Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife

Chapter 685: Chapter 685: True Hearts Are Exchanged with True Hearts

Qin Juan recalled the time when Ningning was just born.

The Zhang Family wanted a boy; from the day Ningning was born, she was not welcomed by the Zhang Family.

Not to mention Old Master Zhang and Mrs. Zhang, even Zhang Wenbin, her own father, didn’t show her a kind face.

The little girl learned to get by based on the moods of adults from a young age.

The Zhang Family always said she was timid and incapable.

But they never said why the child became this way.

Since she left the Zhang Family, she has become graceful, kind, and confident, her smile radiant.

Facing her stepfather, Jia Liang, she affectionately calls him “Daddy Jia,” and to Old Mrs. Jia, she is close and dutiful.

Her child has always been a good child.

If there’s blame to be cast, it should be said that you reap what you sow.

Genuine feelings are exchanged with sincerity.

The boiler was lit, and the room gradually started to warm up.

Jia Liang returned to the room and saw Qin Juan tidying up clothes; he quietly hugged her waist from behind.

After embracing her, he paused slightly, and his large hand moved a bit lower.

Qin Juan slapped his hand with a loud smack, glancing outside, “What if the kids or mom see us?”

Jia Liang looked aggrieved, “I didn’t mean anything, just suddenly noticed your belly seemed bigger, like it’s growing fast.”

Qin Juan is now over six months pregnant, a time when the belly grows quickly.

Realizing she misunderstood him, she drew his large hand to rest on her belly.

Soon, they felt the little one inside moving restlessly.

Jia Liang was filled with joy, squatted down, and placed his ear against her belly.

Qin Juan sat on the bed, watching the bald head resting on her belly, looking somewhat amusing, and reached out to touch his head.

“What do you hope to hear?”

Jia Liang listened for a while, but besides some gurgling sounds, he heard nothing.

Still, he wore a satisfied smile.

Closeness with his wife and getting his head touched was too good a feeling.

But he didn’t want his wife to notice, so he asked earnestly, “Are you satisfied with how the house is tidied? Let me know if you need anything, and I’ll buy it tomorrow.”

“It’s great, nothing is lacking,” the house is clearly arranged like their home in Yan City, what could be missing?

Jia Liang scratched his head, feeling he had asked a silly question.

“So, are we going to Qin Family Village to see your parents later? I’ll buy some things.”

“Don’t bother; with our siblings there today, it’ll already be lively. Let’s visit during the New Year for the festivities.”

Having married into the Jia Family, she couldn’t keep thinking about her own family.

With just a few days left until New Year, although the house was mostly tidied, they hadn’t bought any festive items yet.

Jia Liang was only bringing her home today and would return to the city tomorrow as the restaurant hadn’t closed for the holiday.

These days, Qin Juan planned to prepare for New Year with her in-laws; it was her first New Year as part of the Jia Family, and they should have a good time together.

Hearing her plan, Jia Liang agreed happily.

He stayed over for the night and left early the next morning to oversee the restaurant in the city.

Old Mrs. Jia planned to tidy the house again after breakfast.

Though Jia Liang had rearranged and bought a lot of furniture and supplies, as a man, he lacked attentiveness; some detailed cleaning still needed attention.

Qin Juan wanted to help, but Old Mrs. Jia insisted she didn’t need to.

“Now you’re the hero of our family. Even if you do nothing, you’re still the hardest working one. I’m a woman too and have been through that. When I was pregnant with Liangzi, we were poor, and the sisters-in-law were all watching closely, afraid of anyone slacking off. If not for Liangzi’s dad protecting me, those days would have been unbearable. I couldn’t understand then; did none of those sisters-in-law have hard pregnancies too? Having been through such hardship, how could they bear to scrutinize others every day? Women shouldn’t make it hard for women. I couldn’t be in charge then, but as the matriarch now, I won’t be the kind of mother-in-law who, having suffered herself, makes her daughter-in-law suffer more. I’d be struck by lightning.”

Warmth surged in Qin Juan’s heart, “Mom, our lives will only get better now. We won’t let you suffer anymore. I can handle these chores; moving around more is good for the baby.”

Little Ningning chimed in beside, “Grandma, I’ll help you.”

Old Mrs. Jia beamed happily, “Alright, alright, I’ve always loved a busy household. These chores don’t count. Having you all around makes me happy.”

She glanced around, eyes slightly teary, “Living in this house for over 30 years, I never imagined it being so lively.”

Jia Liang’s father passed early, leaving the widow and orphan in a cold, quiet home for years. Later, when Jia Liang grew up, he got into trouble and rarely came home. Even when he brought people over occasionally, it was more of a nuisance than lively for Old Mrs. Jia.

The three of them cleaned the windows and swept the yard, leaving the inside and outside spotless.

By noon, Qin Juan went to the market to buy groceries.

Living near the night market, she rode her bike there directly.

In the days leading to New Year, the night market wasn’t just in the afternoon; vendors were there all day.

The nearby butcher and grocery stores were all open too.

Qin Juan started at the butcher, buying 10 pounds of pork and 5 pounds of lamb, then picked up some vegetables and fruits along the way.

Big bags and small bags hung from the bike handles and were strapped to the back.

With most things bought, she was about to head home when she found the road ahead crowded and unable to move.

She could vaguely hear quarrelling voices in the crowd, seemingly due to some dispute.

Though this road wasn’t the only way home, taking another path would mean a long detour.

And the other direction was also crowded; Qin Juan didn’t want to take the long way.

She asked an older lady who emerged from the crowd about the situation ahead.

The lady, having just watched the commotion and eager to gossip, instantly felt favorable towards Qin Juan’s gentle demeanor and slow, calm speech.

Seeing her with a big belly buying groceries, the older lady was instantly concerned.

“Oh dear, I’d advise you not to push forward. Those people might start fighting and you could get bumped.”

Qin Juan subconsciously moved aside and asked, “Could it really escalate into a fight? I heard it’s a little sister-in-law arguing with her siblings-in-law. How serious could it be to fight on the street?”

Qin Juan caught an earful earlier, thinking it was a family shopping argument between siblings-in-law.

If that’s the case, it’s nothing serious, hardly worth fighting over, she thought.