General, Your Wife Is Requesting Your Return Home For Farming Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Weight Loss

Obediently, the three little ones hopped down to the ground. Their gazes were pure and innocent, clearly belonging to children who harbored no hidden schemes.

“What are your names?” Su Xiaoxiao inquired.

The trio shuffled behind Su Ergou, peeking out shyly like three little mimosas. The sight was so endearing it made Su Xiaoxiao’s heart melt.

“Are they crying?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.

Su Ergou replied, “Don’t cry. Be good!”

Su Xiaoxiao glanced behind Su Ergou’s back. Caught in the act of stealing looks at her, the three children instantly pulled their heads back.

“They are just not very talkative,” Su Ergou explained.

Su Cheng began unloading the items he had purchased in town from his basket, arranging them on the table.

The three children approached and stood on their tiptoes. They gripped the edge of the basket, craning their necks to peer inside.

“Are you looking for this?” Su Cheng lifted a bamboo leaf pouch from the table and unfolded it. Inside sat three sticks of candied hawthorn that had already been partially nibbled on.

Candied hawthorn was a luxury. Su Cheng was only ever lavish with his daughter and tended to be tight-fisted with everyone else. He hadn't intended to buy them at first, but who could have guessed that the moment he turned his back, the three children would bite him?

Su Cheng had felt the stinging pain throughout the entire journey.

The three children snatched the candied hawthorn and hurried toward the room to find their father.

To everyone's surprise, they came running back out with the treats still in hand shortly after entering.

Wei Ting had been battered so severely that even his own flesh and blood failed to recognize him. When Su Cheng and Su Ergou stepped into the room, they were completely stunned.

Where was that handsome son-in-law they had snatched away?

How had he transformed into a pig’s head after only a single day?!

Leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed, Su Xiaoxiao remarked dryly, “Is this the man you claimed was a hundred times more attractive than He Tongsheng?”

Su Cheng cleared his throat awkwardly. “Daughter, trust me. He really is good-looking.”

Su Ergou asked curiously, “Sister, did you beat him up?”

Su Xiaoxiao was left speechless.

“He fell on his own!”

Why would she strike him for no reason? Was this truly her own brother?

Since it was just a fall, he would recover in due time. Relieved, Su Cheng instructed Ergou to comfort the startled children before pulling his daughter into the main hall.

Gesticulating toward a box of pastries on the table, he said, “Dad bought your favorite osmanthus cakes. They’re from Jin Ji!”

Snacks from Jin Ji were quite expensive. A small box like this cost one tael of silver, whereas their usual meals only cost a few copper coins per catty.

“Didn’t we run out of money?”

As far as she could recall, Father Su had poured all his savings into the wedding arrangements for He Tongsheng.

Su Cheng grinned. “We received gift money!”

Su Xiaoxiao whispered to herself, “What kind of gift could be that pricey?”

She was unaware, of course, that Su Cheng had essentially plundered three separate shares of silver.

The box contained exactly six osmanthus cakes. It was obvious that Su Cheng and Su Ergou hadn't set any aside for themselves.

“You haven't eaten yet, have you?” she questioned.

Only then did Su Cheng realize he had been out since morning. “You must be starving. Dad will get to cooking!”

“No need, I’ve already prepared it.” Su Xiaoxiao turned and headed to the kitchen, returning with sweet potato soup and stir-fried chives. She called out to Su Ergou, who was playing with the little ones by the door, “Ergou, time for dinner!”

“Coming! We’re on our way!”

Su Ergou ushered the three children inside and they took their seats to eat.

Staring at the appetizing chives and soup on the table, he asked in astonishment, “Dad, did you cook this?”

Su Cheng answered, “Your sister did.”

Su Ergou looked as if he had seen a ghost. “No way? My sister...”

Before he could finish his thought, Su Xiaoxiao flipped open the box of osmanthus cakes. “You guys eat these. Starting today, I plan to lose weight, so I’m giving up sweets.”

