Chapter 168: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
**Chapter 168: Sister Shuruan 's Gift**
Aunt Qiu listened to this and, suppressing her laughter, tactfully reminded, “How about we just kill a whole sheep and send it over instead?”
Sending just lamb legs carried a hint of sarcasm.
Although Qi Wangfei might have intended that, if it were to be expressed openly, who knows how it would be interpreted later?
Madam He also considered this possibility and gently suggested, “I think sending a whole sheep would be better. I can arrange for someone to send one over from my side too; we can do it together.”
Everyone meant well. The princess indeed wanted to vent her frustration, but considering the reputation of the royal family, she ultimately nodded in agreement, albeit reluctantly.
With both families deciding to send sheep, they didn’t discuss it further and continued to enjoy their vegetarian meal.
As for dinner…
It was fresh and vibrant.
The monks had spent the afternoon digging up wild vegetables, and after sorting and preparing them, they were finally served.
Some were stir-fried after blanching, while others were simply tossed with dressing.
However, due to various concerns, they could use only limited seasonings.
Most of the time, the dishes retained their original flavors.
The usual greens were tolerable, but the wild vegetables had a lingering bitterness that, no matter how well they were prepared, could not be completely masked.
Common folk might think of these as nature's bounty—free and abundant, requiring only diligent hands to stave off hunger.
But for those used to finer foods, the taste was comparatively bland.
Tasting them occasionally might be enjoyable, but eating them regularly would be unbearable.
The princess took a few bites and found the salad somewhat bitter, so she decided not to eat more.
Madam He was more accepting, showing a spirit of resilience, thinking, “As long as I’m not eating something foul, I’ll eat whatever.”
In contrast, Suisui appeared calm and natural.
For her, these wild vegetables represented an unattainable dream in her past.
Good wild vegetables were often taken by adults, and even when spring brought plenty, it was the adults who could dig them up.
Families would often team up to gather more.
Even if they couldn't finish, they could dry them for later.
Suisui had occasionally managed to snag a bite of something tasty, but most of the time, she was left with the less palatable, sometimes slightly toxic varieties.
The monks today had collected only the best, the freshest, and the most tender wild greens.
Although Suisui had been eating well and sleeping well recently, she hadn’t completely forgotten her hard past.
These wild vegetables weren’t so bad, really.
They were crispy and tender, making for a delicious meal!
Seeing Suisui’s cheeks puffed up with satisfaction, Qi Wangfei felt a pang of sympathy.
In her eyes, even though these wild vegetables were bitter and not particularly palatable, the little girl found joy in them, making her wonder what kind of life she had led before.
She couldn’t dwell on such thoughts.
If she did, the urge to retaliate would grow stronger!
After they finished paying their respects, if the prince still hadn’t returned, Qi Wangfei planned to send someone to fetch him!
They had to quickly sort out the issues surrounding the coal mine in Qingzhou.
The sooner those involved could be convinced to dig for coal after the spring planting, the better!
After dinner, as dusk fell, both families leisurely made their way back.
With no interruptions from Madam Tang, He Shuruan mustered her courage and quietly asked Suisui, “Do you want some candy?”
Due to her poor health, He Shuruan wasn’t restricted in her daily consumption, except for the things she had to avoid.
Candies and preserves were prepared by the doctor for her but in limited amounts.
Shuruan didn’t often indulge, knowing that after taking her bitter medicine, she needed something sweet to relieve the discomfort.
Despite this, she still wanted to share her treats with Suisui.
She liked having this little sister.
After asking, she gently reached out her hand and held Suisui’s.
Suisui obediently let her sister hold her hand and tilted her head to softly refuse, “No need, sister; I have candy!”
Of course, Suisui had candy. Liu Hemeng had given her some earlier, which she hadn’t yet eaten.
The little girl treasured her belongings greatly.
Even though the sweet aroma of the candy made her mouth water, she thought it better to save the good stuff for when she really wanted it.
Right now, she didn’t crave it that much and could wait.
Moreover, Mengmeng had warned her that eating too much candy could ruin her teeth!
So, she held off unless she couldn’t resist.
Now that Shuruan had asked, Suisui shook her head and declined.
Seeing Suisui refuse, Shuruan felt a bit disappointed.
It was rare for her to want to make a friend and share something good with her little sister.
After pondering what else she could offer, she rummaged through her belongings until she found the water-drop-shaped earrings she had specially chosen that morning.
The earrings were made of fine jade, of good quality and water-rich. Although they were leftover pieces from a bracelet, she loved them dearly.
Because she cherished them, she had worn them today to pay her respects.
Now, though she was reluctant, He Shuruan finally took the earrings off and handed them to Suisui, saying, “Little sister, this is for you. It’s my favorite earring, and I hope it brings you joy.”
He Shuruan ’s health truly wasn’t great.
After speaking for a while, her breath became uneven.
Madam He, watching from the side, felt a bit anxious.
But since the child showed no signs of discomfort, she tried hard to appear calm.
Moreover, the female doctor was with them, so there was no need for panic!
Madam He continuously reassured herself, and her racing heart gradually settled.
Suisui suddenly receiving her sister’s gift made her feel a bit embarrassed. She shook her head and glanced at her mother.
The princess looked at Suisui gently and didn’t directly make a decision for the child. Instead, she smiled and asked, “Do you like it, Suisui?”
If she liked it, then receiving a pair of earrings would indicate a good relationship between the two families, which wouldn’t be a problem.
Suisui had yet to get her ears pierced, but she had seen her mother, Mengmeng, and Qiaoqiao all wearing earrings.
Now, seeing the beautiful Shuruan sister also had them, she felt quite envious.
Unaware of the pain associated with piercing, Suisui simply knew that earrings made delightful jingling sounds and looked beautiful.
Feeling a bit shy, she pressed her lips together, her ears reddening as she lowered her head and whispered, “Mother, I kind of like it.”
**To be continued.**
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