Chapter 10: Giving Soup to Lu Daya

Shitou was even happier, and with the promise of no money involved, he started gushing: "Grandma, it’s not about the meat; I really think my Little Aunt is amazing.

Look at our village—who is as pretty as my Little Aunt? Who is as educated as her? Who is as clean as her? My Little Aunt is not only filial and respectful to her elders, but she also takes care of me and Huzi. She’s just... top-notch!"

As he said this, Shitou gave a thumbs-up.

This made Mother Xu laugh out loud: "Alright, as long as you know your Little Aunt’s worth, don't be ungrateful when you grow up. You must be good to your Little Aunt!"

Shitou nodded immediately to promise: "Grandma, I definitely won't. When I start earning money, I’ll buy my Little Aunt new clothes first."

Mother Xu was extremely satisfied hearing this. Just then, Father Xu returned from work with his sons, and as soon as they entered the courtyard, they smelled the aroma of meat.

"Mom, are we having meat for lunch?"

Mother Xu hummed softly: "This fish was caught by your Little Sister. She was worried about your health, so as soon as she recovered, she went up the mountain to catch wild game to help you regain your strength.

If you don't treat your Little Sister well, how can you live with your conscience?"

"Mom, Little Sister caught this?" Second Brother Xu’s face was full of astonishment. It wasn't that he didn't believe her, but his Little Sister had been spoiled rotten and never did anything at home.

How could she possibly go up the mountain to catch fish? Besides, the weather was getting colder; if she fell into the river again, she could have lost her life.

"What? You don't believe it? Shitou, tell your Second Uncle what your Little Aunt did today." Mother Xu was indignant.

Receiving the order, Shitou immediately said: "Second Uncle, Little Aunt went to the mountain with me today. Not only did she catch three fish and three pheasants, but she also found eight wild eggs and ten wild duck eggs."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the courtyard beamed with joy.

Second Brother Xu believed it now, his face full of shock: "Little Sister is too amazing."

He and his eldest brother had gone up the mountain to set traps the day before yesterday and hadn't caught a damn thing.

Eldest Brother Xu also thought of this and looked at his Little Sister with newfound admiration.

Father Xu looked at everyone smugly: "It’s just my daughter’s good luck that she could find so many good things on the mountain."

Thinking of his daughter catching fish, Father Xu’s expression darkened: "Daughter, go to the river less often in the future. This time you were lucky that Daya saved you; how could you have such luck next time?"

Xu Ying nodded obediently, hugging Father Xu’s arm and acting spoiled: "Dad, I know."

It was the first time Father Xu had been hugged and spoiled by his daughter, and his mouth stretched from ear to ear. He looked at Xu Ying and kept smiling foolishly: "Mm-hmm, as long as you know."

Eldest Brother Xu and Second Brother Xu looked at Father Xu with envy.

Eldest Sister-in-law twitched the corner of her mouth.

"Mom, did you set aside some fish soup for Lu Daya? I’m going to take it to her," Xu Ying said, turning to look at Mother Xu.

Mother Xu went to the kitchen and brought out a bowl of fish soup she had set aside earlier.

"Go quickly, don't stay too long, we still have to eat lunch."

Xu Ying nodded, took the fish soup, and hurried out of the house.

It was noon, and everyone was at home eating, so there were few people out in the village.

Xu Ying carried the fish soup to the Lu house, and when she arrived, the Lu family was also eating.

When Mother Lu saw Xu Ying arrive, her eyes crinkled into slits.

When the eldest brother and sister-in-law of the Lu family saw Xu Ying, their mouths curved into smiles. Thinking of how the team leader had brought a basket of eggs and some snacks to their house that morning, and seeing Xu Ying carrying a basket now, both of them were thrilled: "Xu Ying is here! You came, but why did you bring things again?"

"Oh my, Xu Ying is here. Are you here to see Daya? That girl just woke up and is in the room," Mother Lu said, reaching for the basket in Xu Ying’s hand.

Xu Ying dodged to the side. She glanced at Mother Lu and asked with a smile: "Auntie Lu, which room is Daya in? I brought her some fish soup to help her recover."

