18
“So… you’re Suisui.” Song Rulan was visibly moved. “I even held you when you were little. And now you’ve grown up into a young lady.”
“Come in, come in!” Song Rulan quickly took her by the arm and led her into the courtyard. “Xiao Xue, pour your sister Suisui some water and add a little sugar. And wash some of those hovenia fruits and water chestnuts your brother brought back yesterday!”
“Oh…” Song Yuxue replied with a blank expression.
“No, no, no!” Jiang Suisui hurriedly stopped her. “There’s no need I already had breakfast at home. I’m totally full, can’t eat or drink a thing!”
There was a small stone table in the Song family’s courtyard. Song Rulan pulled her over to sit down, patted her hand, and said with a smile, “It’s just a little something. Don’t stand on ceremony with Aunt Lan we’re going to be family from now on.”
Catching the implication in her words, Jiang Suisui couldn’t help but blush, wanting to explain but not knowing how.
Wasn’t Song Rulan supposed to be bedridden all the time? She looked perfectly fine right now!
Jiang Suisui: I just wanted to secretly visit the little cutie, but ended up accidentally running into my future mother-in-law. What do I do???
Seeing Jiang Suisui blush, Song Rulan thought she was just shy and felt even more pleased. She took Jiang Suisui’s hand and said warmly, “Don’t be embarrassed. Just think of this place as your own home, and think of me and Xiao Xue as your own family.”
Song Yuxue: = =
Sure, she didn’t find Jiang Suisui as annoying anymore, but that didn’t mean she was ready to accept her as family this quickly! Mom was way too enthusiastic! Song Yuxue felt a little sour inside…
Jiang Suisui gave an awkward smile: “Aunt Lan, about this engagement…” Actually, nothing was set in stone yet.
Before she could finish, Song Rulan said, “You don’t need to worry about the wedding arrangements.”
Jiang Suisui: “…”
A gentle smile rippled across Song Rulan’s pale cheeks. Seeing her like this, Jiang Suisui couldn’t bring herself to say anything to refuse.
Song Rulan continued: “It’s all Ah Zheng’s fault, he went and made such a big decision as getting engaged without even telling me in advance. And it’s my own useless health that’s to blame too. Your grandmother didn’t take offense, did she? I’ll make a visit with gifts another day to make up for it.”
She suddenly broke into a coughing fit. Song Yuxue quickly handed her a cup of water, and Jiang Suisui moved closer to gently pat her back, helping her catch her breath.
After taking a few sips of water and resting a moment, Song Rulan said weakly, “Sorry, I must have embarrassed you.”
Song Yuxue frowned: “Mom, let’s go inside. The wind outside is chilly, you can’t stay out too long.”
Jiang Suisui quickly stood up and helped Song Rulan inside.
After they sat back down, Jiang Suisui reassured her: “Aunt Lan, my grandmother doesn’t mind at all. She’s not one to stand on formalities either. And besides, Song… Brother Song did bring engagement gifts when he came.”
Song Rulan, still flushed from the coughing fit which actually gave her face a bit more color, smiled and nodded. “Your grandmother is a good person… She often looked after Xiao Xue when she was little.”
“Our two families are fated. I’m so happy that you and Ah Zheng can be together.” Song Rulan’s face was full of heartfelt satisfaction.
Jiang Suisui: … Since when were she and Song Weizheng “together”?
It seemed Song Rulan had no idea about the real reason behind the engagement, nor what Song Weizheng had said to her.
“As for the wedding,” Song Rulan continued where she’d left off, “you don’t need to worry. I’ll make sure Ah Zheng prepares everything properly.”
“My health has been much better lately I don’t need to see the doctor and take medicine as often as before. There will be enough money for the wedding and the bride price, you won’t be shortchanged. After you marry into this family, you don’t need to worry about me. Just live your own life well with Ah Zheng.”
“Aunt Lan…” Jiang Suisui grew more touched the more she heard, and the more she liked this gentle, warm woman before her.
Her future mother-in-law was way too kind, sob sob—she felt just like a real mom. What a pity I can’t actually be her daughter-in-law… Jiang Suisui silently wept in her heart.
“Come visit often—treat this as your own home. Ah Zheng works in the fields during the day and doesn’t come back until evening. If you’re looking for him, you can come later.” Song Rulan’s face lit up with a smile. “Actually… how about I send him over to find you when he comes back? Boys should take the initiative.”
“No, no, no!” Jiang Suisui gave a triple refusal. “There’s no need to send him to find me. Actually, I came today to see Xiao Xue!”
“Oh, right,” Song Rulan remembered. “Silly me, you were calling Xiao Xue’s name when you first arrived.”
Song Yuxue asked, puzzled, “What do you want me for?”
Jiang Suisui: “To go out and play… I mean, to go up the mountain together to dig for wild vegetables and gather pigweed!”
“Can’t you do it alone? Why do we have to go together?” Song Yuxue, who’d always done things solo, felt a bit awkward receiving her first invitation ever.
“Xiao Xue,” Song Rulan looked at her disapprovingly, “your sister Suisui wants to take you along, that’s her way of looking out for you. Why are you talking like that? And you’re supposed to call her sister, have you forgotten again?”
Song Yuxue: … Looking out for me? Last time I saw her, she didn’t even know how to dig wild vegetables!
“Go on,” Song Rulan gave her a gentle push toward Jiang Suisui. “Go with Suisui, it’s good for you two to keep each other company. I’ll feel better knowing you’re together.”
