Chapter 30: Sweetheart Is Truly Clever

Deep into the silent night.

The little courtyard of the Su family was tightly shut; even the main hall door was closed firmly. Worried that light might leak through the cracks, the family had hung thick cloth curtains to seal them completely.

Inside, a small fire burned low, casting a faint glow.

All the children had long since fallen asleep.

The adults of the Su family sat in a circle, staring blankly at the items before them.

During the day, they had been too excited and anxious, hastily hiding the items without a proper look.

Now, in the quiet of night, away from prying eyes and ears, they carefully laid the treasures out again, reliving the thrilling rush they had felt earlier.

First, there was the ginseng root—about as long as an adult's forearm, with countless fine root hairs covered in tiny pearls, still clinging to fresh earth as if just pulled from the ground.

Then, the lotus flower, the size of a fist, with jade-white petals so thin they were nearly translucent. Wrapped around a purple stamen, it bloomed in pristine purity, so exquisite that no one dared touch it.

There was also a scarlet lingzhi mushroom, its color vivid and bright. Though not large, it was surprisingly heavy.

Even though they had seen these once before that day, Old Su and the others could hardly contain their breathless excitement. The women, like Liu Yuelan, were even more overwhelmed.

“In all my life, this is the first time I’ve seen ginseng and lingzhi with my own eyes… so this is what they look like…” Su Xiuer murmured, dazed.

He Da Xiang said, “If we sold these, wouldn’t we have enough silver to live comfortably for the rest of our lives?”

Liu Yuelan was less optimistic. “Who could we possibly sell them to? We can’t enter Biancheng, and we dare not go to Fengyun City. Besides, once these things are out, it’s like flashing silver to bandits. Our whole family would be in danger.”

Old Mrs. Su nodded in agreement, pondering, “We definitely have to sell them. We don’t know how to preserve these things ourselves, and if they spoil, it’ll be a true waste. But we must find a way to sell them carefully, not recklessly.”

Their family desperately needed a sum of silver to get through this hardship.

Not to mention other things—food, for instance.

Though none had gone hungry recently, they hadn’t eaten a proper meal with meat or fish in almost two months. No rice or flour had passed their lips, which was hardly a good sign.

The adults sat in the main hall, torn between joy and worry, completely unaware that the little infant in the bedroom had overheard every word.

Sweet Bao sat beside the small space field, resting her chin in her tiny hands, gazing at the vast patch of flowers and grasses before her.

To her, these things were just vegetables. Now she realized they could be exchanged for a great many silver coins.

But even so, it was useless. Looking at Grandpa and Grandma, and Father and Mother—they were so worried they couldn’t sleep.

What good were ginseng, lingzhi, and white lotus compared to a few big radishes?

Sweet Bao pouted, her little brows furrowed, wondering how she might help Grandpa and Grandma.

As the night deepened,

The adults in the hall, unable to devise a solution, reluctantly set the problem aside and retired to their rooms.

Sweet Bao left the space, ate her ration, then, comforted by her mother’s scent, peacefully fell asleep.

***

It was unclear how long she had slept when faint noises stirred her from a haze.

“Big brother, why are you dragging me here? Sneaking around like thieves?” came the voice of Su Er.

Sweet Bao’s eyelids twitched as she discerned the direction—somewhere near the kitchen corner.

Soon, her father’s voice floated over: “Second brother, I’m planning to go to Fengyun City myself, to see what’s truly going on there—”

Before he could finish, Su Er interrupted sharply, “Are you crazy?! Do you even know what Fengyun City is? It’s not a place for us!”

“We can’t just stay home and wait to die! Besides, I’m only going for a look around. No matter how dangerous Fengyun City is, people inside can’t just kill anyone on sight—otherwise, who would dare trade there?”

“...Fine, if you’re going, I’ll come with you. Brothers face the dragon’s den together! Hey! Why’d you hit me?”

“Shut up and stay home! Besides those herbs Sweet Bao pulled out, there are plenty of tree seedlings. I recognize several as fruit trees. You and Mom can think about it—we want to farm, right? If we don’t have grain seeds, planting fruit trees will do! It’s settled!”

Sweet Bao heard no more as the voices drifted away. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked out the window.

Through the gaps in the thorn-made curtain, a faint light filtered in—the sky was gray, not yet dawn.

She turned again to the young woman beside her, still fast asleep. In the dim light, her face looked gentle and refined, her features delicate and elegant, but her brow was furrowed—worry shadowed her even in sleep.

Sweet Bao reached out to smooth the crease between her mother’s brows.

Startled, the woman gently caught the small hand and tucked it under the blanket, eyes never opening. “Sweet Bao, be good, go back to sleep. Mother is here…”

With that soft whisper, she returned to slumber.

Only then did Sweet Bao notice the faint blue shadows of fatigue beneath her mother’s eyes.

A soft sound at the door, and a tall man entered, taking care not to disturb those sleeping.

By the bedside, Su Da’s gaze fell upon his wife’s face, a mixture of tenderness, reluctance, and guilt.

As he turned to leave, his eyes met those of a certain celestial being—his daughter staring straight at him.

The child’s eyes were wide, clear, and steady.

Su Da felt suddenly guilty, as if caught in the act of some misdeed.

But the feeling lasted only a moment before he relaxed again.

His daughter was only four months old, just sprouted two tiny teeth, and could not yet speak—what was there to be nervous about?

With that thought, his eyes softened. Leaning over his wife, he gently kissed the sleeping baby’s cheek and whispered, “Sweet Bao, be good. When Father finishes his work, I’ll come back and play with you.”

He rose quietly.

But it was no use.

The little hand clutched his coat collar.

He tried to pry it loose but couldn’t, and dared not pull too hard, fearing to hurt the tiny fingers.

“Sweet Bao, let go, Father has to work!”

But Sweet Bao would not let go.

Work? That was a lie to a baby.

She opened her little mouth, shaping words silently.

“I.”

“Go.”

Su Da blinked, “...What?”

“Take me with you.” Sweet Bao’s dark eyes sparkled brightly. No matter that she couldn’t speak yet—she could mouth words!

Sweet Bao was truly clever!

Su Da squinted, wondering if he were seeing things—then he noticed another hand, idle by her side. A small purple flower suddenly blossomed in her palm.

He blinked again, and the flower vanished from her hand.

Another blink, and it reappeared.

If he didn’t know this was his beloved daughter, Su Da might have thought he was hallucinating.

To produce something out of thin air was one thing.

But to control it at will?

Child, you owe your father big time for his courage.

Sweet Bao moved her mouth again, silently mouthing the same three words: “Take me with you.”

At the same time, her little hand patted her chest.

Su Da understood—the gesture learned from her older siblings meant, “I’m capable.”

In the dim dawn light, the Su family’s courtyard gate opened quietly.

The tall figure of a man stepped out, straps wound around his body, cradling his little one in his arms.

Under the desolate gaze of Su Er watching them leave, they vanished beyond the courtyard.

A father’s first encounter with his daughter ended in a complete defeat.