"It's not that long, look, Chenye and Wanqing are already 9 years old this year. Maybe in a few more years, they will leave us. Time passes quickly. In the blink of an eye, the children have grown up."
Pei Jing listened to her chatter about some trivial family affairs as they walked hand in hand in the dusk, the setting sun infinitely lengthening their shadows.
When they returned home, before they entered the yard, they could hear people talking inside the house.
Knowing that summer secretly frowned and tilted her head towards Pei Jing, "Your nice big nephew is really filial. Every time you come back, he comes to visit you with his wife. But his wife this time is someone new. Don't be too surprised later."
Pei Jing already knew about Pei JianGuo's affairs. Hearing the obvious sarcasm in Know Summer's tone, he frowned, "Did he upset you again? Or his wife?"
"I wouldn't say he upset me, I just don't want to get too close with small-minded people, in case I can't keep my wife and they blame me for badmouthing them behind their backs." Know Summer said, "Anyway, I don't dare to meddle with your big nephew's affairs. You can deal with your Pei family members yourself."
After Know Summer had finished speaking, she left. Pei Jing watched her cheerful back before walking into the living room.
"Little uncle, you're back," Pei JianGuo said, seeing Pei Jing come in, with a smiling face. "I just heard from my dad that you were back, so I came to see you."
Compared to his cheerful voice, Lu Keqin was obviously much quieter. She stood up politely and called out, "Hello, little uncle. I'm Lu Keqin."
Although this was Pei JianGuo's second marriage, it was her first.
At first, he had coaxed her into getting a marriage certificate with him. They had originally agreed to have a wedding ceremony, but Pei JianGuo kept making excuses, almost exhausting Lu Keqin's patience.
Even Wang Yue, who had been kind to her before the registration, started finding fault with her after the registration.
Lu Keqin was no pushover. She called over several younger brothers from her maternal family, all half grown lads, right at that fiery age. They gave Pei JianGuo a good beating before she managed to gain a wedding ceremony for herself.
But when it came to the wedding day, she discovered that they had simply set up two tables at the government canteen. The only people from the Pei family who showed up were Pei Yong and Pei Sheng.
Pei JianGuo was always boasting about how good his little uncle was. He said it was understandable that his uncle couldn't attend their wedding since he wasn't home. But his little aunt was always at home, yet she only helped to give a monetary gift. She didn't even show her face, let alone give the new daughter-in-law the customary money to change how she addressed her in-laws and gifts when first meeting.
Lu Keqin's family circumstances were also pretty good. She didn't think much about material things, but when chattering girlfriends asked about this, the comparisons always made her lose face.
She had deliberately come with Pei JianGuo today to take a look at what this "very good" little uncle he always boasted about actually looked like.
At first glance, she felt an obvious contrast.
The man before her was tall and straight, still exuding an oppressive aura even in casual clothes that made it obvious he was a very capable man who had been in a high position for a long time.
She had heard her father praise this man when she first got together with Pei JianGuo. She had even heard during the matchmaking that the Pei family had an outstanding little uncle who was in the military, though she didn't know what position.
Although very curious, she didn't dare ask.
Pei Jing just nodded slightly, not placing too much attention on Lu Keqin as he turned to speak with Pei JianGuo.
Feeling bored waiting in the living room, Lu Keqin got up and went out to the yard.
In the past, when Pei Jing saw Pei JianGuo, he would have exhorted him to live properly. But after so many times and realizing this nephew was truly beyond redemption, he understood that no matter how much he said, it was useless.
Not only did Know Summer refuse to interact with them, after hearing about what Pei JianGuo had done, Pei Jing also lost patience with him.
He had wanted to chat briefly then send them away, but unexpectedly, Pei JianGuo suddenly said, "Little uncle, stay home for a while this time since you just got back. It happens that auntie will start school soon, so you can also spend more time with the kids. When you're free, go over to auntie's place more, her classmates probably don't even know she's a married woman."
These seemingly caring words put Pei Jing on alert. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I didn't mean anything. Just felt that some people at school might pester auntie. After all, with a face like hers that's quite...deceptive." But he didn't dare say the last words.
He also didn't know if he offended Know Summer or what, but ever since she returned to the An family, except for still being harmonious the first time they met, afterwards they were simply incompatible.
Fortunately he hadn't listened to his mother back then to pursue her...
Thinking this, Pei JianGuo's face involuntarily revealed a trace of gloom as he recalled Guo Momo.
Pei Jing sat in the chair, unconsciously rubbing his fingers. His already stern expression was now covered by a layer of frost, making Pei JianGuo shudder inwardly.
