Chapter 46: Bad Luck and Ramyeon

Su Yue had squatted and washed all afternoon, leaving her so exhausted that when she returned to the room, she collapsed on the bed and could hardly get up.

Han Aiguo came in with a bucket of hot water and saw her lying there lazily. Warmth spread in his chest. He had never imagined that his room could feel so warm and alive after having her in it.

He walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently caressed her cheek with his thumb.
“Tired?” he asked softly.

Su Yue gave a lazy hum in response, rubbing her hands on her sore lower back.

Seeing this, Han Aiguo placed his broad palm against her waist and gently massaged her. The relief was so comfortable that Su Yue nearly drifted off to sleep.

When he noticed her eyelids fluttering shut, Han Aiguo quickly said, “I boiled hot water for you. Do you want to take a bath before bed?”

Su Yue’s eyes opened immediately, and she replied without hesitation, “Yes!”

Winter was bitterly cold, and at this time there was no air conditioning or heating. Hot water required burning a great deal of firewood, so most people avoided bathing during the winter altogether. They usually washed only their faces and feet, waiting until the weather turned warmer to scrub themselves clean. By then, a single towel rub could peel off layers of dirt.

Everyone else thought it was normal, but Su Yue simply couldn’t stand it. She insisted on taking a full bath every three days and wiped herself down on the other days. Even her friends, like Li Xiaoqing, thought she was overly obsessed with cleanliness.

Having worked hard all afternoon, and now covered in dirt and sweat, Su Yue was more than ready to wash.

Han Aiguo knew her habits well. Even though he had never lived with her before, he had long noticed her love of cleanliness as she washed her hair every two days, even in the dead of winter. He had expected that she would want to bathe frequently as well. To him, it wasn’t troublesome at all. Better clean than sloppy. If it meant boiling more water, then so be it.

“I already boiled hot water, but it will get cold if you wait too long. I’ll hang up the bath tent for you,” he said, pulling out a bath tent he had asked someone to get for her. He hung it from the roof beam, arranged it neatly around the tub, and poured in the steaming water.

The bath tent was designed especially for winter bathing. It enclosed the tub, keeping the steam trapped inside so that the bather stayed warm.

Su Yue’s eyes lit up with delight. She ran over, tugged at the tent, and looked it over with excitement. One of the hardest things for her since arriving here was enduring winter baths as they had always been sheer torture, leaving her shivering to the bone. If only she had known such a tent existed earlier, she would have done anything to get one.

When she peeked inside and saw the half-person-high wooden tub set within, her joy grew. It was practically like having a real bathtub.

“Where did this come from?” she exclaimed in surprise.

“I made it for you,” Han Aiguo replied simply.

Su Yue blinked her big eyes at him. “You know carpentry?”

The admiration in her gaze made his heart swell. For the first time, he felt that knowing a bit of carpentry was indeed a very good thing.

“I learned from the carpenter in the village before I joined the army,” he explained, clearing his throat. “What I make isn’t great, but it works.”

Su Yue couldn’t contain herself. She threw her arms around him, stood on tiptoe, and planted a kiss on his cheek. Then she beamed and said sweetly, “That’s a gift! Thank you, I love you~”

Han Aiguo froze, stunned by her kiss and those three words. His heart thundered in his chest, and in the next instant his eyes burned with an intensity that made even the thick-skinned Su Yue flustered.

Noticing his gaze grow hotter and hotter, Su Yue felt the situation slipping out of control. She quickly wriggled out of his embrace and pushed him toward the door.
“I’m going to bath. You, go, go!”

Han Aiguo’s throat tightened. He asked tentatively, “Can’t I stay in the room?”

“…No! Go!” Su Yue insisted firmly.

At last she managed to shove him out and slam the door. On the other side, Han Aiguo sighed, disappointed but resigned. He realized she truly would not let him stay. So, he went to the utility room in the backyard to wash up himself.

When he returned, the door was still closed. Knowing Su Yue hadn’t finished, he quietly stationed himself outside the window like a guard. Thankfully, the rest of the Han family had already gone to bed, or else they would have laughed at him for staring so longingly at the room.

After waiting nearly half an hour, the door finally creaked open. Han Aiguo stepped in immediately and was stunned by the sight. Su Yue’s cheeks glowed rosy from the hot bath, her eyes glistened with moisture, and her entire being radiated fresh, irresistible allure.

Something inside him snapped. Desire, long restrained, surged uncontrollably through him. He forced himself to take a deep breath, carried the tub outside to dump the water, then returned to see Su Yue already lying in bed. His gaze darkened.

He extinguished the kerosene lamp, and the room plunged into shadow, with only faint moonlight filtering through the window. The quilt on the bed rose and fell softly, betraying her nervousness.

Underneath, Su Yue lay stiff and tense. Though she had read about such things and even watched some educational videos, this was still her first real experience. At that moment, she felt like a lamb awaiting slaughter.

