Chapter 11 Leaving

Su Jianshan suddenly paused. He raised his piercing black eyes and reflexively turned to look at Su Niannian. The latter cleared her throat twice. Su Jianshan decisively let go of Gu Shutong’s grip. His years of farm work had blessed him with immense physical strength, easily rendering Gu Shutong powerless. “It would’ve been much simpler if you’d just handed over the introduction letter to my sister. Why make a scene…?”

Song Aiguo said awkwardly, “Given the current situation, separation is best for everyone.” Gu Shutong stumbled to his feet and rushed to hide behind the team leader. His face was bruised and purple, his nasal bone still dripping with blood. “Su Niannian, don’t forget how you married in! My mother’s body isn’t even cold yet, and you want to follow the army to the Northwest? How convenient! You teamed up with your stupid brother to make a mess. Such careful schemes…!”

Su Niannian didn’t even look at him. Instead, she turned directly to Song Aiguo. “Team Leader, I’m not filing a complaint without evidence — please come and see for yourself.” In front of all the onlookers, Song Aiguo, in order to avoid suspicion, simply asked his wife, Niu Aihua, to follow her into the back room. The side room was a mess. The large wooden cabinet stood wide open, its two yellow-plaid dresses placed alongside the coarse men’s clothing — evidently recovered by Ma Hongmei. Su Niannian’s gaze glimmered quietly. “Those are mine.” Niu Aihua felt a rush of chills down her spine.

Gu Shutong, injured in his leg and normally sheltered by everyone due to his disability, was supposed to be a kind, vulnerable man — yet after this incident, his true colors were exposed. Without his mother’s oversight, there was no telling what scandal might follow. Thinking of this, Niu Aihua rushed out of the room with a thunderous expression, turned, and spit toward Gu Shutong. “Bastard! Pig-like creature! Old Song, hurry up and prepare the introduction letter for Xiao Su. The faster, the better.” Gu Shutong was confused and tried to protest, “Sister-in-law, I’m innocent… I…”

“That’s rich. Did you need us to point it out when you made Su clean your laundry the day after Zhiye left?” “Tsk, tsk… I heard it was a marriage meant for you, yet something went awry — no wonder you’re bitter.” “I’d choose Ma Hongmei over you with my eyes closed.” The crowd’s gossip directly nailed Gu Shutong to the pillar of shame, and there was no turning back.

Su Niannian performed “innocence” to perfection, tears glimmering in her eyes. Just by standing at Su Jianshan’s side, the community turned against Gu Shutong; nobody could bring themselves to blame her. Gu Shutong choked up with a mouthful of blood, his knees weakening, his knees giving way, while he kept cursing under his breath. Su Jianshan, seizing the moment, kicked him once more and then — feigning kindness — carried him off to the health center.

Meanwhile, Su Niannian followed Song Aiguo to get her introduction letter. On the way, Song Aiguo couldn’t help but ask, “Comrade Su… do you know… your mother’s death…?” “Team Leader, that’s something you shouldn’t ask. Oh, and I’m preparing to leave. Please help me collect everything Zhiye prepared. I’ll pick them up when I return. All the big items and the forty-six small ones — Zhiye chose them carefully, and I don’t want his efforts to be wasted. Team Leader, I’m sorry for troubling you…”
It was a reasonable request, and Song Aiguo nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep them safely. As for Gu Shutong, we’ll let him clean the pigsty for the next few months.”

This incident meant there was no chance for Su Niannian to stay in the Gu family. With Su Jianshan — a walking guardian — by her side, her previously nervous state fell away. She smiled quietly as she packed her bags. The lightweight clothes and the money secretly slipped to her by Wang Guifen were all taken with her, alongside her bank book. Whatever she couldn’t carry, the team, at her request, safely kept, and from then on, anything that came from the Northwest was to be received by the team, with not a single feather falling into the Gu couple’s hands.

Niu Aihua, smiling broadly, gladly accepted the half-foot of red cotton cloth Su Niannian gifted her.
When Ma Hongmei came back from her visit to her parents’ home, the skies fell in — not only was her man beaten black and blue, but all the valuable items had gone missing. She fell down and wailed: “Heavens! We’ve been robbed….”
Gu Shutong glanced at her quietly, turned, and locked his door.

Ma Hongmei rushed back toward the neighboring houses to inquire. The very next moment, she stormed back in, a wooden stick in her hand. “Gu Shutong! Get out here! Eating from your bowl while looking at someone else’s plate — what’s this supposed to be? I’ll break your third leg, you bastard!”

…

After leaving Lotus Village, even the air seemed fresher.

Su Niannian, wearing a pair of overalls, black leather shoes, and white socks, stood out in the bustling train station — a charming silhouette with a pair of fair, slender calves that glimmered in the sunlight — enough to make four or five young men contemplate offering their help. Su Jianshan came back from the ticket counter with a large bundle over his shoulder. “Sister! Got the tickets!” Su Niannian’s lips unconsciously curved upward in a smile. Just as she was about to reach down for her luggage, Su Jianshan effortlessly swooped it up, a corner of their tickets held between his lips. The two fell into step with the flow of the crowd. Once they were settled in their seats, Su Jianshan let out a contented sigh. Turning toward Su Niannian, he whispered, “Sister, why didn’t you let the team leader help you get the letter for the Black Province? At a time like that, he would certainly have gone along.” “Guess?” “Ah… to be with your brother-in-law, right? Didn’t think you liked him that much…” “It’s for myself.” Su Niannian’s voice was light, yet filled with a quiet happiness…