noffsinger Chapter 162 Recovery
Chapter 162 Recovery
Time flies, and before we know it, it's the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. The northern desert is already covered in thick snow, a breathtakingly beautiful sight. Meanwhile, the people living near this land are busy preparing the sweet, soft, and steaming Laba porridge.
On this seemingly ordinary day, sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the floor. As always, the new lady, with light and steady steps, carefully carried a delicate porcelain bowl filled with medicinal soup into the room. A faint herbal fragrance filled the air, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility.
The new lady gently approached the bedside, placed the medicine bowl on the table beside it, and then reached out her hands to softly help the old lord, who had been bedridden for a long time and looked haggard. Her movements were skillful and gentle, as if she were handling a rare treasure. Then, the new lady picked up a spoon, scooped up half a spoonful of the lukewarm medicine, and slowly brought it to the old lord's pale, chapped lips.
Just then, something unexpected happened. The new lady suddenly noticed that the old lord's fingers, which had been completely still and seemingly lifeless, trembled slightly! This slight tremor, like a lightning bolt piercing the night sky, instantly drew the new lady's full attention. Her heart tightened, as if gripped by an invisible hand, and leaped into her throat. A mixture of tension and surprise made it almost impossible for her to breathe; it was as if the whole world had frozen in that moment.
The new lady stared wide-eyed at the old lord's trembling fingers, her heart filled with doubt and anticipation. Fearing it was merely a hallucination born of her overwhelming longing for his recovery, she blinked, trying to see more clearly. However, no matter how hard she tried to confirm, the trembling was undeniably real.
Time ticked by, and after a brief silence, an even more astonishing scene unfolded. The old lord, whose eyes had been tightly shut for days, slowly opened a narrow slit! This slit was like a ray of light in the darkness, bringing the new lady endless hope and joy. She trembled with excitement, her eyes welling with tears that welled uncontrollably. At that moment, she completely forgot how to breathe, utterly immersed in this sudden and overwhelming joy.
The new lady stared intently at the old lord, afraid to miss even the slightest change. As time passed, the old lord's eyes gradually widened. Although his gaze still held a hint of confusion and weakness, one could clearly sense a life slowly returning within them. This life was like a tender sprout breaking through the soil in spring, containing boundless vitality and potential.
The new lady was overjoyed and could no longer contain her happiness and excitement. She shouted at the top of her lungs, "Yu Ning! Bei Chen! Come quickly! Your father has woken up!"
Upon hearing the new lady's call, Su Yuning and Ye Beichen, who were busy elsewhere, rushed over like arrows. Entering the room, they immediately saw the old lord, who had already awakened. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears welled in their eyes, and they cried out in unison, "Father!" Their heartfelt calls echoed in the air, lingering for a long time.
The old lord looked at the two tearful children before him, a relieved smile appearing on his face. He opened his mouth with difficulty and said in a hoarse, low voice, "Quickly, no need for formalities..." Although his voice was very weak, it was the most beautiful word in the world to Su Yuning and Ye Beichen.
"Now that Father has woken up, we are both completely relieved. Please, Mother, take good care of him. Yu Ning and I will go and fetch the doctor right away so he can give Father a thorough check-up." Ye Beichen said to his new wife with a happy expression, wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes. After speaking, he pulled Su Yu Ning and hurriedly left the room to find the doctor.
Xinghua Village, a quiet and beautiful place, was now filled with laughter and a festive atmosphere. The men, women, and children of the Su family gathered from all directions in high spirits, all dressed in new clothes and smiling, celebrating the annual Laba Festival together.
However, amidst this lively and peaceful atmosphere, one figure stood out conspicuously—Su Yuning. For some reason, she was absent from this family gathering, leaving everyone puzzled.
Meanwhile, the scene in the Su family's kitchen was quite different. Various ingredients filled the cutting board, flames roared in the stove, and Laba porridge bubbled and steamed in the pot, emitting an enticing aroma. Steamed buns and rolls in the steamer were also fully cooked, and the entire kitchen was enveloped in the delicious smells of food, making one's mouth water.
Like a little glutton, Su Muyang rushed into the kitchen. His eyes widened as he looked around, his only thought being to find the indispensable Laba garlic of each year. He rummaged through cupboards and peered into corners, searching carefully inside and out for quite some time. But in the end, he found nothing. His previously expectant face instantly fell, replaced by deep disappointment.
Su Muyang hung his head and slowly walked out of the kitchen to his mother, who was busy at the stove. He looked up at his mother pitifully and asked aggrievedly, "Mom, why didn't you make Laba garlic this year? Don't you know? If you don't have Laba garlic with your dumplings during the New Year, the taste is just not as good!"