Mother Lu was a little unhappy when she heard this. What was the meaning of this? Was she afraid she would eat what she brought?

She was Daya’s mother; what was wrong with eating a little of Daya’s food?

Mother Lu glared at Xu Ying, but forced by the fact that her father was the team leader, she had no choice but to lead her to Lu Daya’s room.

"Daya, Xu Ying brought you some fish soup."

Xu Ying followed Mother Lu into the room and saw a girl lying on the bed, her frame so thin she looked like a bamboo pole.

Her face was devoid of color, lying there ashen-faced.

Seeing this, Xu Ying couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

"Sister Daya, thanks to you saving me a few days ago, otherwise I would have lost my life." As she spoke, Xu Ying hurriedly placed the basket on the table nearby and took out the bowl.

She glanced at Mother Lu and asked: "Auntie Lu, do you have chopsticks? Could you get a pair for Sister Daya?"

Mother Lu paused, looked greedily at the white, rich fish soup in the bowl, and swallowed her saliva before going to the kitchen to get chopsticks.

Xu Ying took the chopsticks and handed them to Daya, then handed the fish soup to Lu Daya: "Sister Daya, you just woke up, you need to nourish your body well. Drink it while it’s hot."

When Mother Lu saw her daughter pick up the fish soup, she blinked at her fiercely. If this damn girl dared to drink the soup, she would skin her alive once Xu Ying left.

Why should a money-losing item eat something so good? It was a total waste; it would be better to give it to her precious grandson.

"Sister Daya, if you don't want to drink it, I’ll pour it out!" Xu Ying said intentionally, knowing she was worried about Mother Lu.

"Oh my, why pour it out? If Daya doesn't drink it, give it to her nephew. It’s such a waste to pour out such good fish soup," Mother Lu said anxiously.

Xu Ying looked at her coldly and said flatly: "This is prepared for Sister Daya. If she doesn't drink it, I’ll pour it out."

In her past life, she had been just as unreasonable!

Mother Lu was so angry her face turned green. She waved her hand and said: "Daya, hurry up and drink it."

Seeing this, Lu Daya’s lips curved slightly, and she began to drink the steaming fish soup in small sips.

Watching the fish soup slip away from her reach, Mother Lu left the room, looking dejected.

Watching Lu Daya drink the soup, Xu Ying felt a bit guilty. If there was anyone she owed the most, it was her parents and family; the second person she owed was Lu Daya.

She knew that Lu Daya had saved her in her past life.

But after she woke up, she heard that it was Chen Yanran who had saved her. At the time, she was very angry and wanted to find Father and Mother Xu to clarify things.

But back then, she liked Dong Wenzhong, and Dong Wenzhong had approached her with a righteous air, saying: "Yingying, I know you are the best to me. Yanran is like my own sister.

If you make a big deal out of this, Yanran’s reputation will be ruined. Just do it for me and help Yanran."

At the time, Chen Yanran had also cried and begged her not to make a scene.

For the sake of Dong Wenzhong, she had tacitly accepted that Chen Yanran was her savior.

Poor Lu Daya—she was a non-entity at home, and her mother was biased toward sons. After saving her, she had been running a fever.

The Lu family didn't have the money to take her to see a doctor, and she eventually burned to death.

Thinking of how Chen Yanran had received the father’s care in her past life because she had "saved" her, was given the easiest jobs, and was later even given a spot to be a teacher, Xu Ying hated her to death.

"Sister Daya, why did you stop?" Seeing her pause with the bowl, Xu Ying asked curiously.

Lu Daya hesitated as she looked at the fish soup. She raised her head tremblingly and asked: "Can I save some of the fish soup for my Second Brother?"

Xu Ying found this strange—why save it specifically for her second brother? But she shook her head and refused firmly: "Your body is weak right now; you must drink all of this fish soup."

Lu Daya was eighteen this year. Apart from being tall, she didn't look like an eighteen-year-old girl in any other way; she was as thin and frail as a bamboo pole.

(End of chapter)