Chapter 136

Su Xiaoxiao walked into the house and asked Da Bao. “Where’s Fantuan?”

Dabao replied, “Taking a hot bath in the bathroom.”

Su Xiaoxiao instructed, “Da Bao, get some white wine and pour it into Fantuan’s bathwater. Pour a bit more, and then take a piece of ginger to rub Fantuan’s back.”

Zhang Chunying, who came back from outside and heard that Fantuan had fallen into the water, promptly went to prepare ginger soup. By now, it was almost ready. She was surprised to see them returning with a dripping-wet person. “Isn’t this Liu Shuixian? What happened today? Why are so many people falling into the water?”

Setting aside personal feelings, Su Xiaoxiao now has a strong opinion about Liu Shuixian. If it weren’t for her recklessness, Fantuan wouldn’t have jumped into the water to save someone on such a cold day. If anything happened to Fantuan, Su Xiaoxiao feared she might not be able to resist giving Liu Shuixian a beating.

Su Xiaoxiao could already smell the aroma of ginger soup. “Second sister-in-law, please serve her a bowl of ginger soup and lend her a set of clothes. Once she has warmed up, send her back quickly.”

Su Xiaoxiao really doesn’t want to see her now.

Zhang Chunying, who usually detested the widow for her arrogance based on a bit of education and looks, had an elevated sense of superiority. If not for her younger sister’s intervention, she wouldn’t even bother acknowledging her. The ginger soup was intended for Fantuan, and she had added quite a bit of brown sugar to it. It was truly a favor to her.

Liu Shuixian entered the kitchen, and she poured a bowl of ginger soup. The men at home could return at any time. 

Li Yufeng arranged for Liu Shuixian to stay in the utility room. Zhang Chunying reluctantly handed her a set of old clothes and said, “Mom, our quilt got wet. What are we going to use tonight?”

Li Yufeng also had no fondness for Liu Shuixian, but due to the life-and-death situation, she didn’t think much at the time. “Take the quilt outside to dry, and then go to my room and bring that old cotton jacket.”

Li Yufeng also found an old towel and handed it to Liu Shuixian to dry her hair. After drinking a warm bowl of ginger soup, Liu Shuixian recovered a lot. She spoke without shivering and softly said, “Thank you.”

Li Yufeng looked at Liu Shuixian with annoyance and said, “You don’t have to thank me. Liu Shuixian, let me tell you, if I wasn’t worried about you tarnishing the good reputation of our production team, I wouldn’t have bothered with someone like you. Why did you harm Yang Lin for no reason? Even in arranged marriages, both parties need to agree before getting married. What you did was forcefully give yourself; what kind of behavior is that? Yang Lin is an honest man. Even if he got involved with you through deception, do you think he’ll treat you well when you have used such methods to marry him?”

Liu Shuixian moved her lips to retort, but Li Yufeng immediately cut her off. “You don’t need to deny it. I’ve seen more people than you’ve eaten grains of salt. I can tell your intentions just by a slight gesture. The Yang family are all well-mannered and educated individuals. Did you hear a rumor that they might return to the city, so you decided to cling to them? What if they can’t go back to the city? What’s your plan then?”

Liu Shuixian said, “They can go back. There are already some educated youth from other towns who have returned to the city. Your family dares to associate with them, indicating they haven’t committed any major wrongs. Going back to the city is just a matter of time.”

“You’re talking shit!” Li Yufeng rarely used foul language, but now she couldn’t hold back. “What do you mean our family dares to associate with them? Su Weimin is the head of the production team. When they come to our brigade, they are our members. What’s wrong with lending a helping hand?”

Liu Shuixian stopped wiping her hair and said, “What about Director Han from your family? Last year, I saw him enter their yard and chatted with them for a long time before coming out. This year, he even sent them gifts. How about your family’s Dabao and Xiaobao? They run to their house every day. It’s clear that these people are good. Li Aunt, let me be honest with you. Even if they can’t go back to the city, I’m willing to marry Yang Lin. I promise to be well-behaved after marrying him.”

Liu Shuixian held Li Yufeng’s hand and said, “Aunt Li, can you help me?? I am already thirty years old this year. If I don’t get married, I’ll grow old and die in this village. My fate is unfortunate. When I was about to join the army as a military wife, my man died and couldn’t leave me a child. I am left here alone. My mother’s family doesn’t care about me, and my in-laws have long separated. No one cares about my life. My husband’s pension won’t last long. I just want to find someone to rely on.

You all make fun of me, a widowed woman who is too picky. But Aunt Li, besides being a bit narrow-minded and having a sharp tongue, have I done anything outrageous in this village? Those men can’t control their eyes and keep staring at me. What can I do?

I graduated from high school, and my looks are not bad. If my husband hadn’t died, I would be just like your daughter, settling down in the army and raising children. Why did I end up like this? If I had the support of elders like Su Xiaoxiao, I wouldn’t have stepped forward to find a man on my own. Look at the people that matchmaker Xu introduced to me. I still have dignity to uphold, Aunt Li. I’m really desperate now.”

As Liu Shuixian spoke, she burst into tears. In the past two years, the people introduced to her by Matchmaker Xu were not just divorced or widowed with children; some were even disabled. Every time, she had to endure remarks like, ‘Are you still thinking about someone like Han Cheng? There are few Han Chengs in this world, and even if there are, they wouldn’t look at you.’

