Reborn in 1979: I Raised a Fortune with Four Daughters

Chapter 21 Marital Love

After setting off the fireworks, Zhao Yuan returned home.

Lin Fangfang had already lit a kerosene lamp.

"Zhaodi, boil some hot water for your mother to soak her feet, and put your little sister to bed early."

As he spoke, Zhaoyuan sat down in the main room and began weaving bamboo baskets. There were still about 20 baskets left to weave, and he would try to finish them tonight.

Lin Fangfang lit another kerosene lamp and placed it on the table next to Zhaoyuan. She also poured a glass of water and placed it on the table. She sat beside Zhaoyuan, keeping him company as he weaved bamboo baskets. Every now and then, she would feed Zhaoyuan a piece of candy.

A warm feeling welled up in Zhao Yuan's heart. In his past life, his wife was a strong woman who always argued with him about right and wrong, leading to frequent arguments and ultimately a divorce. Their child became the biggest victim, and no amount of compensation could ever make up for it. In this life, he was determined to treat his wife and daughter well. Although this wife wasn't as educated as his wife in his past life, she always put him first and placed him above all else. He was, in a sense, her everything.

Lin Fangfang handed him a piece of candy, which Zhao Yuan took, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Lin Fangfang froze, her face instantly turning bright red. She took Zhao Yuan's arm and gently rested it on his. Zhao Yuan freed his hand and patted Lin Fangfang's head. Scenes from their courtship flashed through Zhao Yuan's mind; they had been so loving back then. At that moment, Zhao Di's voice interrupted Zhao Yuan's thoughts.

"Mom, I'm soaking my feet. Can you bring the water to your place?"

Zhao Zhaodi carried a basin of water out of the kitchen and saw her parents being affectionate. She happily called out to her mother.

"Okay, bring it over. I'm soaking my feet here. Pour a basin for Dad too."

Lin Fangfang said.

"No need, I need to finish the bamboo baskets today, and I need to finish writing something before delivering the goods tomorrow morning. I'll soak your feet with you tomorrow night."

Zhao Yuan kept weaving bamboo baskets as he spoke.

"Alright then, I'll soak my feet here and keep you company."

Lin Fangfang put her feet in the basin and quietly watched Zhaoyuan weave a bamboo basket with lightning speed. Her husband was incredibly fast and efficient; his abilities had captivated her completely, and no amount of opposition from her family could change her mind. Of course, Lin Fangfang's family wasn't much better off. She only had her father, who basically ignored her; her brother had passed away a few years ago, leaving behind three children and a sister-in-law who had remarried and taken her children with her. She also had a younger sister who married into the village and had three sons and a daughter, so her father favored her sister and rarely visited Lin Fangfang's house. Lin Fangfang and her sister had never gotten along; everyone said they were incompatible. Although they lived in the village, they didn't interact much. One could say that Lin Fangfang and Zhaoyuan shared a similar fate.

After soaking her feet and putting on her shoes, Lin Fangfang carefully stacked the bamboo baskets that Zhao Yuan had woven, and counted them all again.

"192 now, 8 more to go."

Lin Fangfang said.

"Zhaodi, pour out the water."

Lin Fangfang sat down next to Zhaoyuan again and fed him a glass of water.

Zhao Di poured out the foot bath water and took her younger sister to bed.

Only Lin Fangfang and Zhaoyuan remained in the main room.

"Fangfang, go to sleep. I'll finish knitting in a little while."

Zhao Yuan said.

"I'll stay with you. I like being by your side."

Lin Fangfang said gently.

"What do you want? I'm going to Huacheng the day after tomorrow. It's a big city, much bigger than our provincial capital, with lots of good things."

Zhao Yuan lowered his head and quickly wove a bamboo basket.

"I don't need anything, I just want you to come back safely. The children and I are waiting for you at home."

Lin Fangfang looked at Zhao Yuan and said.

"Well, buying clothes isn't suitable for you right now. Let me see what good food you and the kids can eat, and I'll buy you some."

Zhao Yuan said.

"Okay, we like everything you bought."

Lin Fangfang said with a smile.

The two chatted about happy times from their school days, and their cheerful laughter echoed from time to time throughout the main room.

"Dad, Mom and Dad have made up."

Zhao Zhaodi whispered to her younger sister.

“My dad is the best dad now. Today, Zhao Pingyan told me that she envies my dad. Her dad never buys her anything to eat, he only buys things for his older brother and younger brother. He beats her if she does something wrong, and he also says from time to time that she is not allowed to go to school.”

Zhao Laidi said.

"Yes, our dad is the best."

Zhao Zhaodi said.

......

The two sisters fell asleep while chatting, and the sound of their even breathing could be heard in the room.

"This is the last one, it's finished."

As Zhao Yuan finished weaving the last basket, Lin Fangfang said happily.

"You've worked hard, go wash up and go to bed."

"Okay, go to sleep."

Zhao Yuan stacked the bamboo baskets and patted the bamboo shavings off his clothes.

Lin Fangfang went to the kitchen, fetched some water, and prepared to bring it out.

"Put it there, I'll do it. You're still in your postpartum period, you might experience arm pain later."

When Zhao Yuan saw this, he quickly ran over, grabbed the basin, and took it out to wash his face and then his feet. Lin Fangfang handed him a cloth to dry his feet.

After washing his feet, Zhao Yuan followed Lin Fangfang into the bedroom. Closing the door, Lin Fangfang couldn't help but lean against Zhao Yuan's chest; she missed him terribly. For the past few years, Zhao Yuan had been unpredictable, frequently getting drunk and acting erratically, and their relationship had mostly been perfunctory. Now, during her postpartum period, Lin Fangfang was in great distress. She sobbed, resting her head on Zhao Yuan's shoulder.

Zhao Yuan held Lin Fangfang in his arms, stroking and comforting her. The two embraced like this, and the long-lost taste of love returned. That night, Zhao Yuan fell asleep holding Lin Fangfang, feeling extremely content. He felt he had never loved his wife like this in his previous life. Perhaps this Zhao Yuan truly loved his wife more, but feudal ideas and the influence of others had blinded him to his own inner needs.

Zhao Nana was very well-behaved. She ate her fill before bed, peed, and didn't make a sound all night until dawn when she started crying loudly.

Upon hearing Zhao Nana's cries, Zhao Yuan quickly got out of bed, picked her up, and began changing her diaper.

Lin Fangfang came over, took the baby, and began to breastfeed.

Zhao Yuan took the diapers, opened the door, and went out.

The two sisters, Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Zhaodi, had already prepared breakfast.

"Daddy, get up, it's time to eat, give me your diaper."

Zhao Zhaodi took the diaper, skillfully rubbed it, and hung it to dry.

Zhao Yuan went into the kitchen, fetched water to wash his face, and then took a basin of water outside.

"Fangfang, after you finish feeding, wash your face and eat."

Zhao Yuan said.

Soon, Lin Fangfang also put Zhao Nana in the cradle, washed her face, and the family sat together happily to finish breakfast.

Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Laidi happily went to school with their schoolbags on their backs. Inside their schoolbags were the unfinished paper-wrapped candies that their mother had given them yesterday.

"I'll clear the dishes, and you can go about your business."

Lin Fangfang said.

Zhao Yuan moved the table to the courtyard, sat down, and began translating.

Once he gets into work mode, Zhao Yuan is incredibly dedicated.