Free Web NovelChapter 130: Chapter 130: Rustic
"That’s the office building, that’s the tech building, that’s the production area, and that’s the dormitory... Over there is the family housing, and there’s a back gate you can use to get in..."
Yu Le explained, glancing at Little Tang Mo from time to time and winking playfully.
Little Tang Mo smiled shyly but kept his arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Even though it was their first time meeting, Little Tang Mo felt quite close to Yu Le.
Looking at the bright and rosy-cheeked Little Tang Mo, Yu Le was also delighted.
"Little Mo, that’s the school over there. You’ll be going to school there from now on."
Little Tang Mo glanced over, then looked at Su Li and nodded vigorously. "I know."
Yu Le then turned to Su Li. "Sister-in-law, I heard you were a substitute teacher back in your hometown?"
"Yes..."
They chatted idly as he gave them a tour, which took about ten minutes. At one point, Su Li, worried that Yu Le couldn’t manage carrying Little Tang Mo any longer, suggested he put the boy down, but Yu Le insisted he was fine.
The sun was blazing, so Yu Le even put his own hat on Little Tang Mo to shield him from the sun.
Wearing the oversized hat, Little Tang Mo instantly felt closer to Yu Le and even thoughtfully wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Thanks, Little Mo." Yu Le was practically overjoyed.
Little Tang Mo rested his head on Yu Le’s shoulder and smiled at Su Li, who was a little behind them.
"You like it that much? I’ll make one for you in a couple of days," Su Li said with a smile.
"Okay." Little Tang Mo’s eyes sparkled as he nodded. "Make one for Mommy, too."
Ever since Su Li introduced him to the idea of matching mother-son outfits, Little Tang Mo had become completely obsessed with them.
No matter the clothes, he wished they were all matching sets. If they weren’t, he would choose clothes in colors similar to Su Li’s. freewёbnoνel.com
"I will, I’ll make them both." Su Li nodded, and Little Tang Mo was content.
Listening to the mother and son’s conversation, Yu Le saw the genuine smile in Su Li’s eyes as she looked at Little Tang Mo, a warmth that replaced the polite distance she had with him. He broke into a wide grin.
When they arrived at the family housing building, Yu Le went to speak with the guard at the entrance while Su Li held Little Tang Mo’s hand and looked around.
The entire courtyard wasn’t very large. Just inside the entrance, there were buildings on both sides—small, three-story structures—with vegetables planted in the square plots of land below the steps.
On the stone path in the middle, two hens led a brood of chicks pecking for food in the vegetable patches on either side. Laundry hung out to dry fluttered in the wind...
The family courtyard, it seemed, was brimming with the vibrant signs of daily life.
Just as Su Li was about to say something to Little Tang Mo, she suddenly heard voices from inside.
"...I wonder what she’s like." The voice belonged to a woman, was somewhat high-pitched, and carried an unplaceable accent.
"What else could she be? A country girl from an arranged marriage. Someone from the countryside is bound to be unsophisticated and loud." A slightly younger voice chimed in.
"Exactly. She probably can’t even tell the men’s and women’s restrooms apart. Who knows what kind of fool she’ll make of herself." Another voice added, her tone filled with disdain.
"That’s enough from you two," someone said, trying to change the subject. "Sister-in-law, this bok choy of yours is looking really good."
"It’s perfect for eating right now. You should all pull some up to take home." After the brief distraction of the bok choy, the group resumed their discussion.
Su Li shook her head. ’Gossip seems to follow wherever there are women; you really can’t escape it.’
Su Li glanced at Yu Le, who was in the middle of signing a register.
Meanwhile, the gossip in the family courtyard continued.
"Sigh, Captain Tang is so unlucky. First Little Cui passed away so suddenly, and now he’s married a country girl."
"It was an arranged marriage. She definitely can’t compare to Little Cui. If she weren’t an embarrassment, he would have brought her here long ago. The fact that he waited nearly two years after getting married to bring her over proves there’s a problem."
