“You little brat, you’re really asking for a beating!”
Qu Hu glanced at Hu Niang and saw a dangerous light in his wife’s eyes. Furious, he grabbed Tiger by his collar, intending to deliver a thrashing.
Hu Niang crossed her arms and glared at him fiercely: “What? Is your son right, so you want to beat him?”
In truth, Hu Niang found it strange as well. She had indeed never seen Qu Hu act so gently toward anyone’s child, with the sole exception of Su Nianyuan.
Qu Hu was caught between a rock and a hard place, feeling quite aggrieved and on the verge of tears.
Su Nianyuan hurriedly stepped in to help explain: “Auntie, it’s not like that! Big Brother Xiao Qi is a beggar from town who helped us a lot. That’s why Uncle Qu Hu was a bit nicer to him.”
She then looked at the aggrieved Tiger, her little face pulling into a stern expression: “Brother Tiger, even if you are jealous, you shouldn’t talk nonsense. It makes Auntie misunderstand, and it makes Uncle Qu Hu sad too.”
Looking at Su Nianyuan’s serious demeanor, and then at his mother’s stern face and his father’s aggrieved expression, Tiger lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I shouldn’t have talked nonsense. I just saw that you were gentler to that kid than to me…”
Qu Hu had been somewhat angry at first, but looking at his son admitting his mistake, he let out a sigh.
Setting the boy down, he patted his head as well.
“I was too harsh on you before. Sorry.”
Tiger raised his head, his vision blurred with tears, and his father’s tall figure seemed to grow even taller.
Hu Niang’s anger faded quickly. Seeing Qu Hu covered in silt, she felt a pang of heartache and pulled him close to brush off the dried mud clods.
Qu Hu looked down, grinning silly.
His heart felt warm and cozy.
Su Jiancheng smiled as well, turning around to announce loudly, “Head home! Cook dinner!”
This time, they had brought back a total of two hundred catties of grain. Sixty-three people had come to work, and twelve and a half catties had been distributed.
Although it seemed like a lot of grain, dry rice was out of the question; tonight they were having thick porridge.
The women began lighting the fires to cook. Clean water was running short, with enough to last three days at most, but Su Nianyuan wasn’t worried—she had a method to purify water.
What was most important right now was telling Su Jiancheng everything that had happened in the county town.
“What?!”
A sudden expletive erupted inside the main hall, scaring the birds resting on the roof into scattering and flying away.
People poked their heads out from the two guest rooms and the kitchen, looking toward the main hall with curiosity.
What on earth were the Village Chief and the others discussing that made them so excited?
Inside the main hall, in the corner designated as the office, a low table had been set up in the middle. Just now, Su Jiancheng’s excitement had nearly flipped the low table over.
Su Nianyuan had flattened her whole body against it to keep it steady.
She pouted slightly in displeasure: “Dad! Why are you getting so excited?”
He almost made her drop her money.
Pouting her lips, she stashed the banknotes away again.
This system had another perk—it could store money. Although it wasn’t an item-storage space, it was enough as long as it could preserve the most important things.
Su Jiancheng looked at the stack of ten-thousand-tael banknotes with a complex expression and let out a long breath.
“Zhou Qiyuan really didn’t suspect anything? He actually took you as his goddaughter?” Su Jiancheng didn’t mind Su Nianyuan taking a few more godfathers.
Having more people spoil his daughter meant a few extra guarantees for her future.
What was there to be reluctant about?
Given that the other party was Zhou Qiyuan, however, he had reason to worry.
Su Nianyuan nodded, remaining very calm: “Don’t worry, Dad! Everything is under control!”
Su Jiancheng looked at Lin Shoufeng again, and Lin Shoufeng nodded: “Though I didn’t go inside to see it with my own eyes, Zhou Qiyuan seemed extremely pleased. Moreover, he handed over his personal waist token. If he hadn’t believed the Little Village Chief’s words, he never would have given it to her.”
Su Jiancheng nodded: “True. It seems Zhou Qiyuan truly believes in the gods and Buddha.”
