Chapter 27

In the morning, after getting up, Xiao Man went to the hallway to check on the box and shouted loudly, “Mom, the paint on the box is dry. Can we use it now?”

Chen Zai brought the box inside. Xiao Man kept trying to take credit on his father’s behalf, saying, “Mom, look at the box Dad made for you. Isn’t it great?”

The white box looked especially clean. Shu Yuan thanked him, “Thanks, Dr. Chen. I’m going to the gate of the Electronics Factory’s staff housing compound to see what’s for sale and make something tasty for you.”

The camera, clothes and hair accessories, and the wooden box were all ready. The color film was bought from the supplier who provided goods to the photo studio. It was eleven yuan per roll at wholesale price. Sample photos were also needed to show customers, and Shu Yuan had long decided on a model. Naturally, it was Shu He.

Shu Yuan had Sunday off, so she worked especially hard on Friday and Saturday to finish all her tasks. That way, on Sunday, the two apprentices could focus solely on taking photos.

At around eight o’clock on Sunday morning, Shu Yuan carried Xiao Man and the large box downstairs. She placed the box on the back seat of the bicycle. The box had two clasps designed into it, which just happened to hook onto the back seat, keeping it steady. It was clear that Chen Zai was both meticulous and skillful with his hands.

Of course, the bicycle belonged to Chen Zai. Shu Yuan rode it back to her mother’s home and said to Shu He, “You’ll need some light makeup. With makeup, you’ll look more refined.”

The cosmetics and tools all belonged to the original host. Shu Yuan herself only used Snow Cream.

Shu He was very cooperative but lacked confidence. “With the way I look, do you really think the photos will attract anyone?”

While shaping her eyebrows, Shu Yuan said, “A model doesn’t need to be overly good-looking.”

The makeup wasn’t going to be complicated either. Just filling in the eyebrows, putting on some lipstick, and applying a bit of face powder and blush.

Shu He pouted. “I’m sitting here waiting for you to compliment me. What’s the use of a single ‘you look nice’ anyway?”

Shu Yuan quickly laughed and said, “Fine, Shu He is the prettiest, all right? If you weren’t pretty, would I have asked you to be the model?”

After the makeup was done, they went to Nanhua Park. Nanhua Park was close by, just two stops away, and it had traditional-style pavilions and corridors with an old-town charm.

They took a total of four sample photos, split into two styles: one with a wig, and the other with braided extensions, hairpieces, and hair buns styled into a traditional look. There were two half-body shots and two full-body shots.

Shu Yuan was very confident. “They’ll definitely turn out great. I’ll keep four, and give you four. Consider it your payment.”

Shu He thought it was a great deal and beamed with joy. “Sure.”

——

On Saturday night, Shu Yuan brought Xiao Man and Chen Zai back to her mother’s house for dinner. They weren’t just freeloading. They brought money, ration coupons, and their own food staples. Sometimes they even bought some cooked dishes to improve the meal. Li Hongxia was quite happy to have them come over.

Just as they were about to return home after dinner, Tang Sufeng and Shu Hongguo, the pair of stepmother and stepdaughter who got along only on the surface, showed up at the door. Li Hongxia welcomed the two in and said slowly, “Out so late at night, what wind blew you two over here?”

Tang Sufeng turned her head, sweeping her gaze around the room, and fixed her eyes on Chen Zai. With a face full of forced smiles, she said, “Big Sister didn’t invite me again. I almost feel bad dropping by. Oh, is this the new son-in-law? Shu Yuan didn’t invite us to the wedding. If I hadn’t seen you here today, we wouldn’t even recognize each other if we passed on the street.”

Though her words were spoken with a smile, the tone of complaint was unmistakable. Li Hongxia glanced at her daughter and son-in-law, and her face instantly fell. These two had clearly known that Shu Yuan’s family would be coming for dinner and had deliberately chosen this time to show up. From the way they opened their mouths, it was obvious they had come to stir up trouble.

