The Storm Is Here

Xiaoguo helped him to the bed nervously so that he could lie on his stomach. She took a pair of scissors and cut open the gauze on his back.

“…”

Seeing his back, Xiaoguo could not stay angry with him. There was only pain in her heart. It turned out that his injuries were worse than she had imagined.

There was not a single patch of unwounded skin on his back. Some of the wounds had scabbed over, and some were still oozing pus. Most of his back was still inflamed. The blood from the wound had caused the gauze to stick to his skin. When she peeled away the gauze, the wound became raw again.

Xiaoguo looked at the “small injury” that he was referring to and her heart ached for him. Her hands moved gently, hoping that he wouldn’t feel any pain as she applied the medicine.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She asked deliberately, “Are you still going to have a daughter?”

“Of course! … I’ll try for one at a later date. I’ll do it after I resign.”

Xiaoguo was quite satisfied with what she heard. She loosened the gauze in her hand a little and adjusted it for comfort. “He is still thinking about having a daughter at a time like this. He really deserves a beating!”

“Stay down for a while.”

“Hmmm.”

Xiaoguo got up and put away the gauze and medicinal powder. Then, she came back and lay beside him. She looked at his side profile, which seemed too exquisite for a man, and suddenly remembered something.

“Why wait until after retirement?”

“Retirement?”

“Oh, I mean after you resign.” Xiaoguo held her head and turned to explain to him.

“That way, I’ll have time to take care of the children with you. You raised Zhuang Zhuang all by yourself. I failed in my duty and was absent from your side. This is my biggest regret.”

Jiang Danhe looked at Xiaoguo affectionately.

Xiaoguo was suddenly scalded by the sincerity in his eyes. “Then why did you let me sign the agreement to have a second child!”

If he wasn’t in a hurry, why did he let her sign it?

“I just want a promise from you.” After saying that, after a long pause, Jiang Danhe looked at her solemnly and asked, “Will you leave me?”

“…” Jiang Danhe didn’t hide the worry in his eyes. Xiaoguo couldn’t calm down for a long time.

After an unknown period of time, so long that Jiang Danhe started to feel unsure again and doubt himself, Xiaoguo chuckled and said in an equally serious tone,

“Of course not!”

Her voice was not loud, but the determination in her voice was enough to reassure Jiang Danhe.

After a long time, Jiang Danhe couldn’t help but laugh. He said firmly, “Neither will I!”

Ever since he got together with her, he had been obsessed with her. In the beginning, he was only fond of her appearance. After spending more time with her, he was more certain that he couldn’t live without her. Her heart was even more attractive than her appearance.

For a long time, he was unsure of Xiaoguo’s feelings. He was constantly worried about losing her, so he had to get a promise from her. Now that he knew her feelings, he was elated.

“Xiaoguo, I really love you. More than you think.”

—-

As night fell, the sea exuded a unique and relaxing atmosphere. It was a pity that it was dark. Otherwise, Xiaoguo would have gone for a walk.

In the middle of the night, a muffled thunder suddenly sounded from the gloomy sky, instantly lighting it up.

Xiaoguo was suddenly blinded. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a dark figure closing the window.

“Is it going to rain?”

Xiaoguo asked groggily.

“It’s raining.” After Jiang Danhe closed the window, he came back and lay down. “Go to sleep.”

Xiaoguo acknowledged silently. Then, she fell asleep again.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled outside the house. The soundproofing of the house was pretty good. Even if there were sounds coming into the house, they could act as a lullaby.

Seeing that Xiaoguo was sleeping soundly, Jiang Danhe raised his hand and gently covered her with a blanket. Although the weather had been getting hot recently, the rain would cool down the air and the nights could get a bit chilly.

After doing all this, he fell asleep.

The next morning, Jiang Danhe woke up first. After getting dressed, he informed Xiaoguo, who was still lying down, and left.

Xiaoguo, who was alone now, stretched and got out of bed. She went to the window and opened it. She saw that it was still drizzling and there were no signs of the rain stopping.

