Heartwarming
When Su Mu arrived at the village, the smoke from cooking fires had just begun to rise in every household. The villagers engaged in farming were hurrying back home as dusk settled in. By the village stream, a few white ducks were quacking, one of them diving into the water with a splash, creating concentric ripples.
Such was the human world’s bustle.
The wheels of her luggage rolled along the smooth cement path. Su Mu didn’t have the car driver take her all the way to her doorstep; she got off at the village entrance. The village scenery was something she could never tire of. Over the decades, whenever she dreamt of her childhood, she often remembered running around following her older brother.
Catching fish, playing with shrimps, even turning herself into a little mud person – she wasn’t afraid of her parents scolding her. The freshness of the river had a hold on her dreams. After a rain, the village children would find a new favorite spot, and mushrooms and fungi would sprout on the hills. She’d pick a few to make soup, and she could eat two big bowls of it.
“Isn’t this Su Tang’s Mu Mu?”
“Mu Mu is back? Your mom was talking about you just a few days ago.”
Breaking free from her memories, Su Mu greeted the village elders with a smile. “Yes, I missed home, so I came back. Are you just returning from the garden?”
“The vegetables in the garden are fresh. I picked some to bring home. Mu Mu, you should go home soon. Your parents will be so happy to know you’re back.”
Su Mu pushed her luggage and obediently nodded. “Alright.” She didn’t want to reveal too much, worried that she might let something slip. Although only a few months had passed for them, she had been away for decades, and her memories of the people and things in the village had gradually faded.
Accompanied by birdsongs and barking dogs, Su Mu’s heart raced as she looked at her house sat at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by layers of trees. Litchi trees grew on the mountain, and now was the time for their blossoms, resembling light yellow clouds swaying in the wind.
The fence around the small courtyard had been recently renovated. Standing at the doorstep, gazing inside, it was just as tranquil and warm as she remembered. She hadn’t even entered yet, and Big Orange was already wagging its tail, rushing over and scratching the wooden door, making scratching sounds.
Father Su was weaving a bamboo basket under the grape arbor. Hearing the commotion, he looked up and saw his daughter looking at him with tearful eyes. He became anxious, not even brushing off the bamboo shavings on his body. He quickly walked to the door, opened it, and cautiously said, “My daughter, why didn’t you let your dad know you were coming back? Dad could have gone to pick you up.”
Su Mu couldn’t hold back and rushed into her father’s arms. “Dad, I missed you so much.”
Thinking his daughter had suffered outside, Father Su’s heart ached. He gently patted his daughter’s back. “Alright, alright, Dad’s here.”
A little while later, he said, “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Su Mu wiped her tears and, feeling a bit embarrassed, changed the subject. “Dad, where’s Mom?”
“She’s in the kitchen cooking. Go see her. Dad will go catch a chicken and prepare it for my daughter.”
Su Mu had grown accustomed to this way of expressing love through food. Whenever she came back home during breaks from studying, the chickens and ducks in the house would be in trouble. Every time, about seven or eight of them would end up in the pot.
A moment of silence for them.
After moving the luggage into Su Mu’s room, Father Su went to catch a chicken. Su Mu placed the flowerpot down and paused, noticing that Big Orange had taken bright flowers and stuffed them into its mouth. Su Mu sighed and ruffled its head. “Big Orange, let go quickly! This isn’t for eating.”
Big Orange was quite human-like, and it released its grip on the flowers, tilting its head and looking at its young master with a cheeky expression. Meanwhile, the African violets looked pitiful, covered in dog saliva and a little wilted.
Su Mu didn’t know when Big Orange had developed this habit of playing with flowers. It wasn’t that it wanted to pick the flowers, it just liked holding them in its mouth. Su Mu remembered one time when there was a small bee collecting nectar on a flower, and Big Orange got stung. Its dog head swelled up like a pig’s, but after it got better, it forgot the pain. Until now, its quirk hadn’t changed.
Su Mu simply carried the flowerpot to the kitchen, and Big Orange followed, wagging its tail.
In the kitchen, Mother Su was cooking. Hearing the movement, she thought it was her husband, so she didn’t turn around. “The water is boiling.”
Su Mu placed the flowerpot by the sink and approached her mother quietly, hugging her from behind. “Mom, I’m back.”
Mother Su was about to scold but burst into laughter when she heard her daughter’s soft voice. She patted her daughter’s hand and turned around. “I wondered why your dad asked me to boil water. It turns out my daughter is back.”
Su Mu nuzzled her mother’s neck, finding immense comfort in her mother’s scent.
“Alright, why are you acting coquettish now?” Mother Su shrugged. “Move away, it’s hot. Hurry up, or the food will be overcooked.”
Su Mu didn’t expect her mother to switch to complaining so quickly. Pouting, she complained, “I just missed you, that’s all.”
“I missed you too. Now, come on. If you delay, the food will be ruined.”
While it sounded like a tactic to distract a child, Su Mu was still very happy. She hummed an unfamiliar tune, bouncing away.
The water in the sink came from the mountain, ice-cold and crystal clear. Designed to flow, the water would keep streaming out, flowing into the irrigation channels for the rice paddies.
Su Mu placed the flowerpot in the sink, letting the flowing water rinse away the saliva from Big Orange’s mouth that clung to the flowers. She wasn’t worried about the delicate flower stems breaking. Plants she had cultivated were far sturdier.
The land was the most reliable ally.
