After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 117 Visiting Relatives

Chapter 117: Chapter 117 Visiting Relatives

But Su Yu, considerate in every little detail, realized that Yuan Feng had already been busy for half the day and gently declined his kind offer.

Her understanding, however, turned into a knot of confusion in Yuan Feng’s mind—he mistakenly believed that his own clumsiness had deeply offended the gentle female director.

Su Yu’s thoughts, on the other hand, were even more delicate; she knew her carriage was parked not far away and saw no need to let a young man expend his energy over unnecessary apologies.

As for Yuan Feng’s worries, she had long since cast them out of her mind, completely unaware.

As noon approached and hunger became unbearable, Su Yu took Xiao Xixi to a bustling noodle stall.

Two bowls of steaming noodles loaded with lean meat were brought to the table for just sixteen wen, an exceptional value for the meal in Su Yu’s opinion.

The other patrons cast surprised or admiring glances; after all, seeing a woman dining out alone with a child while being so generous was rare.

Su Yu simply smiled and focused on enjoying her meal, savoring every bite.

To her, nothing was more important than satisfying the fundamental pleasure of eating.

Xixi also ate with relish, and even though the bowl of noodles seemed excellent to others, she knew that nothing could replace the taste of the dishes her mother, Su Yu, cooked herself.

After the meal, Su Yu’s thoughts returned to Jiang Ziling; she wanted to purchase a suitable walking stick for him.

The complicated personal entanglements within the Jiang Family were exhausting to consider, and relying on Jiang Xunzhong to handle the matter would likely only add to the bother.

Su Yu quietly resolved to take matters into her own hands, showing her deep care and responsibility for the family, even if it was just for a walking stick.

However, after wandering around the market for most of the day, almost blistering her feet, she still couldn’t find any of the lively, ready-to-buy chickens and ducks.

Upon asking, she learned that these poultry needed to be reserved in advance and it would take at least a week to get them.

Su Yu couldn’t help but calculate in her mind; in a week’s time, she could probably have nurtured a brood of fluffy chicks herself, so why bother waiting for an elusive reservation?

Thus, Su Yu took Xiao Xixi by the hand and moved through the market, carefully selecting a chirping group of chicks and tender yellow ducklings, ten of each kind, plus three haughty goslings.

Watching these lively little creatures, a sense of inexplicable satisfaction surged in Su Yu’s heart.

Upon returning to the village, Su Yu noticed an odd phenomenon—nearly every household’s yard was bustling with sounds of chickens and ducks, but the Jiang Family’s yard was dead silent, devoid of any semblance of poultry life.

The Jiang Family seemed to be isolated by some unwritten rule, untouched even by the most basic rural livelihood.

Lady Zhao, despite entering the household with a considerable dowry, seemed to deliberately avoid even this simple pleasure of life. In Su Yu’s eyes, growing some vegetables and raising a few poultry were quintessential rural joys. The secret behind this avoidance felt like a thin mist, stirring curiosity and an urgency to uncover it.

Taking advantage of the shopping trip, Su Yu also stocked up on other household necessities, lightening the load on her shoulders considerably. She couldn’t help feeling that having her own carriage made travel infinitely more convenient.

As the sun set in the west, a pale orange flushed the horizon. Su Yu drove the horse-drawn carriage, heavily laden, toward home, just arriving at the town entrance when she encountered Xie Qifen, who was anxiously waiting.

"Big sister, it’s almost dark. Why are you still here?" Su Yu’s voice was tinged with surprise and concern.

Xie Qifen’s brows were slightly furrowed, and her face was etched with helplessness: "Alas, Uncle Li’s carriage was borrowed to transport goods, and with so much to carry, I simply couldn’t walk far. I had no choice but to wait here in distress."

Hearing this, Su Yu immediately stopped the carriage and warmly invited, "Don’t wait any longer, get on. Let’s go back together."

Xie Qifen, who was naturally forthcoming, certainly wouldn’t refuse such a convenient ride. She agreed immediately, nimbly climbed onto the carriage, and didn’t forget to praise, "I’ve got to say, Su Yu, you really are capable. Nothing seems to trouble you."

After hearing this, Su Yu just chuckled without saying a word, but her heart felt warm and nourished.

Xie Qifen caught sight of the two baskets of lively chicken and ducklings on the carriage, her eyes flashing with surprise: "Yo, are you planning on raising these at home?"

Su Yu picked up on the subtlety in Xie Qifen’s words and asked with puzzlement, "Yes, is there a problem?"

"Oh, it’s nothing, just that I’m afraid your mother-in-law will find out and start finding fault again."

Xie Qifen’s expression became slightly awkward, her words revealing a hint of worry.

Doubt immediately sprang up in Su Yu’s mind. Raising some chickens and ducks was a common affair; how could it upset Lady Zhao? Reflecting on the lack of livestock at home, she started to realize that there might be many unknown stories hidden behind this.

While pondering, Xie Qifen seemed to hesitate, as if there were something difficult to discuss: "Sigh, you might not know, but the Jiang Family... they once had another daughter, named Xiao Yun..."

The words were not yet finished when Xie Qifen suddenly grew hesitant. This sudden silence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, rippling Su Yu’s heart.

Xiao Yun, this unfamiliar name, seemed like it had never appeared in the family’s conversations, let alone have any connection to raising chickens and ducks.

Su Yu’s mind was filled with doubts, becoming increasingly curious about the intricate web of relationships behind it.

But if this matter was unrelated to the Zhou Family, Xie Qifen would not mention this past casually without reason.

Grasping the reins firmly, Su Yu drove the carriage steadily, her back to Xie Qifen, with a tone that carried a mixture of openness and intimacy, "Big sister, there’s no need for many words about the bond between us. If there’s something you find hard to talk about, just tell me directly. I want to understand, so I might share your burden."

Seeing Su Yu’s sincere and straightforward attitude, Xie Qifen’s defenses gradually softened, and she finally spoke, her words tinged with a subtle trace of emotion: "That Bai Xiaoyun, truly is no ordinary woman. The specifics are unclear to anyone; all we know is that she suddenly formed a relationship with an influential and powerful official master and greatly won his favor. Although she was in the position of a concubine, her status in the house was extraordinary, and the master doted on her extensively, even breaking the norm to bring her back to this rustic place to visit old acquaintances."

Su Yu gently nodded, considering internally: To have the official master accompany her home to visit relatives indicated that his identity was surely extraordinary, such an occurrence was indeed rare to see.

It seemed that in the heart of that high and mighty official master, Bai Xiaoyun indeed held a significant place.

Xie Qifen continued, her expression revealing a hint of schadenfreude: "Once word got out, the woman of the Zhou Family was brimming with uncontrollable pride, bustling about killing chickens and ducks to prepare for a grand banquet. But fate was not on her side, as just as the official master stepped into their home, the chickens and ducks scattered all over. Moreover, there were rumors that several pieces of chicken droppings managed to land squarely on the master’s head."