Jiang Tao drove his wife and daughter out for a spin.
By the time they returned home, it was already past 8 p.m.
"Little Xue, it's getting late. Mommy's going to give you a bath and get you ready for bed."
As soon as they got home, Xu Li urged her little "cotton-padded jacket" to take a bath.
"No way, I'm not sleepy yet! I want to watch more TV."
"No, you *are* sleepy. Go to bed early tonight, and tomorrow morning, we'll take you to the big market. In the afternoon, we'll visit Grandma's house to play."
"But I'm *really* not sleepy!"
Jiang Xue's big, sparkling eyes blinked up at her mother, finding her behavior quite odd.
Every time Dad came home, Mom would rush her to bed early.
"Be a good girl, sweetie. How about tomorrow Daddy buys you a set of those adorable Miracle Toys?"
"Really? Daddy! Really?"
The moment Jiang Xue heard that going to bed early would earn her a toy, she immediately gave in, her face lighting up with excitement as she turned to Jiang Tao, who was sitting on the couch, for confirmation.
"Of course it's true! Tomorrow, Daddy will buy you whatever you want!"
Old Jiang had money in his pocket now, and his words carried a confidence he hadn't had before.
"Thank you, Daddy~ You're the best, best, *best* daddy in the whole world~"
His little cotton-padded jacket threw herself into Jiang Tao's arms, planting several kisses on his face with her little lips, making Old Jiang so happy he almost lost his bearings.
*This* is the life Old Jiang was meant to live!
Living alone in a rented room in the capital—what kind of miserable existence was that?
The deal was sealed, and Xu Li took Jiang Xue's small hand to the bathroom to wash up.
The new house Jiang Tao's family had built was equipped with air-source heating and underfloor heating, in line with the national coal-to-electricity initiative. The roof and walls were also insulated.
The house was warm in winter and cool in summer, far more comfortable than apartments in the county town.
Outside, it was minus seven or eight degrees Celsius, but indoors, the temperature could reach over twenty degrees.
The air-source heating was cleaner and more convenient than burning coal, though its only downside was that it consumed a lot of electricity.
Since the heating season started, their monthly electricity bill had been seven or eight hundred yuan.
The air-source system was practically an electricity hog.
Xu Li, who hated wasting money, usually didn't set the air-source temperature too high, keeping the water temperature at just over thirty degrees.
The house wasn't cold, but it didn't feel particularly warm either.
When Jiang Tao returned, he cranked it up to 45 degrees, and the indoor temperature rose several degrees, making it much warmer and more comfortable.
With his current earning power, he didn't need to skimp on electricity bills.
Letting his wife and daughter live comfortably was worth a little extra cost.
Xu Li and Jiang Xue spent over half an hour in the bathroom, chatting and laughing, before coming out.
Seeing Xu Li with a pink bath towel wrapped around her upper body, revealing her long, fair legs, Old Jiang's mouth went dry in an instant.
After giving birth, Xu Li's figure hadn't changed much—except for her bust, which had grown significantly compared to before marriage. Her waist, hips, and abdomen remained as slim as they were before.
Everyone who knew her said it was unscientific and asked for her secret.
Xu Li had no secret to share. She was naturally blessed with a metabolism that kept her slim no matter how much she ate—a trait others could only envy.
"Honey~ Hurry up and take a shower. I'll blow-dry Little Xue's hair and put her to bed first."
Xu Li winked at Jiang Tao with her right eye, giving him a knowing look before taking their little cotton-padded jacket to her room to dry her hair and lull her to sleep.
Old Jiang, of course, knew exactly what his wife meant. Without a word, he grabbed a towel and went to "wash up nice and clean."
After his shower, Jiang Tao returned to the bedroom, lying on the big bed, idly scrolling through his phone.
About forty minutes later, the bedroom door was gently pushed open.
Jiang Tao's gaze was instantly drawn to Xu Li as she entered.
Seeing her in a light blue silk nightgown, with black stockings wrapped around her legs, Old Jiang couldn't help but feel his mouth go dry again.
Xu Li's outfit was too provocative for the "enemy forces."
A short separation surpasses a new marriage.
For a couple like Jiang Tao and Xu Li, in the prime of their lives and often separated by long distances, every reunion was like lightning striking dry wood.
The small spark of desire burned for an hour and eight minutes before gradually subsiding.
The couple quietly tiptoed to the bathroom for a quick rinse before returning to bed, embracing and chatting.
Though they had kept up the habit of daily phone calls, talking in each other's arms was an entirely different experience.
"Honey, you still haven't told me where that car came from. That car's worth over a million, right?"
Xu Li had been curious about the car and finally couldn't hold back from asking.
Jiang Tao laughed, "I originally won three years' usage rights in a mall raffle."
"But the mall owner thought I was so handsome, they just gave me the car outright."
Xu Li, lying on Jiang Tao's chest with her big eyes blinking, smiled and asked, "Was the owner a man or a woman?"
"No question about it, a woman—and a beautiful one at that."
"Oh? Really? Prettier than me?"
As Xu Li spoke, her fingers pinched the soft flesh at Jiang Tao's waist.
Old Jiang immediately surrendered, "No, no, no, nowhere near as beautiful as my wife—not even in the same league!"
"Hmph, that's more like it. So, what's the real story with the car? No dodging the question."
Jiang Tao's tone suddenly turned serious:
"Sweetheart, I promise you, everything I do is legal and aboveboard. The car's origins are completely legitimate."
"But some things, I can't tell you too much about just yet. When the time is right, I'll let you know."
"Oh, honey, I didn't mean anything by it."
"I was just a tiny bit curious, that's all."
"If it's not convenient to say, then don't. I won't ask anything more."
Seeing Jiang Tao's serious and somewhat troubled expression, Xu Li didn't press further.
After knowing each other for so many years, she understood Jiang Tao better than his own mother did.
She naturally trusted that he wouldn't do anything illegal or unethical.
"From now on, I'll handle earning money to support the family, and you just focus on being as beautiful as a flower. Our days will only get better and better."
Jiang Tao loved Xu Li's virtuous and discreet personality.
"Oh, by the way, sweetheart, let me show you the lucky stones I bought."
"We've got one for each of us, and when Little Xue grows up, we'll give her mine."
As he spoke, Jiang Tao reached into a small bag on the nightstand and pulled out two river stones he'd renamed "lucky stones" to show Xu Li.
"They don't look any different from ordinary stones. Are they really as magical as you say?"
Xu Li, lying on the bed, looked at the two small stones Jiang Tao handed her, her smooth, fair feet gently swaying behind her.
"These two lucky stones are absolutely the best purchase I've ever made in my life. Try wearing one tomorrow, and you'll see."
The luck attribute of the river stones was a bit mystical, and Jiang Tao didn't bother explaining too much—just let the facts speak for themselves.
Luck—who can explain it clearly?
"And this is for you too."
Jiang Tao reached under the pillow and pulled out a phone box.
"An iPhone? Honey, you're the best! *Mwah, mwah*~"
Xu Li immediately hugged Old Jiang, planting several kisses on his face.
"And this."
Jiang Tao grinned and pulled a gold bangle from under the pillow, slipping it onto Xu Li's slender, fair wrist.
"This is…"
Xu Li's face lit up with joy when she saw the gold bangle Jiang Tao put on her wrist.
"Pure gold, a New Year's gift."
"Honey…"
Xu Li was overwhelmed with happiness by Jiang Tao's string of surprises, her heart bursting with joy.