A delicate beauty takes a place in a marriage, while a cold, rough man seduces her every night.

Chen Xiaomeng was hurriedly called back to her parents' home by her younger brother, Qiao Yi.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I saw broken pots and pans scattered all over the ground, and tables, chairs and furniture smashed to pieces.

Chen Xiuying collapsed onto the floor of the main room, slapping her thighs and wailing loudly.

"Mom, what happened?"

Chen Xiuying raised her tear-streaked face, feeling wronged and resentful: "I can't live like this anymore! That old bastard Qiao Nianshan, he actually hit me!"

Where were you hit? Are you badly hurt?

"That old bastard slapped me." Chen Xiuying turned her left cheek to show her daughter, "Look, my face is still swollen!"

Chen Xiaomeng frowned and hesitated before asking, "Mom, did you...? Why would Dad hit you for no reason?"

"Why? That old man, he doesn't want to be with me, and he won't even let me have some fun!" Chen Xiuying burst into tears. "Xiaomeng, don't despise your mother. Only when you're stuck with a useless man do you know what it's like."

"He's useless himself and yet he blames me. What right does he have to blame me?"

Chen Xiaomeng was at a loss for words.

She could only advise, "Mom, you can't do this. Qiao Yi is already so old. It's not good for him if you two keep arguing like this."

"I can't care less about that now. Just wait and see. I'll put up with him for a few more months, and then I'm definitely not staying with him anymore!"

"Stop making trouble, Mom. Just settle down and live a peaceful life with Dad. He's skilled, a carpenter with work all year round, and can earn enough to support you and Qiao Yi."

Chen Xiaomeng knew that Qiao Yi's biological father, who had never shown his face, probably wasn't very capable, otherwise why would he allow his son to be raised in the Qiao family for so many years?

If Chen Xiuying doesn't stay with Qiao Nianshan, who would want an old, faded woman like her?

She could only advise her mother to be patient and live a good life with Qiao Nianshan.

"What's the use of him making so much money? He doesn't give me any anymore. That old man is scheming about how to leave his money to his daughter! His daughter's married now, what's the point of leaving her anything? Can she take care of him in his old age and bury him? If you push me too far, I'll take my son away and let that old man die alone!"

"Okay, Mom, stop saying things like that."

Chen Xiaomeng glanced at Qiao Yi, who was playing alone in the yard, and asked in a low voice, "Mom, who exactly is Qiao Yi's biological father?"

She only knew that Qiao Yi was not Qiao Nianshan's biological son, but she never knew which man her mother had fathered this younger brother with.

Chen Xiuying wiped away her tears, her eyes darting around, unwilling to elaborate: "Don't get involved in this."

Seeing that her mother was unwilling to talk about it, Chen Xiaomeng didn't press the matter further.

She sighed, "Mom, you and Qiao Yi should live a good life here. Don't argue with Qiao Nianshan anymore. As for Qiao Nianshan's money, it will definitely be yours in the future. Qiao Qingyan won't be a threat."

"What do you mean by that?" Chen Xiuying asked.

Chen Xiaomeng sneered, a sinister glint of calculation flashing in her eyes:

"What if she becomes filthy, or goes crazy? What if she becomes a despised whore? Who would care about her then? I'm afraid even her father wouldn't acknowledge her anymore."

-

With the end of the year approaching, the orders for mountain produce factories are increasing.

Zhijie had just gotten married, and Xiao Jingye told him and Chunya to rest at home for a few more days while he stayed busy at the factory.

He hasn't been home for several days.

Early in the morning, Qingyan planned to take her mother-in-law and Duoduo by bus to the city to find him.

School has already started winter break, and lately, as soon as Duoduo gets up, she turns on the TV and sits on her little stool watching cartoons with her eyes glued to the screen.

She doesn't want to go anywhere now, and with the cold winter weather, she's even less willing to go out.

Qingyan put a hat and scarf on her, and then put on a pair of woolen gloves, wrapping her up like a little penguin.

With a "click," the TV was turned off, and Duoduo immediately pouted, looking unhappy.

Qingyan knelt down and gently coaxed her, "Let's take a break from the TV, shall we go into the city to find your brother?"

Duoduo shook her head: "I won't look for it."

"Don't you miss your brother?" Qingyan asked.

"No! I want to watch cartoons!"

Qingyan tapped her cheek: "Who bought you the TV?"

"It's my older brother," the little guy said, his voice lowered.

"Brother hasn't been home for several days and misses Duoduo very much. Why don't you and sister-in-law go see him?" Qingyan straightened her hat and said gently, "Let's go see if brother is eating well and sleeping well."

"What if there isn't any?"

"If not, then kick his ass."

"Okay!" Duoduo grinned.

After breakfast, Qingyan picked up a thermos full of dumplings and led her mother-in-law and Duoduo to the village entrance to wait for the rural bus.

The car bumped and swayed for more than an hour before finally arriving at the city's bus station. After getting off, she hired a rickshaw and headed straight for the factory.

