Chapter 24: Scheming

The three little ones were pragmatic. After serving their father, they shook their heads and ran to the kitchen to look for Su Xiaoxiao.

There was no reluctance to leave! Wei Ting’s mouth twitched.

Little bastards…

Su Xiaoxiao was talking to Little Wu at the back door of the kitchen.

Today, Su Cheng was going to settle the Cheng family’s matters, so Su Xiaoxiao entrusted the three children to Little Wu.

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In return, she gave Little Wu some food.

Little Wu said, “I haven’t finished the pancakes you gave me this morning.”

“Were they delicious?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.

“D-delicious,” Little Wu said.

She was not being polite. It was sincere praise.

Once, when her sister-in-law was sick, she accompanied her mother-in-law to the neighboring village for a meal. She heard that they had invited a chef from town. It was the best meal she had ever eaten.

However, she felt that Fatty Su’s pancakes were no worse than that chef’s.

Su Xiaoxiao handed her a covered bowl. “These are crushed and not easy to sell. If you don’t mind, take them back for the children.”

Little Wu wanted to continue rejecting her, but Su Xiaoxiao glared at her and obediently took the bowl.

She only opened the bowl after returning to her kitchen.

Although they were said to be broken pancakes, there were actually only very slight cracks. Such pancakes were still sold in the market.

Not only were there three pancakes in the bowl but there was also a large piece of fat and thin braised meat under it.

The family could barely afford two meals of meat in a month. Basically, the meat would be prioritized for her father-in-law, second brother, and Niudan. Her mother-in-law and second sister-in-law, Madam He, could occasionally get a piece of meat, but she and her daughters had not tasted meat for half a year.

With the meat filling in the pancake that Fatty Su gave her this morning and what she had just received, had she actually eaten two meals of meat in a day?

… .

Liu Shan’s family did not say anything about Little Wu taking care of the Su family’s children. The Su family was domineering, so it was not surprising that they would make people to take care of their children.

If Little Wu didn’t do it, would he let Madam He and Big Wu do it instead?

Even though Little Wu had to take care of the children, she did not miss out on any work.

In the kitchen, the three children surrounded the stove and stood on their tiptoes to look into the pot.

However, they were not as tall as the stove and could not get a proper glimpse.

“Mother,” Xiaohu said as he looked at Su Xiaoxiao’s chopping board. “Xiaohu, eat.”

Su Xiaoxiao mischievously picked up a sliced green onion and fed it to him.

Xiaohu opened his mouth and took a bite. He frowned and stuck out his tongue.

Su Xiaoxiao laughed uncontrollably.

Having seen Xiaohu testing the onion, the other two were no longer interested in the things on the chopping board. They turned to look at the leftover shortbread in the basket on the small table.

They had eaten shortbread this morning. It was delicious.

But now, they didn’t want to eat this because just now, all three pastries had been licked by Xiaohu.

“Sister! I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?” Su Ergou walked into the kitchen.

Dahu grabbed the basket on the small table and handed it to Su Ergou. “Uncle, eat.”

“Aren’t you eating?” Su Ergou asked.

Dahu and Erhu shook their heads. Xiaohu was still sticking out his tongue in disgust.

“Oh, then I’ll eat it!” Su Ergou held the basket in one hand and stuffed a pastry into his mouth with the other.

“Eh? Why is it a little damp…”

—

Father Su had gone to settle the Cheng family’s matters and would probably only return at night.

Su Xiaoxiao made fried onion and kidney, crispy meat, stir-fried vegetables, and steamed egg custard.

She had steamed a big bowl previously, but the three little ones didn’t like it. They liked to pack it in small wontons and each had a portion.

Su Ergou and Wei Ting were also involved.

“Ergou, serve the dishes.”

“Coming!”

Su Ergou quickly entered the kitchen, carried out the cooked dishes, and scooped rice for the family.

Su Xiaoxiao went to Wei Ting’s room.

“Shall I bring it in for you, or will you go out and eat with us?” she asked.

Wei Ting looked at the three brats running around the central room and said, “I’ll go out to eat.”

Su Xiaoxiao came to the side of his bed.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m helping you. Can you walk by yourself? Don’t ruin your left leg again! You’re wasting my medicine!”

Wei Ting frowned, probably wanting Su Ergou to come over. However, after hesitating for a moment, he still handed his hand to Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao helped him sit down in the central room.

“Brother-in-law! Are your injuries better?” Su Ergou asked.

Wei Ting did not know whether to respond or not. He only said, “Much better.”

Wei Ting sat opposite Su Xiaoxiao. On Su Xiaoxiao’s left were the three little ones, and on her right was Su Ergou.

The three of them were too short to sit down. Su Xiaoxiao leaned the chair against the table and let the three of them stand on it to eat.

Su Ergou picked up the bowl and chopsticks and whispered into Su Xiaoxiao’s ear, “Sister, Brother-in-law is quite good-looking, right? Dad and I didn’t lie to you, right? Is he a hundred times better-looking than He Tongsheng? I told you you would like him!”

Wei Ting ate his food unhurriedly.

Su Xiaoxiao glanced at Wei Ting and gritted her teeth. “Can you be any louder? Eat!”

“Oh.” Su Ergou buried his head in his food.

The three little ones also ate seriously. It was just that they were too young and food fragments were scattered all over the table.

Now, it was Wei Ting’s turn to gaze at Su Xiaoxiao.

There was no impatience or annoyance in Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes.

Wei Ting felt a little relieved. He picked up a piece of meat and ate it.

“What dish is this?”

He asked Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao took a look and said, “What’s wrong? Is it not delicious?”

Wei Ting thought for a moment and said, “No, but… the taste is a little strange.”

“It’s a pig’s kidney,” Su Xiaoxiao said.

“Cough! Cough, cough, cough!” Wei Ting choked and turned his head to avoid the dining table.

After coughing, he looked at Su Xiaoxiao in shock. “Say it again. What is this?”

“A pig’s kidney!” Su Xiaoxiao smiled. “I used yellow wine to remove the fishy smell! Does it taste tender and refreshing!”

Wei Ting suddenly felt that the food in his bowl was not fragrant.

Su Xiaoxiao pushed the plate in front of him. “I specially bought it for you to nourish your body. It’s good for your kidney and spine. Eat more!”

Wei Ting squeezed his chopsticks. “My body is in very good condition!”

Su Xiaoxiao glanced at the three little ones and nodded thoughtfully.

Wei Ting was speechless.

He didn’t mean that!

—

At night, Father Su finally returned. He ran around for the entire day. First, he asked for the fifteen taels of silver on the IOU from the He family. Then, he brought Old Cheng’s orphan to pay the debts owed by the Cheng family.

In the end, there were seven taels left. The Cheng family didn’t want it no matter what. He secretly stuffed it into the Cheng family’s closet.

With one thing settled, he could finally sleep. When Su Xiaoxiao brought dinner into his room, he was already asleep.

Su Xiaoxiao returned to her room.

As she recorded the accounts in her mind, she thought about what to do next.

In her previous life, she had never been worried about money. Now, she wished she could split a copper coin into two.

The three little ones came to sleep again tonight, but Su Xiaoxiao rejected them.

The three little ones went to sleep with Su Ergou.

Not long after, Su Ergou screamed from the west room. “Ahhh! They peed! They peed!”