Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 35

After the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the lunar New Year, the couple moved back to Xu Jing’an’s place near the steel factory.

One reason was that it was close to Xu Jing’an’s work, saving her from exhaustion; another reason was that they wanted to enjoy their sweet time as newlyweds.

They were in the prime of their honeymoon phase, constantly inseparable and doing everything together, never wanting to be apart for even a moment.

Shen He took it upon himself to pick up and drop off his wife for work every day. As a couple madly in love, they often went to bed late at night and still had work the next day.

With the weather cold and the journey long, Shen He grew increasingly concerned for his wife’s well-being.

Shen mother wholeheartedly approved of this arrangement. Her son had been doted on for nearly 30 years, never lifting a finger around the house. But since he got married, he started doing laundry, cooking, and tidying up without complaint!

Whenever she saw her daughter-in-law wiping Shen He’s sweat with a handkerchief or encouraging him with a few kind words, Shen He would become even more energetic, as if he’d been injected with adrenaline!

While Shen mother was pleased with her daughter-in-law, she couldn’t help but feel a bit envious and even a touch sour at the scene. Shen father, who had never seen his son wash even a single sock for him, felt the same sting in his heart.

When there was something tasty at the dinner table, Shen He would respectfully serve his parents first. But aside from that token gesture, nearly everything else went straight into his wife’s bowl.

Watching his son behave like this every day, Shen father couldn’t help but feel exasperated.

Now that the young couple wanted to move out, Shen parents agreed without hesitation—after all, out of sight, out of mind!

When Shen parents voiced no objections to their decision to move out, Xu Jing’an was a little surprised. She thought to herself afterward that she had indeed chosen her in-laws well—they truly suited her.

Shen He simply lowered his head and chuckled.

Xu Jing’an felt that her in-laws were so considerate in everything they did, so she thought she should treat them even better. She decided to make each of them a new outfit on her sewing machine.

Xu Jing’an said, “Dad, Mom, I made you each an outfit—don’t look down on them.”

When Shen mother and father received the clothes, they couldn’t stop smiling.

“These are wonderful! Why would we ever look down on them? They’re perfect!”

Whether it was out of respect or true affection, their daughter-in-law was giving them gifts, showing that she valued her in-laws.

Even if Xu Jing’an had given them something as simple as inexpensive pickles, they would have happily accepted it as her in-laws!

It wasn’t just about the gift itself—it was about the thought behind it. Isn’t a strong family bond built on these small gestures, going back and forth with care and kindness?

Receiving the new clothes, Shen father and mother became even more certain: when it came to their future care, they would rely on their daughter-in-law—not their son.

With his solid skills and character, Shen He had fostered a harmonious family life, making their household a model of “a kind mother-in-law and a dutiful daughter-in-law” in the neighborhood.

In the evening, the couple returned to their small courtyard to enjoy their private world together.

Shen He looked at her intently. The light in the room was dim, yet Xu Jing’an could see a gleam in his eyes that seemed to shine.

Lying face to face on the bed, Shen He gently stroked her hair with one hand, while holding her hand with the other, rubbing it gently. They were very close; the faint scent of soap from him slowly drifted over, and Xu Jing’an felt even his breath seemed to carry warmth.

She reached out to wrap her arms around his neck, and he leaned down, kissing her. Her lips tasted of creamy candy, just as sweet as he had imagined.

The full moon hung high in the sky, its gentle light cascading over the earth, making the winter night feel less cold.

At work, not much had changed. Xu Jing’an and Wu Sufen still spent their time chatting over tea and sunflower seeds in their office.

“Could you help deliver these documents to the finance office?”

“Sure, I’ll go right away.” Xu Jing’an picked up the documents and left. After all, with Wu Sufen being pregnant, it was better for her to handle the running around.

