Chapter 18: The Vicious Female Supporting Character in the 1980s (18)

Su Qin saw Zhou Xiufang at the door repeatedly pounding on it, her face dark with anger, swearing without repeating herself.

At first, the neighbors inside didn’t respond. Only after Zhou Xiufang kicked the door did it slowly open.

“Mom—” Wang Zhuzhu looked at her timidly.

“You said you were going to Zhang Jiao’s house to study, but you came here to mess around with some wild man, didn’t you? How shameless are you?” Zhou Xiufang’s eyes were like fire. She grabbed Zhuzhu’s hand roughly and dragged her out. Her voice was sharp and harsh, cursing continuously, “Aren’t you ashamed? Huh? Aren’t you ashamed?”

“We didn’t do anything,” Wang Zhuzhu defended.

“Let me see which scoundrel this is.” Zhou Xiufang threw off her hand and rushed inside.

Wang Zhuzhu hurried to stop her. “Mom, mom—”

Su Qin didn’t get close to watch but listened from the corner, thoroughly enjoying the gossip.

The swearing from Zhou Xiufang was harsh and piercing.

At first, the young man ignored her and just wanted her to take Wang Zhuzhu away. But Zhou Xiufang rushed over and slapped him twice.

The fight escalated.

When Cheng Wenfeng brought the food over, Su Qin was listening in the corner with great interest.

He didn’t disturb her and quietly prepared the meal.

In the end, Wang Zhuzhu was forcibly dragged away by Zhou Xiufang and was slapped several times while crying as she left.

While eating, Su Qin complained angrily, “That man is really no good. At first, he was avoiding us, and he’s still hiding now—so outrageous! What a scumbag!”

“He often changes girlfriends. This isn’t the first time someone has caused a scene,” Cheng Wenfeng said.

“What? So he’s a bad guy?” Su Qin became even more upset. “I hate men who are unfaithful the most. Scumbags deserve a bad end!”

Especially those who play with other people’s feelings—people like that are the most hateful.

Cheng Wenfeng said, “He’s just a local street punk. He’s been here for five or six years, renting this little yard. Every so often, he brings a different woman home. The last one even came to cause trouble after being scammed out of money.”

Su Qin’s perception was updated again. She couldn’t think of any insults and grit her teeth, saying, “I curse him. People like that won’t have a good outcome.”

Although she didn’t like Zhou Xiufang, it didn’t stop her from hating scumbags just the same.

“Yeah, they’ll get their comeuppance sooner or later,” Cheng Wenfeng agreed, speaking seriously.

Su Qin glanced at Cheng Wenfeng out of the corner of her eye. Compared to that, he really was faithful and reliable.

Cheng Wenfeng kept a normal expression while eating, but his grip on the chopsticks tightened, revealing his turbulent inner feelings.

Most likely because of this matter, Zhou Xiufang was much quieter.

At least she no longer bragged every day in the workshop about how well Wang Zhuzhu scored, or how the teacher praised her. Everyone noticed she looked tired and had lost some weight.

Out of concern for his subordinate, Cheng Lan also asked a few questions, wondering if she was sick or had some other problem.

Zhou Xiufang directly denied it.

Later, Cheng Lan didn’t say anything else.

Su Qin also pretended not to know about this. She planned to cook a big meal this weekend to fulfill her promise and invite Liu Xiaoyan over for dinner.

When Liu Xiaoyan found out, she was very happy.

Su Qin thought that if it were just her and Liu Xiaoyan, since girls don’t eat much, and lately Cheng Wenfeng had been bringing her meals, she should invite him too.

A big man with two women around might feel a bit awkward.

He Peng was a chatterbox, perfect to liven up the atmosphere. After deciding, Su Qin first asked Liu Xiaoyan for her opinion.

Liu Xiaoyan blushed slightly and fidgeted: “You can invite whoever you want. I don’t mind.”

That meant she agreed.

Su Qin asked Cheng Wenfeng to check if He Peng was free.

Cheng Wenfeng casually said, “How could he not be free? He just reads the water meter a few days each month.”

“That job is really easy,” Su Qin said enviously.

That day, Su Qin got up early and had just bought the ingredients when Cheng Wenfeng arrived, bringing some canned food.

He came in as if it were routine and started working in the kitchen.

There were quite a few ingredients, so Su Qin was a bit flustered. With him there, the workload was much lighter.

