Tian Cuifen shrieked in alarm. “Son what’s happened to you?”
The couple forgot all about eating. Su Ying merely smirked and watched, slowing her pace. This boy was Su Fugui’s precious son; terrified of having no one to tend his grave, Su Fugui scrambled up and lifted him. Together they carried him through the dark to the village clinic.
Left behind, Su Xiuxiu watched Su Ying eating heartily and snapped, “Eat then stuff yourself until you burst!”
Once they were gone, Su Ying took another bun and savoured it slowly with the shredded vegetables. For the first time, plain food tasted like heaven. Two buns and a bowl of porridge later, she patted her full belly and set off for her friend Lin Yan’s house she wouldn’t sleep under the same roof as those scheming people tonight.
At the clinic, Zhang Shengli examined Su Dabao and sighed. “He’s fine just ate something that made him drowsy.”
Drowsy? Tian Cuifen thought of the sweet soup and smacked her forehead. Oh no did Dabao drink it? Her hands trembled. “Doctor could this kill him?”
“Unlikely. He’s sleeping deeply. Take him home and give him pickled cabbage soup to clear his stomach.”
Su Fugui nodded gratefully. They carried him back, forced him to drink a large bowl of soup, and relaxed only after he vomited in his sleep.
On the way home, Tian Cuifen itched to tear into Su Ying but the girl was gone, and the two white buns were gone too. Furious, she stormed inside. Su Xiuxiu flung down her chopsticks and ate the cold porridge alone, grumbling as she scrubbed the sticky bowls.
Later in bed, Tian Cuifen said, “Husband she’s getting out of hand. Remember my cousin’s eldest son? He’s a widower who lives deep in the hills. He makes good money gathering rare herbs to sell on the black market. He asked about finding a wife some time ago Yingzi would suit him. Why not go tomorrow and see if he’s still interested? Four hundred yuan dowry would cover Xiuxiu’s marriage.”
Su Fugui hesitated. “I thought he limped. Yingzi’s my own daughter pretty and hard‑working. Surely she deserves someone whole and strong?”
Tian Cuifen shoved him. “After all these years and all I’ve given you? Do I mistreat your child? That girl has a temper who else could put up with her? My own daughter’s too closely related to him, or I’d marry her off there myself!”
Su Fugui wavered it made a twisted kind of sense. A cripple was still a good match financially, and they’d be well paid. “Fine I’ll go in the morning.”
Meanwhile, Su Ying kicked free of her blankets in her sleep, muttering angrily. Lin Yan pulled the covers back over her, half‑asleep she’d always curled up quietly before; something had changed.
At the Lu family home, Zhao Yulan lay fretfully awake. “Old Lu are we really letting him marry a village girl?”
“It’s not about what we want. You know his temper once decided, nothing moves him. And it’s their life together, not ours.”
“But I worry. His army pay is barely enough for one how will he support a family? She may be no help at all, only a burden.”
“We gave our word at the table. Let it be for now.”
Zhao Yulan was far from satisfied. This was their son’s future! She should have arranged for Han Miaomiao sooner. “What if we delay the matchmaker? Xiaofang could invite Miaomiao over they grew up together, they have history. Who knows they might hit it off.”
Lu Dahai was shocked. “Honour matters. If he changes his mind at every turn, is he still my son?”
“We won’t tell him just arrange it. Say nothing for now.”
Lu Dahai grumbled as he settled back. “This will only cause trouble.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing sleep.” He pulled the blanket tight. “March and still freezing who’d think it?”
Zhao Yulan tossed and turned through the night.
Elsewhere, Lu Dongsheng lay awake in his room, staring at the ceiling. He kept seeing Su Ying small, thin, worn down. Once matters were settled, he’d bring her to the city to build up her strength. He’d treat her right wash her feet, massage her, cherish her. No one would ever take her from him.
Lu Wentao watched him smiling dreamily. “Big Brother… is my future sister‑in‑law pretty?”