Chapter 62
“Alright!” Jiang Yexun had never heard of hotpot before, but if that’s what the little educated youth wanted, he would get it for her.
Aunt Guo added, “Then you should also buy some melon seeds and peanuts in advance. You won’t find them during the New Year. Sitting by the brazier in winter, listening to the radio, and cracking melon seeds and peanuts is quite enjoyable.
Oh, and for hotpot, we need to have lamb meat. Make sure to buy some if you see it. It’s delicious, and if we don’t use it for hotpot, we can make lamb scorpions.”
“Alright, I’ll get some meat and snacks to pass the time,” Jiang Yexun silently planned what to buy in his mind.
After discussing these matters, Su Xiaoxiao brought over the enamel basin she had placed on the stove.
“Aunt Guo, how about we steam a cake later? It’s my first time making one, and I’m not sure if it’ll turn out good. You can give me some advice.” She approached Aunt Guo with a big ball of dough in her hand, as if presenting a treasure.
Aunt Guo had just seen the dough, and now that Su Xiaoxiao mentioned it, she immediately disapproved. “Kneading dough is tiring. From now on, let my son do such tasks. You’re a young girl; you shouldn’t do such heavy work anymore.”
Su Xiaoxiao felt touched by their concern but also somewhat embarrassed. She was about to say that doing a bit of work wasn’t a big deal, but then she heard Jiang Yexun echoing Aunt Guo’s sentiments, earnestly and seriously.
“Next time, whatever work needs to be done, let me do it, regardless of whether you think it’s tiring or not.”
Alright, she now realized that there was a kind of tiredness in this world that was determined by whether your husband and mother-in-law thought you were tired.
“You’re spoiling me like this. What if you spoil me to a waste?” Su Xiaoxiao bent her eyes and looked at them with a charming smile.
Jiang Yexun furrowed his brow and disagreed, “What do you mean by ’waste’? I married you to live a good life together, not to make you work.”
“That’s right! Our Xiaoxiao is so pretty, and she’s still a high school student. How could she be a waste? Just now, you stood up for me and said I don’t have to do any housework from now on. After laboring for the Jiang family all my life, I’ve finally enjoyed the blessings of my daughter-in-law. There’s no better daughter-in-law in this world than you.” Aunt Guo beamed with satisfaction as she spoke.
Her words were filled with genuine emotions, and it was clear that she not only said this but also genuinely felt this way.
Su Xiaoxiao was being pampered by their words and felt like she was floating on air.
After they finished lunch, Yu Siping returned from the health clinic, and her expression was gloomy.
Su Xiaoxiao remembered from her previous life that Yu Siping’s youngest son had been born smoothly. He was a robust baby, weighing over six pounds, which was considered rare in the countryside. So why did Yu Siping look uncomfortable now? Was it because her acting was exposed?
In fact, Doctor Cui had said that Yu Siping’s fetal condition was good, and her pregnancy was stable. Any discomfort she felt was likely psychological.
In other words, she was using her pregnancy as an excuse to control people.
“Huh, Siping, even though you’re pregnant now, we’re all rural women, and we can still work in the fields before giving birth. Don’t keep pretending to be uncomfortable all the time. In the future, it’s up to us sisters-in-law to do the work. Don’t think about taking advantage of me. You’re carrying second younger brother’s child, not my Quankun’s,” Hu Yuezhen had just been beaten, and the pain hadn’t completely subsided yet, but she was already showing off.
Yu Siping, with her head down, didn’t respond and seemed completely disinterested in the conversation. Her mind was focused on her husband, who had been beaten by Jiang Yexun and had lost face in the entire production team.
When they returned to their room and were left alone, she couldn’t help but worry about what would happen.
Thinking about her husband’s angry appearance, Yu Siping’s face turned even paler.
Seeing her like this, Hu Yuezhen pushed her angrily, “Don’t act deaf and dumb here. Can’t you hear me? If you had stopped Su Xiaoxiao earlier, we wouldn’t be in this mess now!”
Yu Siping stumbled forward from the push and glared at her, her eyes filled with resentment. “Enough! I’m working here now, am I not? If only you had been a little faster and intercepted Su Xiaoxiao, all of this wouldn’t have happened!”
Hu Yuezhen was taken aback by her usually gentle sister-in-law’s anger and didn’t dare to say anything more.
Turning her attention away from Hu Yuezhen, Yu Siping picked up a knife and started chopping vegetables. Each chop was accompanied by a loud thud.
Su Xiaoxiao, since you dared to make me unhappy, this matter is far from over!
—
After lunch, Jiang Yexun noticed that Su Xiaoxiao didn’t want to take a nap, so he didn’t want to waste the time they could have spent together on sleeping. After all, he could sleep however he wanted at night. He grabbed the fishing tools and took Su Xiaoxiao directly to the riverside to play.
As they were leaving, Aunt Guo couldn’t help but worry and reminded him, “Yexun, don’t be completely focused on fishing later. Keep an eye on Xiaoxiao, okay?”
“Don’t worry, Mom!” Jiang Yexun nodded earnestly. The memory of Su Xiaoxiao falling into the water last time haunted him, and he couldn’t make such a mistake again.
However, Aunt Guo, despite knowing he was reliable, still held Su Xiaoxiao’s hand and continued to advise, “Xiaoxiao, when they’re fishing later, just watch from the side. Don’t stand by the deep water. Fishing is just like searching for stones in the water; it’s not that fun.”
“Alright, Aunt. I’ll definitely listen to you,” Su Xiaoxiao responded obediently. She didn’t find Aunt Guo annoying; in fact, she felt touched and warmed. If it weren’t for her falling into the water last time, Aunt Guo wouldn’t be so concerned.
After sending the two kids off, Aunt Guo turned around and saw several of Jiang’s young nieces and nephews from the second household looking at her expectantly.
“Grandma, can we ask Uncle Yexun to take us fishing too?” The eldest girl, holding two younger brothers, asked with anticipation.
Aunt Guo hesitated in her heart but ultimately wore a stern expression and refused, “If you want to go play, ask your own parents.”
She didn’t want to disturb the budding relationship between her troublemaker and Su Xiaoxiao. It was impossible to let these kids, who already had strained relationships, go and disrupt them.
Following the chirping of birds and the sound of insects in the field, Su Xiaoxiao walked with her hands behind her back, not too far behind Jiang Yexun. Her round, bright eyes remained fixed on his tall and sturdy figure, taking in his broad shoulders and slender waist.