Both mother and daughter were openly sizing up Chen Zai. They had long heard that Shu Yuan’s partner was quite something, but only now, seeing him in person, did they realize the rumors were true. Chen Zai had the looks, the height, and hardly any flaws to be found. The mother and daughter both thought to themselves that Shu Yuan must have had incredible luck in the countryside to end up with someone like him.

Shu Yuan gave a cold laugh. They were still holding a grudge over not being invited to the wedding, and after bottling it up for so long, they finally couldn’t resist coming over to air their grievances.

She had expected this would happen sooner or later. In fact, she had been wanting to settle scores with them herself, but simply hadn’t had the time. Now that they had taken the initiative to show up, it saved her the trouble.

She turned her head and took Xiao Man’s little hand, then said to Chen Zai, who was standing beside her, “You take Xiao Man home first. I’ll stay here a bit longer.”

She didn’t think it was necessary for Chen Zai and Xiao Man to be exposed to the mess of what was about to unfold.

Chen Zai reached out, grabbed Xiao Man by the collar, and said, “Xiao Man, let’s go.”

Xiao Man looked at Shu Yuan, then at the newcomers. He could smell the tension in the air and sensed that his mother was about to argue with them. He really wanted to stay and help, but before he could even ask to stay, his father had already picked him up by the back of his shirt and carried him out.

After the two of them left, Shu He was the first to express her displeasure. “Shu Hongguo, they’re already gone and you’re still staring. You think my second brother-in-law is good-looking, don’t you? Look at how envious you are. I can practically smell the vinegar. Didn’t you say that if you had gone to the countryside, you’d have found someone like my second brother-in-law too? All the educated youth were desperate to return to the city. I’ve never seen anyone regret not going to the countryside like you do.”

Shu Hongguo reacted like a thief caught red-handed. Her face flushed instantly and she quickly retorted, “You’re talking nonsense.”

Tang Sufeng immediately picked up the thread. “Shu Yuan only found such a good partner because she went to the countryside, and I was the one who signed her up. Not only is she ungrateful, you all want to cut ties with us? She didn’t even invite us to the wedding. So now that you’ve climbed up the social ladder, you’re cutting off your poor relatives? Your whole family gets to enjoy the glory, while we’re laughed at in the staff housing compound. People keep asking us why we didn’t attend the wedding. I want an explanation right now. If you want to sever ties, just say it clearly, don’t go around insulting people.”

Li Hongxia’s blood pressure shot up from hearing that. She charged forward, ready to argue with Tang Sufeng, but Shu Yuan stopped her. Standing in front of Li Hongxia, she spoke calmly.

“Second Aunt, since you brought up signing me up for the countryside program, what right did you have to sign me up? You were an outsider. Who gave you the authority? The only reason you managed it was because you colluded with your cousin working at the subdistrict office.”

After the registration was submitted, the subdistrict office began urging her to leave. Given the situation at the time, Shu Yuan had no choice but to pack her things and head to the countryside as soon as possible.

Faced with the questioning, Tang Sufeng became unreasonable. “An outsider? I’m your second aunt by blood, and you call me an outsider? If it weren’t for me signing you up, would you have been able to marry Chen Zai? At best, you would’ve ended up with a factory worker. Have I heard a single ‘thank you’ from you?”

She hadn’t expected that sending Shu Yuan to the countryside would end up benefitting her, essentially helping her land a great match. That thought made her deeply resentful.

Shu Yuan let out a mocking laugh. “When I was chopping wood in the dead of winter, getting frostbite on my hands and feet, I really should’ve thanked your whole family. Where’s Second Uncle? He should be here for this. Let’s talk it through. Doesn’t your family owe me something?”

Tang Sufeng glared. “Owe you what?”

Shu Yuan’s tone turned sharper. “Don’t pretend to be clueless when you know exactly what I mean. Work!”

