Chapter 27: An Invitation to Dinner
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Looking at the simple meal of one dish and one soup before her, Su Yao realized that this was what uncomplicated happiness looked like. She had once dreamed of being surrounded by several handsome men, but now, having just one man like this was more than enough.
Men who cherished, spoiled, and understood their wives were rare in this era. Su Yao turned around, put her arms around Mu Xingjue’s neck, and made him bend down before giving him a sweet kiss.
“Thank you, darling.”
The moment he heard her call him “darling,” Mu Xingjue’s eyes lit up. He completely forgot that he had come only to deliver her meal and immediately turned into a hungry wolf, kissing her back. Fortunately, he still knew when to stop. The food he had just brought had gone cold, so he reheated it once more.
That day marked the end of Song Hehe’s postpartum confinement. She had nearly died in childbirth before, and it was Educated Youth Su who had saved her. As soon as her confinement ended, she carried her baby to find Su Yao.
“Educated Youth Su.”
Su Yao, who was working, looked up at the voice. The woman seemed somewhat familiar.
“You’re… you’re the brigade leader’s daughter-in-law.”
“That’s right. My husband is the second son. My name is Song Hehe. You can just call me Sister-in-law.”
“Did you need something, Sister-in-law?”
“I came to invite you to my home for a meal, to thank you for saving my life and my son’s. My mother-in-law wanted to invite you over first thing in the morning, but I wanted to thank you personally, so it was delayed until now.”
“It’s nothing, Sister-in-law. There’s no need to go to such trouble. You look like you’ve recovered fairly well from confinement. Let me take another look at you and the baby.”
Song Hehe was naturally overjoyed. She hurriedly handed the child to Su Yao for examination. After all, there had been a moment when she had nearly stopped breathing, and the baby in her womb had suffered as well. She did not know whether there would be any lasting effects.
Su Yao removed her gloves and gently took the baby’s lotus-root-like little hand to examine it. After a while, she said, “There’s nothing seriously wrong with the baby, but he is still somewhat malnourished. Since he’s nursing, you need to pay closer attention to your diet.”
“All right, all right. I’ll be careful.” As long as there was nothing wrong with her child, Song Hehe was perfectly satisfied. As for malnutrition, in times like these, how many children could eat their fill and have a truly nourishing diet? Being able to grow up at all was already fortunate.
Su Yao then took Song Hehe’s pulse.
“You’re recovering fairly well, but it would be best if you didn’t become pregnant again for the next two years. If you have the means, nourish your body properly. Otherwise, it will damage your health.”
“All right, I understand. Thank you, Educated Youth Su. I’ll be going home now. You must come over for dinner tonight. We’ll be waiting for you.”
Without giving Su Yao a chance to refuse, Song Hehe carried her child away.
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Su Yao drew back the hand she had extended, put her gloves back on, and continued working. The weather was growing hotter by the day, and even the slightest movement made her sweat. Tomorrow, she would have to bring a straw hat so she would not get sunburned and tanned.
After work that afternoon, Su Yao returned home and took a bath. When she came out and saw Mu Xingjue, she told him about going to the brigade leader’s house for dinner that evening.
“I know. The brigade leader came to speak with me this afternoon. He was worried you might feel uneasy going alone tonight, so he asked me to accompany you. Wait for me a while. I’ll take a bath and change clothes.”
Knowing that Mu Xingjue would be with her, Su Yao felt relieved. She truly was not accustomed to socializing. Even when she had carried out missions in the past, she had always worked alone. She was socially anxious.
The two of them brought a few things and went to the brigade leader’s home.
“Brigade Leader, Aunt Cai.”
“Educated Youth Su, Educated Youth Mu, you’re here! Come in and sit down.” Aunt Cai came out, wiping her hands.
When she saw that they had brought gifts, she immediately looked displeased.
“Why did you bring things? This meal is to thank Educated Youth Su. If you bring gifts, I’ll be upset.”
