Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 11

The little bun’s black eyes lit up at the sight of the two big fish. His expression showed obvious craving as he unconsciously licked his lips and reached out to help Ying Su carry one. Ying Su chuckled, “Mommy can manage. Let’s hurry back.”

Back at the thatched hut, Ying Su glanced around and found that aside from a cracked clay jar for holding water, there was nowhere else to place the fish.

She put the two fish into the broken jar. The little bun, who had probably never seen such large fish before, squatted in front of the jar and stared at them intently.

Ying Su dug through a pile of old clothes in the room and found a patched garment, changing out of her wet ones. These old clothes had all been secretly sent over by Madam Li. The clothes the little boy wore had also been quietly remade by her from her own old garments.

Looking carefully at the two drafty, light-leaking thatched huts, Ying Su frowned slightly. It was the rainy season of May and June. If a storm came while they were living in this hut, she and the child might wake up to find themselves floating. She needed to think of a way to fix the roof, she thought to herself.

The household’s belongings were clear at a glance: two chipped bowls, a broken clay jar, a rusty shovel, and a heavily corroded iron pot. That was all they owned.

She had seen poor before, but damn, never this poor! They didn’t even have a stove to cook on! The urgent matter was to earn money. Ying Su had no intention of starving, eating was her one and only indulgence. If even that was denied to her, then what was the point of living?!

In her past life, sure, she had killed a few people. But really, heaven, was this necessary? To be reborn only to end up in a household so destitute that even poverty itself seemed ashamed to stick around? To die of hunger now would be too unfair. Too pitiful.

“Grandmother.” Ying Su was lost in thought when she heard the little bun’s voice. Looking outside, she saw Madam Li entering with a basket on her back. She set it down and said, “You must be starving.”

From the basket, Madam Li took out a bowl holding three dark, coarse cornbread buns and handed one to the little bun. “You haven’t eaten all morning, hurry and eat.”

The little bun swallowed hard, but instead of eating, he placed the bun in Ying Su’s hands, looking mature beyond his years. “I’m not hungry. Mommy just said she was. Mommy, you eat it!”

Ying Su’s heart warmed at his thoughtfulness. She picked up another bun from the bowl. “Mommy will eat this one. You eat yours, quickly!”

Only then did the little bun take a bite. His cheeks puffed out as he chewed. Madam Li watched him with relief and praised, “Huzi really is such a filial, sensible child. He’s suffered so much these years. Cuihua, you must cherish him more from now on.”

“Grandmother, I am a man. I should establish a household, be filial to my parents, and love my mother.” With his mouth full of bun, the boy spoke seriously, sounding like a little adult. Both Madam Li and Ying Su couldn’t help but laugh.

Madam Li then pulled out a small cloth bag from the basket, taking out a bowl of pickled vegetables and half a bowl of salt. “Cuihua, this is cornmeal. Now that you’ve recovered, you can cook proper meals for Huzi.”

From her bosom she produced an old purse and handed it to Ying Su. “This is one hundred coins. See what else you’re lacking, buy what you need urgently.”

Ying Su felt a warmth in her heart. She didn’t refuse and took it directly. This must be Madam Li’s private savings. She truly needed money right now, so she’d take it as a loan. Soon, she would earn enough to repay her.

“Cuihua, you’ve suffered these years. On behalf of Dalang, I must apologize. When Erlang passed, Dalang was furious and, in his anger, locked you and… and Erlang together, which led to your madness. It is the Li family that wronged you.” Madam Li’s face was full of guilt and tenderness.

“Please don’t bring it up again. If not for you, Huzi and I would have starved long ago. There’s no talk of guilt between us. All the good you’ve done for us, I’ve remembered clearly.” Ying Su knew Madam Li truly had a kind heart. She had cared for Shen Cuihua and her child all these years, so naturally, Ying Su bore her no resentment.

Besides, she wasn’t really Shen Cuihua. Her principle had always been: repay harm with harm, repay kindness with kindness.

Madam Li’s eyes reddened as she gripped Ying Su’s hand. “Good child. Back then it was my fault. If I hadn’t wanted to marry you in to ward off Erlang’s misfortune, you wouldn’t have suffered…”

Ying Su patiently replied, “You can’t say that. If you hadn’t bought me from that tooth woman, who knows what my fate would’ve been? And look now, what was misfortune turned to blessing. My madness is cured, and life will only get better from here.”

Madam Li wiped her tears. “You’re such a sensible child. It’s only a pity my Erlang had no fortune to enjoy…”

Seeing her cry, Ying Su suddenly felt at a loss. In her past life, people had cried before her too, but only to beg for their lives. Comforting someone? That she had no experience with.

She winked at the little bun. He instantly understood, scurried to Madam Li’s side, and softly called, “Grandmother…”

Madam Li quickly answered, “Yes?”

“Grandmother, don’t cry anymore. If you keep crying, you won’t look pretty. Smile instead. Huzi likes to see Grandmother smile.” The boy mimicked the very words Ying Su had once used to coax him, playing the role of a little adult again.

Madam Li was amused into laughter, hugging the boy happily. Ying Su, watching from the side, also curved her lips into a smile.

After finishing the hard cornbread buns with pickles and drinking a little water, Ying Su pulled a fish out of the jar. “I just caught this from the river. Take it home to eat.”

Madam Li was astonished by the sheer size of the fish. “Cuihua, you caught this yourself?”

Ying Su nodded. Madam Li’s face changed. “Cuihua, you went into the river? The water is deep and swift. What if something had happened to you? Don’t ever do that again.”

Hearing the concern in her words, Ying Su’s expression softened. “I learned to swim as a child. My water skills are excellent. The Dongjun River is nothing to me. I’ve swum in places far larger and deeper than this. Don’t worry.”

Madam Li sighed in relief but still warned, “Even so, you shouldn’t recklessly catch fish. There’s always risk. The Dongjun River is dangerous, our villagers don’t dare go in. You mustn’t take chances.”

“See, Mommy, even Grandmother says so. You must never go to the river to catch fish again,” the little bun added at the right time.

Ying Su glanced at him with a smile, then turned back to Madam Li, who clearly was worried for her. “I never do things I’m not confident in. Still, take the fish home. But I’d like to borrow two things, do you have a hatchet and a plane?” She remembered Li Dalang was a carpenter, so their family should have tools.

“This fish should stay here for Huzi’s nourishment. I’ll go fetch the hatchet and plane for you.” Madam Li picked up her basket and turned to leave.

Ying Su quickly tucked the fish into her basket. “There’s another one left here for me and Huzi. This one’s already dead. The weather is hot, if it’s left, it’ll spoil. You should take it.”

“Yes, Grandmother. This fish is huge, just the two of us can eat for a long time,” the little bun chimed in sweetly, flashing a grin at Madam Li.