After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter

After hearing this, Su Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud, her laughter like a breeze in the mountains, tinged with a hint of teasing and a touch of pity, "This is too coincidental, it seems our fates really are deeply intertwined— we are not a family, but we share the same doorstep."

This casual jest landed like a stone thrown into Jiang Ziling's tranquil heart-lake, stirring ripples upon ripples.

How wonderful it would be if we could really become a family, to spend the rest of our days with Su Yu and Xixi... Jiang Ziling quickly shook his head, interrupting his impractical daydreams, a flush of embarrassment coloring his face.

Su Yu didn't notice the turmoil in Jiang Ziling's heart, and she kept asking, "That's strange, why would you plant sweet potatoes so far away? Aren't you afraid that someone might stumble upon them like I did and dig them all up?"

Jiang Ziling looked toward the distance, his eyes betraying a deep sense of helplessness, "I've been planting on the sweet potato hillside for several years and it's never been discovered. That place is remote and desolate, rarely visited by humans, and even wild animals seldom venture there. I originally thought it would be a secret base for me and Xixi, but today, you accidentally found it."

"Really?"

Su Yu's eyes widened with curiosity, finding it hard to imagine that such a remote area could hide such a treasure trove.

Jiang Ziling nodded affirmatively, certain that those sweet potato vines had never been disturbed by anyone.

Even if cunning animals stole a taste occasionally, they ended up as his prey, although most were "intercepted" by Lady Zhao.

"As for why I planted them so far away..."

Jiang Ziling pondered for a moment, his voice low, "Given my current situation, anything of value is taken by that person. If I don't think of a plan, how will I feed Xixi? Those sweet potatoes are the last safety net I've left for Xixi, they're also my faint hope for a future life."

As Jiang Ziling's words fell, a faint bitterness permeated the air.

After listening, Su Yu deeply understood and nodded her head, her eyes shining with admiration and compassion, and she said sincerely, "You're truly remarkable! For your daughter, you endure so much and remain so resilient."

Being praised by Su Yu, a long-absent joy welled up in Jiang Ziling's heart, as if seeing a sliver of light in the darkness, his stream of speech flowed more freely, "These sweet potatoes are incredibly hardy, cold-resistant, drought-tolerant, with high yields, and they taste good too. Initially, I just wanted to give it a try, secretly planting one on the hillside, not expecting such a rich reward!"

Su Yu was busy cooking porridge when she suddenly stopped her motion, gazing intensely at Jiang Ziling, her eyes filled with respect and care, "You've worked hard, with the distance being so great, and your limp making it more difficult, plus having to carefully avoid other people's attention, you must be very tired!"

Jiang Ziling was touched by her simple words, his throat tightening instantaneously, unable to speak, his eyes welling up with tears.

Those were tears of being moved, of being understood, of being cared for.

Finally, there was someone who cared about whether he was tired, whether he worked hard, whether he was alone!

Su Yu, holding Xixi by the stove, said with heartfelt earnestness, "When you grow up, you must treat your father well, he's had a really hard time."

Xixi nodded her head innocently, her clear, big eyes reflecting her father's determined figure.

Jiang Ziling watched this scene, a surge of warmth flooding his heart. He knew, no matter how difficult the future might be, as long as there was love, understanding, and hope, they would walk through it together.

Xixi obediently nodded her head, her bright, large eyes twinkling with endless trust and dependence on Jiang Ziling.

Jiang Ziling also put aside the worries in his heart, responding to her with the tenderest smile, his large hand gently touching Xixi's fine hair, caressing it affectionately as if conveying silent comfort and encouragement.

The flames within the stove leaped vigorously, casting a red glow on Su Yu's focused face.

Knowing that cooking porridge took time, and not wanting the hungry Xixi to wait too long, Su Yu had a brainwave. While adding firewood, she cleverly stuffed a few plump sweet potatoes into the fire, letting them slowly roast in the blazing embers.

The sweet aroma of the sweet potatoes slowly wafted through the air, mingling with the mellow scent of the rice porridge, sketching out a picture of a warm and simple life.

Xixi sat quietly to one side, intently playing with a rag doll in her hands, her calm appearance inspiring a heartwarming fondness.

Su Yu gazed at her, her expression suddenly turning serious as she turned to Jiang Ziling, speaking earnestly, "We can't delay treating Xixi's mute poison and your leg injury any longer. I must take a trip into the mountains to find the necessary herbs."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziling's eyes flickered, immediately guessing her intention, "You want to go gather herbs?"

Su Yu nodded gently, determination clear in her eyes, "That's right, I've given it a lot of thought. Despite my medical skills, without herbs, it's like a skilled cook without rice. If I rely solely on my own efforts to collect herbs aimlessly in the mountains, it will take too long and won't quench the immediate thirst. The quickest way to raise funds and treat you is to dig up and sell valuable herbs. Therefore, I must personally enter those unknown woods."

Su Yu recalled her initial reconnaissance of the outskirts of Yunqiu Mountain that day. The towering and undulating mountain range was vast in area, with complex and changing environments, dense forests, and mist wrapping around, full of mysterious and unknown dangers.

She understood that to gain something in such an environment, she must make thorough preparations; otherwise, a slight misstep could lead to peril.

Seeing that Su Yu was resolute, Jiang Ziling didn't try to dissuade her any longer but chose to describe his knowledge of Yunqiu Mountain in detail instead.

He reminisced about the days of hunting in the mountains with his elder brother; they had spent countless days and nights there, even building a modest thatch hut on a picturesque hillside as a temporary dwelling.

The thatch hut was about three miles southeast of the sweet potato hillside, nestled against the mountain by a stream, secluded and peaceful.

He specifically warned Su Yu that ferocious wild animals indeed roamed the mountains, especially at night when dangers lurked on all sides, so she must be extremely cautious and not venture in recklessly.

Su Yu listened intently, and although she grew up in the mountains and was well-acquainted with the laws of the forest, she knew that each place's ecological environment had its peculiarities, and she could not be careless because of experience.

In her heart, she carefully noted every piece of advice Jiang Ziling had given her, feeling a bit more confident about the upcoming journey into the mountains.

In the days that followed, Su Yu made thorough preparations to enter the mountains.

She borrowed a few sets of durable and dirt-resistant clothing from the kindhearted Xie Xinghua, to cope with the variable climate and terrain in the mountains.

She meticulously made some portable dried sweet potatoes, which could satisfy hunger and provide energy.

During her spare moments, she also made herself a handy set of herbal gathering tools, including a machete, a hoe, and a bamboo basket. She carefully sharpened each piece, striving to maximize their utility at critical moments.