Eighteen, Along the River During the Qingming Festival

The woman was none other than Aunt Wang. She strode over to the three members of the Su family. "I heard your family is breaking off the engagement with Wang Luo?"

None of the Sus replied; they simply stared at her.

When Aunt Wang caught sight of the small cart in Su Chen's hands, she became visibly agitated. "Really now, what is your family thinking?" she exclaimed. "My nephew is tall and handsome, and he's even a teacher. It's a great honor for you to be engaged to him. What right do you have to break it off?"

Su Wan rolled her eyes. "We are breaking it off, so what can you do about it?"

"I recall you've taken quite a few things from our family, Aunt Wang," she continued. "Since we've run into each other today and have nothing else to do, why don't we pay your place a visit?"

Aunt Wang flushed scarlet at that. "I'm not the kind who takes advantage, am I? If you want your things back, I'll return them, no need to fuss."

Su Wan nodded. "Exactly. I know you’re always fair, Aunt Wang. Come on, let's go."

"But… you silly girl... I... I’m busy right now!" Aunt Wang stammered, clearly trying to wriggle out of it.

Su Wan walked over and linked her arm through Aunt Wang’s. "What are you busy with, Aunt Wang? Let me help."

Aunt Wang gave a forced laugh. "No need, I’m just heading to the fields. I wouldn't want you getting sunburned."

Su Wan glanced at Aunt Wang’s shoes and grinned. "You’re wearing new leather shoes to work in the fields, Aunt Wang?"

Aunt Wang froze. She’d dressed up to visit Wang Luo’s family and stop the engagement from being broken, thinking looking sharp would give her authority. But she hadn’t expected the Sus to act so quickly. Those leather shoes were her only pair, cherished and kept in her cupboard for two years—she would never wear them for fieldwork.

Su Wan was still pulling her forward, but Aunt Wang forced a sigh. "Oh, I couldn’t possibly let you help with work. If you’re so keen on your things, why don’t we head back to my place first?"

Their homes weren’t far apart. Su Chen quickly unloaded the cart at home and then hurried after Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang was a meticulous woman; her house was spotless, and she took care of anything borrowed from the Sus as if it were her own.

Su Wan and Su Chen rummaged around, eventually gathering up all their things, only to find the iron shovel missing.

Aunt Wang’s face turned ashen, though she still managed a strained smile. "I don’t know where it’s gone. Why don’t you come back another day and look for it?"

But Su Wan could easily tell she had no intention of returning it. In a few days, it would be time to dig up the sweet potatoes, and the Wang family had no shovels of their own—they were relying on the Sus’.

Su Wan wasn’t the sort to make things difficult. She flashed a sly smile. "Oh, just a shovel. We have plenty at home."

"That’s wonderful! I’ll return it once I find it," Aunt Wang replied ingratiatingly.

"No need for that, Aunt," Su Wan said. "Consider it a gift. But your cucumbers look delicious—I’ve been craving some."

A flicker of resentment flashed in Aunt Wang’s eyes. "Just cucumbers. If you want them, pick them," she muttered.

Su Wan’s eyes lit up. "That’s great! Su Chen, come pick some cucumbers!"

Aunt Wang looked at the siblings with a forced, stiff smile. Did they really need to make such a fuss over mere cucumbers?

Su Wan happily picked a large pile, but as they were about to leave, she suddenly hesitated. "Oh, I think I’ve picked too many. I can’t carry them all."

She glanced around the yard, her eyes settling on the curtain hanging in the main room. "Aunt Wang, your door curtain is just perfect for holding cucumbers. Why not be generous and let me have it?"

Aunt Wang’s mocking expression froze. "Oh, but I need that curtain to keep the flies out!"

Su Wan’s face fell instantly. "I was even thinking of asking for a piece of your land after the harvest. But you won’t even give me a piece of old cloth."

That made Aunt Wang nervous. It was just an old curtain, pieced together from scraps of unwanted fabric. If Su Wan wanted it, she could have it—the land she’d just sown with corn couldn’t be given away.

"Oh, you," Aunt Wang said, hurrying to pull down the curtain. "If you really want it, take it!"

Su Wan’s smile returned. She bundled up the cucumbers in the curtain and headed for home.

Trailing behind, Su Chen was confused. "Sis, you don’t even like cucumbers. And we have plenty at home."

Su Wan glanced around to make sure no one was listening and said, "It's not the cucumbers I wanted, but the cloth."

She dumped the cucumbers in the cart and spread the curtain out. "Notice anything odd?"

Su Chen looked closely. "Everywhere else is pilled except this patch in the middle."

Su Wan chuckled. "Even you can spot it. Aunt Wang used it every day and still didn’t recognize its value."

"What value?" Su Chen was puzzled. "It’s just a dirty old rag."

Su Wan carefully folded the cloth. "Didn’t you notice the embroidery? It’s just like the Su embroidery Wang Luo’s family used for the engagement."

"This cloth is fine cotton, and the pattern is clearly the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival!"

Su Chen didn’t understand a word, but seeing how happy she was, he grinned foolishly along.

Back home, Su Wan carefully examined the stitching. The embroidery had been folded up and patched together, but if she took it apart, it would be nearly two meters long.

She fetched scissors and gently snipped away the threads. Fortunately, the embroidery was intact.

She soaked it in warm water, added some soap, and washed it little by little. Aunt Wang had always kept things clean; the curtain was only dusty after all those years.

After just one wash, the embroidery was as bright as new.

She remembered that in the 1980s, a cross-stitch of the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival could sell for thousands.

Her Su embroidery might be worth an apartment in the city!

She had to plan carefully and find the right buyer to get a good price.

Happily, Su Wan hung the embroidery out to dry, then went downstairs to cook with Su Chen.

Su Chen, a chubby boy, loved fatty meat and would always add lots of it—and salt—when stir-frying. This meant that Su Wan had to eat a lot of rice to balance the flavors.

But now she was determined to lose weight, so Su Chen’s bad habits had to go.

By the time she entered the kitchen, Su Chen had already washed the vegetables. Su Wan absentmindedly bit into a cucumber. "What are you making today?"

Su Chen, busy peeling potatoes, answered without looking up. "Beef stew with potatoes."

"Where’s the beef?" Su Wan asked.

Su Chen gestured without looking, continuing to peel. Su Wan followed his gesture and, as expected, saw only fatty pork.

"Is there nothing leaner?" she sighed.

Su Chen looked up crossly. "Why so many demands? If you want something else, cook it yourself!"

Su Wan couldn’t help but admonish him, seeing how easily irritated he was for someone so young. "Children need to learn to take advice. Dishes with too much fat and salt aren’t good for your health. Older people can get high blood pressure and cholesterol; young people and kids just get fat."

"And these sprouted potatoes are toxic—you shouldn’t eat them."

Su Chen rolled his eyes. "We’ve eaten them for years and nothing’s happened. Are you going to get poisoned from just one meal?"

Before Su Wan could argue further, a voice suddenly called from the courtyard—it sounded like the old doctor from the clinic.

"Chubby girl, chubby girl, are you there? Jiang Mochen has fainted!"