To please others? It's better to please yourself.

After the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the two returned to Xu Jing'an's house near the steel factory.

One reason is that Xu Jing'an's commute is short, so she doesn't have to work too hard; another reason is that the two of them wanted to enjoy some sweet time together.

The two were in the sweet bliss of their newlywed life, inseparable all the time, doing everything together, and simply didn't want to be apart for even a moment.

Shen He would pick up and drop off his wife every day before and after get off work. The young couple, deeply in love, often stayed up late each night because they had to go to work the next day.

In addition, with the cold weather and long distances, and having to get up early and return late every day, Shen He felt especially sorry for his wife.

Shen's mother wholeheartedly supported this decision. She had raised her son for nearly 30 years without him lifting a finger to do any housework. But since his marriage, he's been doing everything – washing clothes, cooking, cleaning – all by himself!

After seeing his daughter-in-law wipe his sweat with a handkerchief or say a few kind words, the son worked even harder, as if he had been injected with chicken blood!

Even though Shen's mother was very satisfied with her daughter-in-law, she felt a pang of sadness and heartache at this scene. Shen's father, whose own son had never washed a single sock for him, felt the same way.

There was some good food on the table, and the son, being dutiful, first served his parents some food. Don't misunderstand, in that short time, the rest all went into his daughter-in-law's bowl.

Watching his own son act up every day, he felt overwhelmed.

Now that the young couple wants to move out, both of them have agreed to it, since out of sight, out of mind!

Xu Jing'an was surprised that Mr. and Mrs. Shen didn't say a word of objection to her moving out. Afterwards, she thought to herself, "Indeed, they are the husband's family I carefully chose; they truly suit my taste."

Shen He lowered his head and smiled.

Xu Jing'an felt that the elderly couple were so considerate, so she should treat them even better. So, she took some cloth and used a sewing machine to make a new outfit for each of them.

Xu Jing'an: "Dad, Mom, I'll make you some clothes, please don't mind."

When Shen's mother and father received the call, their smiles never stopped.

"What's there to complain about? It couldn't be better!"

When a daughter-in-law gives gifts to her parents-in-law, whether it's out of politeness or genuine filial piety, it shows that she cares about them.

Even if the clothes Xu Jing'an gave them were of high quality, they would accept even the cheap pickled vegetables as in-laws!

This is not just about the gift, it's about the sentiment! Isn't a relationship between two people only deep when there's a give-and-take?

Upon receiving the new clothes, Mr. and Mrs. Shen understood even more clearly that they would still rely on their daughter-in-law for their old age, and their son would be of no use.

Shen He used his exceptional skills to promote harmony within his family! From then on, the "kind mother-in-law and filial daughter-in-law" relationship became a model for the entire area.

The couple returned to their courtyard in the evening and enjoyed some time alone together.

Shen He stared straight at her. The room was dimly lit, but Xu Jing'an felt as if his eyes were shining brightly.

The two lay face to face on the bed. Shen He gently stroked her hair with one hand and held her hand in his other, rubbing it incessantly. They were very close, and the faint scent of soap emanating from Shen He slowly wafted towards her. Xu Jing'an felt as if his breath was burning hot.

She reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, and he lowered his head to kiss her. Her mouth was filled with the sweet taste of milk candy, just as Shen He had imagined.

The full moon hangs high in the sky, its gentle, watery light spilling across the earth. Even the winter nights no longer feel so cold!

The work at the office hadn't changed much. Xu Jing'an and Wu Sufeng were still idly chatting and drinking tea while eating melon seeds.

"Could you please send the documents to the finance department?"

"Okay, I'll go right away." Xu Jing'an grabbed her things and left. After all, Wu Sufeng was pregnant, so it was best for her to do all the running around.

On her way back after delivering the documents, Xu Jing'an realized that the people who used to pretend to bump into her on the street after marrying Shen He were gone. From the moment the first person offered to be her matchmaker and introduce her to potential partners, she noticed that the number of men around her gradually increased.

