ebookpocket.com Chapter 281
Chapter 281
Approaching the house, they saw Pei Zhengnian's familiar jeep already parked there.
Pei Anchen's eyes lit up slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, though his pace unconsciously quickened.
Upon entering the courtyard, they indeed saw Pei Zhengnian with his sleeves rolled up, helping Pei's Mother fix a slightly loose latch on the courtyard door.
His posture was tall and straight, his movements crisp, and the sunlight fell on his resolute profile and slightly sweaty temples.
"Dad," Pei Anchen called out.
Pei Zhengnian turned around, saw his wife and son, and smiled. "You're back?"
He put down his tools, walked over, and naturally reached out to rub his son's head.
Pei Anchen seemed to anticipate his move. His small head dodged nimbly, and at the same time, he quickly hid behind Shen Nanchu, only poking half his head out to eye his father's hand warily.
"Dad, you haven't washed your hands."
Pei Zhengnian's hand grabbed empty air, but he wasn't embarrassed. He smoothly wrapped his arm around Shen Nanchu's shoulders and smiled at his son,
"You little brat, it doesn't matter if you're disgusted by me, as long as your mom isn't."
Shen Nanchu smiled and swatted his hand away,
"You're covered in sweat, stop messing around."
"Anchen, go wash your hands, it's time to eat."
Only then did Pei Anchen step out from behind his mother, but he didn't immediately go to wash his hands. Instead, he walked over to the latch his father had just been fixing, reached out his little hand to touch it, and then looked at the tools set aside. His small brows furrowed slightly, as if he was thinking about something.
Then, he looked up and said to Pei Zhengnian,
"Dad, the angle of this tenon here seems a bit off. The stress might be uneven, and it'll probably come loose again before long."
Pei Zhengnian was taken aback. He leaned in for a closer look and found that the spot his son pointed out did indeed have a slight flaw.
He looked at Pei Anchen in surprise. "You little rascal, who did you learn this from?"
Pei Anchen looked as if it were a matter of course. "Last month, I casually flipped through that 'Basic Carpentry' book on the bookshelf."
Pei Zhengnian was left speechless.
He was once again shocked by his son's learning ability and observation skills.
This kid could figure it out just by casually flipping through a book?
After dinner was the family's unshakeable leisure time.
Pei Anchen took out his small notebook and began to complete the homework assigned by his teacher, which was completely effortless for him.
Pei Yunzhou had also returned and was animatedly telling the family about the amusing things they had encountered recently.
Father Pei read the newspaper, Grandpa Pei drank tea, and Pei's Mother and Grandma Pei listened while doing needlework.
Pei Mingyuan wasn't there; he had gone out to watch a movie after eating, together with that feisty little girl.
Pei Zhengnian sat on the sofa next to Shen Nanchu.
Watching his son, whose profile looked exceptionally serene under the lamplight as he focused on his writing, and looking at his gentle, smiling wife beside him, while listening to his brother's enthusiastic storytelling and his parents' occasional interjections, his heart was filled with a tremendous, steady sense of happiness and fulfillment.
Over the years, he had been busy with his work in the military and owed his family a lot of care.
It was his wife, Shen Nanchu, who used her wisdom and resilience to not only achieve brilliant success in her own field but also manage the household in perfect order and educate their son so exceptionally well.
She was like the anchor of this family. With her around, no matter how many storms he weathered outside, returning here meant he could always find the warmest harbor and the deepest understanding.
And their son, Pei Anchen, this little life that combined all of his and Nanchu's best traits, his intelligence, his maturity, and the occasional glimpses of an old soul and slyness unsuited for his age, made him feel incredibly proud and marvel at the wondrous continuation of life.
He reached out and gently held Shen Nanchu's hand, which was resting on her lap.
Shen Nanchu looked up, met his deep, affectionate gaze, smiled slightly, and intertwined her fingers with his.
No words were needed; everything was understood in silence.
Pei Anchen finished writing the last character, put down his pencil, and looked up, just in time to see his parents holding hands and smiling at each other.
His small mouth twitched slightly, but in the end, he didn't say anything, merely putting his exercise book away in his schoolbag silently.
Forget it. Seeing as his dad came home for dinner today and his mom looked so happy, he would refrain from asserting his dominance for now.
He walked over to Shen Nanchu and handed her the notebook. "Mom, I'm done."
Shen Nanchu took the notebook and checked it carefully. The handwriting was neat, and all the answers were correct.
She praised, "You wrote this very well. Our Anchen is amazing."
A trace of imperceptible joy appeared on Pei Anchen's little face, but he quickly returned to his calm demeanor.
He looked at the wall clock and said to Pei Zhengnian,
"Dad, you have morning drills tomorrow. You should go wash up and rest, don't disturb Mom's reading."
Shen Nanchu had a habit of reading professional literature at night.
Pei Zhengnian looked at his son acting like the master of the house and couldn't help but chuckle. He cooperatively stood up,
"Alright, I'll listen to Comrade Pei Anchen and go right now."
He ruffled his son's hair. This time, Pei Anchen was probably in a good mood and actually didn't dodge.
The night grew late, and the courtyard returned to tranquility.
The moonlight was like water, bathing the entire courtyard.
Shen Nanchu leaned against the headboard, flipping through the latest archaeological journals by the soft light of the desk lamp.
Pei Zhengnian finished washing up, lay down beside her, habitually wrapped his arm around her waist, and rested his head against her side.
"Go to sleep, don't read too late," he whispered.
"Mhm, I'll be done in a minute," Shen Nanchu replied, though her eyes still lingered on the pages.
After a while, she felt the breathing beside her become even and drawn-out, knowing her husband had fallen asleep.
She gently put down the journal and turned off the lamp. In the darkness, by the faint light filtering through the window lattice, she looked at her husband's sharp profile as he slept soundly. She then listened closely for her son's steady breathing in the next room, her heart filled with peace and satisfaction.
Her archaeological career was in the ascendant, with countless mysteries still waiting to be explored on the road ahead; her family was warm and harmonious, serving as her most solid backing and tenderest attachment.
Her husband's understanding and support, her son's intelligence and growth, her family's health and joy...
All of this formed the most solid foundation and the most brilliant chapter of her life.
There might be challenges and storms in the future, but as long as the family supported each other and walked together with one heart, there was nothing to fear.
Outside the window, the stars dotted the sky, like countless eyes witnessing their happiness and future.
On this autumn night in the late 1980s, everything was just right, full of hope, heralding an even better tomorrow.