Free Web NovelChapter 46: Chapter 46: The Return of Tangyuan
At dusk, Su Li finally saw Xinghua Village. Before entering, she spotted a small, familiar figure in the distance at the village entrance. She had a feeling it was Little Tang Mo.
’It’s probably not him. I must be seeing things...’
Just as Su Li was thinking this, she saw the tiny figure suddenly start running toward her.
A moment later, the little figure drew closer, and Su Li could finally see clearly. It really was Little Tang Mo.
"Mama, you’re finally back!"
Little Tang Mo’s face was full of excitement as he rushed over and hugged Su Li’s legs. "Mama, you’re finally back."
Su Li knelt down and hugged Little Tang Mo, who reached out and touched her face.
"It’s so good that you’re back. I thought you weren’t coming back, Mama. I waited for you every day, but you never came."
Su Li paused. "You were waiting for me? Little Mo."
"Yeah, I came here to wait for you every day. I waited for a long, long time. I’m so glad you came back today."
Little Tang Mo was panting. He threw his arms around Su Li’s neck and clung to her, refusing to let go. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Good boy." Su Li didn’t know what to say for a moment. She picked up Little Tang Mo and started walking toward the village.
"Mama, is the basket heavy? Are you tired? If you’re tired, I can get down and walk by myself."
Little Tang Mo asked, looking at the basket on Su Li’s back.
"It’s not heavy. I can carry you," Su Li said, pausing for a moment.
"Did you recognize me just now, Little Mo? Could you really tell it was me from so far away?"
Su Li herself hadn’t been sure if it was Little Tang Mo.
"Of course I could! I knew it was you right away, Mama," Little Tang Mo replied with a hint of pride.
"You’re so smart, Little Mo," Su Li praised, but her smile was forced.
"What’s wrong, Mama?" Little Tang Mo asked perceptively.
"Nothing’s wrong." Su Li smiled. "Mama brought you back candy and clothes. I also bought yarn. How about I knit you a sweater tonight?"
"Okay!" Little Tang Mo’s face flushed red with excitement.
In stark contrast to Little Tang Mo’s joy and excitement, Mrs. Tang’s face fell the moment she saw Su Li, her expression turning exceptionally sour.
"Where have you been these past few days?"
"In the county. I was busy with something," Su Li replied nonchalantly.
"Su Li, you’re a wife. Is it proper for you to just disappear for six or seven days?" Mrs. Tang demanded in a low voice.
Before Su Li could speak, Little Tang Mo, his face fraught with anxiety, called out to Mrs. Tang, "Grandma."
He looked anxious and conflicted, and also a little scared. More than anything, children hate it when adults argue.
"Momo, get down and go to the kitchen for a bit."
Mrs. Tang forced a smile. "Grandma needs to talk to your mama."
Little Tang Mo was set on the ground, but he didn’t move. He held one of Mrs. Tang’s hands and one of Su Li’s, looking at his grandmother with a pleading expression.
"Grandma, Mama just got back. She must be thirsty and hungry. Can you two talk after dinner, please?"
Mrs. Tang could only swallow her anger and reluctantly agreed, "Fine."
Little Tang Mo breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes darted around, and he looked at Mrs. Tang, trying to curry favor.
"Grandma, Mama said she bought me candy and clothes, and she’s going to knit me a new sweater!"
Mrs. Tang’s expression softened a little. Following Little Tang Mo’s lead, Su Li set down her basket and took out the things she had bought for him.
There were three outfits, candy, little snacks, bananas, and three balls of yarn—all for Little Tang Mo.
The three outfits were all handmade by Su Li and Li Hongqin over the past few days. They were cute and pretty, the kind you couldn’t buy in a store. Both Mrs. Tang and Little Tang Mo found them incredibly precious the moment they saw them. Mrs. Tang thought they were special, but she also felt a pang of heartache.
"How much did all this cost? Su Li, in the future... you should be more frugal."
Mrs. Tang was used to being thrifty and always worried about money. Seeing how well Su Li treated Little Tang Mo, she felt both pleased and helpless. Caught in this mix of emotions, she forgot about giving Su Li a hard time.
"Mama... I’m so happy. But next time, don’t buy things for me. Buy them for you and Grandma. Oh, and for Dad."
