Chapter 281 - The Eleventh Year

Madam Zhao also smiled and echoed, “Yes, I feel more at ease.”

At night, Madam Zhao and Su Sanlang told Su Chong, Su Hua, and the others about this news.

Su Chong and Su Hua smiled.

Su Hua said, “That’s good. We’ll take a day off from school.”

Su Chong nodded. He had the same idea.

Zhou Heng smiled and secretly looked at Su Xiaoling a few times while eating.

Su Xiaoling was sixteen.

Fortunately, Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao had no intention of arranging a marriage for her.

It wouldn’t be too late to talk about it after the Fall Quarter Examinations. He would be 15 years old then.

1

After spending thousands of days and nights together like a family, his heart had already been filled by Su Xiaoling. He wanted to marry her. Perhaps he wouldn’t have a chance after his identity was revealed, but he had to give it a try.

He was two years younger than Su Xiaoling. Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao might care about this, but he was determined and sincere.

After concealing his thoughts, Zhou Heng ate as usual.

Another year passed.

This year’s New Year’s Eve also arrived as promised.

Su Hua and Zhou Heng also went to help cook.

Su Xiaolu and Su Chong practiced their swordsmanship in the courtyard.

Su Xiaolu had been practicing her sword techniques very hard for the entire year. Her improvement was also rapid. She could fight Su Chong for more than a hundred moves without being defeated.

After putting away the sword, Su Xiaolu cupped her hands. “Thank you for your guidance, Brother.”

Su Chong stood with his hands behind his back, holding his sword. He also smiled. “Xiaolu, if Master Gui You knew of your current improvement, he would definitely be shocked.”

Su Xiaolu’s improvement shocked him. Her sword moves were ever-changing, and sometimes he found them tricky.

Su Xiaolu grinned proudly. She had been practicing her sword techniques so hard for the past year. Of course, it was effective.

Not to mention that she had improved a lot, even Chen Shi’s basic skills had become solid. He held the little wooden sword every day and practiced very vigorously.

“I think so too. The next time I see Master Gui You, I’ll definitely give him a fright. The next time I see my Master, I can also bring him to experience my outstanding Qinggong skills. Now, we should go to the kitchen to see what delicious food there is to eat.”

Su Xiaolu held Su Chong’s arm and spoke as they walked.

After practicing for so long, she was hungry.

There was already a lot of fragrance coming from the kitchen. It was time to eat.

Every year, the New Year’s Eve dinner was a feast that Su Xiaolu looked forward to.

She was improving, and so was her third sister.

Su Xiaoling had learned half of the recipes for the Medicinal cuisine books.

The culinary skills of someone who knew how to make Medicinal cuisine were indeed different. A simple chicken soup was delicious.

Su Chong smiled at Su Xiaolu’s gluttonous look and stroked her hair. “Xiaoling must have made your favorite chicken soup. It should be just right to go now.”

Su Xiaoling smiled sweetly. “That’s right. I smelled it just now.”

Her sense of smell was extraordinary. She had known since Su Xiaoling dealt with the big rooster.

The fragrance was so fragrant that she could even smell the fragrance of chicken when she sniffed.

“It seems that Xiaoling knows Xiaolu well.”

Su Chong sighed.

Su Xiaolu laughed happily. “Of course. Third Sister dotes on me the most. Hehe, the entire family dotes on me. I’m the darling of the family.”

“You’re right about that.”

Su Chong echoed that Su Xiaolu was the family’s favorite.

Su Xiaolu and Su Chong went to the kitchen, and Su Chong went to eat the fried meat pie.

Su Xiaolu had already reached the stove and watched as Su Xiaoling opened the lid of the pot.

Su Xiaoling scooped a bowl of chicken and chicken soup for Su Xiaolu.

Su Xiaolu hugged Su Xiaoling’s waist and wheedled, “Ahwooh… Sis, I love you. You’re the best.”

Su Xiaoling said helplessly and dotingly, “Alright, alright, I know. Hurry up and bring it over to eat. Be careful not to burn yourself.”

Su Xiaolu nodded happily.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao could not help but laugh.

Such a scene was often seen. No matter how they looked at it, they could not get tired of it.

Zhou Heng was helping to start the fire. Su Xiaoling glanced at Zhou Heng and asked with a smile, “Little Brother Heng, do you want to eat some chicken and drink some chicken soup?”

Zhou Heng smiled warmly and shook his head. He said, “I’m not hungry now. You’ve been busy for a long time. Have some.”

“Seeing how Xiaolu is eating it, it should be delicious. If you eat with her, I think she’ll be happier, right, Xiaolu?”

Zhou Heng said to Su Xiaolu, who was sitting at a small table eating meat and drinking soup.

Su Xiaolu nodded. “Sis, come and eat with us.”

Madam Zhao had already brought a bowl over. Without any explanation, she got a bowl for Su Xiaoling and said, “Xiaoling, go eat. You’re almost done. Mother will do the rest.”

Su Xiaoling took the bowl and chopsticks and nodded. “Okay, thank you, mother.”

Su Xiaoling was not actually hungry, but she had an appetite when she saw Su Xiaolu eating happily.

She couldn’t eat so much, so she shared some of the meat in the bowl with Su Xiaolu. “Xiaolu, eat more.”

Su Xiaolu smiled and opened the bowl. She said, “I have enough. Sis, eat quickly.”

After eating the meat and drinking the soup, Su Xiaolu sat beside Zhou Heng to help start the fire.

Although it was called starting a fire, she was actually burying some chestnuts in the ashes.

When it was time to eat, Su Xiaolu also helped to serve the dishes.

This was their first year in town. The food was sumptuous, and the days at home were getting better.

As usual, Su Sanlang said some blessings and gave each child a fortune bag before starting dinner.

On New Year’s Eve, they naturally had to eat and drink well.

Even Su Xiaolu could drink some wine.

There was no need to mention Su Chong, Su Hua, and Zhou Heng.

After dinner, it was already dark.

Su Xiaolu realized that it was snowing.

Su Sanlang said happily, “This is great. It’s an auspicious snowy year.”

Su Xiaolu turned around to get a sword and started practicing in the courtyard.

Under her influence, Su Chong also went to take the sword. He said to Su Xiaolu, “Xiaolu, watch out. Here I come.”

The siblings were in high spirits.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao also watched quietly.

Su Hua said to Zhou Heng, “Little Brother Heng, let’s add some music to such a good scene.”

Zhou Heng nodded. “Alright, I’ll play the zither and you play the flute.”

Zhou Heng looked at Su Xiaoling and smiled. “Xiaoling, how about you paint?”

“Such beautiful scenery. Let’s save it in a painting.”

Zhou Heng smiled at Su Xiaoling, who nodded.

Su Hua and Zhou quickly brought over the zither, flute, and ink painting.

Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao looked at each other and smiled.

The pleasant sound of the zither and the sound of the flute combined with the sound of Su Xiaolu and Su Chong’s swords. Su Xiaoling sat quietly at the table and painted. Su Sanlang and Madam Zhao’s gazes were gentle as they remembered this beautiful scene. They would never forget it for the rest of their lives.

Unknowingly, their children had already become handsome young men and graceful young ladies.

Snowflakes danced in the air. The siblings who were in high spirits waved their swords, the couple who leaned on each other under the roof, the young men who played the flute and the zither, and finally, her own back view, painting at the table. The beautiful scenery at this moment was captured in this painting.