Village Belle Chapter 149
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 149: She Wasn’t Crazy, She Was Normal
The school that was being built was just a short walk from Su Tao's house, about a quarter of an hour away.
Many people came to watch the fun, and when they saw Su Tao arrive, they were all envious. Who in the village didn't envy the Su Tao family's close relationship with the Xie family?
If it weren't for the Xie family all these years, Su Tao's family would be in dire poverty.
But then again, they couldn't produce a beautiful daughter.
To be honest, Su Tao was truly beautiful. If it weren't for her mental issues, matchmakers would be lining up at her door.
If Su Tao knew what they were thinking, she would definitely yell that she wasn't crazy, but frustrated.
Everyone said she was crazy, but she knew perfectly well in her heart.
She wasn't crazy, she was normal.
She stood there for a while and then went home. Seeing Zheng Duoyin sitting in the main hall, she immediately thought of what had happened yesterday, and her eyes lit up. "It's done?"
"Of course! My sister and my second sister both decided to go to school. They gave me the money."
Zheng Duoyin, who had just arrived, looked proud. Then he added, "Big Sister, you have to treat me to lunch today."
"No problem."
Su Tao held out her hand, gesturing for him to hand over the money. Zheng Duoyin gave her the money—six strings of coins in total—and her eyes crinkled with laughter.
Lin Sanzhu's eyes widened. Although she said she didn't care about her wretched daughter making money, she loved money.
Su Tao stuffed the coins into Lin Sanzhu's hands. "Mom, he'll be eating at our house for lunch. Make sure to cook more meat."
Lin Sanzhu beamed, especially enthusiastic because of the money. "Duoyin, eat at our house today. I'll go get some scallions."
"Okay, thank you, Auntie Su." Zheng Duoyin didn't stand on ceremony.
"Don’t mention it. Come visit whenever you have time."
Lin Sanzhu, carrying her basket, glanced at Su Tao and Zheng Duoyin, thinking of something. She couldn't let the two of them stay together.
She quickly changed her mind. "We finished the rice this morning, so we need to steam some. Taozi, go pick some vegetables. I'll cook the rice at home."
Su Tao didn't think much of it and nodded. Su Dou pulled her along. "Sister, I'll go with you."
"Okay."
After putting the money in the house, Su Tao was about to leave when Zheng Duoyin followed. "Big Sister, I'll go with you."
Lin Sanzhu, "..."
Before she could say anything, she heard her wretched daughter's voice. "My house is almost out of water, so could you fetch two buckets of water for me while you're at it?"
"Seriously, Big Sister, you're not treating me like a guest at all." Zheng Duoyin's eyes widened, looking like he'd seen a ghost.
Su Tao smiled and said, "I’m glad you know that." Then she went to get the bucket for him.
Zheng Duoyin resignedly picked up the bucket, but Lin Sanzhu wasn't about to let him do it. She glared at Su Tao. "Duoyin, don't bother. Your Uncle Su Fu will do so when he comes back."
"It's alright, I have nothing to do anyway. Carrying two buckets of water isn't tiring, I'm used to it." Zheng Duoyin smiled.
Watching them leave one after the other, Lin Sanzhu suddenly felt that Zheng Duoyin was actually a good child.
Although he wasn't as good-looking as Xie Yuntang, he was hardworking, and her daughter could easily intimidate him.
If they got married, her daughter wouldn't suffer.
She had been worried about Zheng Duoyin's mother before, but now she wasn't.
To put it bluntly, she was thankful enough if her daughter didn't bully anyone.
Her firm resolve from yesterday was starting to waver today. What if Xie Yuntang's mother's nephew was handsome, but didn't know how to pamper?
Looking at Zheng Duoyin again, if he was suitable, she would refuse Mrs. Xie-Qin's kindness.
Su Tao didn't know that her mother would think so much just because she asked Zheng Duoyin to carry water.
After picking the vegetables, Su Tao didn't forget to go to the Xie family to let them know that she wouldn't be coming for lunch.
Xie Yuntang was studying at the moment, so she just told Mrs. Xie-Qin.
It was April, and the weather was getting quite hot near noon. Su Tao came out of the kitchen for some fresh air, wiped away her sweat, and said with her hands on her hips, "It's so hot!"
"Sister, let me fan you." Su Dou brought a palm-leaf fan and fanned her obediently.
Su Tao patted his head and praised him, "Good boy, I'll get you some meat later."
Zheng Duoyin, who was helping to chop wood in the yard, looked over. Su Tao’s face was flushed perhaps from the heat, like she had applied rouge.
She was beautiful.
No wonder everyone said she was the village belle.
After looking at her for a few moments, his face turned a little red, and he quickly picked up some firewood from the ground and continued chopping.
"Howl~ Howl~ I'm back."
Su Zhi ran in, imitating a wolf's howl. Seeing Zheng Duoyin, he obediently called out, "Brother Duoyin."
Zheng Duoyin responded and glanced at his pants. "Why is there a hole in your pants?"
"I got scratched by a bench."
Su Zhi was about to cover his pants when Su Tao ran over and looked at them. "Was there a knife on a bench? It’s such a big hole, you must have been playing somewhere."
She turned her head to complain, "Mom..."
Her pleasure was watching Su Zhi get beaten. She still remembered how she had been beaten several times because of him, and her bones still ached when she thought about it.
"Sister, Sister, don't call out."
Su Zhi anxiously pulled her aside, then took out a bundle of raspberries from his cloth bag and gave it to her. He pouted, looking aggrieved, and said, "I just wanted to pick some raspberries for you to eat because it's your birthday, but I got scratched by a tree branch."
Su Tao looked like the sun had risen in the west, then took the handful of raspberries from his hand and quickly shoved them back at him. "Then go wash them clean for me."
"Sister, you're so lazy! Why would I have a sister like you?" Su Zhi glared at her disapprovingly, but still obediently went to wash them.
Although Su Tao didn't say anything, Lin Sanzhu still saw it and was furious. "You rascal, how did you get a hole in your pants?"
"Sister, help me, help me!" Su Zhi ran out with some water and hid behind Su Tao.
Seeing Lin Sanzhu coming over, Su Tao felt a surge of sisterly affection and raised her hand to stop her. "I'll just get him a piece of rag to mend it tomorrow."
"These days, who wears patched clothes? People would think we’re too poor to even eat."
Lin Sanzhu wasn't pretending to be rich, but her daughter was of marriageable age. If they dressed poorly, people would look down on her.
She was truly worried sick about her children.
"Then I'll buy him two pairs."
As soon as Su Tao finished speaking, Su Zhi jumped up happily. "Sister, you're so good! I love you the most, Sister!"
Su Dou also wanted some. "Sister, I want some too."
"Sure, sure, sure. I'll take you to town to buy some in a few days." Su Tao readily agreed. She had saved some money over the years with Xie Yuntang's help.
She didn't give this money to Lin Sanzhu, thinking she could use it in an emergency.
"Who would go to town to buy them? They're ridiculously expensive! We still have fabric at home. I can make some for them myself." Lin Sanzhu gave him a look that suggested Su Tao didn't know the cost of living.
Su Zhi had been wanting to go to town for a while and didn't want to miss out. "Mom, my sister said she'd buy them for us. The ones you made aren't very nice. The pants you made last time were too short."
"That's all your fault! I told you to stand up straight!" Lin Sanzhu was a little embarrassed, then stopped talking to them and went to the kitchen to busy herself.
To please his sister, Su Zhi pulled off the raspberry stems. Su Tao tasted one. It was a little sour, but sweet enough, and was quite delicious.
She'd give some to Milksop later.
