Chapter 53: Si Family's Ancestral Rules

In the end, Su Hong did not bring dinner to Chen Ran.

She weighed the matter over and over in her mind, but decided not to do it. Her relationship with him was truly awkward. Unless it was absolutely necessary, like yesterday, when the patient was in surgery and there were no family members outside, she could only pretend to be the patient.

The thought of the word "family member" stirred within Su Hong. Yesterday, she'd simply asked, "Can't your wife come take care of him?" and he'd gotten so angry for no apparent reason. Could there be something wrong with their relationship?

This seemed to be the only explanation that made sense at the moment. Therefore, I had to avoid suspicion even more.

In the tailor shop, Afen prepared dinner and the three of them sat around to eat.

It was the hottest time of the year, and Jiangcheng was wrapped tightly in the heat wave, and it got dark especially late.

After dinner, Su Hong asked Zhang Qiuyan to leave work first because she was delayed in the morning and wanted to stay and catch up on some work.

After cleaning up the dishes, Afen also sat down in front of the sewing machine. Seeing that it was still early, she decided to work for a while before going home.

Seeing Su Hong busy at the sewing machine next to her, she hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke: "Sister Hong, I've been feeling a little unwell lately. I toss and turn at night and can't sleep, and I'm also upset during the day." She looked at Su Hong and tentatively suggested, "How about we make an appointment to go to Jishiditang? Let Xiao Si help take our pulses and treat our bodies. What do you think?"

In fact, Afen received a "secret message" from Su Nian in the afternoon, saying that she ran into Ms. Su Hong in the hospital at noon. Su Hong spoke unclearly. Su Nian was worried that she might be ill, so she asked Aunt Fen to be an "undercover" and it would be best if she could take her mother to Jishidiang to find Si Yan - this way she could care about her mother and appear natural, without being too deliberate.

"I'm doing fine lately. I eat well and sleep soundly, so I won't go. You go." Su Hong waved her hand, "I'll call Nian Nian and ask her to take you there." As she said that, she picked up the phone to dial.

"It's not that urgent," Ah Fen quickly held her hand. "Besides, if you don't go, I won't bother going either. My illness isn't serious."

"You can't delay if you're not feeling well." Su Hong frowned. "How about this, after these two days of work, I'll go with you next week."

"Okay." Afen breathed a sigh of relief, finally the matter was settled.

She suddenly remembered the middle-aged man she met in the store that morning and wanted to ask, but swallowed the words back.

Well, if Sister Hong is willing to talk, I will tell her. After all, they have been friends for more than ten years, so there is no need to rush into some things.

Su Nian had just come out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel, her hair still dripping down, when her phone dinged and a message from Aunt Fen popped up.

She clicked it while wiping her hair, and after reading the sentence "Make an appointment to go to Jishiditang with your mother next week", her heart, which had been hanging in the air for a long time, finally settled down. She tapped "Got it, thank you for your hard work, Aunt Fen" on the screen with her fingertips, and threw the phone on the bedside table.

Turning around, I saw Si Yan holding two cards and approaching me as if handing me a treasure map.

"Here, my salary card, handing it over to Mrs. Si." His expression was serious as if he was reading out some important document.

Su Nian's hands trembled, and the towel she was using to dry her hair almost fell to the ground. "No, no, no, just keep it for yourself. I've only been responsible for giving away New Year's money since I was a child. What if I lose it?"

Si Yan pressed the card into her hand without hesitation and added seriously, "You have to accept this. It's our family's ancestral rule that the financial power of the Si family has always been in the hands of the wives."

Su Nian held the two light yet weighty cards in her hand, remembering what Si Yan's mother, Zhang Minghua, had said last time. With a mixture of laughter and tears, she opened the bedside table and stuffed the cards into the drawer, then continued to dry her hair. "Alright, from now on, I'll be in charge of our family's 'treasury.'"

She looked up at Si Yan, and suddenly smiled like a cunning kitten, adding lightly, "From now on, you have to coax me well before you can have money to spend!"

Her eyes suddenly rolled, and she deliberately dragged out her words as she weakly pressed the issue, "Does the Si family have a tradition like this? If you apply for pocket money, do you have to write a report in advance, and include a detailed list of your spending?"

Si Yan fetched a hair dryer from the bathroom, walked over to her, and chuckled softly, "Mrs. Si is free to make these little rules. I'll follow whatever you decide." He flicked the switch, and a warm breeze, scented with a faint mint, blew through her hair. His voice, mingled with the sound of the wind, was so gentle it could squeeze water out of her. "Don't worry, coaxing my wife is the most important job in my life."

Ahhhh—Su Nian’s heart skipped a beat at the sudden tenderness, the towel in her hand almost flew out, and her cheeks turned red.

What's wrong with this person? Doesn't he even draft his love words?

The warm wind blew away the moisture in his hair, and Si Yan suddenly asked, "Niannian, what does your studio need?"

Su Nian was stunned for a moment and didn't know how to answer.

"Have you forgotten? I said I would convert the guest bedroom downstairs into your studio." Si Yan reminded.

Su Nian suddenly realized: "There must be a desk, computer, printer, workbench, as well as a sewing machine, an overlock machine and so on."

"Then you should make a plan based on the size of the room downstairs. For example, how big should the desk be and where should it be placed? How big should the workbench be? And you can pick out the sewing machine and overlock machine online first." Si Yan instructed carefully.

"You're so thoughtful." Su Nian looked up at him, stars twinkling in her eyes.

"Well, I'm a few years older than you." Si Yan rubbed her hair lovingly.

It's back to school in a week.

As a senior student majoring in fashion design, Su Nian only has a few elective courses this semester and can arrange internships in the remaining time.

She has already made an agreement with Chen's Clothing Company and will officially start working there after the school opens and is run. She probably won't be staying at the school for too long.

Because she was pregnant, Chen agreed that she could work from home, so the studio had to be set up first.

Si Yan will teach the course "Diagnostics in Traditional Chinese Medicine" at Jiangcheng University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the new semester. As a young professor with extensive clinical experience, he is well-versed in diagnostics and has published over 100 academic papers. His lively lectures are a favorite among students.

The University of Chinese Medicine and the School of Fashion are not far apart, which is just enough to pick up Su Nian from school every day.

It was completely dark outside, and the sound of Su Hong pedaling on the sewing machine gradually slowed down. Ah Fen had already packed up and was ready to go home. Before leaving, she turned back to look at Su Hong, who was still busy at work.

"Sister Hong, don't stay up too late. It's very hot. Be careful not to tire yourself out." Afen stood at the door, carrying a canvas bag in her hand, her tone full of worry.

Su Hong replied without even looking up: "I understand. I'll leave after I finish the piping on this cheongsam."

Only after Afen's footsteps disappeared at the door did Su Hong stop what she was doing and let out a long sigh of relief.

She rubbed her sore neck and thought to herself: Chen Ran hasn't called yet, so dinner must have been settled.