On the first night of their marriage, she solemnly washed her husband’s hair—properly, for the very first time.

“Wife, you look so beautiful when you’re serious!”

The night was still young, but Cheng Xueming was already restless. Watching Feng Jiayou diligently revising her manuscript, he couldn’t help but step forward and affectionately knead her shoulders as he spoke.

“Are you crazy? My mother’s sleeping just next door. Don’t try anything!”

She slapped his wandering hand away, glancing at him with a warning whisper.

“In a couple of days, once we move into the eastern side room, it’ll be farther away and much quieter.”

Perhaps feeling that it wasn’t right to let her husband suffer like this, Feng Jiayou quickly murmured to soothe him, “If you’re tired, just go to sleep. It’s only a few days’ rest. Once Jiamei comes back, you’ll get her review materials from school, and then you’ll need to step up and get to work.”

“My parents are waiting! Next year, Yanjing University isn’t just something I’m saying for fun!”

“If you can’t get into Yanjing University, you won’t get past me either!”

Cheng Xueming rolled his eyes; was she really keeping him at home, under the pretense of preparing for the exam, openly letting him eat a woman’s soft rice?

“Yes, yes, madam wife. You say Yanjing University, then your man must be Yanjing University, can’t let you lose face. After all, our family’s full of Yanjing University graduates!”

“But I can’t really just be kept at home, looking after these two little ones, can I?”

He glanced at little Feng Liwen, sleeping soundly on the bed. Even if Cheng Xueming had any mischief in mind, he couldn’t go through with it!

This kid really didn’t know how to read the room.

Tonight was supposed to be their wedding night as new uncle and aunt, and her grandparents had taken her sister away. But this little one insisted on rolling around on their bed, refusing to leave.

He absolutely demanded to sleep with uncle and aunt.

There was nothing to be done.

Cheng Xueming couldn’t look too anxious and push the child off to his grandparents’ room.

So, the little one slept here, a massive third wheel.

“What? So what do you think?”

Feng Jiayou heard the emotion in Cheng Xueming’s voice, set down her pen, and spoke with concern. “My dad’s helping you look for a job, but your household registration hasn’t transferred yet. We’ll have to wait until Chinese New Year to get it sorted.”

“Without Yanjing residency, it’s hard to even find a temporary job, let alone a formal one!”

“You know, all our returned educated youth are coming back to the city, and those with Yanjing registration are waiting for job assignments. We haven’t transferred yours yet, so it’s even tougher.”

Feng Jiayou analyzed the situation for Cheng Xueming, trying to comfort him as well.

Just as she said, Cheng Xueming’s household registration wasn’t in Yanjing, making job hunting very difficult.

But transferring his registration was easy enough—after he and Feng Jiayou got their marriage certificate, he could convert his rural registration to urban.

Moreover, the transfer certificate had been issued when they registered their marriage that day.

All that remained was for Cheng Xueming to take the certificate back to Shaanbei, transfer his registration out, and then bring the proof to Feng Jiayou’s local office to register, officially becoming a Yanjing resident. After that, he could find a formal job and be entitled to commodity grain.

But Cheng Xueming had only just arrived and wasn’t planning to return so soon. He thought it best to wait for Feng Jiayou’s winter break, then go back together for the New Year and transfer his registration at the same time.

So, arranging a job for him would have to wait until after the New Year.

Of course, if he was impatient and wanted to find work now, he could. He could make a trip to Shaanbei now, transfer the registration, and settle in Yanjing.

The transfer certificate was already issued, and there was no strict deadline for moving in.

“I just feel like a grown man being kept at home by you, it makes me look ridiculous! And my mother-in-law wouldn’t approve either!”

It was true; Cheng Xueming didn’t want to go back to Shaanbei just yet, but he also didn’t want to be cooped up at home and looked down upon.

His mother-in-law already didn’t think much of him, and being kept at home by her daughter would only lower his standing in the family.

“All right, all right, Xueming. It’s just a month or two. I’ll be on winter break soon! Bear with it and it’ll be over before you know it!”

