In Meng Shuyun's courtyard, carrying a basin of burning charcoal, Su Xiuju hurriedly stepped forward to take it and carried it directly to Su Xiulan's room.
By this time, the chicken stewing in the pot had become tender. Meng Shuyun had also added some nourishing red dates and angelica root, and the aroma wafted out, making people's mouths water.
Meng Shuyun came out of the kitchen carrying a full bowl of chicken soup. Suddenly, she saw Gu Xue standing at the gate of the yard, her head constantly peeking inside, her eyes fixed on the bowl of soup in Meng Shuyun's hand, and she was swallowing her saliva from time to time.
Meng Shuyun suddenly stopped in her tracks, and when she met Gu Xue's pure and bright eyes, which were like those of a child, a feeling of guilt welled up in her heart for no reason.
"Take this and eat it, but don't tell anyone else, or it will be taken away, understand?" Meng Shuyun shoved a chicken leg into Gu Xue's hand without saying a word.
Gu Xue's eyes lit up immediately. She took a bite without waiting, her mouth full of oil, and nodded obediently, "I won't tell you, and Anan won't tell you either. Thank you, Grandma."
Meng Shuyun's heart skipped a beat, and her face twitched slightly.
Hmph, I should have put away that guilt and not given it to this girl.
Thinking about it, she even raised her hand to touch her face, and realized she really looked that old.
Upon discovering that Gu Xue was missing, Su Xiangnan's indifferent and dejected expression vanished instantly, and he frantically searched the room.
"Xue'er! Where are you? Come out quickly, Xue'er..."
Su Xiangnan shouted loudly, his voice trembling, and his figure appeared flustered and helpless, as if he had lost something of utmost importance.
Su Xiangbei and Jiang Xue were startled by the sudden shout and quickly came out of the room to help look for the person.
Jiang Xue was seething with resentment. She had just been scolded by Su Xiangbei in the room, who called her stingy and cheap, saying she didn't even understand the simple truth that "you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."
Now that he's out here, seeing Su Xiangnan frantically searching for someone, and his sinister eyes, it's truly terrifying.
She'd only brought him home on the first day, and he'd already caused so much trouble; she'd had enough.
"I'm here." Gu Xue reluctantly dropped the chicken bone in her hand and slowly walked out from under the wall.
"Anan, I'm here. I'm not lost."
Su Xiangnan's eyes were red, and he looked Gu Xue up and down several times to make sure she was alright, but the fear on his face did not diminish at all.
"You know what? I was so scared just now! I thought you were lost again! Don't you ever hide away again, okay? I'll be really sad if I can't find you."
Su Xiangnan held Gu Xue's hand and then noticed that it was a little oily and smelled of chicken. He also noticed that her rosy lips were the same.
"Is Xue'er hungry? Who gave you meat to eat?" His eyes were terribly gloomy, but his tone remained gentle, with a hint of coaxing.
Gu Xue wanted to say it was the grandmother next door, but then she remembered that she had promised not to tell anyone, so she lowered her head and twisted her fingers.
"No, I didn't eat meat. I...I...I'm just a little bit hungry, just a little bit..."
Su Xiangnan gently comforted her, took her hand, and used his own clothes to wipe the oil off her hands. He said in a gentle tone, "Okay, it's my fault for not taking good care of Xue'er. I'll take you to buy some good food tomorrow. Don't eat anything given to you by strangers, or you'll get a stomachache."
"It's not Anan's fault, I won't eat anymore, I won't eat anymore."
Hearing this satisfactory answer, Su Xiangnan's lips curled up slightly, forming a faint smile: "Xue'er is so good, tomorrow Anan will reward you with a duck leg."
Jiang Xue and Su Xiangbei stood aside, feeling as if they had been played for a fool.
Jiang Xue pinched Su Xiangbei's leg hard in anger, gritting her teeth and whispering, "Su Xiangbei, look at the trouble you brought back. She just got back and she already knows how to hide her. What will you do if she really gets lost?"
Judging from Su Xiangnan's current crazy and erratic state, just one look at him is enough to make people feel scared, and you never know what outrageous things he might do.
Meng Shuyun was completely unaware of what was happening in the neighboring yard.
Right now, she's washing the diapers for the two little ones in the yard. These two kids eat and poop a lot, and if she doesn't wash them quickly, there won't be enough for them.
Su Xiuju helped out by hanging up the diapers to dry. By the time she finished, it was almost evening, and Su Xiuju finally had time to sit down at the sewing machine.
She found paper and pen and drew out the dress designs she had conceived in her mind—fifteen different ones.
Su Xiuju stared at the designs with wide amazement, her eyes wide. "Mother, you're amazing! You can even draw skirts! That's incredible. Where did you learn that?"
“I saw others wearing them and thought I’d make them. You two sisters would definitely look good in them.”
Meng Shuyun was engrossed in her drawing, but since she didn't have much fabric at home, she decided to make a red polka-dot dress first. She was also thinking that she would have to go to the supply and marketing cooperative the next day to buy the necessary fabric.
Su Xiuju was also busy, helping to cut the gauze; the mother and daughter had a clear division of labor.
After it got dark, they lit the kerosene lamp.
Meng Shuyun stopped what she was doing and looked at the dim and gloomy room.
Now, electricity is gradually being connected to the village, but it's not cheap. Su Dahai has been reluctant to get electricity, so he's been putting it off. Now, only a few poor families in the whole village who can't even afford to eat still don't have electricity.
"I'll go to the village chief's house tomorrow. This kerosene lamp is really not bright enough. Once we get electricity and install light bulbs, it will be much brighter. When I have a little more money, I'll also install a telephone so it will be easier to contact my family."
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