Chapter 13: The Vicious Female Supporting Character in the 1980s (13)

Su Qin followed Cheng Wenfeng back to his home.

Pushing open the yard gate, Su Qin looked inside and sighed with envy, “It’s really nice to have a yard. So quiet. Living alone is really free.”

Cheng Wenfeng followed her inside and suddenly said, “Are you free? I want you to accompany me for a New Year’s Eve dinner.”

Su Qin’s expression flickered slightly. She forced a smile and self-mocked, “I’ve been kicked out. I haven’t eaten anything yet. I’m starving.”

“You shouldn’t say unlucky things during the New Year. Sit for a bit. I’ll go steam some dumplings,” Cheng Wenfeng said as he carried the dumplings to the kitchen and started a fire.

Cheng Lan originally wanted to keep him for the New Year’s Eve dinner today, but he insisted on leaving.

After becoming an adult, he avoided troubling Cheng Lan whenever possible. He didn’t want to add any burden to her or her family.

Su Qin followed him into the kitchen. She pulled over a stool and sat by the stove to warm herself, watching him busy around.

Cheng Wenfeng steamed dumplings, then took out some sauerkraut from the cellar to stew with vermicelli, and also fried some braised spare ribs.

He must have cooked often before. He moved calmly and skillfully through the steps.

After the meal was ready, Cheng Wenfeng set the kang table and served the dishes one by one. Then he took out two metal boxes.

“Are these canned food?” Su Qin asked.

“Yes.” Cheng Wenfeng opened both cans and put them in front of her. “Try them with me. I’ve never eaten them.”

One can had canned hairtail fish; the other had canned luncheon meat.

In this era, these were rare items. When Su Qin was little, she had seen canned food in supermarkets and had longed for it. As she grew up, she rarely saw such cans and never tried them.

“What a rich meal!” Su Qin sincerely said with a grateful tone.

Cheng Wenfeng served her a bowl of rice and said slowly, “I recently ran some foreign trade orders. I bought some things I never tried before, but I always ate alone and never took them out to try.”

“I have been alone all my life,” Su Qin blurted out, then realized her mistake and quickly changed, “My father doesn’t care about me anyway. But being alone is still better than now.”

She picked up some canned hairtail fish. The crispy sweet taste was delicious, making her eyes droop at the corners, “So good!”

Seeing her satisfied look, Cheng Wenfeng’s lips curved slightly.

Su Qin was indeed very hungry but ate slowly and carefully. She listened intently to the firecracker sounds outside and occasionally looked toward the window, feeling a trace of the New Year atmosphere.

At Su’s home, unless necessary, she stayed in her room, felt no sense of belonging, and avoided contact with Liu Mei and Father Su.

What others looked forward to during the New Year only increased her loneliness and sadness.

She didn’t have a home—never had, and still didn’t.

“By the way, do you know where there are rental houses?” Su Qin looked up and asked Cheng Wenfeng.

Cheng Wenfeng didn’t ask why she wanted to rent a place. He thought for a moment and said, “It’s hard to find public rental housing now. Most are private houses and a bit more expensive. I’ll help you look.”

“Okay.” Su Qin nodded.

The two ate quietly, seldom chatting, but the atmosphere was harmonious and even warm.

Cheng Lan had been urging Cheng Wenfeng, nagging him that he really needed to marry a wife. Having someone to accompany him, someone who understands when he’s cold or hot, and then having a child would make things lively. Only then would he truly understand the value of having a home.

He had originally dismissed the idea, but at this moment, he felt somewhat touched and a longing grew in his heart.

It seemed that having a woman at home was indeed quite nice.

After dinner, Cheng Wenfeng took the box of chocolates from the drawer and handed it to Su Qin.

“There are snacks too, thank you.” Su Qin did not refuse but did not take the whole box either. She tore open the wrapper and tried one piece.

The chocolate melted instantly in her mouth, rich and soft in texture.

“It smells good, you should try one too.” Su Qin urged him.

Cheng Wenfeng kept one piece for himself but gave the whole box to her.

