From Broken Family to Life Winner: A Reborn Mother's Journey

The second and third days were spent either up in the mountains or down by the lake. They picked mushrooms and dug for bamboo shoots, which was both helpful work and a way to relax.

There was an endless supply of fruit every day. Yellow Bubble Fruits, apples, plums, and pears were eaten in rotation, available whenever they wanted.

Su Li hadn’t been this relaxed in a very long time.

Little Tang Mo had borrowed some books, but he didn’t have a spare moment to even glance at them.

If Wu Sheng wasn’t taking Little Tang Mo out to play, then Wu Dong was.

After a few days, Little Tang Mo had gotten quite tanned, and he had even learned how to swim.

He also followed the village kids up the mountain to look for bird nests and eggs, brandishing the slingshot Wu Dong had given him and shooting at everything in sight.

The mischievous streak a boy his age ought to have was being brought out in full force in Wu Family Village.

Grandma Wu and Little Aunt already knew about Su Li and Little Tang Mo’s relationship, even that she had been married before.

However, they didn’t say much about it.

Their attitude toward Su Li didn’t change.

Nor did their attitude toward Little Tang Mo.

Although blood ties were important, they were kind people who always treated children and the elderly with a good heart.

Even though Little Tang Mo didn’t smile as much or act as cutesy as he used to, he was still very endearing.

Who wouldn’t like a smart, polite child? What’s more, Wu Sheng said this was his son.

Out of affection for Wu Sheng, they treated Little Tang Mo wonderfully as well.

When Little Tang Mo appeared at noon that day covered head to toe in mud, Su Li didn’t know how to react for a moment.

’Covered in mud... I’ve never seen such a filthy Little Tang Mo before!’

Little Tang Mo noticed Su Li’s stare, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face.

’I didn’t want to play in the mud either,’ he thought. ’I don’t know what’s so fun about it, but I didn’t even have a chance to refuse before a group of older kids dragged me into it.’

Su Li was dumbfounded, but Grandma Wu and Little Aunt were all smiles, feeling that the distance between them and Little Tang Mo had shrunk considerably.

’HAHAHA, this is how little boys should be!’ they thought. ’We’re really not used to him being so clean.’

”Wu Sheng used to come home looking just like this when he was little,” Grandma Wu said. ”Seeing Little Mo like this reminds me of little Wu Sheng, all tanned and covered in mud, just like a little loach.”

Grandma Wu gave a toothless grin, grabbed Little Tang Mo, and led him toward the homemade bamboo tap in the courtyard. ”Come on, let’s get you rinsed off.”

It took a moment for Wu Sheng to react.

”Grandma, when was I ever like a loach?” ’This is ruining my image!’

Little Aunt, who was stitching a shoe sole off to the side, didn’t even look up. ”You were just like a loach. I don’t know how many times I had to rinse you off back then. Have you forgotten your childhood nickname was Loach? A slippery, dark little loach.”

Wu Sheng glanced at Su Li. ”That never happened. Little Aunt, don’t ruin my image.”

”Loach. That’s a good name,” Su Li chimed in with a grin.

”What loach? It’s not a thing.” Wu Sheng couldn’t believe a nickname he had all but forgotten for over twenty years was being dredged up now.

’This kind of embarrassing history is just too painful to acknowledge or even think about.’

”We’re leaving early tomorrow morning, Loach,” Little Aunt told Wu Sheng. ”That just leaves you kids here at home.”

”I’m all grown up, and you’re still calling me a kid,” Wu Sheng said helplessly. Then, he shot a teasing look at Wu Qiu.

”So, you’re getting a wife. How does it feel?” ’I’m so jealous of my cousin,’ he thought. ’He’s already getting married.’

Wu Qiu’s already tanned face turned an impossible shade of red. ”Cousin!”

Wu Qiu was in the process of having his marriage arranged. Or rather, a match had already been found, and now they were discussing the engagement. Once they were engaged, he would be bringing his bride home either at the end of the year or after the new year.

