Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback
CHAPTER 61: The 1960s Marriage Swap: Marrying a Cook (15)
Ginseng, especially, was Ye Su favorite. Purely wild, big in size, with thick, plump roots. Just looking at it made her happy.
With the treasure-finding guidance from her space, Ye Su quickly dug up quite a few.
Then she suddenly heard someone calling her name. Startled, she hurriedly stashed everything into her space, then pulled out a pile of ¹hericium mushrooms instead and rushed out.
“Coming, coming! I just spotted some hericium mushrooms over there and wandered a bit too far.”
The aunties outside let out a breath of relief when they saw her return. “You child, don’t go running off like that. There are wild animals deeper in the mountains. What if something drags you away?”
“Got it, Auntie. I won’t run off again.”
The sun was already close to setting, and no one dared linger any longer. They quickly gathered up and headed down the mountain together.
……
After finishing all twenty-something candies, Duan Ziyu started practicing speaking whenever he had time. His voice still sounded rough, but at least his pronunciation was clear now.
He had originally planned to go see Ye Su and surprise her.
But then he received a notice from his superiors and had to leave on a work trip to a neighboring city to help prepare a banquet for a leader.
Three days later, as soon as he returned, he went straight to see Ye Su, bringing along some local specialties from the trip.
This time, he didn’t take out his notebook or pen.
Instead, he gathered his courage and called out, “Su… Su.”
His voice came out a little stiff.
It was the first time Ye Su had ever heard him speak. For a moment, she was so excited she didn’t know what to do.
“Duan Ziyu! That was amazing. Your pronunciation is really clear. It’s normal for it to sound a bit stiff at first. Just keep reading more and practicing. It’ll get smoother.”
Duan Ziyu’s eyes turned warm. He pulled her into his arms and, in a hoarse voice, said, “Thank you, Susu.”
“You’re welcome. You’re my boyfriend, aren’t you?”
Ye Su laughed and hugged him back.
After the excitement settled, Ye Su thought ahead and warned him not to mention her in the future.
“Just make something up. Say you met some traveling healer on your trip who treated you with acupuncture. Things are a bit chaotic these days. I don’t want to attract unnecessary trouble.”
Duan Ziyu nodded after hearing that. Thinking about the pills she had given him, it really did feel like some kind of fortunate encounter. And when someone carried something valuable, it was only natural for others to covet it.
He nodded seriously. “Okay. I won’t say anything carelessly. I’ll listen to you.”
Duan Ziyu’s mother was the second person to find out he could speak again.
When he stepped through the door and called out, “Mom,” she froze for a moment, almost thinking she had misheard.
Until he walked closer and called her again with a smile.
The wooden basin slipped from her hands and crashed to the ground. Overwhelmed with emotion, her throat locked up, no sound coming out at all. She grabbed her son’s hand, trembling, tears silently streaming down her face.
Back then, when her husband passed away, she had spent her days crying in grief, neglecting her son when he came down with a high fever. That mistake had led to consequences that could never be undone.
She had hated herself for it. Regretted it. Blamed herself over and over.
As her son grew up and became more and more outstanding, the guilt only deepened. Every time she thought about it, her heart ached for him.
And now, heaven had given her such an unbelievable miracle.
She hugged her son tightly, pouring every bit of strength into her voice as she finally broke down in loud, uncontrollable sobs.
“Waa…”
Luo Meiling cried like she had lost control, tears and snot running freely, as if she were trying to pour out all the pain she had buried over the years.
Duan Ziyu’s eyes reddened. He quietly held his mother and comforted her. “Mom… it’s okay now. I’m better.”
The neighbors nearby were startled by the commotion and rushed over to check on them, thinking something terrible had happened.
“Meiling! What’s going on in your house!”
Luo Meiling cried as she pulled her son forward, her voice breaking with emotion. “My son can talk now!”
The others were stunned and instinctively turned to look at Duan Ziyu. “Ziyu… is what your mother said true?”
They were still somewhat skeptical. After all, the child was already so old, and back then the doctor had said his vocal cords were damaged beyond repair. That he would never be able to speak in this lifetime.
Duan Ziyu nodded and said hoarsely, “Thank you, uncles and aunties, for taking care of my mother and me all these years.”