Holding the box of chocolates, Su Qin no longer pushed it back and forth. She took a closer look and saw it was imported. How rare.

Cheng Wenfeng was really a good person.

If he hadn’t fallen for Su Yue, he probably could have found a good woman to marry and not suffer in love.

Thinking this, Su Qin’s saintly heart flared up again, wanting to save him once more.

She suppressed the thought firmly for now since it was getting late. She stood up to leave, and Cheng Wenfeng followed her out.

Su Qin said, “You should go back.”

“It’s not safe at night. I’ll see you off.” Cheng Wenfeng closed the yard door and walked alongside her.

Su Qin intended to refuse but looked at the pitch-dark alley and the occasional flickering lights. She swallowed the words and said, “Sorry to trouble you.”

“No problem. I’m heading to He Peng’s place anyway. I have something to talk to him about.”

They walked forward, chatting casually along the way.

Su Qin learned that Cheng Wenfeng helped transport boards in his spare time and unload them, and casually asked, “What kind of boards? Are they easy to sell?”

“Currently not bad, but will sell better in the future.” Cheng Wenfeng explained, “Boards are mostly used for new house renovations. After the educated youth return to the city, housing will be scarce. More and more people will build houses. Demand for boards will increase. Few people do this business, so profit margins are large.”

Su Qin was surprised by Cheng Wenfeng’s far-sightedness. He seemed to see decades ahead. No wonder he was a future business tycoon. She said, “So you want to work in this industry?”

Cheng Wenfeng did not hide it, answering directly, “Once I understand the trade well, I plan to try on my own first.”

“So delivering goods isn’t just to earn extra money, but to learn the trade.” Su Qin understood. This was a true business tycoon, always ahead of others.

She admired Cheng Wenfeng. He could still find time to work an extra job at night and unload goods.

“Small businesses are developing well. You don’t have to be a formal employee to succeed. There isn’t much difference.” Cheng Wenfeng said, then thought of Su Qin still studying hard to enter university. He added, “But being a formal employee is also valued and stable.”

“Pfft,” Su Qin burst out laughing. “You don’t have to carefully protect my feelings. After university, I want to study for a master’s degree. I’m not aiming to be a formal employee. Who knows what will happen later? Formal employees aren’t stable.”

A few years later, there would be mass layoffs. More and more companies would privatize.

Cheng Wenfeng listened to her words, his eyes puzzled but said nothing. He pointed to a deep pit not far ahead, “Be careful.”

“Huh?” Su Qin didn’t react in time and almost stepped into it. She quickly jumped back, causing him to lean a little.

She immediately jumped to Cheng Wenfeng’s side and instinctively reached out to grab him.

Cheng Wenfeng froze for a moment. After she stood steady, she quickly let go, looking apologetic.

He shook his head expressionlessly and pretended nothing happened as he walked on.

She quietly sighed with relief and moved a bit farther away.

*

When Su Qin returned to the Su family home, everything seemed as if nothing had happened. She went straight to her room.

Su Yue was lying on the bed. Seeing her come back, she breathed a sigh of relief and asked with concern, “Where did you go?”

“Nowhere.” Su Qin walked to the table and put her textbooks back in the box.

Su Yue looked at her and hesitated before asking, “I will be tutoring Hui’er at Aunt Zhou’s place in a few days. Do you want me to tutor you too?”

Su Qin’s college entrance exam results were far worse than hers. Su Yue thought she could easily tutor her and maybe improve their relationship.

“Do you understand this problem?” Su Qin handed her a difficult math problem from the table.

Su Yue took it and studied seriously. Sweat formed on her forehead. The more she looked, the more anxious she became. She had no clue.

“Forget it. If you can’t even do this, how can you tutor me?” Su Qin took the problem back and put it in the box.

“You are always so arrogant.” Su Yue couldn’t help but say, “You never appreciate others’ kindness. I sincerely treat you like a sister and hope you live well.”

Why couldn’t the two of them get along?

“If you truly treated me as a sister, are you afraid I won’t take good care of Zhou Zhiyuan, so you personally stepped in?” Su Qin’s words carried a few mocking and sarcastic tones.

