Chapter 32: Liu Xiue’s Failed Scheme

It was Mother Su’s voice!

Su Ruanruan had just finished work. Why was Mother Su not going home to cook but instead coming to the Fu family’s house?

As Su Ruanruan frowned in thought, she caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye. In the middle of the courtyard, Liu Xiue was quietly inching toward a corner, sneaking glances in this direction.

Seeing this, Su Ruanruan immediately understood.

It seemed that Mother Su’s sudden arrival had everything to do with Liu Xiue.

“Ruanruan! Where is my Ruanruan?”

Mother Su’s voice grew closer, and in an instant, she had stepped into the courtyard from outside.

She ran quickly, her face filled with panic, her tone anxious, and her voice trembling, as if she was extremely worried and reluctant.

But if one looked closely at her face, they would notice that she did not actually appear too sad. The area around her eyes was completely dry.

Not to mention tears—her eyes weren’t even red.

As soon as she rushed into the courtyard, she quickly scanned the area and soon spotted Su Ruanruan. Without hesitation, she dashed toward her.

“Ruanruan, your sister-in-law said you are going to follow the army. Is that true?”

Just moments ago, Su Ruanruan had only suspected that Liu Xiue had something to do with this. But now, Mother Su’s words completely confirmed her guess.

Su Ruanruan turned to look at Liu Xiue, meeting her awkward smile.

“Well, Seventh’s Wife.” Liu Xiue said: “I just happened to run into your mother today, and I accidentally let it slip. You won’t blame me, right? But this isn’t some shameful secret. If you’re going to follow Seventh to the army, you should tell your family. You can’t just leave without saying a word, don’t you think?”

Liu Xiue spoke as if she was genuinely considering Su Ruanruan’s well-being.

If only her eyes hadn’t been darting around so nervously, Su Ruanruan might have actually believed her.

“Ruanruan, your sister-in-law is right. Luckily, she told me about this, or else I would have been kept in the dark!” Mother Su wiped her eyes as she spoke. “This is such a big decision, yet you didn’t tell me. Do you even consider me your mother anymore?”

Hearing this, Su Ruanruan turned to look at Mother Su. “What’s so big about it? I’m already married. Naturally, I go where my husband goes. Even if I didn’t say anything, you should have been able to figure that out.”

Mother Su was at a loss for words. “How could I have known? How could I have imagined this? I thought that since you married into the Fu family and we are still in the same production team, I would be able to see you often. You could visit home from time to time. How was I supposed to know you were leaving with the army?

“Ruanruan, listen to me. Don’t follow the army. Just stay home, be a good daughter-in-law, take care of your in-laws, and you can also look after your own family.”

As Mother Su spoke, her expression was incredibly sincere, and her tone was serious. It was clear that she truly meant what she said.

But Su Ruanruan knew that no matter how genuine her mother’s words were, they were not out of concern or reluctance to part with her.

Mother Su merely hoped that Su Ruanruan would stay in Hongqi Production Brigade so that she could provide more support to her natal family.

Ideally, when Fu Wenjing sent back his allowance, that money would end up in Mother Su’s pockets.

Su Ruanruan smiled at Mother Su and said: “Mother, what you’re saying isn’t right. A married woman follows her husband. I’m already married, so of course, my husband comes first.

“My mother-in-law also said that she found a wife for her son because she wanted someone to be by his side and take care of him. If I don’t follow him to the army, my mother-in-law wouldn’t even let me in the door!”

“Seventh Son’s Wife is right.”

As Wang Maoni spoke, she walked over. “If a wife doesn’t follow her own husband, then who does she plan to follow?

“In-law, let me be frank with you. Your daughter is married into our Fu family, so she is one of us now. Do you still think you have the right to decide whether she follows the army or not? If she doesn’t go with her husband, then when will she have children? How will she continue the Fu family line for our Seventh Son?

“If you truly love your daughter, you should be encouraging her to go with her husband and have a big, healthy baby as soon as possible.

“Keeping her here and separating her from her husband—how is that good for her?”

As Wang Maoni finished speaking, she scrutinized Mother Su from head to toe. “Or is it that you don’t care about her well-being at all? You just want her to stay in the production brigade so she can help support her natal family?”

Hearing these words, Su Ruanruan silently gave Wang Maoni a thumbs-up in her heart.

When dealing with someone like Mother Su, only Wang Maoni could truly keep her in check.

