Chapter 61: Auntie is So Nice

Chapter 61 Auntie’s So Sweet

On the way back, the two little ones rode on the cart.

After all, they had walked for over an hour in the morning and then spent time helping Su He at the market stall, so they were tired.

Moreover, the two kids were only three years old, and their legs were still growing, so walking for too long could lead to bow legs.

Sitting on the cart, both of them wore the sun hats Su He had just bought for them in town, making them look extra adorable.

"Mama, mama, why are the flowers by the roadside so pretty?"

"Mama, why does it take so long to walk to town?"

"Mama, mama, will Chuan-ge really come to our house to play with us?"

"Mama, can I take Niu Niu to play with Zhuang Zhuang-ge and the others in the afternoon?"

The two kids were bubbling with questions for Su He.

They used to be very quiet, but after Su He stood up for them yesterday, it was as if the floodgates had opened, barraging her with questions.

Su He patiently answered each of their questions one by one.

At this time, plenty of folks were heading back home. Most people on this road were walking, with hardly any cars.

If a car came by, everyone would stop and stare curiously.

Just then, someone called Su He’s name.

"Su He."

Su He looked up and saw her mother-in-law, Wu Yanhua, walking toward them with a bunch of grandkids trailing behind.

She stopped and asked, "Mom, are you heading to the market now?"

Wu Yanhua shifted uncomfortably. Earlier, she had told Su He that if she saw her in town, she’d swing by her stall.

But now, Su He had already finished selling and was on her way back, while Wu Yanhua was only now heading out.

"Hehe, I was delayed by something this morning," Wu Yanhua said with an awkward laugh.

"Are all the kids going too?" Su He asked, surprised at the sight of the group of children following Wu Yanhua.

She had to hand it to Wu Yanhua for managing so many kids alone on a trip to town.

If two kids got tired and demanded to be carried, that alone would wear her out.

Taking even more kids out—how’d she manage all of them alone?

"Ah, these kids insisted on going to town to find Zai Zai and Niu Niu to play. I couldn’t stop them.

I didn’t want to bring them, but they all started bawling around me—drove me up the wall," Wu Yanhua said helplessly.

Just imagining several kids wailing around her made Su He’s head pound.

"Auntie brought presents for all of you. Wanna see?" Su He beamed at the kids.

"What did Auntie buy?" Zhuang Zhuang asked curiously.

Su He got straight to the point and directly took out a bag.

Inside the bag were colorful hair clips, hair ties, and some boy stuff like bows and arrows, instantly capturing the children's attention.

"Wow~ such pretty clips~" Ya Ya gushed.

"Shall we go to town next time? It's too sunny now, and it's scorching hot," Auntie Su He asked with a smile.

"Okay!" the children answered in unison, all visibly excited.

They had wanted to go to town to buy toys, but now that Auntie had gotten them some, they were perfectly content.

Auntie's the best—she even knows martial arts. They love her the most.

Wu Yanhua watched as Auntie Su He effortlessly convinced the kids not to go to town and let out a relieved sigh, her expression softening as she looked at Su He.

"Auntie, are you still going to town? If so, let the kids come to my place first. I’ll keep an eye on them for you," Auntie Su He said cheerfully to Wu Yanhua.

Wu Yanhua hesitated. She did have things to buy in town, otherwise she wouldn’t be heading to the market at noon.

"Then I’ll take you up on that."

Auntie Su He smiled and replied, "Mom, no need to be so polite with me."

Then she called out to the kids, "Come on, let’s go to Auntie’s house to play. Auntie will whip up some treats for you."

"Wow~ what treats, Auntie?"

"Feed me!"

"You're the best, Auntie!"

Faced with the children’s praise, Auntie Su He chuckled, then turned to Wu Yanhua and said, "Mom, I’ll head back first."

"Mm, I’ll come pick them up later," Wu Yanhua replied.

She stood staring after her, lost in thought for a long time.

Aunt Niu, who had been pushing a cart behind Auntie Su He, finally got the chance to have a word with Wu Yanhua.

"Honestly, you—having such a wonderful daughter-in-law and not cherishing her properly."

Aunt Niu looked at Wu Yanhua, green with envy, wishing she could claim Su He as her own.

"How am I not cherishing her?" Wu Yanhua snapped. Just because Su He didn’t live with them didn’t mean she treated her badly, right?

"If I had such a good daughter-in-law, I’d treat her like my own daughter," Aunt Niu added.

Wu Yanhua: ......

After Aunt Niu’s remarks, Wu Yanhua’s mood turned even darker.

Had she really treated Su He that poorly? But Su He’s personality was downright unpleasant at first.

And everyone appreciates beauty—back then, Su He was nearly as big as a house. How could she have liked her?

Aunt Niu really had no room to talk without being in her position.

When Auntie Su He herded the kids back to her house, she turned them loose to play in the living room and outside while she went to whip up some snacks for them.

It was hot, so Su He decided to cook some mung bean and kelp porridge.

Of course, these ingredients weren’t bought in town—they were obtained from her space.

These days, she was relying less and less on the space, trying to get food from the real world whenever possible.

After cleaning the mung beans and kelp, she started a fire and put the pot on to cook the porridge.

Concerned that some of the kids might not like the porridge, Su He also kneaded dough to make noodles.

Thinking of how Zai Zai and Niu Niu had griped in town that the noodles didn't taste as good as hers, Su He couldn’t help but smile.

In this era, everything was cooked with little oil and salt, so the flavors naturally weren’t as rich.

The mung bean and kelp porridge bubbled away for over an hour until it turned nice and thick.

When she saw it was ready, Su He added some sugar, then took the pot off the heat.

The dough was already kneaded and stored in her space.

If they didn’t eat it this time, she could use it next time—no need to worry about it going bad.

"Kids, dinner's ready!"

After finishing everything, Su He walked to the living room and called out.

"Wow! Dinner's ready!" Zhuang Zhuang, the most energetic kid, immediately rushed to the kitchen upon hearing the call.

The other kids followed him into the kitchen.

By then, Su He had already dished out the mung bean and kelp porridge into bowls. Seeing them come in, she quickly smiled and said, "Take your time, there's plenty for everyone. If you want seconds, there’s more in the pot. Be careful, it's still hot."

Niu Niu leaned forward, saw the bright green mung bean and kelp porridge, and asked curiously, "Auntie, what is this?"