Su Yue was silenced by the retort. Her face turned pale and she couldn’t reply. Tears welled up in her eyes. She bit her lip and endured with difficulty, “You’re too much.”

“You’re shameless.” Su Qin’s expression showed rare anger. Thinking of Cheng Wenfeng, she warned Su Yue sharply, “I said I don’t care if you’re with Zhou Zhiyuan. But can you stop attracting other men? Do you want to prove your charm by ruining several others?”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Su Yue quickly refuted.

Su Qin wasn’t a man, so she didn’t fall for that whole “feeling sorry” act. She narrowed her eyes and warned her, “You chose Zhou Zhiyuan, so you’d better be serious about being with him. If I find out you’re messing with someone else again, I’ll hang a banner, hire a few suona players, and have them play at your school gate to spread the word about your ‘deeds’—let everyone see what kind of person you really are.”

Su Yue had never heard such a thing. She immediately turned pale, color drained from her face. Looking at Su Qin’s sharp and icy expression, a chill spread from her feet upwards, making her feel like she was in an ice cellar, trembling all over.

She stammered, “Why are you like this—”

“Shut up!” Su Qin said coldly.

All night long, Su Yue hid under the covers crying. She bit her teeth hard, not daring to cry loudly because Su Qin’s patience was limited.

The morning of the first day of the lunar new year.

Su Qin had just woken up and gone to wash up. When she came back, she saw Zhou Zhiyuan standing in the corridor, waiting just for her.

Again, it was all for Su Yue.

Su Qin’s expression showed disgust. She ignored him and walked forward.

Zhou Zhiyuan was about to speak, but she cut him off directly: “I only want her to live properly with you, not to let down how brave you were to go against morality to be with her. Am I wrong? Or did she say something to you?”

Su Qin’s eyes were clear, leaving Zhou Zhiyuan momentarily speechless. He finally changed his words: “I heard you went out alone last night. I was just worried about you.”

“Oh, no need for you to worry.”

Su Qin said and walked away.

Liu Mei obviously did not want to hand over the money Li Wen left behind. Father Su had already given the money to her. Why would money already in her pocket be spat out?

So she was even more friendly to Su Qin: “Xiao Qin, do you want some noodles? Aunt Mei will cook you a bowl for breakfast.”

“No thanks.” Su Qin stopped walking and looked at her. “I’ve thought it through. It’s fine if my dad doesn’t let me go to university. He must agree to let me take over in the future.”

Hearing this, Liu Mei’s face changed drastically.

It should be known, she was even younger than Father Su. Because she was clever and capable, she did well in the village. Back then, the production team leader even wanted to marry her. One important reason she married Father Su was because Father Su’s work needed someone to succeed him, and there was no son yet.

Su Qin ignored her reaction and looked around inside the house: “This house, it must also be left to me.”

“You—” Liu Mei almost lost control of her emotions, her face twisted, “I—I’ll go tell your dad.”

This matter was undoubtedly like throwing a bomb into the water. On the morning of the first day of the new year, the Su family was in chaos. Father Su flew into a rage. Looking at Su Qin, his eyes were wide with anger, his whole body trembling: “I’m not dead yet, and you’re already thinking about this!”

“Aren’t you the one who wants me to get married early? You want to kick me out. Shouldn’t I think about myself?”

Su Qin was fearless, every word clear: “Either return the money my mother left, or sign a document to confirm that the house and succession are mine.”

In the past, Liu Mei who always stopped Father Su was calm and standing aside this time. She pursed her lips and frowned, even more anxious than Father Su.

“Don’t even think about it!” Father Su said through gritted teeth.

“I will go to my uncle to settle this. Last time I met him, he specifically asked me if the money my mother left was given to me. I said yes.”

Su Qin said sharply, “Where is the money? The money my mother left?”

Father Su’s anger was instantly suppressed.

The uncle Su Qin mentioned was Li Wen’s brother. He was recently transferred to work in the city’s public security bureau. Father Su could be a master worker at the canning factory only because of the chance given by the Li family.

