Chapter 112. Vicious Sister-in-law

Gu Zi felt she couldn't keep dwelling on this issue. She went to the table in the dining room to prepare a dessert after cooking.

She cut the bean jelly grass into small cubes and placed them in five bowls. Then, she added raisins, watermelon chunks, crushed peanuts, canned fruit cubes, and finally drizzled a thick layer of honey over it.

She called out to the living room, "Su Bing, Su Li, come get your dessert!" Su Bing was taking care of Su Le; he asked Su Li to come and get theirs.

Su Li, looking at the colorful bowls, was fascinated. Stepmom must have prepared something delicious again! "Stepmom, what's this?"

"This is Grass Jelly. Do help yourself to your own bowl; your dad and I will carry the rest."

Su Li found this proposal excellent, grabbed his bowl, and ran off. Gu Zi and Su Shen carried the remaining bowls over.

Su Li had already taken a spoonful, blinked in amazement, and praised, "It's cool and refreshing, sweet and fragrant, so delicious!"

Stepmom was amazing; she was like a heavenly fairy, capable of making anything tasty!

Su Shen and Su Bing didn't fancy sweet things, but because Gu Zi always made many delicious dishes, they were looking forward to this dessert.

After tasting it, both showed surprised expressions. Even for those who didn't like sweets, this seemed good. Su Bing even took several more bites.

Su Shen asked, "Is this made from the grass we dried in the yard?"

"That's right. This is made from bean jelly grass. It's called Grass Jelly," Gu Zi said, taking another bite. She had not eaten the Grass Jelly in a long time, and today, her craving was finally satisfied.

Su Bing and Su Li felt even more amazed when they heard that. Su Li asked, "Is this really made from the grass we cut? That's incredible!"

Gu Zi nodded and explained, "This kind of grass can clear heat and toxins and alleviate summer heat. Our ancestors used it to make food early on. It's perfect to eat at this time of the year. Tomorrow morning, I'll pack two portions for you to have after lunch."

Su Li happily clapped, "Thank you, Stepmom!" Su Bing also expressed his gratitude.

At this time, they heard a familiar voice outside, and Gu Zi recognized it as their neighbor, Aunt Zhang, and her grandson.

"No, no, I won't go back; I want to see Fairy Sister!" The chubby little boy clung to the gate, locking eyes with Big Yellow from the other side.

Despite Big Yellow's buzzing warnings, the boy seemed fearless, holding onto the gate stubbornly.

"You little rascal, how shameless! Fairy Sister and the others might still be having dinner," Zhang Cuihua tried to pull her grandson away, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Gu Zi walked to the door and opened the gate warmly, inviting, "Oh, Aunt Zhang, come on in!"

As she spoke, she gently touched the boy's cheek, and the boy instantly laughed happily, calling her Fairy Sister.

Aunt Zhang politely declined a few times but couldn't budge her grandson, so she reluctantly went in.

"Sit down and watch TV for a while; I'll get you two some delicious treats," Gu Zi suggested, not waiting for Auntie Zhang to refuse, and went inside. Soon she brought out two bowls of Grass Jelly.

"Auntie Zhang, taste this. This is the dessert I made with the bean jelly grass."

Su Li quickly added, "Yes, it's super delicious. You must try it!" Su Le, who was in Su Bing's arms, also nodded like Su Li. "Yes, yes, eat!"

Seeing her grandson gobbling up the food like a starving ghost, Aunt Zhang decided to eat it too.

She blushed and said with a smile, "Oh, Lele is getting smarter now. Let's try it too!"

After a bite, she felt incredibly refreshed, "Similar to jelly, but tastier than jelly. Gu Zi, you're really skillful; you can make anything!" After saying that, Zhang Cuihua suddenly sighed and frowned.

She couldn't bear injustices and recalled what she heard today. She felt she needed to talk about it now to relieve her thoughts.

This was also the reason why she had insisted on taking her grandson away just now. After all, there was no need to talk about this if she did not see Gu Zi.

"Aunt Zhang, what's wrong?" Gu Zi asked when she saw her like this.

Zhang Cuihua looked at Su Shen and then at Gu Zi. "Today, I heard some things. I don't know if speaking about it will damage your family's relationships, but not speaking of it makes me feel like you're being unfairly treated. "

Hearing her say this, Su Shen said, "Auntie, just say it. There's no need to hold back."

