In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

The night was as dark as ink, quietly tainting the hustle and bustle of the old alleyways of Shanghai.

The daytime hustle and bustle, children's play, and housewives' casual chatter have all settled down and blended into a state of tranquility.

Occasionally, a few barks of dogs would come from the depths of the alley, mixed with the faint sounds of cars passing by on the road in the distance, which only accentuated the tranquility of the alley at night.

The exhaustion from a long day's journey, coupled with the overwhelming joy of their family's sudden return, acted like the most effective tranquilizer, quickly lulling everyone in the Yang family into a deep sleep. Even their father, Yang Yongkang, who usually stayed up late, had his lights off early and was snoring evenly.

In the living room, in Yang Guangming and Lin Jianyue's small bedroom, the orange lamp cast a soft glow on every corner, dispelling the coolness of the night and creating a warm and private space.

After experiencing the excitement of their father's return during the day and the sumptuous dinner that resembled a New Year's Eve feast, Jing Shu and Zhi Yuan were completely exhausted and were sleeping soundly on the small bed in the inner room.

Jing Shu's breathing was even and long, as she tightly hugged the brand-new doll in the dress, as if it were her most precious treasure. Beside Zhi Yuan's pillow lay a small, brightly colored building block, his chubby little hand resting unconsciously on it.

Lin Jianyue watched as Yang Guangming gently closed the door to the inner room, shutting out the faint snoring and murmurs in his sleep. It was as if only the two of them remained in the world.

She sat on the edge of the bed, and the words that had been building up in her heart for four months surged forth like a floodgate opened, eager to pour out.

She needed to confide in him, to share with him every little detail of the time without her husband by her side.

Lin Jianyue began by talking in a soft, gentle voice about the changes in the children over the past few months, like a night breeze brushing against a window screen.

"Jing Shu is doing very well at the nursery. She received a little red flower because she draws well and the teacher praised her for her imagination."

She came back so proud of herself, her little tail practically wagging in the air.

As Lin Jianyue spoke, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up, "But there are also times when she throws a tantrum."

Last month, a boy named Xiaojun and another boy argued over a tin toy train. Neither of them would give in, and they were both gently criticized by Teacher Wang.

When she got home, her little mouth was so pouty it could hold an oil bottle, and she was so upset she kept crying. It took a long time to coax her.

Zhiyuan, on the other hand, is even more extraordinary.

He's very mischievous now, running all over the yard. Sometimes he falls on his bottom, but he just dusts himself off and gets up on his own. He's not spoiled at all.

She speaks much more fluently now and loves to imitate her older sister's speech.

Jing Shu said "Grandpa Sun," and he followed with "Grandpa Taiang," but his pronunciation was inaccurate, which made everyone laugh.

"That brat's got a stubborn streak. If he wants something, he has to get it, or he'll get angry. I don't know who he takes after."

She spoke of the pressure of balancing work and studies, her voice carrying a barely perceptible weariness.

"I'm busy at school all day, with no time to spare. Only after I've put my two kids to sleep at night can I open my books and notes to preview or review the knowledge in the books."

I always feel like I don't have enough time, and I wish there were forty-eight hours in a day.

Thanks to my mother, eldest sister, and second sister for their constant help, picking up and dropping off Jing Shu and keeping an eye on Zhi Yuan, I was able to barely manage to get by.

"When I'm alone, I always think of you..."

She paused, her voice lowering, "Especially late at night, when the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I'm alone with the lamp and books. That loneliness, and the longing for you... for you who are so far away in a foreign land, is the most unbearable."

Then she talked about the trivial matters at home, those everyday things full of life.

"Mom's back and legs hurt. After spring, the humidity was high, and it flared up once. When the pain was so bad, it was difficult to walk."

Later, I saw a traditional Chinese medicine doctor and had acupuncture several times, and also used medicated plasters, before I finally recovered.

Dad is still the same as always, not very talkative, but he seems to be in good spirits. He reads the *Reference News* and listens to the news on the radio every day without fail.

