Their family was so poor that Su Mian’s father did not want her to continue studying in senior high. However, it was her stepmother who convinced her father otherwise.
In the end, Su Mian initiated the request to drop out after being unable to endure the gossip about her seducing a teacher.
He Qin only smiled and said to her, “Xiao Mian, you can stay at home if you don’t want to study. As for working in the fields, just leave it to me and your father.”
As she thought about the past, Su Mian’s eyes almost turned red.
Fortunately, in this lifetime, her stepmother was alive, her younger brother was still full of energy, and her father was healthy. Nothing was too late.
Su Mian took in a deep breath and grasped He Qin’s hands tightly, afraid that she would disappear in front of her.
Su Jin Long had not run far and was currently eavesdropping from the kitchen. Su Mian calling He Qin ‘mother’ had truly stunned him too. He supported himself against the door with one hand but almost fell forward.
However, he grew up together with Su Mian. How could he not know her best? “Mother, you’ve got to be careful. She’s clearly up to no good!”
He Qin was on cloud nine, but after Su jin Long’s words, that expectation was immediately extinguished.
Su Mian had often done the same in the past. Whenever she wanted something, her tone would soften, but she had never called He Qin ‘mother’ before. Because of that, He Qin was sure that Su Mian was different from before.
When He Qin got married into the Su family, Su Mian was already five years old and could remember things. She recalled how Su Mian would glare at her with hatred and turn around without saying a thing. She was also not willing to call her ‘mother’.
Su Jin Long was only two at that time and was basically raised by He Qin. As such, the two were like real mother and son with nothing hidden between them.
Su Mian was no longer the same from the past and did not wish to speak harshly. She pulled He Qin’s hands and looked at her with sparkling eyes, causing He Qin’s heart to be at ease.
“Xiao Mian, don’t mind him. Come and have dinner.” He Qin smiled. She brought over Su Mian’s shoes and placed them beside her feet.
During the past few days, Su Mian had been ill, causing He Qin to become thin from worry. She blamed herself for not taking care of Su Mian properly.
“Mother, I’ll wear them myself, I’m alright. Where’s father?” He Qin was still the same kind hearted He Qin. Su Mian bent over to wear her shoes, afraid that He Qin would see her secretly wiping away her tears.
“He went to pick some medicinal herbs for you. The doctor said that you need to eat some to strengthen yourself.” He Qin said before going into the kitchen.
Su Mian was ill because she had tumbled down the valley from a mountain road. On that day, she and her classmate, Zhang Yan Jie, went to the town market. On the way back, Zhang Yan Jie suddenly shouted that there was a wolf!
At that moment, Su Mian became startled. Wolves would frequently emerge from the deep mountains and forest beside their small village. This was especially common after a heavy snowfall.
After a snowfall, the road would be covered in snow. That caused Su Mian to slip and tumble down the valley.
She was reborn right at the moment she woke up.
Su Mian’s family was truly poor. He Qin had only prepared sorghum rice and stewed cabbage with potatoes. There was not even a single piece of meat.
“It’s close to the Lunar New Year and we only have this to eat?” Su Jin Long looked at the plain dishes. He mumbled to himself but still lowered his head to eat.
Su Jin Long was still in his growth phase. Eating only those would make him hungry again.
“The Gregorian New Year has just passed and you still want to eat meat every day? If you don’t want to eat this, then don’t. Xiao Mian, you eat first,” He Qin served the food, then sat beside the fireplace and began knitting.
The wool she used was old and was a combination of many different colors pieced together, just enough to make a sweater.
Su Mian remembered that the sweater was knitted by her stepmother for her.
When she enlisted into the army in her past life, she did not wear it once because she did not think it looked good.
With only a 15-watt light bulb emitting a faint yellow light, Su Mian looked at He Qin, “Mother, why not continue in the morning? Your eyes might go bad.” He Qin’s dark face carried a warm smile that made Su Mian feel that she had truly been reborn.
“There is a lot to do in the day, and I can only do so much at night. I need to finish it so you can wear it when spring comes.” As He Qin spoke, the needles in her hands never stopped moving.
Su Mian felt sweetness sweeter than honey in her heart as she watched.
“Aunt He, come quick. Some people got bitten by a wolf!” A man shouted from outside. He Qin put her work down and ran outside. Su Jin Long also rushed out of the house.
