Village Belle Chapter 118
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 118: Obviously It was For His Sister Taozi
Su Tao took a bite, then thought of something and fed it to Xie Yuntang. Looking affectionate, she said cheerfully, "Let's share it."
"I don't want to eat it. You go ahead, Sister Taozi." Xie Yuntang shyly took a step back.
It would be a bit rude to eat so much by herself. Su Tao pulled him and leaned in to feed him. "You have to eat it. Come on, take a bite. I haven't bitten this side yet."
At her insistence, Xie Yuntang had no choice but to take a bite. Meeting her big, round eyes, his cheeks blushed so red they looked like blood. He said softly, "Thank you, Sister Taozi."
Su Tao's cheeks puffed up like a groundhog. "Why are you thanking me? You bought this duck leg, Milksop. I've decided. From now on, you're my real younger brother. As long as I'm here, no one can bully you."
But Milksop, don’t make me wait too long. I miss home too. My father is still waiting for me at home.
Thinking of this, she felt a little depressed. Did her father know she was missing? If he knew, he would definitely be anxious.
"Milksop..."
She started to say, but thought better of it, and continued to gnaw on the duck leg.
She couldn't be too anxious to go home. The scar on her head hadn't healed yet.
The wretched system was so nasty. If it said she broke the rules again, wouldn't she become an idiot after another fall?
……
During the past few days when Xie Yuntang was with the Su family, Su Tao took him to play everywhere whenever she had free time, from climbing trees to catching small fish.
His clothes, which were always neat and tidy, always looked messy.
Every time Lin Sanzhu saw him coming back, she thought he had fallen somewhere, and pulled him to check him over. When she realized he was fine, she would scold Su Tao.
Su Tao was used to it, listening in one ear and out the other. Sometimes she'd even rebut and render Lin Sanzhu speechless, making Lin Sanzhu hit the roof.
However, Lin Sanzhu never hit her.
This day, the sun was setting, painting the sky red.
The swing on the tree at the entrance to the village was crowded with children, who were taking turns to sit on it.
When Mrs. Xie-Qin and Xie Qing returned in their carriage, they happened to see Su Tao and Xie Yuntang playing on the swing. Xie Yuntang had a big smile on his face.
Their worries finally settled. Xie Qing peered through the window at Xie Yuntang’s rosy face and said delightfully, "Yuntang's condition is probably stable now. He can return to the capital in a few years."
Xie Yuntang was the only legitimate child, so naturally he would be in charge of the family, letting him slowly get the hang of things.
Su Tao was the first to spot the Xie family's carriage, her eyes lighting up. She knew there must be something delicious. "Uncle Xie, Auntie Xie," she said, pulling Xie Yuntang over.
She looked as if she saw her own parents.
No, she was even happier than when she saw her own parents.
Xie Yuntang called out softly and joyfully, "Dad, Mom," as he approached. He tugged at his clothes as he spoke, a little embarrassed to let his parents see they were messy.
Mrs. Xie-Qin got off the carriage and took a closer look at her son, who had grown a bit plumper. Unconcerned with the state of his clothes, she said gently, "Why are your clothes messy? Let me help you fix them."
"Auntie Xie, I'll do it."
Su Tao, eager to impress, skillfully and naturally fixed Xie Yuntang's clothes.
Mrs. Xie-Qin smiled at the natural interaction between the two. "I bought you some food. Do you want to eat later or come back with us now?"
The meals at home had been much better than before, but there were no snacks. Su Tao, used to snacks, naturally craved them.
She secretly touched Xie Yuntang's back, signaling him to speak.
Xie Yuntang knew Sister Taozi wanted to eat, so he said softly, "Let's go back together."
Su Tao's face immediately lit up with a smile.
Mrs. Xie-Qin saw through it but didn't say anything. She smiled and said, "Get in the carriage."
Yuntang had never been one to be obsessed with food, so it was obvious that his gesture was for Sister Taozi.
Naturally, she didn't mind. On the contrary, she felt grateful to Su Tao. Yuntang's current situation was all her credit.
In the Xie family’s house, Mrs. Xie-Qin placed all the food she had bought on the table. "Taozi, help yourself."
"Thank you, Auntie Xie."
Su Tao looked at the food on the table. There were all kinds of food. She happily took the nearest sweet date cake and gave it to Xie Yuntang first, then took a big bite.
It was so soft and delicious.
Xie Yuntang didn't eat it. He took the roasted chestnuts and carefully peeled them. When he was done, he placed them on the paper bag and pushed it in front of Su Tao.
Su Tao looked cautiously at Xie Qing and Mrs. Xie-Qin. Seeing that they were staring at her with smiles, she relaxed and ate them, but she didn't forget Xie Yuntang.
She fed him one. "Brother Yuntang, eat it."
Xie Yuntang hesitated for a moment, but still ate it happily. Then he started peeling chestnuts again.
Mrs. Xie-Qin and Xie Qing looked at each other and left the two children alone to eat their snacks. They started to clean up the house inside and out.
Su Tao was full and followed them to clean up obediently. She couldn't just eat and not work.
She forgot to tell Lin Sanzhu once she got busy with the cleaning. At noon, she heard Lin Sanzhu shouting everywhere in a shrill voice, "Su Tao! Yuntang! Come home for your meal."
"Su Tao! Yuntang..."
Hearing her voice, Su Tao ran out quickly. Lin Sanzhu was shouting on the sloping field. She waved her hand quickly. "Mom, I'm here."
"Come home for your meal now. Look at the time. Yuntang is hungry, even if you are not." Lin Sanzhu didn't know that the Xie family had returned. She stood on the field and waved to her.
"Auntie Xie and the others are back, Mom. I'll call Auntie Xie and the others to eat together." Su Tao thought that the Xie family had cooked nothing at the moment, and it would probably be night before they could have their meal.
Hearing this, Lin Sanzhu was stunned for a moment, then hurried over. Mrs. Xie-Qin happened to come out, so Lin Sanzhu greeted her with a smile, "Mrs. Xie, let's eat together. We've just cooked."
Mrs. Xie-Qin declined, fearing it would bother them, "We've already eaten since we got home. Yuntang will eat with you."
"Auntie Xie, let's eat together. Hehe, my mother's cooking skills have improved a lot lately." Su Tao took her hand affectionately, treating her just like her own mother.
Lin Sanzhu felt a little jealous. Her wretched daughter held everyone's hand. She chimed in, "You've traveled a long way, and you’re probably hungry even if you ate. Invite Mr. Xie along. I just bought some chicken stew this morning."
"Yuntang likes carrots. When Fuzi went to work in town yesterday, he saw some and bought them."
They didn't grow carrots at home, so they had to buy them from town.
Since the Xie family had given them so much money, she naturally made sure to prepare good meals. She didn't want Xie Yuntang to lose weight, which would make the Xie family worried.
Mrs. Xie-Qin knew that Xie Yuntang liked to eat carrots. It seemed that the Su family paid quite a lot of attention to Yuntang.
Hence, she didn’t refuse. After calling Xie Qing, she brought some snacks for Su Zhi and others.
A group of people passed by the door of the Su family’s house. Mrs. Su-Qian stood in the yard and said "pfft" in a sarcastic tone.
Everyone knew that the Mrs. Su-Qian’s household was in a mess now. Her second son’s family had moved out, and her eldest daughter-in-law had gone back to her parents' home with her children.
Lin Sanzhu was afraid of confronting her mother-in-law. She couldn't pretend not to see her, so she bit the bullet and shouted, "Mother."
However, she didn't invite Mrs. Su-Qian to join them for dinner. If she did, no one would be able to eat.
She wasn’t that stupid.
