Chapter 11: Old Su’s Son-in-Law Has a Great Back

Su Tang and Yu Miaomiao ate braised pork and rice in the county town, feeling very satisfied.

Since they weren’t eating it themselves, they were casual with the cooking: a cabbage soup and some pickled cabbage and potato shreds.

Old Man Mu, leading his whole family, returned from the fields. After washing their hands, they rushed to the kitchen.

The whole family seemed to have just feasted yesterday; they were unusually enthusiastic about eating.

While still in the fields, they were already guessing what delicious food they would have today…

The result!

Just this?

Old Man Mu was very dissatisfied: “Who made the meal today?”

“Me.” Yu Miaomiao raised her hand.

“How did you make it like this? It looks tasteless.” Old Lady Mu was also dissatisfied.

After only one day of eating Yu Miaomiao’s cooking, their appetites had become spoiled. This is the inertia of going from frugality to luxury, and from luxury to frugality is difficult!

“Mom didn’t let me cut the cured meat, nor let me use much oil, so it can only be like this,” Yu Miaomiao shrugged.

“Yesterday afternoon, we didn’t cut the cured meat either, and we didn’t use much oil, and it was delicious, wasn’t it?” Old Lady Mu didn’t believe it at all. “Did you two secretly eat beforehand?”

“We couldn’t bear the hunger, so we ate some rice with cabbage soup beforehand. Mother can check if you don’t believe us,” Su Tang said.

Old Lady Mu opened the cupboard and checked, confirming that nothing was missing, before she believed them.

“It’s so unpalatable,” Old Man Mu complained while eating.

Yu Miaomiao didn’t get angry; she slowly said, “If you’re not satisfied, just throw it away, and I’ll make it again.”

In this era of material scarcity, even wild vegetables were being snatched up; how could they possibly throw away cooked food?

Besides, the pickled cabbage and potato shreds they usually stir-fried weren’t even as good as this!

Everyone ate with dissatisfaction.

Mu Jingyun gave his wife face, praising while eating, “It’s delicious! My wife is capable.”

Mu Jingyuan looked at his brother with a complicated expression: To coax his wife, he would say anything!

Li Lan was pregnant and had cravings! She kept thinking about the piece of meat Su Tang brought back.

She frankly stated, “Third sister-in-law bought meat, didn’t she? Cut a few slices and stir-fry them to add some oil to everyone’s food! Everyone works hard.”

When Old Lady Mu heard that Su Tang bought meat and didn’t give her any, she immediately got angry: “Where’s the meat?”

“Third brother said it’s for the return visit,” Su Tang sat by the stove, occasionally stirring the fire, playing with it as if no one cared what she was doing.

“What? You’re taking meat for your return visit?” Old Lady Mu was shocked.

Su Tang finally poked at the ashes, sat beside Mu Jingzhou, and smiled sweetly.

Mu Jingzhou was concentrating on eating; when she came, he suddenly felt the rice in his bowl wasn’t as fragrant.

“Old Third, is this your idea?” Old Lady Mu slammed the table.

“It’s my idea,” Mu Jingzhou said.

Old Lady Mu was furious: “Spendthrift, just take some cabbage and potatoes from home, why buy meat?”

“I want to.”

“You, you—”

“I spent my own money.”

Mu Jingzhou’s last sentence was a perfect finishing blow.

Old Lady Mu was burning with anger, just about to scold her third son, when Mu Jingyuan also spoke: “Wife, have you bought the things for your return visit?”

“I have,” Yu Miaomiao said.

Everyone in Chahe Village knew that Mu family’s two new daughters-in-law went to the county town together on bicycles.

Since Su Tang bought meat, Yu Miaomiao must have bought some too.

Old Lady Mu’s heart was bleeding. But she dared not say anything to the second son.

Of her seven children, the second son was the most disobedient!

Usually smiling, when he got angry, he could blow the roof off.

“I’m done eating, wife, let’s go back to the room and pack up,” Mu Jingyun quickly finished eating and pulled Yu Miaomiao back to the room.

On the old, chipped table, there was a package of hibiscus cakes and a package of peach crisps. No meat.

“Wife, where’s the meat?”