Tomorrow, Grandma Wu and Little Aunt were going to the woman’s family home to present the betrothal gifts and discuss the engagement.

Wu Sheng and Su Li were planning to return to the Imperial City after Wu Qiu’s engagement ceremony.

Based on past experiences, it was highly unlikely they would be able to come back for Wu Qiu’s wedding.

Since they were here for the engagement, it was only natural to attend the ceremony before leaving.

Compared to the betrothal gifts of tens of thousands or even millions in later generations, things weren’t so exaggerated at this time. However, everyone still took marriage very seriously, and all the procedures were followed to the letter.

First came the matchmaking. If successful, that was followed by an engagement, and only after the engagement came the wedding.

The engagement itself was a major event. Relatives and friends had to be invited. On the evening of the engagement, the groom would go to the bride’s house, carrying food on his back.

He would hand out sunflower seeds and celebratory candy to everyone, and then they would all share a meal.

It was less of a meal and more of a late-night snack. Since everyone was busy during the day, the engagement ceremony was a nighttime affair.

Therefore, this meal mostly consisted of noodles.

The standard of quality was judged by how much meat and how many eggs were in the noodle toppings.

A bowl of noodles like this was a real treat in those days. Some people could eat three or four bowls. Some families would offer refills, while others would serve just one bowl per person.

Little Aunt and Grandma Wu were the ones who told Su Li about all these customs.

With chickens, ducks, and pigs to raise, Grandma Wu and Little Aunt were always busy around the house. The most leisurely part of their day was in the afternoon, doing needlework under the grapevine trellis when the sun was at its fiercest.

From morning till night, Grandma Wu and Little Aunt always had needlework in hand—mending, patching, and making shoes. There was always an endless amount of work to be done.

Grandma Wu was getting old and her eyesight was failing, so threading a needle had become a major challenge. She always had to ask her grandchildren for help.

After playing in the water, Little Tang Mo hit the bed and fell fast asleep. Wu Sheng went to catch up on sleep as well.

Only Grandma Wu, Little Aunt, and Su Li were left under the grapevine trellis.

Grandma Wu and Little Aunt were stitching shoe soles. Having watched them do needlework every day since her arrival, Su Li’s hands began to itch, and she picked up a shoe insole to work on as well.

In later generations, insoles were all bought from stores, but at this time, they were all homemade.

These insoles were a mark of a girl’s dexterity and a top choice for gifts.

You could give them to elders, to sisters, and also to... a romantic partner.

Yes, insoles were that versatile; they could even serve as a love token.

Many girls would give insoles to their fiancés or partners, and it always carried a special meaning.

Su Li had never given them to anyone in her past life, but many people her age had.

The patterns on the insoles varied by gender, with different colors and designs.

After her itching hands prompted her to pick one up, Su Li belatedly realized the insole was a bit large. It seemed to be Wu Sheng’s size.

Under the knowing and encouraging gazes of Grandma Wu and Little Aunt, Su Li steeled herself and continued working.

Whenever she had free time, she would do needlework with them, listening to them gossip about this and that. Su Li’s pair of insoles was already more than half-finished; with one last push, it would be done.

Wu Sheng knew about this, too. He had been loitering around a lot these past two days to check on her progress, just waiting for Su Li to finish.

”You’re getting more and more skilled.”

Little Aunt praised with a smile, glancing at Su Li’s hands.

”Ahem...” Su Li coughed. ”I used to do this often.”

”I can tell.” Little Aunt finished her last stitch, bit off the thread, and set the piece aside with a satisfied look. ”Let’s make some new insole bases.”

Su Li’s eyes lit up. ”Okay.”

She wanted to make a pair of insoles for Little Tang Mo, too, but there were no bases for his little feet. They would have to be made from scratch.

They made a flour paste and applied it layer by layer. Little Aunt worked skillfully, preparing pairs of insole bases in various sizes.