The next morning.

Thinking about how they now had another person at home, Jackson was naturally worried about the rumors that could spread if people found out about his treasure hunting trips up the mountain. It was only normal.

Looking up at the man standing right in front of her, Sophia noticed that he seemed to have gotten a little darker over time. However, with his well-defined brow bones and tall, strong build, he appeared even more handsome than before.

When Jackson noticed his wife’s gaze, he grinned, revealing a row of neat, white teeth, and leaned down to plant a kiss on her soft, fair cheek.

“Honey, have you eaten well today?”

As he spoke, his rough, calloused hand began to roam over her body. “Honey, when I’m not home to supervise, you’ve got to eat properly and gain some weight. You’re too thin!”

Sophia froze as she held the child, her body stiffening. With so many people still around, she wanted to react but didn’t know how. Before she could, Cara’s voice rang out.

“Jackson’s back! You should help your wife, I’ve got to head home. The kids will be back from school soon.”

As she spoke, she set the thermos on the stove and began untying the apron around her waist.

Sophia saw Cara getting ready to leave and hurriedly said, “Cara, wait a moment.” She handed the child to Jackson before quickly stepping out of the kitchen. In no time, she came back with a small bag of rock candy in hand, casting a quick glance at Jackson, worried he might be upset.

Seeing that he was focused on teasing the child in his arms and hadn’t noticed her, she quietly let out a sigh of relief. She hadn’t consulted him about giving the candy he’d bought her to Cara’s children, unsure of how he would feel.

Even though she didn’t want to part with it, since moving here, Cara had helped her a lot, and today, knowing that many villagers had come to see the fridge, she had dropped what she was doing to help out. Without her, Sophia would have been overwhelmed, unable to even care for the child properly.

Sophia handed the candy to Cara. “Cara, this is from Jackson. Take it home to your kids, for the big one and the second one.”

“No, no, you keep it for Nellie,” Cara said, staring wide-eyed at the half pound of candy Sophia had handed her. It was so expensive that she refused to accept it.

In this era, sweets like this were considered a luxury, only served to distinguished guests. Ordinary people couldn’t afford them.

After some insistence from Sophia, Cara finally relented, embarrassed, and took the candy, promising to take it for her children.

Once Cara left, Sophia cautiously glanced at Jackson’s face, explaining, “Today, my sister-in-law helped out a lot at the house. Thanks to her, I had time to take care of the child and didn’t have to go hungry.”

Hearing his wife speak so humbly, Jackson’s heart tightened. For the past few days, she had been so careful in front of him, almost like a little lamb, as though she was afraid he might get angry.

The way she behaved, so insecure, was all his doing.

Seeing her fidget nervously, pulling at her new sweater without even realizing it, Jackson’s heart softened.

“If you didn’t like it, I won’t do it again next time,” Sophia said, sensing his silence and trying to explain.

Jackson knew exactly what she was thinking. A bag of candy wasn’t worth getting upset about. Even if she gave away everything, including the fridge, he wouldn’t raise his voice at her.

If not for the child in his arms, he would have pulled her into his embrace and talked to her properly.

This had gone on long enough. He couldn’t let her stay this way, always cautious and unsure. He had to talk to her about it, or he’d risk breaking her heart with his carelessness.

Looking into her anxious eyes, Jackson softened his tone, “You’re in charge at home. You can do whatever you want, don’t worry about me. Tomorrow, I’ll get you some more candy when I’m back.”

Sophia stared at him for a long time. Seeing that he didn’t seem upset, she let out a deep breath of relief.

Jackson, watching her every expression, decided that tonight, when they lay in bed, he would make sure to talk to her properly.

As he silently resolved this, he noticed it was still early, and yet she was reluctant to go with him to town.

He walked closer to her, holding the child in his arms, and asked with a smile, “Honey, how about we go for a walk at the foot of the mountain? I’ll catch a quail for you to snack on?”

Sophia hesitated for a moment. It wasn’t that she craved quail, but over the past few days, Jackson had restricted her from going anywhere or doing any work. She was stuck at home, only able to care for the child.

She was getting restless and wanted to go outside for a change of scenery.

But when she looked around at the villagers still in the house and thought about the money hidden at home, she didn’t feel comfortable just leaving with him.

Jackson followed her gaze and then smiled. “Wait here.”

After speaking, he walked into the house, carrying the child. A few minutes later, several women came out, praising Jackson for being capable and rich. They admired Sophia’s good fortune and said that as long as she followed Jackson, she’d be living a life of comfort.

Meilani, following Jackson, locked the door behind her.

Though she wanted to go with him to the mountain, she didn’t feel it was her place to stay with the couple. She quickly made an excuse and went off to visit the intellectual youth who had joined them on their trip.

On the way to the foot of the mountain, Sophia walked beside Jackson, glancing up at him occasionally. She couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Jackson... if you go to town tomorrow, can I visit my parents?”

After being married for so long, she had noticed how much Jackson had changed. He no longer drank or gambled, and he’d bought new clothes for her and the child. He’d even added a lot of household items.

Sophia was eager to tell her mother that she no longer had to worry about her. Life was good now.

Jackson, holding the child, looked at her when she mentioned visiting her parents. He turned his head and said, “When I get back tomorrow, we’ll go together. I’ll finish my errands and come back early.”

He had been meaning to repay the money he borrowed from his mother-in-law, but he had been so busy recently that he hadn’t found the time. Tomorrow, he planned to sell some medicinal herbs, including stone orchids, knotweed, and deer meat, and buy something nice for his mother-in-law.

Sophia was a little surprised that he wanted to go with her to visit her parents but smiled softly, a small but bright smile. “Okay.”

Soon, Jackson led her to a lake where wild ducks swam. He stopped and said, “This is as far as we go.”

The deeper parts of the forest were too dangerous, especially with her and the child in tow.

Jackson took off his shirt and spread it on the grass, gesturing for Sophia to sit with the child while he kept a lookout. He even sprinkled some insect repellent around.

Sophia, though a little disappointed that he wasn’t going further, didn’t mind. She pushed aside some bushes and looked at the lake, where the clear blue sky and surrounding trees were reflected, her eyes brightening.