Village Belle Chapter 122
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 122: Yes, I Belong To Sister Taozi
Xie Qing quickly helped Qin Yu remove the pincers. Although he was quick, Qin Yu was small and his fingers were delicate, so beads of blood had already formed.
Qin Yu cried so hard he could barely breathe. "Waaah... it hurts. Grandma, it hurts."
"Let me blow on it, and it won't hurt." Mrs. Qin-Jin blew on his hand with a pained expression.
Su Tao tsked twice inwardly. Children from wealthy families were indeed different. The elders got anxious even over a small bite.
If it were in the Su family, that old hag Mrs. Su-Qian wouldn't even be worried if she were to die, let alone suffer a small bite. She'd probably be cursing under her breath.
It would be better if she died. It would save food.
"I'll go get some medicine." Xie Qing got up and went to the house to get the medicine. Mrs. Qin-Jin carried Qin Yu and followed. The others also gathered around.
Only Su Tao, Xie Yuntang, and Su Zhi were handling the crabs in the yard. Su Tao caught a crab and deftly separated the shell from its body.
Then she nudged Xie Yuntang beside her, winked mischievously, and said, "I avenged you, so you owe me one. But I haven't thought of how you can repay me yet. You can repay me when I do, okay?"
Xie Yuntang had been taught by his parents since childhood to be upright and honest, and not to do anything underhanded.
Although Sister Taozi's actions were somewhat inappropriate, he knew she was doing it all for him.
His eyes were full of smiles as he sincerely said, "Sister Taozi, just tell me when you think of any, and I'll buy you everything I can."
Sister Taozi was so kind, always protecting him.
Before Su Tao could say anything, the grubby-looking Su Zhi hurriedly interrupted, "Brother Yuntang, I want too! Don't just buy for Sister, you have to buy for me too, okay? Brother Yuntang, I like you the most, even more than I like Sister."
Xie Yuntang's first thought was no, he only wanted to buy for Sister Taozi.
Su Tao, "..."
This silly boy was usually clumsy with words, but his words were incredibly sweet today.
She rolled her eyes at him, annoyed, and whispered, "You wish. Su Zhi, how could you be so shameless! If I were you, I’d be too embarrassed to be here."
Su Zhi pouted, feeling aggrieved, and said angrily, "Sister, you're so annoying. You always let Brother Yuntang give you food only. Brother Yuntang isn't yours alone."
Su Tao put her arm around Xie Yuntang's shoulder, bared her teeth at Su Zhi, and declared her ownership, "He's mine alone. Milksop, don't you agree?"
Xie Yuntang glanced at her profile, his cheeks flushed, and felt a little happy. He lowered his head and said softly, "Yes, I belong to Sister Taozi."
Hearing this, Su Zhi sniffled, feeling unfairly treated. His sister and Brother Yuntang always bullied him. "Sister, I'm never talking to you again."
"Then go home, don't stay here." Su Tao looked even more like the rightful owner than Xie Yuntang himself.
Su Zhi wasn't stupid; he didn't want to go back. There wouldn't be any good food at home. He had eaten pigeon meat for lunch.
It was delicious, the best meat he had ever eaten.
He obediently said, "I don't want to go back. I'll help Brother Yuntang prepare the crabs."
"Tsk, don't think I don't know you just want to freeload." Su Tao let go of Xie Yuntang and looked toward the house. Qin Yu was still crying; it must have been painful.
Served him right!
He was already so naughty at his young age. It would be so much better if he were like Milksop, who was so obedient and sensible.
He was so lovable.
Soon she realized Qin Yu was more annoying than she thought. He insisted on throwing the crabs away, not letting them have any to eat.
Xie Yuntang stood sullenly to the side, protecting the crabs in the bucket. These were caught for him by Sister Taozi.
He didn't want to throw them away.
Su Tao had no right to say anything, so she could only secretly tug at Xie Yuntang's hand, indicating that it was okay. They could catch more after throwing them away.
Fortunately, Mrs. Xie-Qin coaxed Qin Yu for a long time. However, she didn't say anything about throwing the crabs away. She knew in her heart how happy Yuntang was about those crabs.
He never went out to play on his birthday before. He only did this year when Su Tao was around.
Other people's children were children, but so was her child. She couldn't keep making her own child suffer.
Yuntang was already very sensible.
Seeing Qin Yu making a fuss, Qin Xu didn't want to stay any longer and disrupt Xie Yuntang's birthday celebration, so he said apologetically, "It's getting late, we'll head back now. Yuntang, I’ll come to visit you alone next time."
"Okay." Xie Yuntang nodded obediently.
Mrs. Qin-Jin carried Qin Yu into the carriage, and before leaving, she gave Xie Yuntang a box, saying lovingly, "Shu'er, Daqing, Yuntang, we're leaving now. We'll come again next time."
After she finished speaking, she went into the carriage to comfort her grandson, "Yu'er, stop crying. It's okay, it’s okay, I’ll buy you something delicious when we get back to the manor."
"Okay, Father and Mother, just let me know in advance if you want to come next time, and I'll come pick you up." Xie Qing nodded.
Once the Qin family’s carriage left, the Xie family’s house fell silent. Su Tao rubbed her numb ears. Looking after a child was exhausting. If she had children in the future, she would hire a nanny.
Otherwise, this ordeal would probably wear her out.
"Milksop, it's a good thing you don't act like that, otherwise I'd kill you before you even kill me."
Indeed, if Milksop started making a scene, she'd never be able to go home. She might as well find a quiet place, dig a hole, and bury herself.
Xie Yuntang didn't understand why she said that, so he obediently remained silent.
The crabs were ready, and Mrs. Xie-Qin fried them in oil until golden brown. They smelled quite delicious.
Su Tao picked up a small crab with her chopsticks, blew on it a few times, and fed it to Xie Yuntang. "Here."
Xie Yuntang ate it. It was still a little hot, but he couldn't bear to spit it out. He swallowed it and said naively, "It’s delicious."
Xie Qing and the others couldn't help but smile.
Xie Gongyou ate a few and was somewhat surprised. "I didn't expect them to be so delicious. They’ll go perfectly with wine."
"Grandpa, I'll pour you some." Xie Yuntang's lips curled up when he heard Xie Gongyou liked it, and then he went to pour him some wine.
Mrs. Xie-Zhu glanced at him. He had indeed become much livelier. She chuckled. "Forget it. If your grandfather gets drunk, he'll start singing opera again."
Xie Gongyou usually enjoyed watching operas, and when drunk, he liked to sing a few lines.
"Grandma, it's alright. I like listening to Grandpa sing." Xie Yuntang's soft demeanor was endearing.
Xie Gongyou immediately laughed, and Xie Qing and the others laughed along.
……
At night, the croaking of frogs echoed intermittently from the fields.
Mrs. Xie-Qin leaned against Xie Qing, her expression somewhat pleased, and said gently, "Yuntang seems quite happy today."
"I noticed. He even showed me the birthday gift Taozi gave him. It was a piece of paper with a few words written on it and a drawing of a person." Xie Qing smiled genuinely, thinking of his son's expression.
Mrs. Xie-Qin didn't see the gift, and upon hearing this, she propped herself up to look at him, then patted his chest and scolded, "Why didn't Yuntang show me? He’s biased."
"How’s he biased? Are you jealous of me?"
Xie Qing lowered his head and kissed her, then said seriously, "Father told me that if Yuntang passes the prefectural examination this time, he’ll ask Yuntang to return to the prefectural city to study. After all, the teachers in the countryside have limited qualifications."
