Free Web NovelChapter 48: Chapter 48: Rice Bucket
The sweater Su Li was wearing was green.
The last time, Mrs. Tang had mailed one of her sweaters to Tang Yuanxiao, insisting it was knitted for him. Su Li had been sick with frustration.
Later, unable to swallow her anger, she had defiantly asked someone to buy her more yarn—still choosing green—and knitted another sweater for herself.
This one was form-fitting, sized just for her. There was no way Tang Yuanxiao could squeeze into it. Mrs. Tang wouldn’t be able to lie through her teeth and claim this one was for Tang Yuanxiao!
Su Li had knitted it right in front of Mrs. Tang and put it on as soon as it was done. Her craftsmanship was impeccable, so of course it looked good on her.
Mrs. Tang had always wanted a sweater like that, but Su Li refused to knit one for her. Still fuming from the last incident, Su Li had been a bit childish, deliberately wearing it often to spite her mother-in-law.
As it happened, Su Li was wearing the green sweater today. When she bought the yarn and knitted it, she hadn’t been thinking about matching outfits, since Tang Yuanxiao was so far away.
Now Tang Yuanxiao was back... and she was wearing a green sweater...
This was awkward.
Even if the concept of "matching outfits" wasn’t really a thing yet, the fact that they were a married couple wearing sweaters of the same color changed the whole feel of it.
"You’ve worked hard. The sweater fits perfectly."
Seeing the expression on Su Li’s face change, Tang Yuanxiao thought she was just shy and replied in an utterly serious tone.
Su Li: "..."
’I’m going to cough up blood from anger!’
’This is a sweater I knitted for myself! How does it make any sense for it to fit you perfectly, Tang Yuanxiao?’
Mrs. Tang and Tang Yuanxiao mistook Su Li’s face, flushed red with anger, for shyness. Mrs. Tang let out another benevolent laugh.
"It fits, that’s what matters. Come on in."
Mrs. Tang pulled Tang Yuanxiao inside. "Go put your bag in your room."
Mrs. Tang enthusiastically opened the door to the side room—the one Su Li considered her own, but was actually her and Tang Yuanxiao’s marital bedroom. Seeing Su Li’s luggage, she said to Tang Yuanxiao,
"Tangyuan, your timing is perfect. Su Li was just saying she was going to look for you tomorrow. It’s a good thing you came back today, or you would have missed each other."
Hearing this, Tang Yuanxiao turned to look back at Su Li, completely surprised. ’Su Li was going to look for me?’
He put down his luggage and turned to Su Li, questioning her with his eyes. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Su Li glanced at him and nodded, confirming Mrs. Tang’s words. "There was something I wanted to discuss with you in person."
Tang Yuanxiao gave Su Li a deep look, seeming to want to say something but holding back. Before he could speak, Mrs. Tang called him into the kitchen.
"Tangyuan, your timing is perfect! Today’s your birthday. You have to eat eggs for your birthday. I’ll boil you some eggs, and some tangyuan too."
Mrs. Tang was completely caught up in her excitement, eagerly getting ready to make Tang Yuanxiao a delicious meal.
Her fervor was such that it seemed she wanted to cook every single delicacy in the house for Tang Yuanxiao.
Tang Yuanxiao naturally understood her intentions. "Mom, don’t make too much, or we won’t be able to finish it."
Mrs. Tang knew this was true. "Alright, alright, I know. I know what I’m doing."
Though she said she knew, she had already grabbed a cleaver and headed upstairs to cut some meat. Tang Yuanxiao couldn’t stop her.
Tang Yuanxiao watched his mother go upstairs, then looked outside the kitchen.
He and his mother had gone into the kitchen, but Su Li and Little Tang Mo hadn’t followed. After a moment’s thought, Tang Yuanxiao ducked out of the kitchen, his long legs carrying him quickly.
Su Li and Little Tang Mo were talking in the courtyard.
Tang Yuanxiao’s sudden return had been quite a shock to Su Li. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and she was trying to calm herself down after he went inside.
’His return was a surprise, but on second thought, it’s actually a good thing. Now that Tang Yuanxiao is back, I don’t have to go through the trouble of finding him. I can save time and energy by discussing the divorce with him right here. That... is great.’
