Tanghulu wasn’t something cheap, so both Su Yongshun and Su Fu’an quickly said no.
However, Su Tang could see that Su Nuo knew that his family could make money now and times weren’t so tight so he was trying to live up to his ‘responsibilities as an elder’. She didn’t want his intentions to be wasted so she smiled and said, “It’s alright. Xiao Nuo and I often eat hawthorns at home, we were just a bit curious about what the ones outside tasted like today. Anyway, he’s their elder, so they can just take it.”
When Su Yongshun heard Su Tang’s interjection, he stopped refusing, but at the same time, Su Tang saw that his expression was still a little strange. It was still winter, so speaking on the road wasn’t too good, so Su Tang said, “It’s rare for Brother Shun and sister-in-law to come to town, why don’t you all come and sit at our place? In fact, I was planning to go and see you both the next time I went back to burn joss paper for my parents, so it’s convenient that you’re here now.”
Su Yongshun and his family had all come to town to buy goods for the New Year celebration, but they hadn’t expected to run into Su Tang.
In fact, after Su Tang had taken Su Nuo and moved to town, no one back in the village knew where they had gone to live. Su Yongqiang had been worried of course, but in the end, he wasn’t very familiar with the town. Su Fuhua was a bit more familiar with the town so he had tried to make some inquiries, but it wasn’t easy to find two children in a big place like Qinghe Town.
In addition, their family also had their own things to deal with, so in the end, all they could do was worry. But today they unexpectedly ran into the siblings on the road so, when they heard Su Tang’s invitation, Su Yongshun and Madam Qin nodded and accepted.
Su Tang looked around and found that they were a little far from the Dessert Cafe, so she instead took everyone over to the little rented courtyard. She was a bit happy because the things over at the rented courtyard actually had something to do with what she wanted to discuss with the Su family anyway.
When the family followed Su Tang and saw such a big courtyard, they were all surprised. Su Nuan was still young, so she didn’t know to mince her words and just asked directly, “Wow, do Aunt Tang and Uncle Nuo live here? It’s so big.”
“It’s just rented temporarily. Come on in first!” Su Tang took out her key and unlocked the door.
Su Tang quickly led them all into the main room. When Su Yongshun followed her inside, he noticed that the temperature inside was a bit high, and the room seemed a bit damp and humid. Also, there were some strange wooden boxes set off to one side of the kang bed that had some little green buds on them.
Su Tang invited them all to sit down and then went to the kitchen to make some hot water. She added some black tea that hadn’t been moved away to the water and then brought it out, “There’s nothing here but tea, but you can all have some to warm your bellies.”
“Don’t worry about it. You said that you and Brother Nuo would be staying at your master’s house last time. Is this your master’s house?”
Su Yongshun had looked around and seen that this courtyard was very large. And, knowing what he did about these sorts of tile courtyards, he estimated that the rent in such a place wouldn’t be too cheap. However, even after looking around it seemed that there was no one else here, so he asked Su Tang.
“Actually, my master’s house isn’t here, it’s in another place not far from here. After all, Xiao Nuo and I are still in our mourning period, so we don’t want our mourning aura to collide with my master’s, so we live here for the time being.” Su Tang explained.
After hearing her explanation, the Su family finally understood. At the same time, Su Fu’an drank a mouthful of his tea and found it had a sweet and light taste. After taking one sip and finding that it was so good, he couldn’t help but drain his whole cup. When Su Nuo saw that, he quickly prepared another cup.
Madam Wen sent her husband a fierce look, and Su Fu’an smiled sheepishly.
Su Tang looked at Su Yongshun and Madam Qin. “It looked like Brother Shun and sister-in-law seemed to have something to say just now, is there anything wrong?”
She had brought the Su family here because she had something to discuss with Su Yongqiang. She was planning to go with Su Nuo to her parents’ grave during the Spring Festival and wanted to talk to him about it. However, it seemed that Su Yongshun had something to say to her so she asked him about that first. In any case, she wasn’t in any rush.
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tl begging corner:
Do I sense a Madam Wu incoming?
I like this but I get frustrated by how much Su Tang just seems to keep secrets for the sake of keeping secrets. Secrets relating to the space I can understand, saying they are living in that courtyard when they are not, just comes across as plot contrivance.