Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Second Watch That night, a fierce wind began to howl, rattling the windows incessantly. Qian Qing woke from her dream, closed the window, yet still couldn't sleep well. With such strong winds, she wondered if Zhou Hao was doing alright over there. He hadn't taken thick clothing; what if the temperature dropped? This maintenance assignment seemed excessively long—supposedly half a month, yet sixteen days had passed without his return. Perhaps tomorrow she should skip setting up her stall and visit Zheng Xian, the maintenance team leader, to ask if she could make a phone call to him. … The next morning, rain began to fall, bringing down the rising temperatures of the final dog days of summer. Who sells popsicles on a rainy day? Qian Qing straightforwardly gave herself a day off. She had earned quite a bit these past days; counting it all, she had actually saved over fourteen hundred yuan!

Qian Qing slipped two hundred yuan to her mother, who planned to visit home during the rain and return the following day. Seeing her daughter give her so much money, her mother strongly resisted: "Why give me this? I don't need it."

She wasn't even sixty yet; how could she accept such a large sum from her daughter? Moreover, now that her daughter was married, giving her so much money without discussing it with her son-in-law made her feel uneasy. Qian Qing paid no heed: "Consider it your salary, Mom. You've saved me so much trouble helping me out. Without you, finding someone reliable wouldn't have been this easy. Take this money back, buy yourself some good food and drink, and perhaps bring Qianqian to stay at home for a few days. Also, tell my sister to remember to visit our parental home in another week. Zhou Hao and I will be returning then, and we can discuss business matters with her."

Qianqian was her elder sister's daughter, only six years old this year, thin and small. Her sister wished to keep her granddaughter close, but due to financial constraints, she refused. Now that they had money, naturally Qian Qing's mother wanted to raise her granddaughter however she pleased. A grandmother doting on her child—who could object? Indeed, mentioning her granddaughter made Qian Qing's mother hesitate. Seizing the opportunity, Qian Qing pressed the money into her hand. Her mother accepted it, then immediately brought up another topic: "When do you and Zhou Hao plan to have children?"

A pang of sadness struck Qian Qing's heart as she recalled events from her dream; she simply couldn't convince herself to feel at ease. She didn't believe Zhou Hao would treat her differently because of children, but what if she truly couldn't conceive?

"I haven't forgotten. Neither Zhou Hao nor I are old yet. He's busy with work, and I probably won't have much free time these coming years. It's fine to wait a few more years." Qian Qing's mother agreed her daughter made sense; Qingqing was only nineteen, so delaying a few years mattered little.

However…

"Won't Zhou Hao's mother have objections?"

Qian Qing remained unconcerned. Zhou Hao's family had three sons, and his mother was notoriously biased. The fact that she insisted Zhou Hao attend a technical secondary school despite his clear potential for university spoke volumes. Over these past years, Zhou Hao merely sent monetary support without enduring his mother's disapproving glances. Qian Qing never needed to worry about her mother-in-law's opinions because Zhou Hao would undoubtedly protect her.

"It's fine."

After seeing her mother onto the bus, Qian Qing changed clothes and went to find Li Hongmei. Rain poured heavily, accumulating puddles on the ground. Qian Qing rolled up her trouser legs and walked unsteadily under her umbrella. The drainage system around the Second Factory was inadequate; though the rain wasn't particularly heavy, water had risen to mid-calf depth. As she walked, Qian Qing spotted a figure in the distance. That person clutched a package tightly, jogging without an umbrella. Her heart pounded; perhaps her eyes were deceiving her. At the tail end of midsummer, the courtyard was filled mostly with paulownia and plane trees. Raindrops knocked leaves loose, which spiraled along flowing water toward low-lying areas. Occasional flashes of lightning tore through the sky above, while thunder rumbled ominously from afar. As the figure drew nearer, Qian Qing saw more clearly. Zhou Hao was soaked through, yet still tightly clutching the package against his chest.

His wet hair clung to his temples; his clothes hugged his frame, revealing a lean yet powerful build. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to mid-arm, exposing forearms covered with a thin layer of muscle.When they were less than ten meters apart, Zhou Hao also spotted Qian Qing. Both stood frozen like fools for a moment. Only then did Qian Qing realize just how much she had missed Zhou Hao. She missed him terribly; their previous parting had been so rushed that over the past dozen days she had endured a longing so profound it surpassed even her dreams. Qian Qing's eyes reddened. Zhou Hao, swift as a leopard, broke through the curtain of rain and reached her side. Ignoring the rain soaking his clothes, he pulled Qian Qing into his embrace. With one arm reaching behind her, he narrowly caught the umbrella she was about to drop, holding it steady above their heads.

"I'm back."

Though this was no life-or-death separation, only when they embraced in that moment did they both feel a sense of completeness. Few people walked in the rain.

Suddenly, Zhou Hao loosened his grip, lowering the umbrella handle until the canopy enveloped them both. Hidden beneath the umbrella where no one could see, Zhou Hao pressed a deep kiss onto Qian Qing's lips. We still have a lifetime ahead, yet I still miss you with every brief parting. The rain intensified. Zhou Ho carried Qian Qing on his back, slung his bag around his neck, lowered her trouser cuffs, removed her sandals, and carried them in his hand. Qian Qing held the umbrella over them with one hand while wrapping the other around Zhou Hao's neck, complaining, "You promised half a month! Liar!"

