Seeing this, Su Fu understood immediately—it must be his sister-in-law’s doing. In these difficult times, who would willingly let others eat for free?
Not being scolded was already fortunate, but he resolved in his heart not to share meals with them in the future.
He paused briefly, then forced a cheerful smile and said, “These dishes look wonderful—they seem delicious.”
Li Shugen understood perfectly well that Su Fu was trying to save him from embarrassment, but Li Shitou couldn’t grasp such subtleties.
“Why are there only these dishes? Mother said she’d stew meat for me!” He put down his chopsticks, his face full of displeasure.
Hearing this, Li Chunhua glanced at the Su father and son, then timidly whispered, “I don’t know either.”
She actually knew, but didn’t dare say.
How could she admit that her mother had been smashing bowls and pots at home upon hearing the food was being given to the Su family?
Not to mention all those curses…
Though timid and slow-witted by nature, Li Chunhua still understood what should and shouldn’t be said.
“Enough, let’s eat. Chunhua, you can go back if there’s nothing else.” Though angry, Li Shugen couldn’t take it out on his daughter, since none of this was her doing.
Li Chunhua murmured an acknowledgment as softly as a mosquito and turned to leave, but the next moment she looked up, she spotted Su Li and Su Tao approaching.
“It’s Sister Tao and Sister Li!”
“Tao?”
At her exclamation, Su Fu realized it was his fourth and youngest daughters arriving.
He quickly stood up to look and indeed saw them.
“What brings you here?”
This was Su Li’s first time visiting the garrison where Su Die was stationed—her first time, though not the original body’s. Previously, the original owner had always kept her head bowed, never daring to look around, but this time Su Li took a good look.
The garrison, fully named Zhonghou Fortress City, was a circular structure covering a considerable area. People moved in and out, making it seem less like a military base and more like an ordinary residential community.
However, since the farmland wasn’t located within the city walls, Su Li and her sister didn’t enter but instead detoured to where Su Fu and the others were working.
Under Da Wei’s Military Agricultural System, fifty men formed one agricultural unit. Su Fu’s location was relatively easy to find, as they generally worked in fixed spots, so Su Li and Su Tao quickly located them.
“Si Ya, Fifth Girl, what brings you here?” Su Fu stood up and asked, deliberately ignoring the baskets in their hands, his tone slightly anxious.
“Grandma sent us to bring you food,” Su Tao replied with a smile.
Hearing it was food delivery, Su Fu finally relaxed. He had feared something had happened at home.
“I already said there’s food here—no need to deliver more.” Knowing the family’s current situation, he had insisted they shouldn’t send meals.
Then he turned to Su Li and asked, “By the way, are you feeling better now?”
Staring at the burly man with a long beard before her, Su Li was momentarily stunned. This was her first time meeting Su Fu, yet she could feel a father’s concern, along with the direct, unwavering attention from her two brothers nearby.
“I’m fully recovered, Father.”
“Good, that’s good.”
“Father, let’s eat first.” Su Li followed Su Fu over.
“Uncle Li.”
“Uncle Li.”
“Brother Shitou, Sister Chunhua.”
“Sister Tao.”
“Sister Li!”
After exchanging greetings, Su Li and Su Tao placed the meal containers on the ridge between the fields.
“Sister Tao, what delicious food did Aunt Chen make?” Li Shitou noticed the baskets were covered with white cloth and couldn’t resist craning his neck to peek inside.
However, Su Tao immediately refuted this:
“It wasn’t my mother who made it—it was Fifth Sister.”
Huh? These words surprised everyone, with the three Su father and sons being the most astonished.
After all, Chen Shi usually did the cooking at home, with Wu Pozi occasionally taking over, while the two younger daughters only tended the fire. How could the youngest daughter be cooking today?
Could it be that the household chores weren’t finished yet? That made sense—in previous years, after harvesting rice, they were always busy for several more days.
But before they could process this, another surprise came. Su Tao’s next words completely destroyed everyone’s appetite.
“It’s stir-fried river mussels—so delicious!” Su Tao declared confidently.
“What? River mussels?”
Su Fu wondered if he had misheard. Surely not the ones from his memory? Could those possibly taste good?
Beside him, Li Shugen and Li Shitou, along with Li Chunhua who hadn’t left yet, all furrowed their brows.
They didn’t know about other families, but in their own household, there was one year when Liu Shi particularly loved gathering river mussels to cook, claiming they were “meat that didn’t cost any silver.At first, they had been quite期待, since the river mussel meat did look similar to pork. But when they actually tasted it… that flavor… was so fishy and foul that they even threw the bowls away.
For the Liu family, the taste of river mussel meat was literally the stuff of nightmares—something they never wanted to eat again in their lifetime.
And now the Su family had prepared it today…
Li Shugen really wanted to say that no matter how tough times were, it was better not to eat this… it was truly awful…
But the words stuck in his throat. It was his straightforward son who couldn’t hold back:
“Can that possibly taste good?”
“It’s delicious! If you don’t believe me, try it.” Su Tao was Su Li’s devoted fan and couldn’t stand anyone saying it wasn’t good.
“I’m not eating that—it’s disgusting.” Li Shitou’s face showed clear distaste.
But before he finished speaking, Li Shugen grabbed him by the ear:
“Li Shitou, watch your language!”
“Ouch, ouch, Dad, what are you doing…”
“Still talking back?”
“I won’t say anymore, alright? I won’t! Dad, let go!” Li Shitou felt utterly humiliated. Today was truly unlucky—not only did he miss out on the meat he’d been craving, but his father had to pull his ear in front of everyone. He wasn’t a child anymore!
“Brother Su, my apologies. This kid really speaks without thinking.”
Li Shugen apologized to Su Fu.
“It’s nothing. Really, why hit the child when he’s already this grown?”
“Spare the rod, spoil the child. Look at Dashan and Dahe—they never caused such a ruckus.”
This comment resonated with Su Fu, who was quite satisfied with his own two sons.
“Alright, let’s eat. Everyone, eat up.”
With that, Su Fu proactively took the dishes out of the basket. To his surprise, the stir-fried river mussels with chili actually looked quite appealing—glossy with red oil, clearly perfect with rice.
Additionally, the mixed cucumber salad and eggplant stewed with beans emitted a faint, delightful aroma even before being uncovered.
For some reason, Su Fu instinctively felt today’s dishes would be exceptionally tasty.
“Come now, no need to stand on ceremony. Let’s eat.”
Su Fu placed the dishes in the center for everyone, keeping the river mussel dish in front of himself. Since nobody else seemed interested, he would eat it himself.
But before he could finish speaking, he saw his third son Su Qinghe reaching his chopsticks toward the stir-fried river mussels.
“?”
Su Fu didn’t understand.
Neither did the others, except for Su Tao and Su Li.
“How is it, third brother? Delicious, right? I didn’t lie to you, did I?” Su Tao, who had just been doubted and was feeling somewhat upset, asked eagerly while watching Su Qinghe.
Yet Su Qinghe kept taking bite after bite, sweat beading on his forehead without saying a word.
The two men of the Su Family, who knew their younger brother/son well, quickly reached for the dish with their chopsticks upon seeing this.