Su Hongying laughed cheerfully, "You go first, Auntie!"
Liu Shuzhen also smiled, insisting that her second Saozi speak first. Just after declining twice, it was clear her Saozi didn't intend to go first either, so she laughed and said, "It's nothing really. I just wanted to ask, didn't you all head over to my uncle and aunt's place for a drink and some food? Why did you come back just at noon, and why didn't my two precious nephews come back with you!"
"Oh, well, my cousin was getting married, so your second brother and I took Jianguo and Jiandang to the wedding for a drink. We planned to stay a night, letting the two little ones spend time with their grandparents. But that kid Lianshan came over saying you fell into the water, and how Wu Xia behaved like a plague—well, how could we stay? We rushed back with our behinds on fire, and since the two little boys are small and dragging things out with their short legs, we just left them at their grandparents' house.
It just so happens my parents adore them. They couldn't bond much before when they were busy, but now they finally have a chance to enjoy time with their grandkids!" As she spoke, her second Saozi laughed and slapped her thigh in delight, exuding a carefree demeanor. In her past life, Shuzhen, raised as a proper lady by her parents, often looked down on her crude and impolite manner. She felt sorry for her handsome and intelligent second brother, thinking he truly married the wrong woman.
Yet, Wu Xia, who charmed people when she met them and carried tales when meeting others, was seen by her as a sophisticated icon. She thought Saozi had a good heart and always cared for her, until the report incident revealed Wu Xia's sinister side, and she realized just how foolish she had been.
After reflecting, she felt touched that Lianshan walked miles with concern for her to bring back her older and second brothers and Saozi to support her. He always had her in mind, planned for her, and endured until her brothers had sent Wu Xia away, only leaving when certain she was no longer wronged. If he cared this much without any commitment, how could he err after marriage?
Liu Shuzhen smiled, longing for her brother Lianshan to come and propose so she could swiftly marry him.
As the ancients said, saving a life must be repaid with devotion, and her man saved her not just once, but twice in a single day!
But thinking back on her past life where worries damaged her health, leading to premature birth, and being maliciously tainted by Wu Xia and the Dai family's distant relatives—spreading rumors that she and Lianshan had a prior secret...
Liu Shuzhen's smile suddenly straightened. Though she was currently no match for Dai Weiguo and Bai Jing, akin to an ant against an elephant, and revenge seemed like a pipe dream to her. So Liu Shuzhen didn't plan on taking revenge, just wanted to abort the child and marry her brother Lianshan happily and live a blissful life. But if she wanted peace while Dai Weiguo and Bai Jing's storm wouldn't cease, then don't blame her for risking everything to fight them.
She has nothing to lose, and with memories of her past life, she wouldn't exactly be unprepared!
Seeing her little sister go through smiles, deep worry, and then fierce determination like she was ready to fight anyone who provoked her, Su Hongying couldn't help but feel a tight knot in her throat. Afraid that in just a few months, moving from great joy to sadness, she'd gone through too many turmoils and might concoct some troubling ideas. Though this little sister was weak-tempered and somewhat unaware of good and bad, after being sisters-in-law for six or seven years, some kinship was shared.
Knowing she didn't hold any real influence over this sister-in-law, and good advice might not be well-received, she thought not to provoke the sensitive high-born lady into any drastic reactions.
Su Hongying simply decided not to push further, leaving the noble yet critical task to her eldest brother-in-law and husband. As for her, she'd amuse and care for her, ensuring she didn't fall into more trouble. Once decided, Su Hongying switched the topic to dinner with a smile. Straightforwardly suggesting the sister rest on the kang after a tiring day while she fetched water and firewood from the yard. Once dinner was ready, she'd call Liu Shuzhen to come and eat.
In the past, Liu Shuzhen would arrogantly nod and go to sleep, without a hint of gratitude. A lady shouldn't have to do anything but dine at her natal home, let alone help a sister-in-law with household chores. But now, recognizing her second Saozi's kind nature, Liu Shuzhen couldn't rest properly knowing she'd leave her second Saozi handling all the work in the summer heat on her own.
On that ominous day, after being reported by that cursed Wu Xia, had the second Saozi simply distanced herself from her second brother, she wouldn't have suffered public disgrace and persecution. Yet she stubbornly refused, declaring that the family should live and die together, never separating after marriage. Apart from death, nothing should split them!
Such actions profoundly impacted the reborn Liu Shuzhen's impression of her second Saozi, Su Hongying, who she now held in high regard.
Feeling guilty and wanting to mend fences, she naturally refused Saozi's arrangement with concern: "No, you can't be left to handle everything in this summer heat, Saozi. Otherwise when second brother returns to see sparkling windows and fragrant meals being all your effort, won't he scold me for doing nothing? Even if he doesn't scold me, how can I stand seeing my great second Saozi toil?"
"So really, dinner and such, Saozi, leave it to me. You relax a bit; you haven't had much rest since noon now."
Su Hongying's eyes widened with surprise, as today her little sister-in-law was acting quite differently!
Joking with her, and, and even taking the initiative to care for her?
Su Hongying wasn't sure what caused this change, but seeing her genuine eyes, she could only pray silently that this girl had learned from her experiences, hoping she remained cheerful, lively, and thoughtful in the future.
Of course, it was good for the sister-in-law to make progress, but based on her words, Su Hongying could not agree. The two sisters-in-law pushed and pulled a bit until they decided that Su Hongying would fetch water and firewood while Liu Shuzhen picked cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers from the garden behind the house.
Carrying the wicker basket made by her elder brother, Liu Shuzhen headed to the garden. She soon picked the eggplants and peppers but hesitated by the cucumber rack. Looking at the lush vines, there were many blooms but few female flowers, with only a few small cucumbers growing pitifully small!
Those little cucumbers wouldn't even make a plate of cold salad if they were all picked. Truly, they needed more fertilizer and water to grow quickly!
Liu Shuzhen caressed the little gherkins with their blossoms and was then stunned, wide-eyed with amazement, without noticing the basket slipping from her hand to the ground.