The African violets had the rare opportunity to take a bath, but they were soon dug out from the pot. Su Mu planted them in the open space below the fence. No matter the plant, those planted directly in the soil were always more robust than those in pots.
The soil was the most dependable helper.
African violets weren’t a particularly valuable species, so it should be relatively easy to cultivate African Violet fairies. Now, it was a matter of letting them adapt to the climate and environment here.
Dinner was especially sumptuous: mushroom and chicken soup, sautéed chicken, garlic river shrimp, stewed fish with cherry tomatoes, garlic-flavored spare ribs, and a plate of garlic-fried pumpkin shoots.
Su Mu’s bowl contained a chicken wing and a chicken leg. It was almost overflowing.
“Mu Mu, you’ve always loved chicken legs, right?” Father Su looked lovingly at his daughter.
Mother Su didn’t back down either, smiling as she said, “Mu Mu used to love chicken legs when she was young. Now she loves chicken wings more, right?”
Here they go again.
Su Mu was quite helpless. Although this old couple was loving, when it came to spoiling their children, they didn’t hold back. It was manageable when her older brother was around to share the attention, but now she was alone, making her a bit overwhelmed.
Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.
“Oh, these river shrimps look delicious.” Su Mu picked up a shrimp with her chopsticks, tasted it, and smiled sweetly at her parents.
The old couple exchanged a smile, this time without a clear winner.
“Enjoy as much as you like. These river shrimps were caught in traps by your dad, and the haul was pretty good.”
The water quality in Huayuan Village was excellent. Despite the villagers’ lack of education, they had taken good care of the stream. Other than during floods, the water remained clear, and the banks were lush with aquatic plants. Small fish and shrimp abounded, which was a boon for the villagers, as they could enjoy a river delicacy every now and then.
Mother Su was a skilled cook. She heated the pan, added oil, and quickly stir-fried the river shrimps. The seasoning was simple: just salt. When the small shrimp turned reddish and slightly golden on the surface, she added garlic shoots for extra aroma before taking it off the stove.
Authentic flavors – crispy shrimp shells that burst when bitten, and the shrimp meat was unexpectedly tender.
What left the strongest impression on Su Mu was the stewed fish with cherry tomatoes.
The Su family usually ate freshwater fish. They fried grass carp until both sides were golden brown and the flesh was tender. After cleaning the pan, they added oil and heated it up. When it was hot, they added cherry tomatoes. These tomatoes were different from the ones found in the market; they were small, only a bit larger than glass beads. They were more acidic than usual, and this tomato variety was now quite rare.
The small tomatoes burst open with heat, forming tomato juice. At this point, the tomato juice had plenty of moisture. The fish was placed in the stew, and the simmering process allowed the tangy juice to soak into every texture of the fish. When the broth became thick, it was ladled onto a plate and garnished with a sprinkle of chopped green onions. The onions served both as decoration and to enhance the fragrance.
The fish in this dish was raised in their own pond, spring water fish. Its taste was very mild, and its meat was firm and delicious. The tart tomato juice made people’s appetites open wide.
This meal brought Su Mu great satisfaction.
After dinner, the family sat under the grape arbor to enjoy the cool evening breeze. When night fell at the foot of the mountain, the temperature dropped significantly. Having experienced transmigration, Su Mu’s constitution was no longer comparable to an ordinary person’s. She was well-adapted to this temperature, but she still put on a thin jacket for her parents.
Conversations flowed in the Su family yard freely, bringing joy.
However, Su Mu could discern the cautious undertones in her parents’ words. It was understandable. Her sudden decision to come back at this time was unusual. They probably thought she had suffered some major grievance while she was away.
Therefore, she took the initiative to share her plan: “Mom, Dad, this time I’ve come back and won’t leave again.”
The Su couple exchanged glances. It’s not that they didn’t support her decision, but their daughter had always talked about bringing them to live in the city once she succeeded. So why did she suddenly quit her job and come back to the village? There must be some significant reason behind it.
“Mu Mu, you know what we think. We’re very happy that you’re here to be with us. But why? Your job was going well, wasn’t it? Did someone trouble you?” Father Su’s heart ached at the thought of someone mistreating his daughter. She was their precious treasure.
Mother Su looked at her daughter with a deep sense of concern.
As expected, it wasn’t surprising.
Su Mu laughed spiritedly. “How could anyone trouble me? Mom, Dad, have you forgotten? I used to be the little boss in the village.”
Father and Mother Su thought about it and realized it was true. Their daughter might look delicate on the outside, but she was strong-willed inside.
“I’ve come back this time to grow flowers and vegetables. You don’t know, but what’s in demand outside now is environmentally friendly, green products. Our village has a great environment, so it’s the perfect place for it.”
Every household in the village grew their own vegetables. Can their daughter sell vegetables? Will it work?
Su Mu understood their concerns. “What I produce is not ordinary. I’m confident it will fetch a good price. Don’t worry.”
Seeing the determined look on her daughter’s face, although Father and Mother Su still had doubts, they decided to go along with her. Their daughter had always been resourceful since she was a child, and she must have calculated things. Moreover, if she could stay by their side and keep them company, the house wouldn’t feel so empty.
Su Mu nestled in her mother’s arms, just like when she was a child. Mother Su gently stroked her daughter’s hair, and Father Su’s eyes were full of tenderness.
The night was adorned with stars, and the croaking of frogs added a touch of vividness.
♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎
Thingyan: I’m glad our FL still has loving parents unlike many other FLs who were orphans in these types of novels.
Thanks for the chapter❤️