Chapter 7: Shen Qiuxia Decides to Split the Household

As soon as Shen Qiuxia stepped into the fields, she was met with Meng Xiulan’s sour voice drifting over, “Shen Qiuxia, it’s the busiest time in the farming season, and your family has five strong laborers. How come only your Dahai is here working?”

The moment she spoke, all the nearby commune members turned to look, curious.

Shen Qiuxia wasn’t upset. Instead, she smiled calmly. There’s no hiding this anyway, she thought. Might as well announce Yueyue’s engagement openly.

Ever since Yueyue graduated high school, many people had been discreetly—or directly—inquiring about her.

Since her daughter had made it into the city on her own merit, there was no way Shen Qiuxia would allow her to marry someone from the countryside.

With that in mind, she openly shared the news of Su Yue’s engagement.

“Oh my, the Su family’s really hit the jackpot!” Wang Dahua exclaimed loudly, her face practically glowing with envy. “A betrothal gift of 168 yuan and a bicycle coupon! That’s a first in our village!”

Aunt Zhao nodded beside her. “Exactly! That young man works as a purchasing agent at the county supply and marketing cooperative—that’s an iron rice bowl! Su Yue’s going to have a great life ahead.”

Wang Guiying, Su Dashan’s wife, immediately grew unhappy at those words and retorted, “What do you mean ‘hit the jackpot’? My niece has a job and is very pretty. She’s a capable girl—she deserves all of this!”

Meng Xiulan rolled her eyes and said with a snide tone, “I heard that city mothers-in-law aren’t easy to get along with. That Su girl might end up being bullied once she marries into that family.”

Wang Guiying’s face darkened, and she angrily shot back, “Meng Xiulan, if you don’t have anything nice to say, then keep your mouth shut. Yueyue still calls you ‘auntie’—can’t you say something decent for once?”

“Exactly! Who talks like that?”

“Meng Xiulan’s always had it out for Shen Qiuxia—she’s clearly cursing her daughter on purpose.”

The crowd murmured in disapproval, criticizing Meng Xiulan from all sides.

Suppressing her annoyance, Shen Qiuxia smiled and said, “Sister Zhang really adores our Yueyue. Otherwise, why would she give such a generous dowry? Before she left, she even held my hand and promised to treat Yueyue like her own daughter.”

Meng Xiulan opened her mouth to speak again, but the brigade leader shouted, “Enough chatting! Get back to work if you want work points!”

Meng Xiulan was fuming inside. She rolled her eyes dramatically.

Then, her eyes twitched—an idea popped into her head.

She suddenly clutched her stomach and began moaning, “Oh dear, my stomach! I must’ve eaten something bad—it hurts so much. I’ve got to run to the latrine!”

Bent over and clutching her belly, she scurried off like a flash.

The surrounding commune members just shook their heads. They were used to her antics by now—clearly another excuse to slack off.

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Back home, after Shen Qiuxia left, Su Yue tidied up the house from top to bottom.

By the time she finished and looked at the wall clock, it was already 11:30 a.m. She headed into the kitchen to start making lunch.

Li Xiangbei had brought over a pound of pork belly. Considering the hot weather—and how quickly meat could spoil—Su Yue decided to cook it all into braised pork. It would be a rich, hearty dish for her parents. She also made a cucumber salad and a loofah soup—two dishes and a soup, balanced with both meat and vegetables.

Just as she was busy cooking, a voice filled with questioning rang out from the kitchen door.

“Little sister, I’m not trying to criticize you,” Wu Xiulian called, “but something as big as your engagement—why didn’t you tell your second brother and sister-in-law?”

Su Yue sighed internally. Wu Xiulian’s family lived in the neighboring brigade—someone must’ve gone to inform her. Most likely Aunt Meng again. In the whole village, she was the only one so idle and so eager to stir trouble.

Su Yue remained calm and simply said, “Second sister-in-law, you’re back.”

Wu Xiulian stepped into the kitchen and sniffed the air vigorously. Her face changed in surprise. “Huh? What’s that smell—is that meat? You made meat today?” She reached out eagerly to lift the pot lid.

Su Yue quickly grabbed her hand. “Lunch isn’t ready yet, second sister-in-law—don’t lift the lid.”

Wu Xiulian yanked her hand back, face full of displeasure. “Little sister, don’t be so selfish. Cooking meat behind our backs while we’re gone?”

