Chapter 12: My Heart Only Has Little Sister Xiaoxue

Lu Huaduo drooled as she ran to her mother with a sponge cake in hand.

Feng Cuilan, knowing her daughter was craving it, tore off a small piece and put it in her mouth. “That lady who just gave us the food is your little aunt. Remember to greet her properly next time, you hear?”

Lu Huaduo happily nodded while munching on the sponge cake, as if she understood.

Feng Cuilan fed her daughter a bit of the cake, but she didn’t touch the meat on the table—something that precious should be saved until the family patriarch returned.

After delivering meat to the eldest uncle’s family, Su Tangxue moved on to the next. But as she walked, anxiety began to build.

Her grandmother hadn’t shown up at the eldest uncle’s house—she must be at the second uncle’s.

The thought made Su Tangxue unconsciously slow her pace. She was honestly worried she might be chased away again.

She remembered how, when she was young, she and Lu Qinglin went to the second uncle’s house to pick jujubes. The tree collapsed, and her grandmother chased her with a broom, screaming insults the entire time.

Even now, that memory made her uneasy.

But since she was already here, she couldn’t just back out. She had to at least show her face.

Relying on her memory, Su Tangxue found the small house in front of which a persimmon tree grew.

Under a tree by the roadside, several elderly women were chatting while picking vegetables. When they saw Su Tangxue walk past, their eyes immediately turned sharp, following her figure intently.

“Hey, whose girl is that? She doesn’t look familiar at all.”

“No idea. Never seen her before. Dressed like some kind of vixen, who knows whose family she’s from.”

“She can’t be from the village! I remember all the girls here. They’re out farming every day, none of them have skin that pale. She’s probably someone a man brought back.”

“Hey… Hehua, look! That girl is heading to your house.”

Li Hehua looked up upon hearing that, glanced in that direction, and quickly picked up her vegetable basket to head home.

Su Tangxue knocked on the door twice, but no one answered, making her feel a little puzzled.

Suddenly, a hand slapped her on the shoulder from behind.

Startled, she turned around to see a grumpy, sharp-eyed old woman standing behind her.

“Who are you looking for?” Li Hehua asked with a piercing gaze, sizing her up.

Though the look made Su Tangxue uncomfortable, she still replied honestly that she was there to see Lu Yuhu.

“What do you want with Lu Yuhu?”

Su Tangxue frowned slightly, annoyed. “Why are you asking so many questions?”

“I’m Lu Yuhu’s mother. You tell me—why shouldn’t I ask?” Li Hehua snapped.

Su Tangxue curled her lip and handed over the basket. “This is from your son, as a gift for you.”

Then she turned to leave.

Li Hehua lifted the white cloth covering the basket and was stunned to see a large slab of pork belly.

She knew both her eldest and second sons’ families were not well off—there was no way they could afford that much meat.

That left only one answer in her mind.

Li Hehua called after her, “Come back here!”

Su Tangxue paused, confused. “What now?”

“You see someone and don’t even greet them? Is that how your father raised you?” Li Hehua grumbled.

“Didn’t you drive my father out yourself?”

That remark nearly sent Li Hehua into a fit. “You lot are all just trying to anger me to death!”

Su Tangxue didn’t even blink. “Oh! Well, if there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”

With that, she left, ignoring Li Hehua’s shouting behind her.

It was getting dark, and she had to hurry home before nightfall, or she wouldn’t be able to see the road.

Along the way, scattered villagers were heading home from the fields. Seeing someone unfamiliar like Su Tangxue, some of them stared for a while.

Liu Gouzi had never seen such a pretty girl before. When Su Tangxue passed by, even the air smelled fragrant. He hurriedly said to his companion:

“Brother Caibao, did you see that girl just now? She looks just like the fairy from my dreams. Do you think she’s married?”

His companion pulled a blade of foxtail grass from his mouth and shot him a glance. “Why don’t you take a look at yourself in a puddle? You’ve got no money, no height—how are you gonna chase after a girl like that? And stop calling me Caibao. I’ve changed my name. Call me Sui-ge from now on.”

“Caibao is Caibao. What kind of name is Sui-ge?” Liu Gouzi thought bitterly. Everyone in the village had some silly nickname.

Sui seemed to read his mind and smacked him on the back of the head.

“What’s that? Cursing me in your head? Look at you! Can’t take a bit of truth? I’m just trying to keep your head on straight, so you don’t fall into some woman’s trap.”

“Hmph, like you’re so great, like you’re handsome or something,” Liu Gouzi muttered.

“In this village, if I’m not handsome, who is? I’m the best-looking guy here, alright?” Sui declared proudly.

He didn’t know when Xiaoxue would return, but he really wanted to show her how much he’d changed—hopefully enough to stun her.

Thinking about that, Sui’s face lit up with a goofy smile.

“Cai—Sui-ge, and you say I’m the one chasing girls! You’re thinking about her too,” Liu Gouzi said, pointing at his goofy grin.

Sui glared at him and wiped the smile off his face. “Get lost. I only have little sister Xiaoxue in my heart.”

Liu Ergou pouted and said mockingly, “Little sister Xiaoxue, little sister Xiaoxue… Su Tangxue’s been gone for who knows how many years. If she liked you, she would’ve come back already.”

“You don’t know anything. Xiaoxue said she would marry me. I believe her.”

“Alright, alright, you keep waiting then. I’m heading home.”

After that, the two parted ways.

Su Tangxue jogged toward home.

Before she even got there, she ran into Lu Qinglin along the way. As soon as he saw her, he turned and headed in the same direction—home.

Su Tangxue seemed to catch on and quickly ran after him, grabbing his arm.

“Lu Qinglin, did you come out especially to find me?”

“No, just out for a stroll,” Lu Qinglin replied flatly, voice steady.

But Su Tangxue instantly saw through the lie—this road led to the eldest uncle’s house. There was no way he just happened to stroll this way.

“I don’t believe you. I feel like you came looking for me.”

She grabbed his hand and playfully shook it.

Lu Qinglin fell silent, no longer trying to make excuses.

As they neared the house, they saw Yun Xiangrui sitting at the doorway, watching the road.

Su Tangxue let go of Lu Qinglin’s hand and ran over to her.

Lu Qinglin, momentarily thrown off by the sudden release, found himself a little lost.

He seemed to enjoy having Su Tangxue hold onto his arm. Now that she had let go, he oddly felt a bit of reluctance.

As Su Tangxue ran, she shouted, “Grandma!”

Hearing her granddaughter-in-law’s voice, Yun Xiangrui immediately relaxed and hurriedly pulled her inside.

Su Tangxue glanced at the food on the table—there were meat and vegetables, and even a main course.

It wasn’t luxury by her pre-time-travel standards, but for a rural household in this era, this meal was better than most New Year feasts.

She had no reason to complain.

Lu Qinglin had cooked the meal and kept it warm above hot water before going out to look for her. Now that they were back, it was still steaming.

That night, he had made braised pork belly with green beans. It smelled amazing and paired perfectly with rice.

Su Tangxue had never liked fatty meat, and even after transmigrating, that hadn’t changed.

She picked out the lean parts and ate them, putting all the fatty pieces into Lu Qinglin’s bowl.

And he, not minding at all, ate every bit.