Chapter Sixty-Nine: Mutual Assistance

After her midday nap, Su Wan-ning waited mysteriously by Sui Sui’s bedside, watching the little one so intently that he furrowed his brows.

“Sui Sui, you’re awake? Are you thirsty? Would you like some of the fruit tea you made?”

Despite her unusual attentiveness, her son showed no sign of a good mood. Sui Sui sat up by himself, slipped into his shoes, and replied succinctly, “No.”

“Mommy! I want some!”

Nian Nian, the little angel, came running over at that moment, giving her mother face.

Su Wan-ning smiled with relief. “Then go have some with your sister. Go get it from the kitchen.”

Hearing this, Sui Sui glanced up at her, his gaze a little odd. Still, he took Nian Nian with him and walked out to the kitchen.

“Wow!”

Soon, Nian Nian’s delighted exclamation rang out from outside.

The effect was achieved. Satisfied, Su Wan-ning curled her lips into a smile before finally rising and strolling leisurely out of the room.

On the table outside sat a large plate holding a cream cake.

This was made from ingredients Su Wan-ning had especially requested from the old herbalist, and she baked it herself during her lunch break. Though the rural conditions were far from those of stylish cake shops in the city, such a treat was rare in this environment.

As the camera zoomed in, the cake looked so sweet and inviting that the viewers in the live stream found their appetites whetted.

“Mommy, is it someone’s birthday today?” Nian Nian stayed by the cake but, well-behaved, didn’t touch it, instead asking her.

“No, this cake is a reward for your brother and you.”

“A reward? For what?”

Nian Nian’s little face was filled with confusion.

Su Wan-ning reached out to pinch her daughter’s soft, tender cheek.

“Because if it hadn’t been for you yesterday, Mommy wouldn’t have found Longxi so quickly, and the task wouldn’t have been completed. So I have to thank you.”

Nian Nian nodded in understanding. “I’m awesome, aren’t I?”

Her little face shone with pride and self-satisfaction.

“Of course. How could my daughter not be amazing?”

Mother and daughter both claimed glory for themselves, and even Sui Sui, standing to the side, couldn’t help but show a faint smile.

“Oh, right, Mom. Then why does brother get a reward?”

Su Wan-ning looked at Sui Sui, their eyes meeting. Sui Sui blinked his big, sparkling eyes in surprise.

“Because your brother was wonderful, too. He protected you, and he protected Mommy.”

In the end, Sui Sui and Nian Nian decided to bring out the cake and share it with everyone. That night, every child received a slice of sweet, fragrant cake.

At the dinner table, the children praised Su Wan-ning’s baking skills endlessly, while the other three guests sat on the side, each harboring their own thoughts.

No one had expected Su Wan-ning to actually produce a refrigerator and a color TV. The next day, the wedding officially began. At dawn, the village was already bustling, firecrackers exploding, red decorations hung everywhere, joy filling the air.

Yu Xin took on the role of host, narrating the old couple’s love story before the camera.

“Everyone sees how Grandpa Feng and Grandma Feng have supported each other all these years, but no one knows that, back then, Grandpa Feng waited alone for eight years for Grandma Feng to marry him.”

Yu Xin spoke slowly, “In those days, communication wasn’t easy, travel was slow, and letters took a long time. People loved only one person in their whole lives. Grandma Feng was a famous local heiress, while Grandpa Feng was just a poor carpenter. Because of the disparity, her father never agreed to their marriage.”

The screen filled with comments from viewers moved by this touching love story.

Yu Xin paused before continuing with the script.

“Back then, Grandma Feng’s father set a condition: if Grandpa Feng could bring a refrigerator and a color TV as a bride price, he would allow the marriage. So, Grandpa Feng toiled for eight years to save enough for them, and only then did he finally win his bride.”

Now elderly, Grandpa Feng and Grandma Feng stood before the camera in red traditional wedding attire. Time had left its marks on their faces, but the love in their bright, tear-filled eyes remained undimmed as they gazed at each other.

Below, Feng Rui wiped away tears, while Mingming rolled his eyes. “What are you crying for? My dad can buy loads of fridges and TVs—he could definitely marry you!”

A young boy, ignorant of the hardships of life, spoke lightly.

Feng Rui snorted inwardly but said nothing.

Elsewhere, Yin Shanshan seized the moment to educate Yangyang. “This is why it’s important to study hard. Only by becoming strong yourself can you escape the constraints of the world. Do you understand?”

Yangyang nodded, half-understanding, and the tears stirred by the atmosphere quickly vanished.

Next came the gift-giving segment. Su Wan-ning stepped forward with the refrigerator and color TV. Grandma Feng grasped her hand, trembling with excitement.

“You’ve worked so hard, child. Thank you so much…”

The old couple had used those appliances for many years, repairing them time and again, reluctant to throw them out even when they finally stopped working.

Grandpa Feng was so moved he could barely speak. “Good child, you’re a good child… I wish you happiness. Where’s your husband?”

Su Wan-ning smiled gently. “Don’t worry, Grandpa Feng. He’s not here today, but he’s a wonderful person. We’ll be happy.”

She understood the old couple’s intentions and, with a few words, had them both beaming with joy.

The wedding proceeded as planned, and that day, Su Wan-ning was the center of attention, leaving the other three guests with varying degrees of resentment.

But Su Wan-ning had no intention of hiding her brilliance.

The ceremony concluded with the couple bowing to heaven and earth, and finally the rites were complete. After changing out of their wedding clothes, Wang Zan explained on their behalf, “Before the wedding, Grandpa and Grandma Feng said they would give a mysterious special gift to the team whose present they liked most.”

Everyone’s curiosity was piqued, but it was without question that the most favored gift went to Su Wan-ning.

Grandpa Feng came up to her personally and handed her a tightly held piece of paper.

Su Wan-ning was puzzled. “Grandpa Feng, what is this?”

Grandma Feng explained, “This is our family’s pineapple field. We’ve decided to give it to you as a gift. The pineapples are ripe now, and they’re all yours!”

Su Wan-ning had not expected such a gift from Grandpa and Grandma Feng.

Holding the hand-drawn map to the pineapple field, Su Wan-ning could only laugh and cry. She glanced around at the others, a thought flashing in her mind.

“With such a big pineapple field, how could I keep it all to myself? Let’s make it a gift for all four families, shall we? We’ll share it together. This afternoon, let’s go harvest pineapples!”

Saying this in front of the camera, the others could only smile and agree, even if they were reluctant inside.