The man's deep and magnetic voice exploded in her ears.
"Hm?"
Susu was bombarded by the man's sexy, deep voice, her ears buzzing as she stared dumbfounded at the man.
Seeing the man's brows slightly furrow, Susu quickly waved her hands, just about to explain that she didn't mean it on purpose, that she really didn't hear clearly.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made decisions on my own without discussing with you."
With the man's dark and deep eyes staring at her, Susu's cheeks started burning involuntarily, and she coughed to divert his attention.
"Cough, it was me who overreacted. Xiao Yu is a pitiful child, he'll be a part of our family from now on, and I'll take good care of him."
Lu Xiaoting watched the woman who didn't look back, his dark pupils filled with confusion. How had Su Er Ya, who could turn the whole police station's Family Court upside down in half a month, become so understanding all of a sudden?
Feeling the gaze from behind, Susu, feeling guilty, didn't dare to turn around, afraid that one look would give away that she was not Erya.
"Erya, go out and sit with your brother while you wait," Mrs. Lu urged as she washed vegetables.
Susu had come in precisely because she didn't want to have a staring match with the man and now, acting like a spoiled child towards her mother-in-law, she said.
"Mom, how can I just sit around and not do anything, waiting to be served? It's better for the two of us to do it together; we'll at least have some company to chat with."
Mrs. Lu's face beamed with joy, pampering her daughter-in-law with every 'okay' she responded with.
Watching the busy mother-in-law and daughter-in-law laughing and chatting in the kitchen, Lu Xiaoting's brows twisted into a frown, unable to fathom how they had become so close in less than a day.
In the past, she would either go straight back to her parents' house or come back with him and lie in the room waiting for a cooked meal.
Although his mother had always warmly welcomed her daughter-in-law Su Er Ya since she joined the family, they had never been as close as now.
"Old Second, Dad, come taste the dishes. Today's food was all stir-fried by Er Ya. It smells really delicious."
Mrs. Lu brought the last plate of stir-fried garlic sprouts with pork to the table, taking some from each plate into the bowls, "Xiao Yu, right? Grandma doesn't know what you like to eat. I've prepared a bit of everything for you, so go ahead and start eating."
Xiao Yu turned to look at Lu Xiaoting and, seeing the man nod, he took the bowl with both hands and thanked her quietly, "Thank you, Grandma."
Mrs. Lu tenderly stroked the little guy's head, her face full of pity. It was heartbreaking; he was so young and had already lost his parents.
At the dinner table, Lu Xiaoting occasionally served food to the little kid, "Xiao Yu, you'll stay and play at Grandma's house for a few days. Uncle will come back to pick up you and Auntie once I am less busy."
Yang Tianyu looked around, clutching the corner of his clothes tightly, and timidly nodded his head.
That night, looking at the man's arms tense with muscle, Susu's cheeks couldn't help but flush hotly.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"
Susu tried to shake the mess out of her head, but the more she shook, the dizzier she became.
Looking at the man coming towards the edge of the Kang, dressed in big shorts and a tank top, Susu's old face burned with embarrassment, squinting and sneaking peeks.
Lu Xiaoting was awoken by the heat in the middle of the night and opened his eyes to see the woman's slender arms and legs draped over him.
A bit amused, he thought, the Kang was big enough for both of them, and yet here she was.
The next morning, Lu Xiaoting caught the earliest bus back to Provincial City.
By the time Susu woke up, the little boy was helping to sweep the courtyard with a broom taller than himself.
"This child, ever since he got here, he's been eager to work. Your dad and I tell him not to, but he won't listen," Mrs. Lu sighed.
Susu looked at the little boy, sweating profusely, and felt a sourness in her heart. It was clear he felt insecure in his new environment, hustling to work out of fear of being abandoned.
"Mom, Dad, I have nothing to do at home anyway. I was thinking of making some marinated goods to sell and earn a little money," Susu watched Father Lu and Mrs. Lu's expressions carefully.
Mrs. Lu frowned, "No need, Second Son earns a good salary. You can buy whatever you want, if it's not enough, Mom here also has money."
