Chapter 192: Remembering the Bitterness and Thinking of the Sweetness
Sui Yu had enough money to buy goods. Since he bought the slaves, his family had no big expenses and had always maintained a profitable state.
"I have enough money on hand. I'd better pay you back soon. I'll feel more at ease if I don't owe you any debt." Sui Yu insisted on paying the debt first. She held Song Xian's hand and said, "If you borrow and repay, it won't be difficult to borrow again. If I need money in the future, I'll come back to borrow from you."
Song Xian had no choice but to accept it. She instructed, "If you don't have enough money, you must come to me to borrow."
"I've never seen anyone like you. What's the matter? You bite your hand when you have money? You insist on lending it to me." Sui Yu smiled.
Song Xian also smiled. She was not willing to lend money to just anyone. She mainly lent it to Sui Yu. She felt like she was supporting her younger self.
"Have you really decided to go into business?" Song Xian asked again.
Sui Yu nodded. The approximate itinerary and departure month had already been decided. In April, she would lead her men to follow the last wave of Hu merchants entering the customs and head east. They would probably be able to return with goods in September and enter Dunhuang City before November. They would stay at home to spend the New Year with their family and leave the customs again in the early spring of the following year.
Song Xian clenched her hands tightly, her eyes gleaming with longing, yet her face was tinged with hesitation. Sui Yu observed this, but she seemed oblivious and made no effort to encourage her. This was a serious matter. Business had its ups and downs, and whether or not to take this step depended entirely on one's own heart. Traveling the world, seeing its prosperity, came with its own risks and consequences, especially after having children and considering family.
Although she had been out for less than half a day, Sui Yu suddenly missed Zhao Xiping and Xiaozai very much. She drank the tea in front of her, stood up and said, "I'm going home."
"You won't have lunch here?"
"No, I miss my husband and children." Sui Yu said frankly. She walked out with a smile, her steps very hurried.
Song Xian followed him out to see him off, but she was a few steps behind. When she walked out of the door, she saw Sui Yu had already ridden on the camel and ran away.
Zhao Xiping was standing on the pigpen, holding his cub and looking at the pigs. He pointed at the largest sow and said, "It's called Xiao Hei, and it's your mother's pig."
The cub turned his head to look at the haystack, pointed at the puppy curled up and sleeping in the sun, and called out "Xiao Hei".
"Oh, the little black dog is yours, the little black pig is your mother's, and the big ram is your uncle's." Zhao Xiping muttered, "What do I have? I have a camel?"
Speaking of camels, he saw Sui Yu riding a camel, and the camel carried her galloping along the path.
"Mom——" The little guy also recognized her.
Zhao Xiping walked over with the cub on his head. When he got closer, the camel slowed down. Sui Yu jumped off the camel's back nimbly and gave the father and son a bright smile.
"Sir." The servant who caught up from behind slowed down and saluted.
Zhao Xiping waved his hand, signaling them to continue walking.
"I thought you were going to have lunch in the city." Zhao Xiping lifted his son who was riding on his neck and held him in his arms.
Sui Yu took her son who was holding out his hand to her. She bent down and kissed the little boy's chubby cheek and said, "I had originally planned to do this, but I missed you and the little boy so much that I came back."
Whether it was true or false, Zhao Xiping was happy.
The couple chatted casually as they walked around the guesthouse. When they reached the river, the meal in the kitchen was ready.
"Madam, are you going to celebrate the New Year here or go back to Qianhu Suo?" asked Grandma Yin.
Sui Yu looked at Zhao Xiping, and Zhao Xiping said, "Let's go back to Qianhu Suo. There are only three of us, oh, and Sui Liang, so the four of us can celebrate the New Year together."
"I will still be at home during the Chinese New Year next year," said Sui Yu.
“Next year is next year, this year is this year.”
"Okay then." Sui Yu followed him.
Afterwards, Sui Yu arranged things at the guesthouse, packed some clothes, took some daily necessities, and returned to the city after dinner that night.
Since we moved into the guesthouse in the spring, no one has lived in this house. When we opened the door, a layer of dust fell off the lintel, and there was a thick layer of fallen leaves in the yard, which made a creaking sound when people stepped on them.
There was a rustling sound in the back room. Zhao Xiping looked over vigilantly. Under the moonlight, several short black shadows walked out, breathing heavily.
"It's cats. They stole into our house and then drove us away." Sui Yu snorted.
"There are several of them. I guess they are wild cats that came in to give birth." Sui Liang said.
The cubs meowed like cats. I don't know what they said that offended them, but they suddenly started yelling and cursing. The meows were rough and shrill, like the scolding of old women in the market.
The cub was startled and he closed his mouth and dared not make another sound.
