Michael is an introverted person, so when he served as the highest sheriff of Sanctuary, he didn't implement targeted iron-fisted measures against interest groups. However, this doesn't mean he lacks the ability to lead a disciplined force or the intuition and sensitivity honed over many years. His delicate nature and compassion for young lives are precisely the qualities Lübeck believes a leader of a natural resource expedition should possess.
This visit brought Michael back to the government service department. He's also an old friend and comrade-in-arms, so his return journey today is filled with joy. The setting sun of the binary star system, one pale yellow, the other crimson, casts its light on the earth from different angles, weaving a checkered tapestry across the vegetation and buildings.
Today's return journey is long. Watching the two suns disappear into the horizon one after another, seeing the orange and purple clouds alternating, only intensifies Lübeck's longing for home, his heart yearning for the warm light in that happy little house.
Bathed in starlight, he returned home. A dim light streamed from the windows, illuminating the yard. Lübeck imagined his family, then gently opened the door and entered.
"You're back just in time. Take a break and have dinner," Ruth said, carrying food to the dining room. Emma was already at the table, feeding their son some solid food.
His beloved family was there, and Lübeck's heart, longing to return home, finally settled. He took off his coat, picked it up, and kissed Emma's cheek. She playfully turned her head and pouted before busying herself feeding the child.
Just then, Ruth put down her food and turned back towards the kitchen. Lübeck blocked her path, putting one arm around her waist and kissing her lips.
Ruth thought it was just a casual kiss, but when she tried to return to the kitchen to get more food, Lübeck held her tightly, his kisses relentless. Ruth could only wonder what was wrong with him today, passively continuing to enjoy her man's intimacy.
When Lübeck released Ruth and slipped away with a smile, Emma remarked sullenly,
"Oh, does that include last night's too?"
Lübeck knew Emma was teasing him about what happened that morning again. He wasn't angry, but he didn't understand where her little temper came from today.
It was almost time to eat, and he didn't want to spoil the mood by talking about these things, so he cheerfully went to the room to get Ida, sat her on his lap, and squeezed in next to Emma.
Ruth looked a little lonely sitting alone across the table, so she pulled Clara to her side.
"We have shepherd's purse omelets today," she said, and as she sat down, Ruth began distributing them.
First to Emma with the baby, then to the youngest, Ida, then Clara, then herself, and finally to Lübeck.
Lübeck sat opposite her, watching her actions, and felt something was off. What was off? Oh, it's order, the order has been reversed. Normally, he, as the head of the household, is respected, at all times, including at the dinner table. But tonight, Ruth had clearly reversed the usual order. Lübeck didn't know why she did this, but he didn't question or inquire. In that era that emphasized patriarchy, he didn't care much about this at home. Ruth and Emma were both people he loved, and they were humble and obedient, so he simply treated them as lovers.
Thinking to himself, noticing everyone watching him waiting to begin the meal, Lübeck casually said,
"Thank you for your help, Ruth. Let's begin dinner," and then picked up his knife and fork first.
Lübeck wasn't a believer. Although he came from a Protestant family, his past experiences had given him his own understanding of the world. Ruth, on the other hand, was a devout believer, and had always lived by the principle of following Lübeck's lead.
“Erich, you are the head of the household. Everyone here depends on you to support this family. You should maintain your authority and order in this home, otherwise things will fall apart in time.” Lübeck was a little surprised, looking into Ruth's eyes for a moment, seemingly understanding her meaning. He put down Ida, walked around the table to sit next to Clara, patted her head, and said,
“Don’t worry, now that you’ve come to this home, you are my children. I won’t send you away.” He glanced at little Ida across the table; she was still young, only listening with a half-understanding, her eyes fixed on them. He then looked at Emma, who completely ignored him looking this way, simply feeding her child. Lübeck continued to Clara,
“Don’t stand outside the door listening to me anymore, okay? It’s impolite.”
“Okay,” Clara nodded, saying nothing more, but her pitiful background always made Lübeck reluctant to discipline her more strictly. After speaking, Lübeck quickly patted her head to comfort her, then continued,
"If you and your sister encounter any problems, just knock on my door, okay? Don't hesitate or have any reservations, alright?"
"Okay," came another single word, followed by her eyes looking at Lübeck.
Lübeck quickly patted her back to comfort her again.
And so, a seemingly busy dinner was finished, but Lübeck still couldn't figure out whether the somewhat awkward atmosphere was caused by the presence of the two children or if it would have happened even without them.
Everyone else was busy: Ruth was washing dishes with Clara, Ida was learning to make her bed in her room, Emma was breastfeeding her son, leaving Lübeck alone in the middle of the living room, lost in thought. Sigh, having too many women is such a hassle.
Lübeck first went to watch Ida make her bed, chatting with her and teaching her how, not wanting to neglect her. Then he went to the kitchen to comfort Clara, whom he had just lectured. While offering words of comfort, he kept glancing at Ruth.
"Ruth, are you unhappy today?" Lübeck asked softly, glancing over Ruth's shoulder towards Emma's room.
"No," Ruth replied,
but her tone was cold and her speech brief, suggesting something was amiss.
"Did you and Emma have a disagreement?" Lübeck asked softly.
"No," Ruth answered nonchalantly, but after a moment, she revealed the truth:
"I felt she wasn't very respectful to you this morning,"
"Oh, oh, oh," after going through all this trouble, Lübeck finally understood the cause and effect—a path that seemed longer than the journey from visiting Michael to returning.
Lübeck patted Clara's head, comforting her, then turned to Ruth and whispered,
"If anything like this happens again, tell me, and I'll talk to her."
"Wow, you can talk to her? You spoil her rotten!"74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmEavkIYZ4
Lübeck quickly hugged Ruth and leaned in to kiss her cheek, adding,
"Don't I spoil you?"
"Hmph," Ruth laughed, turning her face away.
Seeing that things were settled, Lübeck patted Clara's head again and ran towards Emma's room. As he passed the living room, he turned his head and saw Ella staring blankly at him as he ran past. Sigh, Lübeck couldn't help but laugh, being laughed at by a three-year-old.
Entering Emma's room, the child was already asleep. Emma sat on the edge of the bed, coldly watching him enter. Lübeck didn't explain, but took her hand and said,
"Come with me, let's go for a walk. I have something to tell you." Stepping into the yard, Lübeck gazed at the starry sky, taking a deep breath of the cool night air,
...74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwrK7SwjMi
"What did I do wrong? Please tell me."
"Well, you didn't get what you wanted from her last night, and you only remembered me this morning. I only gave you what she left over,"
...
ns216.73.216.23da2
and then Add to home screen.