Zhang Cuihua then revealed what she had heard, "Many people in the village have listened to some malicious slander by Aunt Fang, and they believe you're a malicious sister-in-law.."

...

Chapter 113. Rumors

"Aunt Fang?" Gu Zi did not know this person. She looked at Su Shen, who also seemed clueless about who it was.

Zhang Cuihua explained, "Yes, that woman has been spreading rumors lately, saying you are malicious, arrogant, and disrespectful. She claimed you treated your younger sister's fruit gift as garbage and even assaulted her boyfriend."

Because of this, Aunt Zhang had an argument with Aunt Fang that day. The Gu Zi she knew wasn't like that at all.

Gu Zi vaguely felt it must be related to the trouble caused by Tian Hai that afternoon. She remembered a woman passing by who helped Tian Hai that day. So, since she couldn't create false rumors about her as per the plot, did they just opt for outright defamation?

She found that lecherous man disgusting: how could she ever touch him? If anything, hitting him would be too good for him! As for the apples, wasn't it that lecherous man who was frightened by Big Yellow and threw them away? She didn't even know they were from Su Jing!

Gu Zi asked, "The Aunt Fang you mentioned, is she a petite woman with shoulder-length hair?"

Zhang Cuihua nodded repeatedly, "I happened to pass by her house that day and saw Tian Hai sneaking out from her place. I reckon it was the same day Su Jing sent him to deliver the apples; something doesn't add up."

Although Tian Hai was from the city, ever since he got together with Su Jing, he often flaunted himself in the village, and many women in the village knew him. She could tell Tian Hai wasn't a good person; why would he sneak into a woman's room in broad daylight? Of course, that Aunt Fang wasn't well-behaved either.

Zhang Cuihua continued, "I'm telling you this so you know. Aunt Fang's husband works outside the village all year round, and everyone in the village knows her reputation. She's had quite a few flings with men; nearly twenty or thirty. Most people won't believe what she says, but there are always some who do."

Gu Zi nodded, "Thank you, Auntie Zhang, we understand. We won't mention you told us about all these."

Remembering how that woman had supported Tian Hai at that time, Gu Zi had felt something was off. Now, hearing Zhang Cuihua's account, she understood why. People can have different sides when they sleep in the same bed. When Zhang Cuihua was leaving, Gu Zi handed her jar of preserved fruit to taste.

After seeing Zhang Cuihua and the little boy off, Gu Zi returned and saw Su Shen looking extremely severe.

He softened his expression slightly upon seeing Gu Zi but said, "Gu Zi, tell me what happened. "

Gu Zi recounted the events of that afternoon in detail. By the end, tears were welling up in her eyes.

Su Shen's heart ached when he saw her. He hadn't expected that merely going on a business trip for a few days would result in such an incident!

Su Bing and Su Li were also furious upon hearing it, clenching their fists silently. That Tian Hai dared to harass their stepmom?

Seeing the man's tightened fist, Gu Zi was afraid he might get angry again, so she reached out and held his fist. But his fist was huge; she realized she needed both hands to cover it.

As the woman's soft, fair, and fragrant hand enveloped the man's, it felt as if cotton wrapped around it. The warmth from his palm surged, and his eyes, like a cold abyss, stirred with hidden emotions.

Looking at him through misty eyes, she whispered, "Don't worry, I wasn't harmed. I didn't even open the door."

Su Shen knew Gu Zi didn't want to make things difficult for him. How could a woman not suffer when repeatedly harassed by a man?

Gu Zi was his girlfriend and his fiancée. A man who couldn't protect his woman was nothing!

However, he didn't want her to worry, so he just softly murmured, afraid that saying more would reveal his anger.

Gu Zi remembered his injury on his arm and said, "The bandage on your arm should be ready to be removed. After your shower, come here, and I'll help you check it. If it's healed, we'll remove the bandage."

"Okay, I'll go shower now." Su Shen stood up and walked upstairs. His half-squinted eyes instantly widened, revealing a chilling murderous intent. This time, he wouldn't let Tian Hai off the hook.

Gu Zi sat on the sofa, holding Su Le in her arms, and asked Su Bing and Su Li to go shower and sleep. Of course, she would not give up just like that. Someone like Tian Hai, driven by lust, was a disaster tor both the Su family and her.

