Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback

CHAPTER 62: The 1960s Marriage Swap: Marrying a Cook (16)

　　The money was a crisp stack of brand-new bills, all in ten-yuan notes. Ye Su casually counted through them and found there were a full six hundred yuan.

　　Hao Wenfang was startled too. It almost felt like the Duan family had emptied out all their savings. The mother and son were really too sincere.

　　“These new bills don’t look like much at first glance. I thought it’d be around two hundred or so, which is already a lot. Who would’ve guessed it’d be six hundred.”

　　She couldn’t help feeling a little emotional. For an ordinary family, saving up six hundred yuan would take a long time. The fact that they were willing to give this much showed just how much they valued Ye Su.

　　Holding the money, Ye Su hesitated. “Mom, what should we do? Should we return some of it?”

　　Hao Wenfang shook her head. “Once a betrothal gift is given, how could you take it back? They’re showing how much they value you. Besides, this money is all for you anyway. You’ll use it when you and Ziyu get married, so just keep it.”

　　Hearing that, Ye Su let it go. “Alright then, I’ll hold onto it for now. Mom, if you and Dad ever need money, just tell me.”

　　Hao Wenfang let out a small laugh. “No need. Your father and I still have some savings. We originally set it aside for your second brother’s marriage, but now that he’s gone, it hasn’t been used. Your eldest brother earns twenty-eight yuan a month and hands over eight for household expenses. We’re not lacking in food or daily needs. You just keep it for yourself and buy what you need. Don’t worry about us.”

　　Only then did Ye Su relax. She tucked the six hundred yuan safely into her own little stash.

　　With the original one hundred and eleven yuan plus this six hundred, her current savings came to a total of seven hundred and eleven yuan.

　　……

　　Winter arrived in the blink of an eye. A heavy snowstorm swept through, leaving every household stuck indoors.

　　Duan Ziyu was stranded in town. With only his mother at home, he couldn’t help worrying, but the snow was piled too thick for anyone to travel. Even his bicycle was useless.

　　Seeing how deep the snow had fallen, the Ye family figured Duan Ziyu was probably still at work as usual. Naturally, they also thought of Luo Meiling being alone at home. She wasn’t in the best health to begin with, and in weather this cold, it was hard not to worry.

　　Hao Wenfang immediately discussed it with her husband and decided someone should go check on her.

　　People in the village had already started clearing snow. Compared to town, the distance between villages was shorter, and the roads were easier to manage.

　　Ye Su grabbed a snow shovel and worked alongside her mother and sister-in-law, pushing through the snow with effort.

　　Wrapped up in thick layers, Ye Xiuli moved carefully through the snow. Watching her father like that, Ye Su pulled on a scarf and decided to go with him. It wasn’t safe for one person to travel alone, and at least two people could look out for each other.

　　Hao Wenfang agreed and told her to step in her father’s footprints as they walked.

　　With a wooden stick in hand, Ye Su tested the ground ahead while staying close behind him.

　　In the end, the two of them made it safely to the Duan house.

　　When Luo Meiling saw them, she was deeply touched. She quickly brought over hot water and some food, urging them to sit and rest.

　　Seeing that she looked well enough, Ye Xiuli finally relaxed.

　　As a man, he didn’t linger. He hurriedly drank a cup of hot water, took a couple of bites of dry food to fill his stomach, then stood up to leave. It would be harder to travel once it got dark.

　　Ye Su stayed behind to keep her company.

　　Luo Meiling was overjoyed and began pulling out all the little treasures she had saved over the years.

　　She had been born into a well-off family, but later, during the chaos of war, she was separated from her family. The shock made her lose her memory, and she was eventually taken in and raised by the Luo family.

　　It wasn’t until she was eighteen, after a serious bout of illness and a high fever, that her memories finally came back.

　　The Luo couple couldn’t have children of their own, but they treated her very well. Life with them had been stable, with no worries about food or clothing.

　　Later, as the times grew more chaotic and war broke out everywhere, her adoptive parents married her off to Duan Renjun, a man who could offer her protection.

　　Not long after, her adoptive parents suddenly lost contact, and soon after that, Duan Renjun left to join the army. She stayed behind in North Village, pregnant and alone.

