FDNL CH 41

Chapter 41

Teaching (1 / 2)
Su Bai was surprised that his second sister would protect this toad so much. Back then, it was his second sister who had given him the nickname “Toad.” Da Hu was the toad, and the swan meat was naturally his second sister, Su Lianyi—although this swan was a bit plump.

“Call him brother-in-law.” Lianyi increased the strength in her hand.

“Ow, ow… it hurts… Sis, I get it, I’ll call him that, okay? Brother-in-law… Sis, I called him, let go of me.” Su Bai quickly changed his words. Anyway, whatever he called him was up to his second sister; “toad” and “brother-in-law” weren’t much different.

Seeing that Su Bai had changed his tune, Lianyi finally released his big, plump ear and cautiously looked toward Da Hu’s back.

Faintly, she could see the tense muscles on Da Hu’s back relax before he entered the house. Only then did she secretly let out a sigh of relief.

“Sis, look at him—so arrogant!” Su Bai rolled up his sleeves as if ready to fight Da Hu to the death.

Lianyi felt helpless and shot him a glare, lowering her voice. “Don’t underestimate him. You’re no match for him at all.”

Su Bai wasn’t stupid either. Thinking of Da Hu’s solid, muscular build just now, he held his tongue, though he still felt indignant inside.

Su Feng didn’t take part in the exchange. His mind was still filled with the shock from earlier. He silently went to sit on the large stone in the courtyard, remaining immersed in his thoughts.

Lianyi took the meat from Su Bai’s hands. “Third Brother, as your elder sister, I wouldn’t harm you. Listen to me—never provoke Da Hu.”

Su Bai hurriedly nodded. “Of course. I’ve listened to you since I was little and never once disobeyed.”

“That’s good.” Lianyi went into the kitchen and deftly began washing and trimming vegetables, cutting the meat, and steaming rice. She stuck her head out from the kitchen. “Su Bai, go invite Huang Shi to come eat.”

Su Bai was somewhat surprised. “That widow? Sis, since when did you get so close to her?”

“Don’t keep calling her ‘that widow.’ From now on, you’re to call her Sister Chu Ying. She’ll also be teaching you how to read.” Seeing Su Bai’s mixture of surprise and disdain, Lianyi glared at him fiercely. Helpless, Su Bai could only go to invite her.

Five people, six dishes and one soup—it was extremely sumptuous.

Chu Ying was not eating at Lianyi’s house for the first time. She often came to mooch meals—not because she couldn’t afford food herself, but because she truly felt Lianyi’s cooking suited her taste. She had offered to contribute money for food expenses many times, but Lianyi always refused—Chu Ying was newly widowed, and the money in her hands was presumably the inheritance left by her deceased husband. It had to be spent sparingly, as she would still need to raise a child in the future.

After the meal, Su Feng and his son returned home. Chu Ying stayed behind to help Lianyi. At this time her body was not yet very heavy. Although Lianyi refused many times, she still insisted on doing some light chores.

One night passed, and soon it was the next day.

Early in the morning, Chu Ying came over for breakfast—this was something Lianyi had instructed.

Because this careless little widow didn’t know how to take care of herself and often forgot to eat, even if Lianyi didn’t feel sorry for Chu Ying, she worried about the child in her belly. So she dragged her over to eat the nutritious meals she had prepared.

Before breakfast was even finished, Sun Xiaojin arrived.

“Sister Lianyi, I’m here.” Sun Xiaojin was still young and felt a little shy upon seeing Da Hu and Chu Ying for the first time.

Lianyi hurriedly put down her bowl and chopsticks. “Have you eaten? If not, eat here.” She hadn’t expected Sun Xiaojin to arrive so early—it was clear how eager the child was to study.

“Sister Lianyi, I’ve already eaten. These are from my mother.” He handed over the basket in his hands, filled with fresh fruits.

The Sun family lived frugally and couldn’t spare money, so Madam Wu had done her best to gather some food for Xiaojin to bring as thanks.

Chu Ying also came out of the room and asked Lianyi with a smile, “Is this the child you mentioned before, Sun Xiaojin?”

“Yes, that’s him,” Lianyi replied with a smile, introducing them to each other. “Jin’er, this is the teacher who will teach you to read from now on. You can call her Sister Chu Ying.”

“Sister Chu Ying.” Sun Xiaojin bowed his head and saluted, full of gratitude. For a child from a poor family like his to be able to study was like a dream.

Lianyi told Sun Xiaojin to play in the courtyard by himself, while she and Chu Ying returned to the room to continue eating breakfast. Unexpectedly, the child took the initiative to pull weeds in the courtyard, his thin little arms working diligently as he cleared away all the newly sprouted weeds.

“Jin’er is really sensible,” Chu Ying praised, looking at the small figure outside the window.

Lianyi nodded as well. “Yes, such a sensible and intelligent child—if he didn’t have the chance to study and spent his whole life accomplishing nothing, it would truly be a pity.”

The two sighed with emotion, yet neither noticed that Da Hu had been staring blankly at Su Lianyi all along. His thick brows were furrowed, and the astonishment in his eyes grew stronger and stronger.

He increasingly couldn’t understand—was this person really Su Lianyi? If she was, how could someone change so completely? And if she wasn’t, then what was her purpose in impersonating a ruffian to do good deeds?

He didn’t doubt her motives, but he was curious about her original intention. Many times, he had nearly asked her for a clear answer, yet feared being questioned about his own identity in return and could only give up.

Now, aside from completing the task assigned by his family, whenever he had free time, he would always ponder Su Lianyi’s identity. The more he pondered, the more unfathomable she seemed—and the more unfathomable she seemed, the more he wanted to keep pondering.