Three visits to the doorstep

Because it was Su Wenyue’s three-day return visit after the marriage, the Han family members all got up early. However, since farmhouses usually get an early start for farm work, they had only started a bit earlier than usual. After having breakfast, Su Wenyue and Han Yu set off in the ox cart. Because Han Yu had given instructions, Chen Shuang deliberately avoided people and brought the muntjac early to wait for them outside the village, to avoid attracting idle chatter and gossip reaching the Han family members’ ears.

It was only then that Su Wenyue learned that Han Yu had not only caught pheasants and hares last night but also a muntjac, such a big bounty. Seeing his actions now, it seemed he really had her best interests at heart; she felt reassured and a happy smile appeared on her face, “Big Brother Chen, thank you.”

“No need, no need, Ah Yu and I have grown up together since we were little, what’s this bit of trivial matter? Ah Yu isn’t like me, a loner. He has such a big family at home, and sometimes it’s not so convenient for him to do things.” Chen Shuang, true to his name, was a very forthright and generous person, smiling and waving his hand.

Since Su Wenyue and Han Yu had to continue their journey, they didn’t chat much with Chen Shuang. After watching Chen Shuang leave, Han Yu looked at Su Wenyue thoughtfully, with a somewhat deep gaze that made Su Wenyue feel guilty and somewhat puzzled, not knowing what she had done wrong to be looked at with such unnerving eyes by Han Yu.

“What’s wrong, why are you looking at me like that? Do I have flowers on my face?” Su Wenyue said with a forced chuckle, touching her own face.

“How do you know Chen Shuang? I remember you never came to Xiaohe Village before marrying me, right? And you haven’t left home these last two days. Yet, the way you acted just now looked very familiar, as if you had known Chen Shuang for a long time. It makes me very curious.”

If Chen Shuang hadn’t been a brother who had grown up with him since childhood, and Han Yu wasn’t absolutely certain of Chen Shuang’s familiarity and understanding, he would have been even more puzzled. Since they hadn’t seen each other before, how did Su Wenyue know Chen Shuang?

The smile on Su Wenyue’s face stiffened for a moment, but she managed to steady her emotions and didn’t give herself away, preventing Han Yu from noticing that something was amiss. However, she blamed herself for her carelessness. What had she said wrong to have Han Yu scrutinizing her like this? So this was where the problem lay.

In her previous life, because of Han Yu, Su Wenyue had been very familiar with Chen Shuang, so she naturally used that familiar attitude, forgetting that she was the new daughter-in-law who had just entered the Han family’s door not long ago, not even acquainted with Han Yu yet. This behavior seemed very unusual. However, Su Wenyue soon found a reason and spoke with feigned calmness.

“What’s so strange about that? Who in the village doesn’t know about the relationship between you and Big Brother Chen, that you grew up together as close brothers? Even Baofu knows, so of course, I do too. Besides, I noticed how relaxed you were when talking to Big Brother Chen just now, not cold like usual. The two of you must have an extraordinary relationship. To guess this isn’t hard at all. Do you really think I’m foolish? Let me tell you, I’m actually quite clever! ”

Su Wenyue shifted the matter onto her nephew Baofu. Baofu was studying and reading with her, so it was normal for him to tell her these things. Han Yu should believe her, right? Su Wenyue watched Han Yu’s expression as she spoke, noticing he still looked half-convinced and felt helpless. This man was too shrewd and suspicious; the slightest slip would be caught by him.

“What now? What’s wrong again? I only acted so nicely towards Big Brother Chen for your sake. Otherwise, do you think I really like dealing with you rough men, you smelly guys? Don’t you understand gratitude?”

Su Wenyue said irritably, which actually made Han Yu feel that her attitude was a lot more normal. But he still had questions in his heart, yet could not pinpoint what the problem was. Su Wenyue’s explanation didn’t seem to have anything wrong with it, but he just felt that something was off, always feeling there was something not quite right about her.

Sometimes, Han Yu could even see a sense of mystery and age-old weariness in Su Wenyue, though fleeting, it felt truly present, making it all the stranger. She was clearly just a little girl who was doted on by her parents, always sheltered, sometimes naively simple. It was contradicting to find such feelings in her, and it also stirred his desire to investigate.

“Why are you still daydreaming? Looking at me like that, have you finally realized I’m pretty? I’ve been saying, someone is with you every day, how could you not notice? Could you be too embarrassed? Hee hee, I’m not kidding anymore; don’t we still have to travel? Hurry up. I haven’t seen my father and mother for so long that I miss them to death!” Su Wenyue said, her eyes reddening, unknown to anyone the excitement in her heart.

In her previous life, because she held a grudge against her parents, and because her life in the Han family was less than satisfactory, Su Wenyue grew even more resentful towards her father, who was insistent on marrying her into the Han family, and she also grew angry with the An Family for not firmly opposing it. She didn’t return home on her three-day visit after the marriage, and later her visits to her mother’s family became even rarer. After she followed that man, she completely broke off contact with her mother’s family. Thus, she really hadn’t seen Mr. Su and the An Family for a very long time.

Han Yu was unaware of the meaning behind Su Wenyue’s words, thinking she was just displaying a daughter’s sentimentality, pampered by her parents since childhood, now married and inevitably missing them. Just two or three days felt like an eternity to her, hence her girlish demeanor. He felt even more pity for her and temporarily set aside his doubts.

“Alright, really, you’re so delicate, having left home for only a short time and about to cry. Besides, it’s not a long distance to travel. If need be, I’ll take you back to your mother’s family more often, if you behave well, that is.” Han Yu couldn’t help but set conditions even at this moment.

Su Wenyue, directly ignoring the condition Han Yu mentioned, asked him for a promise, “You must keep your word!”

“Alright, what’s there to it? Hold on tight, I’m speeding up.” Han Yu said as he flicked the whip, the ox pulled the wooden wheel cart with creaking sounds. Compared to a horse carriage, the ox cart was slower and less steady. Usually, when going into the city, Han Yu preferred to walk, as it was even faster than the cart. But today, going to the daughter-in-law’s mother’s home, with his wife and the gifts for the return visit on board, they could only travel at a leisurely pace.

Su Wenyue’s mother’s family, the Su Family, was not too far from their Xinhe Village, yet not too close either. It took roughly two hours by ox cart, and even though they had set out so early, they would only arrive around noon.

“Old master, Madam, Miss is back, Miss is back!”

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