Chapter 2950: Leisure Time (Thirty-One)

After a while, everyone returned to the hot spring cottage, the repairman had already fixed the water valve, and most people, after going back to sleep, came out again to soak in the hot springs.

Later that night, the temperature dropped further, making the hot springs even more comfortable, but before the gathering began, Shiler drove out for a trip and quickly brought back someone everyone knew well—Peter Parker.

Peter came in, took off his coat, sighed, and said: "I just came back from the Battle Realm—I have to say, some universes are just incredibly unlucky; I don't even know how they managed to cause such a huge disaster."

"Which universe did you go to?" Shiler helped him hang up his coat. Peter went into the changing room to change clothes and said: "I don't even know how to put it, but anyway, the Red Skull stole Professor X's brain, a red biochemical crisis broke out in the valley, mutants and the Avengers started fighting, and little Hulk threw the universe into chaos..."

Shiler mentally replayed the corresponding comic in his mind and sighed: "You guys are way too efficient."

Afterwards, Shiler thought again: if you gave your spider powers to Miles, what would you do when you enter the dungeon yourself?

"Isn't it not necessary to have superpowers to complete the mission?" Peter had changed into his swim trunks, obviously feeling a bit cold, rubbed his arms, and hopped his feet running toward the pool.

Everyone had soaked once, and now they were resting inside the cottage, leaving only Shiler and Peter outside, while the hot spring had just been refilled with fresh water.

"I heard you don't have superpowers anymore, Doctor—are you really not going to face any danger?" Peter asked: "The dungeons I've joined are all dangerous; even if I can use some magic, and other Spider-Men help me, I still find it quite tough."

Shiler shook his head and said: "Spider-Man always thinks about saving the world, so he feels tired—I'm not like you guys."

"That's true." Peter smiled and said.

He stepped into the hot spring pool, let out a long breath, Shiler handed him a tray from beside him with ice beer and fresh fruit, Peter pushed the tray over from the water surface, then got himself a can of ice beer.

"It feels so good to be home." Peter slumped completely in the water, then suddenly remembered something, sat up and said: "Xu Shangqi called me, asking if he could join the Spider-Team—he seems to have a big conflict with his isotope..."

"Normal." Shiler seemed to have known this all along, he said: "He's a true Chinese person—his isotope is either a banana person or a traitor; getting along well would be strange. I'm planning to send him to the Divine Spear Bureau."

"That's good." Peter relaxed again, nodded and said: "Every time he comes and goes to China, he brings us a lot of local specialties—Gwen really likes the duck meat he brings."

"Salted duck?"

"Seems like it." Peter thought about the pronunciation, but his Chinese isn't really good, so he could only describe the duck's appearance, then said: "He gave me a few packs of cigarettes, asking me to give them to Chief George, but Gwen said her dad has been trying to quit smoking lately, so he told me to wait until he fails to quit before giving them."

"He always fails." Shiler also laughed and said: "He prepares to quit in the first half of the year, fails in the second half—you'll soon have a chance to give him a gift."

"Tony's wedding is coming up soon." Shiler asked: "You didn't say you wanted to hold yours after his, so you could learn from him?"

"Don't mention it." Peter frowned and said: "His wedding style isn't suitable for us—there are just too many people, it would cost too much. Gwen and I discussed having a simple wedding in New York, inviting only close friends, and using the leftover money to go to Australia."

"That's not bad either, but even your acquaintances would be a huge number."

"Yes, so Harry is helping me prepare for this."

"How are Harry and Mary Jane doing?"

"They broke up and got back together six times within half a year." Peter said, clearly also speechless: "They can't stay apart, but they always fight, break up after fighting, yet still can't separate..."

Shiler rubbed his forehead and said: "I guess they started arguing again while helping you prepare the wedding."

"Yes, their views on marriage are very different, and they always clash on wedding details, but Gwen and I aren't like that—we always click instantly."

"There are two kinds of couples in the world: one like you and Gwen, another like Harry and Mary. Although you and Gwen look like the more loving pair, Harry and Mary argue every day yet still can't leave each other—you can't really say they don't love each other."

"Who says they don't?" Peter sighed and said: "I thought we could hold our wedding at the same time as theirs, but now it looks like they still have many issues to resolve—probably not possible in the next few years."

"By the way, how's the child?" Shiler asked, referring to the child who was previously in Gwen's womb and later went to Lisa's.

"Not bad, the family of three is very happy. Actually, we've also been considering this lately." Peter rubbed his chin and said: "People are truly amazing—we originally didn't want to have kids, but lately we've felt that having a child would be quite nice."

"What changes did Lisa's family bring to you?"