Not only was Wang Maoni sharp-tongued, but she was also clear-headed. Every word she spoke was reasonable and well-founded.

Moreover, she was not only Su Ruanruan’s mother-in-law but also the wife of the production brigade’s Brigade Leader. She had a natural advantage.

No matter how unwilling Mother Su was in her heart, after being confronted like this, she could not say a single word in response.

It was not that she did not want to refute, but rather, she had no standing to do so.

Mother Su’s face alternated between red and pale. “I… I didn’t mean it like that. I was just thinking that she should fulfill her filial duty to you. She just got married, and now she’s leaving. What kind of sense does that make?”

“I don’t need her to do that.” Wang Maoni interrupted directly. “If she can take good care of our Seventh Son and give him a few children, that would be the best filial piety to me. In-law, it’s already noon. Shouldn’t you be heading home to cook? We’re about to have our meal!”

In these times, no family was well-off, and when preparing meals, every household carefully measured their grain. They would not easily invite others to stay for a meal.

No matter how reluctant Mother Su was, Wang Maoni had already issued a clear order for her to leave. She had no choice but to go.

Before leaving, Mother Su fixed her gaze on Su Ruanruan, staring at her again and again.

Su Ruanruan gave Mother Su a bright, cheerful smile. Seeing Mother Su so infuriated that she rolled her eyes repeatedly, Su Ruanruan felt a great sense of satisfaction.

As the courtyard gate closed behind Mother Su, Wang Maoni immediately turned to Liu Xiue. “Eldest Son’s Wife, stop gossiping outside all the time. You don’t do your work properly, and all you know is how to spread rumors.”

Liu Xiue was not convinced. “Mother, how can you call this gossiping? I only spoke the truth! Isn’t Seventh going to follow the army? I just didn’t expect that her mother would disapprove.”

At first, Liu Xiue’s voice was a little weak, but as she spoke, she gained confidence, and her voice grew louder.

By the end, she even turned to Su Ruanruan and raised her voice, saying: “Seventh’s Wife, everyone in our family knows you’re going to follow the army. Why didn’t you tell your natal family? Even if you’re married, you shouldn’t completely ignore them!”

Su Ruanruan was not angry at all. Instead, she nodded in agreement. “Sister-in-law, you’re absolutely right. I think you make a lot of sense. I’ll go back to my natal family this afternoon and have a proper talk with them.

“But, of course, I can’t go empty-handed. I should bring something with me. I’ll take one wild pheasant and one wild rabbit back. Those were caught by Wenjing and me together, so taking two back to my natal family shouldn’t be a problem, right?

“Mother, what do you think?”

Before Wang Maoni could say a word, Liu Xiue exploded.

“How can that be allowed?! Seventh’s Wife, you’re already married—you’re a daughter-in-law of our Fu family! How can you take things from your husband’s family and give them to your natal family? What kind of daughter-in-law does that?”

Su Ruanruan looked at Liu Xiue in confusion. “Sister-in-law, weren’t you the one who said I should stay close to my natal family? That even after getting married, I shouldn’t forget them?”

“I…” Liu Xiue was at a loss for words. After a long pause, she muttered: “I meant you should talk to them. I didn’t say you should take things.”

It seemed that Liu Xiue had finally realized the contradiction in her own words. Her voice grew quieter, and she lowered her head.

Su Ruanruan chuckled. “Oh, so that’s what you meant, Sister-in-law. But I’m a bit thin-skinned, so I feel awkward just talking empty-handed.

“But don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I’ll definitely learn from you in the future.”

As soon as Su Ruanruan finished speaking, she saw Liu Xiue glaring at her hatefully.

But that was all—Liu Xiue said nothing more.

Today, Liu Xiue’s little scheme had completely backfired.

Not only had she failed to create trouble for Su Ruanruan through Mother Su, but she had also inadvertently helped Su Ruanruan resolve the issue of informing the Su family about her decision to follow the army.

Su Ruanruan had previously wondered how she should break the news to her natal family. Though they could not change the outcome, causing a big scene would still be unpleasant.

Now, thanks to Liu Xiue, the matter had resolved itself.

The more Su Ruanruan thought about it, the happier she became. She even sincerely thanked Liu Xiue. “Sister-in-law, thank you so much!”

After Su Ruanruan spoke, she saw Liu Xiue’s nose twitch in fury, as if she was about to explode.