"Isn’t it the truth? That poor child... I wonder what he’s become, living with a stepmother... Sigh..."
"Well, whatever she’s like, we’ll see soon enough."
"Captain Tang has been buying a lot of things recently. He’s really been worried sick. I wonder about that Su Li... Her name is Su Li, right? I asked last time."
"Yes, her name is Su Li..."
Su Li raised an eyebrow. ’I haven’t even arrived yet, but my name has already traveled this far. These people are actually talking about me.’
’And they sound so sure of their facts.’
Su Li remained calm, but Yu Le, who had just finished signing, looked displeased. He had overheard the women’s chatter earlier and initially paid it no mind, but the more he listened, the more wrong it sounded.
’They haven’t even stepped into the courtyard, and this is what they hear!’
Yu Le glanced at Su Li’s expression and said in a low voice, "Sister-in-law, please don’t mind what they’re saying. They’re always gossiping about one thing or another."
He frowned. "Please, wait here for a moment."
As he was about to step forward, Su Li quickly stopped him. "Don’t. Don’t go. I’ll handle this myself. A women’s war should be fought by women."
Yu Le’s awkward expression broke, and he couldn’t help but laugh.
"Sister-in-law, you..." He hadn’t expected Su Li to say something like that.
Looking at Su Li’s quiet and gentle demeanor, he had a feeling she would be bullied. He waved his hand. "I should still be the one to go. I’m here, how could I let you handle it?"
After speaking, he walked inside without making a single sound.
Four women of different ages were squatting together in the vegetable patch, pulling up bok choy, their mouths still running with gossip.
Yu Le silently squatted to the side, listening intently.
"...Let’s just hope she’s an agreeable person. Otherwise, the whole family courtyard won’t have any peace."
"Isn’t that the truth? I wonder if Captain Tang’s mother is coming. I heard he only has his widowed mother left."
"We haven’t had any newcomers here for over a year. It’ll be nice to have some excitement..."
As they chattered on, the women finally sensed something was off. They turned their heads and saw Yu Le.
"Ah!" The women jumped in fright. "Deputy Captain Yu, what are you doing here?"
"You all sounded so lively, I thought I’d have a listen," Yu Le said, beaming.
The women’s faces grew awkward. Everyone knew that Tang Yuanxiao and Yu Le were close.
"We were just talking nonsense..." a woman with narrow eyes wearing a floral blouse explained sheepishly.
"Ladies," Yu Le interrupted her, still beaming, "what exactly do you mean by ’unsophisticated and loud’?"
The women were too abashed to speak. Yu Le glanced back and pointed at Su Li by the entrance. "You mean, like her?"
The women turned, looked, and immediately shook their heads.
"Definitely not like that." The narrow-eyed woman’s eyes lit up when she saw Su Li. Eager to escape Yu Le’s awkward questioning, she stood up and asked Su Li enthusiastically,
"Comrade, who are you? Can we help you with something?"
’This young woman and the child look like they’re highly educated. Could she be related to Manager Huang?’
’Manager Huang’s family, I heard they’re from the Imperial City!’
Just as the sister-in-law with narrow eyes was about to ask, she heard Su Li reply with a gentle smile.
"My name is Su Li. I share the same name as that ’unsophisticated and loud’ Su Li you were just talking about." Holding Little Tang Mo’s hand, Su Li walked over with a smile.
The women froze.
Yu Le, ever the pot-stirrer, stood up. "Ladies, this is the newly arrived Sister-in-law Tang, Su Li. I don’t know about this ’unsophisticated’ you mentioned, but she’s definitely not loud."
The women’s expressions changed drastically, their faces flushing beet-red.
Getting caught gossiping about someone behind their back was mortifying enough, but for the subject of their gossip to appear before them looking so radiant and stylish...
’If Su Li was "unsophisticated," then what were they? Unearthed relics?’
