Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 10

The thatched hut they lived in sat at the far back of the village, right against the foot of the mountain, a place few people ever came by. 

The little bun trotted down to the riverside, saw the grass basket still lying there, and his dark eyes lit up with joy. He happily picked it up, rifled through it, and found that the wild greens and fruits were still inside. Overjoyed, he said, “Mommy, here’s a mountain berry for you.”

Taking the bright red fruit from her son’s hand, Ying Su’s eyes brightened. “Isn’t this hawthorn?”

“Mommy, this mountain berry is a bit sour, but you can still eat it. Nobody in the village likes them. You eat first to fill your stomach.” The little bun bit into one himself. His face scrunched up at the sourness, but he quickly forced it down, putting on the act of a little adult before swallowing it.

Not wanting to let down his intentions, Ying Su picked up a hawthorn and popped it into her mouth. She bit down and nearly had her teeth knocked out by the sourness.

Seeing the little bun stuff another hawthorn into his mouth, Ying Su felt both admiration and heartache. He didn’t seem to mind the sour taste, likely because he often had to eat these unwanted fruits.

Swallowing the sour fruit, she quickly took the remaining ones from his hand and said seriously, “Baby, don’t eat any more. These fruits only make you hungrier the more you eat.”

“No wonder I always feel hungrier after eating them… Mommy, you’re amazing, you even know that.” The little bun’s gaze at her held a new trace of worship. His shining black eyes made him look like a little monkey doll, simply too adorable.

“Are there many of these fruits on the mountain? Mommy knows a way to make them delicious.” She rubbed his soft cheek, enjoying the smooth feel.

“At the foot of Mount Dongjun, there are more than a dozen hawthorn trees. They’re covered in fruit, but nobody wants them. They’re too sour! How could Mommy make them tasty?” When it came to food, the little bun was eager, his small face showing a trace of excitement.

In her heart, Ying Su was already running through ideas: candied hawthorn skewers, hawthorn cakes, sugared hawthorn balls, hawthorn jam, fruit leather, even canned hawthorn. In these times, snacks were rare, this could be a good way to earn money.

“Mommy has her ways. When we get back, take me to the mountain. We’ll gather all of them and make a profit!”

“Make money?” The little bun’s eyes widened, skeptical.

“Of course. Mommy never speaks empty words!” She smiled with easy confidence.

In the past, the little bun wouldn’t have believed it. But now, utterly reliant on her, he accepted it right away.

Ying Su tucked the hawthorn into the basket, then turned her gaze to the shimmering river. The water was emerald green and rapid, with fish faintly visible swimming in the depths. Her heart leapt.

“Baby, are there fish in this river?”

“There are, but the water here runs deep. No one dares go in to catch fish.” The little bun noticed her eyes fixed on the surface with a glow of excitement. Guessing what she was thinking, he hurriedly tugged her sleeve, “Mommy, the river is dangerous. Everyone in the village knows it’s treacherous, no one dares fish here! Don’t be foolish.”

Ying Su curled her lips. She had survived Yihu Island and become Jones’s most prized killing weapon, honed through hellish training. Survival and assassination were second nature to her. She had even dived into the deep sea before, what was this little Dongjun River compared to that?

“Mommy can swim well. I’m not afraid.”

Remembering the feeling of nearly drowning earlier, the little bun trembled. He clutched her sleeve tightly, muttering in his heart, ‘Mommy’s madness may be cured, but why is she acting brainless again?’

“No, Mommy, the water is deadly. People have drowned here before. Let’s go home, Grandma will be here soon.” He pouted.

Ying Su looked helplessly at him. Inwardly, she sighed, this little rascal was difficult. In her past life, she did whatever she pleased without anyone questioning her. Now with a child in tow, it was troublesome. But then again, he was only nagging out of worry for her, and that thought warmed her heart.

Her eyes turned, an idea sparking. She swayed, put a hand to her forehead, and said weakly, “Baby, mommy feels dizzy. I’ll sit for a bit. Go home and fetch me some water, and see if your grandma has arrived. I’m starving.”

Suspicion flickered in his dark eyes as he looked at her.

She plopped down on the ground and put on a show, “Mommy is faint with hunger, I don’t have the strength to go in the water. Hurry and bring me water, I’ll rest a bit and then we’ll go back. Good son, be obedient, hmm?”

After hesitating, the little bun picked up the basket and warned her, “Mommy, don’t move around, and don’t go near the water. I’ll get you water and be right back.” Then he dashed off toward the thatched hut.

Watching him run off, Ying Su twitched her lips. ‘For the sake of a fish, I’ve even stooped to tricking a child.’

She quickly sprang to her feet and dove into the river. A small splash, and the surface calmed again. Underwater, her body was as agile as a fish. She spotted a school, locked her sharp eyes on the largest one, and shot forward like a sword. One swift grab and it was caught!

Perhaps because no one fished here, the river fish grew large. The one she caught weighed four or five pounds.

Breaking the surface, she flung the fish onto the bank. Seeing the boy hadn’t returned yet, she dove again, and soon had another fat fish in hand. By the time she climbed out, dripping wet, the little bun came running with a bowl of water.

The moment he saw her, soaked and with two big fish on the ground, his face drained of color. His eyes reddened instantly. “Mommy, you went in the river to catch fish? Do you know how dangerous it is? People drown here! We barely survived last time, how could you go back in?”

He dropped the bowl, grabbed her hand, and burst into tears. “Mommy, you can’t leave me! What would I do if something happened to you? Do you know how terrified I was when Li Ergou threw you into the water? I thought I’d lose you. I just want you to live. I’ll work hard to make money and give you a good life. Don’t ever do this again!”

Her heart softened, her nose stung, and warmth mingled with sorrow inside her. Looking at his tears, she ached. “Baby, don’t worry. Mommy knows her limits. I won’t get into trouble, and I won’t make you worry again. Don’t cry.”

She wiped away his tears and soothed him gently, “You’re such a good and obedient son, how could mommy ever bear to leave you? I’m waiting for you to grow up and be filial to me. Don’t cry, you’re a man. Mommy will rely on you in the future. Men don’t shed tears lightly; crying isn’t what a real man does.”

Sniffling, he wiped his face with his sleeve. “Then I won’t cry anymore. But Mommy must never go into the river again.”

Outwardly, she agreed readily. But inwardly, she thought, ‘Our family is so poor we can’t even eat. Only a fool would ignore free fish like these.’

“Good son, since these two are already caught, let’s take them home.” She looked at the fish still flopping on the ground, her eyes bright with a smile. Her mouth even watered.

‘How ridiculous,’ she thought. ‘The great queen of MS killers, reduced to the point where I can’t even eat my fill. In my past life, I was the pickiest eater, having tasted the world’s finest cuisines. Few dishes ever met my standards. And now? I’m drooling over a fish!’

She silently mocked herself, then bent down, scooped up the two fish, and happily imagined a dozen ways to cook them.