Chapter 23: Just Because of That Face of Hers?

“I was bored staying at home yesterday, so I went up the mountain for a bit. While I was digging for herbs, I happened to see a rabbit,” Su Miaomiao said, lowering her voice. “Dad, Mom, don’t tell anyone. Don’t let others find out.”

“This… isn’t that kind of inappropriate?” Huo Jianguo felt a bit conflicted when he heard that Su Miaomiao caught the rabbit.

Tang Chunlan immediately smacked his arm. “What’s inappropriate about it? Miaomiao went through all that trouble just to get us an extra dish, and you’re not even grateful?”

“That’s not what I meant, it’s just…” Huo Jianguo, having come from a military background, had a deep-rooted belief in not taking anything from the public, not even a needle or a thread.

Su Miaomiao understood exactly what Huo Jianguo was thinking and smiled as she explained:

“Dad, you don’t need to worry. I asked Grandpa Zhao before. People in the village do go into the mountains to hunt. For small animals like this, they’re allowed to keep and eat them themselves. But if they catch something big, it has to be handed over. The reason I didn’t want you to tell others is because our identity is a bit sensitive. We came here for reformation, after all. If the villagers find out we’re still eating meat, it might cause unnecessary trouble.”

“See? Listen to our daughter—so thoughtful. And you, with your stubborn principles, have made all of us suffer with you,” Tang Chunlan glared at Huo Jianguo.

“I just… Fine, it’s my fault,” Huo Jianguo wasn’t the type to argue. After failing to explain himself, he simply admitted his mistake.

“Mom, don’t blame Dad. You were willing to come down to the countryside with him, weren’t you? Because you believed his persistence wasn’t wrong,” Su Miaomiao said, knowing her mom’s complaints were just offhand remarks.

“Now you’re teasing me too?” Tang Chunlan glanced awkwardly at Huo Jianguo beside her.

Huo Jianguo grinned widely, showing all his teeth.

“Dad, Mom, Little Sis, why haven’t you all come in yet? The food’s going cold!” Huo Xinyuan, who had been waiting inside for a long time, finally couldn’t stand it and came out to remind them.

After all, staring at that huge bowl of braised rabbit meat without being able to eat it was almost torture.

“We’re coming now,” Tang Chunlan immediately took Su Miaomiao’s hand. “Come on, let’s eat.”

As soon as Huo Jianguo and the others came in, everyone started eating.

Huo Xinyuan kept giving Su Miaomiao a thumbs-up as he ate, his mouth barely stopping for a moment.

Old Master Huo and Old Madam Huo couldn’t handle spicy food too well, but they still tried a few bites.

For a moment, the only sound in the humble house was the noise of people eating and chewing.

By the time they had finished everything in the bowl, Huo Xinyuan rubbed his stomach and put down his bowl.

“Suddenly I feel like, if I could eat food made by Little Sis every day, life wouldn’t be so hard after all.”

“If you all like it, I can cook for you every day,” Su Miaomiao said with a smile.

“No way, cooking is tiring! You have to light a fire and everything. I’ll cook from now on,” Tang Chunlan immediately rejected the idea.

As soon as she said that, everyone turned to look at her.

Huo Xinyuan opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.

His mom’s cooking skills were… difficult to describe.

But he couldn’t bear to let his little sister get too tired just so he could eat well.

Forget it. When you’re starving, anything tastes okay.

The others were probably thinking the same thing as Huo Xinyuan.

“Mom, let me cook. I work at the medicine hall, and my schedule is flexible. If there are no patients, I can come home earlier…” Su Miaomiao tried to explain, but before she could finish, Tang Chunlan interrupted her.

“No, you can’t be the one doing everything. You’ve already suffered so much with us. I won’t let you take on more,” Tang Chunlan said firmly.

Looking at the firm and determined Tang Chunlan, Su Miaomiao sighed.

In the end, she chose to speak honestly.

“Mom, I just think… cooking isn’t really your strong suit.”

Tang Chunlan froze for a moment, then quickly realized that Su Miaomiao was saying her cooking was bad.

Huo Xinyuan silently added in his heart, “Bad? That’s putting it lightly. It’s absolutely terrible.”

The dishes his mom made—back in the day, even their dog probably wouldn’t touch them.

“You… I…” Tang Chunlan stammered for a long while but couldn’t string a full sentence together.

“Mom, I actually really enjoy cooking. It’s not a chore for me at all. If you’re worried about me getting tired, you can come home a bit earlier after work and help me with the fire,” Su Miaomiao said with a smile, looking at Tang Chunlan.

“…Alright then.” Seeing how insistent Su Miaomiao was, Tang Chunlan couldn’t say anything more.

Besides, deep down, she knew her cooking really wasn’t up to par.

“Then it’s settled!” Huo Xinyuan immediately chimed in. “It’s my turn to wash the dishes today. I’ll go fetch some water for everyone to bathe.”

He was more than happy with this decision.

Just thinking about being able to eat dishes cooked by his little sister every day made him want to lift her up and spin her around.

“I’ll go with you,” Huo Zhenbo stood up as well.

There were a lot of people in the family and they used a lot of water—one person fetching wouldn’t be enough.

“Mm!” Huo Xinyuan nodded enthusiastically.

The others also quickly and naturally took over the rest of the cleanup.

Su Miaomiao had already cooked, so of course she shouldn’t be burdened with anything else.

Su Miaomiao was happy to enjoy the peace.

People should share the workload and support each other—that’s the only way things last.

If the Huo family ever started taking her efforts for granted, she definitely wouldn’t keep getting involved.

---

In the afternoon, Su Miaomiao rested at home. Early the next morning, she went out with the Huo family.

She went to the medicine hall, while the others went to the fields.

Old Master Huo and Old Madam Huo still went to the nearby fields to cut grass and feed the cattle.

When Su Miaomiao arrived at the medicine hall, she saw two young people standing in the lobby.

The man was very upright-looking, wearing a dark blue shirt that made him appear energetic and spirited.

The girl had her hair tied in a thick braid, wore a polka-dot shirt, and had a rosy face—very different from the skinny, gaunt villagers.

“Miaomiao, you’re here,” Old Zhao from inside the house heard the commotion and came out immediately. When he saw Su Miaomiao, his expression visibly softened.

The braided girl standing nearby furrowed her brows when she saw how Old Zhao reacted to Su Miaomiao.

When they had just arrived, the old man had barely acknowledged them.

Deng Siyue quietly studied Su Miaomiao. Her skin was like porcelain, her brows delicate as if painted—definitely the seductive type. Otherwise, with her background, how could she have gotten this job at the medicine hall?

Deng Siyue had said many good things to the village chief and even offered to help out at the medicine hall on her own, but she still hadn’t gotten the job.

Why this woman?

Just because of that face of hers?

Su Miaomiao quickly noticed the hostile look being shot at her. She turned her head and locked eyes with Deng Siyue.