A single, widowed man who needs a woman to be a stepmother for his child; a man working in a factory while his entire family of over ten people is still rooted in the countryside; a middle-aged urban man with several brothers living in a tiny apartment with no place to stand; and an only child whose pampered sisters are unemployed at home…

Xu Jing'an, who appeared alone at the steel mill, was considered a hot commodity by many.

She's young, has a house, a job, and lives far from her parents' home; everyone wants a piece of her pie.

Otherwise, her room has a comfortable temperature, so she can sleep comfortably all year round, and it's convenient for washing clothes, cooking, and bathing. She's not even 20 yet, still young; only a madwoman would go and marry a man!

During the time she went to meet Shen He, young men began to appear at the house of her neighbor, Sister Hua, and in several neighboring alleys. Xu Jing'an bumped into them and greeted them more and more often on her way to and from work.

That day, Shen He, wearing a liberation cap with the national emblem, red collar tabs, and a police uniform with a grass-green top and navy blue trousers, escorted her back.

From then on, everything around seemed to have been erased, returning to its original peaceful, stable, and serene state.

Xu Jing'an's anxiety gradually subsided.

More than three months have passed since their marriage, and the result of Xu Jing'an's sweet and affectionate relationship with Shen He is that she is pregnant.

Watching Shen He constantly stroking his belly, which was only two months pregnant, Xu Jing'an could sense his inner anticipation.

When Shen's mother found out, she was overjoyed. Her second son was 27 this year, and finally, he had an heir. Looking at the grandchildren of the neighbors, the old couple were extremely envious.

So, whenever Shen's mother bought meat, eggs, or nutritional supplements, she would bring them over. When she had free time, she would come over every few days to check if her daughter-in-law needed anything.

The weather is getting hotter, and it's peak season for fruits and vegetables. Even so, people still have to queue all day to buy groceries. And what's more, there are only a few types of vegetables: eggplant, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, cowpeas…

Pregnant women are naturally more susceptible to heat. During the hottest days of summer, Xu Jing'an would be drenched in sweat even without moving. The windows and doors were wide open, yet not a breath of wind blew in, so she had to keep fanning herself constantly.

Eating popsicles is the only thing that can calm my frustration. The moment I see the popsicle steaming, I feel a sense of coolness. Taking a bite, the icy, sweet sensation instantly spreads throughout my body.

At night, the sweltering heat made it even harder to sleep. Shen He fanned his wife while also swatting away mosquitoes. The mosquito nets these days are thick; Xu Jing'an woke up from the heat after only a short time under them.

Every time, I'm so sleepy that I fall into a drowsy sleep.

The weather was hot, the food was poor, and they weren't getting enough sleep. This summer, both Xu Jing'an and Shen He lost weight!

Xu Jing'an's appetite returned as soon as the weather cooled down. Shen He finally felt relieved!

The entire pregnancy proceeded smoothly without any major problems. The baby in her womb seemed to understand her, experiencing minimal pregnancy symptoms. Her family was supportive, and she didn't have to lift a finger for housework. In the later stages of her pregnancy, her aunt, Sister Zhao, visited her every day. Xu Jing'an naturally felt comfortable and that this pregnancy was very easy.

At the end of November, Xu Jing'an felt her belly dropping in the past two days, and she experienced occasional cramps, so she knew she was about to give birth.

To put her mind at ease, Xu Jing'an decided to go to the hospital immediately. If it was still early before her due date, she would stay for a couple more days.

Shen He immediately went to his workplace to ask for leave and rode his bicycle to take Xu Jing'an to the hospital. After paying the hospital fees, he settled Xu Jing'an into her ward.

Shen's mother followed closely behind, picking up the bundle she had already packed and delivering it over.

The baby was born that very night. Holding her grandson, who was crying loudly with his eyes closed, Shen's mother's eyes narrowed into slits with joy.