Such cold words, but she has to endure them to not offend Matchmaker Xu.

It was not easy for Liu Shuixian to meet someone like Yang Lin, who had a decent character. True, he might be a bit dull, but he was knowledgeable and respected her, a thousand times better than those recommended by the matchmaker, Xu. However, being a person sent down from elsewhere, she had no idea about his background initially. She couldn’t afford to take risks blindly. She observed his family secretly for a long time; they were low-key, decent people. Also, the Su family had a good relationship with them, giving her the courage to test Yang Lin.

She could actually see that Yang Lin was tempted, but for some reason, he suddenly changed his mind today. 

Liu Shuixian remembered a girl from the village who had jumped into the river in front of a young intellectual to force him to marry her. He had saved her, reluctantly marrying her afterward. They had two children now and were living well. In her desperation, Liu Shuixian decided to try a similar approach.

She never even considered whether Yang Lin could swim or would jump in to save her. If it weren’t for the Su family’s three children passing by, she might have lost her life in the river today.

Su Xiaoxiao stood at the door, listening to their conversation. After all, even the most hateful person could also be pitiful. In a way, Liu Shuixian is also a pitiful person. If Su Xiaoxiao hadn’t had these family members and hadn’t met Han Cheng, her situation wouldn’t be much better.

In this era where the college entrance exam was suspended without a recommendation letter, it was challenging for village girls to marry city dwellers. Liu Shuixian was also a burdened person with no prospects.

Li Yufeng was a soft-hearted person. After hearing her out, she couldn’t stay angry. She said, “You can’t force people into such matters. Can it really work? Just because someone is good, does it mean they deserve to be extorted by you? And our Fantuan, a nine-year-old, jumped into such cold water in the middle of winter to save you. If something happens to him, I won’t let you off!”

Speaking of Fantuan, Li Yufeng became angry again. Just thinking about it was frightening. Three children innocently went to the fields to pick straw and encountered such an incident. If something had happened, she couldn’t imagine living with that guilt.

Liu Shuixian kept crying and said, “I made a mistake, Aunt Li, but I really have no other choice. Can you help me? Please help me.” 

(T/N: Beach is not sorry at all. That’s a freaking child, what a selfish woman.) 

Su Xiaoxiao entered the room, pushing the door open. “So, our family saved you, and now you plan to take advantage of us? Do you want my mother to force Yang Lin to marry you? He has parents; why should he listen to my mother? You can talk to Yang Lin sincerely, treat him well, show him your virtues, and make him like you. This matter will naturally progress. Now you’ve closed off your own path. Would he dare to marry you now? Stop having wild thoughts, and don’t do anything stupid. There are other ways to live. If you’re okay now, go back. It will only get colder after the sun sets.”

After all the words had been said, Liu Shuixian had nothing more to say. Leaving with a simple “I’ll return the clothes another day,” she turned and walked away.

Li Yufeng watched her departing figure and sighed, “At her age, wanting to marry in the city is not an easy task. Moreover, as a widow, I hope this matter doesn’t spread. Otherwise, it might become even more difficult for her in the future. Actually, thinking about it, it would be good if Yang Lin could look favorably upon her.”

Su Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment, closed the door, and whispered to Li Yufeng, “Mother, I have something to tell you. Don’t tell anyone for now. It’s better if you know it yourself.”

Li Yufeng’s heart skipped a beat. “Daughter, don’t scare your mother. What’s the matter? Why are you suddenly acting so serious?”

Su Xiaoxiao thought that the Yang family was about to return to the city and that their family would eventually know about it. So she told Li Yufeng their identities in advance, one by one.

Finally, she said, “Mother, how we dealt with them before, we should continue to do so in the future. They are good people, and how you, not knowing much of their identities mean to them. They are grateful, but with the village gossip, they don’t want unnecessary rumors. They should be able to return to the city at the latest next year. They plan to meet Fantuan and others only after returning to the city. We need to understand their situation, and you must keep it a secret.”

Li Yufeng was dumbfounded. She couldn’t fathom that they were actually Fantuan and Doubao’s maternal grandparents and uncles. Back then, Liu Shuixian had even considered marriage with Han Cheng. Though it was just a brief meeting, it would be quite awkward if it got out.

Li Yufeng thought of another issue: “Then why doesn’t Fantuan recognize his uncle?”

Su Xiaoxiao explained, “Their families are far apart. Fantuan was only three or four years old when Yang Mei left, and he rarely saw his grandparents. Even now, he may not recognize them. Yang Lin has always been in the laboratory, and Fantuan might not even know her so well. It’s not strange that he doesn’t recognize his uncle and grandparents.”

Li Yufeng nodded and said, “No wonder. Mother understands. I won’t bring up this matter. It’s fortunate that they came to our production team. Your father respects intellectuals so much, and if they went to another production team who doesn’t share the same view as your father, I don’t know how much they would have to suffer. What was before should remain the same in the future. Our families are connected, after all. Well, I should go check on Fantuan. It’s been so long; I don’t even know if the water is still warm, and I don’t know if Xiao Bao has been given hot water.”

Su Xiaoxiao looked at her mother’s departing figure and smiled. Her mother was truly the kindest person she had ever known, treating everyone well.

Su Xiaoxiao also stood up to check on Fantuan. This little brat almost scared her to death today. After spending just one summer learning to swim with Han Cheng, he dared to jump into the icy river in this cold weather. She needed to have a serious talk with him.