Chapter 1, A Joyful Encounter (2)

Han Jin's narration is concise yet well-structured. He tells Gui Er that her maiden surname is Mo, and she is the only daughter of the head of a security agency in Lu Ming City, having learned martial arts from a young age. The Mo and Han families have been family friends for generations. Gui Er married Han Jin at the age of seventeen, and the following year, she gave birth to their son, Yuan Bao. However, just when Yuan Bao was about to turn one month old, a significant event occurred between the Mo and Han families.

Such a person should not be here

On this day, Gui'er went to the creek to wash clothes and happened to encounter Da Gui returning from the county town

This ... ...

I am looking for you. The young man in blue slightly turned to avoid the noble lady, leaning closer to her, his eyes dark as pitch. "Gui'er, do you not remember me?"

It is evident that this person is not a fraud. ... Then, could it be ... ? ... a ghost

Gui Er took three steps back, her face turning pale: "Nonsense... nonsense, my husband has long since died!" Although she no longer remembered, everyone knew that her husband lay beneath that cliff to the east. After all these years, it was likely that even the remnants of his bones had been consumed by wild beasts

He extended his hand, holding a well-wrapped lotus leaf package, the origin of which was unknown. He handed the lotus leaf package to her, saying: "It won't do to have no meat, Little Bao is growing up after all"

His smile instantly illuminated the entire room, and Gui'er felt as if the greasy stove had become bright. She hurriedly cleared her throat and said, "Well... our family is poor..."

Before Gui Er could respond, a tender voice interjected: "Mother is worried because there is nothing good to serve the guests at home."

Yuanbao is truly remarkable

Although it is indeed inconvenient for a woman to support a family on her own, there is always an inexplicable strength deep within her that constantly reminds her—she cannot, absolutely must not compromise like this

She also began to stutter, repeating: "You... you are looking for whom?"

He did not expect that such a light sound would be heard by him, and he asked, "Gui'er, is there something that is bothering you?"

He paused for a long time before finally saying with difficulty: "The entire family... exterminated."

It turns out that the delicate skin and tender flesh of the ingot, along with its peach blossom eyes, were inherited from the father

Gui Er

Han Jin was taken aback for a moment, then smiled gently, glancing sideways at the woman beside him who was fiercely attacking the wild vegetables with a spoon: "Is this how you spoke to him?"

That ... ...

The young man in blue let out a gentle sigh: "... ... I am your husband, Gui'er. Have you truly forgotten me?"

Da Gui and Gui Er spoke at the same time, but the former was filled with anger, while the latter's voice was weak.

"Gui'er, I am not called 'Young Master'; I have a name."

At this point, Han Jin's expression became somewhat grave, and his tone turned serious

Gui Er's body suddenly stiffened. Turning around, she saw Yuan Bao staring at them with a pair of round, glistening eyes, fixed intently on them. She hurriedly threw away the spoon and stretched out her greasy hand to cover his eyes, exclaiming, "Little child, you must not look around!"

Gui Er shook her head, about to refuse, when a strange yet gentle voice sounded in her ear

As she returned along the path from the village entrance, the peculiar sense of daze in Gui'er’s heart had vanished. In the presence of this stranger named Han Jin, she felt a mix of shyness, awkwardness, and secret delight, a feeling that was exceedingly subtle and complex

The lotus leaf exuded an enticing aroma of meat, causing Gui'er to swallow involuntarily. Han Jin had already bent down to pick up the eagerly awaiting Yuanbao, smiling as he asked, "What does little treasure like to eat?"

In summary, as long as she has gold ingots by her side, men are nothing... just fleeting clouds, fleeting clouds

Certainly, this is not merely a casual chat over tea to strengthen their relationship; what he conveyed to her were those significant past events that she had completely forgotten.

Gui'er turned to Da Gui and asked, "Looking for you?"

Having spoken, he spread his hands apart and then brought them together, closing the two thin door panels.

Once Yuanbao was lulled to sleep for his afternoon nap, Gui'er immediately took a stool and sat upright in front of Han Jin. In the face of her serious demeanor, he couldn't help but smile, his eyes curving with delight. The affection in his gaze, which he did not bother to conceal, radiated a gentle warmth, causing her rough, weathered heart, akin to that of a peasant woman, to quicken its pace slightly.

I... I... " The aroma of meat wafted through the air, and Yuanbao, with drool trickling from the corner of his mouth, still tried to maintain the last shred of rationality, muttering unconvincingly, "Mother said that eating more leaves grown in the fields can help Yuanbao grow faster... "

Her face became even paler, and she quietly took a step back

What is your name

The so-called "important matter" that Han Jin and his wife need to attend to actually only involves chatting with Gui Er

What do you want to do

You used to call me by my courtesy name, Ye Tang

It turns out ... ...

