Chapter 17

Yang Guixiang couldn’t believe it. She had always been the one to dole out the food in the family—how could anyone dare challenge her? And that person was her own granddaughter. Her face instantly turned green as she snapped viciously:

“Unbelievable! Since when is it your place to decide anything in this house? You’ve really grown bold!” Then she turned toward her youngest son and daughter-in-law: “Look at the good daughter you’ve raised—lazy and greedy for food all day long. What man would ever want a wife like her?”

Su Wanwan shot back with confidence: “Well, I only learned from Grandma. She taught me well.”

Yang Guixiang’s finger shook with rage as she pointed at her granddaughter: “See? She even dares talk back now. She needs a good beating!”

Su Wanwan pressed on: “I’ve only been following Grandma’s teachings since I was little. How could I be wrong? Grandma taught me so well.”

Jin Hua glanced at the basin—there wasn’t a single piece of chicken left. Her temper flared instantly:

“Second brother, second sister-in-law, look at the kind of daughter you’ve raised. No manners, no education—nearly nineteen already, can’t find a job, can’t earn work points, just sits at home freeloading. You should discipline her properly, or better yet, marry her off quickly.”

Su Jianwei chimed in: “Exactly! This girl needs a beating. Doesn’t she respect her elders at all?”

Yang Guixiang’s eyes gleamed as she added: “This girl can’t just keep eating for free at home. It so happens I know a young man from the city—your eldest aunt’s factory director’s son. Perfect match. Wanwan can marry into that family. That settles it. Tomorrow I’ll have them come propose. They’re offering a bride price of one thousand yuan—the best in the whole village.”

Both Su Jianjun and Zhao Hefen frowned deeply.

Su Wanwan suddenly remembered the plot from the book. Around this time, her marriage with Ma Zhiming had been arranged. This so-called “good grandmother” had even come to persuade her, saying the director’s son was rich and she’d live a good life after marrying him. But later, Jianjun found out the man was actually a fool.

Su Wanwan’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes: “Grandma, who exactly will be keeping that bride price?”

Yang Guixiang could almost see the thousand yuan already in her hands. Laughing, she said: “Why, me of course. I’m the head of this family.”

Su Wanwan’s gaze turned cold, sharp as a blade: “So Grandma wants to sell me off to a fool for money?”

Yang Guixiang’s head whipped around to stare at her granddaughter in shock.

Su Wanwan turned to her father: “Dad, do you know what kind of man that director’s son is? He’s an idiot, and violent on top of that. Grandma’s trying to push me into a fire pit.”

Su Heng clenched his fists tightly. He never thought they could be so cruel.

Yang Guixiang looked at her suspiciously. How did this girl know? “He’s not a fool, just a little slow to react. Not like you’re saying.”

But his daughter was Jianjun’s bottom line. He had never raised his voice to his family before, but now fury burst out of him. His brows and eyes burned with anger as he slammed his palm heavily onto the table. Chicken soup splashed everywhere.

Jin Hua was so startled by his aura she froze.

Even Jianwei flinched, shivering all over.

After all, Jianjun had been brigade leader for many years. The authority radiating from him was no small thing. They had never seen him lose his temper before, and now that he had—it was terrifying.

Clenching down on his anger, Jianjun said to his parents: “My daughter is still young. Until she’s twenty-two, she won’t marry. And my daughter’s affairs are none of your concern. As for Director Yang’s son, I’ll investigate him properly. Anyone who dares push my daughter into a fire pit—I won’t spare him, not even if the King of Heaven himself comes down.”

Yang Guixiang’s heart skipped a beat. She had always thought him easy to control, but now his anger was like a storm. And all this over a mere girl? Was he really prepared to “deal with them”? But they were his parents!

Jianjun turned coldly to Jin Hua and his elder brother: “And who do you think you are? In the past, I endured your words. But my daughter is my bottom line. You don’t get to meddle.”

“My daughter hasn’t said a single wrong word. Has she ever eaten your food or used your things? But you lot—haven’t you eaten plenty from us?”

Jin Hua was too frightened to make a sound.

Jianwei’s face twisted with resentment as he glared at his younger brother: “I’m her uncle, and I can’t even say a word? Don’t forget, Jianjun, I injured my body for your sake!”

Jin Hua jumped on that cue. Her man had indeed suffered because of him, leaving her to live like a widow all these years, having to feed her husband medicine every time. Straightening her back, she added: “That’s right. What’s wrong with us saying a few words to the younger generation?”

Jianjun’s fury surged like a coming storm.

Even his parents had never seen him like this before. It was their first time witnessing it.

Trying to ease the tension, Yang Guixiang suddenly slapped Jin Hua across the face: “This is all your fault, troublemaker! Even a meal can’t go smoothly with you around.”

Tears streamed down Jin Hua’s face as she looked miserably at her husband, not daring to say another word.

The old man spoke up: “Eat, eat. The girl did nothing wrong. She did well.”

The meal ended under that tense atmosphere.

Before leaving, the grandparents went through every room, then carried off the kitchen’s grain and even picked vegetables from the garden. “Son, we’ll take these home. Next time, buy more.”

Jianjun watched all of this silently. But this would be the last time. Tomorrow he would dig a new cellar at home.

Su Heng and Su Wanwan exchanged a glance, then followed their grandparents outside.

There wasn’t much entertainment in those days, no television. In summer, when the heat was unbearable, villagers gathered under the big locust tree with fans to chat and cool off.

By the time the grandparents reached the tree, many villagers were already gathered.

Su Heng rushed forward, tugging at his grandfather: “Grandpa, can you leave us some food? Otherwise, tomorrow we’ll go hungry.”

Grandpa Su Mao’s face darkened immediately. This boy was saying it on purpose—in front of so many people. He’d never done that before.

The villagers perked up, gossiping right away.

Su Mao forced a kindly tone: “This is food for your father to support me. Tomorrow he’ll buy more. You won’t go hungry.”

“But in the morning my dad won’t have bought any yet. Won’t we still starve? Can I come eat at Grandpa’s house instead?” Su Heng pressed.

With everyone watching, Su Mao had to nod firmly: “Yes, you can. Come in the morning, I won’t let you go hungry.”

Su Heng grinned, flashing his big white teeth: “Really? Grandpa, you’re the best. You’re my good grandpa!”

Su Mao puffed up with pride, smiling smugly: “Of course. If you’re hungry, just come to Grandpa’s.”

Only then did the two old folks leave with the grain on their backs.

On the way, Yang Guixiang grumbled nonstop: “We never should’ve split the household. We should’ve kept them working like oxen for us.”

Back under the tree, curious villagers asked Su Heng what was going on.

Hesitantly, he explained how for years his grandparents had constantly come to take grain, how much monthly support they demanded, and how they even carried off household items—from cups and bowls to whole sacks of grain and quilts.

Their neighbor Aunt Liu, who lived next door, confirmed it: “Those of you farther away might not know, but I see them at the brigade leader’s house every few days hauling things out. Never thought they also took five yuan a month!”

The villagers burst into chatter, voices overlapping in heated discussion.

This was exactly the effect Su Wanwan wanted. Seeing that things had spread enough, the siblings exchanged a look and went home.