CHAPTER 268: CHAPTER 268 COMPARISON

After the birthday, Jiang Zhixun is already thirty-four years old.

Returning from a late-night snack, the two lay in bed talking, and Jiang Zhixun was still a bit melancholic.

"I’ll be forty soon."

Shen Qingqing also felt time was passing quickly, agreeing, "I’ll be thirty soon."

His forty is still quite far off, but her thirty is right around the corner.

When it comes to age, starting with a two and starting with a three always feels different.

Now, Shen Qingqing still feels like a young girl, but at thirty, her mindset might change.

Jiang Zhixun carefully examined the woman resting on his arm, compared to the year they went to the Northwest, she had become mature, calm, with a kind of elegance that comes with experience.

But whether it was the past Shen Qingqing or her now, she could always captivate him.

Having finally reconciled, Jiang Zhixun cherished every day with Shen Qingqing.

"What are you looking at?"

The man’s gaze was intense, roaming over her face, making it impossible for Shen Qingqing to ignore.

Jiang Zhixun: "I’m wondering what you’ll look like at thirty."

Shen Qingqing was curious, "What do you imagine?"

The man teased, "You might be meaner than now; you never used to scold me, but now not only do you scold, you scratch too."

"Jiang Zhixun, you’re doomed!"

Shen Qingqing turned to scratch him, and the man lay flat, assuming a delicate posture, allowing her to have her way.

As they messed around, things once again got out of control.

Jiang Zhixun: "It’s nice to have a birthday, we should come out and stay like this on every vacation, just us two."

Shen Qingqing: "Spendthrift!"

Jiang Zhixun: "Save where necessary, spend where it counts."

...

Jiang Zhixun only returned to the compound by noon the next day.

He looked as if he had been soaked in a spring breeze, appearing in great spirits.

Not seeing Shen Qingqing, Madam Jiang looked suspiciously, "Did you make Qingqing angry again?"

Jiang Zhixun was puzzled, "Am I that troublesome?"

"In this house, you’re the most troublesome."

Jiang Zhixun carried his clothes upstairs, "She went back to school."

The students were already on vacation, but Qingqing still had work. The time she managed to spend with him for his birthday was squeezed out last-minute.

Madam Jiang said, "Her previous job was a bit more flexible."

She could work as much as she wanted.

The more effort, the more earnings.

Not confined to a location.

And she earned much more than an average person.

Jiang Zhixun frowned, "She can do whatever she wants, just don’t mention it in front of her."

"I’m just speaking my mind, not suggesting she change jobs."

A university lecturer’s job is great.

She’d have to be crazy to coax Qingqing into doing something foolish.

"Are you on vacation? When Qingqing gets off work, pick her up for dinner at home. If you’re free, why not take up the responsibility of picking her up and let her stay at home at night?"

"Hmm."

The students are on vacation, the campus is quiet.

Staying and eating at home is more comfortable.

Jiang Zhixun said no more, heading upstairs a few steps and disappearing around a corner.

Even when they weren’t home, Madam Jiang cleaned daily, keeping the rooms tidy and neat.

First, she hung clean clothes in the wardrobe, wearing only a vest, and went to the bathroom to do laundry.

There were his clothes and Shen Qingqing’s.

Jiang Zhixun did this sort of thing countless times, managing all her belongings while Shen Qingqing was abroad.

Laundry is simple enough.

It’s just that when washing intimate clothes, Jiang Zhixun couldn’t avoid blushing.

Some indescribable images came to mind.

Even his ears turned red.

But thinking of himself as a married man, he felt at ease.

Shen Qingqing became his wife at twenty.

What’s wrong with helping wash some intimate clothes?

Jiang Zhixun had strong hands, so he could scrub his clothes clean in no time.

But with Shen Qingqing’s clothes, he dared not use force.

Afraid of ruining the clothes.

He gently applied soap, lightly scrubbed, and finally rinsed several times with clean water.

He had a serious and meticulous attitude.

Once certain they were perfectly clean, he hung them on the balcony to dry.

The weather was good, so they would dry quickly.

After gathering the clothes in the afternoon, the timing was just right to pick someone up from school.

Shen Qingqing had only stayed one night in the wedding room recently; her scent lingered on the pillows and blanket.

Lying on the double bed, Jiang Zhixun was extremely at ease.

He fell asleep in no time.

After being on a mission for three months and taking a long train ride.

Then had countless intimate exchanges with his wife.

He hadn’t slept much the night before.

Relaxing now, he quickly fell asleep.

Madam Jiang didn’t disturb him upstairs, only simmering chicken soup in the kitchen.

The body is the foundation of the revolution.

Zhixun’s training is tough, Qingqing’s work is exhausting, they need proper nourishment.

Simmering on low heat, time trickled by, and the scent gradually spread through the air.

By the time Jiang Zhixun woke, it had reached the upstairs.

Remembering his wife loved pasta, Jiang Zhixun noticed there was still time and went downstairs to make wontons.

Together with the chicken soup, Qingqing would enjoy it.

Madam Jiang, aware of what he was up to, was secretly pleased, thinking her son had finally matured.

If he remained as clueless as before, she would have been worried sick.

After making the wontons, Jiang Zhixun headed out to pick up Shen Qingqing.

Thinking of going on a date with his wife, Jiang Zhixun didn’t take the car but rode Shen Qingqing’s bicycle.

Afraid she might get hungry, he brought a small cake as a snack on the way.

Jiang Zhixun thought Zhou Hansheng, after getting married, would continue his studies abroad.

Unexpectedly, he encountered him halfway.

A stranger woman was with him, trying to get close to Zhou Hansheng by talking to him continuously.

Zhou Hansheng was nonchalant, only nodding occasionally, without saying much.

Jiang Zhixun realized that was likely Zhou Hansheng’s newly-wed wife.

They were coming from the direction near the hospital.

If it were the past, Zhou Hansheng staying in the country would have made Jiang Zhixun feel pressured, fearing he would try to steal his wife.

Back then, even when he and Qingqing weren’t divorced, Zhou Hansheng hovered around her.

Even Comrade Shi Yu noticed Zhou Hansheng liked Qingqing.

Zhou Hansheng had a history of attempting to steal.

Jiang Zhixun couldn’t ignore it.

Luckily, Zhou Hansheng was married; as long as he had morals, he’d definitely not bother Qingqing again.

Jiang Zhixun had strong confidence in his wife; she didn’t like clinging to others.

But if someone kept revolving around her, it would still be quite annoying.

Zhou Hansheng went home after work.

Seeing Yu Wei come to pick him up, he felt under great pressure.

Unable to give Yu Wei love, he hoped they could simply respect each other and live ordinary lives.

But Yu Wei obviously didn’t think that way.

She involved herself in his life endlessly, frequently visiting the hospital, bringing food for the medical staff, intentionally building good relations.

These acts weighed heavily on Zhou Hansheng.

He just wanted to work quietly, not dealing with relationships.

Yu Wei’s actions troubled him greatly.

Zhou Hansheng recalled the time with Shen Qingqing abroad.

Because he was busy with work, Shen Qingqing adapted a lot for him.

She never interfered with his work matters.

She had clear boundaries, giving him ample personal space.

Zhou Hansheng knew he shouldn’t compare the two women, yet he couldn’t help it.

If only he hadn’t messed up.

Now Shen Qingqing would be his Mrs. Zhou.

Life and work would be well balanced by her, unlike now, where he was exhausted both physically and mentally.