The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits
Chapter 440 - 444 Shang Family’s Daughter (Part 5)

Chapter 440: Chapter 444 Shang Family’s Daughter (Part 5)

"Never mind, never mind, some things might indeed be ingrained in our blood and bones."

Having finished these tasks, Su Li went to the Yuan Family’s communal kitchen to fetch the earthenware jar.

By chance, Zhang Qiaoqiao was also there. Upon seeing Su Li enter, she timidly smiled and greeted her.

"Big sister-in-law, are you here to make a sweet soup for Xiao Xiao and the others?"

Su Li: "Yes, little sister-in-law, what are you doing in the kitchen? Just now, it seemed like I saw you daydreaming."

Zhang Qiaoqiao became somewhat flustered, her face unnaturally saying, "Me, I... I just came to check if there was enough firewood. If not, I was going to chop some more."

Su Li glanced at the fully stacked firewood pile, smiled without revealing the poor excuse, and said, "There is enough firewood; you don’t need to chop any more."

Seeing Su Li look away, Zhang Qiaoqiao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Hearing the movements behind her, Su Li scoffed. Why was it that she felt like she was bullying someone?

Not wanting to talk more with this sister-in-law who reeked of cowardice, Su Li picked up the jar and left.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Qiaoqiao, twisting her fingers and hesitating, blocked her way, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

Losing her patience, Su Li asked, "Second sister-in-law, is there something you want to say?"

Zhang Qiaoqiao hesitated for a moment before speaking in a hopeful tone, "Big sister-in-law, don’t you love eating stewed pork trotters with soybeans? I, I can cook it for you..."

Upon hearing this, Su Li laughed.

Pork trotters and soybeans, the Yuan Family lacked both.

But Su Li had money, and with money, she could buy them. Besides, Zhang Qiaoqiao’s cooking was not that great; the pork trotters she stewed always had a rancid smell.

In the past, the original owner couldn’t eat much of it, and neither Yuan Jiaming nor Yuan Xiaoxiao liked pork trotters. The remaining large pork trotters and a pot of soup would just benefit the people of the second household.

No wonder. That’s why Zhang Qiaoqiao was timing it to wait here for her, it all made sense now.

At this time every day, it was the original owner who came to stew sweet soup for the twins.

From the original owner’s memories, it was evident that the people of the second household had indeed benefited a lot from the original owner. Yet, when others gossiped, they described the original owner as arrogant and domineering, always bullying her sisters-in-law.

Upon hearing this, Su Li simply said, "No need."

She then walked towards the door, ignoring Zhang Qiaoqiao’s disappointed look.

A small, cannonball-like figure suddenly rushed in from outside, then stood in front of Zhang Qiaoqiao, spreading her arms like a mother hen, guarding protectively and looking at Su Li with caution.

"Great-aunt, if you want to eat something, make it yourself. Don’t always tell my mother to do it; she’s not a servant of your Su Family."

Look at that, a child of just ten years old could speak such words. Su Li’s eyes flickered.

Su Li paid no mind to the fuming little girl, instead, she looked at Zhang Qiaoqiao, "Second sister-in-law, did you hear what your daughter just said?"

"When have I ever ordered you around? You insisted on making the soup for me, and I’ve already said no."

Su Li’s gaze then shifted back to the little girl, devoid of any awareness of bullying a child, "Are you deaf? Did you not hear me just now when I said ’no need’?"

The little girl involuntarily took a couple of steps back; the smiling great-aunt standing before her felt more terrifying than ever.

Realizing she had wrongly accused her great-aunt this time, the little girl twisted slightly, still stubbornly saying, "Who made you always order my mother around before."

Zhang Qiaoqiao’s face changed, and she quickly stopped the little girl from continuing, bowing her head to apologize to Su Li, "Big sister-in-law, don’t be angry at the little girl..."

Su Li crossed her arms, looking deeply at Zhang Qiaoqiao, surprisingly not angry as before, instead, the smile at the corner of her mouth grew deeper.

Su Li said, "I’ve changed my mind. Second sister-in-law, you wanted to make me a soybean and pig trotter soup, didn’t you? Go ahead and do it, then bring it to my room once it’s ready."

"Oh, and make sure to clean the pig trotters thoroughly, otherwise they always smell like pig stink."

The little girl, as if she had caught some significant leverage over Su Li, puffed up her cheeks and shouted loudly, "See, you still say you haven’t bullied my mom."

Su Li: "Zhang Qiaoqiao, you tell me, have I bullied you?"

Zhang Qiaoqiao was in a panic, pulling the little girl behind her and hissing, "Shut up, can you talk back to your aunt like that?"

The standard of speech didn’t seem like something a rural woman could possess.

Looking at Zhang Qiaoqiao always cringing and looking pitiful, one would think she was weak, but in fact, she had quite some strength in her hands.

Handling the little girl was just like picking up a little chicken.

Zhang Qiaoqiao: "Sister-in-law, why would you bully me? Shall I go make the soup for you now?"

Su Li tilted her head and waved a big hand, "Go ahead."

"Eh, why aren’t you going...."

"Sister-in-law, that pig trotter..."

Su Li: "Mm-hmm, make sure the pig trotters are clean."

Having said that, Su Li took the earthen jar and walked outside.

Seeing that her sister-in-law didn’t seem to understand her implied meaning like before, Zhang Qiaoqiao couldn’t care less and hurriedly spoke up before Su Li left, "Sister-in-law, we’re out of pig trotters at home, and we don’t have any soybeans either."

Su Li turned around in surprise and exaggerated, "Out? And you still said you’d make it for me?"

Zhang Qiaoqiao: "I...."

Su Li: "Remember, I gave you half a tael of silver the other day, and it seems you’ve forgotten to pay me back. Since you don’t have it, why don’t you go out and buy some? And pick up some walnut crisp, too. I like those, especially the ones from Almond Hall."

All things considered, buying these items would exactly use up the half tael of silver.

The little girl looked at her mother strangely; she had never known that her aunt had given her mother any money.

Not only that, but she also blurted out, "My mom is not your servant..."

Su Li was waiting for this very sentence and immediately retorted, "Oh, is that so? Then give me back the silver, and I’ll go buy it myself."

Zhang Qiaoqiao’s mouth hung open, she wanted to say something but swallowed it back down. Under the close scrutiny of two pairs of eyes, she could only reluctantly dig out an embroidered pouch.

Then, grudgingly, she returned the still-warm silver to Su Li.

With the silver in hand, Su Li casually said, "Second sister-in-law, you don’t need to keep coming around me all the time. I know you mean well, want to help me, but look at your daughter, she always thinks I’m bullying you."

Zhang Qiaoqiao’s smile was forced, and anyone with eyes could see the pain on her face.

"It’s fine, I..."

"That’s why I’ve decided to buy two servants to take care of things."

Zhang Qiaoqiao was so stunned she forgot what she was going to say next.

She wanted to say she didn’t mind helping her sister-in-law with chores and that she was willing to make a little effort to earn some benefits.

But she had never expected Su Li to decide to buy servants.

"Have you discussed this with dad and mom, and with Uncle?"

"In our kind of family, we don’t need to buy servants to come in..."

Because she was so eager, Zhang Qiaoqiao’s normally cowered spine straightened a bit.