The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 8

Xiao Yu picked up a tree branch and walked along, brushing aside fallen leaves, afraid she might miss something if she wasn’t careful.

The mountain was rich with rainwater, and bamboo shoots were everywhere. Before long, the basket she had carried was filled to the brim.

She had originally come to chop bamboo, but ended up digging up a basketful of shoots instead.

She hefted the basket it was heavy, at least forty or fifty jin. Clearly, chopping bamboo would have to wait. She’d need to take this load home first and come back later.

Xiao Yu put away her machete and prepared to head back.

“That’s Xiao Yu, isn’t it? What’s she doing here?” came an annoyed female voice, laced with resentment.

“……”

What was this? Digging up bamboo shoots and running into enemies?

Xiao Yu looked toward the voice and saw a man and a woman standing not far away. The woman glared at her with hatred clearly the one who had spoken. The man looked pained.

Xiao Yu pursed her lips. She had already absorbed the original host’s memories. These two were Chen Ziyi, the village head’s youngest son, and Chen Yu, the original host’s cousin.

Chen Ziyi had once been close to the original host. He was upright and the village’s only scholar. Because he often helped with farm work, he wasn’t as frail as most scholars his skin was tanned and his build sturdy.

Chen Yu, on the other hand, was the daughter of the original host’s aunt. Orphaned young, she had been raised by the original host’s mother and grew up alongside her. They were once close, but after the original host started hanging out with bad company, Chen Yu grew to despise her.

Xiao Yu sighed. Since they’d run into each other, it wouldn’t hurt to say hello. She braced herself and walked over. “Cousin, Ziyi, you’re out digging shoots too?”

Chen Yu snorted and pulled Chen Ziyi away. “Let’s go. I don’t want to talk to people like her.”

“……”

Seriously?

Xiao Yu watched them walk away and sighed. These were the consequences of the original host’s actions no point in trying to fix it herself.

She followed behind them down the mountain. Soon, they reached the base.

Suddenly, Chen Yu stopped and turned to Xiao Yu with a scowl. “Why didn’t you go to town with Chen Ergou and the others to mess around?”

?!

Who was Chen Ergou?

How was she supposed to know?

Xiao Yu was confused.

From the original host’s memories, she could tell that Chen Yu had once truly cared for her. But after being repeatedly disappointed, she gave up.

Thinking back, Xiao Yu remembered the shady man lurking outside the house when she first arrived. She had already cut ties with him and had no intention of reconnecting.

She looked at Chen Yu and Chen Ziyi these were people the original host had once been close to.

Xiao Yu spoke sincerely. “I’ve decided to cut ties with them.”

Chen Yu was stunned for a moment, then quickly frowned. “You think I’ll believe that?”

She’d heard similar promises before, only for the original host to run off with those people again sometimes even stealing money from Chen Yu and Chen Ziyi to gamble.

Chen Ziyi tried to mediate. “Xiao Yu, don’t be so quick to judge. Maybe she really has changed. She’s not a bad person just led astray.”

Chen Yu scoffed. “If she can change, pigs can climb trees.”

Xiao Yu: “……”

Was that really necessary?

The original host may have been irresponsible, but she hadn’t committed any serious crimes.

Then Chen Yu warned, “I don’t care what you’re doing today. If you dare scam Auntie out of money again, don’t blame me for what happens.”

“……”

Wait when did she scam anyone?

Even if the original host had her faults, this cousin didn’t even give her a chance to explain. Xiao Yu was speechless.

She sighed. “Cousin, you misunderstood. I’m not trying to scam anyone.” She had money now, didn’t she?

Chen Yu snorted and turned to leave with Chen Ziyi.

From afar, Xiao Yu could still hear Chen Ziyi trying to reason with her. “We should give Xiao Yu a chance…”

“……”

What a mess.

Still, Chen Ziyi seemed like a decent guy.

Xiao Yu returned home awkwardly. In the courtyard stood Song Luoning slim and pale, her beauty tinged with long-term illness.

“Why are you standing here?” Xiao Yu asked, avoiding her gaze and tightening her grip on the basket. “You look kind of scary.”

She quickly ducked into the half-open kitchen.

“……”

Song Luoning was stunned, biting her lip in frustration. That scoundrel! She wanted to pounce and bite her. After a long breath, she calmed herself.

She wasn’t going to stoop to that scoundrel’s level.

But she was curious what had Xiao Yu brought back?

What if she’d stolen something and dragged her into trouble?

Song Luoning followed her into the kitchen and saw a mountain of bamboo shoots. She paused. So that scoundrel had gone digging?

She frowned slightly and observed Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu was already squatting and peeling shoots, revealing the tender white flesh beneath.

“You dug all these?” Song Luoning asked.

Had she misjudged her?

She coughed, her pale face flushing slightly.

Maybe this person wasn’t completely useless. Combined with the earlier discovery of her cooking skills, perhaps she could be useful. But she quickly dismissed the thought—neighbors had told her all about Xiao Yu’s past.

Hmph.

What kind of character could she possibly have?

Xiao Yu had no idea what Song Luoning was thinking. She nodded. “I dug them on the mountain. Bamboo shoots are great delicious with meat. If we don’t finish them, we can dry them for winter.”

She washed the peeled shoots, picked one out, and sliced it thinly on the cutting board “da-da-da-da” into countless slivers.

Song Luoning frowned. Her movements were so practiced—clearly not her first time. Combined with the porridge from earlier…

Did she cook often?

Then why was there no rice in the house?

A seed of doubt was planted in Song Luoning’s heart.

Xiao Yu finished slicing and placed the shoots in a dish. She wiped her hands and glanced at the sky. “I need to head out again. You can fry these shoots later.”

“……”

Song Luoning frowned, her gaze complicated. The atmosphere turned strangely quiet. After a moment, she turned and walked back to her room. Just before entering, she paused.

“I already paid you,” she said coldly.

“……”

Each word was sharp and emotionless.

That scoundrel did she think she was stupid?

She’d given her a tael of silver this morning. Breakfast? She made it herself. Only at noon did she get a bowl of porridge. And now she was expected to cook again?

Did Xiao Yu think she didn’t know how long a tael of silver could last in a normal household?

Without another glance, Song Luoning returned to her room.

Xiao Yu: “……”

Wait what did she mean?

That medicinal porridge wasn’t worth a tael?

This young lady always tried to use money to pressure her. Fine. She’d cook herself. No shame in working for money.

This time, Xiao Yu went up the mountain without a basket, just her machete. She chopped two thick bamboo stalks and dragged them home, cutting them into uniform pieces.

By then, the sky was dark. She packed up the bamboo pieces and glanced at the closed door, then quietly headed to the kitchen.

It was all for survival. Besides, they had to live together for now. It was just one meal—she could handle it.

She comforted herself. The ingredients were already prepared. Soon, a fragrant plate of stir-fried bamboo shoots was ready, paired with the coarse rice porridge from earlier nutritious and tasty.

It had been a long time since she cooked. She’d loved it since childhood, but after starting university, dorms didn’t allow cooking. Except during holidays, she ate at the cafeteria.

Xiao Yu inhaled the aroma. After only a bowl of porridge at noon and a busy afternoon, she was starving.

Just as she was about to call Song Luoning to eat, the door opened and Song Luoning walked out gracefully.

“……”

Did she come out because she smelled the food?

Xiao Yu stood still, watching her.

“I’m going out.”

Going out?

It was already dark. Where was Song Luoning going?

As she reached the door, Xiao Yu quickly blocked her. “Where are you going?”

Did she have relatives in Chenjia Village?

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