Village Belle Chapter 124
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 124: He Didn't Like Sister Taozi Playing with Zheng Duoyin And The Others
Although Su Tao said she didn't want any hair accessories, a few days before her birthday, Lin Sanzhu went to the market and bought two. They weren't cheap at all; they cost eighteen coins, which was enough to buy around two pounds of meat.
Lin Sanzhu was so distressed that she couldn't sleep all night.
However, before Su Tao's birthday even arrived, Mrs. Xie-Qin said she’d take Su Tao to the prefectural city because Xie Yuntang was going to take the prefectural examinations.
Those few days happened to coincide with Su Tao's birthday.
Lin Sanzhu didn't want her daughter to work on her birthday, so she hesitated for a moment, then said somewhat apologetically, "Mrs. Xie, Taozi's birthday is in a few days, and Fuzi and I have already agreed to celebrate it for her."
"She's never had a birthday celebration since she was little. After we split families this year, we finally have spare money, so we want to make it up to her."
She’d really doted on Su Tao in vain. Su Tao preferred "working" for the Xie family to celebrating her birthday at home.
She wished for nothing more than working for the Xie family.
Upon hearing Lin Sanzhu’s words, Mrs. Xie-Qin remembered that Su Tao's birthday was indeed within those few days. She slapped her forehead and said apologetically, "I’m so forgetful. I completely forgot Taozi's birthday. Taozi doesn't have to go then."
"Thank you, Mrs. Xie," Lin Sanzhu said gratefully.
……
When Su Tao learned that she couldn't go to the prefectural city with Xie Yuntang, she felt as if she had been doused with cold water.
She’d looked forward to visiting the prefectural city every month or two, but now that dream was ruined. Of course she was unhappy.
She’d even decided what she wanted Milksop to buy for her.
Oh no, now all was gone.
Xie Yuntang was also taken aback, looking anxiously at Mrs. Xie-Qin. " Mom, why can't Sister Taozi go? I want Sister Taozi to go."
Mrs. Xie-Qin, fully aware of his thoughts, gently explained, "Sister Taozi is having her birthday soon, and Auntie Su said she wants her to stay for the celebration."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yuntang's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, but he still obediently nodded. "Alright."
Sister Taozi had never celebrated her birthday. He couldn’t dampen her spirits.
However, he was still a little sad that Sister Taozi wasn't going.
He had already planned it all out. After he finished his exams, he would take her out to buy food.
It had to be said that Su Tao and Xie Yuntang surprisingly found common ground.
Su Tao didn't want to stay home for her birthday; she wanted to go out to eat. She said obediently and sensibly, "Thank you, Auntie Xie. I don't want to celebrate my birthday. I'll go to the prefectural city with Brother Yuntang."
Mrs. Xie-Qin knew she was sensible, so she patted her head and disagreed, saying, "I know you're sensible, but your birthday still needs to be celebrated. I'll make it up to you when I get back."
"Your mother misses you. Stay home and keep her company these next few days."
Upon hearing this, Su Tao couldn't say anything more. After all, she was a sensible child.
She glanced reluctantly at Xie Yuntang one last time. Oh no, there went the food.
"Brother Yuntang, come back soon. I'll miss you."
Xie Yuntang nodded, equally reluctant, and said, "Sister Taozi, I'll give you your birthday present when I get back."
"Brother Yuntang, I don't want a birthday present. Just come back soon." Su Tao obediently shook her head.
She might appear obedient, but when she was helping Xie Yuntang pack up, she unapologetically muttered a long list of food, "Milksop, I want candied hawthorns, roasted chestnuts, roast duck, corn cakes, fried dumplings..."
Xie Yuntang listened intently, afraid of missing a single word. When it was time to leave, his eyes were slightly red. He tugged at Su Tao's sleeve. "Sister Taozi, don't play with Zheng Duoyin and the others. I'll play with you when I get back."
Zheng Duoyin and the others weren’t good; they always made Sister Taozi help them catch this and that.
He didn't like it.
"Fine, do your best on the exams."
Su Tao leaned closer and whispered, "Don't forget what I told you about the food. If you forget, I won't talk to you again."
Looking at the girl's long eyelashes, Xie Yuntang blushed slightly, then quickly and earnestly promised, "I won't forget."
After Xie Yuntang and the others left, Su Tao stood there and sighed deeply before running back home.
Lin Sanzhu was carrying Su Dou on her back while weaving a straw mat. No wonder she often had back pain. Anyone else would have back pain too.
She ran over and said, "Mom, let me carry my brother."
"Why are you back? Yuntang and the others have left?" Lin Sanzhu untied the rope around her waist, and her shoulders relaxed.
Su Tao felt that Su Dou had gotten heavier, and wondered what Lin Sanzhu had fed him. She looked around. "Where's Su Zhi?"
"That rascal is off playing somewhere. I made him study earlier. He studied for a bit and then slipped out. He's not cut out for studying. In a couple of years, I'll make him come home and farm."
Lin Sanzhu had a headache just thinking about Su Zhi. If only he were as sensible as her wretched daughter.
Su Tao knew that Su Zhi was very playful, but since he was still young, he needed more guidance. She disagreed with Lin Sanzhu's idea, saying, " Let him study more. If he's not cut out for studying, then we can let him do something else when he's an adult."
"But he should be made to do chores. Let him learn to wash dishes and cook, otherwise he won't be able to find a wife in future."
Hearing the last few words, Lin Sanzhu glared at her. "What kind of man would do such a thing?"
It wasn't that she didn't want Su Zhi to do it. Men didn't do these things. They were supposed to go out and work to support their families.
Su Tao didn't intend to preach to her. After all, Lin Sanzhu grew up in this era. She said dismissively, "A promising man naturally doesn't need to do these things. Look at Su Zhi. He'll definitely have a hard time finding a wife."
"Being able to do these chores, any family will immediately think he's kind and considerate, and they'll marry their daughter to him."
Lin Sanzhu was rendered speechless again, wanting to say something but unable to find a rebuttal. After thinking it over carefully, she realized her wretched daughter was right.
"Enough talking about your brother. You're no different. You can't even cook a simple dish. You'll cook with me later, and I'll teach you. Otherwise, your in-laws will despise you when you get married."
Su Tao hadn't expected the conversation to involve her. She didn't want to learn to cook; she just wanted to eat. "Mom, don't teach me with your kind of skills. Just teach Su Zhi. I'll go learn from Auntie Xie."
Feeling slighted, Lin Sanzhu glared at her. But Mrs. Xie-Qin's cooking was indeed better than hers. She almost licked the bowl clean on Xie Yuntang's birthday.
"My skills are good enough to teach you. Don't try to slack off. You and Su Zhi shall watch and learn in the kitchen later."
Su Tao, "..."
She missed Milksop.
Milksop, come and take her away!
She touched the tip of her nose. "I don't want to learn. Just let Su Zhi learn."
"Why do you refuse to learn? If you don't learn, I'll beat you with a stick," Lin Sanzhu said fiercely.
Su Tao, "..."
She wisely kept quiet.
The sun began to set, the sky grew dark, and the sound of dogs barking could be heard in the distance.
Su Zhi, who had been playing all afternoon, came running back covered in dirt. Perhaps afraid of being scolded, he cautiously glanced at Lin Sanzhu and Su Tao.
Su Tao gave him a disgruntled look, but before she could say anything, Su Zhi was so frightened that he ran inside to hide.
Su Tao, "..."
She snapped, "Su Zhi, you get out here right now! Hurry up! I'll count to three, and if you don't come out, I'm going after you with a stick."
"One, two..."
