Chapter 46: Taking a Break

Chapter 46: Taking a Break

Upon hearing Xiao Pu’s words, Lin Shu remained remarkably composed. "Let her talk. It’s true I’m delicate and sensitive to heat, and Mother pampers me. It’s also true that Brother A Ye cut down these bamboos today. More than just her saw it; even if she doesn't speak, others will."

Lin Xiaopu glanced at her Elder Sister, who was clinging to Brother A Ye’s arm like a vine, and hesitated to speak.

If Auntie Ma only said that much, she wouldn't be known as the village’s Big Mouth Ma. She not only loved to gossip but also enjoyed embellishing details. Many village rumors originated from her.

Neither Elder Sister nor Brother A Ye seemed to realize how intimate their posture appeared. If Auntie Ma spread this outside, who knew how the villagers would twist their story!

Seeing her furrowed brows, looking worried like a little old lady, and then glancing at herself hanging onto Zhou Ye’s arm, Lin Shu immediately understood. She squeezed the damp little hand she was holding and teased, "So young, yet so much to worry about. Don’t fret, it’s a small matter. Just watch."

Lin Xiaopu looked puzzled. Watch what?

Soon, she understood what her Elder Sister meant.

When they encountered another chatty village woman on the road, Lin Shu smoothly repeated the same explanation. At the end, she added enthusiastically, "After making the bamboo bed, there will be plenty of bamboo left. I plan to make some small bamboo toys. Auntie, you have children too. Forget about common bamboo dragonflies; even bamboo water guns and bamboo slingshots are loved by girls as old as Xiao Pu, not to mention playful little boys. Seeing you today, I felt we hit it off. I’ll make an extra set of these toys and deliver them to your home with Xiao Pu."

"Oh—how could I trouble you like this, A Shu? You’re too kind!" The woman, who had been about to remark on Lin Shu’s indulgent lifestyle, was completely disarmed by this offer. All she felt was flattered.

"Auntie, don’t mention it. These are just inexpensive little toys. I’ve seen many since I was young and enjoy tinkering with them. It only takes a bit of effort. If you really want to thank anyone, thank my Brother A Ye. He’s the one who cut all this bamboo."

Zhou Ye, caught off guard by the phrase "my Brother A Ye," felt a shiver run down his spine. Somehow, that one extra word—"my"—made his scalp tingle.

As Lin Shu spoke, she suddenly hissed in pain, her delicate, dusky eyebrows furrowing. The wince of pain on her face looked pitiful enough to melt hearts.

"A Shu, what’s wrong?" the woman asked with concern.

Lin Shu explained, "Please don’t laugh, Auntie. I sprained my ankle while picking mushrooms and had to lean on Brother A Ye and Xiao Pu to walk." She dabbed at the non-existent tears at the corner of her eye. "It’s all because I’m too delicate. With a sprained ankle, I can’t walk properly. Every step hurts so much that I have to rely on Brother A Ye, leaning on his support to move slowly. That’s the only way I can bear it."

Throughout this exchange, Zhou Ye and Lin Xiaopu listened, stunned, wisely keeping their mouths shut.

"Aww, Brother A Ye originally wanted to carry me, but he’s already carrying my basket and this heavy load of bamboo. How could he possibly free up his hands? I didn’t want to trouble him to make extra trips, and I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. Besides—" Lin Shu sighed, "I was worried about villagers gossiping behind my back."

The woman, having just received Lin Shu’s promised favor, immediately sided with her. "I’d like to see who in this village would dare gossip about A Shu! If anyone dares to spout nonsense, I’ll rip their lips off!"

Lin Shu looked at her with moved eyes. "Auntie, you’re so kind. Look at me, keeping you here talking for so long. I must be delaying your return home. Let’s chat another time."

The woman finally bid her farewell and left, carrying a basket full of straw mushrooms.

Once she was out of earshot, Lin Shu turned to Xiao Pu and asked, "Little sister, which household is that auntie from?"

Lin Xiaopu, amused and exasperated, quickly explained the woman’s background.

Lin Shu listened, then raised an eyebrow. "See? Just by offering a small, verbal favor, you can easily win someone to your side. This auntie seems quite formidable. With her, who knows the 'truth,' speaking up for us, any other gossip will just be seen as malicious rumor-mongering."

Lin Xiaopu nodded vigorously. "Elder Sister, you’re so clever. It’s best if Auntie Ma doesn’t spread rumors, or she’ll bring trouble upon herself."

