not know better, but shouldn't my sister-in-law have invited you all in to sit down? This is simply improper."
Just as she was about to call out to invite them inside, Huo Changzheng and Shen Man walked out of the house one after the other.
The two were chatting as they walked. Upon seeing Huo Changyue, Huo Changzheng took the initiative to introduce them. "She is my older sister. Sis, this is my wife, Shen Man. Our families live close by, so we should visit each other often."
With that, he quickly signaled for Lu Jinye and Cheng Ze to head out. "We have training, so we’re heading back. Shen Man, please look after the guests; I’ll be back before dinner."
Shen Man gave a loud "Oh," then raised an eyebrow at Huo Changyue, who was wearing her dislike for Shen Man all over her face.
"Big Sister, I think I heard you bad-mouthing me just now? I hope that wasn't an auditory hallucination?"
In Huo Changyue’s view, a sister-in-law didn't need to treat her with the same reverence one would show a mother-in-law, but at the very least, she should show some restraint, as she was Huo Changzheng’s own sister.
Shen Man’s lack of respect—even going so far as to confront her—made Huo Changyue despise her even more.
"What? Am I wrong? You may have just arrived, but from today on, you are the lady of this house. As the host, how can you leave guests standing in the yard? Did your parents never teach you the most basic hospitality?"
Huo Changzheng’s departure had clearly signaled that the others were here on a short-term, casual visit, but Huo Changyue felt that even if a guest only stayed for a few minutes, they were still guests and should not be slighted.
She intended to give her ignorant sister-in-law a lesson, but Shen Man wasn't buying it.
She rolled her eyes and, right in front of Huo Changyue, picked at her ear and blew away the imaginary wax.
"Yes, yes, you’re the big sister, you’re always right. Wow, you’re just so well-mannered, aren't you?"
"But you also said I’m the lady of this house. How I treat guests in my home is my business—I don't think an outsider like you needs to teach me, do you?"
Huo Changyue was already offended by her vulgar behavior, and hearing her called an "outsider" made her blood boil.
"You say I’m an outsider? I am Huo Changzheng’s own sister!"
"So what? Does this house have a room for you? Where do you live? Why don't I see any of your things here? If you don't even have a room, what else should I call you if not an outsider?"
Shen Man gestured dramatically around the house, and Huo Changyue turned red with fury.
"You are absolutely shameless! How could my brother marry a woman with no manners like you! I’m so angry I could die!"
Unable to best Shen Man in an argument and seeing that her own mother, who had less fighting spirit than she did, was no help, she could only turn and stomp away in a rage. After leaving, she dragged a bewildered Zhou Nian away by the arm.
Seeing this, Lu Jinwen couldn't help but sneer. "Shen Man, you probably don't know this, but Huo Changzheng is closest to his sister. You’ve really angered her today—just wait and see what happens to you."
Shen Man didn't see why she was gloating. "And? I’m the wife he’s closest to. If you’re so capable, tell her to go run and complain to him like you do. I’d love to see what happens when she messes with me."
Lu Jinwen had been deeply bothered by the close and easy way Huo Changzheng had acted with Shen Man, as if they were a truly loving couple. Shen Man’s words hit a raw nerve. She spat on the ground and countered fiercely: "Ugh! You’re shameless! Huo Changzheng doesn't love you at all, he—"
Before she could finish, Shen Man picked up a broom and began sweeping at Lu Jinwen’s feet, chanting as she moved:
"Away, away, you demons and monsters, away, away, you demons and monsters~"