Hearing him speak, everyone lit up with excitement.
“Oh my, he really can talk now!”
“Meiling, you’re truly blessed! You must have done good deeds in your past life. Heaven finally took pity on you.”
Duan Ziyu then explained that during this recent work trip, he had met a traveling healer by chance who managed to cure him.
The villagers believed it without question and grew even more amazed. “You’re a lucky kid. Heaven must have sent some old immortal to help you…”
Listening to everyone talk over each other, Luo Meiling gradually stopped crying. She wiped her tears and happily joined in the conversation.
The next day, she brought gifts and came to the Ye family with Duan Ziyu.
Partly, she wanted to formally propose the marriage. At the same time, she wanted to thank them. In her heart, she felt that Ye Su was a lucky girl, and that her son had only received such a blessing because of her.
Otherwise, all those years she had taken him everywhere seeking treatment, even visiting renowned doctors in the capital, yet nothing had worked.
Ever since he started dating Ye Su, her son had been smiling every day. And now, during a simple work trip, he had stumbled upon such a miraculous chance. No matter how she thought about it, it all came back to Ye Su’s good fortune.
The Ye family was just as happy for the two of them. In his excitement, Ye Xiuli even brought out the sorghum wine he had been saving for a long time and asked Tian Daniu to fry up some peanuts.
Seeing this, Duan Ziyu rolled up his sleeves and headed into the kitchen, using whatever ingredients were on hand to whip up a few simple dishes.
With his level of skill, even home-cooked food turned out delicious.
Both families sat down together, eating, sipping a little wine, and chatting happily about the two children. The atmosphere was warm and lively.
Toward the end, Hao Wenfang pulled her daughter aside and quietly asked if she wanted to settle the engagement.
No matter how good the Duan family was, they still wanted to hear their daughter’s opinion.
Ye Su had no objections. If they were setting it, then let’s set it.
And just like that, the two families agreed on the engagement.
As for the wedding, since their daughter had only just returned home not long ago, the Ye family wanted to keep her with them a while longer. They decided to pick a date after the weather warmed up next year.
The Duan family had no issue with that. Besides the gifts they brought, Duan’s mother also placed down a betrothal gift wrapped in a red handkerchief.
“This is for Susu. My son is fortunate to have met her. When she marries into our family, I will treat her like my own daughter and never let her suffer even the slightest grievance. And thank you for trusting me with your child.”
After saying that, she even stood up and bowed to Ye Su’s parents.
Startled, the couple quickly stepped forward to help her up. “Meiling, what are you doing? Ziyu is a good child too. As long as the two of them are happy, that’s all that matters. We know what kind of person you are, there’s really no need for this.”
Hearing that, Luo Meiling smiled, her eyes turning red. “It’s alright. I’m just… really happy.”
Watching both sides of the family like this, Duan Ziyu quietly reached out and took Ye Su’s hand, holding it tightly.
Ye Su tilted her head to look at him, lightly scratching his palm with her nail. The corner of her lips lifted as she winked at him.
Her eyes were bright and lively, with a hint of playful mischief.
The corner of Duan Ziyu’s lips lifted, and he lightly tapped the back of her hand with his thumb.
While the elders from both families chatted away happily, the two young ones stayed off to the side, busy with their own little gestures.
After seeing the Duan mother and son off, Hao Wenfang handed the betrothal gift to her daughter without opening it in front of everyone.
The Duan family wasn’t short on money. Just from the weight of that wrapped bundle, it was obvious the gift was well over two hundred yuan. Since none of it was meant for them to keep, there was no point opening it and drawing attention.
No matter how much it was, it would all be saved for their daughter’s future.
The moment Ye Su took the bundle, she could feel how heavy it was. Right in front of her mother, she unwrapped it and let out a small gasp.
“There’s this much?”
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Glossary:
¹Hericium is a genus of edible and medicinal mushrooms in the Hericiaceae family, best known for the Hericium erinaceus species (Lion’s Mane). These fungi are characterized by long, drooping, white spines that grow on hardwood trees. They are widely used as cognitive boosters, memory aids, and for supporting nerve growth, brain health, and digestive health.
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