After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter

Such experiences engendered deep sympathy in Su Yu for Xixi, as she too had been abandoned by her birth parents in the wilderness, and was fortunate to be adopted by her mentor, allowing her to grow up to this day.

Her fondness for Jiang Ziling increased by a few notches.

She gently touched Xixi's little face and greeted her with a smile, "Hello there, Xixi!"

But Xixi was frightened and hid behind Jiang Ziling, peeking out with one eye to stealthily observe Su Yu.

"She cannot speak, she hasn't been able to cry out since birth," Jiang Ziling said frankly.

Su Yu was startled upon hearing this and immediately caught the crucial information.

"Not even a sound when she cries?"

Seeing Su Yu's serious expression, Jiang Ziling nodded, "Is there a problem?"

"Let her cooperate with me, I need to examine her."

With the patient soothing from Jiang Ziling, Xixi gradually became less afraid of Su Yu.

This scene made Su Yu even more certain of her judgment:

Most muteness in the world stems from deafness, yet this child could hear but not speak, which was very likely due to acquired causes.

After a thorough examination, Su Yu concluded, "She is not born mute, but someone had given her a muteness-inducing drug after birth."

Jiang Ziling was shocked, "What? Is there an antidote?"

Su Yu shook her head regretfully, "It seems she was fed the drug shortly after being born, I can't guarantee a cure."

Jiang Ziling's eyes reddened in urgency and he was about to kneel to Su Yu, who quickly stopped him, "What are you doing?"

"I can live with my leg untreated, but Xixi is just a child, I beg you to find a way to help her."

Su Yu reluctantly agreed, "Rest assured, I'll do my utmost. As for your leg, whether to treat it or not, I will need to carry out a detailed examination before deciding."

Lady Zhao could not witness Jiang Ziling make a fool of himself as she had hoped and felt indignant inside.

"You little wretch, let's see how long you can keep up!"

Su Yu completely ignored her sneering and began to expertly handle the fish.

At the moment, both father and daughter had disabilities, so Su Yu naturally did not expect them to be able to prepare any exquisite dishes to treat her.

However, the household had limited ingredients, and after rummaging around, she only found a bit of flour and some seasonings.

Fortunately, the finest ingredients only required the simplest cooking techniques.

In just a short while, Su Yu had prepared a pot of snow-white fish soup, paired with homemade hand-rolled noodles, a taste that was second to none.

The aroma instantly filled the entire courtyard, and even Lady Zhao smelled it, but due to Su Yu's prior attitude, she did not dare to approach and ask for some.

Su Yu watched as Jiang Ziling and Xixi enjoyed the noodles with great relish, feeling a great sense of achievement in her heart.

In her previous life, under the tutelage of a fickle master, Su Yu's cooking skills had already been honed to perfection.

After a satisfying meal, Su Yu did not forget her promise to bring a bowl to Shen Changping, Jiang Ziling's elder brother.

Upon seeing Shen Changping, though bedridden, dressed neatly and with no unpleasant smells in the room, Su Yu knew he had been well cared for.

A woman took the noodles Su Yu handed over and gratefully said, "Thank you, sister-in-law, our family is poor and couldn't afford a decent wedding ceremony for you, but thankfully, Erni, this man, is honest and kind-hearted, he surely will not wrong you."

Su Yu nodded slightly, agreeing in her heart: Jiang Ziling truly was a rare good man.

As they ate and chatted, Su Yu learned that the woman's name was Xie Xinghua, who had three daughters, all of whom were out helping their grandfather in the fields at the time.

She also inquired about the conditions of the other family members and learned that the injuries of both brothers were due to a wild boar attack during a hunting trip in the mountains years ago.

What shocked Su Yu even more was that Jiang Ziling got injured in his leg trying to save his elder brother.

Despite his elder brother being paralyzed because of it, if it hadn't been for his timely intervention, his elder brother would likely no longer be part of this world.

Yet, some people maliciously spread rumors, saying he was born under a bad sign, not only causing his mother's death but also causing harm to his elder brother.

He himself didn't like to explain, so he remained unmarried until the age of twenty-five.

Seeing the lively and harmonious conversation on this side, Lady Zhao was so furious that she gritted her teeth.

She stormed over and said to Xie Xinghua with a mixture of scorn and ridicule, "You, a useless hen that lays no eggs, think you deserve to eat such good food?"

Tears welled up in Xie Xinghua's eyes as she tried to hold back her grievances, "This was specially made by my sister-in-law to nourish Changping's body."

Lady Zhao glanced at the sick person on the bed and said with contempt, "What's there to nourish about his broken body? Can he work if he's nourished?"

"My grandson Dazhuang is growing, this should be given to him to eat."

As she said this, she attempted to snatch the bowl from Xie Xinghua's hand, but was blocked by Su Yu.

Su Yu was speechless, why did this old lady always like to snatch other people's things?

"I think you just want to eat it yourself, you thick-skinned old thing," she said.

Having her thoughts so bluntly exposed, Lady Zhao's face immediately lost its color, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Nonsense? Your precious grandson is only a few months old, can he eat noodles?"

"This fish was caught by me in the river, and these noodles were cooked by my very own hands, specifically for my elder brother to nourish his body, and I see who dares to touch it today!"

Su Yu's tone was strong, and her attitude was resolute.

From what she learned from Xie Xinghua, Lady Zhao was simply a malicious mother-in-law, an expert at taking an inch and asking for a mile; Su Yu was not going to fall for her tricks.

Failing to snatch it forcibly, Lady Zhao started to make a scene and wail, slapping her thigh and screaming, "I don't want to live anymore, this newly arrived daughter-in-law abuses this old woman as soon as she comes in the door, there's no justice in this world!"

Her piercing cries drew the villagers to peer around, wanting to see what was actually happening.

As people gathered, Lady Zhao cried even more forcefully, "Everyone, come judge for yourselves, it's so hard to be a stepmother, I've raised these two brothers through hardship and suffering."

"Now, all I want is to ask for a bowl of fish soup to nourish my grandson who doesn't have enough breastmilk, and I'm treated like this, truly a heart of scorpions and snakes!"

"My life is so hard..."

In the face of Lady Zhao's loud weeping and Jiang Ziling's anxious expression, Su Yu remained calm and composed.

With her arms crossed, she watched the drama unfolding before her, silently exclaiming how incredible it was that a few words could stir up trouble and muddle right from wrong!

But as for spreading rumors, who couldn't do that? Su Yu was not to be outdone and, raising her voice, she began her performance, "Fellow villagers, since you've all come, please judge this matter for yourselves."

She squeezed out a few tear drops, "Ziling and I, without our parents' arrangements, nor a matchmaker's involvement, let alone those wedding customs, we're just two miserable souls, partnering to slog through life."

"Even so, my mother-in-law insists on causing trouble, determined to snatch away the fish we caught with great effort for her own enjoyment. Our household is already struggling to make ends meet, and there's a mute child at home crying from hunger, how could I agree? Little did I know she would be so malevolent, slinging mud on me!"

"Just after entering the household, I'm treated this way, it's clearly to intimidate me into leaving, to ensure that Ziling remains a bachelor for life!"

Su Yu said indignantly, "Even though he's my stepson, how can you be so cruel? What exactly are you planning?"

With this speech, Su Yu managed to sound both emotional and pitiful, crying in such a way that would tug at anyone's heartstrings.

For this group of villagers who loved to watch the excitement but not to think too much, it was enough to stir up a lively discussion.