After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 209 Embarrassing

Chapter 209: Chapter 209 Embarrassing

He spoke slowly, his tone revealing an undeniable firmness.

Upon hearing this, Su Yu’s face immediately lit up with joy, and her crisp applause, like the tinkling of spring water, broke the quiet of the room.

"Exactly! Our minds really do think alike!"

Her smile bloomed like a flower, clearly delighted and comforted by Jiang Ziling’s quick understanding.

Jiang Ziling, however, smiled with the ease of a passing cloud or a gentle breeze, as if everything was within his expectations, "What’s difficult about that? Xixi and I will simply need to put in some extra effort."

Just as the atmosphere became relaxed and pleasant, Su Yu caught a glimpse of the blisters on Jiang Ziling’s hands from grinding medicine for long periods and instantly felt a surge of heartache.

That precious medicine powder, each gram saturated with their toilsome sweat—especially Jiang Ziling’s hands, which ought to have been holding a pen and ink but were now marked with scars from unremitting labor.

With compassion, she said, "Tonight I’ll prepare a special ointment for you, to properly care for these wounds."

Jiang Ziling raised his hand in feigned nonchalance, smiling lightly, "Ah, Ah Yu, you’re always so thoughtful. My hands were never so delicate before. A few more rounds of grinding, and the blisters might just learn to stay away."

His words made Su Yu chuckle, a gentle admonishment shining through her eyes, "You always talk such nonsense."

In an atmosphere woven of warmth and jest, Xiao Xixi tugged on Su Yu’s clothes, excitedly leading her to a bamboo basket holding the chicks and ducklings.

Hope sparkled in Xixi’s eyes as her little finger moved back and forth between the small animals in the basket and the vast outdoors, silently conveying her wish—for these little lives to run and play freely in the yard.

Looking at Xixi’s expectant face, Su Yu felt a mixture of emotions.

When those chickens and ducks first arrived, they were so frail. And with the recent unpredictable weather and continuous rain, she had been afraid they might fall ill, so she kept them confined in their basket, planning to let them roam once they grew bigger.

Under Xixi’s careful nurture, they had indeed thrived, making the small basket now seem cramped and confined.

Still, considering potential dangers outside the yard, Su Yu remained undecided.

After pondering for a while, Su Yu proposed a compromise to Xixi, "How about we fence off a small area behind the house with a hedge? That way, they can enjoy the freedom and sunshine of the outdoors without wandering off and getting lost."

She instructed earnestly, "But you must promise to feed them on time, and when it gets dark or starts to rain, you have to bring them back into their basket promptly. Can you do that?"

Xixi nodded her head seriously, her eyes shining with a sense of responsibility.

Seeing Xixi eager to get started, Su Yu turned to Jiang Ziling and spoke softly, "Seeing how things are shaping up, I’ll be quite busy today. You still have injuries on your hands, so don’t strain yourself grinding the herbs. Take it easy, there’s no rush."

Before Jiang Ziling could respond, Xixi had already excitedly pulled Su Yu along, hurrying toward the back of the house.

As Su Yu followed the little girl’s steps, her gaze naturally fell upon the lush bamboo grove not far away, a perfect material source for constructing the fenced area.

She instructed gently, "Go get mommy a sickle and enough rope."

Xixi happily accepted the task and bounced toward the bamboo grove, leaving a trail of joyful footprints behind her.

Before long, a crisp snapping sound was followed by several bamboos succumbing to gravity, swaying gently in the breeze for a few moments before lying on the damp earth.

Su Yu’s technique was skillful, as if she shared a certain understanding with the bamboo, deftly measuring each one and then cutting them accurately into approximately one-meter lengths. Every movement revealed her familiarity and love for the work.

Then, the lively Xixi took over the heavy lifting. Although she was young, she was strong, her little face turning beet red, her eyes sparkling with excitement, seemingly very proud of this "important task."

With every bamboo she held, her little steps were especially determined, indifferent to the sweat sliding down her cheeks.

When Xixi handed over the bamboo, Su Yu once again showed her deft skills, splitting the bamboo halves gently yet forcefully, her movements flowing rhythmically.

Afterward, she carefully drove one end of each bamboo into the ground, each one standing firmly as if marking a new boundary for the land.

After many repetitions, a fence gradually took shape around the cottage, practical and crafted with ingenuity.

By the time the fence had been perfectly completed around their small domain, the sun had quietly sunk in the west, painting the sky in splendid golds and reds, adding warmth and romance to this ordinary scene.

Standing before the fruits of her labor, Su Yu’s chest heaved with exhaustion, but her eyes shone with satisfaction and relief.

She turned to Xixi, who was sweaty and equally beaming with a sense of achievement, and said softly, "It looks like we’ll have to let them out to play tomorrow."

Xixi nodded sensibly, the smile on her little face even brighter in the glow of the setting sun.

Holding a sickle coated with mud and bamboo shavings, Su Yu slowly walked back into the house, feeling as if an invisible hand were tightly squeezing her waist, making every step laborious.

Her aching back reminded her of the day’s hard labor.

Thinking of dinner, she couldn’t help but smile bitterly, thinking to herself, "Whoever feels like cooking can do it, anyway, I can’t move anymore; I just want to lie down immediately and let my tired body ease a bit."

Just as this thought circled in her mind, light footsteps approached from outside, and then a warm, familiar voice sounded, as if an uninvited helper had arrived.

This sudden "visitor" indeed brought an unexpected delight to Su Yu, adding warmth and anticipation to the busy little house.

Xie Xinghua stood sheltered under the ancient eaves, her body slightly stiff, her hands unconsciously fidgeting with the edge of her garment, as if to settle the unease in her heart.

Words rose to her lips but seemed to be caught in an invisible net, swallowed back, leaving a silence full of quiet expectation.

"Sister-in-law, is there something you need?"

Su Yu’s voice was warm and friendly, like the gentle sun of early spring, lightly falling, trying to dispel the awkwardness in the air.

Xie Xinghua slightly bowed her head, her fingers unconsciously twiddling with the hem of her garment, a flash of hesitation and embarrassment in her eyes.

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s, "Um, you see, I’ve just divided my household, and I haven’t managed to equip my kitchen completely. Could I possibly use your kitchen?"

After speaking, her cheeks reddened, embarrassment written all over her face.

It wasn’t merely a small matter of borrowing for a meal; setting up a new kitchen was a cumbersome process, taking at least ten days or up to half a month. Moreover, with the neighborhood’s lifestyle being in sync, intentionally offsetting meal times would undoubtedly add inconvenience to Su Yu’s family.