"They have quite bad tempers. Forget it, forget it. Don't worry about them. We'll stay for two days and then leave again." Sui Yu walked under the eaves and said, "I'll boil some water. The kid can bring it to me. Liang'er, you and your brother-in-law should clean up the room where we will sleep."
"I should have Xiao Chunhong and the others come over to clean up this afternoon." Sui Liang muttered, "It's already dark, it would be nice to sleep in the guesthouse."
"Tell your brother-in-law that he wants to reminisce about the good old days and miss the days when the three of us did our own laundry, cooking, sweeping and cleaning." Sui Yu said with a smile.
"Brother-in-law, then please help me clean my room while I go to take care of the baby." Sui Liang took the opportunity to strike.
Zhao Xiping said nothing.
"Is it okay? Brother-in-law?"
"How about you sleep on the floor next to our bed?" Zhao Xiping refused implicitly.
Sui Liang made a "tsk" sound, went into the kitchen to light the oil lamp, and went back to the backyard with his neck stiff.
Zhao Xiping also came in to light the oil lamp. He opened the lid of the water tank and took a look. There was still half a tank of water in it, enough for tonight.
Sui Yu held the baby in her arms and lit a fire in the kitchen. When the water was heated, she first helped the baby wash.
"You were born in this house, do you remember? Ah—open your mouth, mother will clean your teeth."
The kid pursed his lips and refused. Sui Yu raised her hand to slap him, but did not bring it down. She kissed him, and the kid was happy to play, so he opened his mouth obediently.
"Let me count. Our little one has seven teeth now." Sui Yu changed his mind and quickly wiped the child's teeth and tongue. Before he got impatient, he quickly withdrew his hand.
"You're still not happy." She patted him.
The cub smiled sweetly again.
After washing the cub's feet, Sui Yu went out to pour water. A dark shadow quickly passed by the door. It was the cat. She went in and scooped a bowl of water and placed it under the wall outside the door.
"It's clean, and the bedding is made." Zhao Xiping came out and said, "You and the kid should wash up and go to bed first. I'll go check on Sui Liang."
"Okay, tell him to close the doors and windows when he goes to bed at night to prevent the wild cats from getting in."
After washing up, Sui Yu carried the baby back to the house. The mattress and cushion had been kept in the camphorwood box. There was little rain in the northwest, so there was no damp or moldy smell on the bedding, but instead a faint woody fragrance.
The mother and son took off their clothes and lay down first. Having first arrived in an unfamiliar environment, the little cub slept tightly against Sui Yu. He didn't dare to take off his thick clothes at night like he did in the guest house. He had to hold on to the wall to walk a few steps.
Sui Yu hugged the child and coaxed him gently. The child was about to fall asleep, but the sound of footsteps under the eaves woke him up again.
"It's your father and your uncle, go to sleep." Sui Yu put his hands on the boy's eyes.
Not long after, Zhao Xiping came in and asked softly, "Is the little one asleep?"
"not yet."
"I'll hold him and comfort him." Zhao Xiping undressed and lay down. He took the cub in his arms and said, "He'll sleep on my side tonight."
Sui Yu had no objection. She planned to wean the cub in the spring and let him sleep with his father in advance so that he could adapt first.
The room was quiet, and in a moment, Sui Yu fell asleep.
When she woke up again, she was dazed by the faint hawking sounds and it took her a while to react.
The child's mumbling accompanied by footsteps approached. Zhao Xiping pushed open the door and said to the child, "Hurry up and call your mother to eat. After dinner, we will go to the street to buy New Year's goods."
"Is the meal ready?" Sui Yu sat up. "You got up pretty early."
"Your son woke up before dawn and was crawling around in bed. I had no choice but to get him out of bed." Zhao Xiping closed the door and said, "I'll go call Sui Liang. Hurry up, don't lie down again."
Sui Yu put on his clothes and shoes, opened the door and went out. A wild cat with a black back and white claws took off in a flash, jumped from the yard to the top of the wall, and stared at the new person in the yard with its ears tilted.
Sui Yu glanced at the bowl in the corner. There was only half of the water left in the bowl. She stretched and went into the kitchen. The stove was clean. There was a dumpling soup bubbling in the earthenware pot, with sauerkraut leaves and golden egg pieces floating in the soup.
"The kid has eaten, I've eaten too, and we've both washed our dishes. It's just you two left." Zhao Xiping came in again, full of energy, carrying his fat son.
Sui Yu pointed a finger at him, this man is very capable.
After breakfast, they threw the leftovers out to feed the cat, cleaned up the pots and pans, and the family of four dressed neatly and went shopping to buy New Year's goods.
This was the little boy’s first time shopping, and he was particularly excited by the lively hawking sounds, the bustling crowds, and the various New Year goods.
"Give me a can of Tu Su wine." Sui Yu took out money to buy the wine.
