Chapter 56: Old Niu Delivers Food

Chapter 56: Old Niu Delivers Food

On a warm spring afternoon, the sun was particularly bright in the sky. Sui Yu arranged for Zhao Xiping to wash the pots and dishes while she went into the room to remove the mattress and sheets, planning to take them to the river to wash.

"Remember to take out the manuscripts and air them; I can't carry them," she said from the kitchen door.

"Okay." Zhao Xiping dried his hands and looked at the thick mattress she was carrying, offering, "Need help?"

"Aren't you going to the mountain?"

"The trees won't run away if we're a bit late."

"Then come with me; I can't wring out the mattress after it gets wet." Sui Yu was naturally pleased that he offered to help.

Zhao Xiping went into the room to move the manuscripts, which were leaning against the mud wall. He beat them with a stick to remove the dust, then went to the woodshed to bring out the new manuscripts before leading the camel out.

Sui Liang had already led the pigs and sheep out and was standing in the alley with a small basket of manure.

As the camel left, the men picked up the yoke, and Sui Yu went to lock the door.

Passing by La Mei's house, the person basking in the sun by the wall waved at Sui Yu and called out loudly, "Going to the river to wash clothes? I'll join you."

Sui Yu let Zhao Xiping and Sui Liang go ahead, then stood outside with her wooden basin waiting.

La Mei quickly gathered a basin of clothes, locked the door, and followed Sui Yu, asking, "Your husband is close with Old Niu. Didn't he bring someone back? You didn't go see?"

Tong Huaer doesn't share the Sui surname and came from a brothel, so she rarely interacted with others. People only knew she was a slave but not her past identity, thus they didn't know about her connection to Sui Yu.

Sui Yu hesitated for a moment and vaguely replied, "Didn't go. Xiping doesn't like me joining in the excitement."

"That's true; your Captain Zhao has a reserved personality."

"What else do you have to do after washing clothes?" Sui Yu changed the subject. "New wild lettuce sprouted in my vegetable garden; I plan to make dumplings. Want to join me?"

"Sure, I'll bring two scoops of flour to your place and help you make the filling."

Seeing Zhao Xiping waiting by the river, La Mei sighed enviously, "Captain Zhao still helps with laundry even after getting married? My husband wouldn't do that; he acts like a lord after marrying a wife."

"He likes eating, so when he helps me, I cook what he enjoys," Sui Yu whispered.

At the river, they separated. Sui Yu handed over the basin, and Zhao Xiping scooped water from the river. Sui Yu shook out the mattress and soaked it in the basin.

They worked silently but knew what each other needed to do, showing great coordination.

With the arrival of spring, the water in the Shi River flowed swiftly, rising half an arm higher than in winter. The water was icy cold, but only around noon was it warm enough to wash clothes. Many people squatted by the riverbank.

Shepherds upstream brought their flocks to drink, and those washing clothes shouted to wake the sleeping shepherd on the rocks. The old man whipped his staff, driving the sheep downstream.

The rhythmic sound of beating clothes echoed, and the dirty water quickly dispersed in the clear river, disappearing entirely. Sui Yu enjoyed watching the dirty water spread, stepping on the stones to beat the clothes while Zhao Xiping scrubbed them.

"Captain Zhao is truly a good man," La Mei said, passing by with her basin. "I'm heading back. Call me when you pick vegetables, and I'll come over."

"Okay."

"What are you making?" Zhao Xiping asked.

"Dumplings with wild lettuce and egg filling. Should we mix in some pork lard? We have half a bowl left," Sui Yu said.

Zhao Xiping calculated the days; tomorrow was time to deliver food to Sui Wen'an. He said, "We can mix in the lard, but just eggs for the ones we send."

"Alright, as you wish," Sui Yu smiled, turning to look at him.

The sheep lay down after eating, and the black pig dug a hole to bask in the sun. Sui Liang squatted beside the pig, pulling grass to throw on it and warming his hands on its belly.

"Liang, let's head back," Sui Yu called.

Zhao Xiping whistled, and the camel ran back towards them. After being out for more than an hour, the family returned home along the same path.

"I'm going to the vegetable garden; string up the clothesline and hang the mattress," Sui Yu instructed.

"Okay." Zhao Xiping put down the basket and said, "Should I knead the dough?"

