Chapter 14: Dad, Mom, Prepare the Betrothal Gifts — I’m Heading Out.

Li Sui was eating from his bowl when he suddenly recalled the beautiful figure he saw at the end of his shift that evening.

“By the way, Dad, that pretty girl in our village — whose family is she from? How come I’ve never seen her before?”

Ling Bing paused mid-bite, reminded of the encounter he had with Lu Qinglin on the roadside yesterday.

He had meant to talk to this rascal that evening, tell him to stop thinking about that girl — but he got busy and forgot.

Now the boy was asking on his own.

“Who else could it be? The Xiaoxue girl you’re always pining for!” Ling Bing replied gruffly.

“What? Xiaoxue?”
Li Sui’s eyes lit up instantly. As he recalled seeing her that afternoon on his way home, a smile crept onto his face, and a blush spread to the tips of his ears.

He remembered she had looked at him — must’ve recognized him.

Li Sui couldn’t sit still anymore. He set down his chopsticks, grabbed his coat, and was ready to leave.

“Son, where are you going?” Wang Yan asked, confused by how rushed he was.

“Dad, Mom, you two get the betrothal gifts ready. I’m heading out.”

He washed his face, smoothed his hair, threw the coat over his shoulder, and turned to go.

“Come back here, you unfilial brat! I’m not done talking!”
Ling Bing shouted, chasing after him angrily.

Li Sui turned back with a pout. “Dad, whatever you gotta say, say it quick. Don’t hold me up — I’m going to see Xiaoxue.”

Ling Bing hated that cocky look on his son’s face. He rushed up and grabbed him by the ear, dragging him back.

“You brat! Go where? She’s already engaged! What are you even thinking?”

At the words “already engaged”, the smile froze on Li Sui’s face. He shook off his father’s grip, his expression full of disbelief.

“Dad, I don’t believe it. You must be lying. How could Xiaoxue be engaged to someone else?”

Looking at his stubborn son, Ling Bing stomped his foot in anger.

“Believe it or not, you’re not going anywhere tonight. Going to knock on a married woman’s door in the dead of night — what kind of reputation is that? You might not care about saving face, but I do!” he shouted, slapping his own face for emphasis.

“Dad, you’re making things up! There’s no way she’s getting married. She promised to marry me!” Li Sui insisted righteously.

Ling Bing gave him a sidelong glance — this boy had clearly been kicked in the head by a donkey. Still believing in childhood make-believe vows?

“Whatever. Believe what you want. Just don’t embarrass me and your mother.”

With that, Ling Bing huffed and marched back inside, leaving Li Sui standing in the courtyard in a daze.

Watching his father’s back, Li Sui was sure he was lying.

Dad must’ve taken a liking to some other girl and was trying to force him into marriage — what a lame trick. Did he think he was that easy to fool?

What a foolish old man.

——————

Last night, Su Tangxue went to bed early and got up early too.

She assumed Lu Qinglin had already left, but when she rolled over, she was surprised to find him still there — sound asleep.

She was on the inside near the wall, while Lu Qinglin slept on the outside. If she wanted to get out, she’d have to climb over him, which would surely wake him.

After thinking it over, Su Tangxue figured, So what if he wakes up?
She lifted the blanket and carefully straddled him to get out.

That’s when things got awkward.

As soon as she swung one leg over, Lu Qinglin opened his eyes — and there she was, frozen mid-move, stuck in an awkward position, and staring right into his eyes.

Fortunately, he soon closed his eyes again, and Su Tangxue quickly crawled out.

Outside the room, she saw Grandma already awake, sitting in the courtyard sunbathing.

Su Tangxue greeted her politely.

Yun Xiangrui smiled and nodded. “Xiaoxue, your Auntie Liu came by this morning and dropped off some food. I put it in the kitchen.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks, Grandma.”

After washing up, Su Tangxue went to the kitchen and saw half a basket of cucumbers on the stove — freshly picked, vibrant green.

She washed two cucumbers, then sat with Grandma in the sun, munching together.

When Lu Qinglin came out, the first thing he saw was the two of them gnawing on cucumbers.

He rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen.

Su Tangxue followed and said, “We can just eat cucumbers for breakfast — no need to light a fire.”

After a few seconds, Lu Qinglin spoke.
“There’s not much firewood left. I’m going to the mountains today to gather more. I might not come back for lunch. You and Grandma just eat the flatbreads.”

Su Tangxue nodded, not fully understanding. “Oh, okay.”

After a pause, Lu Qinglin added, “I probably won’t have time to go to the supply co-op today. I’ll take you in a few days once I borrow a bicycle.”

Su Tangxue took a bite of cucumber. “Alright.”

That morning, Lu Qinglin made a few flatbreads. The smell tempted Su Tangxue into eating half of one, and Lu Qinglin finished the rest.

After breakfast, he packed dry food and water, ready to head up the mountain. Before leaving, he reminded Su Tangxue again not to wander off.

Su Tangxue agreed to everything obediently.

For lunch, she and Grandma each ate a flatbread and drank some malted milk. Then Su Tangxue returned to her room for a nap.

These past few days since coming back to the village, she felt like she’d become more disciplined — eat, sleep, repeat. At this rate, she joked to herself, she might actually grow taller.

As she dozed, she vaguely heard a woman outside yelling Lu Qinglin’s name.

She thought she was dreaming and rolled over to continue sleeping.

Outside.

Wang Xifeng stood in the blazing sun, screeching Lu Qinglin’s name at the top of her lungs. She’d been yelling so long that her makeup was starting to melt, but there was still no movement from inside the house.

Fuming, she kicked a little rock by her feet in frustration.

Two days ago, Zhang Yunlan told her Lu Qinglin had returned, and she was so excited she ran straight to the Lu household — only to find a collapsed, rundown house with no signs of anyone living there.

She stormed off to the youth courtyard and gave Zhang Yunlan a loud scolding for lying to her.

Yesterday she had gone with her mother to visit relatives. When they returned in the evening, she overheard some gossip at the village entrance: Lu Qinglin had returned and was seen entering the Su family’s courtyard.

Wang Xifeng was overjoyed. The next morning, she bathed, changed clothes, and — still feeling it wasn’t enough — broke out her precious makeup stash and painted her face carefully.

She thought her dolled-up appearance would make Lu Qinglin fall head over heels.

Now, standing here with a sweat-smeared face, she hadn’t even gotten a glimpse of him.

Agitated by the scorching sun, she suddenly snapped and kicked the door — hard — twice, venting all her frustration onto it.

Inside, Su Tangxue was sleeping soundly. The loud bang instantly startled her awake.

Her mood shot straight down.

Annoyed by the interruption, she threw off her blanket, grabbed a broom, and stormed outside.

She had to see who the hell had the nerve to kick her door like that.