……

Her words were like a babbling brook in the mountains, without any earth-shattering waves, just the small ripples of daily life, yet full of the real breath of life and the warmth of humanity.

These seemingly trivial narratives weave together a complete and vivid picture of his life during the four months he was away.

Yang Guangming never interrupted her; he simply sat quietly beside her, his broad hands enveloping her slightly cool fingers, his gaze focused and gentle on her face.

Sunshine needs no words; at this moment, simply listening is the best companionship and comfort.

He could clearly feel from his wife's seemingly plain words the hardships and resilience she had endured over the past four months, her silent dedication to the family, and the deep-seated, unwavering concern she held for them.

Lin Jianyue spoke for a long time until she felt her throat was dry and tight before she stopped.

She picked up the enamel mug with the red double happiness symbol on it from the bedside table, took a sip of lukewarm water, and smiled a little embarrassedly. "Look at me, I've been so busy talking that I've rambled on and on. Isn't it long-winded and annoying?"

"No nagging, not annoying at all." Yang Guangming's voice was deep and gentle. "I want to know about all these things at home, about the children, about you. I've been listening with great interest. These past four months have been tough on you, Jianyue."

He paused, then added, "Really, you've worked hard."

The simple and sincere words were like a warm current that instantly flowed through Lin Jianyue's body, making her eyes slightly hot and her nose tingle.

That feeling of being understood, seen, and cherished dispelled all the grievances and exhaustion from bearing it all alone.

Just then, Yang Guangming remembered something, gently patted the back of her hand, and got up to walk to the suitcase in the corner.

This brown leather suitcase, smaller than the one filled with everyone's gifts during the day, is his personal belongings.

He crouched down, unlocked the combination lock, and took out two large, exquisitely packaged wooden boxes.

"I almost forgot, there's also a gift specially for you." Yang Guangming brought two boxes to the bedside and handed them to Lin Jianyue.

Lin Jianyue took the box with some doubt. It was quite heavy and had the solid feel of wood.

"Didn't we give it to him this morning?" She looked up at her husband, her eyes filled with questions. "That set of gold jewelry—bracelet, necklace, and earrings—is already very valuable."

“Those are things all the women in the family have; they’re just a token of our appreciation, not a gift specifically prepared for you.” Yang Guangming looked at her, his eyes deep and gentle. “These two sets of jewelry were specially chosen for you in Hong Kong. Do you like them?”

His emphasis made Lin Jianyue's heart skip a beat.

She lowered her head and carefully opened one of the slightly longer wooden boxes first.

The moment the box was opened, the black velvet lining inside was revealed, and against that deep black background, a set of lustrous white pearl jewelry, with its inner radiance, sat quietly inside.

A necklace made of a dozen or so pearls of uniform size and soft luster; a pair of small and exquisite earrings, each set with a perfectly round pearl; and a ring with an extremely simple design, supporting only a small but of excellent quality pearl.

The pearl's unique, moonlight-like iridescence shimmers under the light, exuding a tranquil, elegant, and understated beauty.

"This is……"

A look of surprise flashed in Lin Jianyue's eyes, and she subconsciously held her breath.

She gently picked up the pearl necklace, feeling the cool touch of the pearls on her fingertips and their unique, warm texture.

Each pearl is round and full, with almost no flaws, and its purity and nobility are further enhanced by the black velvet.

With anticipation, she opened another square wooden box.

A vibrant, lively emerald green suddenly caught her eye, causing her to catch her breath slightly.

This is a set of jade jewelry.

A jade bangle that is as clear as water, with a bright and pure color and almost no impurities; a necklace with several full, lustrous, and evenly colored jade cabochons strung together with an exquisite 18K gold clasp; and a ring that is also set in gold, with an oval-shaped jade cabochon as the main stone.

The jadeite has excellent texture and fine color. Its green color seems to contain vitality, which is fresh and grand, presenting a completely different aesthetic from the gentleness of pearls.

