After dinner, Yang Milan took out his journal, paper, and pen, and continued working under the dim glow of the 25-watt light bulb in the room.
After cleaning up the dishes, Li Mercy began to boil water to prepare a bath for herself and Maggie.
It was the hottest time of the year. Even if I don't work, I'll sweat a lot. I really can't sleep without taking a shower.
The little girl played wildly all day and fell asleep right after her bath.
After settling the child down, Li Mercy closed the door of the house and the courtyard, then began to wash herself in the main room.
These days, conditions in the village were poor, and taking a bath was definitely a luxury.
It was easier for men; they could just go to the river or reservoir to bathe whenever they liked. Women couldn't do that—they could only wash themselves quietly behind closed doors.
Listening to the splashing water outside and picturing his wife's graceful figure, Yang Milan's heart suddenly grew restless. Heat rose within him, his heartbeat quickened, and his breathing grew heavy.
With all these thoughts racing in his mind, the pen in his hand suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Knowing he was distracted, Yang Milan immediately put away the manuscript of more than 2,000 words.
He then sat on the wooden stool, motionless.
Li Mercy finished washing after more than ten minutes. After all, the floor of her house was muddy and couldn't handle being soaked in water for long.
"Squeak!"
The inner room door opened, and Yang Milan saw Li Mercy walk in.
She was wearing a white vest on her upper body and a pair of knee-length shorts made from some unknown piece of fabric. On her feet were flip-flops, and she walked while wiping her wet hair with a towel.
Her outfit truly amazed Yang Milan, and his eyes couldn't help but lock onto his young wife.
After entering the room, Li Mercy first glanced at Maggie on the kang, then turned to look at Yang Milan—only to find her husband staring directly at her, his eyes burning with an inexplicable fire, as if ready to devour her.
As someone who had already experienced life, how could she not know what her man was thinking? Suddenly, Li Mercy's pretty face flushed red, and even her exposed arms and neck turned pink.
"What are you staring at? Go to bed!" Li Mercy said shyly.
This coquettish yet shy expression once again stunned Yang Milan.
His mind drifted to the famous scene of the noble lady emerging from her bath in Lao Bai's masterpiece The Song of Everlasting Regret:
A single smile makes her look so charming,
All the palace beauties pale in comparison.
In cold spring waters at Huaqing Pool,
The hot spring bath makes her skin smooth and fair.
The maid helped her up weakly, and that moment marked the beginning of her new life under the emperor's favor.
Cloud-like hair, flower-like face, golden ornaments swaying, a hibiscus canopy warming the spring night…
Well, Yang Milan admitted to himself—he was completely captivated by his young wife!
He picked up a towel, said "Wait for me," to Li Mercy, and walked out of the house with the basin of water.
Then came the sound of scooping water outside!
After a quick bath, Yang Milan returned, his upper body bare, and climbed into his wife's bed…
After a thrilling union, the couple lay nestled together, not feeling the summer heat.
Li Mercy rested her head on Yang Milan's arm, her finger idly drawing circles on his chest, a look of satisfaction on her face.
Because the girl had been so exhausted from the night before, when they tossed and turned for hours, Yang Milan didn't dare overdo it again tonight.
Yang Milan's chest tingled from her touch, so he gently caught her small hand, placed it firmly on his chest, and asked:
"What are you thinking about? Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Thinking about us!"
"What's going on with us?" Yang Milan asked, puzzled.
"Do you know where my parents-in-law are?"
Yang Milan asked curiously, "Why do you ask this?"
"We are already married, we've got our certificate, and we have a baby. But I, as the daughter-in-law, haven't met my parents-in-law, and Maggie hasn't met her grandparents!" said Li Mercy.
"So you want to meet my parents?"
"If there's a chance, of course! If not, writing them a letter would be fine. At least they should know of my existence as their daughter-in-law, and of Maggie, their precious granddaughter!"
Yang Milan immediately replied, "I do know where my parents were sent. They're on a small farm in the neighboring city of Sheng'an! After the autumn harvest, I'll take you and Maggie to see them!"
In truth, Yang Milan originally hadn't known where his parents had been sent, but with the memories of his past life, he knew they were undergoing reform at Dongquan Farm.
In his previous life, his parents had often spoken of the hardship they endured there, and those memories had left a deep mark on him.
"Really… really?"
"Of course it's true. After all, an ugly daughter-in-law still has to meet her parents-in-law!" Yang Milan said with a smile.
"You're ugly…"
"I'm ugly, I'm ugly… hahaha!"
"Go to bed quickly, you have to work tomorrow…"
...
Nothing more happened that night. The next day, Li Mercy got up early before the work whistle sounded.
She first cooked simple porridge, then reheated the buns she had saved for Yang Milan and Maggie from the night before. After the whistle blew, she woke her husband and daughter.
After breakfast, Li Mercy took Maggie to the Li family compound and then went to work.
Yang Milan grabbed his work points book and rushed straight to the brigade headquarters!
By the time Yang Milan arrived, most of the villagers were already there.
While waiting for the team leaders to assign tasks, the villagers gathered in groups of three or five, chatting and laughing about family matters.
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