Chapter 103: Chapter 101: Su Xinyao’s Visit

But regardless of what Su Yufen thought, with the help of Su Tang and the others, she had been given a new lease on life.

Su Tang and Lu Xiao took Mr. and Mrs. Su first by boat and then by train, finally arriving in the Northwest.

The moment the train doors opened, a fierce gust of wind rushed in, making Mrs. Su choke and cough several times.

“Oh my, this wind!”

Mrs. Su quickly covered her mouth and nose, her eyes squinting against the wind.

Mr. Su was also having a hard time adjusting. He subconsciously tightened his collar and took in the scenery, which was completely different from the island.

“Dad, Mom, take it slow.”

Lu Xiao supported both elders, one in each hand, steadily helping them down the train steps. His other arm remained wrapped around Su Tang’s side, shielding her from the crowded flow of people.

His back was ramrod straight, creating a space of security.

“So this is the Northwest…”

Su Tang took a deep breath of the dry air. It made her nostrils tingle slightly, but her heart settled with a strange sense of peace.

She turned her head to look at Lu Xiao. The firm line of his jaw exuded a sense of calm, letting her know that wherever he was, that was home.

Lu Xiao had already arranged everything.

A green military jeep was waiting outside the station. It picked up their family and drove through the simple, dusty streets of the county town, heading toward the garrison on the outskirts.

That was where Lu Xiao was currently stationed. The last time he came back, he had arranged for his own courtyard home to be cleaned up.

The jeep finally stopped in front of a row of neat, uniform gray brick houses. This was the family compound.

Their new home was a single-story house with a small courtyard.

Pushing open the courtyard gate revealed a packed-earth ground. In a corner, a few clumps of unknown weeds grew tenaciously.

There were three main rooms, with the kitchen built separately to one side. Under the eaves, there was even a small chicken coop.

“It’s not a big place. I’m sorry to have you, Mom, Dad, and Tangtang, make do for now.”

Lu Xiao carried the luggage into the house, his voice tinged with apology. “The conditions here are what they are. It can’t compare to the city.”

“It’s not small at all!”

Mr. Su waved his hands repeatedly. His face showed the fatigue of a long journey, but even more so, the anticipation for their new life.

“A house with a yard, it’s great! Much better than our time on the island!”

“This soil looks decent. Tomorrow I’ll go find some seeds for chili peppers, eggplants… We can definitely grow something. It’ll be convenient to have our own vegetables!”

The stifling days of depending on others back on the island made Mrs. Su cherish this little world of their own all the more.

Mr. Su’s gaze, however, was drawn to the empty chicken coop. “Hmm, this coop is built just right! I’ll go see if I can get a few chicks. Once they’re grown, they can lay eggs to help nourish Tangtang!”

He could already picture fuzzy little chicks pecking at food in the yard.

Seeing his in-laws so quickly find their footing, Lu Xiao let go of the last trace of worry in his heart.

He looked over at Su Tang, who was curiously sizing up the house’s interior. He walked over and naturally took her hand. “I did a simple clean-up inside, and I’ve already heated the kang. Why don’t you go rest for a bit? You must be exhausted after traveling for days, right?”

Su Tang was indeed tired. Her back ached, but more than that, she felt the relief of finally settling down.

She shook her head and squeezed his large, warm hand, her eyes curving into a smile. “I’m not tired. I want to see our new home.”

“It’s good that Mom and Dad are living here. It’s just a shame my job situation isn’t sorted out yet.”

Su Tang sighed. Lu Xiao just smiled and ruffled her hair. “Maybe it will be, soon.”

Hearing Lu Xiao’s words, Su Tang was a little confused.

But Lu Xiao didn’t explain further. ’I’ll tell her once everything is finalized,’ he thought.

Su Tang found time to go back to the hospital. She had been away for a long time, and the hospital leadership was actually a bit displeased with her.

However, the hospital director and deputy director had taken the heat for her.

Feeling very sheepish, Su Tang requested another three days off. She wanted to help her parents get completely settled before she returned to work.

After settling in, life was busy but fulfilling.

Mr. and Mrs. Su quickly adapted to the dry climate of the Northwest and soon had their little courtyard brimming with life.

Mrs. Su had somehow procured seeds for chili peppers, green onions, and radishes, which she carefully sowed in a small, tilled vegetable patch.

Every morning and evening, she could be seen hunched over, carefully watering the plants and pulling weeds, her face a picture of focus and contentment.

The once-always-elegant woman had now adapted to a more rustic life.

Meanwhile, Mr. Su really did bring home five or six fuzzy, butter-yellow chicks.

He used bamboo slats to fence off a larger activity area for them in a corner of the yard. Every day, he would cheerfully chop vegetable leaves and mix bran to serve these little masters.

Lu Xiao’s work kept him busy; leaving early and returning late was the norm.

But whenever he came home, the first thing he did was roll up his sleeves and help with the various chores around the house.

His care for Su Tang was especially meticulous and thoughtful.

The couple had just managed to spend three days together before Su Tang had to go back.

However, just before she left, Lu Xiao told Su Tang that the local hospital was expanding its staff and that she could apply for a transfer here.

Su Tang was in a wonderful mood. At the thought of her whole family being able to reunite, she couldn’t have been happier.

One afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, and the courtyard gate was left open to let in the light.

The sound of somewhat hurried footsteps approached and then stopped at the gate.

“Excuse me, is this Deputy Commander Lu’s home?”

A clear female voice rang out, yet it held a faint, condescending undertone.

Su Tang looked up. Mr. and Mrs. Su also stopped what they were doing and looked toward the sound.

A young woman stood at the gate. She wore her glossy black hair in two thick braids, the ends tied with fashionable, light-green glass-silk ribbons.

She was wearing a well-tailored, floral-print dacron shirt, with a pair of crisply ironed, army-green trousers below. On her feet was a pair of shiny, polished black leather shoes.

She had a pretty, melon-seed-shaped face and fair skin, which stood out conspicuously among the faces weathered rough by the Northwest’s wind and sand.

But her slightly upturned, almond-shaped eyes were currently filled with unconcealed scrutiny and a hint of disdain.

“Tangtang! Auntie! Uncle!”

Seeing Su Xinyao, an instinctive wariness and resistance instantly welled up in Su Tang’s heart.

She subconsciously straightened her back.

Mrs. Su saw that the newcomer was well-dressed and had mentioned her son-in-law’s rank, so she quickly wiped her hands on her apron and went to greet her with simple warmth. “Yes, yes, that’s us. And you are, miss?”

Su Xinyao’s gaze swept over everything, and a wide smile bloomed on her face.

“It’s me, Su Xinyao! Auntie, you don’t recognize me?”

Facing Mr. and Mrs. Su, Su Xinyao acted very warmly.

She walked over and grabbed Mrs. Su’s hand. “I heard you had come to the Northwest, so I’ve been asking around everywhere for news of you.”

“Auntie, you’ve suffered.”

As she spoke, Su Xinyao shed a couple of tears. She looked utterly sincere.

Mrs. Su recognized her then. The warmth on her face instantly faded a few degrees, but she maintained a basic level of politeness.

“What are you doing here?”

The clear distance in Mrs. Su’s tone surprised Su Tang a little.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep