CHAPTER 126: CHAPTER 125: SO THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE

Although He Chen usually took care of her like this, Ye Manman wasn’t normally so particular, insisting on having fresh flowers at home every day.

Even with her many demands now, He Chen still had no complaints, and he was particularly happy to be needed and dispatched by her.

This daily routine of searching the mountains for flowers and fruits had truly become the biggest gossip topic among the villagers during the otherwise dull New Year period.

The affairs of the educated youth from before had faded from discussion, as Yang Donglian, called Lucky Baby, hadn’t brought them any luck, and they lost interest.

Instead, while wandering and chatting idly in the village, they often saw He Chen cheerfully go up the mountain, returning with a face full of happiness, either with flowers or wild fruits, sparking the women’s gossip spirit.

Someone curiously asked why he picked flowers and fruits every day, and He Chen’s reply left all the women envious.

"They’re for my wife; she likes seeing fresh flowers. I don’t have many skills, but I can at least fulfill this request."

He answered sincerely, his tone humble, his face radiating happiness, showing no sign of looking down on the villagers despite his successful business in town, being especially polite.

Yet, despite such politeness, although everyone smiled on the surface, each had enough envy in their mouths to sour their teeth.

"Oh my, He Chen looks intimidating with his large build, but turns out he’s such a considerate man who even picks flowers, tsk tsk."

"Yeah, Ye Manman is truly fortunate, doesn’t have to do any work, yet has fresh flowers to see and wild fruits to eat daily, and He Chen fulfills all her wishes, where on earth can you find such a good man?"

"Don’t you mention it, didn’t He Chen’s dad used to be like that? Every day pampering his wife like fragile treasure until he sacrificed to save someone, who knows how well off their family would be now if not for that."

"Indeed, this kind of trait is inherited, He Chen dotes on his wife just as much as his dad, who would’ve thought? Had I known he’d kick that Li Hongmei family out, I’d have married my daughter to him long ago, oh, such regret."

"Exactly, had I known he’d do so well, I wouldn’t have stopped my daughter from spying on him, maybe it would’ve worked out back then..."

"..."

In the small village, everything moves slowly, but the gossip travels fast.

As the New Year was ending, Gao Huifang was about to tie the knot with Song Kangcheng.

During the past few days of "newlywed life," Gao Huifang slowly accepted the reality of soon being a wife, but just then, the news about He Chen picking fresh flowers and fruits daily for Ye Manman reached her ears.

Although there was no longer a possibility with He Chen, Gao Huifang couldn’t help but compare Song Kangcheng with He Chen.

Song Kangcheng was also good, even decided not to touch her until after marriage out of respect, and treated her well daily, but compared to He Chen, he was lacking.

He Chen was tall, strong, could cook, chop wood, do all kinds of work, not letting Ye Manman do a thing.

But Song Kangcheng had an average build, barely over 170cm tall, not muscular, worked slowly and clumsily, chopped little wood, and often left the tank empty of water.

And he couldn’t cook, leaving that task to her, although he’d help prepare the ingredients, wash vegetables, and boil water, but still couldn’t compare to He Chen.

Gao Huifang felt a bit distressed, not being able to accept such a big disparity.

Just as she felt she wasn’t inferior to Ye Manman, Gao Huifang didn’t want her husband to fall short of He Chen either.

Glancing at Song Kangcheng, who was diligently chopping wood, she hesitated but still asked.

"Cheng, I heard the plum blossoms are blooming beautifully now, how about picking some to put in the house? They look nice."

She also wanted to be the happily doted wife spoken of by the villagers.

But Gao Huifang’s hopeful face received only Song Kangcheng’s panting straightforward reply.

"Bringing those back serves no purpose, I also don’t have time now, there’s still a lot of wood to chop, the firewood is almost out, if you’re free, go wash the clothes while it’s still light."

Song Kangcheng was genuinely tired, chopping wood for half a day without even receiving a hot drink, let alone hearing such unreasonable requests.

In the middle of winter, in a bare-bones home, what good is picking plum blossoms?

Those things might look nice but serve no real purpose, they’re not edible.

He couldn’t understand why Gao Huifang suddenly asked for this.

Gao Huifang pursed her lips, her hope turned to disappointment quickly.

But she remembered what everyone discussed, heard He Chen coated the wild fruits with sugar before giving them to Ye Manman, that at least was useful, right?

So she tentatively asked again.

"Cheng, I heard there’s wild hawthorn on the mountain, why don’t you pick some, we can coat them in sugar to eat."

"We can’t afford to squander our sugar like that."

Song Kangcheng had caught wind of the rumors, hearing her hint so clearly left even him understanding her envy, wanting to imitate others.

But where do they have such means?

Song Kangcheng decisively set down the axe, rested both hands on Gao Huifang’s shoulders, sighing with heartfelt significance.

"Fangfang, I know you want things like some other households, but our conditions are different, sugar is too expensive, we have only a little left, hawthorn is too sour, the sugar wouldn’t be enough."

Seeing Gao Huifang’s visible disappointment, Song Kangcheng pulled her into an embrace.

"Right now our conditions are harsh, but let’s make do a little, Fangfang, we’ll have better days ahead, there will be flowers and fruits, just hold on, okay?"

Whenever he gently persuaded like this, it was hard for Gao Huifang to stay angry.

After all, Song Kangcheng could have easily lived in comfort at the educated youth center, no need to work so hard now.

Listening to his breathing, Gao Huifang suppressed the welling envy, jealousy, and disappointment, responding with an "Mm."

"I know, Cheng, I’m sorry, it was childish of me."

She had once been proud, disdainful, looking down on this and that, but nowadays, amid the villagers’ mixed comments and those who mentioned her with dislike, she had learned to endure and accept.

Words can be terrifying, but she had Song Kangcheng to rely on in this world.

In his gentle yet complicated gaze, Gao Huifang picked up their dirty clothes and basin, resigning herself as she left the house.

But what she didn’t know was, once she was gone, the softness on Song Kangcheng’s face quickly cracked, like a long-worn mask falling apart, revealing his true face.

Song Kangcheng kicked the freshly chopped firewood into a mess, his gaze cold, as if poisoned, watching Gao Huifang’s departing figure, a sinister smile creeping onto his lips, like a snake spitting venomous black.

"Still want flowers and fruits like others, are you worthy?"

Once Gao Huifang’s figure completely disappeared, Song Kangcheng’s facial muscles twitched wildly before emitting a laugh driven by suppressed madness.

He tightened his grip around the small pouch in his pocket, filled with fragmented jade pieces, the sharp shards cutting into his hand but making his laughter even more hearty.

"Hahaha, Gao Huifang, see where you’ve ended up."