"Hungry? The wife is making something delicious for you!"
Niley was suddenly called out by Mier, and he quickly realized that he had exposed himself.
He quickly avoided looking at Niley and focused his attention on the chicken he had been thinking about. He hadn't expected Niley to say something like that.
Worried that Niley might go into the kitchen, he waved his hand quickly. "No, no, I'll call my father later, we can do it ourselves."
It was still early for lunch, so there was no rush to call anyone.
He had only wanted to avoid the situation for a moment.
Niley didn't say anything, seeing how he was acting. She lifted her feet and led him into the house before collapsing onto the rattan chair to rest.
Mier saw Niley lying down again and felt a bit uncomfortable. Not knowing what to do, he just mimicked her and lay down to rest as well.
Before long, he started to feel drowsy.
He peeked at Niley and saw that she was fast asleep. Quietly, he tiptoed to the bed, took off his clothes, and planned to nap a bit before getting up to cook.
Lying down on Niley's soft bed, he glanced at Niley again. When he saw she wasn't watching, he relaxed and stretched out his body.
He had never slept in such a comfortable bed at home, even during the winter it was warm.
Everything in the house was cozy, not at all like the cold of winter.
Plus, he hadn't rested well the night before, so it was nice to be able to catch up on some sleep during the day. He wished he could stay like this forever.
Thinking about the future, Mier gradually fell asleep.
On the rattan chair, hearing Mier's steady breathing, Niley opened her eyes.
Mier still felt uneasy around her.
It made sense. They had only just met and gotten married right away, so Niley didn't feel completely secure either.
But she really liked Mier, otherwise, she wouldn't have brought him home.
...
While Mier was fast asleep, Niley got up and went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
She had plenty of instant meals in her space, all prepared by the uncles and aunts at the base who worried she would go hungry. They were easy to prepare, just heat them up and they're ready to eat.
After heating it, she took out a few servings of dessert from her space, worried that her little glutton would wake up hungry.
Everything ready, she saw that Mier still hadn't woken up, so she went next door to call Mr. Chen.
When she arrived, Mr. Chen was washing some wild herbs she didn't recognize, and his hands were cracked and red, just like Mier's.
When he saw her, he looked a bit embarrassed and looked up. "You're here? Where's Mier?"
Not seeing Mier behind Niley, Mr. Chen looked confused and asked, "What's going on?"
Niley spoke up, "I came to call Father over for lunch."
Mr. Chen paused, looking embarrassed.
His son had already married off, and he... how could he keep going over to his son's house every day for meals?
Thinking about this, he hesitated.
Niley noticed Mr. Chen's hesitation and spoke again, "Father, there's no need to be so polite, it's just a meal."
She then handed Mr. Chen a small jar. "After washing your hands, apply a little of this. It will help with the cracked skin."
"This... this must be expensive, right? You should keep it for Mier. I'm getting old, I don't need things like this anymore."
Mr. Chen tried to refuse.
Since the Gu family fell, and after being assigned to catch fish with Mier, he had gotten used to the cracked skin on his hands.
Mier and his brothers had never had an easy life, but at least his children were obedient. He had done his best to raise them, and now they had grown up, with good wives. The hardships of the past were behind them, and their good days were yet to come!
"Mier has some, Father, please use it."
Seeing that Niley was insistent, Mr. Chen didn't refuse anymore.
After putting the things inside the house, Niley followed Mier back home.
As soon as they entered the door, they saw Mr. Chen coming out of the room, looking shocked at them.
"It's so cold, why are you still taking your clothes off?"
"Dad, Wife, I... I'll go make the food now."
Mr. Chen: ...
"Wasn't it already done?"
As Niley and Mr. Chen approached Mier, Mr. Chen was about to help him put on his clothes, but before he could, someone else was faster than him, so he quickly pulled his hand back, smiling at the two of them.
Mier, seeing Niley putting clothes on him in front of his father, felt a bit embarrassed. He then remembered what his father had said earlier: "Dad, what did you mean by it being done?"
"The food is ready. Are you hungry? Let's eat first."
Niley spoke without waiting for them and walked straight to the kitchen.
Behind them, Mier was shocked. He had only rested for a while, and the food was already prepared?
And it was prepared by his wife!
Mr. Chen could tell that it was Niley who made the food and couldn't help but poke his son's forehead, a hint of playful scolding in his eyes, yet with affection: "You, you, sleeping in the middle of the day, letting your wife make food for you. Which husband gets to live this comfortably?"
Even at the peak of their family's prosperity, they never had it this easy!
"Dad, it's not Mier's fault. He was really tired yesterday. Let him rest."
Niley didn't want Mier to get scolded, so she quickly defended him, though she regretted asking Mr. Chen over. If she had known, she would have woken Mier up earlier, and he wouldn't have had to get scolded.
She looked at Mier with some guilt.
Mr. Chen and Mier both paused at Niley's words. They exchanged a glance before quickly looking away.
Their wife/son's wife really did protect them. They had never heard her say something like that.
The three of them each had their own thoughts as they ate lunch in the kitchen.
Afterward, Mier hurried to clean up the dishes, and Mr. Chen went to help.
Glancing at Niley, Mr. Chen started to get anxious, so he reached over to poke Mier.
Niley saw Mr. Chen's action and silently left the kitchen.
Only then did Mr. Chen feel at ease and said anxiously, "Your big brother and the others have been gone for five days. We don't even know what's going on. Do you think you could go to the town and check it out?"
Although Mier was not his biological son, he had raised him since he was young, and he was worried too!
Now that Mier's matter was settled, it was time to check on the situation.
Mier was also a bit worried but really couldn't leave.
Helpless, he said, "Dad, I can't say anything to Wife about this. Maybe we can ask Aunt Dasha to help?"
Aunt Dasha was the woman who pulled a cart for the village, taking people to the town for two coins a trip. If no one needed a ride, she would work in the fields or do odd jobs.
But with this weather, it seemed like not many would be going to town.
"I'll ask her later. If it doesn't work, we can delay it."
Mr. Chen was also a bit helpless, but there was really no other good option.
Mier had already gotten married. If he went out carelessly, his wife would likely get upset.
Niley thought: This could have been solved by just saying it out loud. Why is it so complicated?
"Dad, Mier, how about we go out for a while?"
"To the town?"
Father and son asked in unison.