Deng Yuyuan felt a bit uneasy. She asked her AI customer service, "Is my daughter really a regular baby? She's so well-behaved. Is she actually a few years old on the inside?"
"Could it be that Zhang Ci Hao is just too good at taking care of babies?" the AI replied.
"I suggest you two get a divorce and give the child to Zhang Ci Hao.
"Also, I'm a game customer service AI, not a novel transmigrating system. Oh, and don't ask me how you time-traveled. I'd like to ask you why you brought me into a period novel too."
Alright. Deng Yuyuan accepted this explanation.
Meanwhile, Zhang Zhuang quickly understood why Zhang Ci Hao had come over to help with the baby.
"Look at these little hands, so strong. Hehe. Oh, she's shaking my hand." Zhang Zhuang had a goofy smile on his face. Look at those big eyes and that little mouth; she looked just like a doll.
He couldn't help but sigh in admiration. When Deng Yuyuan first arrived in this village, her beautiful face had attracted many men. A handsome father and a pretty mother naturally gave birth to an exquisite child. Thinking this, he touched his own face. Although he wasn't handsome and was a bit too rugged, he was still decent-looking. The child he'd have...
Zhang Ci Hao slapped away Zhang Zhuang's rough hand that was reaching to touch the baby's little face. A baby's skin was tender, and the calluses on his hand would hurt her.
It was almost time to eat. Zhang Ci Hao shifted his feet but still didn't leave. Tuantuan's cuteness was on par with Fubao from the east end of the village, but when he played with Fubao, he never felt reluctant to go home. Ultimately, it was because Tuantuan and her mother were just too pitiful. Any normal person with compassion would want to lend a helping hand.
From the corner of his eye, Zhang Ci Hao caught sight of Deng Yuyuan resting on the recliner with her eyes closed. He subconsciously lowered the volume of his humming.
After Tian Tian finished cooking dinner, she walked anxiously out of the main room and looked out the door. Usually, everyone returned with laughter and cheerful chatter at this time. Why was it so quiet this afternoon? Looking closer, she realized it was because someone annoying had shown up.
Who else could that person following near the educated youths be but Zhang Jiahua?
The educated youths exchanged glances, a silent undercurrent flowing among them. Zhang Jiahua's forehead was covered in fine sweat. He must have run straight to the Knowledge Youth Institute from his field right after finishing work to arrive at almost the same time as them.
"Yuanyuan, I'm here to take you home!" Zhang Jiahua's loud voice pierced through the walls.
Zhang Ci Hao clearly saw Deng Yuyuan's long eyelashes flutter slightly. He couldn't help but feel annoyed at Zhang Jiahua's behavior. Couldn't he wait until he saw her to shout? Yu Yuan had finally managed to fall asleep, only to be woken up again.
A hint of joy couldn't help but show on Zhang Zhuang's face. He impatiently turned to Deng Yuyuan and said, "Comrade Yu Yuan, since Zhang Jiahua is here, how about you two discuss this divorce?"
"There's nothing to discuss. It's over between us," Deng Yuyuan said, reaching out to Zhang Ci Hao. He carefully handed the baby back to her.
"Wife..." Zhang Jiahua walked over pitifully. He looked dejected and stared at Deng Yuyuan with guilt. "I really know I was wrong. I've already talked to my mother. If you come back today, both you and the baby can have an egg! I promise to raise you and the baby to be plump and healthy from now on." Zhang Jiahua looked at her eagerly.
Zhang Zhuang coughed lightly. "Look at him. His attitude isn't bad. As long as he changes his ways, your days together will definitely be prosperous."
Deng Yuyuan looked at him and suddenly let out a smile. "Then why did I almost starve to death before?"
Zhang Jiahua's face stiffened. "I swear it won't happen again. I won't let my mother bully you anymore."
"It's 'my mother' this and 'my mother' that. Anyone who didn't know better would think I married Granny Zhang instead of you, Zhang Jiahua." Deng Yuyuan held the baby and took a few steps into the courtyard. "This life has been completely awful. Let's just get a divorce and spare each other."
Ignoring her sarcasm, Zhang Jiahua assumed she was walking toward the door because her anger was subsiding. "Wife, what nonsense are you talking about? Let me hold the baby so you don't tire yourself out."
Zhang Zhuang looked at the young couple and asked hesitantly, "So, are we still arranging a room for you here or not?"
"It's up to you," Deng Yuyuan replied flatly, walking briskly to the well in the courtyard. "If you assign me a room, I'll live in it. If you don't, I'll live in the well. Either way works for me."
Her expression was calm and collected, yet the crowd was rendered speechless for a moment, even avoiding her sharp gaze. They all simultaneously realized she was telling the truth.
Tian Tian and Zhao Erdong were already hurting so much for her that they covered their faces. Just what kind of life had she lived in the Zhang Family to drive a once gentle and soft-spoken girl to madness?
The educated youths grabbed the team captain, talking over one another as they urged him to arrange her accommodation right then and there, offering to help clean the room immediately.
"Wife, Yuanyuan..." Zhang Jiahua's eyes turned red. How had his wife, who just days ago was letting him listen to the baby kick, become so hysterical today?
He wanted to tell her to stop making a fuss and that he would truly change. But seeing Deng Yuyuan's cold eyes, it felt as though he was nothing more than an insignificant stranger.
In the end, he decided to play the emotional card using the baby. "Xiao Hong is still so young, and you're recovering from childbirth. You won't manage without me to take care of you. Let me look after you until your recovery is over, and we can talk about everything else later, okay? I'll listen to whatever you say. Just step away from the well first."
"No need! I'll take care of her!" Zhao Erdong stepped forward briskly to stand shoulder to shoulder with Deng Yuyuan. "There's no need to arrange an empty room for Yu Yuan. We'll just continue being roommates, and I'll take care of her and the baby." She paused for a moment. "Is the baby's nickname Tuantuan?"
Zhang Jiahua's flushed face instantly turned pale.
"Thank you." Deng Yuyuan looked at her sincerely. She had thought she would be fighting a difficult, lonely battle, never expecting to meet such kindhearted people. The original owner of this body must have been a kind and gentle girl for everyone to return her goodwill. Unfortunately, the good are often taken advantage of.
"What's there to thank me for? We agreed back then that I'd be the baby's godmother. It's only right for a mother to take care of a child, and as your good friend, I should lend you a hand too," Zhao Erdong said, wrapping an arm around Deng Yuyuan's shoulders and discreetly stepping between her and the well.
"Go back, Zhang Jiahua. Or we can set a date to get our divorce certificate," Deng Yuyuan said.
"The food at home has already been warmed up. We're just waiting for you..." Zhang Jiahua mumbled, his head bowed in a sorry state.
"I don't want to make a scene like this every time before a meal. A person's energy is very limited." Deng Yuyuan looked at him coldly. "Is today the first day you realized I haven't been getting enough to eat and have constantly been mistreated?"
Zhang Jiahua tried bitterly to force a smile, but his facial muscles simply wouldn't cooperate. He had known before, but he always felt that peace brings prosperity to a home. Since Deng Yuyuan was the younger generation, it was only proper for her to yield to his mother. Besides, he had been suffering through those hard times right alongside her. At the end of the day, it was all because Deng Yuyuan had a soft personality and harbored deep affection for him.