Chapter 49: Three Turns and One Ring

“Mom, what was up with that dead girl today? Why was she so easygoing?”

“Who knows? Don’t worry about it.”

“Old man, we definitely can’t kill the pig.”

Su Daguo puffed on his pipe, exhaling smoke rings: “Tomorrow, take two pig legs to her.”

“Isn’t one enough? Two would cost a lot of money.”  Thinking about giving so much money to that dead girl, she felt suffocated.

Su Daguo looked up and stared intently at Li Cuihua.

“They have at least ten thousand yuan now.”

“You casually asked, and you got one or two hundred yuan back.  It’s just a little meat; you’re not willing to give it, and you still want money in the future?”

The old man didn’t get angry, but his calm stare made Li Cuihua afraid.

Although Li Cuihua usually spoke the loudest, Su Daguo was the real head of the family; Li Cuihua was just a pawn.

Su Peng looked at Li Cuihua disdainfully.

“Mom, when will you stop being so stingy? That dead girl is so rich; it’ll all be ours later.”

Li Cuihua lowered her head in fear: “I know, I’ll buy her pig legs tomorrow.”

“Son, give me some of the hundred-plus yuan you got.”

Su Peng wasn’t willing to give up the money he had.

“Mom, I haven’t taken Xiaoxiu out to play in a long time. If I don’t take her out, she might go out with someone else.”

“People have been asking her to watch movies every day, but she hasn’t gone.”

“Going out requires food and drinks, and I need to buy Xiaoxiu two outfits. I’ll keep this money.”

“When I marry Xiaoxiu, we’ll have two children in three years, and you and Dad will become grandparents.”

Li Cuihua was still unwilling: “If you don’t give me money, what will I buy pig legs with tomorrow? Even if you go out to play with Xiaoxiu, it won’t cost one or two hundred yuan.”

“Mom!” Su Peng was impatient.

“You’re always so stingy; nothing’s ever good enough. When will your daughter-in-law ever agree to marry?”

“It’s so annoying.”

When her son got angry, Li Cuihua immediately became weak: “Oh, I was just talking; why are you so angry? Okay, okay, you keep the money; take Xiaoxiu out to play.”

“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry…”

But after Li Cuihua finished speaking, Su Daguo coughed twice beside her.

He tapped his pipe twice, knocking off the ashes.

“Taking Xiaoxiu out to play won’t cost that much.”

“Give your mother a hundred yuan.”

“Dad!” Su Peng was unwilling.

Su Daguo glared at his son.

Su Peng reluctantly pulled out a hundred yuan from his pocket and threw it at Li Cuihua’s face.

“Here, here, here, is that enough?”

Su Daguo continued: “Xiaoxiu isn’t your wife yet; don’t be so foolish and spend too much on her.”

“If she really likes you, she would have married you already.”

“I’m afraid she’s just stringing you along, wanting your money.”

“Use your head.”

“Take her out today and tell her that the family is willing to provide the ‘three turns and one ring’ and 150 yuan as a bride price. Ask her if she’s willing to marry you. If she is, arrange for someone to propose to her family.”

“Our offer is pretty good. If she still makes excuses, you’ll know what’s up.”

Su Daguo shouldn’t have said these things, but his wife was too foolish.

He had to advise his son himself.

Hearing this, Su Peng patted his chest happily: “Don’t worry, Dad, 150 yuan as a bride price is a lot, plus the ‘three turns and one ring’; who can afford that?”

“Once I tell Xiaoxiu, she’ll definitely agree.”

“Xiaoxiu likes me.”

“Mm.” Su Daguo packed more tobacco into his pipe and said nothing more.

“Then, Dad, I won’t be home for dinner tonight; I’m going to see Xiaoxiu.”

“I’m taking Xiaoxiu out to play.”

Su Daguo stopped his son.

“Go tomorrow.”

“Why?”

Su Daguo didn’t let go: “Listen to me.”

“Maybe she’ll come looking for you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

By tomorrow night, news of Su Ai being a ten-thousand-yuan household would spread far and wide.

Su Daguo didn’t think Xiaoxiu was a good person; if she was after money, she would definitely come tomorrow.

But he couldn’t tell his son that.

Su Peng was clueless.  Early the next morning, before he even woke up, he heard Xiaoxiu’s voice outside.

Su Peng sat up abruptly.

Xiaoxiu had actually come.

Xiaoxiu was wearing a red sweater, her hair in two pigtails tied with red rubber bands. She had fair skin and a slender figure. As soon as she entered the house, she received a warm welcome from Li Cuihua.

“Xiaoxiu, have a seat; I’ll get you some sweet drink.”

“Have you eaten? If not, I’ll cook you an egg?”

“Su Peng is still asleep; I’ll wake him up.”

Xiaoxiu politely greeted her aunt and uncle upon entering the house, then replied: “I have eaten, Auntie. I just finished eating; I don’t need anything to drink. You don’t have to bother. I’m here to go to the city with Su Peng today. Is he free?”

Su Peng, still in his slippers, ran out of the room: “Yes, yes.”

“Xiaoxiu, wait for me; I’ll wash my face quickly.”

Xiaoxiu smiled and nodded.

Soon, Su Peng was ready, carrying money and a few boiled eggs, and went out.

“Mom, you don’t need to make lunch for me; I’ll eat out with Xiaoxiu.”

A faint smile appeared on Xiaoxiu’s face.  They took a bus to the city together.

As soon as they got off the bus, Xiaoxiu took a deep breath. The bus smelled bad, and Su Peng was eating boiled eggs next to her; the smell was unbearable.

“Xiaoxiu, let’s go watch a movie; I’ll treat you.”

“Okay.”

Walking side-by-side, Xiaoxiu finally had a chance to inquire.

“Su Peng, I heard that your sister is a ten-thousand-yuan household now?”

“She’s amazing.”

Su Peng nodded proudly: “It’s true; they had a ceremony with gongs and drums yesterday.”

“And my sister gave me two hundred yuan to take you out to play.”

Su Peng pulled out a handful of money from his pocket; Xiaoxiu’s eyes lit up.

“Your sister has such a good relationship with you.”

“I heard that your sister doesn’t like your mother?”

Su Peng knew Su Ai didn’t like their family, but he wouldn’t say that in front of Xiaoxiu.

“My sister doesn’t like my mother, but she’s good to me; after all, I’m her only brother.”

“My mother and sister don’t get along.”

“So if my mother asks for money, my sister definitely won’t give it, but if I ask, my sister will give it without a word.”

“My sister gave me so much money so I can quickly get married, Xiaoxiu~”

Su Peng reached out and took Xiaoxiu’s hand.