Chapter 114 : Instant Noodles

Su Xieqiu returned from the city and went home first.  

After taking some supplies from her hidden space and placing them in the storage room, she headed to Sun Dahan’s house to pick up Chenchen and An an.  

Now that work was over, Ertao and Linglan were in the yard playing with the two children.  

“Auntie…” An an dropped her toys as soon as she saw Su Xieqiu and ran toward her, a trace of grievance in her voice.  

Chenchen followed close behind, happily shouting, “Auntie Su, you’re back!”  

Su Xieqiu knelt down, holding both children in her arms. “Yes, Auntie is back,” she said with a smile. She pulled out a handful of candy from her pocket, giving two pieces to each child and the remaining two to Linglan.  

From the kitchen, Wang Fengqin, who had been cooking, came out with a smile when she heard her voice.  

“Zhenyu’s wife, the captain asked me to tell you there’s a package for you. You should go pick it up at the brigade headquarters this afternoon,” Wang Fengqin said.  

Su Xieqiu was surprised. A package? Who could have sent it? Could it be from Chenchen and An an’s uncle? But he had left not long ago, how could something have arrived so quickly?  

“I understand, sister,” she said, handing over a bundle of clothes. “These are my old clothes. Can you alter them for Linglan?”  

Wang Fengqin looked at the bundle, which contained two shirts and two pairs of trousers. Though slightly worn, they were still in good condition, with only a few small patches.  

“Why are you giving away so much? These clothes are still so nice!” Wang Fengqin exclaimed, impressed by her generosity.  

“These are clothes I wore two years ago. They’re a little small for me now, and it’s too much trouble to alter them. I think they’ll suit Linglan well,” Su Xieqiu replied with a warm smile.  

Wang Fengqin accepted the bundle after some thought. By now, she understood Su Xieqiu’s nature. If she gave something, it was always out of genuine sincerity.  

Linglan’s eyes sparkled with joy as she looked at the clothes. She shyly whispered, “Thank you, Auntie.”  

“You’re welcome,” Su Xieqiu replied, patting her head. “Auntie should thank you for helping take care of Chenchen and An an.”  

Linglan smiled. “They’re very well-behaved. They don’t cry or make a fuss. They just play in the yard and don’t bother me while I’m working. An an even napped in the morning, and Chenchen helped me collect firewood.”  

Hearing this, Su Xieqiu felt a pang of sadness. While An an was still young and oblivious to her circumstances, Chenchen was different. He was already mature for his age, aware that they were living in someone else’s home. His careful and thoughtful behavior was both heartwarming and heartbreaking.  

“You’re a good child, Linglan. I’m at ease leaving Chenchen and An an with you,” she said.  

Linglan blushed and smiled. “Auntie, if you ever need to go out again, please bring Chenchen and An an to me. I’ll help you take care of them.”  

“Thank you,” Su Xieqiu said warmly.  

Holding the two children close, she turned to Wang Fengqin. “Sister, we’ll head back now.”  

“Stay and eat here,” Wang Fengqin offered. “I’ve already cooked sauerkraut and pancakes for you.”  

Her words weren’t just polite; she had genuinely prepared meals for the two children, not knowing when their aunt would return.  

“No need, sister. I already prepared some dishes at home earlier. I just need to fry them,” Su Xieqiu politely declined. She appreciated the offer but didn’t want to impose. Food rations were precious, and she didn’t want to burden others.  

As Wang Fengqin escorted her to the door, she leaned in and whispered, “Zhenyu’s wife, there’s something I think I should tell you…”  

“It’s your cousin who just arrived. Today she was assigned to work with your stepmother-in-law and sisters-in-law. They were busy all morning, chatting away. Before the shift ended, your mother-in-law even helped your cousin with some of her tasks, and many people saw it,” Wang Fengqin said softly.  

Su Xieqiu smiled and nodded. “I understand, sister. Thank you for letting me know.”  

In truth, she didn’t care much about the situation. As the old saying goes, ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’. Those with similar interests would naturally band together.  

However, how they chose to get along was none of her concern. As long as they didn’t cause trouble for her, she would leave them be. Otherwise, they shouldn’t blame her for being unkind. She wasn’t one to shy away from conflict, verbal or otherwise.  

After bringing Chenchen and An an home, Su Xieqiu gave them some snacks and headed to the backyard to pick vegetables.  

“Auntie, let me help you light the fire,” Chenchen offered eagerly, guiding An an to sit near the stove and pulling out matches from a small compartment nearby.  

Smiling, Su Xieqiu patted his head. “There’s no need to help with cooking. Take An an to the yard to play. Aunt Su will make something delicious for you today.”  

She had secretly taken three packs of instant noodles from her hidden storage and planned to destroy the packaging while lighting the fire. She needed to keep the children out of the kitchen to avoid any questions.  

The aroma of the instant noodles wafted through the air, and before the food was even ready, Chenchen and An an were peeking eagerly through the kitchen doorway, drooling.  

The meal consisted of chicken-flavored beef noodles, a handful of fresh vegetables, and three poached eggs cooked into a half pot of soup.  

Chenchen sniffed the air and asked, “Auntie Su, what are you cooking? It smells amazing!”  

“Noodles,” she replied with a smile, watching the two little ones stare at the pot like hungry kittens. “Come inside, it’s almost ready.”  

Chenchen excitedly pulled his sister into the kitchen, his childish enthusiasm coming out at the prospect of a delicious meal.  

She served each of them a bowl. “Eat up, and afterward, I’ll take you to the village to play,” she said.  

Earlier, she had noticed many children running around outside and thought it might be good for Chenchen to socialize with them. Staying at home all day wasn’t healthy for a child, it could lead to overthinking and other issues.  

However, Chenchen hesitated. “Auntie Su, we can just play here at home. This way, we can also help you with your work.”  

He lowered his voice and added, “Auntie Su, if the villagers find out about my sister and me, it might cause trouble for you and Uncle Han.”  

Hearing this, Su Xieqiu’s heart ached. It was painful to see such a young boy carrying so much on his shoulders.  

“Chenchen,” she said gently, “no one here knows your or An an’s real identities, and Uncle Han and I won’t tell anyone. To everyone else, you’re our children. You’re free to live happily here. If anyone bullies you, fight back. Don’t be afraid. Uncle Han and I will always stand behind you.”  

Although she had told him this before, Chenchen was a child who worried too much. She repeated it often, hoping to ease his mind and help him feel secure.  

Tears fell into his bowl as Chenchen bowed his head. After a long pause, he murmured, “I understand, Auntie Su. Thank you, and thank Uncle Han too.”  

An an, meanwhile, was too engrossed in her food to notice her brother’s emotions.  

After finishing her bowl, the little girl happily exclaimed, “Auntie, more… An an wants more!”  

Concerned that eating too much might upset her stomach, Su Xieqiu initially refused. But when An an insisted, she relented, giving her a small portion of crushed noodles to eat slowly.