Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 113

He asked, “Last time I went to find you, why did you say you didn’t recognize me?”

Ying Su’s phoenix eyes flickered slightly, but her tone remained calm. “I once fell into the water. I forgot many things from before and only recently remembered.”

Shen Changyun quickly accepted this explanation. Looking at her with concern, he asked, “Sis, you lost your memory? How did you fall into the water? Do you still remember Liu An?”

Ying Su nodded. “I remember.” One day, she would make Liu An pay the price he owed, even if only to fulfill Shen Cuihua’s wish.

Changyun secretly slapped his own mouth, scolding himself for being so thoughtless! Liu An, that heartless man, was surely his second sister’s deepest scar. He really had to bring that up?

“Second Sister, have you been living well these years? I heard from Sister-in-law Zhen that you even had a child. Did you bring the child back with you?” Changyun had heard plenty about Ying Su from Li Zhen, and asked with genuine concern.

Ying Su thought of her sensible, tightfisted little bun, and her lips curved into a smile. “No, he’s still in Dongjun Village.”

Changyun sneaked a glance at her face, then cautiously asked, “Sis… did you… not want the child anymore?”

Ying Su gave him a puzzled look, but soon understood what he meant. Shaking her head, she said firmly, “He’s my son. I will never abandon him in this lifetime.” How could she ever give up the little bun?

“Then why did you leave him in Dongjun Village?” Changyun asked in confusion.

“I heard Mother was gravely ill, so I came back to see her. I didn’t bring him along,” Ying Su said evenly.

Hearing this, Changyun grew excited. “Sis? You mean you’re going back to Dongjun Village again?”

Ying Su nodded. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Changyun grabbed her sleeve, frowning. “Sis, you’re not staying home? You still want to leave? You… how could you… No! Sis, this is your home. What kind of life is that in Dongjun Village? Come back. Father and Mother are waiting for you. Let’s live together as a family.”

Ying Su turned her head to look at him, her face expressionless.

Thinking she disagreed, Changyun pleaded again. “Sis, don’t go back…”

“All right,” Ying Su replied calmly.

Changyun’s face lit up in joy. “Sis, you won’t go back?” He shook her sleeve eagerly. “Sis, really? You promise you won’t go back?”

Ying Su couldn’t help smiling, her lips curving as she nodded. She planned to bring the little bun back from Dongjun Village. From then on, she would truly be Shen Ying Su, serving her parents above, raising her child below. From this day forward, there would be no more Ying Su, only the peasant girl Shen Cuihua.

Because they had too many things with them, when they reached Xiling Village, Changyun directed the ox cart driver to take them right to their gate. As soon as they entered, Changyun called out, “Father, Mother, I’m back with Second Sister!”

Shen Hefu came out of the house, holding a bunch of wild greens freshly picked from the fields. Looking toward the door, he asked, “Where’s your Second Sister?”

Carrying things into the house, Changyun replied, “She’s still outside unloading!” Then he hurried into the inner room, grinning. “Mother, Second Sister bought you new clothes…”

Mother Shen quickly wiped her eyes with her hand and smiled. “You saw your Second Sister?”

But Changyun’s words stopped in his throat. Seeing his mother’s red eyes, he asked, “Mother, what’s wrong? Why are you crying again?”

“Keep your voice down!” Mother Shen said urgently. Glancing outside, she whispered, “Your Second Sister just got home, and we didn’t have much food in the house. I sent your father to the old house to borrow some rice and flour and to let them know your sister was back. But…”

At this, she couldn’t stop her tears again.

“Mother, please don’t cry anymore. The doctor already said your eyes can’t take it,” Changyun urged, pulling a handkerchief he got from the clothing shop and wiping her tears.

Mother Shen sighed. “Not only did the old man refuse to lend us rice and flour, but when he heard your Second Sister was back, he told your father to drive her out. Otherwise, he said he wouldn’t acknowledge your father as his son anymore!”

Changyun’s face darkened, his neck stiff with anger. “Haven’t they already disowned us long ago? All these years, have they ever cared about our lives? From now on, we don’t need to have anything to do with them!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. That’s your grandfather! Go check on your Second Sister, why hasn’t she come inside yet?” Mother Shen scolded seriously.

Changyun nodded. “We don’t have to go to the old house anymore. If they don’t want us, we won’t bother them. Now that Second Sister is home, let’s just live well together as a family!”

Mother Shen’s face brightened with a smile, and she nodded.

Standing at the doorway with her arms full, Ying Su had overheard everything. She recalled what the ox cart driver had told her earlier, back when Shen Cuihua eloped with Liu An, her grandfather, ashamed of the disgrace, drove Shen Hefu’s whole family out of the old house. Cuihua’s grandfather was the village head, well-off and comfortable.

But looking at the dilapidated courtyard in front of her, Ying Su frowned slightly. Shen Hefu’s family was living in real hardship, unable even to afford medicine. Changyun had been selling eggs in town just to buy herbs for his mother. Their life must have been unbearably tight.

“If we ever run out of rice or flour, we’ll just borrow from Brother Dachui’s family. Oh, and Second Sister bought lots of food in town today!” Changyun said happily.

Shen Hefu came in from the yard, carrying the rest of the ox cart’s load. Hearing his footsteps, Ying Su finally stepped inside.

On the worn-out little table, all the things Ying Su had bought were piled high. Seeing the heap, Shen Hefu frowned and asked, “Why did you buy so much? How much money did this cost? Cuihua, don’t waste money like this. We don’t lack these things at home…”

Ying Su smiled lightly. “It’s fine, Father, Mother. Don’t be so polite with me. I opened a shop in town with a partner, and I don’t lack silver. If our family needs anything, just tell me. Next time, I’ll have Changyun go buy it.”

Hearing this, Changyun’s peach-blossom eyes widened in excitement. “Sis, are you talking about the Weixuan Shop? Business there is amazing! Last time I went looking for you, I saw so many customers!”

“What? You went looking for Cuihua?” Mother Shen asked from the bed.

Changyun stuck out his tongue, he had let it slip. He had no choice but to explain everything to his parents.

This left Shen Father and Shen Mother worried and tense. They hurriedly asked Ying Su, “Falling into the water didn’t leave you with any lingering illness, did it? Forgetting the past doesn’t matter, as long as your health is good.”

Ying Su shook her head with a smile. “I’m perfectly healthy now. Just a little hungry. I’ll make something to eat first, and we can talk after the meal!” She knew her parents had endless things they wanted to ask, how she had lived all these years.

“Second Sister, I’ll help you!” Shen Changyun said cheerfully.