"Not entirely, but staying half a month at the Texas farm really gave us a big shock—traditional families in the central region are very different from many families on the East Coast; they're practically living in a fairy tale."

Shiler turned to stare at Peter, Peter gently shook his head and said: "Neither Gwen nor I have ever experienced such a big-family atmosphere—humorous and kind grandparents, loving and affectionate parents, siblings who support each other and enjoy warm gatherings, even obedient and helpful dogs and cute cats."

"You've never had these?"

"Yes." Peter opened his mouth, paused for a moment, then said: "My uncle and aunt treated me very well—they completely took over parental responsibilities, but they're both city people with no connection to the previous generation, I also have no siblings, and due to financial circumstances, we couldn't keep pets. In my memorable teenage years, I was always alone."

"Gwen is similar—she was raised single-handedly by her dad, but the sheriff's job is very busy, so she started commuting to and from school on her own since elementary school, and has never participated in anything that could be called a family gathering."

"After we got together, Chief George and my uncle met once, exchanged a few pleasantries, but really, there wasn't much more to say—they both don't want to overly interfere in the younger generation's affairs."

"But during those few days in Texas, Lisa's family talked about almost everything—they were incredibly close, lively, loving, wonderful..."

"This changed part of Gwen's and my outlook—city life is indeed convenient, but people always have some coldness between them. The friends and colleagues we see, their descendants, besides learning various skills every day, just go through the motions of social activities—they're excellent, but not happy enough."

"I think, if Gwen and I could have a farm, perhaps we could give our children a childhood as joyful as Lisa's—but I know we two can't really become farm owners; we have unfinished responsibilities to this world."

"But anyway, that big-family atmosphere is worth learning from, and it also makes us a little envious—this has truly made us start considering the possibility of adding a few more family members."

"Maybe we could start with pets." Shiler suggested: "You've never had a pet, right? Pikachu doesn't count—it talks too much."

"Yes, Gwen and I have never had pets." Peter nodded and said: "Gwen had a little cat as a child, but when it was rescued, it was already very weak and didn't live long. My neighbor had a dog, but it was a very fierce big dog, so I don't have a good impression of dogs as a species."

"I don't recommend you guys get a dog—you two obviously don't have that much time to walk it. Cats would be a good choice: they need little space, low activity level, and are very suitable for your apartment."

"That's what we're thinking—Gwen is already looking into adoption conditions. We want to adopt a regular native cat, and if possible, start raising it from kittenhood—within three months would be ideal."

"Then you should ask Dick." Shiler turned his head, waved at Dick behind the window, and said: "Qiqi? Asleep again?"

"Yes, it played a while earlier, now it's exhausted." Dick came out, then entered the hot spring pool, and said: "Mammal young ones seem to be like this—when they play, they go crazy, and after a short while, they're tired."

"Did you adopt a kitten? What breed? How old?"

"Yes, a Siberian Forest Cat—just a few months old, still a little tiny thing..."

The two of them enthusiastically started chatting about the kitten.

Shiler could actually tell that Dick and Peter are not the type who need pets to relieve stress or soothe emotions—they keep pets to experience another kind of intimate relationship.

Dick, Peter, and Gwen are all very typical only-children from small families—meaning a household of three, living in ordinary city apartments, with small social circles, knowing only colleagues and classmates, and having very weak neighborhood ties.

In contrast, a big family is like Lisa's family—even Shiler himself comes from a big-family background, with many people around: grandparents, parents, siblings, even neighbor uncles and aunts, village elders and close friends—growing up in a lively social circle from childhood.

These two upbringings create subtle differences, more like a different kind of besieged city—each thinks the other's environment is better.

Especially in a country like the U. S., where rural areas are more developed, big families don't mean poverty—they might even be wealthier; cities may be convenient, but life pressure is greater, so children from small families are more likely to envy those from big families.

Some people, because of this envy, are more willing to build their own big family—parents' generation can't be changed, but they can have their own children.

If they can't have children, they keep more pets instead. During consultations, Shiler has met many such people—they truly treat pets as family, as substitutes for the lively social circle they missed in childhood and adolescence.

Although Dick started from a small-family background, after going to Wayne Manor, he gained both Thomas and Martha, as well as Bruce and Selina, several siblings, and even a thoughtful old butler—making up for some childhood regrets.

But Peter and Gwen were previously alone, and after getting together, they only added a partner—Avengers and S. H. I. E. L. D. teammates, even Shiler the doctor, who greatly influenced them, cannot make up for their lack of intimate, lively family relationships.

If one has never seen the light, naturally they won't fear the dark; but after seeing Lisa's family, Peter and Gwen naturally feel some emptiness, and the first step they took after deciding to change was to get a pet.