She reassured herself that Han Aiguo must be inexperienced too as this era had little information, no phones, no internet. He couldn’t possibly know more than her. But what if he didn’t know what to do? Should she guide him? Should she pretend to be innocent?

While her mind tangled in anxious thoughts, the quilt suddenly shifted. Han Aiguo slipped beneath it, stripped off his clothes, and pulled her close like a hungry wolf.

After that, Su Yue had no more time to think about lessons or guidance.

—-

The next morning, Su Yue woke in a daze, her first thought being: I was too naive. I really didn’t understand men at all.

She had foolishly worried about whether to teach him last night, but clearly he had needed no instruction. Instead, she felt as though she had nearly lost half her life. No wonder people say men are self-taught.

Clutching her aching waist, she looked to the side of the bed and saw Han Aiguo was long gone. Outside, she could faintly hear children laughing and playing.

She glanced at her watch and nearly jumped. It was already half past ten!

God, she had slept that late.

Hurriedly, she dressed and rushed out despite the lingering soreness in her body. The moment she stepped from the room, she collided into a broad chest, and strong arms immediately wrapped around her waist.

“You’re awake? Hungry?” Han Aiguo asked.

Su Yue glared at him. It was entirely his fault she had overslept. Now, if Old Lady Han saw her getting up so late, wouldn’t it be awkward?

Instead of feeling guilty, Han Aiguo chuckled, stroked her cheek, and said, “There’s porridge and pancakes in the pot. Go wash up and eat.”

She could only huff, push him aside, and head to the yard to wash.

As she splashed water on her face, Han Aiguo added, “I’ll go help build the house for Second Brother and Third Brother’s families. I’ll come back at noon for lunch.”

Su Yue gave a small hum of acknowledgment. Once he left, she steeled herself and entered the kitchen.

Old Lady Han was there kneading dough. When she saw Su Yue, her expression didn’t change as she simply smiled warmly and said, “Come eat, it’s still hot.”

Feeling self-conscious, Su Yue greeted her with a soft, “Mother,” then busied herself pretending everything was normal. She fetched a bowl and chopsticks, filled a bowl with porridge, grabbed two pancakes, and sat obediently at the small table. She kept her eyes down, not daring to meet Old Lady Han’s gaze.

But Old Lady Han, her hands busy with dough, couldn’t help glancing at her daughter-in-law now and then, her face filled with quiet joy.

Su Yue swallowed a mouthful of porridge and was forced to look up at the old lady. She asked awkwardly, “Mother, why are you looking at me? Is there something on my face.”

The old lady laughed softly. “Mother is just happy. Ah, Aiguo has finally married you into our family. I was so happy I even dreamed of your father last night. He was smiling too, and he said he felt relieved knowing Aiguo had you by his side. Now, even if Mother leaves this world one day, I’ll have no regrets.”

Su Yue hurriedly sighed. “Mother, don’t say such things. You’ll live a long, long life.”

Old Lady Han chuckled. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop talking like that. Mother is just too happy. I never thought Aiguo would be so fortunate as to marry you. It feels like all the luck he lacked for thirty years was spent on finding a wife.”

Su Yue smiled shyly. “Mother, don’t exaggerate like that. You’re going to make me embarrassed.”

But Old Lady Han shook her head firmly. “I’m not exaggerating. What I said is the truth. You don’t know how unlucky Aiguo has been since he was a child. I even went so far as to secretly ask someone to tell his fortune back then. The gentleman looked at his fate and told me that his life would be full of twists and hardships, plagued by bad luck. That prediction made me so sad…”

Su Yue’s heart skipped a beat. The system had also said that Han Aiguo’s fate was full of misfortune, that his path in life would be rocky and dangerous. Could this fortune teller have really seen something real? Or had it been nothing more than luck in guessing?

“Mother, what else did the fortune teller say?” she asked carefully.

“The fortune teller said Aiguo’s fate couldn’t be changed by himself,” Old Lady Han explained. “He said only when the one destined for him appeared could his life turn around.” She looked at Su Yue then, her eyes bright with certainty. “Before, I didn’t know what to think. But now that Aiguo has found you, I believe that fortune teller was right. You are Aiguo’s lucky star. The moment you appeared, his leg healed without a problem.”

Su Yue’s heart trembled. Did this fortune teller really have such ability? How else could he have predicted that only someone destined for Han Aiguo could change his fate?

That person was her.

Curiosity welled up in her heart, and she leaned closer. “Mother, please tell me more. What exactly happened to Aiguo before?”

Grateful to finally have someone to share her worries with, Old Lady Han began to recount everything in detail.

“You can’t imagine how much I’ve worried about that boy over the years. Out of my four children, he’s the one who made me lose the most sleep. Since he was young, his luck has always been terrible and things just kept going wrong. For example, one year it rained nonstop for a whole month. The river swelled until it nearly reached the bridge. One day, Aiguo and a few boys crossed the wooden bridge. Everyone else made it safely across, but when it was his turn, the bridge suddenly collapsed, and he fell straight into the river. The water was so deep he disappeared the moment he went under.”