Seeing that Su Li had only bought things for him, Little Tang Mo was both happy and conflicted.
Su Li stroked his head. "Since they were bought for you, you should just wear them. You don’t need to worry about the adults."
’These are his parting gifts. His last gifts.’
Mrs. Tang sighed as she watched the mother and son interact. She gently tapped Little Tang Mo on the head.
"Momo went to the village entrance to wait for you every day. When it got dark and I called him for dinner, he’d still keep looking back. Since you treat him this well, his waiting wasn’t in vain."
"Grandma..." Little Tang Mo felt embarrassed. He called out but didn’t dare to look at Su Li.
Su Li had left on the eighth day of the first lunar month. Starting that evening, Little Tang Mo would first look for Su Li at home every day after returning from herding the cattle with Mrs. Tang. When he couldn’t find her, he would go to the village entrance to wait for her to return.
He went every single day and wouldn’t come back even after dark. Mrs. Tang had to go get him every time. She was already unhappy that Su Li hadn’t returned, and seeing Little Tang Mo be so disobedient for the first time, she had scolded him twice.
Little Tang Mo had cried and felt wronged, but he didn’t change his ways. As time went on, he grew more and more anxious. Although Mrs. Tang was angry, she didn’t dare scold Su Li in front of him.
Su Li had been so busy in the county that she’d been run off her feet. She never imagined Little Tang Mo would be waiting for her like this.
When she heard Mrs. Tang’s words, she didn’t show the pleased smile Mrs. Tang had expected. Instead, her expression darkened.
Mrs. Tang looked displeased and was about to say something when she saw Su Li stroke Little Tang Mo’s head.
"Little Mo, don’t wait for me like that anymore, okay? Be a good boy."
Little Tang Mo could tell Su Li wasn’t happy, so he lowered his head and nodded. "Okay, I won’t wait anymore."
’I have to be good. If I’m good, Mama won’t leave, and she’ll keep letting me call her Mama.’
After dinner, Little Tang Mo refused to leave Su Li’s arms. He mumbled to her about his past few days, sleepily playing with her ear until he drifted off.
Su Li stroked his head and laid him down on the bed.
With Little Tang Mo asleep, Su Li and Mrs. Tang finally faced each other properly.
Mrs. Tang’s face had already fallen, looking somewhat menacing in the flickering light of the kerosene lamp.
"Su Li, tell me the truth. Where have you been these past few days?"
"I already told you, I was in the county." Su Li cut in before Mrs. Tang could speak again.
"Tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival. After tomorrow, on the day after, I’m leaving to find Tang Yuanxiao."
The rest of Mrs. Tang’s words caught in her throat. She was silent for a second before her voice suddenly shot up.
"What did you say?"
"I said I’m leaving the day after tomorrow to find Tang Yuanxiao. I’ve already bought the train ticket. I’m leaving early in the morning."
Su Li repeated herself calmly, her gaze unwavering as she looked into Mrs. Tang’s eyes.
She didn’t care how Mrs. Tang would react. She was simply informing her.
"You’re going to find Tangyuan? Why?" Mrs. Tang asked in disbelief.
"I have some business to attend to." Su Li stood up. "Mother-in-law, it’s getting late. I’m going to get some rest."
And with that, Su Li left. Furious, Mrs. Tang chased after her, demanding answers, but Su Li couldn’t very well say she was going to find Tang Yuanxiao to get a divorce, so she just repeated that she had business to attend to.
The next day, Mrs. Tang was in a foul mood, but Su Li didn’t change her plans. Mrs. Tang scolded and pleaded, but in the end, there was nothing she could do about Su Li.
Using that evening and the entire next day, Su Li knitted three sweaters for Little Tang Mo in one go. Each sweater was slightly larger than the last, so he would be able to wear them next year and the year after.
On the fifteenth, they ate tangyuan for the Lantern Festival. As Mrs. Tang ate her tangyuan, she kept muttering about her Tangyuan. Su Li felt like her ears were going to fall off. After dinner, she packed her luggage and was about to step outside for some fresh air when she walked into the courtyard and saw a figure standing stock-still by the gate.
Su Li’s expression shifted from astonishment to outright shock.
Tang Yuanxiao! What was he doing here?!
