“So it’s not a fairy after all—it’s just Sister Shuyao.” Su Mingfeng walked up to Su Shuyao with a grin. He was taller than her, and as he approached, he carried the scent of sunlight.
“I thought it was my sister-in-law! What a letdown. I was thinking, how could a fairy want to marry my brother when our family’s so poor…”
A broomstick came crashing down from above, landing squarely on Su Mingfeng’s head.
“Ow! Big Brother, why did you hit me?!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Shuyao, now,” Su Mingli said coldly, standing tall and upright.
He wore a moon-white long robe, his lean figure holding a scholarly air unique to young noblemen, like fresh pine ink from a stone inkwell—strong yet refined. Compared to when she first met him, he now carried more of a noble heir’s presence, tempered with warmth. In fact, he looked more like the Heir of the Marquis Residence than Su Mingpei did.
Su Mingfeng whined, “Come on, we’re family! Can’t I even make a joke?!”
Su Shuyao thought to herself, how quickly she had become family in their eyes.
Though Su Mingfeng was careless and unruly, under Su Mingli’s stern gaze, he obediently walked up to her and bowed properly. “Sister Shuyao, I’m sorry.”
Su Shuyao nodded. “If I remember correctly, I’m a few days older than you. I’m your elder sister.”
Su Mingfeng widened his eyes. “How is that possible?! I’m so much taller than you—how can I be the younger one?!”
He was the youngest at home, with two older brothers above him. Now, finally, there was a younger girl in the family—how could he pass up the chance to enjoy being an older brother, especially to a pretty fairy-like girl?
He shamelessly declared, “I’m taller, so I’m the older brother!”
A loud slap from his mother landed on his head. “Keep talking nonsense and you’ll still be the younger one.”
Su Mingfeng huffed at his mother. “Why didn’t you give birth to me a few days earlier?!”
Hands on her hips, his mother snapped, “Do you want me to shove you back in and try again?”
“…”
Their uncle was bedridden, his eyes uncomfortable and his legs injured.
Su Shuyao went in to check on him. With maids attending to him now, even though he was sick, he looked much more refreshed than before.
“Shuyao, this is a tuckahoe cake my mother made. You have to try it—it’s really good.” Su Mingfeng held out a bowl, eagerly offering it to her.
Su Shuyao took one and took a bite. “Delicious.”
Su Mingfeng beamed like the morning sun. “Come on, I’ll show you your courtyard!”
“My courtyard? Why would I have one?” she asked, but Su Mingfeng was already pulling her forward.
“You’re my sister, of course you have one!” Su Mingfeng said boldly. “Your courtyard is the biggest and prettiest one in the entire house.”
“Aunt, I don’t come here often. You don’t need to prepare a courtyard just for me,” Su Shuyao said.
Her aunt smiled. “It still needs to be ready. You can nap here sometimes or use it to rest when you visit.”
Looking at her, the aunt recalled many memories. When Su Shuyao was first brought into the Marquis Residence, she had spent some time under Madam Wan’s care. During that time, she was often sick. She even once fell from bed in the middle of the night and nearly died. After that, the Old Madam had taken her away from Madam Wan.
Su Shuyao was around the same age as Mingfeng, and whenever she greeted the Old Madam, she often brought Mingfeng along. The aunt had witnessed it herself—Su Shuyao reaching out for a hug, only for Madam Wan to push her away in disgust. The little girl had stumbled back, falling onto the ground in confusion.
Madam Wan hadn’t liked Su Shuyao when she was little, and she certainly wouldn’t like her now.
There was no need to ask—she knew Su Shuyao hadn’t lived well in the Marquis Residence.
She didn’t mention any of this, only smiled warmly. “Treat this place like your home. If it weren’t for you, we’d still be living in that shabby little courtyard. Mingli wouldn’t have been able to keep studying. You’re the benefactor of our whole family—you must have a courtyard here.”
Su Mingfeng’s jaw dropped. “Huh? So this house was bought by Shuyao? I thought Big Brother made it big!”
Then he pulled up his sleeves, knelt before Su Shuyao, and gave her three loud kowtows. “Thank you!”
Su Shuyao was stunned. “Mingfeng, get up. It’s just a courtyard.”
“Just a courtyard?” Su Mingfeng said earnestly. “To you, it’s a courtyard. But to us, it’s everything!”
“Shuyao, you’re beautiful and kind! I’m going to set up a longevity plaque for you!”
“From today on, I’m your real brother. If you ever need anything, just give the word, and I’ll throw myself into fire and water without hesitation!”
His eyes were pure and bright, full of pride and youthful energy.
Su Shuyao looked at him and smiled.
So this is what it felt like to be truly thanked. There really were people in the world who knew gratitude.
She hadn’t helped the wrong people.
“Say no more. I made some mung bean soup—let’s all have a few bowls.” Their aunt pulled her toward the hall. “Shuyao, stay for dinner tonight. I’ll make your favorite—scrambled eggs with tomatoes.”
Su Shuyao paused. “Aunt, how do you know that’s my favorite dish?”
Her aunt smiled. “You were a bit picky when you were little, but every time there was scrambled eggs with tomatoes, you’d eat two full bowls of rice.”
Su Shuyao smiled.
She had gone through a phase in childhood where she really did love that dish.
The sweet and tangy tomatoes went perfectly with rice.
Madam Wan never knew. No one in the Marquis Residence knew what she liked to eat. But her aunt remembered.
No wonder it was her aunt who had helped bury her in the end.
“Alright, I’ll try Aunt’s cooking today.”
Being remembered like this felt like lying in a spring meadow—warm and full of joy.
Su Mingfeng shouted from behind, “My mom doesn’t have a daughter. Whenever she sees a pretty girl, she wants to bring her home!”
His mother turned back and glared. “Nonsense!”
The moment Su Shuyao visited her aunt’s home, Madam Wan and Su Mingzhu found out.
“Mother, how did Sister get in touch with Uncle’s family?” Su Mingzhu asked.
She couldn’t recall much about them from her previous life, which meant they probably hadn’t done well. If they had risen in rank, she would’ve heard about it.
Madam Wan rolled her prayer beads as she read from her scripture. “A bunch of sickly paupers. Others avoid them like the plague, yet she rushes over to get involved. Utterly foolish.”
Su Mingzhu sighed. “I don’t understand what she’s thinking. She ignores her real relatives and goes running off to act filial to outsiders. And such disgraceful ones at that.”
Madam Wan took Su Mingzhu’s hand. “You’re still the thoughtful one.”
Su Mingzhu said, “Mother, could I ask a favor? If Sister wants to go out in the next few days, please stop her. Don’t let her leave.”
Madam Wan replied, “Alright. I just managed to get that branch of the family out. Let’s not let her bring them back in.”
The next day, Su Shuyao glanced up at the blazing sun and said, “Pass the word—I’ll be heading to the southern hills at midday to pick wild mushrooms.”
Qiushuang’s eyes widened. “Miss, mushrooms only grow after it rains. Going out at noon on such a hot day? You might get heatstroke!”
Su Shuyao said, “Just pass on the word.”
Though Qiushuang was completely against it, she couldn’t disobey the young miss.
As soon as the message was delivered, a maid from Madam Wan’s courtyard arrived. “Miss, Madam asks you to come over.”
Su Shuyao smiled. “Alright, I’ll be there right away.”
While Su Shuyao was detained by Madam Wan to copy scriptures, Su Mingzhu took her carriage and headed to the southern hills, ready to pick mushrooms—blissfully excited, waiting for her moment to become the savior.