Su Li quickly came to this realization, but Little Tang Mo was still conflicted.
At his age, he already understood the meaning of "mom" and "dad," and he had a vague impression of Tang Yuanxiao. But at the end of the day, the man was still a stranger, and he couldn’t bring himself to call out to him.
"Mom, is he really my dad?"
Little Tang Mo tugged on Su Li’s hand and asked in a small voice, his eyes filled with a mixture of conflict and longing.
Su Li crouched down, looked him in the eyes, and nodded firmly. "Yes."
"Little Mo, he’s your father. After Grandma, he’s the person in this world who will treat you the best. You can go to him for anything from now on."
’Once I’m gone, the only people Little Tang Mo can rely on will be Mrs. Tang and Tang Yuanxiao. And ultimately, it will be Tang Yuanxiao he has to depend on.’
’Judging from my past life, Tang Yuanxiao was truly good to Tang Mo. He even spent over twenty years searching for him. He’s his own son, after all. He’ll definitely always be good to him.’
"He looks so fierce," Little Tang Mo whispered to Su Li, sharing his true feelings.
"It’s okay, you don’t have to be afraid of him. He might be fierce with others, but he won’t be with you." Su Li stroked Little Tang Mo’s head.
"Little Mo, from now on, you have to listen to your father and live a good life with him."
Little Tang Mo retorted, "Mom, I’ll live with *both* of you. I want to listen to you and stay with you, too."
Just as Su Li was about to say something, she heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Tang Yuanxiao.
Tang Yuanxiao looked at her, then at Little Tang Mo. He pursed his lips, his face serious as he tried to think of how to start a conversation with the boy. When Little Tang Mo saw him come out, he immediately hugged Su Li again.
This time, however, he didn’t hide. He just stared at Tang Yuanxiao with wide eyes, sizing him up.
Tang Yuanxiao thought for a moment but couldn’t come up with anything to say. In the end, it became a still frame of father and son staring at each other, big eyes meeting small ones.
Su Li, standing to the side, facepalmed. She had no intention of joining their staring contest and was about to get up and leave when Little Tang Mo grabbed her.
"Mom." Little Tang Mo held her hand, showing with his actions that he would stick with Su Li through thick and thin.
Tang Yuanxiao’s gaze shifted to Su Li, and he let out an uncomfortable cough. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"Let’s go inside together."
Su Li could feel his gaze sweep over her sweater again. Even with her back turned, she could feel his burning stare. Gritting her teeth, she was just about to tell Little Tang Mo to go inside first so she could change when Mrs. Tang called her from the kitchen for help.
Su Li could only sigh and give up on her plan to change sweaters.
Mrs. Tang pulled Su Li into the kitchen, and after a flurry of activity, a rather sumptuous meal was finally on the table by the time dusk fell.
There were tangyuan, eggs, cured meat, and stir-fried dishes—all ready. There was also a basin of noodles Su Li had just made, symbolizing longevity.
Su Li really hadn’t wanted to cook, but Mrs. Tang had asked her to, saying she was good at it. With Little Tang Mo also saying he wanted to eat them, she had no choice but to oblige.
Tang Yuanxiao had been on a train for dozens of hours and had walked for several more on mountain roads without a single proper meal. He was already starving, so he didn’t hold back once he sat down at the table.
He was a fast eater to begin with, and he was famished. Tasting the familiar flavors, he ate like a whirlwind, inhaling the food and sweeping the table clean.
When he tasted the noodles Su Li had made, his eyes lit up. He shot Su Li a look that made her want to tear her hair out, and then proceeded to eat the entire basin of noodles.
That’s right. He ate it all, not leaving even a drop of broth.
Su Li, who had witnessed the entire spectacle, was dumbfounded. Only two words came to mind: "Bottomless pit."
From the moment Tang Yuanxiao started eating to the very end, Little Tang Mo’s mouth hung open, a perfect picture of someone utterly dumbstruck. When Tang Yuanxiao finally put down his bowl, the boy’s gaze shifted fearfully to his stomach.
Tang Yuanxiao put down his bowl, and seeing the look in Little Tang Mo’s eyes, a flash of embarrassment crossed his face. He explained dryly,
"I haven’t eaten in two days..."