Aunt Cai refused no matter what they said. Su Yao had saved her daughter-in-law and grandson’s lives; they already felt embarrassed that they had not brought gifts to express their gratitude. If they invited her to dinner and accepted presents as well, then what were they thanking her for?
Su Yao stood there, unsure of what to say. Mu Xingjue placed the gifts in Aunt Cai’s hands.
“Aunt Cai, please accept them. Let’s keep the matters separate. Sister-in-law invited us to dinner, so we brought a few things for you and the brigade leader.”
“You two really are…” Mu Xingjue had left Aunt Cai at a loss for words. She glanced at the old man who had come over and, seeing him nod, finally accepted the gifts.
At the dinner table, Mu Xingjue answered most of the questions. Su Yao spoke only when someone addressed her directly.
“By the way, Educated Youth Mu, Educated Youth Su, when are you planning to hold your wedding banquet? Let us know, and your auntie and the two sisters-in-law will come help.” Aunt Cai was extremely warmhearted. The more she looked at the couple, the more she felt they were a perfect match.
“I’ve already sent a letter to my family. We should receive a reply soon. Once the date is settled, we’ll ask you and the two sisters-in-law to help. Yao Yao and I don’t know much about these things.”
Aunt Cai readily agreed.
“Of course, of course. When the time comes, I’ll make all the arrangements for you.”
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The meal soon came to an end amid conversation and laughter. Before they left, Aunt Cai also gave them some vegetables. Su Yao did not refuse; the vegetables she had planted herself were not yet ready to eat.
Night had fallen, so the two of them no longer needed to avoid suspicion. They walked home hand in hand. Halfway there, they heard screams and curses coming from a low house nearby.
“You lazy, wasteful woman! You can’t earn even a few work points in the fields, yet you eat more than any man in this family. Were you born a starving ghost? I’ll beat you to death, you useless good-for-nothing!”
Li Zhaodi rained punches and kicks down on Yang Hui, who lay on the ground.
Jiang Guo, standing nearby and watching with a bowl of rice in his hands, made no attempt to stop her. He merely reminded her, “Mother, don’t beat her too badly. I still need to sleep tonight, and we’re holding the wedding feast tomorrow. It wouldn’t look good if people saw her.”
“I know. I know what I’m doing.”
After saying that, Li Zhaodi gave Yang Hui another beating.
“Starting the day after tomorrow, if you can’t earn five work points, don’t expect any food when you come home.”
Yang Hui endured it silently. In the past, she had tried to resist, but the result had been that the mother and her three sons had joined together to beat her, while Cui He had secretly struck her from the side as well. Every member of this family bullied her.
She had considered running away, but Jiang Guo had taken possession of her household registration papers. Besides, traveling far from home required a letter of introduction. She had nothing, and there was no way she could escape.
Still, she knew that as long as she did not resist, Li Zhaodi would stop after beating her for a while.
Li Zhaodi spat at Yang Hui, then took her son back inside to continue eating. When she saw Cui He at the table, she had initially wanted to start cursing—Cui He did not earn many work points either—but after meeting her eldest son’s gaze, she lost her nerve.
The second son was usually unreliable, but the eldest was the cruelest person in the family. He appeared honest and mild under ordinary circumstances, yet when he became vicious, he was truly frightening. Li Zhaodi had no idea how his wife endured him. In any case, she was afraid of him.
Jiang Hong placed a pair of chopsticksful of pickled vegetables into Cui He’s bowl.
“Eat quickly. Go to bed early tonight.”
Cui He smiled, but there was no warmth in her eyes. Jiang Hong was a pervert. If she failed to satisfy his peculiar demands at night, he had countless ways to torment her. At first, she had not understood, but by now she knew that as long as she did not resist and simply let him do whatever he wanted, she could avoid suffering at home. She would not have to endure Li Zhaodi’s displeasure either. Sometimes, Li Zhaodi even had to accommodate her.
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