You're my wife, don't doubt it!

At times like these, he longed to strike himself on the back of the head to escape his suffering.

After disembarking on the north bank of the Yangtze River, the scenery along the road was completely different from that around Shanghai, but Yu Luying had no mood to appreciate it.

She tried to distract herself by admiring the scenery outside the window, but soon found that it was useless and only made her feel more "agitation". So she quickly sat up straight, keeping her upper body upright to minimize stomach irritation, and then closed her eyes again and silently recited "Hail Mary" three times in her heart.

Xiao Yao didn't know whether this was Nantong or Tongzhou territory. He only knew that the journey was only a little over one-third complete, but he lied to Yu Luying and said that there was less than one-third left, so as not to make her feel hopeless.

Fortunately, the road conditions were quite good after they got ashore. The long-distance bus sped along the national highway like a teenager, as smooth as a bowel movement after long-term constipation. This gave Xiao Yao some psychological comfort, making him have some unrealistic expectations of escaping this human torment as soon as possible.

Ultimately, Xiao Yao collapsed in the deepest darkness before dawn while driving through Matang territory.

"Wow!" He used both hands to support the plastic bag he had asked the Northeast rice vendor in front of him for, and then vomited profusely.

A minor's breakdown can happen in an instant.

What's even more frustrating is that after vomiting, the motion sickness didn't get any relief.

Many of you have probably had a similar experience—you dream that you need to go to the toilet, and then you go to the toilet everywhere, repeatedly, but the pressure on your bladder doesn't lessen at all. Finally, you wake up because you really need to go to the toilet.

This is what it felt like for Xiao Yao to feel nauseous after vomiting. However, he didn't doubt that he was dreaming. Instead, he immediately realized where the problem was.

He turned to look at the girl beside him, who was struggling to open the car window.

"Danger! Be careful! Don't stick your head out too far!" Xiao Yao nervously grabbed Yu Luying's left shoulder with one hand, instinctively pulling the girl's head back while patting her back with the other hand.

……

Xiao Yao felt better.

My stomach feels better, but my mouth still feels uncomfortable.

"Why are you using so much force..." Yu Luying said breathlessly, with a few glistening tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes.

Xiao Yao took out a tissue and carefully wiped Yu Luying's mouth, then went to wipe her eyes—but then realized something was wrong, the order was reversed, so he quickly stopped halfway and used a clean tissue to wipe her eyes again.

The gossipy Northeast rice vendor in the front row kindly handed over a bottle of unopened mineral water. Xiao Yao gratefully accepted this timely help. He first helped Yu Luying rinse her mouth, then rinsed his own mouth with the remaining water. The two of them shared the rest of the mineral water and then came back to life together.

Vomiting makes you healthier.

Upon arriving in Matang, Dongru was not far away. The bus sped along the bumpy national highway, jolting violently, but Xiao Yao no longer felt uncomfortable; instead, he became excited.

"Little Apple, we're almost there, we're about to be free," Xiao Yao said to Yu Luying.

"Mm." Yu Luying nodded.

"You two, going back to your hometown for summer vacation? Summer vacation started?" The Northeast rice deliveryman turned around and asked in a loud voice in the Dongru dialect.

“Yes, yes,” Xiao Yao replied in somewhat rusty Dong Ru dialect, “I am, she is not, she is my classmate, she is with me.”

"Oh!" said the guy from Northeast China who sells rice, "Your classmate..."

The two chatted casually, but Yu Luying looked at this person and then at that person, unable to understand a single word.

I just found the dialect really unpleasant to hear.

Before we knew it, the long-distance bus had completed its final sprint and turned into the parking lot of "Dongru Bus Station".

Xiao Yao let out a small cheer, helped Yu Luying slowly stand up, and carried both of their luggage bags, plus a plastic bag containing their excrement and mouthwash, as they got off the bus in the crowded throng.

"Finally, it's over..." Yu Luying said weakly, supporting her slender waist with one hand.

"The road is hard, the road is hard, there are many forks in the road, where am I now? There will be a time when the wind will break the waves, and I will set sail straight to the vast sea." Xiao Yao waved his hand with great pride.

Fortunately, it seemed like it had just rained in Dongru, so we didn't have to suffer from the scorching sun anymore, and it was quite comfortable.

After saying goodbye to the Northeast Rice vendor, Yu Luying sent a message to her mother to report, and Xiao Yao sent a message to his wife to report. He had only typed half a message when the neighbor called again, urging him to hurry up.

However, neither Xiao Yao nor Yu Luying wanted to rush back to fix the water pipes. Xiao Yao meant "I'm hungry, I need to eat," while Yu Luying said that her mother told her to go to the hotel she had booked and drop off her things first.

The hotel Yu Lihua booked was right next to the bus station, seemingly for her daughter's convenience. Xiao Yao accompanied Yu Luying to the front desk, where the receptionist told them in Dongru dialect that it wasn't check-in time yet.

"What did she say?" Yu Luying asked wearily.

"She said registration could only begin at 2 PM," Xiao Yao translated.

“It’s already past one o’clock…” Yu Luying said, her already large eyes wide open.

Unfortunately, things have come to this point, so we can only eat first.

Too tired to walk any further, they randomly picked a restaurant near the bus station to eat.

"Wow, this place is so cheap!" Yu Luying said after sitting down and glancing at the laminated paper menu.

“This is expensive,” Xiao Yao told Yu Luying, “because it’s close to the bus station.”