Su Yue kept her composure. “Since you already know about my engagement, then you should’ve guessed—the meat was a gift from my fiancé. How would I have known you weren’t home today?”

Wu Xiulian’s eyes lit up as she recalled her purpose for coming. “Is it true? The groom gave 168 yuan and a bicycle coupon?”

Su Yue nodded honestly. “That’s right.”

Wu Xiulian clapped her hands in glee. “That’s fantastic—we can finally get a bicycle!”

She had already made plans on the way back—once they got the bicycle, she’d let her younger brother use it. Her mother and brother had been eyeing the brigade’s educated youth, Chen. If her brother had a bike, maybe he could win her over. Who knows—he might even move to the city with her someday.

“Mm.” Su Yue didn’t know what Wu Xiulian was plotting, but she herself did want a bicycle—it would make traveling home much easier.

Wu Xiulian was about to speak again when sounds came from the yard.

Su Yue smiled and called out, “Dad, Mom’s back! Lunch is ready!”

Su Dahai’s cheerful voice answered, “Alright! You eat first—I’ll wash up and join you.”

Shen Qiuxia came into the kitchen after washing her hands.

Seeing her, Wu Xiulian quickly put on a sweet smile. “Mother, you’re back.”

Shen Qiuxia merely gave her a cold glance and said nothing. She turned to help Su Yue set the food on the table. Shen Qiuxia was known for her cleanliness, and the family always ate in the kitchen.

As soon as the braised pork hit the table, Wu Xiulian couldn’t help swallowing hard, her eyes locked on the dish as she plopped herself down at the table.

Su Yue served three bowls of rice—she even scraped out the crunchy bits at the bottom of the pot.

“Second sister-in-law, I didn’t know you’d be back for lunch, so I didn’t cook for you. The pot’s already cleaned, so if you’re hungry, you’ll have to cook for yourself.”

Wu Xiulian’s face froze. Just as she was about to lash out, she remembered the bride price and the bicycle coupon were still in Shen Qiuxia’s hands. So instead, she put on a wronged expression.

“Little sister, how could you be so thoughtless? Who cooks so little food for the family?”

Shen Qiuxia, about to eat, frowned upon hearing this. “Didn’t you go back to your mother’s house? What are you doing here? What—are we supposed to cook and wait for you every day?”

Wu Xiulian wasn’t afraid of Shen Qiuxia, but knowing the dowry and bike ticket were still with her, she held her tongue.

Just then, Su Zhiqiang came back carrying his son.

Wu Xiulian rushed to take the child and said, “I’ll go nurse the baby. You go make lunch.” With a scowl, she turned and left.

Su Zhiqiang noticed the braised pork and the pot scrapings, and immediately realized they hadn’t been cooked for his family.

He walked over to the grain bin. Opening it, he found it empty. He turned to Shen Qiuxia and said, “Mom, there’s no grain left in the bin. Give me the key.”

Most of the family’s grain was stored separately under lock and key—this was, after all, a year’s food supply, not to be taken lightly.

Shen Qiuxia took a bite of pork and replied with a sneer, “Been at your mother-in-law’s all morning and can’t even get one meal? Your father and I have discussed it—we’ll be eating separately from now on. Don’t come asking for grain again. After all, your work points and rations are kept by your own family.”

Su Dahai added with disappointment, “Your older and younger brothers already moved their household registrations out. Now that Yueyue’s is moved too, let’s just split the household. When your brothers come back, we’ll move to the new house. If you don’t want this one, go talk to the village chief and build your own. As for the new house—don’t even think about it. That was built with money from your brothers.”

This couple had long sold their share of rations to the educated youth for cash. The rest—the rough grains—were taken back to her family. The money from their work points stayed with them. They hadn’t contributed a single cent to the household.

Su Zhiqiang was stunned. “Dad… Mom… you really don’t want to live with us anymore?”

Shen Qiuxia looked at him calmly. “Zhiqiang, as your parents, we’ve done all we could. From now on, your life is your own.”

She had once spoiled this son, but when he started coveting Su Yue’s job, Shen Qiuxia made up her mind—it was time to divide the family.

Su Zhiqiang opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out. He looked completely lost.

He had always depended on his parents and assumed they’d live with him forever—even if they split the household.

Now, knowing he was really being cut off, panic set in.