Free Web NovelChapter 131: Chapter 131: Ahhhh
At this time, the gap between the rich and poor wasn’t yet severe. Many people in the work unit were from the countryside, and most had also married people from the countryside.
In this family compound, the majority of the wives were from rural areas, and many were illiterate.
The narrow-eyed woman and the other wives with her considered themselves cultured city folk. They didn’t associate much with the other rural wives and often called them unsophisticated behind their backs.
Of course, they were talked about behind their backs just as much.
Few of these wives had proper jobs. Other than raising children and tending the vegetable plots in the courtyard, they had nothing to do all day but visit each other and gossip. The constant back-and-forth, talking about one another’s family business, was a common occurrence.
The men didn’t concern themselves with these matters, and Yu Le, who wasn’t even married yet, had even less reason to get involved.
But today, he couldn’t just stand by. After all, they were talking about Su Li. Su Li was Tang Yuanxiao’s wife, and with Tang Yuanxiao away, he had to protect her in his stead.
"We... we just heard it from someone, we were just saying..." The wives were flustered with embarrassment. It took the narrow-eyed woman a long moment to squeeze out three words, "Sorry about that."
Then, the group instantly scattered. Some rushed back to their homes, others walked away, and in a flash, they were all gone.
Su Li raised an eyebrow.
"Sister-in-law, this way." Yu Le tilted his head, looking slightly proud of himself.
Yu Le led Su Li away, advising her in a low voice as they walked, "Sister-in-law, in the future, if you hear anything about... Cui Yun, that is, the former sister-in-law, don’t pay it any mind."
He was genuinely trying to comfort her, his eyes filled with true concern. Su Li was surprised but thanked him, "Thank you. You’re a good kid."
Yu Le’s expression instantly became awkward. ’A kid, really...’
He scratched his head. "Sister-in-law, I’m the same age as Captain Tang."
’What kind of madness would possess someone to call a man seven years her senior a kid!’
Yu Le’s expression was so rich and exasperated that Su Li coughed and made an excuse. "Ah, a slip of the tongue. I’m used to praising Little Mo... Anyway, thank you."
"No need to be polite. Captain Tang and I are like real brothers, so you’re my real sister-in-law, too."
Yu Le said what was truly on his mind with a wide smile.
Su Li was silent for a moment, then smiled.
"Sister-in-law, we’re here. This is your place."
Yu Le led Su Li to a ground-floor apartment at the very end of the first building, unlocked the door, and handed the key to Su Li.
"This is the spare key I had."
Su Li paused for a second before taking it.
Yu Le opened the door but didn’t follow them inside. Instead, he stood at the entrance and said, "Sister-in-law, you go on in and rest. I’ll go get you some food."
Arriving at this hour, Su Li and her son surely hadn’t eaten yet.
"Thank you." Su Li wasn’t one for false modesty and thanked him directly.
"Don’t mention it. Is there anything you don’t eat?" Yu Le was about to leave but turned back to ask.
"No, but Little Mo can’t handle anything too spicy, so just a little less heat in the dishes would be good."
"Got it." Yu Le turned and left.
Su Li led Little Tang Mo into the apartment, put their things down, and looked around.
Tang Yuanxiao’s position wasn’t low, so the apartment he was assigned wasn’t bad. At fifty to sixty square meters, it could be considered a two-bedroom, one-living-room unit.
The front door opened into a combined living room, dining room, and kitchen. Compared to the sofas, coffee tables, and dining sets of later generations, this was naturally much simpler.
Square tables, round tables, low stools, and high chairs were all there was.
To the right of the entrance sat a chair, and on it was a potted Orchid. The Orchid was planted in a cracked pickled vegetable jar, and an enamel tray served as the saucer beneath it.
Despite being planted so strangely, the Orchid was growing quite vigorously.
Su Li reached out and flicked a leaf. Little Tang Mo said from the side, "Mama, it’s the same as the one you grow at home."
"That’s right." Su Li liked tending to flowers and plants. When she didn’t have the means before, she had found an Orchid while herding cattle and dug it up to plant at home.
’To think Tang Yuanxiao would also be growing an Orchid!’
Next to the Orchid was a washbasin stand. The four-tiered stand held three enamel basins decorated with the "double happiness" character.
The area to the left of the entrance was the kitchen. There was a board for making dough, a small stove, coal, a small cabinet, and all the necessary pots and pans.
However, everything looked new, as if it had barely been used.
"Put your things in your room. I wonder if your father has tidied it up yet."
Su Li said to Little Tang Mo as she opened the nearest bedroom door.
A desk, an office chair, a wooden wardrobe, and a standard 1.2-meter-wide bed with the duvet and quilt neatly folded.
"This is your dad’s room." The room clearly belonged to Tang Yuanxiao.
Su Li backed out, closed the door, and opened the other room.
It was a little smaller than the previous room. It had a small one-meter-wide bed with a wooden frame, a small table, a small chair, and a small wardrobe. On the table sat a small enamel cup printed with the words "Serve the People."
Without a doubt, this was the room Tang Yuanxiao had prepared for Little Tang Mo.
When Little Tang Mo corresponded with Tang Yuanxiao, he had told him that he slept in his own room, so Tang Yuanxiao had prepared one for him.
Tang Yuanxiao hadn’t made the bed yet. Su Li made the bed and wiped things down, while Little Tang Mo organized his clothes, luggage, and books. Working together, they were done in no time.
With the clothes in the wardrobe and the books on the desk, the small room instantly came to life.
Just as they finished tidying up, Yu Le returned with their food.
"Sister-in-law, Little Mo, come and eat." Yu Le placed the food he’d brought on the table and, without lingering, took his leave again.
"You and Little Mo eat first, Sister-in-law. I’m going to find Captain Tang. If I’m quick, he should be back before three this afternoon."
Yu Le rushed off again. Su Li and Little Tang Mo washed their hands and faces, then ate the sumptuous and generously portioned meal Yu Le had brought back.
Two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup. It tasted quite good, too.
Famished, Su Li and Little Tang Mo ate with a great appetite and filled their bellies.
As they ate inside, they could hear sounds from outside or the next apartment because the soundproofing wasn’t great.
After eating and drinking their fill, Little Tang Mo started to get sleepy.
"Your dad isn’t back yet. You should take a nap first." Su Li took Little Tang Mo into the room.
Being in a new and unfamiliar place, Little Tang Mo held onto Su Li’s hand even as he fell asleep. Su Li lay down beside him, waiting for him to drift off.
In the end, after Little Tang Mo fell asleep, she accidentally dozed off as well.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but Su Li thought she heard the sound of a door opening. She was groggy and only became fully awake after a while.
She listened closely. It did seem like there was some noise.
Su Li quietly got up and opened the door, but she found the living room empty.
’Did I mishear it?’ Just as Su Li was wondering, she heard a faint sound from the master bedroom.
Su Li walked over to take a look. The door to the room she had closed tightly was now ajar, and a figure seemed to be moving inside. Su Li glanced in and saw a flash of red.
’Red?’
’Did a thief get in?’
"Who’s there?" Su Li asked with a frown as she pushed the door open.
The next second, Su Li froze.
’Can someone please tell me what on earth is happening right now!’
Tang Yuanxiao stared at Su Li in the doorway. He was more than frozen; he felt like his heart was about to stop!
Why would Su Li suddenly appear before him, especially under these circumstances! ƒrēewebnovel.com
Tang Yuanxiao looked down at his bare torso, then at his pants, which were down to his knees...
’AHHH!!!’