At the mention of work, Shu He gave Shu Hongguo a snort and said, “I’ll go find Second Uncle right now.”

Li Hongxia felt incredibly pleased hearing how sharp-tongued and articulate Shu Yuan was. Ever since Shu Daqing passed away, she and her daughters had faced all kinds of gossip. But now, she didn’t need to fight all the battles herself anymore. Shu Yuan could stand her ground on her own.

When Shu Yuan brought up the topic of work, Tang Sufeng felt a moment of guilt, but she quickly doubled down and insisted on being unreasonable to the end.

She spoke with righteous indignation. “Isn’t it just your father’s job? Your second uncle is his own brother, and you’re his own daughter. Why shouldn’t a younger brother take over the job? The two brothers were closest to each other. The person your dad cared about the most was your second uncle.”

Li Hongxia was so angry her teeth itched. She spat back, “Nonsense. His dying words were for Shu Yuan to take over the job. Did he ever say he wanted his younger brother to do it?”

She had thought that the issues of secretly signing Shu Yuan up for the countryside program and stealing the job post were matters of the past, long buried and not worth digging up again. But since this family had come to provoke them, and Shu Yuan had already started, there was no harm in bringing up old scores.

Shu Yuan held onto Li Hongxia’s arm and said, “Mom, save your breath. We’ll talk when Second Uncle arrives. We should call Cao Qiang over too.”

Tang Sufeng and her daughter were quite confused. They had come to demand answers about not being invited to the wedding, how had it suddenly turned into a discussion about the job?

The Shu mother and daughter seemed like they had taken something strange today. Their firepower was unusually strong.

Shu Ping quickly brought over Shu Erqing. Tang Sufeng immediately put on a pitiful act, launching into a round of complaints as soon as she entered. But Li Hongxia wasn’t one to indulge her. What followed was a sharp exchange of words between the two women, their verbal sparring fierce and relentless.

Shu Erqing sat hunched in a chair, pretending to be a harmless nice guy, not saying a word. Shu Yuan glanced at him a few times, then opened her mouth. “Second Uncle, you took over my dad’s job, but then you gave that job to Cao Qiang. Your family stole my job and gave it to him, right? What does your stepson have to do with my dad? Do you think you’ve done right by him?”

Shu Erqing shrank back like a quail and looked to his wife. Under her frantic winking and gesturing, he finally mumbled, “Shu Yuan, I’m your dad’s own brother. Giving the job to a blood brother was reasonable.”

Shu Yuan let out a cold laugh. “Before he died, my dad said the job should go to me. He never said to give it to you. If he knew you two teamed up to steal his job and gave it to your stepson, and even got me sent to the countryside, he wouldn’t be able to rest in his grave. Second Uncle, don’t you feel guilty? Can you really sleep at night? My dad hasn’t come back to haunt you?”

Shu Erqing’s face darkened. For a moment, he couldn’t think of anything to say. Tang Sufeng, furious at how useless he was with words, had to jump in herself again. She stomped on the leg of his chair and said harshly, “Shu Yuan, I’ll say it again. Finding such a good man was all thanks to me signing you up for the countryside. It’s been so many years, and now you’ve got a job too. Why bring this up again? You’re just trying to make trouble.”

As if swallowing injustice back then made it any less painful now!

Shu Yuan stared at Tang Sufeng, the corners of her lips lifting. “Second Aunt, maybe you didn’t know. I nearly drowned in a flood while I was in the countryside. That was your doing too, wasn’t it?”

Tang Sufeng was stunned. Her mouth hung open, but no words came out.

Li Hongxia froze, her voice trembling. “Shu Yuan, what did you say? You almost drowned?”

Shu Yuan held onto Li Hongxia’s arm to calm her. “But I’m fine now, aren’t I?”

She wasn’t interested in trading insults. No matter how shameless or unreasonable these two were, she had her demands to make. “You got the job, and Cao Qiang smoothly found a partner and got married, collecting wages for six or seven years. And what about me? I was farming. Now, I’m asking you to give the job back to me. On top of that, I want compensation, eight hundred yuan. Not a coin less.”