Su Yue’s chest tightened. “What happened then?”

“Luckily, he knew how to swim. He was strong too, because he’d helped with work since he was little. He managed to stay afloat, swimming with all his strength until he reached the riverbank. But the moment he climbed up, he fainted from exhaustion. When he came home, he burned with fever so high I thought I would lose him. I ran everywhere looking for doctors. By Heaven’s mercy, he pulled through in the end.”

Su Yue thought silently, Too unlucky. No wonder the system said his life was hanging by a thread. He really has been surrounded by danger since childhood.

Old Lady Han sighed heavily. “Incidents like that happened so many times that I lost count. But somehow, he grew up safe in the end. Later, when he joined the army, I couldn’t see him anymore. I worried every day that he’d be injured or worse. He always reported good news and never bad, but what mother doesn’t know her child? I could tell by the scars when he came home, some so deep, I shudder to imagine how badly he must have been hurt at the time.”

Her eyes grew red as she continued, voice trembling. “And then this last time… his leg. The injury was so serious that even the biggest hospitals couldn’t cure it. The doctors gave up, and I thought he’d be crippled for life. But somehow, it was healed. I can’t even describe how happy I was.”

Su Yue gently patted the old lady’s shoulder. “Mother, don’t worry. Didn’t you just say I’m his lucky star? From now on, as long as I’m here, nothing will happen to him.”

Old Lady Han wiped her eyes and smiled again, warmth returning to her face. “Yes. With you, mother doesn’t worry anymore. I truly believe you’re the person that fortune teller spoke of. With you by his side, Aiguo will be safe.”

The two chatted until it was nearly eleven. Then Old Lady Han remembered the time. “I should start preparing lunch. Do you have anything you’d like to eat? What should we make today?”

Su Yue recalled the bones from yesterday. “Mother, are there still pig bones left?”

Old Lady Han nodded. “Yes, but all the meat was picked clean. There’s nothing edible left on them.”

Su Yue smiled. “That’s fine. Bones make the best soup base. Let’s have ramen for lunch.”

“Ramen?” Old Lady Han had never eaten it before, but she trusted Su Yue’s cooking. Everything Su Yue made was delicious. Delighted, she nodded. “Alright, then mother will rest at noon and leave lunch to you.”

“No problem. Leave the cooking to me from now on.”

Su Yue tossed the bones into the pot to simmer into broth, then scrubbed down the small table before kneading dough on it. Once finished, she brushed it with oil and left it to rest for half an hour. While the dough sat, she prepared the seasonings and went to the vegetable garden to pick garlic sprouts, cabbage, and radishes. After washing and cutting them, she returned just as the dough was ready.

She rolled it into strips, then pulled one end with both hands, stretching and bouncing it up and down. Each snap against the table split one noodle into two, then four, until her hands were filled with thinner and thinner strands. To Old Lady Han, it looked like the noodles were about to snap at any second, and her heart ached just watching.

But her worry was unnecessary. In Su Yue’s hands, the noodles seemed alive. They flew up and down with a rhythm so steady that they blurred into afterimages.

Old Lady Han stared in wonder, feeling like she was watching a magic performance.

Once the noodles were ready, Su Yue dropped them into the pot, cooking them until tender. She added the vegetables and seasonings to the bone broth, and soon the kitchen was filled with an intoxicating fragrance.

Old Lady Han leaned over the pot and inhaled deeply. “Oh my, these noodles… Why do they smell so good? It’s making me hungry already.”

Just as she finished speaking, two children burst into the kitchen. Xiaolei and Maomao came running in, sniffing the air like little puppies. “We’re hungry! What are you cooking? Give us some!” they shouted.

Old Lady Han frowned. “If you’re hungry, go to your mother. Why are you always coming to me?”

Xiaolei’s face and hands were smeared with mud. Without even washing, he tried climbing up to the pot, reaching for the food. “My mother made steamed buns. I don’t like those. I want what’s in your pot!”

Seeing the mud on his hands, Old Lady Han grew furious. She slapped him on the backside. “Look at you, filthy as a pig! If you put those dirty hands in the pot, will anyone else be able to eat? Go back to your mother and wash up!”

But Xiaolei refused to leave. He pouted and shouted, “Grandma, you’re stingy! You don’t want to give us anything good to eat. You’re mean!”

The old lady’s face darkened. She pulled him away from the stove. “Who taught you to say that? I’ve given you all the best things over the years, and now you dare call me stingy? Fine! From now on, I won’t give you a single bite. Go back to your mother!”

Xiaolei clung to the stove, bawling loudly. “You’re stingy! You’re a bad grandma!”

Seeing his brother cry, Maomao thought that must be the way to get food. He immediately opened his mouth and wailed even louder.

Old Lady Han’s face turned thunderous.

Su Yue, drawn by the racket, finally came over. She was stunned. How had she not noticed before how utterly spoiled and unruly these two children were?