Chapter 60: The Vixen Keeps a Pretty Husband at Home (8)

Su Tang followed 001's instruction and thought about it in her mind, and instantly all the recipe charts appeared before her eyes, just as if they were using spiritual perception.

Su Tang was extremely satisfied, because the ingredient list provided by 001 was thoroughly comprehensive, offering multiple ways to prepare a single item. Even though Su Tang was currently living in ancient times, she had absolute means to make them.

With this realization, Su Tang's motivation to work instantly returned, and she could already envision her prosperous days ahead.

This time, instead of gathering ordinary herbs from the outer areas, Su Tang collected a large quantity of medicinal herbs from the deepest parts of the mountains, filling a basket to the brim.

When she went to sell the herbs in the afternoon, Su Tang gave one of the three rabbits she had caught to Uncle Li and Aunt Li, while keeping some medicinal ingredients to take home for Song Qing.

Today's earnings came to ten taels of silver, ten times that of yesterday.

Naturally, when she carried that heavy basket to the apothecary today, Su Tang was inevitably scolded once more by Uncle Li and Aunt Li, yet she felt not a trace of annoyance in her heart, only a profound warmth.

Uncle Li had also mentioned to her that after receiving her herbs yesterday, quite a few apothecaries in town had come inquiring about where they had acquired them.

However, because Su Tang's identity was somewhat special, they had temporarily withheld the information, intending to ask for Su Tang's opinion today.

Su Tang readily agreed, telling them they could share the source if they wished, and whether to purchase from her was entirely up to those apothecaries.

Walking home with a light step and a wonderful mood, Su Tang had learned her lesson this time; as she pushed open the courtyard gate, she also shouted loudly into the house that she was back.

Sure enough, the very next second, she saw Song Qing coming out to greet her with a smile.

At the same time, however, a look of worry appeared on Song Qing's face as he stepped forward to take the large basket off Su Tang's back. "Why did you come back so late today?"

Su Tang smiled. "I got too carried away while working." She looked at Song Qing with a trace of smugness in her smile. "Guess how many taels of silver I earned today?"

Seeing the radiant smile on Su Tang's face touched Song Qing deeply. "How much? I can't guess it. Tell me quickly."

Su Tang chuckled softly and stretched out her hidden hand. "There, take a look."

Song Qing lowered his head to count the silver pieces in Su Tang's hand. "Did you earn nine taels of silver today? That's amazing!"

Hearing Song Qing's praise made Su Tang feel even prouder. "I earned ten taels of silver today, but I spent one tael just a moment ago."

Only then did Song Qing notice that there was still a pile of things inside the basket he was holding. "Why did you buy so many vegetables?" he asked, rummaging through the basket.

"Oh, it's not many, not many at all. I'm happy today, aren't you going to let me eat a little more?" Su Tang feigned displeasure as she looked at Song Qing.

Sure enough, the next second Song Qing panicked and shook his head repeatedly. "No, I didn't mean that. I'll cook all these vegetables for you in a moment."

Only then did Su Tang nod in satisfaction.

As Song Qing was talking with Su Tang, before he even had time to pay attention to the basket, he suddenly felt something move inside it. He lowered his head and looked closely. "A rabbit?"

He then asked immediately, "Are you going to raise rabbits?"

Su Tang chuckled, suddenly wearing a mischievous smile. "No way, I'm going to eat them!"

Song Qing was momentarily stunned—not because he thought Su Tang's words were cruel, but because he found her looking somewhat adorable at that moment.

"What are you spacing out for? Do you think I'm cruel?" Su Tang asked, giving Song Qing a playful, slightly aggrieved push.

Song Qing snapped back to reality in a hurry. "No, no," he explained hastily. "It's just because..." Pausing here, Song Qing suddenly trailed off.

"Because of what?" Su Tang leaned closer to question Song Qing. "Because of what, because of what, because of what? Tell me, tell me quickly!"

Looking at Su Tang's face drawing closer and closer to his own, Song Qing's face suddenly flushed intensely red, and he covered his face in embarrassment. "Because..."

Song Qing stammered, unable to articulate his thoughts clearly. Su Tang stopped being impatient and instead stood opposite Song Qing with her arms crossed, watching him with keen interest.

Left with no choice, Song Qing had no option but to confess, "Because I thought you just now... just now looked very cute..."

Su Tang was taken aback, a wave of heat washing over her face. She truly had not expected Song Qing to say that.

Lowering her head and sensing the heat rising on her face, she quickly shoved the items she was holding into Song Qing's arms, then hurried into the house, picked up a teacup, and began drinking tea.

No, no, she couldn't let Song Qing see her blushing face; she had to maintain her composure, absolutely maintain it.

Little did she know, however, that her crimson earlobes had already betrayed her.

Song Qing stood there stunned for a moment, looking at the items Su Tang had handed him. He put down the basket, opened the paper bag, and discovered that Su Tang had bought him some clothes, along with some intimate undergarments.

He turned his head to look at Su Tang and happened to catch sight of her deeply reddened earlobes.

"Thank you..." Song Qing's eyes flickered slightly as he gazed at Su Tang.

With her back still turned to him, Su Tang replied awkwardly, "Mm..."

And so, the two of them busied themselves separately—one in the courtyard and the other inside the house. Only after the temperature on both of their faces had subsided did they resume speaking.

Su Tang had originally assumed Song Qing might be reluctant to let those two rabbits become a meal, but to her surprise, when she came back outside, Song Qing had already skillfully cleaned and prepared the rabbits.

"You know how to dress a wild rabbit?" Su Tang squatted down beside Song Qing and asked.

"Mm," Song Qing nodded. "I learned it when I was following someone to learn how to cook. I can handle basic game."

"Who did you learn cooking from? You cook so well, which master was your teacher? Must he be very famous?" Su Tang asked casually, figuring that even if he named someone, she wouldn't know them anyway.

"My master was the head chef of a wealthy household. He was indeed quite famous, but also very strict. I took quite a few scoldings when I was learning culinary arts from him as a child."

Su Tang patted Song Qing's back gently. "Calm down~ He just wanted you to learn faster and had your best interests at heart."

Song Qing smiled. "I understand all of that, but I haven't seen him since two years ago."

Looking at him in bewilderment, Su Tang asked, "Why? Did he change jobs?"

Song Qing offered a bitter smile, lowering his eyelids so that Su Tang could not discern what he was thinking. "No, it's just that he passed away..."

"Ah..." Su Tang looked at Song Qing with a trace of worry. "Um, did I say something wrong?" She patted Song Qing's back soothingly, her hand rising and falling rhythmically.

Song Qing composed his emotions, then looked up at Su Tang. "Not at all. After all, aren't birth, aging, sickness, and death completely normal? I'm already used to it."

Su Tang looked at Song Qing quietly without saying a word. When he said he was used to it, did that also imply that other people in his life had likewise left him behind?