After the commotion ended, Li Suisui climbed back onto the ox cart, ready to return to Shigang Village.
The triangular-eyed woman also sat down timidly.
Though she still hated Li Suisui deeply, she knew better than to provoke her. She chose a seat several rows away, avoiding any further conflict.
The other passengers, who had originally been eager to tease Li Suisui, were no longer in the mood—neither to bother her nor anyone else.
The entire cart fell into silence, a stark contrast to the lively chatter of the morning.
Li Suisui, however, didn’t care. She was lost in her own thoughts.
What was going on with this Lord Xie? He had helped her repeatedly… could it be because he liked her?
Uh…
Her appearance wasn’t bad, but with her small twelve-year-old frame, there was no way she could have caught Lord Xie’s eye.
Curiosity aside, she quickly pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the 100 copper coins she now clutched with glee.
What a payoff for today! One hundred coins!
Her smile stretched across her face, though the bruises hurt a bit. She hoped the scratches from that wretched woman weren’t too severe—otherwise, she would be scolded once back home.
The ox cart swayed, and as the other passengers disembarked, only Li Suisui remained.
“Little lady, I live in Gaojia Village. My cart usually only goes that far. Tell me, where do you live? If it’s close, I can take you home.”
“Uncle, I live in the next village, Kaoshan Village.”
“That’s perfect—not too far. I’ll take you there.”
The cart owner’s kindness was likely intended to please Li Suisui. She didn’t refuse—after all, there was no harm in a free ride.
“Back! Sister’s back!”
Li Suisui had just stepped off the cart when Li Niannian ran toward her.
“Sister, what did you buy?”
Li Suisui set the bucket down for Niannian to see. “I bought some food and grain, and also some pork belly and back fat. After the lard is rendered, you can have the crispy bits.”
Li Niannian’s mouth watered. “Sister, I want it now!”
“Not yet. But you can eat some candy first. I bought malt sugar for you—here, take it.”
Niannian’s face lit up red with excitement as she clutched the candy. “Sister, you’re the best! I love you the most!”
“Enough chatter—help me carry this stuff inside.”
After placing the goods in the yard, Niannian immediately tore into a piece of candy, but still remembered Li Suisui. “Sister, you eat first!”
“I’m not eating—this is all for you. Save it and enjoy it slowly.”
Lin Guiying and Wang Xiulian came out from the house, one after the other.
Seeing all that Li Suisui had bought, both frowned.
Lin Guiying scolded first: “Suisui, why did you buy so much? Didn’t you spend all the coins from selling fish?”
“No, I still have three coins left.”
Lin Guiying’s cheeks puffed as she huffed in frustration. “Three coins? You dare say that? I scrimp and save to help your family, yet you—earn money and just spend it recklessly?”
Li Suisui blinked. “I really do have three coins left. That’s true!”
Wang Xiulian pulled Li Suisui aside, speaking quietly: “Suisui, you bought too much today. You shouldn’t be wasting money like this.”
“Hmph, I’ve been scrimping with your father to support your family, but you buy grain and meat without a care—living so comfortably. Not even a word of gratitude.”
Ah… Lin Guiying was upset about the spending, not the grain itself.
“Grandma, I didn’t want to buy so much either, but there was no other way. The food at home was nearly gone. If we didn’t buy it, we’d be starving. I couldn’t let father and mother go hungry. I earned some money today, so I decided to buy some grain back.”
“What about the meat? Why did you buy meat? Was that necessary?”
“Grandma, the meat was necessary too. Father lost a lot of blood from his injury, and he needs nourishment. Mother, since getting pregnant, has hardly eaten meat. She needs it too. This is my first time earning money, so I bit the bullet and bought half a jin of pork belly and half a jin of back fat.”
“Well, you speak so well. By your logic, everything you do is justified.”
“Grandma, I truly am in the right.”
Though Wang Xiulian worried about money, she worried more about Li Suisui. Noticing the scratches on her face and hands, she asked:
“Suisui, what happened to your face? And your hands… how did you get these injuries? They were fine this morning—how did they end up like this?”
Hearing her mother’s concern, Li Suisui felt warm inside. Nothing beats having a mother.
“Mother, don’t worry. Here’s what happened…”
Li Suisui didn’t hide anything. She recounted the day’s events and even showed the 100 coins that the triangular-eyed woman had paid her as compensation.
“That Kang widow—I know her. She’s a thief who preys on men. How dare she bully my granddaughter? We’re not done yet!”
Lin Guiying stomped off in anger.
“Grandma, where are you going?”
“To teach Kang widow a lesson, of course.”
“Mother, will you be alright?”
“Don’t worry. Your grandma can handle herself.”
Li Suisui had seen her mother’s strength—ordinary people could not contend with her. The Kang widow was no match.
“Suisui, tell me exactly what Lord Xie did for you twice. How did he help, and why?”
“I don’t know why he helped me—maybe he felt sorry for me. Here’s what happened…”
Li Suisui then told Wang Xiulian about both encounters with Lord Xie and the scene with Xie Hong accompanying her.
Wang Xiulian marveled at Li Suisui’s luck and was grateful for Lord Xie’s assistance.
Li Suisui felt the same—today she had been incredibly lucky. Without Lord Xie, she might not have sold her fish, and the Kang widow could have bullied her mercilessly.
Having spent most of the morning with barely a bowl of coarse rice porridge, Li Suisui returned home famished.
She needed to eat immediately to replenish her energy.
Today she planned to render the back fat and eat the crispy bits. The half jin of pork would be cooked tomorrow, shared with Lin Guiying and her father.
After storing the grain, she carried the half jin of back fat to the yard.
Their family had no proper kitchen—everything had to be cooked on a small outdoor stove.
“Sister, are you going to cook?”
“Yes, help me with the fire. I’ll render the lard for you to eat the crispy bits.”
“Oh, lard crisps! Sister, you’re too kind.”
“Stop talking. Get the fire going.”
“Alright, I’m on it.”