On her way back from delivering the documents, Xu Jing’an noticed that, since marrying Shen He, the men who used to “bump into” her along the way had disappeared. From the moment someone first suggested setting her up with potential partners, she had noticed a steady increase in the number of men around her.

There were widowers seeking a stepmother for their children; men working in the factory with large families still rooted in rural areas; older single men in the city with only ten square meters at home and several brothers, barely a place to call their own; and only sons with pampered sisters who stayed idle at home, unable to find work.

As a single woman at the steel factory, Xu Jing’an was, in many eyes, quite a “catch.”

Young, with her own home, a steady job, and living far from her family—everyone wanted a piece of that.

Why not? She had a place that was comfortable year-round, where she could sleep well, do laundry, cook, and bathe with ease. Not even 20 years old yet, she had a lot ahead of her and wasn’t eager to settle down with just anyone.

When she began meeting Shen He, young men started appearing around Aunt Hua’s house and in nearby alleys. Xu Jing’an found herself “coincidentally” running into some of them, who would greet her more frequently.

Then one day, Shen He came to pick her up, dressed in his police uniform—olive green jacket, navy-blue pants, Liberation cap with the national emblem, and red epaulets.

After that day, it was as if a reset button had been pressed on her surroundings. Things returned to a calm, steady, and peaceful state, just like before.

The restlessness in Xu Jing’an’s heart also began to settle.

In the blink of an eye, more than three months of marriage had passed. The result of her sweet time with Shen He was that Xu Jing’an was now pregnant.

Seeing Shen He gently caressing her two-months-pregnant belly, she could sense his anticipation.

When Shen mother found out, she was overjoyed. Her second son was already 27, and finally, he was going to have a child. Watching the grandkids of neighbors over the years had left the elderly couple feeling envious, so this news was a dream come true for them.

Shen mother started bringing over meat, eggs, and nutritional supplements every time she got some. She also began dropping by frequently, every few days, to see if her daughter-in-law needed anything.

The weather was getting hotter, and it was peak season for fruits and vegetables. But even so, it required long waits in line to buy them, and there were only a few types available—eggplant, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, and yard-long beans.

Pregnant women are especially sensitive to heat. During the peak of summer, Xu Jing’an would be drenched in sweat without even moving. She kept all the windows and doors wide open, but not a breeze came through, so her fan was constantly in motion.

Only eating a popsicle could bring her a moment of relief from the stifling heat. The instant she saw the cold mist rising off the popsicle, she felt refreshed. One bite and the cool, sweet sensation spread through her whole body.

At night, the stifling heat was like a steam bath, making it impossible to sleep. Shen He would fan her while swatting away mosquitoes. The mosquito net was thick, and whenever they put it down, Xu Jing’an would wake up from the heat soon after.

Each night, they’d both struggle until exhaustion finally overtook them, and they’d drift off.

The poor diet, combined with the heat and lack of sleep, took a toll. By the end of summer, both Xu Jing’an and Shen He had lost weight.

As soon as the weather cooled, Xu Jing’an’s appetite returned, and only then did Shen He feel relieved.

The pregnancy went smoothly, without any disturbances. The baby in her womb seemed to understand, as she had no pregnancy discomforts. Her family was attentive, and she didn’t have to lift a finger for housework. In her later pregnancy, her great-aunt, Aunt Zhao, even came by every day to check on her. Xu Jing’an felt at ease, as if this pregnancy was practically effortless.

In late November, Xu Jing’an felt the baby drop lower in her belly and experienced occasional twinges of pain—she knew the birth was near.

For peace of mind, she decided to go to the hospital right away. If labor wasn’t imminent, she’d simply stay a couple of days.

Shen He quickly requested time off from work and biked Xu Jing’an to the hospital. After paying the admission fee, he settled her into her room.

Shen mother followed closely behind, bringing along a bundle she’d packed in advance.

That very night, the baby was born. Holding her squalling, eyes-closed grandson, Shen mother was so overjoyed that her eyes nearly closed with laughter.