Village Belle Chapter 131
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 131 Sister Taozi, You’re Pretty
After returning home, Su He complained to Su Dagui about Su Fu, "Dad, Su Fu didn't come, and he even hit me."
Upon hearing this, Su Dagui's face turned livid with anger, and he slammed his hand on the table. "I'll go. Let's see if he comes!" After saying that, he stormed out.
However, Su Tao had encouraged Xie Yuntang to invite Lin Sanzhu and the others to his house for dinner, so Su Dagui came in vain. Seeing the door locked from the outside, he angrily went back.
He happened to see Su Fu and the others enter the Xie family's house.
Su Dagui opened his mouth to curse, but remembering that the Xie family didn't like his family, he held back.
Su Tao naturally saw him, and thought, ‘Wretched old man, I bet you're going to die of holding back,’ before making a face at him.
Su Dagui almost choked, his fierce eyes looking like he wanted to devour her.
Xie Yuntang quickly stepped in front of Su Tao, then pulled her along, saying softly, "Sister Taozi, let's go inside."
When Mrs. Xie-Qin heard that Xie Yuntang wanted to invite Lin Sanzhu and the others to dinner, she didn't say anything. She went into the kitchen to get bowls and chopsticks.
The two families had eaten together several times before, exchanging a few words now and then, looking like one big family.
The Xie family was having fish today, cooking a large pot.
Su Tao ate two and felt there were too many fish bones. However, she still wanted more, so she subtly nudged Xie Yuntang.
Xie Yuntang followed her gaze to the fish, quickly picked it up, and removed the bones. After checking several times to make sure there were no more bones, he put it in Su Tao's bowl.
With so many people watching, Su Tao sweetly thanked him, "Thank you, Brother Yuntang. Brother Yuntang, you eat. Don't worry about me."
"That's right, Yuntang, don't worry about her. Eat your own food," Lin Sanzhu chimed in.
Xie Yuntang picked up another fish, lying, "Auntie Su, it's alright, I like picking out fish bones."
Mrs. Xie-Qin couldn't help but chuckle. "Sister Su, don't worry about the children. Just eat."
After the meal, Su Tao diligently cleared the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them, and Xie Yuntang naturally followed.
Lin Sanzhu wanted to help them, but Mrs. Xie-Qin smiled and pulled her back. "Sister Su, it's alright, let them do it."
"How can I let Yuntang do the dishes?" Lin Sanzhu was a little embarrassed. She had freeloaded at the Xie family's house, and now Yuntang even had to do the dishes.
"Let Yuntang learn to do it."
Mrs. Xie-Qin gestured for her to sit down, then added, "Yuntang said today that your fried dough twists were delicious. I'll ask you to teach me sometime."
Hearing that she wanted to learn, Lin Sanzhu's cheeks flushed. "I'm free all the time. Frying dough twists isn't difficult, just use more oil."
"Then I'll ask you again tomorrow," Mrs. Xie-Qin said amiably.
Lin Sanzhu nodded quickly, thinking to herself that she would clean the kitchen thoroughly when she got home.
They stayed at the Xie family's house until very late. The Su family across from them had already closed their doors, so Lin Sanzhu and the others quickly circled back home from the other side.
Su Tao stood on the attic watching, only letting out a sigh of relief after they had gone quite a distance. Just as she was about to turn around to see where Xie Yuntang was, she didn't expect him to be right next to her.
As she turned her head, her nose bumped into his face, and she hissed, "Milksop, why are you standing so close? My nose is almost crooked."
Xie Yuntang didn't expect her to turn around so suddenly, and quickly apologized, saying earnestly, "There's a grain of rice on your face, and I wanted to pick it off for you. Sister Taozi, are you alright?"
Su Tao touched the tip of her nose, calmed down, and glared at him. "What do you think? If my nose is crooked, I'll cling to you and never let you go." Saying that, she touched her cheek with her hand, and sure enough, there was a grain of rice.
She was a little disgusted with herself for getting rice on her face.
"Don't tell anyone, okay?"
Xie Yuntang obediently nodded.