She had been counting on her fingers; he had clearly said fifteen days, yet today was already the sixteenth! Including the day he left, that made seventeen! Zhou Hao sounded slightly helpless: "I meant to return yesterday, but the shuttle bus didn't come, and then taking the train we encountered a torrential downpour, delaying us halfway through the night."

Now Qian Qing forgot about being petulant and grew concerned instead: "Have you eaten? Are you hungry? Oh dear, I don't know if the canteen still has food at this hour. Should we detour there first to check?"

Zhou Hao bounced her gently: "Let's go home first."

He wanted to hold her properly. As they approached the bottom of the apartment block, more people appeared. Seeing they were nearly home, Qian Qing squirmed and asked Zhou Hao to put her down. She slipped on her shoes, and only then did they walk home hand in hand. On rainy days, the apartment block buzzed with activity; unable to go out, people sat in the corridors. Women gathered in clusters, placing small stools with tea beside them, holding shoe soles or knitting sweaters, chatting while working. Seeing Zhou Hao return soaked, everyone greeted him.

"Oh, Zhou Hao's back? Look how drenched you are! Didn't bring an umbrella?"

"Didn't you see he's carrying a bag? He must have just returned from a business trip. Quite tough, wasn't it?"

"The factory should grant Zhou Hao compensatory leave! Sending him on a business trip the day after his wedding—little Qian must have been so busy all alone at home."

"Does little Qian have anything to eat at home? I still have some dried noodles; if you haven't eaten, take them home first. Looking at Zhou Hao, it's clear he hasn't had a meal yet."

… Qian Qing smiled gently, exchanging pleasantries with everyone. Nearby, several preschool-aged children, not yet back in school, adored Qian Qing. Because she always gave them candy and spoke so softly, the children loved rushing into her arms.

Just then, one little tot ran up, hugged Qian Qing's thigh, and asked in a childish voice, "Sister, who is this uncle?"

Zhou Hao: … Suppressing her laughter, Qian Qing watched as the child's mother immediately dragged her tactless four-head-tall offspring away. After exchanging a few more courtesies, Qian Qing and Zhou Hao headed upstairs.

"Tsk, tsk, those two standing together look like a painting."

"Exactly. Imagine how beautiful their child would be."

"Zhou Hao is truly blessed to have such a good wife."

"Why don't you say little Qian is blessed instead? Zhou Hao treats her wonderfully too. From far away just now, I thought I saw Zhou Hao carrying little Qian back."

"Really?"

… Zhou Hao felt something was off. Why did the distance from the first floor to the third seem so endless? How had his wife managed to win over everyone in the entire building? Along the way, no fewer than three groups of people had stopped Qian Qing to chat, and at least four little tots had thrown themselves at her.Of course, the most heart-stinging part was that all these little ones were blinking their big eyes.

"Big sister…"

"Uncle…"

"Big sister…"

"Uncle…"

… How could he possibly be an uncle? You bunch of rascals have gotten the generation completely wrong!

Finally, after countless difficulties, they made it inside the house. Zhou Hao, no longer holding back, wrapped his arms around Qian Qing from behind, resting his head on her shoulder, his voice filled with grievance.

"Why am I 'uncle'?"

Qian Qing burst out laughing. Who asked Zhou Hao to always keep such a stern face when he was outside? Plus, he was tall, making people feel intimidated at first glance. Actually, looking just at his features, Zhou Hao didn't look his age at all; it was mainly his imposing aura that created such pressure.

"Wife, I feel like a lot happened while I wasn't around."

He usually wasn't talkative, and the women in the compound only knew him vaguely. Yet, watching his wife walk along, she seemed able to call everyone by name. Qian Qing stroked his face, coaxing him, "Yes, a lot did happen. Go take a shower first; I'll get you some food. We can talk about it in detail when you're back."

Zhou Hao obediently went off. Although he wanted to hold his fragrant, soft wife, he had spent the night on a train and gotten soaked in the rain. The fact that his beauty-conscious wife hadn't minded his state earlier already proved how deeply she loved him. But there was no rush. Zhou Hao took out the bag he had been protecting the whole time: "I brought something for you."

Digging deep into the bag, he pulled out a small box. Qian Qing was mostly used to this by now; Zhou Hao brought her gifts wherever he went. Back when they were students, he would even bring her pancakes from the school gate, keeping them warm against his chest during a two-hour bus ride, claiming the queue was super long but they tasted delicious.

Later, after starting work, he would buy local specialties whenever he traveled on business. Once, he even carried a whole bag of yam beans for her, saying they were a variety unique to that area. He had also given expensive gifts before, only to be scolded by Qian Qing. More than the items themselves, Qian Qing cherished Zhou Hao's thoughtfulness.

"What is it?"

Zhou Hao took out the box. Inside the wooden case lay a small piece of white jade. Qian Qing: !!!

"It's not expensive, wife! They produce this jade there. I picked a small piece and had them carve it for me."

Zhou Hao had drawn the design himself: a small, endearing little rabbit. Although Qian Qing said she was nineteen, her household registration was actually incorrect, listing her birth year one year late. Properly calculated, she was indeed born in the Year of the Rabbit.

"I ran into our factory director there. Since I helped solve a problem temporarily, he gave me an eighty-yuan bonus. Here, wife. The jade came from a coworker's family; I picked this piece. Isn't it beautiful?"

Holding the jade rabbit, Zhou Hao's heart and eyes were filled entirely with his wife. Where was any trace of the steady demeanor he showed to outsiders?