Village Belle Chapter 136
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 136: Sister Taozi Couldn't Cook, But He Could
"It's alright, Auntie Su. Sister Taozi will come with me to the county town for the book fair tomorrow. We'll be back in a few days."
Xie Yuntang loosened his grip, raising the lantern slightly so Su Tao could see the threshold clearly.
Hearing this, Lin Sanzhu hesitated. It was one thing when they were little, but now that they were older, they should keep an appropriate distance. She lied, "Yuntang, there are some things going on at home these days, so Taozi probably can't go."
Xie Yuntang was taken aback. He could sense that in the past year or two, Auntie Su had tried to stop him from hanging out with Sister Taozi.
He glanced at Su Tao, his eyes showing some disappointment, but still nodded, "Okay."
How could Su Tao possibly oblige? Going to the county town was much more fun than staying at home. "Mom, I want to go to the county town for the book fair too. I'll go with him tomorrow."
"Why are you going? Stay home." Lin Sanzhu glared at her irritably.
Su Tao didn't reply to her. Instead, she waved at Xie Yuntang. "Come pick me up tomorrow morning. Hurry back home! Watch your step, don't fall into the field."
"Okay."
Xie Yuntang's eyes were slightly cool as he smiled at her, then picked up his lantern and left.
Once he was out of sight, Lin Sanzhu closed the door, pulling Su Tao back, nagging, "Wretched girl, you're not a child anymore. Why were you still holding hands? If the villagers see this, they'll criticize you to death! Do you know what they're saying about you and Yuntang?"
"Let them say what they want, I don't care. Mom, don't worry about me, I know my limits. You don't trust me, but you trust Xie Yuntang, right? He was just worried that I'd fall."
Su Tao hugged Lin Sanzhu’s arm to comfort her, then said, "Mom, I'll get married in a couple of years, so don't rush me. I want to spend more time with you and Dad."
"Your father and I don't need your company. It's not like we're asking you to get married right now. It's just a matchmaking meeting." Lin Sanzhu's tone softened considerably.
Su Tao raised her hand and promised, "Mom, I promise that in two years, you won't need to urge me; I'll bring you a suitable son-in-law myself."
She'd be home in two years.
It seemed she'd been away so long that she was already a little reluctant to leave.
Lin Sanzhu glared at her, then, thinking of something, said seriously in a low voice, "Be honest with me. Do you have feelings for Yuntang?"
Xie Yuntang was so handsome. He charmed everyone who saw him.
If she were her daughter, she would like him too.
Su Tao wasn't surprised by her words. After all, Xie Yuntang had attractive qualities. She said sincerely, "Don't worry, I know my place with the Xie family."
"That's good. I was just afraid you wouldn't understand. With the Xie family's conditions, you'd definitely suffer if you married into their family." Lin Sanzhu wasn't saying the Xie family was bad, but being a daughter-in-law was a different story.
Su Tao disagreed with her. If she could marry Xie Yuntang, her life would be incredibly comfortable.
However, it was impossible between her and Xie Yuntang.
She nodded and said, "I know. I don't have such thoughts."
Lin Sanzhu heaved a sigh of relief. She was just afraid that her daughter would like Xie Yuntang. If Xie Yuntang liked her daughter, that would be fine, but if he didn't, her daughter would have to become an old nun.
She changed the subject, "What do you think of Zheng Duoyin? That child is quite promising."
Su Tao, "..."
She let go of Lin Sanzhu and winked. "You should still look for someone like Xie Yuntang, otherwise I won't like the guy."
"Su Tao! Are you trying to drive me up the wall?" Lin Sanzhu's anger flared up again, and she said, "Where am I supposed to find one for you? Huh?"
"Since you’re so capable, go and snatch one back." Su Tao ran into her room as if fleeing, and then slammed the door shut.
Lin Sanzhu, "..."
She said to Su Fu, "Look at how you've spoiled her."
"Since she said a few years, just let her be. I'm a little reluctant to see Taozi get married too."
Su Fu put his arm around her shoulder and said, "Once she's married, she won't stay here anymore. Let Taozi stay at home a little longer. It's not like we can't afford to support her."
Lin Sanzhu glanced at him and whispered, "I'm just afraid that the good ones will be taken by others."
She just wanted to find a good marriage for her daughter so she wouldn't suffer like her.
……
The next day, in the carriage.
"My mother asked me yesterday if I’d consider Zheng Duoyin. That fool Zheng Duoyin talks too much." Su Tao ate while talking to Xie Yuntang.
Xie Yuntang looked at her and shook his head seriously. "Duoyin won't do. He can't cook."
Sister Taozi couldn't cook.
He could.
Hearing this, Su Tao laughed. "When I get home, I'll tell my mother I want to find a man who can cook. She'll definitely lose her temper."
She yawned, feeling a little sleepy, and leaned on Xie Yuntang's shoulder as usual. Then she said, "I’m so sleepy."
Xie Yuntang quickly lowered his shoulder, his eyes slightly lowered. Su Tao’s long eyelashes quivered slightly. She was clearly not asleep yet.
The light from the window shone on her face, making her skin appear even fairer.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes, and his heart skipped a beat, then pounded like a drum.
He was about to say something when she closed her eyes again, grumbling, "Lower your shoulder a little more."
Xie Yuntang lowered his shoulder even further, then dared not look at her anymore. He seemed to have other kind of feelings for Sister Taozi...
……
It was already afternoon when they arrived in the county town. After finding an inn to drop off their things, the two naturally slept separately.
Su Tao wanted to eat lotus-scented chicken, so she put down her things, locked the door, and went to Xie Yuntang's room. She was stunned as soon as she opened the door. Xie Yuntang was changing clothes.
Milksop looked thin, but he was surprisingly well-built.
Xie Yuntang had just locked the door, but it must have been loose. Seeing her staring intently at him, he grabbed his clothes to cover himself.
Luckily, he wasn't as frightened as when he was a child and was seen peeing.
"Sister Taozi, you go out first. I'll change my clothes." His earlobes burned as he finished speaking.
Su Tao, unable to admire anymore, was somewhat disappointed, clicking her tongue inwardly before closing the door and leaving.
A while later, Xie Yuntang came out in different clothes.
She playfully bumped his shoulder, chuckling. "Milksop, I didn't expect you to be so well-built. I thought you'd be as thin as a bamboo pole."
The blush that had faded returned, and Xie Yuntang, embarrassed to look at her, said, "Sister Taozi, you're a girl. Don't say things like that."
He paused, then added, "Don't just casually enter men's rooms in the future."
Seeing that Su Tao didn't reply, he stopped, his voice becoming serious. "Sister Taozi."
Sister Taozi never paid attention to the boundaries between men and women.
Su Tao shook his arm. "Okay, next time I'll knock before entering your room. I'm starving, I want lotus-scented chicken."
"Not just knock on my room, you have to knock before entering any other man's room from now on. Okay, let’s have lotus-scented chicken." Xie Yuntang met her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, his voice softening subconsciously.
As soon as they left the inn, Su Tao hadn't taken more than a few steps when Xie Yuntang took her hand. His hand felt comfortable, without calluses.
She smiled and said, "It's not like we were little anymore. You don't need to hold my hand." She tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't.
Xie Yuntang wouldn't let go. He was afraid she'd wander off and wouldn't be able to find him. "There are a lot of people around now."
When they were little, Sister Taozi would hold his hand. Now that they were grown up, he would hold hers.
