Chapter 270: A Good Man

Chapter 270: A Good Man

After the excitement, a group of people returned to the Huang Family. Huang Lao'er and his wife were still having their meal. Cui Hongxia, being pregnant, got hungry quickly and had to get up every night for a midnight snack.

"Brother, sister-in-law, and in-laws Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law, are you all hungry from playing? Come in and have some more to eat?" Huang Lao'er said, "It's all leftovers from dinner, but there's plenty."

"Nah, we gotta head back. They're roasting lamb at the teahouse tonight," Zhao Xiping said as he went to fetch the camels.

"Where are Dad and Mom?" Huang Lianzheng asked.

"They probably went to Third Brother's teahouse to join the fun."

"Then let's go there too," Zhao Xiaomi whispered, "Third Sister-in-law, stay a bit longer. Once Aning falls asleep, his dad and I will go with you."

Sui Yu didn't want to wait. She was worried that if they returned late, there would be no lamb left.

"Wrap the child in a bedroll. There's still an empty room at the guest house. You three can stay at my place tonight," Sui Yu said. "Come here, kiddo, put on the wolfskin robe. When we go back, sit in your dad's lap."

Seeing that Zhao Xiaomi didn't mind, Huang Lianzheng went to fetch the camels. This year, their family had bought four camels, spending all their earnings on livestock. Although it hurt to spend the money, at least they wouldn't have to borrow camels for everything in the future.

Once the camels were brought out, Sui Yu picked up the little one and handed him to Zhao Xiping. He took off the child's shoes and gave them to her, then directly opened the wolfskin coat and tucked the child's feet inside to keep them warm.

Zhao Xiaomi was also ready. The group hopped on their camels, and after bidding farewell to Huang Lao'er and his wife, they rode off.

On the way, they ran into folks coming from the guest house. Zhao Xiping asked, "Why are you heading back to the city so early?"

"The kids are sleepy. We won't bring them next year."

"Is there still roasted lamb left at the teahouse?" Zhao Xiaomi asked, her voice muffled by her scarf.

"How would we know? We were sitting by the door and couldn't see what was going on up front."

Not just on New Year's Eve, but even on ordinary snowy days, city folks would come over, spending twenty coins for a spot to enjoy the excitement, often staying the whole day. Those with a bit more money would buy a bowl of soup noodles at the kitchen to fill their stomachs, while most brought their own flatbread. At noon, when the merchants went to eat, they would gather around the fire to roast their bread, eating it with free hot water. Whether they brought their own grub or bought soup noodles at the guest house, these folks weren't the type to eat roasted lamb.

After that, they ran into a dozen or so people heading to the guest house. These were folks who had finished the Nuo dance and were coming together on foot to listen to vocal performances.

The guest house, out in the middle of nowhere, was swallowed up by the night. Most merchants gathered in the teahouse, and the guest courtyard was dark, with only occasional flickers of light when servants patrolled with dogs.

Inside the teahouse, however, it was brightly lit. Oil lamps in the wall niches and on the tables were all lit. Surrounding the stage was a long fire trench, with roasted lamb, salted eggs, leeks, fish, pork, and camel meat sizzling above it. The merchants ate, drank, and boasted, competing in drinking games.

Kurban and An'le called Da Zhuang and Aqiang onto the stage. As the night deepened, the smell of alcohol and roasted meat made people's heads fuzzy. To prevent anyone from causing trouble due to drunkenness, they took to the stage, banging gongs and drums to wake everyone up.

"The child needs to sleep. I'll take him back to the room," Zhao Xiping said to Sui Yu. "You go in and have something to eat and drink. I'll come back once the little one is asleep."

Sui Yu nodded. She spotted Song Xian and walked straight over, saying, "What a rare guest! What brings you here tonight?"

"It's lively here," Song Xian shouted.

Sui Yu waved to Xiao Xi, and when she came over, Sui Yu said, "Cut me a few slices of lamb, make it crispy. Bring two roasted eggs, two strips of pork belly, and a bowl of honey water and ginger and scallion tea."

"Not having any wine?" Song Xian asked.

Sui Yu waved her off. When the water came, she downed half a bowl of ginger and scallion tea to warm up.

Song Xian suddenly leaned in, probing, "Could you be pregnant?"

"What? Who told you that?" Sui Yu was both surprised and amused. "No, if I were pregnant, I'd definitely tell you first."

"I saw five snowmen piled up at your doorstep. The smallest one wasn't even up to my knee. I thought you might be pregnant," Song Xian said, relieved. She had been worried all night.

Sui Yu was momentarily stunned, but upon realizing, she understood that the extra little snowman must have been Zhao Xiping's handiwork.

"Is your Zhao Qianhu wanting a second child?" Song Xian, seeing her reaction, also understood and chuckled, saying, "He's nudging you."

"No, I told him as soon as I got back. He knows it's at least next year—oh, wait, it's already the first day of the new year, so the earliest would be next winter. He's probably just eagerly anticipating it." The roasted lamb arrived, and Sui Yu took the chopsticks to pick up a piece and feed it into her mouth, covering her mouth as she continued, "He's not one to do things behind your back; if he had that intention, he would discuss it with me privately, not put me on the spot."

