Chapter 181: At Last It's Just the Two of Us

Jiang Ran sighed irritably, his forehead pressed against Su Ruan's shoulder: "Alright, now we really can't go on."

Su Ruan, both annoyed and amused, nudged him: "Get up quickly, or you'll be laughed at later."

The two of them sluggishly got up and washed up.

When they finished tidying and opened the door, the room next door also opened its door.

Jiang Jiaojiao stretched lazily as she walked out, squinting at them with a mischievous smile: "Yo, up so early? I thought you guys would sleep until eight."

Su Ruan's face flushed slightly, but Jiang Ran's expression remained unchanged: "Sister, why are your thoughts so impure? We just simply took a nap."

"I'd be surprised to believe you," Jiang Jiaojiao rolled her eyes, then leaned toward Su Ruan, lowering her voice, "RuanRuan, why are your lips a bit swollen?"

"Jiang Jiaojiao!" Jiang Ran lunged as if to hit her.

Gu Yanshen stepped out of the room, laughing as he pulled his own wife: "Alright, Jiaojiao, stop teasing."

At that moment, Li Huijuan also came out with Jinjin and An'an.

The two little ones clearly slept well and were full of energy.

"Mom!" An'an flung out his little hands toward her.

Su Ruan lifted her daughter, kissing her little cheek: "An'an, did you sleep well?"

"Good!" An'an answered brightly, pointing a small finger out the window: "Huahua! Look, Huahua!"

Jinjin was also carried out by Jiang Jianguo; the little one was unusually quiet today, merely staring with big eyes, curiously surveying the surroundings.

The family had a simple breakfast at the inn.

Steamed buns, porridge, and pickles—average in taste but warm.

"Much worse than yesterday's picnic," Jiang Jiaojiao muttered softly.

"Just make do with a bit," Li Huijuan handed her a piece of pickles, "When you're out, don't be so particular."

After the meal, there was still more than an hour before the appointed time.

Jiang Ran suggested: "Shall we go for another walk in the park? Yesterday we were only looking at the peach blossoms; I heard there's also a plum garden. Though the flowering season is over, the scenery is still nice."

"Sure!" Jiang Jiaojiao was the first to respond, "Anyway, it's still early."

So the group leisurely walked back toward the park.

The morning park was quieter than yesterday, with only a few elderly people doing morning exercises and an old man walking birds.

The air was fresh with a sweet scent, mingling the aroma of grass, trees, and earth.

"The countryside air is still better," Jiang Nainai inhaled deeply, "The city is all coal smoke."

"Then we'll come here often from now on," Jiang Ran supported his grandmother, "When summer comes, we'll take you to a mountain resort for two days."

"That sounds great," Jiang Nainai said with a smiling eye.

The plum garden was on the other side of the park, requiring a stretch of uphill walk.

Considering Jiang Nainai's legs, everyone walked very slowly.

Sure enough, the plum garden had passed its flowering season; only a few scattered wilted blossoms remained on the branches, but the garden's greenery had its own charm.

In the garden there was a small pond, with a pavilion by the water, and stone tables and benches inside the pavilion.

"Let's sit here for a while," Jiang Jianguo suggested.

Everyone scattered and sat down.

Jiang Jiaojiao pulled Gu Yanshen to the pond's edge to watch the fish.

Li Huijuan and Jiang Nainai sat in the pavilion chatting.

Jiang Jianguo, meanwhile, played on the grass with Jinjin and An'an; the two children developed a strong interest in the small stones on the ground.

Jiang Ran tugged Su Ruan, strolling slowly along the path beside the pond.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

"Not tired," Su Ruan shook her head, watching the koi swimming in the pond, "Actually... I prefer the park now, fewer people, quiet."

"Me too," Jiang Ran clasped her hand, intertwining their ten fingers, "Later, we'll find a place with clear mountains and pure water, and build a little house."

"In spring we watch flowers, in summer we cool off, in autumn we pick fruit, in winter we enjoy the snow."

He said it earnestly, and Su Ruan couldn't help but laugh: "What about the shop? What about the business?"

"The shop can open branches, the business can be managed by someone," Jiang Ran declared confidently, "Money is endless, but time spent with family is limited."

He stopped, turned to face her: "Su Ruan, when Jinjin and An'an are older, we'll hand the business to reliable people and live like this, okay?"

Morning light spilled onto his face, and the eyes that always carried a hint of roguishness were now especially clear and serious.

Su Ruan's heart softened like a puddle, and she gently nodded: "Okay."