Since Tian Hai and Su Jing were still just boyfriend and girlfriend, and there were no children between them, she could try to salvage the situation.

She needed to find a way to show Su Jing Tian Hai's true colors. What Su Jing chose after knowing the truth would be her decision..

...

Chapter 114. Embrace

Later, the originally clear sky suddenly turned dark as lightning and thunder rolled in, and the rain started to pour.

Having just managed to put Su Le to sleep, Gu Zi hurriedly closed the windows and drew the curtains, ensuring Su Le wasn't disturbed.

She went in to take a shower. When she came out, Su Shen was waiting outside the door.

Opening the slightly ajar door, Gu Zi said, "What are you doing out here? Come in quickly."

She turned to fetch the medical kit, asking Su Shen to sit at the edge of the bed. Carrying the kit, she joined him. Sitting with an erect posture, his thin lips tightly pursed, Su Shen undressed, revealing his broad, strong shoulders, prominent chest, and graceful muscle lines, captivating Gu Zi's gaze once more.

His figure was impeccable! Paired with his cold and resolute face, it was perfect! 

Gu Zi's face slightly flushed as she lowered her gaze, carefully removing the bandage from his arm.

"The wound has healed; you only need to take care of it. But you still need to take the antibiotics," Gu Zi said, meeting his wet, piercing gaze as he sat upright.

Did she not realize how close they were sitting? If she leaned down just slightly, her lips could touch his shoulder. He took a deep breath and said, "I'll plan well for our relationship."

Gu Zi was applying some ointment on his skin. When she heard him say this, her hand paused.

Gu Zi did not know what to say for a moment. This was the first time she had heard that a relationship needed to be planned, but she still replied softly, "Okay."

The rainfall outside intensified into a tempest, with the strong wind whipping raindrops against the window like countless lashes. The window reverberated with a series of bangs, creating an atmosphere that Gu Zi found rather unnerving. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning sliced through the room, illuminating it intensely.

The subsequent thunderclap was deafening, causing Gu Zi's heart to leap. Without a second thought, she sought refuge in Su Shen's embrace.

She nestled into him, feeling the comforting softness of his hair. He welcomed her, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. After pondering for a while, he found words to reassure her, "Don't worry, I'm here!"

His voice was soothing, brushing past her ears like a warm breath. He extended his arms and pulled her into his embrace.

Gradually, her heartbeat steadied. She glanced at Su Le, who was sound asleep.

Uncertain if there would be another such thunder, she clung tightly to Su Shen. He was her fiance, after all! His masculine scent filled the air, disrupting her usual composure.

Gu Zi recognized this as the love she had longed for in her previous life but had never gotten the chance to experience.

As the rain softened and the lightning dimmed, Gu Zi lifted her gaze slightly and said, "Su Shen, I'm okay now."

A subtle warmth enveloped his face as he gazed at her tenderly.

"Yes," he replied but didn't release her. "Stay still," he gently requested, reluctant to let go.

Gu Zi complied, allowing him to hold her.

The man's robust and warm embrace, along with a hidden sense of assertiveness, sent a shiver down Gu Zi's spine. His muscular physique was discernible even through his clothes.

For a moment, Gu Zi's expression froze. She pondered how if she cured his hidden ailment, this man would undoubtedly be quite formidable in bed.

Finally releasing her, Su Shen met her gaze.

He found her slightly endearing but wondered about the amusing thoughts running through her mind.

He remarked, "During this business trip, someone gifted me two boxes of snow clams. They're said to be good for beauty. I've stored them in the fridge for you, along with a recipe and cooking instructions."

Su Shen believed women had a penchant for beauty, especially someone as stunning as Gu Zi.

Of all the gifts he received, he only retained the two boxes of snow clams, specifically bringing them back for Gu Zi.

At the mention of "snow clams," Gu Zi's eyes sparkled. "Did you say snow clams?"

Snow clams were not extensively cultivated at this time, but they were a rare tonic consumed by the wealthy. They had been considered the "top of the Eight Treasures" since the Qing Dynasty—women would consume them to nourish their yin and liver, while men used them to invigorate their kidneys and strengthen their vitality!

...

