Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 17

Ying Su’s grip on the wooden bucket suddenly tightened, but in the blink of an eye she returned to her usual calm. The faint joy on her face remained unchanged, as though nothing had happened. Bending over, she carried the two buckets back toward the thatched hut.

She pushed open the wooden door, entered the house, placed the fish from the buckets in their place, and closed the door. Her black eyes darkened, and the faint smile on her lips instantly disappeared.

Based on years of experience and instinct, she was certain someone had been secretly watching her at the riverside just now. Though she couldn’t detect where that person was hiding, the fact that she hadn’t sensed their presence at all only proved that their martial skills were extremely high. She had even deliberately tried to listen but heard no breathing at all. At that thought, a chill ran through her heart, dark waves rolling within her gaze.

Who would have thought such a small mountain village was this restless? If she hadn’t casually said that teasing remark to the fish, causing that person’s gaze to linger on her face for a few seconds, she might not have noticed. But what exactly was that person’s purpose? Ying Su’s nerves instantly grew taut.

Changing out of her soaked clothes, she gently lifted the blanket and lay down beside the little bun. Her eyes stared at the roof above, her heart far from calm.

In the original owner’s memory, Dongjun Village was as ordinary as could be, a simple mountain village with nothing special about it. The villagers were all rustic folk, and those who had prospered had long since moved away. So who could that hidden watcher possibly be?

Her vigilance instantly heightened. Having faced danger for many years, she had long since formed the habit of never putting herself in a passive position. Only that way could she remain undefeated.

The Dongjun River rippled with flowing water, tree shadows swayed along its banks, the breeze blew softly, and the dark shadows on the ground shifted and crossed, as though something was missing.

At dawn, Ying Su opened her eyes, got up lightly, and went outside. She first checked the fish in the buckets, seeing them swimming lively enough, she drew water, washed up, and began cooking. There were still some corn flatbreads left from yesterday, and she also boiled a thick pot of corn porridge.

White steam floated from the pot, and the sweet aroma of corn spread with the vapor. The little bun was awakened by the fragrance. He sat up from the bed groggily, rubbed his eyes, and lowered his head to look at the thin, tattered quilt covering him.

His expression shifted slightly, as though in disbelief. He glanced again at the spot where he used to sleep, and the pile of straw was gone.

His eyes grew hot, his nose tingled sourly. Putting on shoes with toes poking through, he pushed the door open and went outside.

In the yard, a woman in worn clothes bent over the steaming iron pot, stirring constantly with a wooden ladle. A faint smile hung on her lips, her delicate face softened by the white mist. A thick black braid slanted from the back of her neck down over her shoulder.

Hearing movement behind her, Ying Su turned her head slightly and saw the little bun standing there dazed. She smiled and said, “Go draw some water and wash up. We’ll eat soon.”

Looking at her, the little bun’s dark eyes suddenly lit up. He was still young, unable to describe the warmth and ache in his heart, but he knew this was the mother he wanted. His delicate little face broke into a smile he had never worn before. “Okay,” he answered obediently.

After scooping water into a basin to wash his face and rinse his mouth, the little bun came over to Ying Su. He glanced at the pile of half-burned straw on the ground, hesitated, and peeked up at her carefully. Then, cautiously, he asked, “Mommy… that straw… was that where I used to sleep?”

Still ladling porridge, Ying Su casually replied, “Mm. I couldn’t find anything to start the fire this morning, so I burned that pile of straw.”

The little bun answered softly, a flicker of secret delight mixed with unease passing through his heart. His obsidian-like eyes shifted, and he summoned his courage to ask in a low voice, “Then… where will I sleep from now on?”

“Of course you’ll sleep with me.” Seeing through his cautious probing, Ying Su felt another pang of tenderness. She deftly placed porridge and flatbread onto an upturned wooden basin and beckoned to him, “Come eat.”

At her first words, the little bun’s uneasiness vanished without a trace, leaving only pure joy. His lips curved up, his smile utterly irrepressible.

Ying Su noticed his secretly delighted expression and found it amusing. This child must have been somewhat afraid of Shen Cuihua, yet still longed to be close.

After the two had eaten, Li Jinfeng came to call Ying Su. Li Dalang and Liu Chuncao had to head to town early for work.

Knowing Ying Su was going into town, the little bun didn’t throw a fuss to follow, but his eyes clung to her with deep reluctance.

She understood his lack of security, fearing she might never return. Patting his head reassuringly, she picked up the two fish buckets, while Li Jinfeng held the little bun’s hand and took him to Li Dalang’s house.

On the way, they encountered many villagers. Not a single one greeted Ying Su. Instead, nearly everyone secretly glanced at her, whispering to each other from time to time.

The gossip that “the mad widow behind the village isn’t mad anymore” had already swept through the entire village in just two days. In such a closed-off, backward little mountain village with no entertainment, this event had become the focus of everyone’s attention. Shen Cuihua’s name was now the hottest topic over meals and idle chatter.

To all those overt and covert stares, Ying Su paid no mind. She acted as though she hadn’t seen them, her expression calm and indifferent, carrying her two buckets steadily.

Li Jinfeng, however, was an unmarried girl. Being stared at like that made her feel shy, and she lowered her gaze, tugging the little bun along faster and faster.

When they turned a corner where no one was around, Li Jinfeng exhaled heavily. Looking at Ying Su’s unchanged expression, she asked, “Cuihua, with so many people staring at you just now, didn’t you feel uncomfortable?”

Ying Su’s lips curved slightly. “They can look all they want. What does that have to do with me?” In her previous life, she had faced countless grand occasions, why would she fear the gazes of a few villagers now?

Li Jinfeng couldn’t understand her words. “But they were looking at you, and talking about you. How can that not concern you?”

Ying Su only smiled faintly, saying nothing more. She carried herself with the poise of someone who, no matter how the rumors swirled, would remain unshaken.

The breeze carried a touch of warmth as it brushed past, the willow branches on either side of the road swaying gently as if dancing a light, carefree dance. The distant mountains stretched lush and green. At a single glance, one’s mood seemed to lift.

With a faint smile on her face, Ying Su felt content. This life now, peaceful and serene, was exactly what she wanted.