If the Li family pursued this matter, Father Su might even lose his job.

Liu Mei was only a temporary worker, and she realized how serious the matter was. She anxiously paced in place, then tried to reason: “Xiao Qin, your dad doesn’t mean that. He didn’t stop you from going to university. You misunderstood him.”

Go ahead and take the exam, even if it means going far away. At most, she would marry late or lose the betrothal money. If they made more trouble, they might even lose their jobs.

Father Su said nothing and was forced to concede.

“You’re right. I probably won’t get into university. I won’t take it,” Su Qin said firmly. “Maybe I’ll be kicked out one day. I want the money my mother left, or my dad must immediately agree that the house is mine and I’m the successor!”

She really didn’t want to stay with these monsters anymore.

“Keep dreaming!”

Before Father Su finished, Liu Mei pulled him back and smiled apologetically again, “Your dad doesn’t mean that—”

“He does mean that. You’re the same. You want to kick me out. You keep introducing guys to me because you’re just tired of me taking up space at home.”

Su Qin squeezed out a few tears and then broke down crying. She shouted passionately: “You’re just bullying me because my mom died early. My uncle said, if anything happens, I can go find him anytime. I’m going to find my uncle now. I’ll make him destroy you all!”

She said and tried to rush out.

“Xiao Qin.” Liu Mei was really scared and tried desperately to stop her. “Aunt Mei begs you, don’t be like this with your dad. Your dad’s things are all yours. No one’s taking them from you. Don’t do this.”

She said and hugged Su Qin tightly, crying.

“Let go of me! I’m going to find my uncle!” Su Qin pushed Liu Mei with all her strength, slapping her several times. She was willful and wild. “Get away, all of you get away!”

Liu Mei was stunned by the slaps and kept trying to calm her down.

“Go away!”

“Xiao Qin, calm down.”

“Slap!”

Su Qin “accidentally” slapped Liu Mei on the face. The sharp slap echoed clearly. Liu Mei’s head swung to one side. Five palm-shaped red marks instantly appeared on her face.

The air became silent. Su Yue gasped.

Father Su, who had just been scared off by Su Qin threatening to tell on him, now saw Liu Mei being hit and took the chance to pull her back: “What are you doing?!”

Su Qin stared blankly at her hand and suddenly burst into tears, sobbing and apologizing: “Aunt Mei, I’m sorry. I—I didn’t mean it.”

She had used too much force. Her palm was hurting.

But it felt satisfying.

The one she slapped was this hypocritical, fake woman.

Liu Mei’s ears were ringing from the slap. Her face burned in pain. She swallowed hard, forcing a smile: “I’m fine. Don’t be angry with your dad. Don’t be impulsive.”

Su Qin looked at the quickly swelling half of Liu Mei’s face and “reluctantly” stopped causing trouble. Before going back to her room, she threw out a sentence: “Think carefully. My eldest uncle said, my dad’s position should belong to me.”

In fact, Su Qin had never met the Li family.

When Li Wen married Father Su, her whole family was against it. But Li Wen was stubborn. After conflicts with the newly arrived sister-in-law, the Li family gradually distanced themselves from her.

Afterwards, the two elders of the Li family passed away, and Li Wen also died. Nobody cared about Su Qin’s life or death at all.

However, if Su Qin went to their door crying pitifully, Uncle Li would definitely show up. That alone was enough to intimidate the timid Father Su and the scheming Liu Mei.

Sure enough, Father Su didn’t say a word this time, and Liu Mei only dared to secretly cry in his arms after returning to her room.

Compared to the money Li Wen left behind, Father Su and Liu Mei’s two jobs were definitely more valuable, along with Father Su’s successor and the house.

Most importantly, they didn’t know how Uncle Li would ruin them, socially destroy them, or make them lose all face. The unknown was the scariest thing.

“I can’t stand this life anymore.” Liu Mei covered her mouth, tearful and aggrieved, sorrowfully saying, “Give her the money her mother left. I’ll give you all my money, you give it to her.”

Her body hurt as she spoke.

If a fight broke out, not only would they have to return the money, they might lose their jobs, and her son was still waiting to take over and move in to get married.