Jiang Ran smiled, leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips: "It's settled."

"Hey, you two!" Jiang Jiaojiao's voice came from not far away, "Watch your behavior, in broad daylight!"

Both turned at once, seeing Jiang Jiaojiao holding a camera with a mischievous grin.

"Sister!" Jiang Ran snapped, "Why are you secretly filming again!"

"Who is secretly filming? I'm filming openly!" Jiang Jiaojiao declared confidently, "Such a beautiful scene, such sweet people—how could I not capture it!"

Gu Yanshen laughed helplessly beside them, his eyes full of indulgence.

After a while of playfulness, seeing the time was near, the group headed back.

At nine o'clock sharp, Zhang Shifu drove the car to the park entrance on time.

The luggage was reloaded into the vehicle, and everyone boarded in order.

On the way back, the atmosphere was even more relaxed than on the way there.

The two children, probably exhausted from playing, fell asleep shortly after getting on the vehicle.

The adults were also a bit weary, chatting here and there.

"RuanRuan," Li Huijuan suddenly recalled something, "When did you buy that ring on your hand? I didn't see you wearing it yesterday."

Su Ruan subconsciously touched the ring, her face slightly pink: "Yesterday… Jiang Ran gave it."

"Yo!" Jiang Jiaojiao immediately perked up, "Ranran can do it, finally had an opening! Let me see, let me see!"

She leaned in to look closely: "Pearl? It's quite stylish. Where did you buy it?"

"Provincial Capital." Jiang Ran turned his head from the passenger seat, a bit embarrassed, "Just… bought it casually."

"Not casually at all." Su Ruan said softly, "I really like it."

Those words made Jiang Ran's ears turn red, but he forced composure: "As long as you like it."

Grandma Jiang sat in the front seat, watching grandson and granddaughter‑in‑law through the rearview mirror, smiling with eyes squinting: "Good, good. A loving couple, a prosperous household."

Jiang Jianguo also, rarely, showed a smile: "It should have been bought; when you rushed into marriage you didn't get much. Now you make up for it, that's good."

The car moved smoothly on the country road.

Outside the window, fields, villages, and distant mountains passed by one after another.

Su Ruan leaned against the car window, watching the sleeping child beside her, the joking family ahead, and her husband who, though pretending to look at the scenery, still had his ears bright red, and felt an indescribable satisfaction.

An hour later, the car drove back into the city district. Familiar streets and buildings gradually appeared.

"Almost home," Jiang Ran said, "Zhang Shifu, please drive straight to Hu Tongkou."

"Alright."

The car stopped at Hu Tongkou.

Everyone got out to move luggage; Zhang Shifu helped carry the stroller down, and Jiang Ran gave an extra ten yuan for the fare: "Zhang Shifu, thank you for your hard work."

"Not hard at all," Zhang Shifu smiled earnestly, "As long as your family enjoys yourselves, that's fine. Next time you need a car, come find me."

After seeing Zhang Shifu off, the family carried big and small bags toward the house.

Just as they entered Hu Tong, a neighbor greeted them.

"Old Jiang, the whole family went out to play?"

"Yes, we went to Xishan Gongyuan to see the peach blossoms."

"Oh, that's great. This is Jiaojiao and the son‑in‑law, right? Such a perfect match."

"Thank you, Wang Shen."

They chatted all the way back home.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, a familiar scent hit them.

Even though they had only been away for a day and a night, there was a feeling of warm reunion.

"Home is still best," Li Huijuan put down her luggage, exhaling deeply, "Gold nests and silver nests aren't as good as one's own dog nest."

"Mom, our home isn't a dog nest," Jiang Ran laughed, "It's a Fortune Nest."

Everyone burst into laughter together.

After settling the luggage, Li Huijuan began arranging lunch.

Jiang Jianguo went to the old shop to check the situation.

Jiang Jiaojiao and Yan Shen also said goodbye and returned home.

Grandma Jiang grew tired and went back to the room to rest.

The courtyard finally quieted down.

Jiang Ran and Su Ruan carried the sleeping Jinjin and An'an back to the room, placing them gently on the bed.

The two little ones slept soundly, completely unaware they were already home.

"Let them sleep, they've played enough," Su Ruan said softly, covering the children with a blanket.

The two exited the room, gently closing the door.

In the Main Hall only the two of them remained. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and fine dust floated in the air.

Jiang Ran embraced Su Ruan from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder: "Finally… it's just the two of us."