The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits-Chapter 1250 - 1254: The Promise (Part 2)

"Xiaomei, it’s time to eat."

The aroma was so strong it seeped through the door.

A bowl of noodles, drizzled with fragrant oil and sprinkled with scallions, was pushed through the creaky door opening.

As if afraid the person inside would rush out, the large bowl was shoved in, and the barely cracked wooden door was quickly pulled shut and locked again.

Su Li, sitting cross-legged on the bed, clearly heard the sound of the lock. Because of the original owner’s failed elopement, the Su Family was strictly guarding her, leaving no chance for error.

Bringing the noodles to the desk, Su Li took a bite but lost her appetite.

Through the small window gap, she could vaguely see the Su Family having their meal in the courtyard.

Mrs. Su served as the chef, ladling a big scoop of mixed grain porridge into each person’s bowl.

The men who worked received a full bowl, women got a substantial share, and the two young boys of the Su Family had half a bowl.

Everyone also had a thick, hearty steamed bun.

To Su Li, the food seemed quite plain, but in the whole village, the Su Family was considered to be living well.

At least everyone could eat their fill, which was more than could be said for some families.

Having lived through famine, even if there was surplus grain at home, no one dared to eat freely like the Su Family did.

And for a girl to get noodles and poached eggs... it was something girls from other families could only dream of.

This showed how much the Su Family valued their daughters.

The original owner was used to the family’s attitude, having lived like this since childhood, and wasn’t particularly moved by it.

But Su Li was different, accustomed to self-indulgence, and couldn’t bring herself to eat alone under these circumstances.

After some thought, Su Li tapped on the window. Her clear voice passed through the gap.

"Mom, I don’t want to eat noodles anymore, could you bring me some porridge?"

The conversation in the yard ceased instantly.

Hearing her youngest daughter’s voice again, Mrs. Su’s heavy heart lightened a bit.

The silent desperation her daughter showed when they forcibly brought her back still haunted her.

They had raised her as their precious, darling daughter; how could they bear watching her so heartbroken?

If the person their daughter cared about had been anyone else, even someone like the lazy Er Gouzi from the village’s end, they would have reluctantly accepted it.

But not with someone from the Zhang Family.

The feud traced back several generations, a complexity not easily explained to the child.

Aside from that, the Zhang family was difficult to deal with, except maybe Zhang Yang, who was slightly better.

Mrs. Su only considered him slightly better, as they say, occasionally a good bamboo grows from a bad one, but in reality, one’s environment subtly influences a person.

Mrs. Su, a rural woman, could think of so much, all out of deep-seated love for her daughter.

Finally hearing her child speak, Mrs. Su couldn’t contain her joy.

"You never liked porridge; you always said it scratched your throat. Was it your Second Brother’s cooking that you didn’t like? How about I steam some rice for you instead?"

This bordered on extravagance. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Yet, the Su Family, including Su’s eldest sister-in-law, saw it as only natural.

Natural to favor Su Xiaomei.

Su’s eldest brother’s two young sons swallowed their drool, tugging at their mother’s clothes, whispering, "Aunt doesn’t want the noodles; can we have some?"

Su’s eldest sister-in-law knocked them each on the head, "What nonsense, there are elders who haven’t eaten yet; how could it be your turn?"

Her voice was so low that even those at the same table might not hear clearly, but Su Li heard it distinctly from her room.

"No need; today, I just want to try the porridge. Give the noodles to Dad and the two nephews. Soon it will get soggy and won’t taste good."

"Well..."

Old Su: "Do as Xiaomei says."

At the door, the large bowl and small bowl quietly exchanged places. Besides the porridge, the bowl also contained a yellow cornbread, soft and fluffy, which was fragrant and sweet to bite into.

However, the mixed grain porridge with wild vegetables had a unique flavor.

She took a mouthful, and the astringent bitterness spread in her mouth.

Finishing the small bowl was a struggle for Su Li. After that one experience, she never wanted it again.

Momentary kindness certainly punished her; perhaps she was made to be a selfish, bad person.

After dinner, the Su Family soon turned off the lights.

The door remained locked; even when the chamber pot was swapped out, the door was never fully opened.

As the outside gradually quieted down, Su Li slowly closed her eyes, but then....

Suddenly, her eyelid twitched, and strange cuckoo sounds came from beneath the window.

Su Li slowly sat up, her eyes fixed on the window.

In the moonlight, she could vaguely see a shadow outside the window.

"Su Li, Su Li...." A low, hoarse male voice, and a note was slipped through the window gap.

"I...." Before the person outside could speak further, a sudden outburst woke the entire Su Family.

"Who...." Second Brother Su shouted, grabbing an oil lamp and shaking it, angrily exclaiming, "Zhang Yang? You scoundrel, still dare to come here, what do you want?"

Zhang Yang, frightened and flustered, said, "I’m sorry.... I love Su Li, very much, please let us be together."

The news of their elopement had spread wildly across both villages, ruining their girl’s reputation, yet the culprit dared to speak of love shamelessly....

The Su Family was utterly furious.

"You like our Xiaomei, then have your family come with matchmakers and a formal proposal, then we can have a proper conversation...." Second Brother Su said sarcastically.

Zhang Yang struggled, "They....I can’t convince them...."

"So you come to ruin our Xiaomei?"

"No, no, love is a matter between us, even if my parents don’t agree....but I love Su Li...."

"Shameless fool...." Old Su wrapped in a robe, trembling with anger from Zhang Yang’s words.

"Why waste words on him," Su’s eldest brother said, swinging his fist towards Zhang Yang’s face.

A strong man accustomed to farm work against a frail, bookish man.... Zhang Yang was nearly pummeled to the ground by Su’s eldest brother.

Still, Zhang Yang continued his nauseating declarations of love.

The men of the Su Family grew angrier listening, while the women, being more sentimental, softened seeing Zhang Yang’s determined look.

Su’s eldest sister-in-law blushed hearing Zhang Yang’s passionate confessions to her sister-in-law, hesitantly whispering to her mother-in-law, "This boy seems genuinely fond of Xiaomei...."

Mrs. Su’s heart softened too, "Eldest and Second, stop hitting him."