Song Xian's feelings were complex; she picked up her wine bowl and took a sip of sorghum wine, the spiciness suppressing the rising sourness. She hissed as she inhaled, then snatched the roasted salted egg Sui Yu was peeling and took a bite.

Sui Yu patted the eggshells off her hands, picked up another roasted salted egg to peel, and casually asked, "Did you come alone tonight? Didn't Big Brother Huang and the two kids come?"

"Congzu is at home with his father, Lvya'er came with me, but she thought the teahouse smelled too strong and is playing with cats in the storage room of the kitchen courtyard. Now that you're back, she'll likely come over when she hears the noise."

As they spoke, Sui Yu looked up and saw Lvya'er coming in with A’shui, but they didn't come over, instead finding an empty spot to look up at the drumming on stage.

"Are you and Lvya'er's father still not reconciled?" Sui Yu asked with some concern.

"What reconciliation? It's just how it is, we don't see eye to eye." Whenever family matters came up, Song Xian's mood soured.

When she returned from the Guanzhong region at the end of autumn, she excitedly discussed with her husband about sending the two children to school to learn to read and write, and shared her plans with him. She planned to spend money to secure an official position for Congzu, leave the family's camels to him, and the caravan and servants to Lvya'er, so she could stay at home and take in a son-in-law in the future. Before she could finish, Huang Ancheng got upset, accusing her of leading Lvya'er astray, saying she was so money-minded that she disregarded the children's safety, causing the family to be apart more than together, making it not a home.

They had a fierce argument that time, and with neither willing to back down, Song Congzu and Song Lvya'er lost interest in attending school and hadn't come since.

"How is it now?" Sui Yu asked, "What does Lvya'er think?"

"She's like her father, conservative, likes stability, doesn't like leaving home." Song Xian was disappointed in her daughter's lack of ambition, patting her belly, she said, "If I had a third child, I wouldn't count on her. I've been thinking for her, but she doesn't appreciate it, and even seems to dislike me for being away so often, feeling I haven't been there for her." She grew increasingly agitated, angrily saying, "A’shui has been motherless since she was young, yet she can manage the household and help you keep an eye on the guest house business. She's three years younger than Lvya'er, yet she can take care of herself and her father, and even earns money by feeding chickens and collecting eggs. Ah, I've spoiled her too much, making her carefree about food, clothes, and money, leaving her with nothing to do but daydream."

Listening to this tirade, Sui Yu felt overwhelmed. Even as an outsider, she found it distressing, no wonder Song Xian had accumulated so much resentment.

"Sister Yu, I envy you, your child is well-behaved and considerate, and your man understands and, most importantly, supports you." As she spoke, Song Xian was on the verge of tears, feeling the alcohol taking effect, she slurred, "He says I'm too headstrong, too adventurous, never content... If I weren't headstrong, how could he and the two kids live a good life? Which of his colleagues doesn't work the fields? Even Zhao Qianhu is busy with spring planting and autumn harvest every year. Since he's been with me, his feet haven't touched the soil... I regret it, thinking he was so steady back then..."

Sui Yu stayed quiet, sliding the untouched honey water over to her.

Song Xian, dazed, picked up the honey water and drank it. After finishing the bowl, she seemed a bit clearer, ignoring what she had said in her drunken state, she slowly ate the roasted salted egg.

Sui Yu was full but in no mood to continue enjoying herself; she missed her man and child.

"Stay here with Lvya'er tonight, don't go back." Sui Yu offered, "The ninth guest house is still empty, only Old Chen and Huasui Chun's family are staying there. Tonight, Xiaomi's family will take one room, her in-laws another, you and Lvya'er can stay too."

Song Xian thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Sui Yu went out to arrange things, and as she walked to the courtyard gate of her own residence, she saw the little snowman hiding behind "Sui Liang" in the snowlight. She smiled, touched the snowman's head, and pushed the door open to enter.

As she entered, Zhao Xiping recognized her footsteps and unlatched the door before her, asking softly, "Back so soon?"

Sui Yu hurried her steps, entered, and threw herself into his arms, murmuring, "I missed you."

"Out of the blue, why miss me?" Zhao Xiping was a bit skeptical, holding her with one arm while closing the door with the other.

"Thinking you're good, I wanted to come back and see you." Sui Yu looked past him at the child on the bed, the little one lying in the quilt with rosy cheeks, a smile on his lips, clearly having sweet dreams.

"Shall I fetch water for you to wash your face and feet?" Zhao Xiping asked, "Not going out to play anymore?"

Sui Yu nodded.

Zhao Xiping opened the door and went out. Sui Yu took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, walked to the bed, leaned down, and kissed the little one. What a warm-hearted, well-behaved baby.

When the hot water was brought, Sui Yu used bathing powder to wash her hands and face, asking, "Have you washed?"

"Yes, washed with the little one, also gave him some ginger and scallion tea, and put a water pouch in the quilt, he shouldn't catch a cold tonight."

Sui Yu softly exclaimed, dropped the face-wiping handkerchief, threw herself into the man's arms, and kissed him passionately several times, cooing, "I'm so lucky, you're so good."

Zhao Xiping smiled and held her, after a while, he urged, "Hurry and wash your feet, the water's getting cold."

Back in bed, as soon as Sui Yu lay down, the little one, smelling her scent in his sleep, instinctively snuggled up to her. She held him, smiling more and more fondly, the more she looked at him.