Chapter 20: A False Alarm

“The village chief has already sent word; how could nothing be wrong?”

Zhu Yanhua didn’t believe Su Luoluo, convinced that her sister-in-law wanted to abandon her mother-in-law.

Unlike the other villagers who rushed outside in a panic, Su Luoluo calmly pulled out a chair and sat down. She poured herself a cup of water from the thermos, added a few slices of licorice root, blew on the steaming liquid, and sipped it calmly.

This formed a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

Zhu Yanhua looked surprised.

The children didn’t know whether to run outside or not.

“Mo…Mom…”

Niuniu, feeling sleepy, rubbed her eyes with her small hands and waddled towards Su Luoluo, looking confused.

Seeing that the little girl’s eyes were barely open from sleepiness, Su Luoluo scooped her into her arms, ruffled her hair until it stood on end, then stopped. “It’s not an earthquake; there’s no danger.”

Zhu Yanhua wasn’t sure whether to believe Su Luoluo, her face a picture of conflict.

Xiao Lei didn’t take his younger siblings outside. It wasn’t because he believed Su Luoluo, but because the “bad woman” was staying put. The “bad woman” wouldn’t risk her own life to deceive them.

“Sister-in-law, don’t panic. Sit down. It’ll be alright. I see you’ve had a slight cough lately. Drink some licorice root tea; it’s good for invigorating the qi, strengthening the spleen, and relieving phlegm and coughs.”

Su Luoluo made Zhu Yanhua a cup of licorice root tea.

Zhu Yanhua hesitantly went over and sat beside Su Luoluo. She held the cup of tea but didn’t drink it, feeling restless and anxious, her gaze frequently darting towards the outside.

“They’ll be back soon.”

Su Luoluo, seeing Zhu Yanhua’s anxiety, offered an explanation.

Concerned about the potential danger, Zhu Yanhua couldn’t relax. If something happened to the house, she wouldn’t be able to explain it to her husband.

Jingjing, nestled beside Zhu Yanhua’s legs, also yawned.

Zhu Yanhua picked her up.

A kerosene lamp sat on the table, casting a dim light on the room.

“Mo…Mom…my eyes are blurry…”

Niuniu’s eyes were closing, her small hand clutching Su Luoluo’s clothes, her little mouth mumbling.

Human toddlers are so cute when they’re sleepy.

Su Luoluo stared at the little girl in her arms, a smile playing on her lips.

Zhu Yanhua’s gaze fell upon the soft smile on Su Luoluo’s lips, and she froze.

Seeing Niuniu asleep, Su Luoluo picked her up and started to walk towards the inner room.

As soon as she stood up, everyone’s eyes fell on her.

“Niuniu’s asleep. I’ll take her to the bedroom; she’ll be more comfortable there.”

Su Luoluo, seeing everyone staring at her, offered a helpless explanation.

Zhu Yanhua awkwardly averted her gaze.

Xiao Lei, worried that Su Luoluo was up to something, followed closely behind her.

After putting Niuniu in bed, Su Luoluo came out, a bowl of green goo in her hand.

Ignoring everyone’s stares, she sat down, looked in the mirror, and applied the green goo to her face.

Zhu Yanhua stared at Su Luoluo in astonishment.

Xiao Lei, seeing Su Luoluo apply this substance for the first time, widened his eyes.

Jingjing also blinked at Su Luoluo.

“This stuff makes you beautiful.”

Su Luoluo paused her application, smiling.

Her face, green and glowing under the kerosene lamp, looked even more frightening as she grinned, revealing her teeth.

Xiao Lei found it too much to bear and looked away.

“Ah…”

Jingjing cried out and ran to her mother.

Zhu Yanhua hugged Jingjing and stroked her little face.

This interlude quickly passed.

Time ticked by.

Every minute was excruciating for Zhu Yanhua.

Fortunately, a growing commotion came from outside.

“I thought something terrible had happened.”

“It turned out to be nothing. The house didn’t even collapse.”

“In the middle of the night, what a scare! Do you want people to sleep or not?”

“I have to plow an acre of land tomorrow. If I can’t get up, who’s going to do the work?”

…

People outside shouted loudly.

Hearing those words, Zhu Yanhua knew that the villagers had returned; it had all been a false alarm.

She finally relaxed, her tense body loosening.

But how did her sister-in-law know nothing would happen?

Her gaze fell on Su Luoluo, filled with curiosity.

“So sleepy, time for bed.”

Su Luoluo yawned.

Before returning to her room, she glanced at the rolling mountains, a playful glint in her eyes. Those people made quite a commotion.

The next morning.

Niuniu sat on the bed, tears welling up in her eyes, terrified to the point of crying.

Xiao Lei woke up early and, upon entering the room, saw Niuniu’s frightened expression. He hurried over.

Seeing a large wet patch on the bed, his face turned pale. If the “bad woman” woke up and saw this, Niuniu would be beaten.

He quickly thought of a solution.

A flash of inspiration struck him.

Xiao Lei went to the wardrobe and found Niuniu’s clothes.

Su Luoluo was awakened by a rustling sound.

Opening her eyes, she saw Niuniu with her bottom bare, Xiao Lei frantically trying to put her pants on. Perhaps too flustered, he’d gotten both of Niuniu’s legs into one leg hole. He tugged at the pants, his little face reddening, still unable to get them on.

Su Luoluo found the scene rather speechless.

She was about to sit up and say something to Xiao Lei.

But as she pushed herself up, her palm landed on something wet.

Looking down, she saw a puddle of water on the bed.

When she looked up again, the two children’s faces were pale, shrinking towards the foot of the bed.

Niuniu, with both legs in one pant leg, in her panic, sat down with a plop, her bare bottom landing squarely on Su Luoluo’s foot.

“…” Su Luoluo.

“Wah…Waaah…”

Niuniu burst into tears.

Xiao Lei quickly stepped forward, putting his small arm in front of Niuniu, looking at Su Luoluo with a look of resignation. “I accidentally spilled the water on the bed. If you’re going to hit someone, hit me.”

“…” Su Luoluo. Was she that easy to fool?

“No, no, it’s, it’s me, not big brother.”

Niuniu pulled at Xiao Lei’s arm, her little face turning red with urgency.

Seeing the two children vying to take the blame, Su Luoluo sat up.

“Stop arguing. I won’t hit you. Children wet the bed; we just need to wash the bedding.”

She said.

Xiao Lei was stunned. He hadn’t expected Su Luoluo to let them off so easily.

Su Luoluo got out of bed, picked up Niuniu, who was still bare-bottomed, and put her pants back on.

She put on her little shoes.

Su Luoluo’s gaze fell on Xiao Lei again, her brows furrowed.

Is the bad woman going to get angry?

Xiao Lei tensed up, clenching his hands at his sides, standing still, afraid to disturb the “bad woman” and provoke a beating.