Chapter 44: The Lazy Girl

Chapter 44 The Lazy Girl

Lin Xiaopu watched Zhou Ye's unusually hurried retreating figure, snickering mischievously. "Big sis, if Brother A Ye had dared to talk back just now, would you really have made him carry you down the mountain?"

Lin Shu, in a relaxed posture, lazily raised an eyebrow. "Of course! Why wouldn't I dare?"

"But big sis, aren't you afraid people will gossip?"

"Life is short, just a few decades. Your own comfort comes first. If others love to gossip, let them. It won't make me lose any flesh. Besides," Lin Shu drew out her words with a slow, leisurely smile, "who in our Sweetwater Village doesn't know about our relationship? Having him carry his future bride a little early—what is there for others to criticize? At most, they'll just say some embarrassing things. And they'd only dare say such things behind my back. Even if they said it to my face, I wouldn't be ashamed."

Lin Xiaopu's mouth rounded in surprise.

Big sis was truly big sis—everything she said sounded so reasonable.

She wanted to ask more, but suddenly, footsteps approached.

"Big sis, I think someone's coming."

Perhaps Lin Shu's unrestrained laughter earlier had drawn the attention of others picking mushrooms on the mountain, or perhaps they were already close to the path down the mountain. Shortly after Zhou Ye left, several village women passed by.

Lin Shu greeted each one in turn. Those older than He Guixiang she addressed as "auntie," those around He Guixiang's age or slightly younger as "aunty," the married younger women as "sister-in-law," and the unmarried ones simply as "sister" or "little sister."

"Auntie, you're here picking mushrooms too? You heard a man's voice? Wow, auntie, your ears are sharp! That was my Brother A Ye. He didn't go to the fields today. We ran out of firewood at home, so he came up the mountain with us to chop some wood and cut down a couple bamboo poles. Xiao Pu and I are resting here, waiting for him."

"Aunty, you're amazing! You've gathered the most mushrooms I've seen today! My basket? Oh, it's not all mushrooms—how could I fill a whole basket? Lots of it is wild vegetables Xiao Pu and I picked. Yes, yes, they're not very tender now, but the young leaves are still edible."

"Sister-in-law, it's still early—why not stay a bit longer? Heading back to make breakfast? That's great! The straw mushrooms in your basket look fresh—just enough for a stir-fry."

"Little sister, why are you up here alone? Didn't come with anyone? Oh, I see. Well, next time, you can come to our courtyard and join us. Xiao Pu and I could use the company."

"..."

Lin Xiaopu watched her sister handle these interactions with natural ease. Old or young, every one of them ended up smiling broadly. Though it wasn't the first time she'd seen it, she couldn't help but feel a welling up of admiration.

When finally no one else approached, Lin Shu let out a big yawn. "I got up too early today. After breakfast and tutoring Cousin Yu Shu, I'm going back to my room for a nap."

Lin Xiaopu quickly said, "Big sis, I'll keep an eye out while you nap. If any guests come, I'll let you know right away."

"What, I can't even nap in my own room? If guests come, I have to get up?"

Lin Xiaopu blinked her big eyes, innocently saying, "But big sis, hardly anyone in Sweetwater Village takes naps. There's always endless work to do. Those who nap are called lazy women or lazy girls."

Lin Shu was unconcerned. "As long as our family doesn't think I'm lazy, others can call me whatever they want."

Lin Xiaopu almost said that if word got out she was a lazy girl, it would be hard to marry her off someday—no in-laws would want a lazy daughter-in-law. But then she remembered: unless something unexpected happened, her big sis was going to marry Brother A Ye!

No picky in-laws to worry about—her own parents were right there. No need to fret about finding a good husband or suffering under difficult in-laws...

Lin Xiaopu cupped her face, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt her big sis had it made. Back when their father first bought Brother A Ye, the village was full of gossip. Everyone said others bought wives for their sons, but their father had gone and bought a man for his daughter.

But now, less than three years later, which villager didn't praise their father's good judgment when they saw Brother A Ye?

"Big sis!" Lin Xiaopu's cheeks flushed slightly as she thought of something. She lowered her voice and asked, "Do you think someday I could be like you and have Dad buy a man for me from outside?"

Lin Shu was startled at first, then laughed. "Of course! Mom and Dad would never want to marry you off to another family either. But we'd have to choose the candidate carefully."

"These days, unless someone is truly desperate like Zhou Ye was, who would willingly sell themselves? He has good character. Even in such circumstances, he didn't complain—just took things as they came. Once I shape him up properly, I'm sure he'll become a fine young man who loves life."

"But others might not be like him. Some might just complain and resign themselves to misery—or worse, appear honest in front of others but shut the door at home and take all their frustrations out on their wife."

Seeing Lin Xiaopu looked stunned, Lin Shu put an arm around her shoulder. "Don't be afraid. Big sis is here. I have keen eyes—such trash can't escape my notice. In the future, if they can pass my inspection, at least their character won't be bad."

"We won't bring in a live-in son-in-law. Those who agree to that are either useless or have ulterior motives—only rarely do you find a good one. We'll go to town—no, to the county—to buy!"

"Zhou Ye and I will save money together. Once we have enough, we'll go to a broker and pick one that suits you."

Lin Xiaopu shyly hugged Lin Shu's slender waist, burying her flushed face in her chest, murmuring, "Big sis, you're so good to me."

Lin Shu laughed happily. "I'm your own sister. If I'm not good to you, who should I be good to? Tomorrow is market day. I already talked to Mom about taking you along. Trust me, your weak constitution is mostly better now. Maybe this time, the old doctor will say you don't need medicine anymore."

Lin Xiaopu's still-flushed face shot up from her chest, excited. "Big sis, really?!"

"Would I lie? My feet are sore just from picking mushrooms, but look at you—you're doing much better than me. If someone like you still needs medicine, then shouldn't I be drinking it too?"

Lin Xiaopu hurriedly covered her mouth, scolding, "Big sis, don't say things like that! Quick, spit it out!"

Lin Shu moved her hand away and tapped her palm, chiding, "Your hand's full of dirt and mud—got it all over my mouth. Ptui, ptui, ptui! There, okay? I've spat it out. I definitely won't drink any medicine."

Lin Xiaopu finally relaxed, though she still muttered, "Big sis, don't say things like that anymore."

"Okay, okay. But Xiao Pu, you sounded quite like a stern teacher just now. Big sis is impressed."

"I barely know any characters yet, and you're making fun of me again."

"Come on, let's use this time to review the last couple days' lessons. How do you write the characters for scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant? Just use a stick and sketch them on the ground. Let me see if you get them right."

Lin Xiaopu immediately looked dismayed.

Ahhh! Why did she have to bring up characters? Now she was in for another quiz from big sis.

By the time Zhou Ye returned, Xiao Pu had already been made to practice her characters several times by Lin Shu.

"Big sis, Brother A Ye is back!" Lin Xiaopu called out promptly, with visible relief.

Lin Shu smiled and glanced at her. "You, you. If you don't review multiple times, you'll forget the old lessons when we learn new ones. I'm doing this for your own good, yet you treat me like some monster."

Then, raising an eyebrow toward the approaching man, she called out loudly, "Brother A Ye, am I a monster? Tell me, have you ever seen a monster as good-looking as me?"

Zhou Ye, who hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath: ...

For a moment, Zhou Ye would rather deal with an actual monster.

A monster—he could punch it to death. But someone like Lin Shu...

He felt he had to cherish her.

Yet, strangely, the thought of possibly having to cherish Lin Shu didn't displease him at all.