She looked at Jiang Suisui and said warmly, “I’ll leave her in your care.”
“Not at all, Xiao Xue knows way more than I do.” Jiang Suisui stood up. “Well then… Aunt Lan, take care of yourself. We’ll head out now? I’ll bring Xiao Xue back later.”
Song Rulan nodded with a smile and watched them leave.
Once they were outside the Song house, Jiang Suisui let out a breath and said with feeling, “Xiao Xue, your mom is so gentle and warm, she made me feel all awkward.”
She’d barely said it, but mention of her mom made Song Yuxue feel a little sour again: “Mom’s never been that warm with anyone else before…”
She glanced at Jiang Suisui and asked, “What do you really want with me?”
Jiang Suisui said matter-of-factly: “To go up the mountain together to dig wild vegetables and gather pigweed, duh!”
Song Yuxue frowned, not quite convinced: “Just for that? You’re really not here to see my brother?”
“What would I want with him?” Jiang Suisui waved her hand. “If I really wanted to see him, I wouldn’t have come at this hour—he’s already out working, I know that.”
Song Yuxue nodded, then suddenly said, “Oh… so you’re trying to get on our good side first, so we’ll put in a good word for you with my brother?”
“…What are you even talking about!” Jiang Suisui bent down and pinched her cheek, grumbling, “I don’t need you to put in a good word for me with him!”
After pinching, she rubbed her fingers together and sighed—too skinny, hardly any flesh on those cheeks.
“Here.” Jiang Suisui pulled the boiled egg out of her pocket and held it out to Song Yuxue. “I brought this for you. Have it.”
Song Yuxue’s eyes widened at the round egg right in front of her nose. It was so close she could even catch its unique, fragrant smell.
“For… for me?” She was still a child after all, and the sight of something tasty made her mouth water despite herself.
Most of the eggs at home were exchanged for money, or sometimes her mother would boil one or two when she was sick. Song Yuxue rarely got to have one.
“Yep!” Jiang Suisui nodded and pushed the egg closer. “I brought it especially for you. Take it.”
Song Yuxue snapped back to her senses, clasping her hands behind her back and turning her face away. “I don’t want it!”
“Huh?” Jiang Suisui was confused. “Why not? Don’t you like eggs?”
Even as stubborn as she was, Song Yuxue couldn’t bring herself to say she didn’t like eggs. She could only reply coldly, “Don’t think you can bribe me with an egg!”
“Pfft!” Jiang Suisui couldn’t help but laugh.
She patted Song Yuxue’s stubborn little head and chuckled, “Look at you—so unyielding in the face of temptation.”
“Come on, let’s find a place to sit!” Jiang Suisui took Song Yuxue’s hand and led her along until they found a patch of shade under a tree to sit down.
She squeezed the egg, cracking the shell. The aroma of the boiled egg wafted out, tempting Song Yuxue, who couldn’t help letting her gaze drift toward the egg in Jiang Suisui’s hand.
Jiang Suisui slowly peeled the egg and held the smooth, white, round egg out to Song Yuxue. “Here, I’ve even peeled it for you. If you still don’t eat it now, that’s just not right.”
Song Yuxue didn’t move. She said quietly, “I don’t want to eat it. Why are you so insistent on making me…”
“I like you, and I want you to have it, is that not allowed?” Jiang Suisui urged, “Just eat it. Think of it as me trying to win you over, you are my future little sister-in-law, after all.”
Future little sister-in-law Song Yuxue looked at her for a moment but still refused: “That’s even worse. My brother said if you accept food from others, you owe them. If you take favors, you’re beneath them. If you’re trying to win my brother over, don’t bother using me, it’s useless… I can’t control who my brother likes anyway.”
“Ugh,” Jiang Suisui sighed. Why was this kid so difficult?
“I say I’m not trying to win you over and you don’t believe me. I say I am and you won’t have it.” Jiang Suisui said helplessly, “Truth is, I just happened to bring you an egg. Don’t overthink it.”
Song Yuxue sat hugging her knees, unmoved: “Eat it yourself. Don’t just give things away. Aren’t you afraid your grandma will call you wasteful?”
Jiang Suisui found it both amusing and touching, being lectured by a child, yet feeling oddly warmed by it.
“I ate before I came out, so I can’t eat another bite now,” Jiang Suisui explained. “I already peeled it, but I can’t finish it. If you don’t help me out, this egg will go to waste—what a shame…”
“And besides, wasting food is shameful, wouldn’t you agree?”
Hearing her say that, Song Yuxue’s resolve began to waver.
Jiang Suisui held it out a little closer, and finally, Song Yuxue reached out and took it.
Jiang Suisui watched with great satisfaction as she took small bites of the egg, feeling the joy of feeding someone.
Too bad supplies were so scarce these days, otherwise, she could have cooked up some little snacks or treats that kids would love.
Song Yuxue finished it bite by bite, then licked her lips and said, “Next time you can’t finish, don’t cook it in the first place. Don’t waste it, you can exchange eggs for money at the supply co-op.”
Jiang Suisui affectionately patted her head. “Got it. I’m not that reckless with things either. I’m planning to go to the market in a couple of days I’ll exchange the eggs my grandma’s been saving for her.”
Song Yuxue paused at that. The market?
Her brother was planning to go too. Maybe… maybe she should mention it to him and ask him to look out for Jiang Suisui.
**