Of course, she wouldn’t actually give all her money. At most, she would take out the bride price Father Su gave her, then pretend to empty it out and add just a little more.

Father Su held Liu Mei close, trembling with anger all over, but what could he do?

That afternoon, Father Su went to talk to Su Qin.

“The money is yours. You move out of the house. This matter ends here.” Father Su looked at Su Qin with deep disgust, grinding his teeth as he pushed the money on the table, “You’ve spent a lot on school and food all these years. I didn’t count it in detail. Your mother left less than three thousand yuan. You spent two yuan a week on food at school, plus tuition fees, all in all about two thousand yuan over the years. I’m giving you one thousand.”

While Father Su spoke, Liu Mei clenched her fists tightly. She worked overtime to the point of exhaustion but didn’t even earn one hundred yuan a month. Saving one thousand yuan would take a long time.

It had taken half her life.

“Aren’t I your child? How come my mom raised me? This two thousand yuan, shouldn’t you pay half?” Su Qin asked.

“I’ve already counted it less for you.” Father Su shouted angrily.

Su Qin looked unconvinced and stood up, unwilling to continue the discussion.

At Liu Mei’s hint, Father Su twisted his face and forced out, “I’ll give you another five hundred.”

“Fine.” Su Qin agreed to continue talking.

Father Su went back to the room to get money but didn’t immediately hand it over to Su Qin. “If you take the money, we cut ties. You must write a receipt.”

Su Qin had already prepared the receipt in advance, signed and stamped with her fingerprint, laid it clearly on the table.

It plainly stated that she received the money left by her mother Li Wen, gave up all inheritance from her father, and would not bear any pension obligations.

Seeing the receipt, Liu Mei’s pain eased somewhat.

“By the way, what about my mother’s gold and silver jewelry? That should be mine too.” Su Qin suddenly spoke.

Father Su’s body stiffened, and Liu Mei looked puzzled.

What gold and silver jewelry?

Su Qin counted, “My uncle said my mother brought two gold bracelets, a pair of silver bangles, and a gold necklace as her dowry.”

Father Su opened his mouth but then, under Liu Mei’s gaze, nervously turned his head away.

“What about my mother’s dowry? That was meant for my own dowry!” Su Qin’s face darkened as she slammed the table.

Of course, she knew it was gone.

Before Liu Mei married in, Father Su had many relationships with other women, giving away small amounts to win their favor.

Just as Su Qin was about to make a scene, Liu Mei stepped in to calm her. She ruthlessly took out her own jewelry to stand in as Li Wen’s belongings.

These were mostly things she had collected during her two marriages and her time as the production team leader’s ‘girlfriend’.

They were meant for her son’s future marriage.

Liu Mei’s heart was bleeding; it felt like she was scraping flesh.

“There was also a pair of gold earrings.” Su Qin didn’t really remember and was making it up, but she had seen Liu Mei wearing them.

Father Su obviously didn’t remember either.

“Your father and I will look for it again.” Liu Mei endured the heartache and returned to the room.

That was her last pair of gold jewelry.

Liu Mei was too weak to even leave the room. After handing the gold earrings to Father Su, she collapsed weakly onto the bed, holding her chest, silently crying.

She didn’t dare cry out loud. Even the sobs had to be forcibly held back in her chest, filled with the taste of blood.

*

Su Qin got what she wanted without hesitation. She carefully revised the receipt again, then packed her luggage as fast as possible. She only took a few clothes and the box of books, and left without looking back.

Su Qin really had nowhere to go. Even staying at a hotel required a letter of introduction.

After thinking it over, she planned to stay one night at Liu Xiaoyan’s house and see if she could find a place to live quickly.

Not far from the dormitory, she saw Cheng Wenfeng and He Peng riding their old-fashioned bikes. The two seemed to be discussing something.

He Peng saw her and glanced twice, then joked, “On New Year’s Day, where are you going?”

The Su family had a few big fights before, but recently they heard that Su Qin was drawing something that got published, and things seemed calmer. Was she running away again?