"Sure, your dough is always chewy." Sui Yu smiled and stepped out, seeing the cat returning with its tail dragging. She teased, "It's not summer yet, and you're already coming back?"

"Mew—"

The cat sounded weak, having been busy sowing seeds everywhere during the spring planting season.

Hearing the cat, Sui Liang ran out, and Sui Yu told him to feed it a handful of lard. She then headed straight to the vegetable garden.

"Aunt Du, are you weeding?"

"Yes, the weeds are choking the vegetables. Sui Yu, I need to tell you something..." Aunt Du whispered, approaching the fence and lowering her voice, "When I came here, I saw Sui Ling. She was returning from somewhere, and half her face was swollen with a clear slap mark. Her face was scratched up; it looks like a woman hit her."

Sui Yu raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Maybe she provoked someone."

"She was scolded by her mother-in-law for fooling around with another man and got caught by his wife," Aunt Du glanced at Sui Yu and whispered, "I don't know if it's true."

A mother-in-law accusing her daughter-in-law of cheating? Sui Yu was shocked; it was the first time she saw a mother publicly shame her son as a cuckold.

"I don't know if it's true or not," Sui Yu said, not giving an opinion. She squatted down to dig up wild lettuce and asked if Aunt Du had enough vegetables; if not, she could pick some from her garden.

After filling a basket with wild lettuce, Sui Yu passed by La Mei's house and called out. Hearing no response, she continued home. She fed the older lettuce to the sheep and pigs, cleaned the fresh lettuce, chopped it without draining, sprinkled salt, and mixed it with scrambled eggs.

"Yu, this is big news! Your cousin has been freed from slavery," La Mei rushed over. "Stop what you're doing and ask if your case has been overturned. You and your brother might also be free."

Sui Yu dropped her chopsticks, not bothering to pick them up, and hurried out of the kitchen, asking excitedly, "Is it true?"

"No lie. When I came back, I heard the Qian family arguing. I went to see what was happening and heard Sui Ling say it herself."

"I'll go ask..." Sui Yu quickly stepped out of the door and broke into a run. For the first time, she felt the alley was too deep, making her legs weak and her heart pound with panic.

The crowd outside the Qian family's house had already dispersed, but those who hadn't gone far gathered around again as they saw Sui Yu approaching.

"Sui Ling, I heard you've been freed from slavery. Is that true?" Sui Yu asked as soon as she entered. "What about me?"

Tong Huaer, who had also heard the news, ignored the stares of others and had Old Niu bring her over, her swollen belly prominent. She pushed through the crowd, her sallow face filled with excitement, but in the next moment, her excitement crumbled, and her eyes brimmed with intense hatred.

"Only me and my brother." Sui Ling hid behind Qian Wei, not daring to look at Sui Yu, fearing she would discover her meddling. She deflected, saying, "It was Lord Hu who thought your relationship with us was too distant."

Sui Yu's heart nearly stopped. Her legs turned weak, and she collapsed to the ground, her gaze becoming unfocused and hollow, her head buzzing.

Seeing her like this, Sui Ling's heart tightened, and she felt a twinge of regret. Then she noticed a woman standing at the door, her eyes full of hate, and she took a step back in fear.

"Let's go." Old Niu grabbed Tong Huaer's arm. "I bought a chicken leg; let's go home and cook it for you."

Tong Huaer pressed her hand against her chest, her lips bleeding from biting them, and turned to leave. Before stepping out, she glanced at Sui Yu, relieved to see someone helping her, and then left.

Xiping half-carried and half-hugged Sui Yu, but she didn't respond when he spoke to her. He picked her up and looked at Sui Ling, asking, "Your brother is also freed from slavery? Did your sister help?"

Sui Ling nodded.

"Alright, I understand." Xiping gritted his teeth.

"Who slapped you?" Sui Yu regained her breath and realized something was amiss.

Sui Ling remained silent.

"It was her sister," a nosy old woman shouted from outside. "She said earlier that her sister slapped her."

"Yes, it was my sister. She resented me for not visiting my elder brother." Sui Ling cried, pointing at Mother Qian and yelling, "If you hadn't stopped me, how could I have gotten slapped? Now we sisters are estranged. Are you satisfied?"