Not right, not right!

She suddenly blushed, realizing that the other person was a living being. She began to feel that being held by him like this was indeed quite an embarrassing matter

At noon, Gui'er stole a glance at Han Jin, who sat gracefully on a rough wooden bench, and stirred the wild vegetable porridge in the pot, unable to suppress a soft sigh.

Han Jin said as he stood up and walked towards the stove, speaking gently, "It's alright, Gui'er. As long as it's made by you, I will eat anything. Moreover..."

Gui Er recalled the tablet on the altar at home. "Han Mou"—his surname is Han

It turns out that my husband looks like this, such a handsome and elegant figure, like a jade tree standing in the wind

However, if this person is a fraud, then their deception is quite lacking in sophistication. Moreover, she is merely a village woman with nothing to her name; what would be the purpose of deceiving her

He replied softly, "My name is Han Jin."

When Gui'er was taken away by the young man in blue, Han Jin, she still wore a dazed expression, completely unaware of the heartbroken Da Gui behind her, who was silently mourning the complete suffocation of his unfulfilled feelings by the stream.

Indeed, this is not a ghost

She was momentarily taken aback, raised her head, and saw a tall figure standing on the small stone bridge at the entrance of the village. The morning sunlight shone from behind him, creating an ethereal glow. In that instant, it seemed as if a familiar scene flashed before her eyes, yet it was indistinct and elusive, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

Gui Er immediately responded, "That's right, that's right... My family hasn't had meat for a long time... Uh, young sir, why don't you go to the small tavern at Widow Liu's place up ahead to have a meal and a drink or something..."

She thought seriously for a moment and then solemnly shook her head

Gui Er listened intently and could not help but ask, "What has happened?"

Yuanbao did not resist, and Han Jin smiled gently, releasing her hand and placing Yuanbao into her palm. He then turned and walked to the door, where he politely bowed to the villagers outside, some standing, some sitting, some cracking sunflower seeds, others smoking pipes, all of whom were peering into the room with the same expression. He said, "Everyone, please go back. You have worked hard watching for so long. My wife and I have not seen each other for a long time and have some important matters to attend to, so we will not keep you company."

It is said that when Da Gui saw Gui Er walking towards him, without saying a word, he took the wooden basin from her hands and chuckled, "Gui Er, my mother has stewed pig's trotters. How about you bring Yuan Bao to my house for dinner later?"

"I am sorry." He suddenly leaned closer before she could finish speaking, holding the ingot in one hand and propping himself up on the edge of the iron pot with the other. His warm breath brushed against her ear as he softly said, "You have suffered while I was away..."

Perhaps it is a kind of sensitivity that comes from nowhere, causing her to develop an invisible guard against all strangers, or perhaps, deep down, she still harbors a lingering affection for the husband she has long since forgotten

Is this really not a dream

Is he really her husband

Gui Er was instantly dumbfounded

The person walked towards them, his voice clear and his tone gentle: "... ... I am back."

The young man in the blue attire turned a deaf ear to everything, gently placing her hand against his chest, and softly said: "I have a shadow, I am alive, if you don't believe me, touch me."

The young man in the blue attire seemed to see through her thoughts, and with a slight smile, he walked around the nobleman to stand before her. While she was still in a state of suspicion and fear, he unexpectedly took her hand.

Da Gui shook his head in confusion, yet his eyes were fixed intently on the stranger. Suddenly, he stepped in front of Gui Er and stammered, "You... who are you?"

Gui Er truly had not considered the matter of remarrying

Although she has a child, she is only twenty-two years old this year, inevitably becoming the subject of matchmaking by the village gossipers. Various widowers and even unmarried young men have shown interest in her, but she always pretends to be deaf and mute, dealing with them perfunctorily

Husband? The father of the child?

Gui'er peeked out from behind him, and with this clear glance, she finally understood the reason behind Da Gui's intense reaction

The young man before me is more handsome than any man in the village, with long eyebrows framing a pair of clear, spring-like eyes that at this moment shimmer gently as if sprinkled with starlight. He is dressed in a blue garment, which is also quite attractive and appears to be very valuable

Da Gui is a simple and honest young man. At the beginning of the year, he lost his first wife, yet he does not mind that Gui Er has a son, and he has always taken special care of her. Although the fallen flowers have intentions, the flowing water is indifferent, Da Gui is evidently a very resilient morning glory, as he always seems to encounter her whenever Gui Er is alone.

Indeed, beneath her palm was warmth, and the sound of his heartbeat was steady and strong. She looked down, and the sun elongated his shadow, which was perfectly cast at her feet