Su Qin sensed his ill intentions and rolled her eyes at him without responding.

“Hey!” He Peng got more excited.

Cheng Wenfeng stopped the bike beside Su Qin before He Peng and asked, “Where are you going?”

Su Qin said, “I don’t know.”

“Give me the box.” Cheng Wenfeng parked the bike, reached out, and took the box from her.

It was full of books. Su Qin’s hands were sore from carrying it so far, so she handed it over.

Cheng Wenfeng put the box on the back seat, turned the bike around, and walked alongside Su Qin.

“Hey.” He Peng was stunned by this and called out, “Wenfeng?”

Cheng Wenfeng didn’t look back.

“Wenfeng?” He Peng looked confused and doubted his own life, “Cheng Wenfeng!”

That was Su Qin.

Last time she even snapped at you. This woman is still tangled up with Zhou Zhiyuan.

“He’s calling you,” Su Qin reminded Cheng Wenfeng.

Cheng Wenfeng said, “Ignore him.”

He Peng looked as if struck by lightning: “…”

Ignore him?

Forget a friend just because of a woman?

Su Qin definitely didn’t pay attention to He Peng. She walked while asking, “Have you found a place to live?”

“No.”

It was still the first day of the Lunar New Year. Everyone was staying with their family.

Su Qin sighed and glanced at her suitcase. “I was kicked out. Without a place to live, I have nowhere to go. I can only roam the streets.”

Cheng Wenfeng’s expression grew serious. “I will definitely help you find one today.”

“Actually, there’s no need to rush. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll just shamelessly stay a few days at Xiaoyan’s house,” Su Qin said.

“You will find one. Come to my place and wait for me first.” Cheng Wenfeng prepared to ride his bicycle immediately to search.

When Su Qin passed by his home, she saw a sign across the street saying the house was for sale. She stopped and asked, “Is this house for sale?”

“Yeah. Should I ask if it’s for rent?”

Cheng Wenfeng’s home had two large tile-roofed houses. It was livable, but since Su Qin was a girl and reputation mattered, she naturally couldn’t live with him.

Su Qin shook her head. “No, I want to buy it.”

Cheng Wenfeng was a bit surprised but didn’t question her. “I’ll go ask.”

Within less than an hour, he returned with the landlord — a thin elderly lady who quietly sized up Su Qin and then looked at Cheng Wenfeng before taking out the key to open the door.

Because no one had lived there for a while and the house was old, the courtyard gate was rotten and broken. Inside was a yard with only one old house surrounded by many weeds.

The old lady said, “I only sell, don’t rent. It’s 1,500 yuan, no bargaining. Otherwise, I would have sold it long ago.”

Cheng Wenfeng looked at Su Qin. She directly agreed, “1,500 is 1,500. Can I pay you tomorrow?”

The old lady didn’t expect her to be so straightforward and paused, then said, “Okay.”

They returned to Cheng’s home. Cheng Wenfeng considered and asked, “Do you need help?”

“Yes.” Su Qin didn’t hesitate and took out gold jewelry given by Liu Mei. “I need you to help me sell these. I have to raise money.”

“All right.”

…

Su Qin gave all the money she had to Cheng Wenfeng and entrusted him to handle the matter.

That day, she went to Liu Xiaoyan’s home, where she was warmly welcomed.

Su Qin gave Liu Xiaoyan a few pieces of chocolate that she got from Cheng Wenfeng. Liu Xiaoyan was thrilled and pulled along a man wearing glasses, introducing, “This is my brother. He’s studying at the Agricultural University.”

“Hello, my name is Su Qin.”

“I’m Liu Sheng. I’ve heard about you from Xiaoyan for a long time,” Liu Sheng smiled politely.

“I haven’t thanked you for the books yet.” When Su Qin saw Liu Sheng, she gave up the idea of staying at the Liu home overnight. After a short while, she left.

Cheng Wenfeng saw her come back. His expression relaxed and he looked a little secretly happy.

Su Qin, however, wore a worried face. She looked up at him and said anxiously, “Cheng Wenfeng, I have nowhere to go.”