"This...this is too beautiful..." Lin Jianyue couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, her voice trembling with disbelief.

No woman can resist the allure of such exquisite jewelry, especially in an era of relative scarcity, where people generally dress simply and in monotonous colors. These two sets of precious jewelry, which combine traditional charm with modern design, have a tremendous visual and emotional impact.

Lin Jianyue came from a cadre family and had a broader perspective than the average woman, but she had never owned, or even appreciated, such exquisite and precious pearl and jade jewelry up close.

The set of heavy, glittering jewelry she received during the day already seemed too expensive. But these two sets in front of her, in terms of the rarity of the materials, the exquisiteness of the design, and the overall taste, showed much more care and completely exceeded her expectations.

"Give it a try?" Yang Guangming encouraged her, seeing the undisguised delight on her face.

A blush rose on Lin Jianyue's face, a mixture of girlish shyness and barely suppressed anticipation, and she nodded.

She first picked up the pair of pearl earrings and carefully put them on in front of the small round mirror on the bedside table, which she had used for many years.

A cool metal needle pierced her ear piercing, and two lustrous white pearls were lightly placed on her earlobes.

Instantly, the warm glow seemed to brighten her slightly tired complexion, adding a touch of tranquility and elegance to her appearance.

Then, somewhat nervously, she picked up the jadeite bangle.

The inner circle of the bracelet was polished very smoothly. Yang Guangming reached out and gently held her slender wrist, carefully slipping the emerald green bracelet onto her wrist.

The bracelet is the perfect size; it won't slip off easily, and it doesn't feel too tight when worn.

That vibrant, almost dripping green made her already fair wrists appear even whiter and more delicate, like jade.

The bracelet swayed gently with her subtle movements, shimmering and sparkling as if it were alive.

She turned slightly to the side, looking at herself in the mirror, and seemed somewhat dazed.

The woman in the mirror still bore the faint traces of long-term toil, but against the backdrop of the white and emerald green, she revealed a radiance and elegance usually obscured by the trivialities of daily life, even her eyes seemed brighter. "So beautiful."

Yang Guangming stood behind her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders, gazing at his wife through the mirror, and sincerely admiring her.

He put a lot of thought into choosing these two sets of jewelry.

The pearl set is more casual, with a classic and simple design. It won't be too flashy if worn alone as a necklace or earrings, making it suitable for her to add a touch of style to her school or daily life.

Although the jadeite set is more precious, the shape of the imperial concubine bracelet is delicate, and the design of the cabochon necklace is also fashionable and elegant. It is not the kind of old-fashioned style, which is just right for Lin Jianyue's age and can make a good impression on important occasions.

He hoped that these pieces of jewelry would not only be expensive collectibles, but would also genuinely enhance her life, adding confidence and radiance, rather than remaining locked away in a box, never to see the light of day.

Lin Jianyue was captivated by the pearl. She turned her wrist slightly in front of the mirror, admiring the shimmering emerald green from different angles. She then gently touched the pearl on her earlobe, her eyes sparkling with an undisguised, girlish joy.

After a while, she seemed to suddenly wake up from a beautiful dream, remember reality, and carefully took off the earrings and bracelet. With gentle movements, she put them back into their respective velvet grooves and closed the box lid.

Then, she looked up at the bright sunlight, her joy fading, replaced by a clear sense of worry:

"These... must be very expensive, right? That set of gold this morning, with its enormous weight, was already quite frightening."

These two sets, especially the jade set, look... feel much more valuable than gold. You... you're out there earning money isn't easy, don't..."

Knowing full well that the price couldn't be hidden, and never intending to conceal it, Yang Guang frankly stated:

"The pearl set is relatively cheaper, around ten thousand US dollars. The jade set is indeed more expensive, costing over twenty thousand US dollars."

The main difference lies in the jade's texture and clarity—its transparency and fineness—as well as its color; both are at a very high level, making it extremely rare. It not only has value for wearing but also significant collectible value, with great potential for future appreciation.