Sui Liang ran to buy malt candy, buying it per person. He bought ten, gave one to the little one, and divided the other nine equally among the three of them.
Zhao Xiping took the malt candy and let the kid lick it. This was his first time eating candy. When he tasted the sweetness, he was so surprised that his eyes widened.
Sui Yu laughed heartily, but didn't let the cub eat more. She told him, "Just let him lick it a few more times, but don't let him eat the whole thing."
Zhao Xiping agreed. He counted silently, and after the cub licked it five times, he ate the whole piece of candy.
The kid refused and cried while reaching out to pick his mouth.
Finally, Sui Yu took the baby and asked Zhao Xiping to buy meat and fish. She and Sui Liang held the baby and went to the street to buy peach charms and peach branches.
After buying all the New Year's goods, the family went back to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner. Sui Liang held the baby in his arms and played in the yard, while Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping cooked in the kitchen.
"These two fish have roe in their bellies. Let's stew them and feed them to the cubs." Sui Yu reached out to check the temperature of the pot and said, "I haven't cooked in a long time. I don't know if my cooking will be bad."
"No." Zhao Xiping came in with a cleaned hen and said, "There's an unshelled egg in the hen's belly. I'll save it for the chicks to eat."
"By the way, did you buy the eggs and sauerkraut this morning on the street?" Sui Yu just remembered and asked.
"I borrowed it from next door." Zhao Xiping laughed. "No one has lived here for a long time, so they're short of everything."
"Will you come again for the New Year next year?" Sui Yu asked with a smile.
The man sat under the stove, lighting a fire. The flames illuminated his face. He looked up at Sui Yu and said, "We still have to come back. Although the guesthouse is bustling with people, I don't think it's as interesting as when we lived in the military settlement."
"Shall we go over there tonight?" Sui Yu suddenly had an idea.
"OK."
The fish was fried until fragrant, and the wild cats slipped into the yard along the wall. Sui Liang counted them and found that there were six cats guarding the house.
"Cat——" the cub pointed at the cat and shouted.
"Yes, it's cats, six cats." Sui Liang hugged the cub and let him learn to walk. "Come on, let's go catch cats."
The laughter of children in the yard drifted into the house. The oil in the pot crackled and the chicken was poured into the pot and stir-fried. Taking advantage of the break, Sui Yu went out with a spatula to take a look.
The sunset glow in the sky dissipated, and a strong chill quickly came over him. Sui Liang helped the kid into the kitchen.
"Come, try a piece of chicken to see how salty it is." Sui Yu pinched a piece of chicken and fed it to Sui Liang.
The little boy also opened his mouth wide, waiting for the fish eggs to enter his mouth. He smacked his lips and smiled.
After the chicken was out of the pot, Sui Yu cooked an egg and tofu soup and served it on the table.
A family of four, four dishes on the table, and six cats in the yard gathered together, squatting outside the doorstep and smelling the aroma wafting out.
After eating and drinking, all the leftovers belong to the cat.
Sui Liang went to wash the dishes and pots, Zhao Xiping went to make torches, and Sui Yu held the baby and changed his clothes. The new red clothes were still stuffed with thick wool.
"Are you dressed?" Zhao Xiping asked outside the door.
"Okay." Sui Yu carried the cub out of the house and said, "Let's light the torch."
There were four torches, Sui Yu held two, Sui Liang waved one, and Zhao Xiping held the cub in each hand. The cub sat in the strong arms, looking up at the rising and stretching flames, his eyes wide with shock as they merged into the sea of fire.
As the cub swayed and twisted around the fire, his face was full of surprise. The exciting drum beats, the scorching flames, the faint chanting, the excited crowd, his parents teasing him... The cub suddenly laughed, waved his arms, and laughed with everyone.
When the drum beats became dense, everyone ran out together. Because they were carrying their children, Sui Yu and his family of four did not go out of the city to throw torches. They held torches and turned halfway to go to the military settlement.
The military settlement was very quiet, with only a few houses still having lights on. Walking on the familiar yet unfamiliar road, Sui Yu looked up and around. Perhaps due to the influence of the darkness, his memory of this place seemed to have become blurred.
When they reached Shisantun, Zhao Xiping paused.
"It's here, I'm not wrong." Sui Liang said, "I still remember that I used to lead the pigs, sheep and camels out to graze every day."
Sui Yu took a step forward and walked into the alley, memories of her past life flooding back.
"I never thought that I would move out of here." Zhao Xiping stopped at the door of his former home.
"I wonder if that stone pile in the yard is still there... My dear, before you were born, your parents and uncle lived here." Sui Yu pointed to the little boy. "Your father was really mean back then."
Zhao Xiping couldn't stand any longer. He held his son in one hand and pulled his wife with the other, and quickly took the person away.
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