Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 177 - 11: The Male Lead Out and About (Second Update)_3

Who would have thought, after traveling through time, I’d be adorned with gold jewelry, dressed in fine clothes, and enjoying exquisite food—not to mention eating Tianshan Snow Lotus and wild ginseng whenever I wanted (haha, it’s too nourishing, I’m having a nosebleed). At this moment, Susu no longer blames the heavens. Bystanders are just bystanders; if she were really the heroine and entered the Prince Mansion, the grass on her grave would be quite high by now.

The last chest was filled with dried High Mountain Snow Chrysanthemum and Xinjiang Rose flowers, honey from Teks Mountain, a few jars of grape wine, and some lavender essential oil from Yili. Along with a small token of her return gift, Susu also wrote a letter to Hong Sheng that day. Naturally, there was nothing ambiguous in it; she simply told him to take care of himself and mentioned some of the customs and cultures of Xinjiang she read about in books.

The items Hong Sheng sent in this chest were things Susu casually mentioned upon learning about them in her era. She didn’t expect Hong Sheng to actually send them now. These things might not be as valuable as those two rolls of cashmere, but Susu’s heart was slightly touched upon seeing them. Perhaps she should approach this relationship with utmost sincerity instead of viewing Hong Sheng as a "business partner."

Far away in the Northwest, Hong Sheng had no idea his future "partner" was moved by his sincerity, finally opening a window in her heart. At this moment, while Susu was thinking about him, he was lying motionless on the slopes of the Great Snow Mountain, wearing a snow-white sheepskin coat and a sheepskin hat in the August weather, pretending to be a wooden man.

On the side of the Great Snow Mountain, the Tartar Tribes suffered a major defeat two years ago and recently showed signs of activity again. As the General of the Vanguard Camp, Hong Sheng led a group of scouts to ambush here, hoping to catch them off guard, just waiting for nightfall.

Even in August, the Great Snow Mountain remained covered in snow. Lying on the ground was already uncomfortable, let alone being unable to make any big movements. Although Hong Sheng was highly skilled, after several hours, he too found it hard to endure. He took out a palm-sized leather pouch from his robe, clearly custom-made, not to mention it contained medicinal wine infused with ginseng and various other herbs.

Hong Sheng carefully took a sip, seeing the new recruit next to him eyeing him with a jealous glare. He patted the exquisite pouch, feeling a bit reluctant. This was made by Susu for him. Originally, he was puzzled about the usefulness of such a small item, but when he saw the medicinal wine inside, he understood, and now it proved quite handy; it could save a life in a critical moment.

Thinking of this, even with reluctance, Hong Sheng carefully tossed the pouch to the young soldier beside him and gestured for everyone around to take a sip each. Meanwhile, he lay in the snow dazing off. Or rather, he should say he was thinking of his wife.

He and Susu had only met twice, yet he wasn’t sure whether to say they were familiar or strangers. Ever since he saved Susu from under the wild boar’s hoof and then went to the Northwest to join the military, Susu had made clothes and shoes for him for five or six years. She would have someone send him delicious food, and gifts always arrived in advance during holidays.

Previously, when he had no proper job, he could only hunt some game and have the Manor Head on the estate send them to the Old Madam. He saved up some fur to exchange for silver, thinking if Susu was willing, he’d acknowledge her as his sister and find her a good husband after buying her freedom.

When did his thoughts change, putting Susu in his heart and wanting her as his wife? Hong Sheng couldn’t say for sure. Perhaps he had these thoughts from the first time he wrote to her after meeting Susu; he was just too young then and hadn’t opened that path in his heart. Later, after joining the Yangwei Escort Agency and seeing the world more, he recognized his own desires.

Then, he finally saw the grown Susu. Although she was only thirteen, with such a stunning appearance, it seemed unlikely any man could reject her. Yet the clarity in Susu’s eyes made him feel inferior. This was also why Hong Sheng dared to write to the Old Madam to ask for Susu’s hand only after becoming a thousand households, when he finally had something to show for himself.

To be honest, Hong Sheng truly earned this position of thousand households with his life. And why, among so many Hundred Households and thousand households in the garrison, was he the only one who didn’t wait for the Commander’s assignment but volunteered for this life-threatening surprise attack? It was for military merits and promotion!

Having a beautiful wife who even the moon would shy away from was simply a form of encouragement, pushing him to climb up, or else he wouldn’t be able to keep such a wife. After all, Susu was astonishingly beautiful at thirteen, and only getting prettier as she grew. Hong Sheng certainly didn’t like Susu just for her looks, but at this moment, he felt a rare sense of sorrow and headache over having a wife too beautiful.

(Everyone thought the male lead could only play a minor role, so Susu had to drag him out for a spin,)