“I didn’t buy any.”

“Third sister-in-law bought some, why didn’t you?”

“It’s too expensive.”

“I gave you money!”

“I bought a bedsheet.”

Mu Jingyun turned to look at the brand-new pink floral bedsheet, his eyes shining: “This is good, it’s more…feeling!”

Yu Miaomiao: …

Could he…not think in that direction?

“Your wife has good taste, when we get back tonight, I’ll take good care of you.”

I should have known not to buy a bedsheet!

“Let’s go, let’s go for the return visit!” Mu Jingyun was very happy.

In another room, Mu Jingzhou first washed his hair and then changed into the new clothes he wore at the wedding.

His abstinent handsomeness, who wouldn’t be captivated?

No wonder the original owner used every means to marry him.

“Third brother, why are you so good to me?” Su Tang sat on the bed, swinging her feet.

“You’re my wife,” Mu Jingzhou started changing his new shoes and socks.

Su Tang pouted: “But, they all say you didn’t want to marry me, that I blackmailed you into it.”

Mu Jingzhou paused his shoe-changing action before saying, “Let’s not mention the past, let’s live a good life.”

Obviously, he was unhappy about being blackmailed into marriage before, but he had accepted reality now.

Perhaps people in this era were like this, accepting what couldn’t be changed.

Or perhaps, sleeping with her was comfortable.

Whatever it was, it meant he wasn’t as cold-blooded and ruthless as in the plot.

Su Tang was very happy, and she sweetly kissed his face: “You saved me and married me, I will be good to you for the rest of my life.”

The sweet words and kiss came too suddenly, Mu Jingzhou’s ears turned red: “Mm.”

By the time they were done, Mu Jingyun and his wife had already left.

Mu Jingzhou wanted to borrow a bicycle from the captain, but it was borrowed by Old Lady Gao, so he had to walk.

Su Tang’s family lived in Shangxin Village, and Yu Miaomiao’s family lived in Xiaxin Village. The two villages were separated by a river.

Su Tang had blackmailed Mu Jingzhou into marriage by the river.

Retracing their steps, Su Tang felt embarrassed.

Mu Jingzhou walked silently, without any emotion.

Since he didn’t mention it, she pretended to be calm.

Near the village entrance, they met the village’s gossip group—several aunts and grandmothers sitting in the shade mending shoes. Seeing Su Tang and Mu Jingzhou returning for a visit, their gossip hearts ignited instantly.

“Oh, isn’t this Old Su’s daughter? Today, you’re bringing your blackmailed husband for a visit?”

Su Tang’s face was full of black lines.

“The new brother-in-law is really handsome, like a general in a play.”

“This height, this figure…tsk, he must be very strong, right?”

“Tangtang is blessed…”

The aunts in this era were also very quick-witted; Su Tang was embarrassed by their words, wishing she could dig a hole and hide in it.

She quickly pulled Mu Jingzhou’s arm and ran home.

She didn’t see the smile in Mu Jingzhou’s eyes.

The Su family was famous in Shangxin Village—they favored daughters over sons.

It was said that Grandma Su was seriously ill, but when Su Tang was born, Grandma Su’s illness was cured.

The Su family said Su Tang was a lucky star, and she was raised like a treasure since childhood. Whether it was her brothers or sisters, they all had to give way to Su Tang.

In this era of scarcity, they were still able to raise Su Tang to be fair-skinned and tender.

Therefore, the original owner was spoiled and willful, forcing Mu Jingzhou to marry her.

“Tangtang is back? Are you tired? Are you hot?” Old Su’s wrinkled face was full of enthusiasm.

“I’m fine.”

“Come and sit down and drink some water.”

Su Tang sat down, looking at the dilapidated old house, feeling emotional.

The family’s conditions weren’t good, but Old Su was willing to give her the cotton cloth for Li Lan. To have such parents was truly good fortune.

Unlike her, she had to juggle her divorced and remarried parents, relying on cuteness to get tuition and living expenses.

“Tangtang, no one bullied you in the Mu family, right?” Old Su’s words were addressed to Su Tang, but his eyes were on Mu Jingzhou, his expression fierce.