Tang Sufeng was dumbfounded. Her mind stalled for a few seconds before she shouted, “What did you say? Give the job back to you?”

They had come here to accuse Shu Yuan, but somehow the conversation had turned into a demand for them to return the job?

Shu Erqing was startled by his wife’s sharp tone. He gave a full-body shiver and shrank back again, then sluggishly said, “But doesn’t Shu Yuan already have a job? Why bring up these old, moldy matters?”

Just moments ago, hearing Shu Yuan say she had almost drowned, Li Hongxia was overwhelmed with sadness. But now her anger surged, and she pointed straight at Shu Erqing’s nose. “You stole her job, forcing Shu Yuan to go to the countryside. After she came back, she was unemployed for over a year. That job must be returned. If not, I’ll go straight to the factory leaders.”

Shu Yuan, by contrast, spoke in a much calmer tone. “Second Aunt, you had a very capable cousin. Back then, no one could match his influence. You used your cousin and your cousin’s wife to snatch my job, didn’t you? But now that cousin of yours has been reassigned to a dead-end position, hasn’t he?”

Tang Sufeng was left speechless, her eyes wide in disbelief.

Li Hongxia, still seething, said, “Shu Erqing, look at your brother’s memorial portrait and say it, return the job.”

Shu He finally chimed in, “Return the job, or Dad will come back at night to settle the score with you.”

Of course, neither of them gave a clear answer. Shu Yuan knew they would need some time to think it over. As the two of them walked out the building, Tang Sufeng began hitting and scolding Shu Erqing in frustration, furious that he was so useless when it came to speaking up.

When Shu Hongguo spotted Chen Zai standing under the parasol tree, her gaze was instantly drawn to him, and her cheeks flushed red. However, Chen Zai swiftly turned around, lifting Xiao Man by the back of his collar.

Shu Hongguo was caught off guard by the cold shoulder. “…”

Back home at last, Shu Hongguo started sighing. “Shu Yuan really has good fortune. Her man is now the chief physician at the Fifth Hospital. Back when he was in the northwest, he was the hospital director. He’s young, highly skilled, and I heard people even go to the Fifth Hospital specifically to see him.”

He was good-looking, came from a good family, and had even arranged an emergency transfer back from the northwest just for Shu Yuan and Xiao Man. That alone showed how much he cared for the mother and son. Why couldn’t she find someone like that? Why was she stuck marrying a worker from the liquor factory?

Tang Sufeng had heard all this too, and it made her even angrier. Having a doctor as a relative would’ve made it so convenient to get medical care, but now they couldn’t even get a bit of that benefit.

Fueled by frustration, she snorted, “You’re good-looking too. I’m sure you can find a man even better than Shu Yuan’s.”

She began calculating. They had raised Shu Hongguo all these years, and her dowry couldn’t be less than Shu Yuan’s, at least six hundred yuan. That would go straight to Cao Lei as the bride price. With six hundred in hand, what kind of woman couldn’t Cao Lei marry?

Shu Erqing cut off her daydreaming. “Don’t start thinking about matchmaking just yet. They’re trying to take the job back.”

——

Shu Yuan confirmed with Li Hongxia, “Mom, I wasn’t just venting. I really do want the job back. I can’t let them have it for nothing. Shu Ping is still a temporary worker with no hope of becoming permanent. Giving the job to her would be perfect.”

Shu He agreed. “That’s a great idea. I was still young when Second Sister went to the countryside, but I remember being really angry. If we can get the job back, it’ll be like finally getting justice.”

Despite having put up a fierce front earlier, Li Hongxia’s mind was actually a mess. She was so angry her brain felt like it had short-circuited. Waving her hand, she said, “It’s not that easy. Too much time has passed. Digging up the past won’t be simple. Let me think about it.”