Chapter Forty-Four: Endeavor

Xu Fei returned home.

As soon as he walked through the door, a bundle of dark clothing came flying out from inside the house. Startled, he shrank back, narrowly avoiding it. Glancing at the floor, he realized it was just a pile of clothes.

Picking them up, Xu Fei saw that they were his work uniform.

“So you know how to come home?” Xu Qing’s voice rang out from inside.

“What now?” he asked.

“What now?” Xu Qing stormed out, pointing at him. “My sister-in-law’s been feeling unwell since noon, and you—well, you just disappear for the whole day. Do you think this family could do without you? If so, you might as well not come back!”

Xu Fei found himself powerless before his little sister.

He smiled wryly and shook his head. “Is it that time for her?”

“At least you remember,” Xu Qing glared at him.

“Your sister-in-law got her period, and she still did your laundry. The water was freezing, and she’s had stomach pains all afternoon. She’s been lying in her room, miserable.”

Xu Fei looked at his work uniform. So that was why Xu Qing had thrown his clothes out.

“I’ll go check on her,” he said.

Xu Qing followed him into the house, grabbing his arm. “There’s brown sugar water in the kitchen. Take it to your sister-in-law.”

Xu Fei smiled at her. This sister of his had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

He went to the kitchen, ladled the brown sugar water from the pot, and carried it into the bedroom.

Du Man was lying on the bed, her back to him, curled up with her hands pressed to her abdomen. Her body trembled continuously.

“Are you feeling any better?” Xu Fei set the brown sugar water beside the bed and asked.

“You…” Du Man turned with difficulty; her face was pale, and beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.

“Did you drink again?” Xu Fei nodded sheepishly.

“Come…” Xu Fei helped her sit up.

But Du Man clearly struggled to even sit.

She waved her hand. “I’ll be fine if I just lie down.”

“This time seems worse than usual,” he remarked.

“Mm.”

Xu Fei thought for a moment. He and Du Man had been married for nearly two years now, yet nothing had happened between them. Could it be…?

He reached out and gently rubbed her belly.

Perhaps from the alcohol, his hands were warm.

Du Man shuddered slightly at his touch, but seemed to relax.

Seeing this, he asked, “Is that better?”

Du Man, embarrassed, couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes. As she nodded, Xu Fei caught a glimpse of her shyness.

Her long lashes trembled violently. She clearly wanted to open her eyes, but dared not meet Xu Fei’s gaze.

“Then I’ll just keep my hand here,” said Xu Fei, lying down beside her.

Du Man lay flat at his side, while Xu Fei turned on his side, gazing at the delicate face that always stirred his tenderness.

Du Man, the high school beauty, was indeed unforgettable.

Xu Fei couldn’t help but wonder how he, with nothing to his name, had managed to marry a woman from such a prominent family.

It seemed to confirm the old saying: the good man never marries well, the lazy one wins the beauty.

...

Early the next morning.

Du Man opened her eyes.

She saw Xu Fei curled up against her arm like a tired puppy, exhausted from the outside world. She knew how hard he worked.

She had seen the labor at the sugar factory. Even with all that fatigue, he still hustled on weekends to make extra money.

Du Man touched his face tenderly.

Her cool fingertips woke Xu Fei.

“Are you feeling better?” Xu Fei lifted his head, glancing at her stomach.

“Much better.”

“I’ll make you some hot porridge,” he said, rising from the bed.

“No need, I’ll do it,” Du Man protested, struggling to get up.

But Xu Fei stopped her firmly. “Let me. You handle the chores all year round—doing a bit myself won’t hurt.”

He flashed her a sunny smile.

Watching him walk out, Du Man slowly relaxed against the pillow, utterly content.

She suddenly recalled yesterday’s visit from Chen Rong.

The words Chen Rong had spoken had strengthened her wavering heart, especially that memory she had locked away—the towering figure she had hidden deep inside herself.

But after Chen Rong’s earnest advice, new thoughts stirred in her mind.

Yet Xu Fei’s kindness last night gave her fresh hope for this man and this home.

Perhaps…

Du Man thought she shouldn’t dwell on the past.

Breakfast was rice porridge.

Xu Fei steamed an egg custard for her.

He fed her himself, then left for work.

He reminded her not to do any chores, to rest for the day.

Du Man watched Xu Fei leave, feeling as though she had found the man she truly wanted.

If Xu Fei could always be like this, then all the hardship she had endured would be worth it.

Knock, knock!

The sound of the door interrupted her thoughts.

Chen Rong pushed the door open and walked in.

“Here,” she said.

Chen Rong had visited yesterday, knowing Du Man was unwell, and today she came specially to check on her.

Du Man smiled, “Oh, come on, it’s nothing serious. Why spend money on me?”

“I’m working now, unlike you. This didn’t cost much anyway.”

Du Man glanced at the gifts—two tins of malted milk powder, at least ten yuan, and the fruit cost five or six more.

“What are you doing now?” she asked.

Chen Rong smiled, “I graduated from university and was assigned to the south. Recently, through an introduction, I met Zhang Lei. His father has connections and wants to transfer me back here.”

Yesterday, Chen Rong had come, but Du Man was feeling too unwell to talk much.

“I really envy you. You can go out and work, while I’m stuck at home, and Xu Fei has to earn everything for the family,” she sighed.

“How much can Xu Fei really make?” Chen Rong said disparagingly.

“He’s working very hard now,” Du Man replied.

“Working hard?” Chen Rong scoffed, shaking her head. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you yesterday…”

“Tell me what?” Du Man asked, seeing her hesitate. “Did you see Xu Fei?”

“Yes. At the cinema.”

Chen Rong recounted what she had seen of Xu Fei that day.

“That day, he…”

Du Man remembered he had mentioned going to gamble, but such things weren’t easy to discuss with Chen Rong.

“He’s so pathetic,” Chen Rong said, feeling sorry for Du Man. “Back in school, you were the beauty everyone admired. You and Bai Siyuan were a perfect pair.”

Du Man dreaded hearing that name.

But Chen Rong still mentioned it.

“Let’s not talk about that,” Du Man said, closing her eyes.

But suddenly, in her mind’s eye, appeared the image of that handsome youth in a crisp white shirt and green army trousers.

Bai Siyuan?