Then, as if to prove her resolve, she walked back into her room without a second glance.

It took a long time for Su Ergou to process this. He asked blankly, “Dad, has Sister... lost her mind?”

Su Cheng delivered a smack to his son’s head. “Your mind is the one that's broken!”

Rubbing his sore head, Su Ergou grumbled, “Then what's with her?”

His daughter's conduct today was indeed strange, but Su Cheng didn't dwell on it. He simply assumed she was so distraught by He Tongsheng’s rejection that it had triggered a personality shift.

Su Ergou tentatively picked up some chives. “Is Sister’s cooking even edible?”

A moment later, he was eating his words.

His sister’s food was incredibly delicious!

... .

The Su residence consisted of four rooms—two on the east side and two on the west. The southeastern room was the most spacious and well-lit; it was Su Xiaoxiao’s bridal chamber.

Wei Ting was currently resting in the other eastern room.

Su Cheng and Su Ergou occupied the two western rooms, with the three children sleeping in Su Ergou’s quarters.

Deep into the night, once the household had fallen asleep, Su Xiaoxiao quietly rose from her bed.

She pulled a first-aid kit from beneath her quilt and checked the contents. It contained the exact medical supplies she had stored in it previously.

How was this possible?

Had the first-aid kit followed her through a dream?

She couldn't wrap her head around it. Was this a feat of science or a matter of theology?

“Never mind. Saving a life takes priority.”

Carrying the first-aid kit and an oil lamp, Su Xiaoxiao made her way to Wei Ting’s room.

After shutting the door, she turned the wick up to its maximum brightness. The light was still insufficient, so she gathered the lamps from the other rooms as well.

Just as she suspected, Wei Ting’s condition had taken a turn for the worse; his situation was now critical.

Without wasting a second, Su Xiaoxiao began unfastening his garments.

Even though she had seen him once before, she couldn't help but admire the man’s physique. It was exceptional.

His abdominal muscles were sharply defined, and the musculature of his chest and arms was firm and powerful. Even the scattered scars across his body seemed to tell a story of battle-worn strength.

Su Xiaoxiao cleaned his wounds with saline. The deep gashes on his abdomen and calf required suturing.

At that moment, Wei Ting’s swollen eyelids fluttered open slightly.

“Can you hear me?” Su Xiaoxiao whispered to him.

Wei Ting’s mind was clouded and hazy.

Su Xiaoxiao continued, “I need to stitch your wounds. Stay still.”

Whether he understood or not was unclear, but in his weakened state, he was incapable of moving regardless.

She administered a local anesthetic. After finishing the stitches, she bound the injuries with gauze. Throughout the procedure, she could sense Wei Ting fighting to remain conscious.

She produced two anti-inflammatory tablets and helped him swallow them.

At this point, Wei Ting’s strength failed him. His eyes drifted shut, and he succumbed to sleep.

While he slept, Su Xiaoxiao remained busy.

She applied ointment to his other bruises and carefully monitored his pulse once more. By examining the nature of his injuries, she ruled out internal bleeding, concluding he only suffered from minor hematomas.

Provided his condition didn't deteriorate, medicine would be enough to heal him.

....

The following morning, Su Xiaoxiao rose early.

Her declaration about losing weight the night before was serious, and she had already mapped out a plan.

The first order of business was to abandon her lazy habits and start moving.

Given her current bulk, high-intensity exercise was out of the question as it would damage her knees. She decided to start with basic chores instead.

She headed to the kitchen to start the fire.

While she had served sweet potato soup the previous night, today she opted for sweet potato pancakes.

First, she diced the sweet potatoes and tossed them in corn flour. Since the potatoes were naturally sweet, she only added a pinch of salt to the flour.

The cubes were coated in a corn batter mixed with chopped green onions. As they sizzled in the pan, a fragrant aroma wafted through half the village.

She also steamed a few portions.

For herself and Wei Ting, the steamed version would be their meal.