Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

chapter 25

“Sisi, I want to go up the mountain early so I can hunt more game. The animals on the mountain are more active at night, so… ”

Di Yelei also felt somewhat reluctant. Previously, when he left home for a few days, he didn’t have this feeling of attachment. But now, as he thought about leaving home, his heart burned with a fiery sensation that he couldn’t describe!

“Dad! How long will you be gone this time?”

Di Xuan, who was standing nearby, asked before Liu Sisi could reply.

A rare smile appeared on Di Yelei’s face. He patted Di Xuan on the head: “I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon! You’re a man, you have to take care of your sister and listen to your mom’s words, understand?”

“Oh, I know.”

Di Xuan glanced at Liu Sisi before lowering his head to reply.

Liu Sisi inexplicably burst into laughter!

Although the child didn’t say it out loud, his face still bore a guarded expression, thinking that others wouldn’t notice. Yet, she could understand. She recalled her past life when her parents had passed away, and so-called relatives came to visit. At first, they comforted her, but when they realized her house was empty and there was nothing to gain, their sharp tongues came out…

“Sisi, Sisi!”

Di Yelei noticed Liu Sisi daydreaming and called her repeatedly.

Liu Sisi smiled apologetically: “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything at home. Just be careful when you’re hunting on the mountain. It doesn’t matter how much game you catch, what matters is your safety. Our family relies on you to support it, and you can’t have any accidents.”

Di Yelei wasn’t a person who was good at expressing himself, and he couldn’t speak sweet words.

He just smiled broadly, then lifted his iron arm and hugged Liu Sisi tightly.

“Sisi, rest assured, I’ll definitely come back safely!”

As his words still echoed, Di Yelei released her, turned around, and strode through the yard door.

Liu Sisi’s heart raced, and her face flushed red like the afterglow of the setting sun.

This man, how could he… do something like that?

The sweet feeling of being pampered touched Liu Sisi’s heart through her blushing cheeks.

She hurriedly walked a few steps, then ran out of the courtyard.

Outside the yard, Di Yelei and Zhang Peng walked along the mountain path toward the back mountain. As he walked with big strides, Di Yelei unconsciously looked back and saw Liu Sisi peering at them from a distance.

“Go back, go back! The sun is too strong outside.”

From afar, Di Yelei called out to Liu Sisi, waved his hand repeatedly, and then disappeared behind the mountain hollow with Zhang Peng.

“Hehe! Ye Lei, I must say, your new wife seems reliable. Don’t even mention the other stuff, just looking at how close you two are, I can tell that she’s completely captured your heart. Hahaha…” Zhang Peng’s teasing laughter echoed on the mountain path.

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“Wh-where do you get that idea? I was just worried that she might not be accustomed to things at home, so I mentioned it a few more times…”

Di Yelei’s face turned slightly red, but thanks to his dark complexion and the scorching sun, it wasn’t noticeable.

“Haha, fine, if you say so! Seeing that you two have such a good relationship, I can be at ease.”

Zhang Peng patted Di Yelei’s shoulder and sighed with relief: “When Aunt Zhang suggested you remarry, I was worried about how your new wife would fit in if you two didn’t get along? But now, Sisi seems like a good match. Just don’t bully her. You should know she was forced to marry you – it wasn’t easy for her!”

These words quickly erased the smile of happiness from Di Yelei’s face as he asked eagerly: “Sisi was forced to marry me? What’s going on?”

“Huh? You don’t know about it?”

Zhang Peng was surprised but soon figured it out: “Well, this story started about a dozen days ago…”

Once Di Yelei left, Liu Sisi felt somewhat lost. However, when she turned around and saw Di Xuan staring at her like a criminal, she had to hold back her laughter.

Fortunately, Di Xuan didn’t say anything, and she naturally wouldn’t approach him to provoke him.

She quickly cleaned the rooms inside and outside the house, which were practically empty. Afterward, she rolled up the dirty clothes and searched for laundry powder unsuccessfully before realizing that she was in an unknown ancient era.

Adding a scoop of water to the wooden tub, she sprinkled some plant ashes into the water and soaked the clothes. After cleaning up the kitchen, she quickly washed the clothes, picked up the tub, and headed to the riverside to wash them in order to save water.

“Di Xuan, Di Xuan, are you there?”

Liu Sisi shouted: “Di Xuan, keep an eye on YingEr. If she wakes up, help her get dressed. I’m going to the riverside to wash clothes.”

Liu Sisi called a few times and finally found a corner of Di Xuan’s dress behind the door. Shaking her head, she thought that the child was playing sulking games with her again!

Carrying the tub, she went to the riverside.

Di family was some distance from the river, and according to the neighbors’ gossip, the original Liu Sisi had probably attempted to drown herself in this very river.

Looking at the deep green water, Liu Sisi could only say that it would be all too easy for someone who couldn’t swim to drown!

There were several washing stones on the shallow side of the river. A few women were washing their clothes under the shade of the trees. Most people here made a living from farming, working on the mountain before dawn, returning home when the sun was high, then going back into the fields until nightfall. During the busy farming season, even the women went to the fields to help, leaving only the young children at home to prepare meals.

Now, during the slack season, the women had plenty of energy to gossip. East house, west house, unconfirmed news flew around as the women chatted passionately. Naturally, the topic of Di Yelei’s new wife was the most popular.

When Liu Sisi arrived with her wooden tub, they immediately stopped their gossip.

“Di family’s young wife, come here, there’s room over here.”

The one inviting Liu Sisi over was Zhang Peng’s wife, Guihua.

“Oh! Guihua, I heard that you and Di family’s third son are pretty close. Over the years, you haven’t stopped hanging around Di family. Could it be… huh?”