Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 158

That move of rubbing her hair and pinching her cheeks, wasn’t that something she only ever did to my little bun? Why was it being done to her now? 

Ying Su wasn’t at all used to being treated so intimately. She held back her discomfort and forced a playful, slightly annoyed smile as she said, “Big Brother, I’m not a child anymore!”

Her little complaint made Shen Changge burst into hearty laughter. When they were young, he had always loved teasing his little sister this way. She would puff up her cheeks, put on a serious face like a tiny adult, and insist to him that she wasn’t a child.

“In my eyes, you’ll always be that little bean sprout! Come, let Big Brother see if you’ve gotten any fatter these years.” Shen Changge gave her a once-over, and a flash of heartache passed through his dark eyes. “How are you still so thin? You must’ve been reluctant to eat meat all these years, look at you, a gust of wind could blow you away! Once you’re home, we’ll have meat every day. I’ll make sure you’re raised all plump and healthy!”

He glanced at Shen Changyun, his handsome face carrying a smile. “And we’ll make sure Changyun grows tall too, these next two years are just the right time for it.”

Though unaccustomed, Ying Su could clearly feel this elder brother’s care. Remembering how he had joined the Northwest army in a fit of anger for her sake, her heart warmed. Surely, the original owner’s brother had truly cherished her.

“This is my mother-in-law, my eldest brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and my little sister-in-law Jinfeng,” Ying Su introduced Shen Changge and Shen Changyun to the Li family.

The Shen brothers had already noticed that Ying Su’s in-laws weren’t treating her badly. Just earlier, her mother-in-law had even spoken up in her defense. So, they greeted the four members of the Li family politely.

By the time all the greetings were done, it was already noon. The sun was blazing overhead. Ying Su opened the courtyard gate and led everyone home.

Madam Li, worried Ying Su might want to say something private with her brothers, didn’t linger. She took Liu Chuncao and her husband, along with Li Jinfeng, back home.

Ying Su brought out a set of wooden cups and poured each of the Shen brothers a cup of fruit tea.

Shen Changyun drained three big cups in a row before asking with a grin, “Sis, what kind of water is this?”

“It’s fruit tea. If you like it, have some more,” Ying Su replied with a smile. She had made it for the little bun to cool off; it was sweet and sour with a refreshing chill. Huzi loved it.

Shen Changyun put down the cup, speaking eagerly, “Second Sister, Big Brother and I came today to bring you and Huzi back home. Big Brother won’t be able to stay long, he has to return to the Northwest barracks soon. Our family’s house hasn’t started construction yet, but once you and Huzi are back, Big Brother and I can squeeze in with Dachui’s family for now. That way, our family can reunite sooner.”

“Big Brother still has to return to the Northwest barracks?” Ying Su asked in surprise. But then she recalled that day at the Canal Gang, he had been working under that man called Young Lord Su, who was said to be a general guarding the Northwest. No wonder he still had to go back.

Compared with Shen Changyun, Shen Changge was far steadier. He spoke unhurriedly, “The reason I could return to visit family this time is all thanks to Young Lord Su. He was set on dealing with the Canal Gang, so I accompanied him, but in truth, I wanted to come home and see everyone. Young Lord Su will return to the capital soon. I can stay at home for a few more days, but at the latest half a month from now, when he goes back to the Northwest, I must go back as well.”

The Northwest was far from Jiangbei, more than two thousand kilometers away. Even with the best horses riding day and night, it would take four days and nights to reach the Northwestern camp. Once he left, who knew when he could come back again?

And the battlefield was dangerous. Though he had survived the past five years with care, who could guarantee nothing would go wrong in the future?

“Big Brother, can’t you just resign and come back to farm the land? Fighting and killing is far too dangerous!” In the Great Qing dynasty, being a soldier was gambling with one’s life and luck. 

Unlike the modern era with advanced nuclear weapons, wars between nations relied entirely on manpower. Armies of hundreds of thousands could be wiped out, being a soldier was no easy task. She didn’t want her kin risking their lives.

Shen Changge chuckled. To him, his little sister was still just as endearing as before. But after his smile, he grew solemn, “In Great Qing, one can only retire from service after nine years. And I’ve only just started to make a name for myself. If I quit now, everything would be wasted! Fighting is dangerous, yes, but when your Big Brother takes up arms, it’s to defend our family and our country!

A true man must lead troops into battle, protecting our great rivers and mountains, our land from invasion and trampling!” He realized his words might have sounded too serious, so he quickly smiled again. “Besides, it’s not just me. Countless fine sons of Great Qing stand bravely at the borders.”

So this elder brother was a man of noble spirit, full of patriotism! Ying Su’s gaze revealed a trace of admiration. “Little sister’s view may be shallow, but it comes from worry for Big Brother. I’m sure Father and Mother feel the same. Still, if Big Brother seeks to make achievements and a career, I support you wholeheartedly! After all, a true man’s ambition lies in the four corners of the land, to defend home and country, that is the way of a real man!”

Hearing this, Shen Changge felt comfort swell in his chest. After years apart, his little sister had indeed grown in knowledge and bearing.

The siblings chatted for a while longer until Huzi returned. His school was in the neighboring village, and he had no idea what had happened at home earlier. He simply assumed his two uncles had come to fetch him and his mother.

At first, the little bun was shy and reluctant to speak to the Shen brothers. Shen Changge, hardened and roughened by five years in the army, took an instant liking to Huzi. Without hesitation, he hoisted the boy onto his shoulders. Shen Changyun, too, adored the little bun and played with him. Before long, the three of them were getting along well.

Seeing them so happy, Ying Su went to the kitchen to make lunch. There were only two bunches of vegetables left at home, with no meat dishes. Remembering that a butcher lived on the west side of the village, she took some money and went there.

That morning’s events were already well-known throughout the village. So when Ying Su went to Butcher Zhao’s house to buy meat, his wife greeted her with unusual politeness. After asking how much she wanted, she told her husband to pick out some good cuts.

Pork was eighty wen a jin. Thinking of the two grown men at home and one little man as well, Ying Su worried it wouldn’t be enough. So she asked for three jin of streaky pork, half fat and half lean, and three racks of ribs, chopped into small pieces.

Ribs cost thirty wen a jin, and altogether it came to three taels and seventy-five wen. Because she was buying so much, Butcher Zhao’s wife even threw in a pig’s trotter for free. It wasn’t worth much since it had little meat and the bristles were hard to scrape off. In fact, it was cheaper than pork offal and rarely bought.

Seeing three more trotters on the stall, Ying Su said, “Give me those three as well. Just give me a fair price, I won’t haggle.”

Impressed by her straightforwardness, Butcher Zhao’s wife smiled broadly. “Then let’s round it off at four taels.”

Ying Su pulled out four strings of cash and handed them over. Beaming, the butcher’s wife said, “Our pigs are all strong and healthy, the meat is especially tasty. Sister Cuihua, come back next time you need pork!”