Despite being mentally prepared, Lin Jianyue was still taken aback by the figure of "more than 20,000 US dollars"!
Based on a rough estimate using the official exchange rate, that's about 30,000 to 40,000 RMB!

In an era when an ordinary worker's monthly salary was only thirty or forty yuan and a family's annual living expenses were only a few hundred yuan, this was an unimaginable astronomical figure!

She recalled the shock and hesitation her father, Yang Yongkang, had felt when he saw the Rolex watch earlier that day, and now she felt a similar unease, even stronger.

"Guangming, this is too precious."

Lin Jianyue held her husband's hand, her tone becoming earnest and serious, "I know you are capable now and want to be good to me, I understand that and I am truly touched."

But I really don't need something so expensive.

Jewelry is fine as long as it has meaning. Don't spend so much money on me anymore, it's too wasteful.

"Simple and ordinary is fine. As long as our family can be safe and sound, together, that's better than anything else, and more beautiful than any jewelry."

Her concerns were genuine, stemming from prevalent ideas of the time and from her love for her husband.

The enormous wealth brought not only joy, but also a nagging unease, and concerns about whether her husband was working too hard outside and whether he was taking on unknown risks.

Yang Guangming completely understood her feelings. He took her slightly cool hand and wrapped it tightly in his warm palm, gently stroking the back of her hand.

Yang Guangming said gently, "Don't worry, Jianyue. I know what I'm doing."

Every penny of this money was obtained legitimately through the transfer of legal patents, and the organization was fully aware of and approved of it.

I'm happy to buy things for you and your family, and I feel it's worth it. As for the future…

He paused, not giving a definitive answer, "It depends on the situation, but I definitely won't waste money or disrupt our family's normal life. Your husband here has that much judgment."

He didn't make unrealistic promises like "I'll never buy it again," because that wouldn't be true and would seem perfunctory.

But his calm gaze, resolute tone, and the composure he showed when mentioning "the organization is clear" were like a pair of strong hands, gradually soothing the ripples of unease that had risen in Lin Jianyue's heart.

Her husband was far away in a foreign country, working hard and striving, but he always kept her and their family in his heart, and was willing to share what he thought was the best with her.

This heartfelt sentiment is far more precious than the value of the jewelry itself.

She said nothing more, swallowing back the words of advice that were on the tip of her tongue.

She simply rested her head gently on his broad, sturdy shoulder, feeling that familiar, reassuring presence, and murmured, "Thank you, Guangming. I... really like it."

All those words ultimately boil down to this one sentence.

Yang Guangming reached out and put his arm around her slightly thin shoulders, pulling her closer into his embrace, feeling the gentleness and dependence of his wife in his arms.

The light from the desk lamp cast the silhouettes of the two people nestled together onto the white wall, blurring and warmly blending them together.

The slight sense of unfamiliarity and the distance caused by the four months of separation were completely dissolved without a trace in this quiet embrace and silent communication.

The air was filled with a warm and tender atmosphere and a long-lost sense of intimacy.

Neither of them spoke again, quietly enjoying the peaceful time that belonged to them after a busy and noisy day.

The moonlight outside the window moved silently, casting a small patch of soft light on the old floor of the room through the old window frame, like a gentle gaze.

From the inner room came a muffled murmur from Zhiyuan, which seemed to be "Dad...", before returning to silence, with only the children's even breathing remaining.

Yang Guangming lowered his head, looking at Lin Jianyue's smooth forehead, her slightly trembling eyelashes, and her soft breathing. A huge warm current of love, gratitude, and the joy of regaining what he had lost surged in his heart.

He gently lifted her chin, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, and then, a tender yet firm kiss pressed his lips against hers.

Lin Jianyue's body stiffened slightly at first, then she completely relaxed, closed her eyes, and her long, thick eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings.

With four months of pent-up longing and passion, she responded enthusiastically to this long-awaited yet incredibly familiar kiss.

A little farewell is better than a wedding.