He had guessed there would be this reaction. His little uncle was such a wise man, yet when it came to Know Summer, he would start defending her without reservation.
Oh well, he had already reminded what he should. If Pei Jing didn't listen and got cuckolded in the future, he couldn't blame others.
Pei JianGuo stood up fearfully. "Little uncle, um...since you just got back and probably went to the An family place so must be quite tired these days, we won't disturb you further and will head back first."
Not hearing Pei Jing call him back even when he had walked out the living room door, Pei JianGuo finally relaxed.
Lu Keqin walked over from the side. She was still in a pretty good mood, just looking at him doubtfully, "What bad thing did you do?"
His guilty expression was clearly different than usual.
"What bad thing did I do? Lu Keqin, if you can't speak properly then don't speak," he said. After marrying Lu Keqin, he realized how good Guo Momo had been. But it was too late for regrets now, nothing could be salvaged.
This woman was fierce, overbearing, unreasonable, and her family still had several hateful younger brothers. Last time after he had called the police over a domestic dispute, those brats had only received a talking-to. He had been injured so badly, yet those kids were just criticized a little.
Pei JianGuo was no match for them. He had wanted Pei Yong to help teach them a lesson since his father was ex-military with formidable skills. But Pei Yong didn't want to get involved with his embarrassment and directly chased him out with a broom.
Even the usually fierce Wang Yue was no match for Lu Keqin. These days, Pei Shuangshuang didn't even dare show her face.
Lu Keqin had a shameless cousin who had persistently harassed her at work last time, saying misleading things that scared Pei Shuangshuang so much that the sight of Lu Keqin made her react like a mouse seeing a cat now. Pei Shuangshuang exhibited a pathetic cowardliness and bullying the weak.
But Lu Keqin had only asked that cousin to pester her a little. Yet Pei JianGuo had directly pleaded with her for mercy.
To avoid her asking further, Pei JianGuo walked quickly ahead.
Lu Keqin shrugged and lost interest in questioning him.
If you asked her what the most regretful thing she had done in life was, it would be marrying Pei JianGuo.
This man was useless despite his appearance. He was a complete coward and lazybones who wanted nothing to do with housework. He expected her to cook and do laundry like his former wife. But she had never done those things even when living at home since her mother did them. How could she possibly do them herself?
So Lu Keqin forced Pei JianGuo to move in with Wang Yue. Nevermind anything else, two adults couldn't even get a hot meal otherwise. She would just eat whatever her mother-in-law made. Occasionally if she was picky, she would go back to her maternal home and have her mother improve the food.
That house was big and spacious. When Pei JianGuo's father divorced, he chose to relinquish all property rights so the house was definitely left for Pei JianGuo to live in with his future wife. Why should they be crammed in that small house and let his mother and little sister occupy the big house? It would be criminal for them to enjoy it.
There was also that Pei Shuangshuang who still wanted to subdue her, training her to become like Pei JianGuo's ex-wife who did everything only to end up divorced.
She had some nice ideas, but clearly hadn't considered if Lu Keqin was willing.
Lu Keqin had only asked that cousin to bother Pei Shuangshuang a little, yet she had completely wilted, even pleading with Lu Keqin on Pei JianGuo's behalf.
The old saying really came true, evil people naturally encounter their match.
Hearing Pei JianGuo and the others leave, Know Summer finally came out from the room.
Walking into the living room, she saw Pei Jing still sitting there, eyes slightly lowered seeming lost in thought.
"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
Zhi Xia had just stretched out her hand to wave in front of his eyes when he grabbed her by the wrist.
"I wasn't thinking anything, just felt that over the past few years I've really wronged you and the kids." He had transferred back in order to spend more time with them, but after transferring here he ended up getting busier instead.
But it would be better from now on. The special forces team had taken shape, and the first batch of recruits he had brought in could now hold their own. And Pei Jing had also been promoted to highest commander.
From now on, he would be able to free up more time to accompany her and the children.
Pei Jing exerted some strength and pulled Zhi Xia into his embrace, right against his chest.
She stretched out a hand and poked his chest, "You don't seem like such a melancholy person. Did Pei JianGuo say something bad about me?"
He tugged at the corners of his lips in a helpless smile. He chose to tell her everything that Pei JianGuo had implied without holding anything back.
Only after he finished did he ask her, "JianGuo is not a good person, but he probably wouldn't say things without reason. Could it be that Zhao Runze was pestering you again and JianGuo saw it, so he misunderstood?"
