Chapter 13: Scent

Su Sanlang held the leaf bag in his hand and said, “Our Simei is so capable. You helped feed the chickens and even caught many insects for me to use as bait in the trap.”

Madam Zhao smiled and said, “Then you’ll have to make another trip.”

Su Sanlang smiled and said, “It’s just one more round. It won’t take much effort.”

Su Sanmei had caught so many insects. He would be letting her down if he didn’t make the trip. There was no bait in the traps he’d made. He thought it was up to fate that he hadn’t caught anything, but she’d reminded him that birds loved to eat these little bugs. The wild animals were more likely to be caught with bait.

Su Sanlang looked at Madam Zhao. Su Xiaolu had woken up and was listening obediently and quietly.

He smiled and spoke to Su Xiaolu. “Simei, look at Daddy.”

Su Xiaolu looked at Su Sanlang, but not at his face. She was looking at the leaf bag in his hand. She could smell her urine…

It was a little awkward. Did these bugs drink the dirty water her third sister used to wash her diapers?

Su Xiaolu’s sense of smell was very strong. Once she smelled something, she would remember it. A baby’s urine did not have much of a smell, but she was surprised to smell the familiar scent of spiritual energy in the Space. Although it was very faint, it did not escape her nose.

Seeing that Su Xiaolu seemed to be interested in the leaf bag in his hand, Su Sanlang smiled and said, “Simei wants to catch insects? Not now. When you grow up, I’ll let your third sister take you to catch them. Simei, be good. I’m going out to work.”

After chatting for a while, it was time for Su Sanlang to go out.

Madam Zhao wanted him to rest more. Su Sanlang smiled and said as he walked out, “When I go out, I’ll take a walk along the way and that would allow me to rest. Darling, rest well. If you’re hungry or thirsty, call for Sanmei.”

Helpless, Madam Zhao looked at Su Xiaolu gently and said, “Simei, you must be filial to your father in the future. Your father is the best man in the world.”

Su Xiaolu looked at Madam Zhao’s obviously better complexion and smiled at her. “Wahh…”

She had to. A man like her father was a rare commodity. He protected her when she was young, and she would take care of him when he got old.

Madam Zhao’s gaze was gentle. Su Xiaolu was clearly just a baby and could not understand anything, but every time she spoke to her youngest daughter, she could not help but be serious. Every time she looked at her youngest daughter’s black and moist eyes, she felt that she understood.

Every time she saw her youngest daughter open her mouth in an o shape or make a sound, she felt that it was her response.

Madam Zhao leaned against the bed and patted Su Xiaolu gently to coax her to sleep. Madam Zhao smiled slightly. The room was bright and quiet. There were no curses nor noises. It was very quiet and comfortable.

She could still hear the other three children clearing the well not far from the house.

This was really good. Madam Zhao felt relieved at this moment.

Su Xiaolu slept soundly while her consciousness went into the Space to absorb spiritual energy.

…

Su Sanlang followed the trail of traps, sprinkled some bugs into each one, and went to cut the weeds.

He cut them for the entire afternoon and then picked them all back.

He made dinner and started weaving the grass after he ate.

Chen Hu came to help again. The two of them looked at each other and smiled. They did not speak much and weaved quietly. When it was almost midnight, Su Sanlang stopped what he was doing and patted Chen Hu on the shoulder. “Hu, thank you. This is enough. You don’t have to come tomorrow.”

Under the moonlight, Chen Hu smiled innocently and said, “Alright, I’ll go home then. Brother, rest early too.”

Su Sanlang nodded and watched Chen Hu hop away. He tidied up the grass before going to rest.

The thirteenth of August was the third day of their separation.

Today, Su Sanlang did not go out. Instead, he began to prepare to renovate the roof.

In the morning, he went to cut bamboo to make a ladder. Then, he carried Madam Zhao and Su Xiaolu next door and began to renovate the roof. He removed all the old and broken bamboo pieces on the roof and replaced them.

When everything was done, he spread the woven grass and tied them together tightly. He then repeated the process layer by layer.

He threw away the grass that couldn’t be used and used it to start a fire.

Su Sanmei handed the grass to Su Sanlang, and the father and daughter cooperated seamlessly. By the time it was dark, the roof had changed completely.

Su Sanlang came down from the roof after a tiring day and carried Madam Zhao and Su Xiaolu back.

Now, the roof was opaque.

Su Xiaolu praised her good father in her heart! He was too capable.

Looking at their home, Su Sanlang relaxed and took the three children to the fire to cook.

The food was the same, but the family ate especially well.

After the meal, Su Sanlang was free for once. He pulled out a few of the chestnuts buried in the ashes and let the three siblings share the rest while he brought the medicine for Madam Zhao to drink.

After Madam Zhao drank the medicine, he took out a chestnut and said, “Darling, try this.”

The chestnuts buried in the ashes were fragrant and delicious.

Su Xiaolu swallowed her saliva when she smelled the fragrance.

Su Sanlang peeled it for Madam Zhao, who was a little embarrassed.

Su Sanlang smiled and said, “What are you waiting for? Eat.”

Madam Zhao ate the food that Su Sanlang fed her in embarrassment. She said, “Sanlang, give it to me. I’ll do it myself.”

Su Sanlang focused on peeling the shell and said naturally, “You don’t have to dirty your hands. I’ll peel it for you.”

Madam Zhao was touched. Separating from the family gave them freedom.

Back in that house, Madam Wang would curse Madam Zhao everytime Su Sanlang looked her way. But now, all those curses were long gone.

Madam Zhao belatedly thought that splitting up might be a blessing.

Madam Zhao couldn’t help but look at Su Xiaolu, who was swallowing her saliva. She smiled and said, “Simei is a glutton. Even if you want to eat it, I can’t give it to you now.”

Su Xiaolu pursed her lips and thought, I know, I know. I’m still a baby. I understand.

Su Sanlang peeled the chestnuts and fed them to Madam Zhao one by one. Even the air seemed to be sweet.

At night, after the children had gone to bed, Su Sanlang also went to bed. This night was the most peaceful one among the past few days. There was no need to worry about rain.

On the fourteenth of August, Su Sanlang planned to cut weeds for another day, preparing to thicken the roof of the house by two more layers. Everyone in the village could see his diligent figure.

Every time Su Sanlang was out of earshot, the people working the autumn harvest in the fields would gossip.

Su Sanlang would occasionally hear words like ‘criminal sin’, but he didn’t care.

In the afternoon, he looked at a piece of barren land. When walked over, he passed by that family’s land. He saw Old Master Su working with Su Dalang and his family, as well as Madam Zhou.

The leader, Old Master Su, lowered his voice and said coldly, “All of you, work hard. Don’t look at those useless things.”

Everyone in the family knew what Old Master Su meant.