Although reluctant, Mrs. An's mother-in-law had spoken.
Mrs. Zhang still dared not refuse any further.
Don't be fooled by Mrs. An's usual amiable and easygoing manner; when she got serious, she was still somewhat intimidating.
Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Han were still somewhat wary of Mrs. An's mother-in-law.
Grumbling and complaining, Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Han still went out to cook porridge for Su Yunjin together.
Su Yunjin stealthily glanced at Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Han, who were off to cook the porridge.
A sneer played at the bottom of her heart.
Thinking these two could scheme against her?
They failed to trip her up, but instead, they ended up being outwitted themselves.
Turning around, Mrs. An then told Su Yunjin to rest well, "Youngest daughter-in-law, you're frail; lie down for a while longer. Yaya has gone to get your medicine; once you take it, you'll be just fine."
Su Yunjin looked at Mrs. An and nodded, "Mother, then I'll sleep a little longer."
After Mrs. An left, Su Yunjin didn't sleep. Staring at the ceiling, smelling the damp, musty scent in the room intermixed with a strong medicinal aroma, how could Su Yunjin possibly feel sleepy?
Looking down at the bedsheets and quilt cover on the bed, both had been washed to a nearly white color, especially the sheets, which clearly had been used for a long time.
On top of the quilt, Su Yunjin saw a dark yellow stain and noticed similar stains on the pillowcase and sheets.
It was evident to Su Yunjin that the medicinal smell was emanating from those stains.
Previously, while she was unconscious, Gu Ya had forced her to take some decoctions a few times, which caused the stains on the quilt and pillow.
With the strong smell of medicine, Su Yunjin couldn't possibly sleep.
Su Yunjin wanted to change the sheets and quilt cover, but after searching around, she found almost everything in the room was old; there wasn't a single new piece of clothing or bedding, except for two sets of bright red garments that were somewhat newer.
Su Yunjin recognized the bright red wedding robe; it was what she wore on the day she married Gu Ya, and afterwards, it had been put away.
Putting the wedding attire back, Su Yunjin hadn't yet managed to return to bed when Mrs. Zhang's voice came from outside, "Oh, third brother's wife, you can get up on your own?"
Mrs. Zhang looked at Su Yunjin through gritted teeth, feeling like Su Yunjin had been faking it in front of their mother-in-law, Mrs. An. If Su Yunjin was truly weak, how could she be up and about now?
Su Yunjin turned to look at Mrs. Zhang, not getting angry but instead smiling, "Sister-in-law, is the porridge ready?"
Mentioning the porridge made for Su Yunjin just made Mrs. Zhang angrier. She roughly set the porridge on the table, then turned and walked away with a darkened face, "Here, drink it, but don't expect me to come and take care of you again."
The porridge on the table was steaming hot, and Su Yunjin paid no mind to Mrs. Zhang, simply sitting down and starting to eat with a spoon.
The scalding hot porridge, with its distinctive ancient rice flavor, slid smoothly and fragrantly into the mouth.
Su Yunjin had thought that the Gu Family always ate this kind of rice, but after she recovered and began eating with everyone else, she realized that the Su Family usually ate coarse rice, the kind that was hard and grainy.
The white rice she had the first time was something the Gu Family only had on special occasions, like festivals.
Last time, because she had just awakened from unconsciousness and was weak, Mrs. An had specially instructed for white rice porridge to be made for Su Yunjin.
One bowl of white rice porridge warmed Su Yunjin head to toe, causing her to break out in a sweat and suddenly feel much refreshed and stronger, not as weak and listless as before. After finishing the comforting meal and setting down her spoon, she saw Gu Ya returning.
Gu Ya leaned on a crutch, holding two oil-paper-wrapped, straw-tied bundles in his hand.
Bulging and not light at all.
"Yunjin, why are you up?"