……
The Xie family distributed fish to the villagers last night, and the air was thick with the smell of fish this morning. On the way to school, one could see people cleaning fish everywhere.
Fish intestines and other debris were scattered along the riverbank.
Su Tao almost vomited from the smell, grabbing Xie Yuntang's sleeve to cover her nose. Why his? It was because his clothes smelled good!
Milksop’s clothes smelled the best.
Xie Yuntang's ivory-colored clothes got dirty easily, but he didn't say anything, letting her pull his clothes.
They ran into Zheng Duoyin and Zhou Sheng on the way, both of them also pinching their noses.
Seeing Su Tao tugging at Xie Yuntang's clothes, Zheng Duoyin asked, puzzled, "Big Sister, why are you pulling Yuntang's sleeve? Don't you have your own?"
"Cut the crap."
Su Tao couldn’t be bothered to explain, giving him her usual annoyed glare.
"Big Sister, why are you so angry so early in the morning? Don’t get so hot-tempered that you turn into an ugly monster. My second sister has developed so many sores on her face lately. It scared me to death."
Zheng Duoyin glanced at Su Tao. She was really pretty with big eyes, small nose, small mouth, and good skin.
She was even prettier than Wei Yan.
He flattered her, saying, "Big Sister, you've become so pretty. You used to be so sallow."
Su Tao, "..."
"Sallow my foot! I'm born pretty. Get going, or I'll beat you up!"
Zheng Duoyin scuttled away.
Xie Yuntang looked at Su Tao after hearing Zheng Duoyin's words. Sister Taozi was really pretty, the prettiest in the village.
Noticing his gaze, Su Tao instinctively pinched his cheek. "What are you looking at? Look again and I'll charge you!"
Xie Yuntang's cheeks flushed slightly, but he still said softly, "Sister Taozi, you're pretty."
His gaze was innocent and pure, making Su Tao a little embarrassed. She quickly put her hands on her hips and said smugly, "If I'm not pretty, who is? Let's go, we're going to be late."
The air was filled with a fishy smell in the morning but the aroma of fish at noon. The children, who usually loved playing outside, rushed home as soon as they finished school.
They were even more excited than during the Lunar New Year.
As Su Tao passed by her own house, Lin Sanzhu stuffed several fried fish into her hands. She and Xie Yuntang ate as they walked.
Today, there was someone else at the Xie family's house, a middle-aged man around forty years old who looked very knowledgeable.
He was probably a scholar.
Su Tao guessed correctly. This was the tutor Xie Qing had found for Xie Yuntang.
When they returned, Xie Qing beckoned them over and introduced him, "This is Mr Wei."
He then introduced the children to Wei Wen, "This is my son, Xie Yuntang, and my daughter, Su Tao."
He didn't mention that Su Tao was a hired helper. In his heart, Su Tao was indeed practically his daughter.
Su Tao didn't recognize him, but still obediently greeted him, "Hello, Mr Wei."
Xie Yuntang recognized him. Mr Wei was a renowned tutor at the prefectural academy, and a former second-place scholar in the imperial examinations. Xie Yuntang greatly admired his books.
He respectfully said, "Hello, Mr Wei."
Wei Wen was very approachable, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Xie Yuntang. "I've seen your answer sheet. Such insight at such a young age is truly remarkable."
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr Wei," Xie Yuntang said sincerely.
Hearing his son being praised, Xie Qing was naturally pleased and instructed the two children, "From now on, Yuntang and Taozi will study with Mr Wei, and you won't need to go to the school anymore."
Su Tao had no objections. She was fine wherever she was, as long as she had food and clothing. She couldn't afford to be picky now.
She could only have her own preferences if she returned home.
Wei Wen stayed in the room beside Xie Yuntang's, making it convenient to ask him questions.
In the afternoon, in the attic.
Wei Wen wanted to check on the children's literacy, so he gave them a test he had prepared beforehand.
He hadn't expected much from Su Tao, thinking she probably didn't know much words, but to his surprise, she finished just like Xie Yuntang, without a single mistake.
Her handwriting was also quite beautiful.