All the longing, concern, worry, joy, and those profound emotions that cannot be fully expressed in words melted into this long and deep sigh, intertwined under the warm orange light, and engraved in this ordinary yet incredibly special night...

The next morning, his biological clock, ingrained over many years, woke Yang Ming precisely on time.

The sky outside the window was just beginning to lighten when the first clear bird song echoed through the alleyway.

He carefully lifted the covers and got up, moving gently so as not to disturb his wife who was still fast asleep beside him.

Lin Jianyue had a serene and contented smile on her face, with the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, as if she were having a sweet dream. The fatigue of the past few days seemed to have been relieved a lot in this slumber.

Yang Guangming gently tucked the blanket around her, gazed at her for a moment, then put on his simple sportswear, tiptoed out of the bedroom, and went out for his unwavering morning exercise.

Early risers were already busy in the alleyway. Workers emptying chamber pots pushed their carts past with a creaking sound, and the air began to fill with the distinctive smell of coal stoves being lit, as well as the tempting aroma of fried dough sticks and soy milk wafting from breakfast stalls in the distance.

As Yang Guangming jogged along his familiar route, he felt the pulse of the city that had given him birth and nurtured him slowly awakening in the morning light, and his heart was filled with a sense of peace and tranquility.

When I got home after my morning exercise, my mother, Zhang Xiuying, was already busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

The eldest sister, Xianglan, also came down early to help. The white rice porridge was bubbling in the pot, and the meat buns and steamed buns that she had brought back from Lao Zhengxing yesterday were steaming in the steamer, emitting the unique sweet aroma of the pasta.

"Mingming's up? Why didn't you sleep a little longer? Have you adjusted to the time difference?" Zhang Xiuying asked her son with concern as soon as she saw him, her face beaming with joy and her wrinkles around her eyes smoothing out with a smile.

"Mom, eldest sister, good morning. I'm used to waking up at the same time every day; my jet lag is almost adjusted." Yang Guangming replied with a smile, fine beads of sweat still on his forehead.

He picked up the washbasin and towel hanging behind the door, walked to the tap in the courtyard, and washed his face with the cool tap water. The icy feeling instantly dispelled the last trace of drowsiness.

Soon, the whole family got up one after another.

When Jing Shu and Zhi Yuan saw their father, they immediately rushed over like two happy little birds, still in their pajamas, and hugged his legs on either side.

"Daddy, Daddy! Are you still home today?" Jing Shu looked up at him with her little face and asked expectantly.

"Dad, building blocks!" Zhiyuan said, holding up the building blocks in his hand, his words muffled.

Yang Guangming's heart softened. He bent down and easily picked up the two children, one in each arm. Listening to their chattering, lazy morning words, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction and peace as a father.

This feeling of being needed and relied upon is something that no achievement in any career can replace.

The atmosphere at the breakfast table was relaxed and pleasant.

Everyone tacitly refrained from mentioning the million dollars and those valuable gifts again, as if they were just a splendid and distant dream from last night.

The conversation naturally turned to the children and the adults' respective work schedules.

Yang Guangming took a sip of warm, thick rice porridge and said to his parents, "Dad, Mom, I plan to go to Uncle He's house this morning to see him and Aunt Liu."

Yang Yongkang put down his chopsticks, nodded, and said solemnly, "It's only right. The He family has taken good care of our family, especially you, and has been very supportive."

Since you've returned from abroad, it's only proper and considerate to visit you as soon as possible to express my gratitude.

Although he was not clear about the specific work relationship between his son and He Zhenzhong, he knew the importance of this friendship.

Zhang Xiuying quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, we have to go. It's not appropriate to go empty-handed, so bring something, but nothing too flashy. Leader He's family doesn't do that; they just value the thought that counts."

She worried that her son would spend money extravagantly, as if he were buying things for his own family, which would cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

"I know, Mom. Don't worry, it's all prepared. It's just some ordinary foreign specialties and nutritional supplements, nothing fancy," Yang Guangming replied casually, already having a plan in mind. (End of Chapter)