Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading-Chapter 152: Xu Zhaodi Strikes Out on Her Own
But this matter can’t be rushed; I need to think of a way to convince the family first.
For dinner, the family had sticky porridge, steamed buns made from mixed wheat and sorghum flour, stir-fried cabbage with sausages, plus a few steamed sweet potatoes.
These sausages were obtained by Su Xiaoxiao from Brother Baldy before.
As soon as the dishes were served, the two younger brothers had their chopsticks ready, each aiming for a piece of sausage on the plate.
Boys in their adolescence can eat a lot, and these two are growing rapidly, eating more every day.
Previously, the two of them looked like skinny monkeys due to malnutrition, but lately, thanks to Su Xiaoxiao occasionally bringing home good food, they’ve visibly grown taller and gained some weight.
While eating, Xu Zhaodi kept glancing at Liu Cuilan and Su Xiaoxiao, as if she had something to say but held back.
Though it’s still a few days before her confinement ends, she had already started helping with the tasks she could manage.
Women during this era didn’t have the kind of grand confinement practices as now, many poor families didn’t have confinement at all.
Xu Zhaodi was only able to properly rest for over half a month due to Liu Cuilan and Su Xiaoxiao’s persuasive insistence.
Su Xiaoxiao turned her head and met her hesitating gaze, couldn’t help but ask, "Sister Zhaodi, if you have something to say, just say it, we’re all family."
Xu Zhaodi hesitated for a moment, then got up without saying a word and started kowtowing to the two of them, which startled Liu Cuilan, who quickly reached out to support her.
"What are you doing, child?"
"Aunt Liu, Sister Xiaoxiao, now that the child is born, I’m able to support myself and my daughter. I think it’s time to leave, I can’t keep staying here and causing you trouble."
Her words caused a silence at the table.
Though the family wasn’t wealthy, everyone had come to see Xu Zhaodi as part of the family due to their time spent together, so hearing her intention to leave was quite a surprise.
Xu Cuilan couldn’t help but ask, "How will you manage on your own?"
Su Xiaoxiao also disagreed, "Sister Zhaodi, if you live on your own, would Wang the Cripple let you be?"
Upon hearing Wang the Cripple, Xu Zhaodi’s face turned pale; she bit her lip and was silent for a moment before speaking firmly, "I’ve thought about it, I’ll go home and steal my household registration book, I didn’t get a marriage certificate with Wang the Cripple, my household registration is still at my mother’s house. Once I get it, they won’t be able to control me."
As she spoke, her eyes lit up with tiny glimmers, "I must live properly for my child’s sake, and not let them bully me any longer."
With her determination expressed, they couldn’t continue to persuade her.
No matter how good it is in someone else’s home, ultimately she’s staying under someone else’s roof, Su Xiaoxiao understood Xu Zhaodi’s feelings well.
Especially in this era, even a tiny thing can ruin people, Xu Zhaodi staying in the family did not sound good, especially for Su Xiaoxiao’s two unmarried brothers.
Liu Cuilan sighed, "Alright, if there’s anything we can help with, don’t hesitate to ask, don’t be polite."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhaodi’s eyes turned red, about to kneel again, Liu Cuilan hurriedly lifted her off the floor, "Another three days and you’re out of confinement, wait until it’s over and then leave, these three days won’t make a difference, let’s eat first."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhaodi nodded firmly, her eyes still red.
Throughout her life, no one had treated her as well as the Su Family, she was determined not to burden them any further.
After dinner, Su Xiaoxiao went to find Xu Zhaodi and gave her two bags of milk powder and a few packets of calcium milk biscuits.
Xu Zhaodi was embarrassed and tried to refuse, "Sister Xiaoxiao, you’ve already given me too much, I can’t take these."
Su Xiaoxiao forced the items into her hand, "These aren’t for you, they’re for Little Stone."
Little Stone lay in her arms, as if knowing they were talking about him, grinned with his little gums showing, drooling as he smiled at Su Xiaoxiao.
Curiously, Su Xiaoxiao leaned closer and poked the soft cheek of the little guy with her finger, in this time, Little Stone had grown a lot, his skin was no longer wrinkly, his limbs were like tender lotus roots.
Human babies are indeed the cutest creatures.
She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Seeing her interested look, Xu Zhaodi raised the child higher in her arms and smiled, asking, "Do you want to try holding him?"
"Can I?"
Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up, truthfully she had never held such a small baby before.
Chubby, with a body so soft it seemed boneless.
"Of course, you can try; hold like this, one hand supporting his little butt, the other arm around here..."
Nervously rubbing her hands, she followed Xu Zhaodi’s instructions, stiffly holding the little guy in her arms.
The little one stared at her with wide, round eyes, not blinking, watching intently.
"Sister Zhaodi, I also want to hold the baby."
Su Jianwu suddenly appeared from outside, excitedly eyeing Little Stone in Su Xiaoxiao’s arms.
The little one seemed quite content nestled in Su Xiaoxiao’s arms, "sucking-sucking" on his little fist, making it all slobbery.
Su Jianwu rushed over, "Third sister, let me try."
"Don’t be clumsy and drop the baby."
Su Xiaoxiao pouted, not wanting to let him hold.
This kid is usually like a monkey, careless and rough, what if he drops such a tiny child?
Just as she was thinking, Su Jianwu blinked his big, clear eyes vigorously at Xu Zhaodi, "Sister Zhaodi, can I?"
Xu Zhaodi laughed, "Of course you can."
So the little guy moved from Su Xiaoxiao’s arms into Su Jianwu’s embrace.
Though this little rascal isn’t big, he held the baby with surprising accuracy, his posture particularly standard.
Just as Su Xiaoxiao was feeling amazed, the little guy in Su Jianwu’s arms suddenly furrowed his brow, and she then saw a stream of pale yellow liquid shoot straight at Su Jianwu, who had just lowered his head and opened his mouth.
"Puh-puh-puh..."
Realizing what it was, Su Jianwu almost vomited his dinner.
But thinking about all the sausages he ate at dinner, he forced it back down.
"Little rascal, how can you do that? How could you pee on someone?"
Xu Zhaodi hurriedly pulled Little Stone over, apologetically glanced at Su Jianwu, "Jianwu, sorry, he’s still too young to know better, don’t take it to heart."
Su Jianwu’s face was still covered with pee, dripping off, looking utterly comical.
Su Jianwen, who was a step behind, saw his brother’s predicament, feeling relieved that he hadn’t fought to hold the baby, otherwise he would’ve been the one soaked in pee.
Su Xiaoxiao was struggling to suppress her laughter, turning away, her shoulders shaking.
Even when she went back to bed, recalling the scene made her laugh uncontrollably.
While laughing, suddenly a "ding" sound of a notification echoed in her ear, with a row of striking red characters appearing before her eyes.