Chapter 115. Nourishment

Gu Zi felt an overall surge of energy in her body. How could she keep such a good thing to herself?

She was already content with the original owner's appearance and skin condition. This stuff had to be consumed by Su Shen as well!

She asked, "Where did you put it? Let me see."

Not understanding why she suddenly seemed so excited, but since she asked, Su Shen went downstairs and brought up a box for her to see.

After receiving the gift box, Gu Zi examined it carefully, confirming it was indeed snow clams, pure and untainted wild snow clams!

The snow toad and milk must have a strong nourishing effect.

She went downstairs with Su Shen and soaked the snow clams for tomorrow in water. She put the rest back in the fridge.

Gu Zi planned in her mind. If there was milk tomorrow, she'd make milk stewed with snow clams. If not, she'd directly steam the snow clams with Chinese wolfberries. She was very anxious to nourish Su Shen.

"Will you be going to the city soon?" she asked.

Su Shen was drinking water and did not know what she was thinking. He put down the cup and walked over to give her a glass of warm water. "Do you need me to bring something back? Just tell me."

"I need two boxes of milk." Gu Zi took the cup, had a sip, feeling its warmth, and the two of them went upstairs together.

"Alright, I'll have them delivered tomorrow. You should rest early," the man stood outside the door, waiting for her to enter before heading back to his room.

Gu Zi smiled softly, saying in a gentle voice, "Goodnight, Su Shen!"

With that, she entered the room and quickly fell asleep.

During breakfast the next morning, Su Shen mentioned he'd come back for lunch and instructed Gu Zi not to send him lunch.

He also informed Su Bing and Su Li that there'd be something for them tonight.

Su Bing and Su Li's eyes lit up with anticipation. They cheerfully carried the nutritious meal boxes their stepmother had prepared and happily left the house.

In the morning, Jin Long delivered two boxes of milk. He was aware that at this time, only Gu Zi, a woman, and a child were at home. After bringing the milk into the courtyard and exchanging greetings, he left.

Gu Zi first prepared the ingredients for lunch and put the rice in the steamer before fetching two bottles of milk.

Snow clams had few impurities. She took the snow clams that she had soaked in water the previous night, removed the tendons, placed them in a large bowl, added a slice of ginger, two red dates, and a bit of rock sugar.

Finally, she poured milk into the bowl and placed it in a pot to steam.

At that moment, Su Le walked into the kitchen holding two pieces of milk candy, calling out, "Mom, Mom, eat!"

Gu Zi walked over, lifted her up, took the candy from her hand, and said, "Thank you, darling! Is Lele's tummy hungry? Mommy will make you some milk formula."

When Su Shen returned and saw her feeding Su Le milk, he remarked, "Take care of her. I'll go stir-fry the dishes. What are we having today?"

Glancing at him, Gu Zi noticed his broad back moving towards the kitchen. His neat short hair seemed especially manly.

Without hesitation, she told him the dishes she planned to make for lunch today.

Twenty minutes later, when she entered the kitchen and turned off the heat, the entire room was filled with the fragrance of milk as she lifted the lid off the steamer.

Su Shen brought the dishes to the table and went to the living room to carry Su Le over for lunch. As soon as they sat down, Gu Zi handed Su Shen a bowl of stewed snow clams.

"You work so hard every day; you need some nourishment. Milk-stewed snow clams, try it!"

After she finished speaking, she stared straight at Su Shen. The expectant expression on her face made Su Shen's eyes darken.

He had specially brought back good food for her to eat, so why was she asking him to eat it?

Snow clams were not only expensive but also rare. How could Su Shen not know their benefits?

They were beneficial for both women and men, serving as a potent enhancer for men.

As Su Shen recalled her excited expression from last night, it clicked. This young woman was craving closeness, perhaps even feeling that he needed nourishment.

"Alright," he said, taking a sip while hiding a smile in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to be so audacious.

Observing that he had consumed it, Gu Zi explained, "I believe this is quite beneficial. It's something we should share." 

Presenting the empty bowl to Gu Zi, he remarked, "Yes, it's delicious and quite invigorating."

Possibly, there was nothing amiss with his body, but after drinking it, he felt a slight warmth within.

However, what could he do? Gu Zi believed he needed the nourishment, and he didn't want to worry her..

...