Mother Qian was stunned, not expecting Sui Ling's sudden outburst.

Xiping didn't want to watch this drama any longer. He carried Sui Yu away, his heavy steps echoing in the alley. People they knew asked what happened to Sui Yu, but neither of them responded.

Back home, Aunt La Mei was teaching Sui Liang how to make flat dumplings. Seeing Sui Yu return in such a state, her heart sank, but she didn't ask questions. Instead, she hurriedly took the dough and filling away.

Sui Yu sat down on a stone, unable to straighten her back. She slid to the ground, leaning against the stone, gazing up at the sky.

Xiping didn't know what to say to comfort her. He understood how much Sui Yu longed to be freed from slavery and how much hope she had placed in Sui Hui. With this hope now shattered, all their previous plans vanished, leaving an empty eighteen years ahead.

Of course, he was disappointed too, and the crushing pressure made him feel afraid.

The couple each lost in their thoughts, sat in silence. The only sounds in the yard were the animals eating their feed. Sui Liang, feeling uneasy, slowly walked to Sui Yu's side, hugged her head, and tears fell.

Sui Yu focused her gaze, looking at him and saying, "Why are you crying? I was the one who got deceived."

Sui Liang was scared, remembering how his aunt acted before hanging herself.

Sui Yu let him cry, resting her head on his chest, lost in thought.

Xiping stood up, washed his hands, and started rolling out dough, saying, "Are you still eating?"

"Of course, I'm not dying." Though she said this, Sui Yu couldn't muster the energy. After a while, she got up to fill the dumplings. Looking at the two bowls of filling, she sighed deeply, saying, "All the food we sent before was fed to the dogs."

Xiping glanced at her, knowing she was utterly heartbroken.

The three sat silently, making dumplings from sunset to dusk, from dusk to nightfall. By the time the dumplings were cooked, it was late at night.

Sui Yu had no appetite but forced herself to eat several bowls, finding the sight of the dumplings ironic, mocking her foolishness.

Xiping took away her bowl, finishing off the remaining broth, saying, "Go to sleep. You'll feel better after a good rest."

Sui Yu chose to believe him. She washed herself thoroughly, as the bedding was newly changed. Perhaps it was the patched bedding she disliked, but she tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep until dawn.

As daylight broke, the man got dressed and went to cook breakfast.

"Zhao Xiping, you're in trouble. You'll have to spend money to treat me." Sui Yu laughed, then clutched her chest, saying, "Carry me to the doctor; I might be pregnant. I have a headache and feel nauseous, and my whole body aches."

Xiping came around the bed, touched her forehead, which was warm, and helped her up, asking, "When did you start feeling unwell? Why didn't you say anything?"

She had been sighing all night, so he hadn't noticed her condition.

As soon as Sui Yu stood up, the urge to vomit rose. She hastily pushed him away, turned her head, and vomited, tears streaming down her face.

Xiping took a deep breath, suppressing his own discomfort. He supported her with one hand and patted her back with the other, saying, "Liang, fetch a bucket of water."

Sui Liang jumped out of bed and ran out.

"You're really useless. Not only did you waste the food, but you also made yourself sick." The man wiped her with clothes.

"Don't upset me." Sui Yu lay down, wiping her tears. "I understand if Sui Hui had difficulties, but she promised me and didn't keep it. She didn't even give an explanation or apologize. Isn't that just deceiving people? I haven't wronged her."

Sui Liang brought the water, and Xiping took it, asking if she wanted to rinse her mouth.

Sui Yu ignored him, continuing, "Aunt Chun said good people get good rewards. Am I not a good person? Or is Sui Ling the good one? I'm so wronged. Damn it, that thief of a heaven..."

"Bang bang bang—"

Someone pounded on the door. Xiping ignored it, handing the water to Sui Liang and taking off his soiled pants, intending to change into clean ones to take Sui Yu to the clinic.

"Bang bang bang—" The pounding continued, and Uncle Niu called out, "Xiping, open the door."

"Coming. Watch your sister." He instructed.

Uncle Niu heard the footsteps and ran off before the door opened. Xiping only saw a retreating figure and two baskets of grain piled at the doorstep.

He carried the grain inside and told Sui Yu, "Good deeds are rewarded. Uncle Niu brought you some food, worried that I might let you go hungry."