Chapter 14 – Can’t You Say Something Caring in a Gentler Way?

After finishing her meal, while no one was home, she quickly washed her undergarments. To call them underwear was a stretch—really, they were just homemade vests she had sewn herself. Nowhere near as convenient as a bra. There was still some fabric left at home; she would have to find time to make proper ones.

The sun was blazing today, and even sitting under a tree, the heat felt stifling.

Liu Wenxiu had already shown her where everything was stored in the house and which cabinet held what.

With nothing to do, she thought it better to go out for a walk.

She boiled a pot of mung bean soup and set it into the well to cool. By the time the clothes were mostly dry, she collected them and put them away, grabbed a basket, and prepared to head out.

Before leaving, she remembered to put on a straw hat. Even though the original owner’s skin didn’t tan easily, the scorching sun wasn’t something to take lightly.

Thinking of the note Huo Tingwu left, she turned and walked over to her eldest uncle’s house, knocking on the door.

“Tingting.”

Huo Tingting was at home embroidering clothes. Hearing the knock, she opened the door and saw it was her second sister-in-law. Delighted, she quickly invited her inside.

“Second Sister-in-law, have some water.”

Ye Tao had already drunk plenty at home, but for courtesy’s sake she picked up the cup and took a sip. It turned out to be sugar water. “Thank you, Tingting.”

It was Tingting’s first time being alone with her, and she was a bit nervous, beads of sweat glistening at the tip of her nose.

“Did you sew this yourself? It’s so beautiful.”

Ye Tao noticed a vividly embroidered rabbit in the basket and couldn’t help picking it up to admire closely.

“Yes, I made it myself. I have nothing much to do at home, so I embroider to pass the time.”

Her family treated her like a treasure, never letting her do farm work. At most, she just delivered meals. Out of boredom, she began copying pictures from illustrated newspapers onto fabric and embroidering them. Over time, she got the hang of it and could embroider directly.

“Tingting, you’re amazing.” Ye Tao’s praise was sincere. With such a skill, Tingting would always have some security in life.

Embarrassed but happy, Huo Tingting’s dimples stayed on her face, refusing to fade.

“By the way, I want to bring this mung bean soup to the fields, but I don’t know where they’re working. Do you know?”

“Yes, they’re in the Dahe fields,” Tingting answered. Her parents had told her before they left.

Ye Tao invited her to come along, and since Tingting had nothing else to do at home, she happily agreed.

The two walked along the country road lined with old willow trees, their trunks so thick that it would take two people to wrap around them.

That was why this path was the most beloved—providing shade from the heat and shelter from the rain.

A breeze blew by, carrying the scent of fresh grass.

After years in a world of reinforced concrete, such quiet, pastoral peace felt even more precious.

“Second Sister-in-law, Second Brother is over there.”

Following Tingting’s pointing finger, Ye Tao saw the tall figures working in the distance.

“Second Brother, Sister-in-law’s here!” Huo Tingjie straightened up, wiped his sweat, and quickly called out to his brother when he noticed her.

A flicker of surprise and joy lit Huo Tingwu’s eyes. Looking up, he saw her indeed.

He practically leapt over, his eyes full of delight. “Taotao, what brings you here?”

He had been up before five that morning. After breakfast, he went straight to the fields to harvest wheat. It was autumn harvest season—one crop after another ripening in succession.

Everyone depended on a good harvest, hurrying to dry and store the grain while the sun was out. The days ahead would only get busier.

Seeing him drenched in sweat, Ye Tao pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped his face.

Huo Tingwu bent down instinctively, making it easier for her.

“I thought it was too hot, so I made mung bean soup, cooled it, and brought it over for you all.”

Warmth spread in his chest. “Thank you, Taotao. It’s so hot—you should’ve rested at home. We brought water…”

Before he could finish, Liu Wenxiu shoved him aside. Stupid boy—couldn’t he see Taotao’s face had already darkened? Couldn’t he have phrased his concern a little more gently?

“It’s our Taotao who’s most thoughtful. Your father and I were just parched—thank goodness you came right on time.”

Ye Tao’s expression immediately softened. “I even added rock sugar. Dad, Mom, let me get you each a bowl.”

“Tingting, call your eldest uncle, aunt, and Tingfeng over too. I brought plenty.”

The ignored Huo Tingwu: ???

Everyone sat in the shade, sipping the sweet mung bean soup while gazing at the golden harvest stretching into the distance. The comfort was indescribable.

“Taotao, you should drink some too.”

Huo Tingwu eagerly held the soup out to her first.

Ye Tao hadn’t truly been angry with him—she just wanted recognition for her efforts, not a lecture.

Seeing him make amends, she didn’t push further. She took a sip from his bowl.

Huo Tingwu watched her carefully. When he saw her expression was normal, he finally relaxed.

People from the brigade looked over and whispered.

“Look at the Huo family—so good to their new daughter-in-law. She doesn’t even have to work in the fields anymore, much better than at her parents’ home.”

“Isn’t that the truth? Just look at Ye Tao—her face is fuller now, and she’s looking prettier too.”

“With that outfit and hairstyle, she looks like a city girl. Nothing like that thin, silent girl who only kept her head down working.”

Someone nearby noticed Ye Tao’s parents sitting within earshot and quickly nudged the speaker to stop.

At that moment, Ye Hongjun’s face flushed—not from heat, but from anger.

No wonder people said a married daughter was like water poured out. It was true. His own parents were drenched in sweat, yet she couldn’t even bring them a bit of mung bean soup, but she could serve her husband’s family so attentively.

Ding Yuxiang’s face soured too. She simply turned her head away, refusing to look at them. After all, their daughter had nothing to do with them anymore.

Noticing all the glances from around them, Ye Hongjun couldn’t vent his anger here. He had to swallow it down.

Ye Tao spotted Ye Song peeking shyly from behind a tree nearby and waved him over.

His eyes lit up, and he ran over happily.

“Second Sister, I missed you so much.”

Even though they had only met two days ago, it already felt like forever.

Ye Tao handed him the last bowl of soup. “Drink this. I put sugar in—it’s sweet.”

Ye Song licked his dry lips but shook his head. “Second Sister, I’m not thirsty. You drink it.”

The scene of her leaving home was etched in his mind. He had asked their parents what happened but only got vague answers. He knew Second Sister must have been hurt deeply. He was too ashamed to face her and could only watch secretly from behind the tree.

“Stupid boy, when Second Sister tells you to drink, you drink. Stop overthinking.”

Ye Tao had looked after him since he was little. She could practically guess his thoughts from a single glance. Matters between adults had nothing to do with him. Now he even dared say he wasn’t thirsty, when his lips were cracked. Did he think she was blind?

Huo Tingwu added, “Listen to your sister.”

Still just half a child, Ye Song was coaxed easily. His eyes reddened as he accepted the bowl and obediently drank it all.

Soon it was nearly mealtime. Liu Wenxiu and her daughter-in-law walked home together.

At noon, they had a two-hour rest, which meant they finished work later in the evening. It was mainly to avoid working during the hottest hours of the day.