Didn’t the Imperial Astronomer say that it would only rain for one night? It was said that a storm was short-lived, while a drizzle could last a long time. It looked like they wouldn’t be boarding the boats today.

Xiaoguo took a deep breath. The air was good. Although it was a little humid, it felt rather comfortable.

After standing there for a long time in her undergarments, she started to feel cold. She quickly closed the window and returned to her bed, but she did not lie down for long. When her body felt warmer, she got out of bed.

As soon as she arrived outside the house, Xiao Zhu had already fetched water. When she saw Xiaoguo, she brought it over.

“Sister Xiaoguo, please wash up. The water is warm.”

They were already familiar with each other from yesterday. Xiaoguo did not want Xiao Zhu to call her Madam, as she felt the term “Sister” sounded more amiable. Xiao Zhu was also happy to call her that. She had specially boiled water for Xiaoguo this morning because she was afraid that unheated water would be too cold for her.

“Thank you, Xiao Zhu.”

Xiaoguo walked over and tested the water temperature. It was just right.

After she was done washing up, Xiao Zhu stood up to get the water. Xiaoguo was not agreeable to this. She was already feeling thankful that Xiao Zhu had fetched water for her to wash up. How could she make her discard the water for her?

Hence, Xiaoguo brought the water outside and threw it on a random spot.

Jiang Danhe returned quickly with breakfast in his hand.

The warm porridge, refreshing pickled vegetables, and the white vegetarian buns were simple but very appetizing.

Xiao Zhu sat down in embarrassment. She was supposed to entertain them, but she didn’t have a single grain of rice or a drop of oil at home. Instead, the guests were now serving her.

“The Imperial Astronomer said that the rain will go on for another day, so we will have to board the boats tomorrow.”

At the dining table, Jiang Danhe said as he ate.

Xiaoguo didn’t mind. This place was pretty good. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to stay another day. She could play with Xiao Zhu one more day.

Xiao Zhu was also very happy. She liked Sister Xiaoguo and would probably never see her again. Hence, she was overjoyed to hear that she was extending her stay for another day!

“Is Zhuang Zhuang still with Xiaoyi today?”

Xiaoguo knew that Jiang Danhe would definitely visit Zhuang Zhuang early in the morning. It was not convenient for her to go to his place. After all, Xiaoyi and Shao Zhan were in the same courtyard. It was not appropriate for her to go there as the minister’s family.

“Miss him? I’ll bring him back later.”

What he meant was that Xiaoyi was still not letting him come back. “But if you miss him, I’ll force him to come back.”

Xiaoguo understood and shook her head. “It’s fine. Just let him stay with Xiaoyi.”

It was a rare chance that the two boys could spend time together, so she decided not to separate them.

Jiang Danhe nodded and picked up some pickled vegetables for her. “Try it. It’s not bad.”

Xiaoguo took a sip of porridge with the pickled vegetables. The salty and spicy taste was very good.

“Xiao Zhu, do you know where to fish for seafood?”

Xiaoguo asked the little girl, who was eating quietly at the side. The seafood was delicious. If only she knew where to catch some. Before she returned home, she could catch more and marinate them for her family to try.

“I know, I know. Once the sea ebbs, the fish will float on the surface. There are so many of them every day!”

Hearing her question, Xiao Zhu answered eagerly and looked at her with bright eyes.

“That’s great!” Xiaoguo’s eyes lit up too, but it was directed at the seaweed. “Then can you bring me there?”

“Sure, sure!” Xiao Zhu pointed at the light rain outside. “We have two raincoats at home so we can take one each. The rain outside is too light to drench us.”

“Sure!”

When Xiaoguo heard her words, she was extremely excited. She started eating faster. Although she couldn’t bring any seafood back now, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a look at the seaside. It would be a treat for her eyes. When she returned from the island, she would fill up a basket to the brim with seafood.

Xiao Zhu was afraid that she would not be able to keep up with her speed, so she started eating quickly too.

Only Jiang Danhe looked at Xiaoguo in confusion. Did his wife have another hobby? She liked the sea, the boats, enjoyed fishing, and also beach-combing. Maybe he should bring her to the seaside to settle down after he retires?