"Hey, Big Rabbit, look at this, stir-fried clams, isn't that the Dongru specialty you mentioned?" Yu Luying's eyes lit up as she pushed the menu along the glass counter toward Xiao Yao.

Xiao Yao glanced at it and said, "Yes."

"Want to eat."

"point."

Although I really dislike eating clams, since I'm already here, it wouldn't be right not to let her try the local specialty—so I had no choice but to accompany the woman, even at the cost of my life.

"Thank you for coming with me." After they ordered, Xiao Yao said politely to Yu Luying again.

“Mm.” Yu Luying didn’t stand on ceremony with him.

"You know what? This journey reminded me of Fang Hongjian's trip to Sanlu University in the novel 'Fortress Besieged'."

“Yes, me too,” Yu Luying nodded. “But they’ve been traveling for months, while we’ve only been traveling for five hours. But overall, we all feel physically and mentally exhausted.”

"Qian Zhongshu said in *Fortress Besieged* that long-distance travel is the best test of a person's character, so couples who have traveled together and haven't broken up afterward are more stable," Xiao Yao said eloquently. "Qian Zhongshu also said that the honeymoon should be taken before marriage, as the final test—"

"Hmm." Yu Luying's gaze drifted unfocusedly out the restaurant window.

"Do you remember when Fang Hongjian asked... asked... Zhao Xinmei? Or Miss Sun? He asked them, 'After this trip, do you think I'm annoying or not?'"

“The person replied to him,” Yu Luying said, “you are not unpleasant, but you are completely useless.”

"Hahahahahahahahaha... That's right," Xiao Yao chuckled dryly, then asked Yu Luying, "So what do you think of me?"

Yu Luying glanced at him, a barely perceptible smile appearing on her lips: "You're somewhat useful, but very annoying."

Chapter 209: Is a wife like a piece of clothing?

2023-05-27

*This chapter is also known as "Returning Home in Glory"

Xiao Yao and Yu Luying went to a small restaurant near the train station. They ordered clams, which Yu Luying had been craving, and also casually ordered two other home-style dishes like stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts.

The rice was clearly leftover from the previous day, still sticky with burnt rice, and lukewarm. It was in a plastic box, which was slammed onto the table with a "thud." Xiao Yao had no choice but to use his chopsticks to pry open the sealed bowl and serve rice to himself and Yu Luying.

“When I crossed the Yangtze River just now, that poem came to mind,” Yu Luying said, her interest already somewhat restored: “You live at the head of the Yangtze River, I live at the tail of the Yangtze River.”

"I think of you every day, but I can't see you; we drink from the same Yangtze River." Xiao Yao said.

“I’ve got some inspiration. I’ll go back and write it down. Can you take a look?” Yu Luying offered.

"Yo—great!" Xiao Yao exclaimed with delight, "Looking forward to your masterpiece."

Soon, the dishes were served.

The stir-fried garlic sprouts with pork was just average in appearance, so I won't go into too much detail. The stir-fried clams, however, looked quite appealing—the clam shells were a light golden color, and a slightly charred aroma wafted through the air. Each clam exuded an enticing ocean flavor, radiating a unique freshness.

The clams have a plump, rounded appearance, firm yet elastic. They are skillfully stir-fried until just cooked through, with perfect heat, resulting in a smooth and tender texture, and plump, delicious meat.

Xiao Yao disliked this food and, having previously suffered from motion sickness, had a poor appetite, so he didn't touch his chopsticks. Instead, he took out his phone to take some pictures for Shen Jie.

He had only taken a few photos when someone suddenly tapped his wrist with chopsticks. Looking up, he saw Yu Luying. Seeing her strange expression, Xiao Yao realized he had overlooked an important step—the pre-meal prayer.

In fact, Xiao Yao was well aware of how devout (or rather, how undevout) Yu Luying was. Moreover, she had never had any strict requirements regarding etiquette—at this moment, she was undoubtedly deliberately picking a fight.

Xiao Yao quickly put down his phone, sat up straight at the table, and prepared to recite the lines with Yu Luying.

However, Yu Luying showed no intention of praying and said coquettishly, "All you do all day is take pictures, why don't you ever take pictures of me when you're with her?"

Xiao Yao was stunned by the question and couldn't quite process it for a moment.

He thought for a moment: It seems like we only officially started dating a couple of days before your sister Shen Jie left, right? How can you say "she didn't take pictures of you when she was with you"?

Sigh, let's pray first. Lord, bless us and the food you have given us...

"How long does it take to walk back to your house from here?" Yu Luying asked Xiao Yao, looking out the window at the rain-soaked scenery in B minor.

"..." Xiao Yao sat there, ignoring her.

“Hey, why don’t we go back right after we finish eating?” Yu Luying said again, “It’s not good to keep them waiting like this.”

"..."

"Hey, why aren't you talking to me?" Yu Luying's lips drooped slightly. "I was just joking with you. Go ahead and take pictures of her."

Xiao Yao stopped muttering to himself and drew a vertical and a horizontal line across his chest again: "If you don't pray, I have to. Stop making a fuss and apologize to my brother Su."

Yu Luying was slightly taken aback: "You've been praying for so long?"

"It's only been a short time, but there are still so many things I want to say." Xiao Yao picked up his bowl, sounding annoyed.

"Oh dear, that was my fault." Yu Luying smiled broadly and reached out to place her hand on Xiao Yao's upper arm.

"Let's eat," Xiao Yao said. "Eat early so we can go home early."

He regretted ordering the stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts—the garlic sprouts were just too overpowering, making him feel nauseous.