Cheng Wenfeng said, “I’ll handle it. You go do your own thing.”

Su Qin tilted her head, “Why do I feel like you’re forcing me to study?”

“You can go to sleep,” he said.

“I went to bed early yesterday, so I’m not sleepy.”

While they were talking, there was a sound at the door.

Liu Xiaoyan and He Peng arrived together.

“Just come, why buy things? You’re being so formal.” Su Qin said, looking at the things in their hands.

Liu Xiaoyan handed over some sweet cakes. “My mom made these herself and insisted I bring some for you to try.”

He Peng said, “I bought the bananas.”

Su Qin put the bananas on the small yard’s table and brought out chairs to invite them to sit. The table was newly made by Cheng Wenfeng. Eating outside in the yard with a gentle breeze was much more comfortable than on the kang.

“Rest for a bit. It will be ready soon,” Su Qin said as she returned to the kitchen to help.

Liu Xiaoyan peeked inside and saw the two working in harmony. It looked strangely harmonious, and she excitedly looked at He Peng and said, “They really look like a married couple!”

He Peng glanced and pointed at himself, then at Liu Xiaoyan, “Don’t we look like one?”

Liu Xiaoyan blushed deeply and kicked him hard under the table. “Stop talking nonsense!”

“Ouch—” He Peng twisted his face in pain. Even if you kick me again, I will feel the same way. It’s the truth, really. Ouch—are you really kicking me?”

Before he finished, Liu Xiaoyan kicked him again, “Shut up!”

“Fighting is love, ouch ouch ouch—”

Because he was mouthy, He Peng got kicked several times in a row by Liu Xiaoyan. His skin was thick, and no matter how much she kicked, it couldn’t stop his annoying chatter.

Su Qin heard the voices outside and didn’t turn around to avoid making the two embarrassed. Her eyes were full of smiles.

Cheng Wenfeng noticed her smile and was about to look, but she stopped him, “Don’t peek or they’ll be too shy to flirt. It’s such a good chance to build their relationship.”

“……” He wasn’t interested in others and kept his head down quietly working.

Cheng Wenfeng cooked while Su Qin assisted. He Peng occasionally sneaked a glance.

As one dish after another was served, the aroma filled the air.

Garlic fried ribs, tomato-braised eggplant, green pepper chicken with potato slices, spicy fish fillets, plus a scallion winter melon soup and the canned food Cheng Wenfeng brought.

The colors, smells, and flavors were all perfect with a good balance of meat and vegetables.

When the dishes were brought out, Liu Xiaoyan and He Peng were almost drooling. She even said, “My family didn’t eat this well even during the New Year.”

She looked at Su Qin with gratitude, “You really are my best friend. You’ve been so good to me.”

He Peng immediately said, “Come to my house. My family eats pretty well for New Year too.”

His parents were both workers, and he was a worker too. They had a steady monthly salary and sometimes small benefits from the factory, so the food was not bad.

Liu Xiaoyan huffed, “Who wants to go to your house!”

He Peng said, “Hey, you said you wanted good food, so I said my family has it.”

“Shut up,” Liu Xiaoyan kicked him again.

He Peng dodged his feet under the table, looking pleased. Liu Xiaoyan was annoyed and kept kicking him.

The two of them were playing around and fooling about, the atmosphere full of joy.

He Peng was talkative; wherever he was, there would definitely be no dull moments.

While they were eating, he started talking about the Su family’s situation: “Since Liu Mei’s son Zhao Yong moved in, their home hasn’t had any peace.”

“What happened?” Liu Xiaoyan asked.

“Zhao Yong brought his girlfriend home and said they were going to get married. The other side demanded a bride price of 1,800 yuan, plus gold jewelry. The family couldn’t afford it, and there has been trouble for a long time,” He Peng said.

“1,800 yuan as bride price? That’s too much.” Liu Xiaoyan complained.

In their city, high bride prices were not common. If the young couple didn’t have a house, their parents might have to help support them to start a family.

“He said if they don’t give it, she won’t marry. Zhao Yong insisted on marrying her. They quarrel every now and then and it never ends,” He Peng picked up a piece of spicy fish, the heat making him inhale sharply. “A while ago, Liu Mei even came to borrow money from my mom. I guess she’s already borrowed from everyone around.”

