After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 143 The Heartache Behind

Chapter 143: Chapter 143 The Heartache Behind

Her shopping principles were simple, only seeking out quality goods, even if the price was steep.

After all, good things naturally held their value; those cheap items could not satisfy her requirements.

After a spree of extravagant purchases, her once plump purse had noticeably slimmed down, nearly hitting bottom.

Fortunately, she had been prudent before the rainy season, hoarding plenty of grain, so even with meager funds, the family table could still maintain its warmth and abundance, avoiding an overly strained existence.

In the end, Su Yu deftly picked out a few boxes of exquisite pastries, adorned with delicate sugar icing and nuts, looking extremely tempting.

Clutching the remaining handful of heavy copper coins, each step she took was imbued with the solid feeling of life as she embarked on her way home.

In the carriage, all sorts of goods were neatly stacked, from daily necessities to food reserves, each one showcasing the meticulous planning of the household.

Attentive as Yuan Feng was, he noticed a few fragile pottery jars during the unloading process and promptly used the soft straw at hand to carefully pad the bottom of the carriage, reducing the vibrations and collisions during the journey. This act undoubtedly highlighted once again his dedication and concern for family affairs, causing Su Yu’s fondness and reliance on him to grow in her heart.

Upon entering the house, the air was filled with an enticing aroma of meat emanating from Lady Zhao’s kitchen, like an invisible thread stealthily tugging at one’s taste buds and thoughts.

With a slight raise of her elegantly arched eyebrows, Su Yu was inwardly amused. Lady Zhao, privately nicknamed "old fairy" by the neighbors, truly had a broad heart. Despite her son’s death not even seven days past, she could afford such leisure to cook delicacies; this level of detachment was something Su Yu admitted she could not learn.

However, not willing to be overly involved in others’ affairs, Su Yu chose to remain disconnected.

After arranging the purchased items one by one, Su Yu suddenly realized that Jiang Ziling’s figure was nowhere to be found, and a hint of confusion immediately rose in her heart. Could he have gone to the backyard for convenience? But his habitual cane still stood forlornly against the corner of the wall, conspicuously alone.

Since Jiang Ziling’s leg injury made it inconvenient for him to move about and to ensure his recovery, Su Yu had strictly forbidden him to move about alone, and he had always complied. He wouldn’t have left his cane behind and rashly attempted to walk.

And it wasn’t just Jiang Ziling; even the small dog Xixi, who usually was always by Jiang Ziling’s side, was missing. The disappearance of both the master and his pet left Su Yu puzzled; where could they have possibly gone?

Just as Su Yu was preparing to go out and search, Xie Xinghua approached her with a mix of hesitation and reluctance, her hands tightly clutching her clothing as if she had a thousand words stuck in her throat, unable to speak.

"Elder Sister-in-law, have you seen Ziling and Xixi?"

Su Yu was the first to break the silence.

Xie Xinghua paused slightly, her fingers trembling as she pointed in the direction of Lady Zhao’s residence, "They’re, inside there."

"Inside?"

Upon hearing this, Su Yu cast a sidelong glance, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her mind clouded with doubts.

Logically, Jiang Ziling would not have gone to Lady Zhao’s place without reason; there must be a cause.

"What happened?"

Su Yu inquired further.

Stammering, Xie Xinghua’s speech was disjointed, "Mother said she wants to invite us, to dine together tonight!"

"You’re inviting me to dinner?"

Su Yu was stunned, wondering if she had heard wrong, but Xie Xinghua nodded seriously, confirming this abrupt invitation.

"Elder sister, can you tell me what exactly is going on?"

It perplexed Su Yu why Lady Zhao, given their well-known discord within the entire family, would make such an invitation for no apparent reason. Although it was possible that the grief of losing a son had greatly changed her disposition, it seemed illogical considering Lady Zhao’s personality.

"I’m not sure what mother is thinking either, she suddenly became like a different person and even apologized to me, saying that she had been unfair to me before..."

Xie Xinghua shared candidly, her tone mixed with a bit of confusion and hope. She also longed for Lady Zhao to truly change and not fall into the same patterns again.

She had been seriously concerned about the potential repercussions of the Da Ya incident, but now it seemed that her worries may have been unnecessary.

After hearing Xie Xinghua’s account, Su Yu vaguely felt a trace of an unusual air floating in the atmosphere, yet she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was amiss.

Life, after all, is full of uncertainties. Since the matter had come to her doorstep, she would have to deal with it accordingly. Thus, after making some preparations, Su Yu followed Xie Xinghua into what seemed to be a normal family dinner on the surface, yet with undercurrents stirring beneath. All truths would slowly surface during this gathering.

The moment she stepped through that weathered wooden door, Su Yu’s gaze involuntarily met Jiang Ziling’s face, which was filled with helplessness and bitter smiles.

Next to him stood a small girl, Xixi, sheepishly uncomfortable and twisting her clothes incessantly as if even the air trembled with her nervousness.

Looking around the simple but rustic room filled with local charm, Su Yu was surprised to find not just the highly respected village head but also the normally amiable Uncle Li present.

The other few neighbors, though wearing simple smiles, still felt slightly unfamiliar to her, marking the unique distance and initial curiosity specific to rural settings.

"Oh my, isn’t this Ziling’s wife? You’re finally back!"

Uncle Li’s voice was like a breeze, his face wrinkling into a dance of smiles as he enthusiastically greeted her.

The village head took over the conversation with a hint of teasing in his tone, "Honestly, Ziling is really blessed; he spends his days leisurely at home, while his wife runs about for a living through wind and rain."

Su Yu responded with a polite yet awkward smile to these words that were half-praise, half-tease.

How much hardship was hidden behind that smile could perhaps only be understood by someone who truly knew her.

Among those present, some might silently admire her resilience, while others might gossip after meals, questioning whether she was violating traditional family values by not being at home to support her husband and raise their children.

Noticing Su Yu hesitating at the doorway, Lady Zhao forced a few dry laughs from her throat, as if trying hard to conceal something: "Cough, come in, come in, we’re only waiting for you now, please have a seat."

Her invitation sounded more like an order, as if she were impatient to start a prearranged scene.

Su Yu casually surveyed the food spread out on the table: glossy chunks of pork, rough but fragrant buns, smooth garlic-flavored pig liver, golden crispy fried tofu, refreshingly crunchy smashed cucumbers, vibrant stir-fried green peas, crunchy fried peanuts, and the perfectly seasoned and spicy stir-fried lotus root, finished with a bowl of sweet fermented rice egg drop soup emitting a warm scent. Each dish radiated the warmth and care of home cooking, yet seemed especially lavish beyond the ordinary.

Well then, regardless of Lady Zhao’s intentions, Su Yu decided to honor the meal by eating it first.