Father Lu also agreed: "Your mother's right. If you really can't sit still, the factory is hiring temporary workers right now. I can arrange for you to work at the textile mill."
Susu disdained the small pay of a temporary worker and probed, "Mom, Dad, do you find it shameful to be self-employed?"
"How could that be? It's not like we're stealing or robbing; we earn our meals and money through our own capabilities. There's nothing to look down upon."
"Exactly, exactly. There's nothing shameful about earning your own money."
Mrs. Lu looked anxious, afraid her daughter-in-law might misunderstand, "Mom's just worried you might overexert yourself, but if you want to do it, we can give it a try. If it doesn't work out, we can just rest at home."
Susu sighed in relief. Although she would have done it whether her in-laws agreed or not, having their support felt different.
"Xiao Yu, you'll go out shopping with Aunt soon, and we'll buy you a few new clothes..."
Xiao Yu, being named, froze. His eyes were full of panic.
"Uh..."
Seeing this, and guessing that the little guy was probably afraid of being left behind, Susu changed her tune, "Never mind, you wouldn't be of help if you went, and I'd have to look after you. I'll just go buy the groceries by myself. You stay and watch the house with grandma."
Seeing the little kid visibly breathe a sigh of relief, Susu felt a twinge of heartache.
After breakfast, as Susu was about to leave with her money prepared, Mrs. Lu called out, "Erya, you should take the bicycle, it'll be easier."
"Mom, didn't dad take the bike to work?"
"The textile factory isn't far off, so your dad decided to walk over."
Mrs. Lu said this and stuffed three banknotes into her hand, cutting off any response, "Take this, consider it your parents' support."
Susu couldn't help but laugh through her tears, but she felt warmth in her heart, "Alright, I will work hard. I'll make sure my parents get to eat the best of foods, and make all the old men and women in the Family Court green with envy."
Mrs. Lu's grin was so wide she could barely close her mouth, wishing she could immediately go around the alley, showing off to every house.
When Susu got back, the back seat and the basket of the bike were filled to the brim with vegetables and meats.
Looking at Xiao Yu, who was silent but reaching out to help unload the groceries, Susu smiled and handed a small bag of vegetables to the little kid, "Xiao Yu is so capable. Thank you for helping."
The little kid's face turned visibly red as he stumbled, "No, no need."
"Erya, tell me what to do, and I'll help," Mrs. Lu said, assisting in taking the items off the bike.
"And me, I can help too."
Xiao Yu clutched the corners of his patched clothes, his eyes filled with hopeful fear.
"Oh, I got so caught up with buying groceries, I forgot to buy Xiao Yu some clothes."
Looking at the kid covered in patches, Susu remembered what she had forgotten. She patted the little one's head, "Then we'll have to trouble our Xiao Yu. Once we're done, Aunt will reward you with money."
"No, Aunt, I don't need it," he said.
...
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair, plus a little kid, the smell of braised meat wafted through the yard, making passersby salivate.
"It smells so good!"
As the delicious scent lingered from the pot full of braised goods, the room was filled with the sound of rumbling stomachs and the trio's swallowing.
Susu prepared a bit of everything, and the two adults plus one kid enjoyed the delicious feast.
"Mmm, delicious, Erya, the braised food you make is scrumptious, enough to make one's tongue melt," Mrs. Lu exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up.
Xiao Yu imitated her, thumbs-up, "Delicious, Aunt will definitely sell out."
Susu pinched his cheek, now dirty like a little kitten's, "Thank you, my Xiao Yu, Aunt borrows your good words."
Initially planning to set up the street stall on her own, Susu couldn't resist Mrs. Lu, who was worried about her, and also worried about leaving Xiao Yu alone at home.
Eventually, the two adults with the little kid set out together to set up the stall at the entrance of the textile factory.
"Fresh off the stove, delicious and fragrant braised dishes, don't miss out, come and have a taste, everyone—"
"Braised dishes, so fragrant—"
Seeing Aunt and grandma shouting, Xiao Yu clenched his small hands, gathered his courage, and shouted softly, "Delicious, so very delicious—"