Chapter 24: Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Su Lüyun’s sleep quality was excellent; she slept soundly until dawn. When she woke up, she found herself using Zhou Changdong as a teddy bear again, half her body pressed against him. Naturally, she also felt the morning symptoms a normal man would have from Zhou Changdong.

She wasn’t as clueless as yesterday. With yesterday’s buffer, Su Lüyun was much calmer today. She noticed the words on his forehead, so she quickly reached out and felt his abdomen, clearly feeling his bladder was full. She promptly said, “Do you need to pee?” As she spoke, she immediately grabbed the pot to help Zhou Changdong. It was a bit inconvenient because he was still quite “spirited,” but it didn’t stump Su Lüyun. Because there’s a skill called “muzzling”!

It truly was a case of “once bitten, twice shy”; after yesterday, she was much more skilled at helping him pee today. She believed that in the near future, she would become even more proficient! After helping him, she carried the steaming hot “revitalizing soup” to pour it out, then rinsed the pot and left it upside down to dry, ready for next use. Su Lüyun also took care of her own morning routine.

She then started her personal hygiene, and after she was done, she came in to wash Zhou Changdong. Afterward, she told him, “You wait for me at home, I’m going to buy groceries and see if there’s anything good.”

Zhou Changdong gently said: [Wife, take your time.]

Su Lüyun quickly tidied up, then grabbed her basket and headed out.

“Changdong’s wife, are you going to buy groceries?”

“Yes, Auntie, I’m going to see if there’s anything good to buy to nourish Changdong.”

“That’s good. Your mother-in-law told me you stewed crucian carp tofu soup for Changdong yesterday, right?”

“Yes, he drank a lot.”

“…”

After conversing with the neighbors for a bit, Su Lüyun went on her way. But the neighbors weren’t finished; they all started talking amongst themselves. Their attitudes, both explicit and implicit, were clearly better than yesterday. There was nothing they could do; the rumors were just getting more and more exaggerated! Some even said that Su Lüyun had the fate of a wild goose; if anything happened to Zhou Changdong, she probably wouldn’t want to live alone! Others expressed that it wasn’t that exaggerated; who couldn’t live without whom? But the truth wasn’t important; what mattered was whether the tragic and sorrowful emotions were adequately spread! Judging by the neighbors’ gazes, it had definitely been portrayed well! Everyone really couldn’t stand this kind of drama!

Zhao Yuzhu, who came out to pour water, listened to them praise Su Lüyun: “…” She was infuriated early in the morning! Were all these people blind? Su Lüyun’s acting was so terrible, why would they believe she genuinely wanted to stay and take care of Zhou Changdong, that vegetable? Had everyone forgotten? Had they all forgotten Su Lüyun’s image from the past three years?

Su Lüyun didn’t know that her cousin was upset again and again and again. She was quick and efficient, heading to the butcher’s stall at the market. She couldn’t buy meat, but Su Lüyun wanted bones. These didn’t require coupons, so she asked for marrow bones and shoulder blades, and even asked the vendor to chop the marrow bones in half.

She planned to make some bone broth porridge for Zhou Changdong. He couldn’t eat porridge, but rice water was fine. She also bought a bunch of green vegetables, fresh cucumbers, and tomatoes. Since there were eggs at home, she didn’t buy any more. Crucian carp soup was really delicious, so Su Lüyun bought more today, along with tofu. Other than an extra bunch of green vegetables, the other dishes were similar to yesterday’s.

She was about to head back when an old man brought two cages of chickens to sell. These were farm chickens! Not only did Su Lüyun’s eyes light up, but almost everyone else who came to buy groceries gathered around. Su Lüyun, of course, wouldn’t be polite; she managed to snatch a chicken based on her skills! A chicken cost several yuan, but she didn’t bat an eye. She carried the tied-up chicken and headed home.

“Oh, Yunyun, you bought a chicken too? Where did you buy it?” The very emotional Aunt Qian quickly asked when she saw it.

“An old man from the countryside brought them in to sell. Auntie, if you want one, hurry up and buy it, or there won’t be anything left,” Su Lüyun said.

“Alright, alright, I’m going now!” Aunt Qian quickly replied.

Su Lüyun ignored the others, carried the chicken and her basket, opened the door, and went home. She placed the tied-up hen aside. She didn’t know how to prepare it herself; it wasn’t that she was delicate, she genuinely didn’t know how to kill a chicken. She’d wait for her mother-in-law to come and ask her for help.

She put down the vegetable basket and went into the house to check on Zhou Changdong, smiling and saying, “I’m lucky today. I saw an old man selling chickens, so I bought one. I’ll stew chicken soup for you tonight!”

Zhou Changdong’s heart was overflowing with warmth: [I can eat anything; wife, don’t work too hard.]

Hmm, although they hadn’t known each other for long, Su Lüyun had a sharp eye; she could tell that this man was considerate. Perhaps when he woke up, they might get along well? Now she still had the leisure to think this way, but later, when he coaxed her, telling her to “just bear with it a little longer, it’ll be over soon,” she would regret making her conclusion too early! It was true that he was very considerate on a normal day, wanting to spoil her to the heavens.

But at certain specific times, he was very unrestrained!

Su Lüyun, still unaware of what lay ahead, was in a good mood as she came out, rinsed some rice, and started cooking. The marrow bones and shoulder blades were, of course, also rinsed and put into the pot. Although there was no meat, stewing some broth with pig bones could still provide a certain nourishing effect. Su Lüyun thought she should go out to the supply and marketing cooperative later to see if they had dried kelp. She still wanted to get as many ingredients as possible to stew for Zhou Changdong to eat, so he wouldn’t lack anything from lying down for too long.

When the bone porridge was ready, Su Lüyun scooped out the rice water. The bone porridge soup, seasoned with salt, had a faint savory aroma and was quite delicious! While it was cooling, she made herself a mixed breakfast. She chopped a handful of washed green vegetables into the leftover porridge, and when the vegetable porridge was almost cooked, the green vegetable bone porridge was done. The taste wasn’t great, but not bad either, and most importantly, the nutrition was balanced. And for Su Lüyun, who had experienced strict weight control, such a breakfast was already considered hearty.

It was still hot, so she went in to feed Zhou Changdong first. Halfway through feeding him, Chen Aihong arrived, bringing two catties of eggs. Su Lüyun opened the door to welcome her in, “Mom, why did you buy so many eggs?”

“I brought them for you and Changdong to eat,” Chen Aihong said, then noticed the hen after coming inside, “You bought a chicken too? I didn’t see any chickens when I went.”

Su Lüyun took the basket and placed it in the kitchen, “They must have sold out, they’re in high demand. But I don’t know how to kill a chicken, Mom, do you?”

Ms. Chen also didn’t know how to kill chickens, “I’ll take it to Aunt Qian and ask her to help kill it. When it’s stewed, I’ll send her a bowl of soup, how about that?”

“No problem!” Su Lüyun nodded enthusiastically, then led her mother-in-law into the house, picked up the bone porridge soup, and continued to feed Zhou Changdong, smiling as she said, “Mom, I even had a dream yesterday! I dreamed that Changdong got better!”