Chapter 116. Boss Su's Desires

Just then, Su Shen deliberately avoided looking at Gu Zi. It was extremely uncomfortable.

Gu Zi was very satisfied that he drank all the milk in the bowl and naturally did not notice the helpless expression in the man's eyes.

"It's good that you like it. In the future, our family will work on nourishing our bodies together!" After Gu Zi finished speaking, she began to feed Su Le. It was also very beneficial for children to eat snow clams.

When Su Le heard Gu Zi's words, she innocently chanted, "Nourishment, Dad, Mom, nourishment!"

When Gu Zi heard Su Le's shout, her face flushed red.

Gu Zi's face flushed instantly at Su Le's words. Why did this little girl sounded so ambiguous? But Su Shen probably didn't grasp her intention, did he? Gu Zi lowered her head and focused on her meal.

Su Shen quickly glanced across the table. He felt he had gotten himself into this trouble.

Gu Zi was smart, yet in this aspect, she seemed somewhat naive. How could she think he wasn't up for it? Su Shen, feeling rather troubled after lunch, headed back to the pig farm.

When Su Shen arrived at the office, he remembered that he wanted to teach Tian Hai a lesson. He called for Jin Long.

"Have you found him?" He was all fired up and this was his best outlet for it.

Jin Long stared at Su Shen's flushed ears and teased him without any sense of boundaries. "I say, Boss Su, aren't you a bit too eager? Gu Zi is still a young girl."

Men tend to favor slender waists and curvy hips, and Gu Zit s figure perfectly matched every man's dream lover.

Of course, Jin Long wasn't having thoughts about his friend's woman; he was just speaking his mind.

Boss Su looked like he was full of desire. He and Gu Zi had not registered their marriage yet. He was craving something he couldn't have, and it was leaving him unsatisfied.

Jin Long hadn't expected to witness the normally aloof Su Boss acting so passionate. He could brag about this for a lifetime!

Su Shen shot a cold glance at Jin Long, his expression so icy that Jin Long immediately straightened up.

"Ahem, let's get back to business, okay! I've already found him. I guarantee that Tian Hai won't have a good time."

Su Shen looked at Jin Long, raising an eyebrow. His deep eyes narrowed slightly. "Go to the city and watch over him for the next few days."

Jin Long knew he was in for it. He tried to protest, "My guys me are reliable; do I have to personally go?"

Su Shen didn't say a word and just stared coldly at Jin Long who felt shivers running down his spine.

Well, if he had to, he had to. A little vomiting wasn't much compared to women enduring months of morning sickness during pregnancy. It was better than enduring Su Shen's piercing gaze here.

"I'll go then. Boss Su, but I can't believe you'd ask this of me." Jin Long bravely turned and walked out, ready to pin his motion sickness and nausea on Tian Hai. He had to teach that guy a lesson!

After Jin Long left, Su Shen directed all his energy to work, making calls, and handling documents.

However, the image of Gu Zi taking an afternoon nap on the sofa that day kept surfacing in his mind. Her skirt was rolled up, revealing her pink knee joints and delicate calves...

His lower body, which had just returned to normal, suddenly became as hard as iron.

Su Shen had to accept a fact: that bowl of clams stewed in milk had already nourished him excessively.

At that moment, someone came in to report, "Boss Su, the new round of sterilization and extermination is complete. Do you want to go check now?" Su Shen tried his best to ignore the burning sensation below him.

"Alright." The person went out and murmured to another, "Strange, Boss Su seems off today."

"Yeah, since he came back after lunch, he hasn't come out. That's not like him at all."

"Married men are somewhat different, especially with our sister-in-law being such a beautiful woman. Can you blame Boss Su?"

As they spoke, they walked away, leaving behind suggestive smiles.

When Su Shen went back in the afternoon, Gu Zi accidentally bumped into his arms and smelled a strong smell of tobacco on him.

She placed her hand gently on Su Shen's waist and looked up at him, asking, "Are you okay?"

Su Shen's dark eyes were filled with desire. His hand on the side was uncontrollably lifted but quickly dropped.

"I'm fine, I'll go take a shower." Su Shen walked upstairs after speaking.

Gu Zi thought he might be stressed about work; it seemed she would need to give him more nourishment. 

In the bathroom, water from the showerhead cascaded down, tracing the exquisite lines of his muscles..

...