Village Belle Chapter 147
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 147: Zheng Duoyin looked A Bit Ugly Standing Next To Xie Yuntang.
Lin Sanzhu was rendered speechless. "..."
She slammed her cleaver on the cutting board. If she had a son-in-law as good as Xie Yuntang, she would worship him every day.
Xie Yuntang said seriously, "Sister Taozi, Auntie Su is nice."
Auntie Su was just like Sister Taozi. She was fierce on the outside, but kind on the inside.
This sentence made Lin Sanzhu happy. "Yuntang is so sensible."
Su Tao patted Xie Yuntang. "You can't lie just because she is my mother. Be honest, it's okay, just tell the truth. My mother is thick-skinned and can take it."
Look! What daughter would say her mother was thick-skinned?
Lin Sanzhu rolled her eyes at her, annoyed. "You think Yuntang is like you? He's honest, unlike you. You’re forever talking nonsense."
Thinking of something, she added, not treating Xie Yuntang like an outsider, "I heard you and your grandma had another argument?"
Su Tao blinked and said, "That's normal. Every time I see her, I have to yell at her. I don't feel comfortable if I don't yell at her. If I could, I'd give her a few whacks. That wretched old woman is so annoying."
Lin Sanzhu was speechless. "..."
"Don't argue with your grandma all the time. Just avoid her. You're a young lady. If you constantly yell at your elders, who would dare marry you?"
"It's better if no one wants to marry me. I don't want to marry anyone. No one’s worthy of marrying me," Su Tao said through gritted teeth.
Lin Sanzhu knew she couldn't win the argument, so she glared at Su Tao and said nothing more.
After a while, Su Fu's heavy breathing came from the courtyard, tinged with joy. "Dear, I bought some meat. Go and prepare it. It's two coins cheaper today."
Hearing this, Lin Sanzhu hurriedly ran out to get it. Seeing the meat in his hand, she exclaimed, "Why is it so much cheaper? I forgot to tell you at noon that Yuntang's family brought a lot of mutton. This will probably have to sit for a while."
After a pause, she added, "Why don't we invite Yuntang's parents over to eat too? I'll cook more rice."
In recent years, the two families had been eating together from time to time, and they weren't as reserved as before.
"Okay, I'll go invite them," Su Fu replied with a smile, then washed his hands and went out to invite Xie Yuntang’s parents.
Lin Sanzhu carried the meat into the kitchen and looked at Su Tao, saying, "Taozi, go and wipe the table and chairs clean. I'll have your father invite Yuntang's parents over to eat together."
"Yuntang, what kind of meat do you want? Braised or fried?"
"Ask Taozi, I'm fine with either." Xie Yuntang glanced at Su Tao.
Su Tao smiled and said, "Mom, I want braised pork, but not too fatty."
Su Dou chimed in, "Mom, I want braised pork too!"
"Look at you two. Since there's so much meat, I’ll braise half and fry half," Lin Sanzhu said pleasantly.
If it were just their family eating, she would definitely divide the meat into three meals.
Su Tao was about to grab a handkerchief to wipe the table when Su Zhi came in. She sat back down, grinning unceremoniously. "Su Zhi, go wipe the table and chairs clean. I'll have Mom make you braised pork."
Su Zhi was a little reluctant when he heard the first part, but when he heard the second part, he quickly grabbed the handkerchief. "Sister, you have to keep your word, or I won't talk to you anymore." After saying that, he ran out to wipe the table and chairs.
Lin Sanzhu glanced at the doorway. That rascal was so dim-witted. No wonder his older sister ordered him around all day.
He deserved it!
Su Tao openly slacked off, leisurely watching Xie Yuntang teach Su Dou to read.
When the Xie family arrived, the rice was just being steamed. Mrs. Xie-Qin, having become familiar with Lin Sanzhu, went into the kitchen to help her.
After chatting for a while, Mrs. Xie-Qin inquired about Su Tao's marriage, smiling, "Sister Su, I heard you're looking for a husband for Taozi?"
Su Tao and Xie Yuntang immediately looked at Mrs. Xie-Qin. Xie Yuntang gripped the book in his hands a bit nervously.
Mrs. Xie-Qin naturally noticed their gazes and couldn't help but smile.
Finding a husband wasn't something to be ashamed of, so Lin Sanzhu nodded, then sighed, "It's not easy to find one. There aren't any suitable ones."
"Taozi is still young. There’s no rush. I have a nephew about the same age as Taozi, but like Yuntang, he has to take the prefectural examination. If Sister Su trusts me, after he passes the exams next year, I'll talk to him, and it'll probably work out."
Mrs. Xie-Qin knew Su Tao was indeed of marriageable age, but Yuntang would only be taking his exams more than a year later. If Su Tao really got engaged, then there would be really nothing that could be done.
Lin Sanzhu's eyes lit up upon hearing this. A nephew from the Xie family was of course a good choice! However, she didn't immediately agree.
She asked shyly, "What does he look like? Mrs. Xie, don't read too much into it. It’s just that Taozi likes a guy with good looks."
Mrs. Xie-Qin smiled. "Not bad, about the same as Yuntang."
About the same as Xie Yuntang? That meant the guy was really handsome. Lin Sanzhu beamed from ear to ear. She readily agreed, "Thank you then, Mrs. Xie."
"Don’t mention it," Mrs. Xie-Qin said sincerely. "I've practically watched Taozi grow up. She's hardworking and kind."
Lin Sanzhu didn't believe the praise. She glanced at Su Tao, thinking how lazy the girl was at home, always arguing with her.
Of course, she wouldn't say that aloud. "She still needs to learn more."
Hearing her mother's agreement, Su Tao thought she could finally have some peace and quiet. But a nephew who looked almost exactly like Xie Yuntang?
She was a little curious, so she leaned close to Xie Yuntang's ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Does your family have anyone as handsome as you? I've never seen anyone like that."
Xie Yuntang blushed slightly and lied somewhat awkwardly, "He’s from my maternal grandmother's side."
"There's a saying that's definitely true. Handsome people make a family, ugly people make a whole bunch."
Su Tao didn't think much of it. She pinched Su Dou's little face and said, "If you grow up to look like your Brother Yuntang, you won't have to worry about finding a wife in the future."
Su Dou looked at Xie Yuntang, nodded obediently, and said earnestly in his childish voice, "I want to look like Brother Yuntang."
"If you look like him, I'll buy you meat every day." Su Tao grinned from ear to ear.
……
After dinner, the Xie family had already left. Su Tao finished sweeping the floor and sat on a stool, rubbing her full stomach. She said in a whiny tone, "Mom, my stomach doesn't feel right."
"Who told you to eat so much? I saw Yuntang give you almost two bowls of meat."
Lin Sanzhu came over and touched her stomach, which was as full as if she were pregnant.
She added, "Go for a walk in the yard, or you'll suffer."
Su Tao didn't want to move and remained seated. Lin Sanzhu sat beside her. "Did you hear what your Auntie Xie said? She'll introduce you to someone similar to Yuntang next year."
"Don't get too close to Zheng Duoyin, or people will gossip."
Lin Sanzhu had been quite fond of Zheng Duoyin this morning, but now she'd changed her mind. Su Tai glanced at Lin Sanzhu and blurted out her thoughts, "This morning you seemed quite satisfied with Zheng Duoyin. Why the sudden change of heart?"
Lin Sanzhu spoke frankly. "That's because of Yuntang. Zheng Duoyin is a nice guy on his own, but standing next to Yuntang, he looks a bit... ugly."
Ugly...
Hearing that word, Su Tao burst out laughing. "Zheng Duoyin will curse you if he hears that, hahahaha..."
