Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 440 - 425 Jiang Peeping at Night

The soft glow of the moon faintly made its way into the room, leaving it not entirely in darkness. Jiang Jinghuai moved silently towards the bed. His eyesight was decent; he had been trained before, particularly for night vision. Back then, night vision was for surveying enemy conditions, but now, it was for peeking at his wife and son.

Both of them were deep in sleep and wouldn’t notice his presence.

Jiang Jinghuai gazed deeply at the woman on the bed. At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to sweep her into his arms, but he couldn’t. It would wake her.

Her face no longer held traces of worry, her sleeping expression peaceful.

Perhaps, without him by her side, she was happy.

From a long while ago, he already felt that her heart wasn’t with him. That’s why he so desperately longed for another child. Kneeling by the bed, he stared at her in the darkness.

In the hazy moonlight, a few strands of her hair were scattered, her features soft, her breathing steady. He cautiously lifted a hand, brushing against her strands of hair, his hand moving slowly downward. Not down her body, but along the air, gently coming to rest on her belly.

Through the blanket, the warmth met his palm. Her abdomen was flat, yet he could feel the subtle stirring deep within. Inside her, his bloodline flowed silently, a mysterious and unspoken bond connecting them.

At this moment, tears almost welled up in his eyes.

Could it see him? Could it hear his voice? No, he wasn’t speaking right now. A boy or a girl? He didn’t mind, as long as it was hers.

She couldn’t stay at home anymore. Would she only live here from now on?

Would anyone take care of her?

He wanted to be with her, to take care of her, but he couldn’t.

The troubles at home piled up; his mother would only make her suffer.

And now, she was pregnant, but he couldn’t stay by her side, couldn’t give her a home, couldn’t even properly care for her.

Back then, he thought that if she got pregnant, he would treat her so well. But now, all he had done was make her sad. He couldn’t even provide the most basic care, forcing her to manage everything by herself. How exhausting it must be for her.

So, when the child was born, it wouldn’t come into a life of happiness but one of hardship!

He had always thought having a child would be the best thing in the world. Now he realized the timing was all wrong. He had no ability to provide stability for them, to give them a secure future. He was still just a Captain, far from being in a position where he could even visit them freely while staying in the army.

"If a man doesn’t establish his career before settling down, how can he ever truly have a home?" he thought bitterly. It dawned on him how small and inadequate he was.

In the stillness of this quiet night, a fierce desire ignited in Jiang Jinghuai’s heart—a desire to make something of himself, to achieve renown and success, and to obtain power and influence. In the past, he was indifferent, focused only on uncovering the truth of what happened back then and not caring for rewards. But now, he needed to rise and fight!

He kissed her belly reverently, kissed her forehead, then lightly kissed his son’s cheek—only to meet a pair of dark, wide-open eyes.

He pressed his hand over the boy’s mouth and carried him out of the room.

In the shadows, Meng Shuyan whispered in a small voice, "Daddy, is that you?"

Jiang Jinghuai answered in a low voice, "It’s me."

Tears glimmered in Meng Shuyan’s eyes. Jiang Jinghuai ruffled the boy’s hair, saying, "Yanyan, no crying."

The little one held back his tears, weakly nodded, and hugged his father tightly.

Jiang Jinghuai, too, held him close with reluctance, softly saying, "Yanyan, Daddy has to return to the army tomorrow. Listen to your mom at home."

"I will, Daddy. I’ll also take care of Mom and my little sister."

"You’ve grown up." He gently stroked the boy’s small back. "What happened tonight, don’t tell your mom."

Meng Shuyan obediently nodded. "Okay."

**

A few days ago, Tian Sangsang had hired someone to do some minor renovations to the courtyard house. Now, it only needed some furnishings to be ready for move-in. The items she bought outside were minimal; most were taken from her private stash, so today she came over without any helpers.

The living room and kitchen were decorated in a traditional Chinese style, while the bedroom was done in a Japanese style. Considering her pregnancy and how she might grow heavier in the future, sleeping on a tatami bed would be more convenient. The room was decorated in her favorite warm tones. The tatami bed sat near the window, with golden-yellow curtains that were bright and warm, swaying gently like rippling waves when the breeze rushed in. On the bed were one large and one small pure white pillow. The bed extended seamlessly into a desk and bookshelf, and the ground was covered with a soft, plush carpet.

The eastern wing had been fixed up as well, prepared for Grandma Tian and Aunt Tian to live in. As for the courtyard outside, no work had been done yet—there would be plenty of time for that later.

Choosing a time, Tian Sangsang brought Grandma Tian, Aunt Tian, and Meng Shuyan to the courtyard house.

On their way, they passed the farmer’s market, where Grandma Tian casually bought some vegetable seeds and a few chirping chicks and ducklings that she now carried in her hands.

When Grandma Tian saw the old, weathered door with its particularly shiny door knockers, she immediately looked puzzled and asked, "Sangsang, is this the house you bought? Why does it look so old to me?"

"Grandma, it’s exactly because it’s old that it’s good." Tian Sangsang smiled lightly and said, "I’ve always missed the house we had in the countryside. It doesn’t matter if the outside looks old, as long as the inside is new." She had grown accustomed to the modern urban lifestyle, with its bustling cars and unending flow of people. What she longed for was this sort of simplicity and authenticity. After the hustle and bustle, there is always silence—that’s exactly what it was.

But this was a clash of generations. In Grandma Tian’s mind, a luxurious home should be like the Jiang Family’s, with marble paving everything and a sleek polish. What good was it if the inside was new when the outside was so old? People wouldn’t even know there was something new inside. Speaking of which, this house wasn’t even as good as the shop she had bought earlier!

Aunt Tian and Grandma Tian followed her inside, their moods worsening.

Aunt Tian took a glance around the courtyard. There were some scattered plants and flowers, and the space was indeed spacious—but far too dilapidated!

"Sangsang, how much did you spend on this courtyard?"

Tian Sangsang deliberately understated the amount. "Four thousand yuan."

She spread her arms wide, taking a deep breath of fresh air as a smile lingered on her lips. "This courtyard is big, isn’t it, Aunt? Doesn’t it look great? Let me tell you, it’s a duplex. There’s another courtyard connected behind this one. We’re only living in the front for now, and we’ll leave the back empty. If someone wants to rent it in the future, we can rent it out."

Meng Shuyan was already running around the courtyard, hopping and bounding with delight.

What’s so great about it! Grandma Tian almost wanted to faint on the spot in front of the pomegranate tree, wanting to tie her up to it for a good scolding. Rent it out? Who would want to rent this place!

Aunt Tian gave her a quick once-over, her face pale. Moving her ashen lips slightly, she said, "You spent four thousand yuan on this broken-down courtyard? If we were back in our hometown, that could’ve built so many houses! Sangsang, you silly girl, have you been scammed? What’s so good about this place? It’s so old, so run-down, and creepy! Did you even have the feng shui checked? It’s not worth the money! You can’t just spend money so recklessly!"