Although many village women enjoy gossiping, gossiping isn’t the same as spreading malicious rumors. Anyone who spreads false rumors to ruin someone’s reputation will be scorned by the rest of the village.

As the sisters spoke, Zhou Ye couldn’t help but glance several times at Lin Shu’s foot. He finally asked, "Does it really hurt? You didn’t seem to be faking it earlier."

Lin Shu was momentarily taken aback before replying, "Hurt? It’s just a short mountain path. Last time, Xiao Pu and I went up the mountain, we walked much farther."

Zhou Ye looked at her without speaking. His eye sockets were slightly deeper than most, and when he stared silently with his thick, slightly furrowed brows, he looked especially stern.

Lin Shu, feeling guilty under his gaze, forced a dry laugh. "Alright, I’ll be honest with you. Maybe a straw thread from the sandal worked loose and poked my foot, so it does hurt a little. Just a little—it’s nothing serious."

Sore legs and feet were minor issues. Lin Shu could endure much worse, but pain was something she truly couldn’t stand. In her previous life, she had a low pain tolerance, which once led to her crying while fiercely fighting zombies, earning her teasing from her team for a long time. It wasn’t that she wanted to cry, but her dislocated hand hurt so much that involuntary tears flowed uncontrollably.

Zhou Ye fell silent for a moment, unsure what to say. He finally told her, "Hold steady. Let’s walk slower from now on."

"It’s not that serious. I’m not that fragile."

But Zhou Ye didn’t listen. For the rest of the journey, he slowed his pace. Xiao Pu also treated her like a delicate porcelain doll. Initially, it was Lin Shu holding Xiao Pu’s hand, but later, it was Xiao Pu supporting her.

As soon as they reached flat ground, Lin Shu immediately let go of Zhou Ye and Lin Xiaopu. She bounced a couple of times in front of them. "It’s much better on flat ground. Don’t support me anymore, or Father and Mother will worry if they see."

In the courtyard, He Guixiang had already prepared thick porridge and was washing a basketful of greens to stir-fry a couple of dishes. Breakfast was almost ready.

"Mother—" Lin Shu called out. "Look what we brought back!"

Zhou Ye first set down the large bundle of bamboo, then removed the basket of mushrooms he’d been carrying in front.

He Guixiang, like the villagers who’d gone mushroom picking, was astonished. "Why did you cut so much bamboo?"

Lin Xiaopu replied quickly, "Mother, Elder Sister says she can make bamboo beds, chairs, and stools. She’ll direct, and Brother A Ye will make them. We won’t even need to spend money hiring Grandpa Gao!"

He Guixiang was pleasantly surprised. "A Shu is so capable!"

"Elder Sister is even more capable than that, Mother. Look at these mushrooms!" Lin Xiaopu lifted the cypress branches covering the basket to reveal the bamboo fungus, Termitomyces, and Green Russula inside. "Elder Sister says these are all edible mushrooms, and they taste delicious."

He Guixiang looked at them with trepidation. These mushrooms were unusually beautiful—were they really edible? But remembering her daughter’s extensive knowledge, she forced herself to believe it.

"Don’t worry, Mother. They’re all edible. Especially the Termitomyces and bamboo fungus—they’re rare delicacies from the mountains and very nourishing." Seeing her mother’s reaction, Lin Shu quickly put her mind at ease.

"Mother, you rest. Xiao Pu and I will prepare these mushroom dishes. And Brother A Ye—" Lin Shu called out to Zhou Ye, who was already sneaking toward the courtyard gate. "Where are you going?"

Zhou Ye had thought the mother and daughters would want to chat privately, and he’d be in the way standing in the courtyard, so he planned to continue building the fishpond behind the house. He didn’t expect Lin Shu to stop him.

"Although it’s good to notice what needs doing, Brother A Ye, you’ve worked hard all morning. Rest a bit before starting again. Breakfast will be ready once I finish stir-frying these mushroom dishes. Just wait in the courtyard. If you really can’t sit still—" Lin Shu smiled, her eyes curving. "How about you take over for Mother and me? Why don’t you cook these dishes?"

He Guixiang was about to scold her for being absurd—Brother A Ye wouldn’t know how to cook, and village men never hovered around the kitchen; that was women’s work. But before she could speak, Brother A Ye nodded and said, "Alright. Tell me what to do, and I’ll do as you say."

Zhou Ye agreed readily, strode into the main room, brought out a long stool, and placed it behind Lin Shu. "Sit here and rest."

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