The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

“No, just go ahead and do your thing.” Chen Xi didn’t even raise her head, her hands didn’t stop moving, and she continued to immerse herself in her world.

Xie Tianyi returned to the house and was a little at a loss for a moment.

After a moment of contemplation, he decided to do something to pass the time, so he took out the four treasures of the study that he had carefully prepared.

After grinding, the delicate scent of ink slowly spreads in the air.

Moisten the brush, dip the tip of the brush lightly in the water, and it will become full immediately; unfold the paper, the rice paper spreads out, as white as snow, waiting for the ink treasure.

At this moment, the setting sun gently shines on the ancient bluestone road. Fang Wenfu returns with a pair of lively and lovely children in the golden afterglow.

The children's laughter is clear and sweet.

"Mom has turned into the cute little cat in Grandpa Niu's house!"

Xiaoyang blinked his bright eyes and said childishly, while Xiaochen followed closely and agreed: "Even if mother's face is covered with black dirt, she is still the most beautiful in our hearts."

For these little guys, no matter how Chen Xi changes her appearance, in their eyes, their mother will always be the warmest and most touching scenery.

After washing up, Chen Xi immediately began to prepare bathing for Xiaoyang and Xiaochen. Her movements were gentle and skillful.

While she was busy, Xie Tianyi walked into the room slowly, holding two soft towels. His voice was gentle: "Let me help wash them."

He was unwilling to let Chen Xi shoulder these trivial housework alone. These details silently expressed how much he cherished this family.

Two children sat in a specially made wooden basin with simple carvings. The warm water in the basin created ripples as they played in the water.

"Enough, the water is cold. You'll catch a cold if you keep playing!" Xie Tianyi pretended to be serious, with a father's unique majesty revealed between his brows. Although the children were reluctant, they obeyed him obediently.

As night fell, the child was wrapped in warm bedding and fell into a sweet dream. Chen Xi was finally able to return to his room.

The next morning, sunlight shone through the window and into the house.

Xie Tianyi's eye disease no longer needed frequent acupuncture treatment. After having a simple lunch, Chen Xi was about to go to the town to buy medicinal materials.

However, just as he picked up the heavy medicine box, Xie Tianyi called him softly.

He seemed to be hesitant to speak, with a complicated look in his eyes.

Considering that the two children were taking a nap, Chen Xi led him into his room, giving him a relatively private space to express his thoughts.

"There are some things I want to discuss with you." Xie Tianyi broke the silence first, with a hint of hesitation in his tone.

"I see. Just say whatever you want to say." Chen Xi gently put down the medicine box.

"I hope to keep our affairs secret for the time being. After all, the children are still young, and I don't want them to suffer this too early..."

Xie Tianyi's words were full of love for the child. Chen Xi understood and nodded immediately.

"Okay, the children are indeed innocent and lovable, and I am happy to continue to play the role of their mother."

However, she did not realize that her casual words had revealed her inner thoughts.

Xie Tianyi calmly concealed the fluctuations in her eyes. She was the biological mother of the children, so how could she be called "acting"?

Chen Xi, you seem to have forgotten something...

Although Xie Tianyi knew that the Chen Xi in front of him was not the same person as before, he did not intend to reveal this secret.

He did not have too many emotional entanglements with the original owner. Whether it was her cruel abandonment of the child and leaving, or the current woman who occupied the original owner's body, he seemed unusually indifferent.

During this period of time, he discovered that the newcomer Chen Xi had a gentle temperament and was full of love for children, so he might be able to use her help.

"I plan to take part in the provincial examination next year. I need to devote myself to preparing for the exam during this period. Could you please help take care of the two children?" Xie Tianyi made a request.

"Of course no problem!" Chen Xi agreed readily. She had already treated these two little lives as her own and was willing to take care of them.

"In addition, the college's summer vacation is coming soon, and I will stay at home with them until the end of August before returning to the college." Xie Tianyi added.

Chen Xi nodded to show her understanding. Although the two of them had been separated in name, she had never thought of expelling them.

"We can't live and eat for free. When you go to town, please buy me some good paper. I'll borrow it from you. I can use my free time to copy books and earn some money to support my family."

Xie Tianyi continued, his proposal was full of sincerity.

"Also, if you'd like, I can help you record those wonderful stories you tell the children, compile them into a book and sell them, and all the money I earn will be yours."

Chen Xi agreed, with excitement flashing in her eyes. This was a good opportunity to display her talents.

"That's settled then. I'll bring the papers with me when I come back. I'm leaving first." Chen Xi said goodbye to Xie Tianyi with a smile.

What made her feel gratified was not only the financial independence, but more importantly, Xie Tianyi not only did not show the slightest hostility, but instead took the initiative to share the family's financial pressure, which was particularly precious in this era of male dominance and female inferiority.

Compared with those men who think they can dispose of their partner's property at will, Xie Tianyi made her feel unprecedented equality and respect.

After entering the town and coming out from Fang Yuanwai's residence after finishing his business, Chen Xi was worried about buying paper for Xie Tianyi.

In this era, high-quality pens, ink, paper and inkstones were luxuries that ordinary people could hardly afford. Just a few stacks of high-quality rice paper cost Chen Xi two taels of silver.

It was still early, so she decided to leisurely stroll through the town's bookstores.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this brush?" Chen Xi's voice sounded softly, and her eyes seemed to be attracted by a magnet, tightly locked on the extraordinary brush on the counter.

"Madam, you have a really good eye. This is top-grade wolf hair brush, taken from the spine of a wild wolf in the deep mountains of the north. It is carefully made through dozens of processes. The tip of the brush is strong and powerful, and very tough. You will know its beauty just by touching it." The shopkeeper introduced enthusiastically with a smile on his face.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xi gently picked up the brush. The moment his fingertips touched the pen, a delicate and warm feeling went straight into his heart through his fingertips. It was indeed an extraordinary feel.

"It's really good. How much is it?" she asked softly, secretly feeling a little fond of it.

"This one is twenty taels of silver." The shopkeeper's offer shocked Chen Xi. He had thought that a pen like this would cost no more than ten taels of silver, but he didn't expect it to be double the price.

After a brief hesitation, the image of Xie Tianyi's brush, which was severely worn out due to long-term use and could hardly write smoothly, emerged in her mind. Thinking that this gift might add a touch of color to his new life, she nodded resolutely and decided to buy it.