Hearing her son's resentful words, the woman slowly stopped her busy work. A gentle and kind smile appeared on her face, etched with the wrinkles of time. She turned her head slightly, looking softly at her child, and gently comforted him, "Oh, my good child, don't be in such a hurry. Tonight, once I've finished dealing with these tidy tasks, I'll naturally start pickling those delicious Laba garlic. It's just that I'm quite busy right now and can't find the time."
At this point, the woman paused slightly, as if suddenly remembering something, and then continued, "Oh, right, I wonder if your clever and obedient younger sister and brother-in-law will be able to come back to celebrate the New Year together this year. If they can't come home for some reason, then you'll have to make a trip, driving our old horse-drawn carriage all the way to the distant northern desert region to bring your beloved little sister some abundant New Year's goods."
However, the second son of the Su family, who had been standing silently to the side, could no longer suppress his dissatisfaction. His brows furrowed, his lips pouting, and he grumbled unhappily, "Mother, you're really something! Look at this bitterly cold winter! Everywhere you look, it's a world of silver and snow. Especially around the New Year, the heavy snowfalls have completely blocked the rugged mountain roads. Forget about going to the far north; even returning home smoothly would be an impossible task! Why do you only care about spoiling my sister? Don't you care about us brothers at all?"
"Oh dear, what are you saying! Both of you are my precious children, the apples of my eye!" The woman quickly explained with a smile, her kind face seemingly able to melt away all frost. "It's just that your sister went to the far north, and I haven't seen her for several months. I can't help but worry about her and miss her."
"Mother, please don't worry!" Princess Wan'er gently took the woman's arm and comforted her with a smile. "Yu Ning sent us a letter a while ago. She said that the old lord has fully recovered. Moreover, she has accomplished a great success in the northern desert! She led the local residents to grow jicama, and the jicama is big and sweet, selling very well and bringing in a lot of income for the local people!"
Upon hearing these words, the woman's tense nerves finally relaxed slightly. Her heart, which had been hanging high as if it might fall at any moment, found a place to rest and calmed down a little. However, despite this, a trace of worry still lingered between her brows, as if something of great importance was still weighing on her mind, making it difficult for her to let go.
The woman hesitated for a long while, but finally could not suppress her curiosity and concern. She lowered her voice and asked Princess Wan'er in an almost whispered tone, "Then...I wonder if your sister is pregnant?"
Upon hearing this, Princess Wan'er's beautiful face blossomed into an even brighter smile, like a flower in full bloom under the warm spring sun, a sight to behold. She parted her lips slightly, letting out a melodious laugh like the tinkling of silver bells: "Hehehe, Mother-in-law, you see, it's not just you who's preoccupied with this matter; I myself am also constantly worried about it! Just a few days ago, when I wrote to my sister, I specifically asked about this in my letter. And guess what happened? Not long after, I received a reply from my sister. In the letter, she told me personally that she is now pregnant, and has already been pregnant for a full month! Now, our whole family is spoiling and protecting her like a precious jewel! We can't bear to let her overwork herself or do housework, but we absolutely won't allow her to run around busily, for fear that the slightest carelessness might harm the unborn baby in her womb. Therefore, I'm afraid she will be able to find time to come back and visit you and Father a little later."
Upon hearing this, the woman's face lit up with joy. Her already round face blossomed into a wide smile, her mouth stretched taut as if it would never close. She laughed and repeatedly exclaimed, "This is truly a joyous occasion! A joyous occasion!" Her cheerful laughter, clear and melodious like silver bells, echoed throughout the room.
Seeing this, the rest of the Su family were also infected by the joy, their faces beaming with happiness. Some chatted excitedly about the good news; others danced with joy, seemingly eager to celebrate. For a moment, the entire Su family was immersed in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.
Just then, far away in the northern desert, Su Yuning sat quietly in her courtyard. The winter sun shone on her, adding warmth and gentleness. She gently stroked her still-flat belly, her movements incredibly tender, as if she were holding the most precious treasure in the world. Her eyes were filled with maternal radiance, gentle as water, inspiring tenderness in anyone who saw her.
Beside her, Ye Beichen carefully protected her, afraid of the slightest mishap. He looked down at Su Yuning, his eyes filled with deep affection and concern. He leaned down slightly, close to Su Yuning's ear, and softly spoke of their future plans. Those words were like a warm current, slowly flowing into Su Yuning's heart, making her feel incredibly happy and at peace.
Meanwhile, back at the Su family home, everyone was enthusiastically discussing how to send some nourishing items to Su Yuning, who was in the northern desert. Everyone offered various suggestions: some suggested preparing top-quality bird's nest, others proposed bringing precious medicinal herbs, and still others thought they should prepare plenty of local delicacies. Finally, after much discussion, a lavish gift list was finalized.
At this moment, Su Muyang, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up. He patted his chest and volunteered to personally deliver these things to the northern desert. His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an undeniable determination. Everyone was very pleased with his initiative and nodded in approval.