Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 27

At this point, Wang Lanhua’s eyes shifted slyly, and as if suddenly recalling something, she muttered under her breath, “Could it be that you used some vixen tricks, seducing a man to go catch them for you?”

Her voice was low, but it didn’t escape Ying Su’s ears. Ying Su let out a laugh, tilted her lips into a smug smile, and looked straight at Wang Lanhua. “You actually guessed right! These fish weren’t caught by me!”

She let out a dramatic sigh. “But… what can I do? I was just born pretty! Sigh… beauty can’t be hidden away! Of course there are people who’d be willing to help me with such things. Unlike you, tsk, tsk, tsk, just look at that face…” Ying Su shook her head with exaggerated seriousness. “It’d be hard for you to find anyone willing to catch fish for you.”

Wang Lanhua’s face flushed red with anger, her voice shooting up shrill and sharp, “Pah! You shameless crazy widow! Only you could do something so filthy as seducing men without fear of being drowned in a pig cage! Husband-killing, man-stealing fox spirit… ah!”

Before she could finish, Wang Lanhua shrieked, leaping backward. A burning stick, sparks still spitting from it, had nearly been flung right into her mouth by Ying Su. She scrambled away, still shouting curses, but Ying Su didn’t give her the chance to speak, another flaming stick flew her way.

Wang Lanhua screamed again, cursing incoherently as she bolted into the distance.

Before her figure had even disappeared completely, the little bun walked out of the house. He was still wearing his same old patched clothes, his little face tense with worry. “Mommy, what happened?”

His big black eyes immediately locked onto Wang Lanhua’s retreating figure, and his small face darkened with gloom. “Was Wang Lanhua bullying you again? Why didn’t you call me? Did you suffer a loss again?”

Seeing how much her son cared, Ying Su couldn’t help but soften, her face lighting up with a smile. She patted the spot beside her and said gently, “Come here, baby!”

The little bun obediently came over, though his eyes still lingered in the direction Wang Lanhua had run off.

“What are you looking at? She’s nothing but a stinking mouth full of filth. One flick of your mother’s pinky and she’s finished! I won’t ever let her get the better of me. Look, see the meat I roasted for you? Mmm… looks like it’s ready.”

Hearing that, the little bun couldn’t help grinning. He gave his mother a once-over, his eyes shining with admiration. His mother looked so impressive now! In the past, whenever Wang Lanhua came, she always bullied her. But today, not only did she not lose, she even sent her fleeing. That was wonderful!

But… why was his mother’s way of speaking suddenly so vulgar?

Ying Su pulled a skewer of roasted meat from the fire and handed it to him. “Here, taste your mother’s cooking!”

The little bun took the skewer, bit into it, and his eyes lit up instantly. “Mommy, this is delicious!”

Ying Su smiled, deeply satisfied watching him eat with such joy. Then she passed him some roasted fish she had prepared.

Only then did the little bun notice it. His big round eyes blinked as he stared at her, very serious. “Mommy, did you go to the river to catch fish again?”

Ying Su scratched her head, turned away slightly, cleared her throat, and said vaguely, “Mommy… was just lucky today. I was using a bucket to scoop water from the river and two fish just happened to jump inside!”

Her eyes flickered as she quickly made up an excuse, speaking without the slightest blush.

But the little bun’s eyes only grew darker, his cheeks puffed up in righteous anger as he stared her down. His gaze was so intense that Ying Su actually felt a little embarrassed. ‘Who was this kid, really? At such a young age, how could he look so imposing?’

She rubbed her nose awkwardly, forcing herself to insist, “What I said is true! If you don’t believe me, you can ask the fish themselves! They were stupid enough to jump right into my bucket…”

At that, the little bun finally spoke, his little face grave, his voice heavy with an almost adult tone, “Mommy, lying is wrong. Even if your brain used to be muddled, you should still know that fish can’t talk. Asking them is useless! You clearly promised me you would never go to the river to catch fish again. You can’t go back on your word.”

Ying Su’s old face turned red after being lectured by a four or five-year-old. She ruffled her hair in embarrassment. To think, at her age, she was being scolded by a little brat! His expression was calm, but the pressure he gave her was immense!

“Mommy, you know how deep the Dongjun River is. How could you still go in? Even if we don’t eat fish, we won’t starve. But if something happens to you while catching fish, what then? I’d rather go hungry than have you take such risks for me!”

With that, he firmly set the roasted fish down by the fire, his little face puffed up in indignation, so serious and determined.

Ying Su muttered under her breath, “Who does this brat take after? So young yet already so temperamental! Not cute at all… definitely not like me.”

She sniffed the fragrant roasted fish, thought it a waste not to eat it, then grabbed it, tore off a piece, and popped it into her mouth, savoring it. “Mmm, so delicious! Tender and fragrant!”

She sneaked a glance at the little bun, but his expression didn’t change at all. He just sat there with puffed cheeks, still angry.

Ying Su deliberately waved the roasted fish under his nose, dangling it in front of him while taking exaggerated bites. “Ah, so tasty! Some people really have no luck, such good food right here and they won’t even eat it. What a shame!”

She tried a few times, but the little bun didn’t budge. Her little act couldn’t hold up anymore. She grumbled inwardly, ‘This brat really has a temper, not even tempted by food. This trick won’t work. Time for another one.’

Ying Su put on a pitiful expression, her voice trembling as she covered her face. “Ah, my life is so hard! Because of one fish, my own son refuses to talk to me. I should just cry…”

The little bun’s lips twitched, but he sighed helplessly and said, “Mommy, I’m not ignoring you. But you went back on your word. You promised me you wouldn’t catch fish anymore, and yet you went to the river again.” 

“The Dongjun River is deep and dangerous. I was scared… As long as you’re safe, I don’t need anything else. Even if we eat bran and wild greens every day, I’d still feel life is sweet.”

Ying Su was moved by his words, her eyes growing moist as her attitude softened. “Baby, you’re right. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gone back on my word. I understand what you’re saying.” 

“But right now our family is short on money. I just wanted you to eat better, live better. I really am good at swimming, and a little river like the Dongjun is nothing to me. You have to believe me, I’d never risk my life over just a fish.”

The little bun’s expression wavered slightly, and Ying Su immediately pressed on, “Think about it, son. That day when Li Ergou threw me into the river, you jumped in to save me. But in the end, wasn’t it me who carried you out of the water?”