“If it’s too much, I’ll make it up to you, okay?”

Maybe she really had overlooked her husband’s feelings. Feng Jiayou sat on his lap, hugging his arm, rubbing against him playfully, making it hard for Cheng Xueming to resist. She was a little minx!

“Then let’s not wait until later. How about you give me a little treat now?”

Cheng Xueming’s eyes gleamed mischievously, guiding Feng Jiayou’s hand down toward him.

“How am I supposed to do that? I’m carrying your son, you want to misbehave?”

Feng Jiayou pinched him hard, grinning slyly.

“Then just wash my hair, that’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Cheng Xueming pressed, lowering his voice with a wicked smile.

“Wash your hair? That I can do. Shall I go boil some water for you?”

Feng Jiayou whispered playfully in his ear.

“You know perfectly well!”

Cheng Xueming gently pressed her head down, and this time she cooperated with surprising ease.

Damn, that felt good!

…

The next day was busy. Feng Jiayou had to go to class, she couldn’t let her studies fall behind.

Their home was half an hour’s bike ride from Yanjing University, and it was Cheng Xueming who pedaled her there.

He didn’t drop her off at her dorm, but let her off at the intersection of Fourth and Fifth Streets, agreeing to pick her up there after school, then headed back to the Feng house.

He wasn’t truly meant to be a full-time uncle, taking care of Feng Liqin and Feng Liwen.

They’d just returned to the city with her mother and hadn’t arranged school or kindergarten yet. At dinner yesterday, her eldest brother Feng Jiaozhao mentioned that the arrangements were nearly settled, and the kids could start attending soon.

For now, Cheng Xueming would help look after them, and once they started school and kindergarten, he’d just handle pick-ups and drop-offs.

Taking advantage of the free time while babysitting, Cheng Xueming planned to tidy up the eastern side room.

“Old Feng really found himself a live-in son-in-law, huh? When Jiayou mentioned it before, I couldn’t quite believe it!”

Old Qian from the front courtyard came over with the key to help him open the door, joking with Cheng Xueming.

No matter how you looked at it, it was hard to imagine that proud Gu Xueqing would let her precious daughter marry a country bumpkin.

But seeing it for himself, he had to believe it—now even the eastern wing was set aside for them.

“Mr. Qian, is this room full of books?”

Pretending not to hear the “live-in son-in-law” comment, Cheng Xueming glanced inside as the door opened and couldn’t help but ask in surprise.

“Yes, this is my library. I wasn’t planning to let Old Feng ruin it! I’m only letting you use it because of Jiayou. Otherwise, I wouldn’t let anyone touch this room.”

Knowing that Old Qian had earned this grand courtyard by writing novels, Cheng Xueming knew better than to underestimate him.

And hearing that it was only out of respect for Feng Jiayou that he’d allowed the room to be used, Cheng Xueming was even more grateful, repeatedly thanking him.

“Thank you, Mr. Qian, thank you!”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Qian. I know these books are your treasures. Jiayou and I won’t damage or misuse them!”

“I love reading too, so I’ll try not to move anything. Just clear enough space for a bed and a desk, if you don’t mind?”

“That’s great! You’re a good kid. Let’s do it your way. Leave the books as they are, so I don’t have to move them around!”

Anything to save trouble was best. Old Qian was already worrying about where to relocate his collection.

Hearing Cheng Xueming’s suggestion, Old Qian was eager to agree.

“All right, I’ll start tidying up, and I promise not to touch your books, Mr. Qian.”

“Good, you get to work. I’ve got some things to do myself.”

Old Qian nodded and left the room key with Cheng Xueming.

So many books!

Jiayou would surely love it. The room might be a bit cramped, but it was only a temporary measure; Cheng Xueming didn’t plan on being a live-in son-in-law forever.

Once he earned some royalties, they’d move out soon enough.

Besides, with so many books here, when Cheng Xueming started writing his own novels, he’d have a perfect excuse for his vast reading—copying and imitating to produce a publishable novel shouldn’t be too hard.

…