Chen Yang was starving. It had been nearly six or seven hours since breakfast, and his stomach was rumbling. He wolfed down two large bowls of noodles his mother-in-law had made.
Shen Futang's eating habits weren't much better; he was close to scraping the bottom of the pot clean.
"How's Er Ni's school? Is everything arranged?"
After Chen Yang finished eating, Shen Xue brought over their little one, Chen Peng, and asked about Shen Rong's situation at school.
It was the first time their younger sister had ever been so far from home, and as an elder sister, it was only natural she'd be worried.
"The school is quite large. We registered her, and her luggage is settled. The school provides a subsidy and grain coupons each month. The dormitory is in a building, it's very good."
Before Chen Yang could answer, Shen Futang spoke up. Chen Yang, meanwhile, was tickling the little one who had just finished his milk.
Chen Peng was now a month old. He was much whiter than when he was born and had filled out. He was fair and tender, incredibly cute.
He was just too young and usually slept after playing for a short while. It was rare for him to be awake with his eyes open.
"Look at our Peng Peng, listening intently. If someone didn't know, they'd think he also wanted to go to college."
Chen Yang kissed the little one, who smelled of milk. To his surprise, the baby wasn't happy. His little mouth pouted, and he looked like he was about to cry.
"Oh, oh, oh, Peng Peng, be good, be good. Don't mind your smelly daddy."
Seeing this, Shen Xue quickly comforted the baby. Fortunately, he was still young and not too difficult to soothe. Especially since he had just eaten not long ago, she managed to lull him to sleep.
Shen Xue then gave Chen Yang a playful glare and pointed at his beard.
"You're all stubbly, it's prickly. Peng Peng's skin is so tender; if you kiss him, it'll hurt him. From now on, you're not allowed to kiss Peng Peng unless you shave your beard clean."
Shen Xue was protecting her little one. Chen Yang scratched his head sheepishly upon hearing her words.
In fact, it wasn't just Chen Yang. Many men in this world liked to rub their beards against their children's faces.
Some babies found it comfortable, but many had delicate skin, and coarse stubble could directly make them cry.
"Next time, I'll definitely shave it clean."
"Where are Yan Yan and Hao Hao? I haven't seen them. Those two little ones, I've been back for half a day and haven't seen them come out to play with their dad."
Little Chen Peng had been lulled to sleep by Shen Xue and was about to be placed in the cradle. Chen Yang then glanced around and noticed the absence of his son, Chen Hao.
"They went to their second aunt's house to play. These days, they love to follow Mei Ya's group around. They play until they're drenched in sweat every day, running around like crazy."
"When they get back, you need to discipline them properly. They'll be tanned like little monkeys if this continues."
It was better that Chen Yang didn't mention the two little ones; Shen Xue's blood pressure started to soar.
She had just finished her confinement period and still had to care for the youngest. How could she have time to look after two older ones? Her second aunt's family had several young cousins who would play with the two children. These days, they always went to play.
Shen Mei wasn't studying anymore. Apart from work, she was always leading a group of children around, practically becoming their leader.
The baby and Chen Hao also followed their little aunts and cousins around every day. When Chen Yang heard this, he began to understand why his daughter in his previous life was so close to Shen Mei.
So that's how it started. Although Chen Yang had advised Shen Mei against not going to school back then, she was adamant about not going, and he couldn't force her to accept his views.
"They're just kids, it's all about playing. Getting tanned is healthy. When the sun is gone in winter, they'll quickly become fair again."
Chen Yang comforted Shen Xue. In a few days, he would be reporting to school. Shen Xue had just finished her confinement, and Chen Peng had only just opened his eyes.
Under these circumstances, traveling from Wan Province to Shanghai would be a long and arduous journey, and Chen Yang was truly worried.
"Then you, as their father, should also pay attention to the children. In a few more days, you'll be reporting. How can I manage three children by myself?"
Shen Xue put down Chen Peng and looked at Chen Yang. The day he was to report was fast approaching.
"You've just finished your confinement, and Peng Peng is still so young. If you all accompany me on the train, I'm afraid your bodies won't be able to handle it."
"After a while, when the late rice harvest is done, Mom and Dad won't have much to do at home. They can come along to take care of you. I'm not at ease with you managing three children alone."
Chen Yang would definitely have to hire a nanny to help Shen Xue with the children. His in-laws had never left Wan Province in their lives.
Chen Yang thought that, using the excuse of taking care of Shen Xue, he could take them out for a tour.
Moreover, no matter how good a nanny was, she would never be as good as his own parents-in-law.
He would report first, and then in a few months, after Shen Xue's health had recovered better and the children were a bit older, he would bring them over.
Coincidentally, during this period, he could also go to Shanghai to scout for a house. Otherwise, with the whole family moving, they wouldn't even have a place to live.
Not to mention anything else, in Shanghai in 1979, if he bought a few properties now, in a few decades, Chen Yang wouldn't have to do anything and could lie back and win billions.
If he got lucky, and by chance there was a demolition, and he got a few buildings, he could spend his next life with snake-skin bags full of keys, becoming a gentleman of leisure and collecting rent every day.
Of course, these were all jokes. Chen Yang's ambitions were not in this area.
Even if he were to buy houses, with the little money he had now, how many could he buy? And the real estate market wouldn't develop that rapidly in the next decade or two. This money couldn't be cashed out.
Putting the money here now would mean not being able to get it back for a decade or two. It would be better to invest it and make money. A house would be enough to live in. Of course, if there were good houses, Chen Yang would buy them if he saw them, but there was no need to buy houses just to hoard them.
With this money in his hands, he had plenty of ways to make it double at a speed far exceeding buying land and houses.
"You've already thought it through, so I naturally have no objections."
"When you're away from home, and I'm not by your side, you must take good care of yourself."
"There are so many good-looking classmates outside; you're not allowed to have any improper thoughts."
Shen Xue had been listening attentively to what Chen Yang had said earlier, but as he continued, her tone changed.
"What are you talking about? You know what kind of person I am. I certainly won't sow wild oats outside."
"Once I find a suitable house there and get everything ready, I'll come back to pick you and the children up."
Chen Yang felt both amused and exasperated. His little wife had learned to be wary. She didn't used to be like this.
Indeed, people change.
But no matter how she changed, she was still the wife he loved the most. He had lived two lives. In his previous life, so many beautiful women had thrown themselves at him, but he had never had any improper thoughts.
In this life, he had even less of such intentions. Apart from his own wife, everyone else was a "red powder skeleton." Even the most beautiful skin could not arouse any interest in him.