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Chu Xiao Tao had never tasted pastries. Only when her sister was around, when her mother went out, would she secretly take out a small jar of brown sugar hidden in a basket on the roof beams and let Xiao Tao taste a bit with a chopstick.
It was the only time she had ever eaten sweets.
Because she was afraid of being caught by her mother, her sister only dared to let her lick a bit with the chopstick.
Because the taste was so wonderful, she remembered it deeply.
Looking at the pastry with its delicate patterns in her hand, Chu Xiao Tao, who was still hiccuping, reached out and gently touched it.
“It’s so pretty.”
Then, she put the pastry in her mouth, nibbling on it with her front teeth, taking a tiny piece the size of a green bean and savoring its flavor.
The pastry was very delicate and melted in her mouth. The sweet taste calmed the little girl’s anxious heart.
She smiled at Chu Yue.
“Sister, it’s really delicious.”
Chu Yue patted her head. “I’m glad you like it. Hurry and eat, there’s another piece!”
Chu Xiao Tao shook her head. “Sister should eat too.”
Such a delicious treat shouldn’t be enjoyed by her alone.
Chu Yue’s heart warmed, and she smiled. “Silly Xiao Tao, sister can bring you more treats in the future. I’ve already had some, so these two pieces are all for you.”
“Then…” Chu Xiao Tao looked at Chu Yue with uncertainty, “Can Xiao Tao save the other piece for when I get hungry later?”
Hearing this, Chu Yue felt an inexplicable pang of sadness in her heart.
But just as her emotions began to surface, they were quickly suppressed.
“Xiao Tao, don’t you know Mother? We’ve been chatting here for so long that she will definitely think I gave you something good. If she finds out about the pastries, not only will you lose them, but you might also get a beating for eating alone.”
It’s often said that children shouldn’t speak ill of their parents, and daughters shouldn’t reveal their mothers’ faults, but both of them had experienced such treatment in the Chu family. Chu Yue didn’t intend to sow discord between Xiao Tao and her parents; she simply wanted to protect Xiao Tao from any harm that might come from her own actions.
The joy Xiao Tao felt from eating the pastries dimmed at Chu Yue’s words.
She nodded, lowering her head as tears fell ‘pitter-patter,’ while she took a bite of the first pastry.
She didn’t even know why, but despite not wanting to worry her sister, she couldn’t help but let the tears flow.
Is it because she’s useless that her sister is leaving her?
Chu Yue held a pastry in one hand and wiped her tears with the other.
“If Xiao Tao cries anymore, even if I leave, I’ll still worry.”
The five-year-old girl took a deep breath, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and gave what she considered a bright smile.
“Xiao Tao won’t cry anymore. Sister, don’t worry about Xiao Tao. Xiao Tao will be good.”
Chu Yue, suppressing her heartache, handed the remaining pastry to Xiao Tao. “Xiao Tao is the best. Eat this one too. Mother will call us for dinner soon.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Chu Xiao Tao nodded, took the pastry Chu Yue handed her, and ate it bite by bite.
While crying, she hadn’t been able to fully taste the pastry. Now, the sweetness of the treat lingered in her mouth, and Xiao Tao finally calmed down.
“Head of the family, bring the children over for dinner,” Zhao Chunhua’s voice came at just the right moment.
Chu Yue looked at Xiao Tao, wiped the crumbs from her lips, and stuffed two copper coins into her hand.
“When I leave, give this to Mother. Just say it’s from me. You’re just a child, and she will know that I wouldn’t give you much anyway.”
Chu Xiao Tao nodded tightly, her lips pursed. When she looked up again, a newfound strength shone in her watery eyes.
Chu Yue smiled knowingly and pulled her out of the room towards the kitchen.
Lunch was a bowl of watery rice porridge where only a few grains of coarse rice were visible. Perhaps reluctant to use up their meager supply of rice, Zhao Chunhua had simply added more water to the porridge that was originally meant for the family of four.
Besides the porridge, she surprisingly brought out some salted vegetables, which were actually pickled by the original owner herself.
Zhao Chunhua looked at Chu Yue and Lu Xinghe.
“Our family isn’t wealthy, and we don’t have much to eat. You came in a hurry, and we didn’t have time to prepare anything. Don’t be too polite, Yueyue and Xinghe.”
This was a typical thing for Zhao Chunhua to do, so Chu Yue didn’t say anything. She glanced at Lu Xinghe, seeing no sign of displeasure in his eyes, and felt a sense of relief.
After lunch, Zhao Chunhua pulled Chu Yue into her room.
Chu Yue didn’t know what Zhao Chunhua wanted to do, but she knew it wouldn’t be anything good.
Zhao Chunhua gave a sly smile and a flattering expression.
“Er Ya, Mother heard that on your first day in Banpo Village, your husband brought back a wild boar?”
“Mother’s news is quite good,” Chu Yue thought to herself sarcastically, then continued, “It was only a half-grown wild boar. After sharing it with the neighbors, there wasn’t much left.”
Since she had already found out, there was no point in hiding it. It would only make her think that their family had made a lot of money.
Zhao Chunhua sounded both resentful and heartbroken, as if they were cutting her own flesh.
“Such a rare opportunity to hunt a wild boar, why did you share it with others? With all that benefit, why didn’t you bring more back to your parents’ family? If you had brought 20 or 30 pounds, our whole family could have eaten well for a while.”
Chu Yue clenched her fists.
She wanted to scold her a few times but held back.
“Mother also knows that my husband carried the wild boar back. I’ve only been at the Lu family for a short time. How could I have any say?” Her words carried a clear note of displeasure. “And, Father did something so disgraceful. Everyone knows, and Mother should know too! I’m practically pointed at and scolded for Father’s actions every day at the Lu family. They’re wary of me, let alone give me any benefits.”
Finally, she muttered under her breath.
“Even if I wanted to get something, the Lu family has to have something first. The wild boar was sold just a few days ago, and the money was immediately used for my mother-in-law’s medicine.”
Hearing this, Zhao Chunhua was taken aback. She had almost forgotten that Lu Xinghe had a mother who was constantly taking medicine.
She thought that it was normal for the Lu family to be wary of her. After all, her husband stealing the pig was indeed a disgraceful act. To be fair, if her own daughter-in-law’s father was like that, she would be wary too.
Thinking about it this way, she suddenly believed Chu Yue’s words.
Although her daughter was no longer as meek and submissive as before, she was still a girl at heart, soft-hearted and loyal to her family.
Zhao Chunhua rolled her eyes and asked, “You spent so long with Xiao Tao earlier. Did you bring her any good things?”
She was still not satisfied after getting so little benefit today.
Chu Yue’s eyes flickered slightly.
“Where would I have any good things? I just haven’t seen Xiao Tao in a long time, so I was just being close to her.”
Chu Yue’s deliberate act was obvious to Zhao Chunhua.
She pursed her lips, ultimately refraining from scolding her as she used to. After all, Chu Yue was now married, and they would need to rely on her to send some benefits back to her family in the future.
She would ask Xiao Tao what she got later.
Then she noticed the brand new shoes on Chu Yue’s feet.
“Huh? You’re wearing new shoes! They look very comfortable. They seem to be about the same size as mine. We have a pair of your old shoes at home. Why don’t you try these on for Mother?”
She reached out to try to take Chu Yue’s shoes off.
“Mother hasn’t worn new shoes in a long time. You’re so lucky, girl.”
Chu Yue felt a little suffocated and pulled her foot back.
“Mother, you can’t have these shoes.”