Chapter 19: Warmth 1 Su Sanmei swallowed. She wanted to eat eggs too, but when she thought of her mother and sister, she said sensibly, “Father, I won’t drink. Let Mother drink more so that Simei can eat her fill too.”
Su Sanmei liked Su Xiaolu very much. At the age of six, she already knew that her newborn sister could not eat anything and could only rely on her mother’s milk to survive. Only when Madam Zhao ate well, would she have enough milk to feed Simei.
His sensible daughter always made Su Sanlang’s heart ache. He reached out and stroked her hair.
“Give it to our little sister, Father. I don’t want it anymore either.”
Su Chong looked at Su Sanlang in confusion. He was giving away, but he also looked like he could not bear to do so.
“I don’t want it either. Feed my sister well.”
Su Hua waved his hand as well, enduring the pain.
Su Sanlang couldn’t describe what he was feeling. He patted his sons on the head, then patted Su Sanmei on the head and praised them. “Good children. You’re all good children.”
Even his two mentally retarded sons knew how to be modest. They might never understand how precious this was.
Leading the three children into the house, Su Sanlang went straight into the back room.
Madam Zhao had already sat up when she heard Su Sanlang’s voice. She had been waiting anxiously.
When she saw Su Sanlang enter, the worry in her heart eased. She said gently, “Sanlang, you’ve worked hard.”
Su Sanlang put down his basket and said happily, “Darling, I’ve bought cotton and cloth. We don’t have to suffer from the cold in winter.”
When Madam Zhao heard this, joy surged in her heart. She said in a sobbing voice, “Really?”
Su Sanlang took the cloth and cotton out of the basket on his back and put it on the bed as if he were presenting treasures.
Madam Zhao was so happy that she cried. Her hands trembled as she touched the cloth and cotton cautiously.
“Darling, don’t cry. It’ll hurt your eyes.”
Seeing Madam Zhao cry made Su Sanlang’s heart ache.
Su Sanmei also went to Madam Zhao’s side to wipe her tears. “Mother, don’t cry.”
Madam Zhao nodded. She was so happy. Ever since they were chased out, she had been worried about how they would spend the winter. Although they had also been cold in the past, they did not die from the cold.
Now she could finally stop worrying.
Su Sanlang also began to talk about what had happened after he entered town. Madam Zhao listened quietly and smiled gently.
Su Sanlang concluded, “The heavens are still looking after our family after all.”
Madam Zhao nodded in agreement.
“Ahwoo—”
Su Xiaolu, who did not have much presence, made a cute sound at the right time. She had been awake since she heard Su Sanlang’s voice. In fact, she also worried about how much he could sell the goods for.
After hearing Su Sanlang’s report to Madam Zhao, she was relieved.
Wild animals were still valuable. Without this threat hanging over this house, there was no need to worry about freezing to death this winter. With the diligent Sanmei around, there might not even be a lack of meat to eat this winter.
“Simei is awake.”
Madam Zhao looked at Su Xiaolu gently and picked her up after some thought.
Su Sanlang leaned over to take a look. He reached out and said, “Darling, let me hold Simei.”
He had not held his youngest daughter since she was born. He had been so busy and anxious these past few days that he did not even have the time to hug his daughter properly.
Madam Zhao nodded and carefully handed Su Xiaolu to Su Sanlang.
Su Xiaolu was quickly carried carefully by Su Sanlang. Su Xiaolu looked at him and opened her mouth. “Yiya…”
Su Sanlang’s eyes were gentle as he looked at his little daughter lovingly. He said softly, “Simei is so cute.”
“Father, Simei is so obedient at home. She smiles when she sees us and doesn’t cry at all.”
Su Sanmei moved her head closer. Su Xiaolu’s eyes turned to look at her and she smiled.
Su Chong and Su Hua were also watching from the side. They wanted to poke Su Xiaolu’s face, but they seemed to be afraid that they would hurt Su Xiaolu.
Seeing this, Su Sanlang smiled and said, “Don’t be afraid. Just curl your fingers and gently touch Simei’s little face, like this.”
Su Sanlang carefully freed his right hand to demonstrate to his two sons.
Su Chong and Su Hua mimicked it seriously and then carefully touched Su Xiaolu’s face.
Su Xiaolu moved her head and pressed her face against her brothers’ hands, scaring Su Chong and Su Hua away.
Su Xiaolu blinked innocently. “Yiyi—”
She didn’t mean to scare them.
Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao both smiled.
Su Su Sanmei gently pressed against Su Xiaolu’s cheek and whispered, “Simei, I’m your third sister.”
Su Sanmei often helped change diapers, so she was not afraid. Su Xiaolu also liked her diligent third sister very much. She moved her head and touched her warm little hand.
At that moment, Su Sanlang felt happier than ever.
Madam Zhao touched the cloth and said, “Sanlang, I’ll tailor your clothes for you later. My body has already recovered. This small chore isn’t tiring.”
Su Sanlang looked at Madam Zhao and felt that the warmth in her eyes was as warm as the spring breeze in March. After a few days of rest, Madam Zhao’s complexion was not as withered as before. Su Sanlang nodded slightly. “Okay, but you can’t tire yourself out. I’m not in a hurry to wear it. It’s not cold yet.”
Madam Zhao smiled happily. She reached out to stroke Su Chong, Su Hua, and Su Sanmei’s hair and said, “After I make new clothes for your father, I’ll make them for you.”
Su Chong and Su Hua were overjoyed to have new clothes to wear.
However, Su Sanmei hesitated for a moment before lowering her eyes and gritting her teeth. “Mother, I don’t have to wear new clothes. Let’s make new clothes for Simei.”
The winter was so cold that she feared her newborn sister would not survive it.
Su Sanmei’s overly mature behavior made Madam Zhao’s nose sting. Su Sanlang’s heart ached as well. He stroked Su Sanmei’s hair with his broad palm and said, “Sanmei, be good. Father bought enough cloth to make new clothes for all of us. You can have them, and so can Simei.”
Su Sanmei smiled upon hearing this. “Thank you, Father, and Mother.”
Su Sanmei seemed to remember something and suddenly said, “By the way, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and I caught a lot of insects today. The chickens couldn’t finish them. I wrapped them all up. I’ll bring them to you.”
Su Sanmei ran out.
Su Chong and Su Hua looked up at Su Sanlang with their chests puffed out.
Su Chong said, “Father, I caught three more than Hua. Sanmei said that I’m awesome.”
As Su Chong spoke, he reached out and patted Su Hua’s head like an adult. “But the insects that Hua caught were fatter than mine.”
Su Hua pursed his lips and nodded in agreement. “Brother is awesome, so am I. We listened to Sanmei.”
Su Sanlang was touched. He looked at his two sons lovingly and nodded with a smile. “You’re both great. You’re both good children of ours.”
Su Sanmei quickly brought the leaf-wrapped insect into the house.
Su Sanlang placed Su Xiaolu on the bed and took it from Su Sanmei’s hands. It was heavy. He said, “Sanmei, I will cook the rice. You stay at home and watch the fire. I’ll take your eldest and second brothers out to set up the traps again. With such good bait, there’s a higher chance of catching prey.”