Liu Xiaoyan sympathized with Su Qin: “Does she think that by kicking Xiao Qin out and having the house, her son could get married? Now they want such a big bride price, only then will the girl agree. It’s really karma.”

After she said this, she lowered her voice: “She’s so cruel, her son must be terrible too, right?”

He Peng thought for a moment: “I’ve seen him a few times. He’s like a good-for-nothing street punk. There’s no way he can support them in old age.”

“As long as someone believes he can support them in old age, that’s enough,” Su Qin said meaningfully.

Father Su climbed out of the countryside. Even though he had support from the Li family and worked as a master technician in the factory, deep down he still carried the backward feudal ideas of rural people, extremely valuing sons over daughters. Even if it meant kicking his own daughter out and raising someone else’s son, he still expected so-called sons to support him in old age.

Liu Xiaoyan saw things simply and could say: “They only want him for his job and house. Now that they can’t pay the bride price, and Liu Mei has to borrow money, when they get old, no one will support him.”

Her guess was exactly right.

The Su family was already in complete chaos.

Father Su only planned to provide the house for Zhao Yong to live in. After he retired, his job could be handed over to Zhao Yong. But the grandchildren must carry his surname and support him in old age.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yong’s marriage required a bride price, and it was 1,800 yuan. Father Su had already given his money to Su Qin. Even Liu Mei’s money and the gold jewelry had almost all been taken. Where would they get so much money?

Zhao Yong did not believe it. He thought since Father Su had worked as a master technician for so many years, and his mother also worked, there had to be savings. He was calculating the amount carefully.

Surely Father Su didn’t want to pay. Liu Mei “betrayed” him, which made Zhao Yong very unhappy.

Zhao Yong said his girlfriend was pregnant and needed the bride price to marry. Otherwise, she would have to terminate the pregnancy. Liu Mei became anxious and started forcing Father Su to borrow money.

Father Su was stunned. If it were a hundred or eighty yuan for marriage, he could grit his teeth and manage, saving by eating less for a few months. But Zhao Yong wanted over a thousand yuan. Where would he get that?

Zhao Yong pressured repeatedly, and Liu Mei could no longer take it. The once gentle and understanding woman was gone. Between the words and the tone, she complained that Father Su had no ability, didn’t make good money, and couldn’t even afford her son’s wedding. So how could he provide for him in his old age?

Father Su did not expect Liu Mei to become so unreasonable. She would sometimes show him a cold face. How could a male chauvinist like him, stand it? The two of them kept arguing.

Zhao Yong sided with Liu Mei and raised his fists to hit Father Su. Seeing the young and impulsive Zhao Yong, Father Su’s heart trembled.

With his son backing her, Liu Mei no longer took care of Father Su attentively and dared to argue back at him.

Father Su originally thought Liu Mei was gentle and considerate toward him. He thought if Zhao Yong moved in, mother and son would take care of him. Things turned out completely different from what he expected.

Especially with Liu Mei borrowing money everywhere for her son’s wedding, Father Su absolutely could not tolerate it.

This matter truly exploded not long after.

The two even started fighting in the factory.

When Chen Feng ran back to the workshop to report, no one believed it: “Did Old Su who fixes machines and Liu Mei actually had a fight?”

Liu Mei was famously gentle and mild. Since Father Su married her, he always looked cheerful. He even gave up his own daughter for her. How could they be fighting?

Chen Feng said: “It’s true, and they were still fighting.”

Everyone rushed out to see the commotion, only Su Qin remained still, quietly doing her work.

“Are you not going?” Chen Feng asked her.

Su Qin: “Nothing to see.”

Chen Feng did not ask more and followed the crowd.

Half an hour later, a group of people gradually returned. The usually eager and vivid gossip lover Zhou Xiufang was silent. Through others’ descriptions, Su Qin understood the situation roughly.

Because Father Su refused to pay Liu Mei’s son’s bride price, Liu Mei had to borrow money everywhere. Father Su’s monthly salary and meal allowance were taken by her and saved as the bride price.

The family barely had any vegetables left to eat. Liu Mei still blamed Father Su for not giving money and said he was stingy and freeloading.

Hearing that Liu Mei had borrowed money from several men at the factory, including some who secretly fancied her, the rumor reached Father Su’s ears, making him feel humiliated.

