The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 39 - 38: He Lang is Back

He Lang had been gone for seven days. On the morning of the eighth, just as dawn was breaking, Xue Yue heard a knock on the door before she had even woken up.

Xue Yue shot up in bed. She listened closely—it was He Lang’s voice.

Xue Yue threw on some clothes, got out of bed, and opened the door to see a travel-worn He Lang standing there, holding a bag.

"You’re back."

He Lang gazed at Xue Yue. Her hair was a bit messy, her cheeks were flushed, and her large, glistening eyes, full of joy, were fixed on him. The hand gripping the bag’s handle tightened.

He Lang came inside, shut the door, tossed his bag on the floor, and swept Xue Yue into his arms, carrying her toward the edge of the kang bed.

Holding her tightly in his arms, He Lang finally felt certain about something.

For the past several days, her face was all he could see whenever he closed his eyes, leaving his heart feeling hollow. But in the moment he embraced her, that emptiness was instantly filled.

After some time, they finally stopped, breathless, their foreheads resting against each other.

Xue Yue’s heart was pounding. Just as she was about to see what was going on with him, He Lang grabbed a change of clothes and went outside.

A short while later, he returned in fresh clothes, still slightly damp.

’He must have gone to wash up.’

Noticing the dark circles under his eyes, Xue Yue said, "You should get some sleep. I’ll go make you something to eat."

He Lang shook his head and pulled her closer. "I’m not hungry. I ate on the way back. Just lie down with me for a while."

Lying together under the covers, He Lang pulled Xue Yue on top of him and held her tightly. He inhaled deeply at the nape of her neck, then closed his eyes with a look of pure contentment.

Xue Yue listened to his heartbeat as her own breathing steadied. Soon, He Lang was asleep. Although she was already wide awake, she didn’t want to disturb him. As she lay there, nestled against him, her eyelids grew heavy, and she slowly drifted off to sleep as well.

She didn’t wake until she felt a tickle on her face and found it slightly hard to breathe. When she opened her eyes, she was met with a close-up of He Lang’s face. He was awake.

"He Lang..."

Seeing her awake, he rolled over, pinning her beneath him.

In that instant, days of longing transformed into passionate intimacy beneath the covers.

Xue Yue spent nearly the entire day of He Lang’s return in bed.

Later, when He Lang brought a bowl of freshly made congee to her and tried to feed her, Xue Yue couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation.

"Aren’t you tired?"

He Lang scooped up a spoonful and held it to her lips. "Open wide~"

Xue Yue was rendered utterly speechless. She simply opened her mouth and let him feed her the entire bowl of congee.

’Fine, whatever. Let him do as he pleases!’

Fortunately, He Lang let her rest that night.

The next day, after breakfast, Xue Xingzhou arrived.

"Big Brother, what brings you here?"

He Lang explained, "I went over to Big Brother’s place yesterday afternoon and asked him to come help today. I have three days off, so I was thinking we could break ground and get the foundation laid."

Xue Yue stared at He Lang. ’He went out yesterday afternoon? How did I not know? Was I sleeping that soundly?’

He Lang, of course, noticed her stare and guiltily averted his eyes.

"Big Brother, have you eaten yet?" He Lang asked Xue Xingzhou.

Xue Xingzhou nodded. "I have."

As he spoke, he pulled a thick stack of bills from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is from selling the wild boar and the ginseng, plus some money from other game I’ve sold. It’s 500 yuan in total. Take it and use it."

Xue Yue stared blankly at the stack of money, silent.

He Lang glanced at the money and pushed it back toward him.

"Big Brother, we have money for the house."

Xue Xingzhou pushed the money back again. "He Lang, you know what I mean by this."

He Lang shook his head. "Big Brother, Yue’er and I are husband and wife now. Even if we were forced by circumstances back then, who’s to say it wasn’t fate? I married Yue’er, and that 500 yuan was the bride price. I have no intention of ever asking for it back."

Xue Xingzhou stared at He Lang. "That may be how you feel, but you can’t stop others from gossiping. I won’t have people looking down on my sister."

"I would never look down on her. People with prejudices will talk no matter what we do. We can’t stop them, and we don’t need to. Four hundred of that original five hundred yuan was my own money. No one could have stopped me from spending it how I wanted," He Lang declared, his voice firm with conviction.

Xue Xingzhou studied He Lang for a long moment before finally taking the money back. He counted out 100 yuan and placed it on the table.

"Alright then. In that case, I’ll accept your money as the bride price. But you take this 100 yuan."

He Lang was silent for a few seconds before nodding. "Alright."

Throughout the entire exchange, Xue Yue had remained silent, just listening.

Staring at the 500 yuan, she wasn’t sure if she was recalling her past helplessness or just feeling sentimental, but a sour ache bloomed in her chest, making her want to cry.

Xue Xingzhou gently patted her head. "What would you like for a dowry? Big Brother can buy it for you. See? I have money now."

Xue Yue looked up at him, her eyes welling with tears.

"Now, now, Big Brother didn’t do this to make you cry."

Xue Xingzhou never felt his actions were unnecessary. No one could, with a clear conscience, accept their sister sacrificing her entire life for them. From what he could tell, He Lang seemed like a good man, but a lifetime was a long time. Who knew what the future held?

"Big Brother." Xue Yue threw her arms around him.

Xue Xingzhou smiled, patting her back gently.

He Lang breathed a sigh of relief seeing her reaction. ’No one knew,’ he thought, ’but I broke out in a cold sweat when he tried to give the money back. The cooked duck almost flew away. This brother-in-law of mine is really something else.’

After watching the two men leave for the house plot, Xue Yue opened the bag He Lang had brought back.

Right on top was a paper-wrapped bundle of clothes. She took it out, and her eyes instantly lit up. It was a beautiful women’s knit sweater with green and brown stripes. Xue Yue held it up against herself with a gentle smile. ’I didn’t expect this man to have such good taste.’

Beneath it was a rack of pork ribs, a bundle of vermicelli noodles, a small bag of dried shrimp, and a few red sausages. There were also some things Xue Yue had never seen before: two paper bags with the word "bread" written on them. She gave one a squeeze; it was soft. Opening it, she found fluffy pastries that smelled wonderfully of milk.

Xue Yue put everything away, then locked the door and headed for the house plot.

When she arrived, she saw a crowd of people gathered around to watch. Since it wasn’t planting season yet, the villagers were idle and would congregate whenever there was something to see.

The men working were He Lang and Xue Xingzhou, as well as Mr. He, He Nan, Shitou, He Zhendong, and two others Xue Yue didn’t recognize, though she assumed they were also from the village.

When He Lang saw her approach, he said, "All these men will need lunch. Go back and get Mom to help you cook. If it’s too much, call your sister-in-law over too. They’ll probably be eating at our place for the next few days. See what we’re short on at home, and give Mom some money to buy what’s needed from the other villagers."

Xue Yue nodded. "I understand."

With that said, He Lang went back to work.

Worried she couldn’t prepare a meal for eight or nine people on her own in time, Xue Yue went to get Mrs. He.

"Your father already told me they were breaking ground today," Mrs. He said. "I was planning to come help you anyway. How could you possibly manage all this on your own?"

Xue Yue smiled and nodded.