“Guilty conscience, that’s why.”
Su Nianyuan shrugged. Whenever she was in a good mood, she tended to speak freely.
Flashing a grin, she said, “The Great Immortal told me that Zhou Qiyuan won’t die a peaceful death in the future. So before he dies, we need to make good use of him.”
The four people present exchanged glances, each seeing the amusement in the others’ eyes.
Outside, Hu Niang called out, “Time to eat!!”
Su Jiancheng reached out to pick up Su Nianyuan, but remembering the medicine she had bought, Su Nianyuan picked it up and stood up.
Su Jiancheng asked, “What medicine is this?”
“Fetal preservation medicine.”
Having said that, Su Nianyuan walked straight outside, her small figure radiating a tremendous sense of security.
Su Jiancheng’s heart melted: “My daughter truly is a kind little fairy~”
Inside the kitchen, Deng Yinghe sat behind the stove. The firelight flickered across her face, matching her current mood.
Yesterday, she had indeed thought about living well and bringing the child into the world.
This was not only her hope, but also her mother-in-law’s hope.
Deng Yinghe raised her head and saw her mother-in-law, Liu Ju, busy working alongside Old Lady Lin, a hopeful smile on her face.
Meeting her gaze, Liu Ju smiled gently at her: “A-He, wait a bit. Mother will bring you food shortly.”
Deng Yinghe couldn’t manage a smile.
This morning, she had experienced a bit of vaginal bleeding, and her belly was aching dull.
Even if she wasn’t a doctor, she knew this was a sign of a threatened miscarriage. She didn’t dare tell her mother-in-law, terrified that she would suffer another blow of agony.
Her hand gently stroked her lower abdomen, and she lowered her head, biting her lip tightly.
A silent prayer rose from her heart.
Heavens, please open your eyes. You have already mercilessly taken my husband; please leave this child behind! This humble woman is willing to trade her life for this child’s life!
She desperately wanted to preserve her husband’s sole remaining bloodline.
“Auntie A-He.”
Just as she was praying, a soft, milky voice called out by her ear. Deng Yinghe raised her head blankly, seeing Su Nianyuan right in front of her.
Su Nianyuan grinned and stuffed the medicine package into Deng Yinghe’s arms.
Reaching out her small hands, Su Nianyuan wiped the tears from her face.
Her little hands were soft and warm. At close range, Deng Yinghe could see her own reflection in those big, round eyes.
“What is this?” Her voice was very light, as if floating.
Hearing her, Su Nianyuan leaned closer to Deng Yinghe and whispered, “Uncle Qin asked me in the past to take care of my little brother or little sister. This is the fetal preservation medicine I bought for you in the city.”
“Decoct three bowls of water down to one bowl, twice a day. Auntie A-He must take her medicine obediently, okay? Don’t be afraid of the bitterness.”
Qin Liangmin.
Deng Yinghe felt an overwhelming pang of heartache. She wanted to smile, but tears fell first. Reaching out, she embraced Su Nianyuan’s small body, leaning on her shoulder as she wept silently.
“Thank you… Thank you, Little Village Chief.”
She knew that the Little Village Chief had seen her bleeding when she went to the latrine this morning.
How could such a tiny child be so thoughtful?
Her husband was right—A-Yuan was the most adorable child she had ever met.
After taking the medicine, Deng Yinghe slept very peacefully tonight. Liu Ju covered her with a thin quilt, turning her head away to wipe her tears.
She had been blissfully happy all day, completely unaware that her daughter-in-law was enduring such pain alone.
In the dark, Old Lady Lin held her old friend’s hand, whispering, “From now on, we will listen to the Little Village Chief and repay her.”
“Yes, repay her.”
Tonight’s dreams were all beautiful.
Except for Zhou Qiyuan.
Zhou Qiyuan suffered a nightmare tonight: in his dream, the floodwaters surged directly into the county seat, submerging him and his entire inner court.
He struggled in the water, but was completely unable to break free.
Then, a small hand grabbed him, pulling him out of the water, and he saw a bright, smiling little face.
“Godfather, wake up~”