Liu Mei didn’t care, but Father Su couldn’t endure it anymore, so they fought.

Neither of them gave in. Liu Mei was slapped a few times by Father Su. Father Su was scratched in the face by Liu Mei. The farce only stopped when the factory manager arrived.

All the workshops discussed and analyzed the commotion.

They kept commenting and felt this was Liu Mei’s true face. Since she could not get what she wanted, Father Su’s future life would be miserable.

Most people were not optimistic. They waited for the follow-up with a spectator’s mindset.

Some even defended Su Qin in front of her. She just smiled and didn’t say more.

She knew in her heart that probably no one truly cared about her. Those who pretended to care were only waiting to see her suffer.

The matter between Father Su and Liu Mei blew up so badly that Cheng Wenfeng naturally knew about it.

When he came home from work, he quietly observed her expression. Seeing nothing unusual, he did not bring it up. They only talked about work-related matters.

“I’m going to quit my job,” Cheng Wenfeng told her.

Su Qin was not surprised, she only asked, “Then what will you do? Transporting boards?”

“Yeah,” Cheng Wenfeng nodded, “There are very few board shops now, customers basically cannot go to the factory, the space inside is large, the profit is high, much better than working in a factory.”

“That’s great, you should have started your own business earlier. What future is there working as a temporary worker in a factory?” Su Qin did not have the same worries as Cheng Lan, who always wanted him to stay for stability.

Su Qin even encouraged him.

This made Cheng Wenfeng’s eyebrows lift. She always surprised him.

Actually, he hadn’t told her that he had long stopped caring about the monthly salary of just a few dozen yuan, but because she was there, he was too busy now and had no choice but to quit the factory job.

And Su Qin was about to take the college entrance exam, he had to work harder in his career.

When she goes to university and cannot work, someone has to take responsibility.

Cheng Wenfeng thought long-term and wanted a future with her.

“The college entrance exam is in a few days, don’t study too hard, relax your mind,” Cheng Wenfeng advised her, and added, “Eat light food too, to avoid affecting the exam.”

Su Qin felt disappointed but did not argue.

Cheng Wenfeng did not let her eat plain food either. There was plenty of fish, meat, and shrimp, only the cooking method changed from braised and spicy to garlic steamed.

Su Qin had been studying in her room all along, feeling bored.

Since the exam was near, a few days of hard study wouldn’t hurt, so she moved her desk outside, sat in the yard, basking in the afternoon sun, enjoying the breeze, looking over wrong questions and memorizing essay materials and beautiful phrases.

Cheng Wenfeng came over and saw her like this. He went back to get a small grill, put charcoal on it and started a fire. He originally just wanted to roast some sweet potatoes for her.

Su Qin seemed to think of something when she saw this. She went inside, took out a ceramic pot, and began brewing flower tea.

Smelling the fragrance of the tea, Su Qin felt comfortable.

Not long after, Cheng Wenfeng came back with some fruit and placed it on the table. “Eat a little, don’t eat too much.”

“Okay,” she nodded obediently.

Cheng Wenfeng said, “Sweet potato egg pancake or scallion egg pancake?”

He had bought eggs and flour today and planned to make her some afternoon snacks.

“Scallion egg pancake,” Su Qin replied.

Cheng Wenfeng left.

Su Qin looked at his departing figure, then at the washed fruit on the table and the flower tea simmering beside it. She felt life was very comfortable.

Although busy, her mood was pleasant.

Soon, Cheng Wenfeng brought the scallion egg pancake over and put it on her table. “Eat it while it’s hot. It won’t taste good once it cools.”

“I’ll eat it after I finish memorizing this part,” she said.

Cheng Wenfeng didn’t push. “I’m going out for a while. There are board deliveries to make. I’ll be back later.”

“Okay, be careful on the road.”

“After I leave, remember to close the door.” He was uneasy with her being home alone.

“Mm.”

Su Qin kept staring at the exam paper and casually replied, planning to close the door after finishing memorizing this part.

Just as Cheng Wenfeng left, loud banging came from the next-door yard again. This time it was not just Zhou Xiufang alone, but several people.

Su Qin put down her paper and was about to get up to see what was going on when she saw Wang Zhuzhu climbing over the wall from the neighbor’s yard. Her body was trembling as if she could fall at any moment.

“What are you doing? Go back quickly!” Su Qin scolded sharply.