　　What came after was even harder. Her husband never returned, and her son lost his voice.

　　Luo Meiling used to be in good health, but after everything that happened to the people around her, she began to feel like she brought misfortune wherever she went. All that bottled-up emotion weighed on her, and over time, her body simply gave out.

　　She had never really had anyone to talk to. Now, with such a thoughtful girl by her side, she held onto Ye Su’s hand and shared so many pieces of her past.

　　Listening to it all, Ye Su couldn’t help but feel a little emotional. Without a country, there would be no home. The older generations had truly lived through hard times.

　　Luo Meiling then took out a doll she had always treasured. It was worn and a little tattered. According to her adoptive parents, she had been clutching it when she was first found.

　　Even in its worn state, you could still tell that Luo Meiling must have come from a wealthy family back then. In those days, without money or connections, something like this was almost impossible to come by.

　　Luckily, she had been taken in by the Luo family and officially registered under their household.

　　Otherwise, carrying the label of a rich family’s daughter would’ve only brought trouble once those sensitive years came around.

　　These days, being an ordinary villager wasn’t so bad. At least she won't have to live in fear for the next few years.

　　Luo Meiling treated Ye Su like dressing up a doll, happily taking out her dowry and putting the pieces on her one by one.

　　She had been her adoptive parents’ only child, and when she got married, they prepared a full set for her. Hair ornaments, rings, earrings, bracelets, everything was there. Among them was even a pure gold longevity lock, said to have been found in the sachet she carried when she was lost as a child.

　　By now, Luo Meiling had already accepted Ye Su as her future daughter-in-law. She even said she wanted to pass all these pieces down to her.

　　Of course, Ye Su felt too embarrassed to accept. After trying them on for fun, she carefully put everything back.

　　Luo Meiling didn’t mind at all. They were family anyway, there would be plenty of chances in the future.

　　And just like that, Ye Su stayed at the Duan house for two days, eating meat every single day.

　　Luo Meiling’s life had been full of hardships, but she had never truly known poverty. She was born into a wealthy family, later adopted into a well-off family, and after marrying Duan Renjun, she had been cherished by him.

　　Afterward, she relied on her savings and subsidies to raise her son. Now that her son had grown up and made something of himself, money had never really been a source of worry for her.

　　There were a few slabs of cured meat stored in the cellar, and she brought them out at every meal, cooking them in different ways just to feed her future daughter-in-law well.

　　Ye Su also knew how to return kindness. Seeing that Mother Duan was in poor health, she quietly took out a healing pill, split it into two, and slipped it into the food whenever she helped cook.

　　Luo Meiling’s complexion improved quite a bit, and her body didn’t feel as cold and weak as before.

　　She simply chalked it up to her son being able to speak again, and having such a thoughtful future daughter-in-law keeping her company. With all that happiness, she felt lighthearted, and even her body seemed to get better.

　　When the road into town finally cleared, Duan Ziyu rushed back. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Ye Su chatting and laughing with his mother.

　　Seeing him return, Mother Duan immediately started praising Ye Su. “Susu came the day it snowed. She was worried about my health and stayed here to keep me company, eat with me, and cheer me up. If you ever treat her badly in the future, I’ll kick you out and keep Susu as my daughter instead.”

　　Before Duan Ziyu could even respond, Ye Su burst out laughing.

　　Warmth spread through his chest. Grateful, he stepped forward, then suddenly paused, remembering he had just come in from the cold weather and was still carrying the chill of outside. He took a small step back and said sincerely, “Susu, thank you.”

　　Ye Su smiled and teased him on purpose. “Saying thank you like that makes it sound so distant. I already ate so much cured meat here, I should be the one feeling shy.”

　　That made Luo Meiling laugh. “Being able to eat is a blessing. Next time, tell Ziyu to prepare more. Every time you come, Auntie will cook for you.”

　　Ye Su grinned sweetly. “Exactly, Auntie Meiling is the best.”

　　Duan Ziyu couldn’t really join their conversation. He just stood there with a soft smile in his eyes, listening as the two of them chatted. He took off his coat, poured himself a cup of warm water, and slowly warmed his hands around it.

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