When the three arrived, they saw several workers loading goods onto a bread truck.

The office door was ajar. Qingyan gently pushed it open and immediately saw the man fast asleep, leaning against the sofa.

Xiao Jingye was wearing a gray sweater and black pants that accentuated his excessively long legs. One leg was resting on the sofa armrest, while the other casually dangled to the ground. The belt buckle at his waist gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen.

The morning light streamed through the window and fell on his face, outlining the clear contours of his jawline.

He rested his arm on his forehead, looking extremely tired.

The bluish-black stubble on his chin didn't make him look unkempt; instead, it added a touch of untamed wildness and mature masculinity to his originally cold and handsome face.

Just as Duoduo was about to call out "Brother," Qingyan quickly turned around and gestured for her to be quiet. The little girl immediately shut her mouth obediently.

On the coffee table sat a palm-sized iron basin, filled only with the cold soup remnants of instant noodles, a sight that was particularly heartbreaking.

Zeng Yumei was heartbroken to see this and immediately frowned.

Qingyan stepped forward, gently placed the thermos on the coffee table, and carefully pulled over the coat next to her and draped it over Xiao Jingye.

The man woke up as soon as the clothes were put on.

His gaze slowly swept over the three people in the room. He gradually sat up straight, his voice hoarse and dry: "Wife, Mom, what brings you here?"

"Brother!" Duoduo rushed over and hugged him. "Brother, I missed you."

She's incredibly sweet-talking; just a moment ago she was refusing to go out, but now she's clinging to me like crazy.

See people talking, see ghosts talking.

Xiao Jingye reached out and gently rubbed his younger sister's cheek. Zeng Yumei stepped forward, her eyes full of tenderness: "Look at you! How many days has it been since you had a good night's sleep?"

"It's nothing. I got up too early this morning to deliver goods, so I'm taking a nap." Xiao Jingye didn't want to say too much and worry his family.

His gaze fell on Qingyan and he noticed that her eyes were red-rimmed. His heart immediately felt as if it had been stabbed.

Qingyan silently took away the cold instant noodle bowl from the coffee table and pushed the insulated container in front of him:

"I steamed these dumplings for you before you left, eat them quickly."

Xiao Jingye took her fair, jade-like hand in his grasp, his gaze fixed on her: "Have you eaten?"

"Yes, we've already eaten at home. You should eat it while it's hot."

After saying that, Qingyan withdrew her hand, took the rag she had used to wipe the table and the small iron basin, and went out to wash them.

As Xiao Jingye gazed at his wife's figure, a bittersweet feeling welled up inside him.

Business is already tough in autumn and winter when it comes to selling mountain products. These past few days, with the Lunar New Year approaching, he finally managed to get a few big orders. Since Zhijie isn't here, he has to keep a close eye on things himself.

He was too busy to go back and visit his wife, so she braved the biting cold wind and traveled a long distance to the city to see him.

Qingyan really suffered because of him.

He calculated in his heart that he had already saved 50,000 yuan in savings. If he gritted his teeth and worked hard for a while this year, he would be able to raise enough capital to start a timber factory around the beginning of spring.

Running a timber mill is not like running a small business; firstly, it requires a large investment, and secondly, it requires strict management.

Forest logging and timber processing are both under the jurisdiction of the forestry station, and business licenses also need to be approved.

In a rural area, the number of approvals is strictly controlled, and usually only one compliant timber processing plant is allowed to be established in the same area.

Right now, no one in the entire township has the capital to take over the factory, so the opportunity is right in front of us.

After the Lunar New Year, we had to rush to the commune and forestry station to complete the procedures and submit an application for a business license. There was only one spot available, and if someone else took it first, it would be difficult to get one later. We couldn't afford to delay at all.

Xiao Jingye was indeed hungry, and he wolfed down the dumplings.

The steaming dumplings were made by his wife; the ones that were easy to spill were made by his mother, while the ones that were tightly sealed were made by his mother. He ate each one with great relish.

When Qingyan returned to the office after washing up, Xiao Jingye had almost finished eating the dumplings.

She was more familiar with the place than Zeng Yumei, so she made him a cup of tea. Xiao Jingye held the enamel cup and gulped down several mouthfuls.

A moment later, Zeng Yumei helped Duoduo up and said, "I'll take Duoduo for a walk around the factory area." After saying that, she pulled Duoduo out of the office, deliberately leaving the young couple some alone time.

As soon as the mother and daughter left, the room fell silent.

Qingyan sat down on the side of the sofa and reached out to close the lid of the thermos.

Xiao Jingye stared at her profile with fascination.

Today she was wearing a white wool coat, a cream-colored sweater, white pants, and even white ankle boots.

Her long, smooth, black hair cascaded down her shoulders, with one side tucked behind her ear. Her skin was fair and smooth, and she looked like a sweet little candy, captivating everyone's attention.

"Honey, stop what you're doing and let me hold you for a bit."

Xiao Jingye reached out and pulled the person into his arms.