At the same time, shouting came from outside. “Aunt, I saw Zhuzhu climbing into the neighboring yard.”

The voice sounded like Zhou Zhiyuan.

“That wretched girl! I’ll break her legs!” Zhou Xiufang gritted her teeth and angrily ran toward the neighboring yard.

When Cheng Wenfeng had just left, the door was ajar. A group of people pushed it open easily.

Wang Zhuzhu ignored Su Qin’s blocking, jumped down from the wall, and Zhou Xiufang, along with the Zhou family members, rushed into the yard.

Seeing Wang Zhuzhu was really there, Zhou Xiufang’s eyes showed nothing but rage. Trembling all over with anger, she grabbed Wang Zhuzhu’s hair and fiercely struck her back several times. “You still want to run? You’re just so shameless, can’t live without a man, huh?”

“You know how to hide, right? If I don’t beat you to death today, then you’re a disgrace.”

“Don’t stop me, I’ll kill her.”

…

The yard was filled with Zhou Xiufang’s almost insane curses and Wang Zhuzhu’s cries. Zhou Zhiyuan and Father Zhou hurriedly stepped in to separate them.

“How could I give birth to such a disgraceful thing? If I had known, I would have strangled you at birth and ended it all.” Zhou Xiufang kept cursing.

Wang Zhuzhu cried, still stubborn, even kneeling before Zhou Xiufang. “Mom, just let me marry him. I have a child. I want to marry him. No matter how much hardship, I’m willing. Please don’t interfere.”

Zhou Xiufang obviously knew Wang Zhuzhu had a child, but she kept it secret from others. She planned for her to secretly abort and then marry and have children normally.

Wang Zhuzhu said this openly in front of the Zhou family because she wanted to marry that street rascal, which made Zhou Xiufang furious, breaking away from Father Zhou, ready to beat her to death.

“Can you all take your quarrel outside?” Su Qin, standing nearby, spoke up.

The Zhou family turned to look at the voice and saw it was Su Qin. Their expressions were more colorful than a palette.

Such a disgraceful matter being seen by Su Qin was even harder for Zhou Xiufang to accept than being killed. She stood there, her face flushed purple, like a deflated ball, losing all her momentum.

Mother Zhou came out to ease the atmosphere. “Xiao Qin, so you moved here. It’s been a long time since I last saw you.”

She spoke without emotion, carefully observing the surroundings.

The house was somewhat old but clearly repaired, with new doors and windows.

There was a table in the yard, covered with various books and exam papers, and a basket with grapes, oranges, and strawberries. Nearby was an egg pancake.

The corners of the table, the stove was cooking something, and a faint floral fragrance filled the air.

She was brewing flower tea.

Everyone in the Zhou family knew Su Qin had moved out. It was said she even bought a house and was contributing articles to a magazine. She should be able to support herself.

But no matter how much they calculated, they did not expect Su Qin to live such a leisurely and comfortable life, spending her afternoons eating fruit, drinking flower tea, and having egg pancakes.

Too extravagant.

Compared to the chaotic and noisy Su family now, they had to admit that Su Qin was not foolish at all. She was very smart and simply did not want to get involved.

On the contrary, Su Yue kept going back every few days and got caught up in the Su family’s mess. Having such an in-law was really annoying.

Su Qin ignored their polite small talk. “I still want to read. If you want to make noise, please go somewhere else.”

Wang Zhuzhu took advantage of their awkwardness and ran off quickly.

Zhou Zhiyuan stared blankly at Su Qin. Mother Zhou hurriedly said to him, “Why are you just standing there? Go chase after her quickly!”

“Quick, quick.” Father Zhou also urged.

Zhou Zhiyuan glanced at Su Qin a few more times, then finally went out to chase after Wang Zhuzhu.

Father Zhou thought about that troublemaker next door still being there, letting Wang Zhuzhu climb over the wall and run away. He angrily went to the neighboring yard to catch the person.

Mother Zhou, to avoid embarrassment, followed Father Zhou.

Only Zhou Xiufang and Su Qin were left in the yard. From the moment she saw Su Qin, she was speechless for a long while, her body stiff and tense. After the Zhou family left, she also walked toward the door.

At the doorway, Zhou Xiufang stopped again, turned to look at Su Qin, moved her lips as if she had something to say.

In the end, she said nothing and turned to leave.