Chapter 22: He was the last one to know about his son’s marriage?

Su Nan teased, “Auntie Chen, you spoil them too much.  I say, give each boy half a candy, and you keep the rest.” Chen Xiulan retorted, “Your girl gets so much candy, and my boys only get two each? That’s not fair!” In her opinion, girls’ candy should go to the boys. “Girls are precious; without girls, there’s no future for humanity.” Su Nan, a 95-after in the modern era, remembered seeing this slogan as a child.

 It was the slogan she most agreed with. He Xiaomei and Song Chunxiao looked at Su Nan with respect.  Good ideological awareness!

 “What’s wrong with girls?” “Aren’t you a woman yourself?” He Xiaomei rolled her eyes at Chen Xiulan. Her health wasn’t good; she might only have this one child. Qingdai was her life; no one could bully her! “I didn’t have candy when I was a child.” Chen Xiulan remembered that when she was a child, the boys got the best food first; the girls only got what was left. 

She grew up like that and didn’t see anything wrong with it. “That’s because your family was biased, you weren’t loved in your original family.”

 “People like that grow up with psychological issues; the biggest sign is following the older generation’s preference for sons over daughters.” Su Nan said seriously. Chen Xiulan didn’t care; everyone around her was like that, and no one thought anything of it. Daughters were burdens; they were married off, unlike sons who were the pillars of the family. “Su Nan, when you have children, you won’t say that.”

“Sons support you in old age, daughters belong to other families. Think about it, which is more important?” Su Nan countered, “If something happened to your family after you got married, wouldn’t you care?” Chen Xiulan choked.  If something happened to her family, how could she not care? She wanted to be a hands-off wife after marriage, but her family always sent messages, asking for money or things.

She was only a temporary worker at the machinery factory with low pay and a heavy workload; several times, she almost couldn’t cope, but jobs were hard to find, so she had to persevere. Her husband’s family hadn’t divided their property; most of his wages went to his mother, so she didn’t have much money.  Whenever she saved a little, a message from her family would empty her savings. Seeing her child grow older, she had become selfish. But the messages from her family were hard to refuse.

  She didn’t know what to do. Chen Xiulan snapped out of it, absentmindedly saying, “I’ll help.” “But definitely not as much as my older and younger brothers.” As soon as she finished, the first dish, stir-fried morning glory, was served.  Everyone stopped talking and started eating. At a table with so many people, those who were slow would go hungry, so no one dared to be slow. Song Chunfeng looked at the empty plates and said loudly, “Everyone, eat your fill tonight!” “Don’t rush!”

Although everyone agreed, the second dish was gone in seconds. Su Nan divided her potatoes, giving two slices to Song Chunfeng, “It’s fine, everyone can eat as much as they want.” Everyone’s eating speed was ingrained; if they tried to eat slower, they’d forget when the next dish arrived. Five dishes were served; some had already eaten their fill. Each dish was a large portion, well-prepared, and tasted good.

  Most importantly, everyone got a full bowl of golden chicken soup with chicken bones, red dates, goji berries, longans, and candied dates. “After this nourishing soup, let’s make a baby tonight!” Yao Ying said to Song Chunfeng and Su Nan. Su Nan considered herself thick-skinned, but her face felt hot; she was embarrassed. Song Chunfeng silently drank two large bowls… Su Nan’s face reddened even more.

 “Spicy chicken, chicken stewed with mushrooms, konjac braised duck—everyone gets some!” These three dishes were served last. Everyone was almost full, and seeing so much meat, they didn’t fight over it. Everyone got a small bowl of meat, eating until their mouths were oily. Su Nan touched her full belly and saw Song Tongzhou’s dark face. She tried to discreetly avoid him, but he looked at her with confusion and bewilderment. “Lao Song, why did you come back so late?” “It’s your son’s wedding today…

” Song Tongzhou couldn’t believe what he heard, shocked as he looked at Song Chunfeng. His son got married, and he was the last to know? After a while, he said in a deep voice, “Chunfeng, come with me.” Song Chunfeng comforted Su Nan with his eyes, indicating he’d be back soon, then quickly followed his father.

The Song family’s door was closed; muffled, suppressed voices came from inside. “You’re getting more capable; I’m the last to know about your marriage. Are you trying to make me a laughingstock?”

“What’s so good about that Su woman?” “With your status, you can marry any girl you want?” “Why did you choose her?” Song Tongzhou was angry not only because Song Chunfeng didn’t tell him about the wedding but also because, after learning that Song Chunfeng was a regiment commander, he had other plans. He wanted to introduce the textile factory director’s daughter to Song Chunfeng. His son was now a regiment commander; marrying the director’s daughter wouldn’t be considered climbing.

This would make him and the director in-laws, and becoming a workshop director wouldn’t be a problem. This great opportunity was ruined by Su Nan, and it pained him! A country girl, besides being pretty, how could she compare to the director’s daughter? She couldn’t help the Song family in their careers and made them the laughingstock of the whole compound!

“Dad, I should have hosted the wedding banquet, my brother and I would only assist, but you?” “You know what you did, I don’t need to say it.” “Everyone was waiting for you, you didn’t show up, should we just not eat?”

“And Xiaonuan is very good, I don’t like other women, I’ll only marry her!” “We’ve gotten our marriage certificate, she’ll join me in the army after my leave.  You don’t have to like her, I’ll take care of her!” Song Chunfeng’s words angered Song Tongzhou. He panted, “My son’s grown up, I can’t control him anymore, right?”