"It's rare that you have such a clear assessment of Pei JianGuo. But Zhao Runze hasn't looked for me again, and no one else has ever pestered me either. And I didn't hide the fact that I'm married at school. I even brought the kids to campus on weekends before, so who knows where he heard such idle talk from."
Although they didn't get together because of feelings, the two of them had a tacit understanding now. Other than some things with his troops, they almost never kept anything from each other.
And that was why they had never had any misunderstandings.
Pei Jing frowned. Could it really be that Pei JianGuo was lying to sow discord?
After all, people could change. His understanding of Pei JianGuo was still stuck in a long time ago.
Just like he would never have imagined that Pei JianGuo would do so many muddled things after getting married.
"Oh right, it should have been that time Li Fei was looking for me and JianGuo happened to see it. That should have been it. I remember seeing Pei JianGuo taking Lu Keqin shopping at that time too. It was two months ago. Other than that one time, I hardly saw them at all." Zhi Xia suddenly recalled such an incident. She had felt that Pei JianGuo was looking at her strangely back then.
"And who is Li Fei again?"
Wang Li and Liu Xuan's matters concerned their own privacy, so naturally Zhi Xia couldn't tell Pei Jing about them. Thus, he didn't know about this person either.
But now that he asked, there was no need to deliberately hide it either.
After explaining everything clearly, he finally understood.
Sister Zhang carried dishes into the dining room. "I thought that after seeing them you would ask them to stay for dinner, so I cooked extra food for two more people."
Zhi Xia immediately went over to help. She smiled, "Maybe they were busy. Let's just eat more ourselves and leave the leftovers for Da Huang."
Regarding Da Huang and Yuan Bao's diet, Sister Zhang felt it was quite a waste. For other people's pet dogs, giving them some leftover rice or soup was already not bad, yet Da Huang and Yuan Bao ate even better than ordinary humans because the food at home had always been pretty good.
And that Yuan Bao was also strange. That palm-sized little body could finish so much rice every meal. And she often snacked on melon seeds and pine nuts too, feeding her all the snacks the children at home ate.
Over time, Sister Zhang just got used to it.
And it wasn't her stuff after all. If the masters didn't mind, she as a nanny couldn't say much either.
After the meal, Zhi Xia and Sister Zhang cleared the table while Pei Jing went to the old Pei house.
In the few years since Old Pei passed away, the memorial tablet had been kept hidden in a cabinet. Every time Pei Jing came back, he would take it out to pay his respects.
During festivals and holidays, Pei Yong and Pei Sheng would come over too.
This time Pei Jing stayed home for several days. Right until school was about to start, he even took the kids to register, delighting them greatly.
Zhi Xia went one day later than the few kids. Pei Jing accompanied her too.
In the busy school campus filled with people coming and going, Zhi Xia smiled and jogged over to him. "I'm done! Let's go out and find a place to eat before heading back. Over the past half year several shops have opened near the school gate, and there's even a night market at night that you haven't had a chance to see yet."
"Alright, let's go eat, then bring the kids to the night market at night. School starts tomorrow anyway, so we can relax one last time." Pei Jing said.
The students at the university were very open-minded. Many young couples secretly held hands. Pei Jing glanced at Zhi Xia from the corner of his eyes, and his broad palm slowly shifted towards her.
Hand in hand, love abounds.
"Here, here! Let me tell you, their dumplings are amazing. Especially the lamb ones. It's just that they don't have them often."
Zhi Xia pulled Pei Jing into a dumpling restaurant. The space inside wasn't very big. Neat tables and chairs were arranged, and Wang Li and Li Fei happened to be sitting at one of them.
Zhi Xia was stunned for a moment, but she saw Wang Li was even more nervous than her. "Zhi Xia, you came to eat dumplings too?"
Li Fei also smiled and said, "Zhi Xia, this is your husband right? If you don't mind, let's share a table and eat together. I felt it was quite a pity that you weren't in Jincheng when Wang Li and I got married so we didn't get to treat you. Today's my treat so just eat to your heart's content!"
"Married?" Zhi Xia looked at Wang Li, but she didn't dare meet Zhi Xia's gaze.
"Yeah, you didn't know?" Li Fei saw her surprised expression and asked strangely, "That can't be right. You weren't present, but didn't you send over a red packet?"
Zhi Xia immediately understood what was going on. Her expression also turned cold.
Pei Jing secretly pinched her palm to hint for her to calm down, and said to Li Fei, "Let's not share a table. My wife and I happened to take time off our busy schedules for a rare date today, so next time when there's a chance I'll treat you instead."
