Chapter 8

“Deputy Director, rest assured, I truly don’t need this job slot. I’m about to go to Heilongjiang Province to join the rural farming corps, so this job would be wasted on me.”

Hearing that, the deputy director smiled with a gossipy expression.

“Oh, so that’s where you’re going. Makes sense—some people really do need someone by their side to feel at ease. Alright then, I won’t be polite about it. This kind of job slot is going for 850 yuan on the market these days.

How about I add in some national grain coupons and industrial vouchers?”

Although Su Nian didn’t fully understand the deputy director’s innuendo, she was still satisfied with the price.

Things like this should be done quickly before any unexpected changes. The deputy director immediately called home and told his son to bring the money and vouchers over to finalize things, just in case.

The whole thing went smoothly. Even the gatekeeper grandpa received a pack of tea from the deputy director.

Seeing all this, Su Nian had an idea—should she also prepare some small bundles of cigarettes, alcohol, candies, and tea to use as gifts?

This was proof that one could really learn the tricks of the trade from high-ranking officials!

With money and vouchers in hand, Su Nian went shopping again. The coupons Su Daqiang gave her hadn’t been used up yet, and she had to spend them quickly.

At the supply and marketing cooperative, she even ran into Fu’s father. Judging by his actions, he was clearly buying things for Fu Mingjun. So, Fu’s dad acted fast!

Looks like Fu Mingjun and Su Yue still don’t know that they’re the ones being sent to the countryside.

She couldn’t help but smile just thinking about what their reactions would be when they found out.

That very night was Monday—exactly the day the Youth Resettlement Office was issuing notifications for rural placement. When Su Nian received her ticket and notice, she was expressionless, even a little happy.

But the Fu family was a different story.

Fu Mingjun and Su Yue felt like the sky had collapsed. They had just been dreaming about taking Su Nian’s job, completely unprepared for such a terrible blow.

Fu’s father sat on the couch, face dark.

He had only planned to send his son away, but now the couple was being shipped off together like a pair of birds. All his efforts were in vain. He never expected Su Daqiang to be so spineless—to go this far for Su Nian.

But Fu’s father wasn’t the only one who misunderstood. Su Yue thought the same and immediately stormed home to demand an explanation.

Watching his daughter-in-law stomp out angrily, Fu’s mother was secretly delighted. She was, after all, her husband’s pillow-side confidante and knew exactly what scheme the old man had been plotting.

She just hadn’t dared to speak up. Even when her son was being sent to the countryside, she could only seethe in silence.

But now? This was great!

“Mingjun, you have to understand your father. Don’t throw a tantrum like your wife. You’ve seen the situation yourself—since you don’t have your dad’s abilities, you need to go gain some experience.

I heard the conditions at the Corps are pretty good, and there are lots of young men from prominent families.

Besides, your uncle is stationed there too, which is why we chose that location. Once you’re there, listen well, don’t stir up any more trouble—got it?”

Fu’s mother’s words reminded the father and son, and they finally let out a sigh of reluctant acceptance.

Fu Mingjun suddenly thought of something and shouted, “Uncle? You mean the one who’s close to Su Nian? Don’t tell me she’s also going to the same place?

Mom, if those two patch things up, a lot of secrets might come out!”

Fu’s mother said calmly, “Yes, it’s him. So what? Even if the truth comes out, what can she do? Wen Wan’s all the way abroad now—what, is she going to fly back and settle scores with me?

And look at you—so useless. You’re married already and still scared of that ugly girl?”

Thinking back to what Su Nian looked like yesterday, Fu Mingjun hesitated. He used to think she was ugly and wouldn’t even touch her, but she was beautiful as a child.

He had assumed she’d grown up wrong, but now that he saw her again, she actually reminded him of how she used to look.

“Whatever. Dad, you can send me away—I’ve got nothing to do here in Hangcheng anyway. But you have to prepare more stuff for me. I can’t handle hardship.

And my wife definitely can’t either. Her family’s poor… they probably won’t prepare much for her.”

But there were only three days left—not enough time to gather supplies.

Fu’s father could only frown. “You’ll have to make do for now. I’ll slowly send more things your way. These things need time to prepare. Where am I supposed to find them on short notice?

But don’t worry about food. I’ll give you extra money and vouchers.

And your mom will pack some gold for you—it’s a long trip, and if something happens, it might come in handy!”

Fu’s mother thought that made sense and went to get the gold for her son. But when she opened the storage area, she was stunned to find it empty.

“Honey! Did you touch my stuff? Where did all my gold boxes go?”

The father and son came over to check. They used flashlights and matches, but the place was completely bare—not even a gold bean in sight.

“Mom, haven’t you been home this whole time? How could it be stolen? Who’s been here recently?”

Fu’s mother thought hard. “No one… except that one time Su Nian came over to ask for money. I did leave the room for a bit… But my bedroom window faces the door. There’s no way she could’ve taken all those boxes without making a sound, right?”

The family of three sat on the ground and wailed. They couldn’t report this to the police, after all.

Fu’s father caught the implication in his wife’s words but could only swallow his frustration. He didn’t dare mention that he’d also given Su Nian 1,000 yuan as compensation.

If Fu’s mother found out, she’d be even more hysterical.

The Su family wasn’t doing any better.

Su Yue was crying and smashing things. Yao Xiaojun rushed to stop her. “My little lady, this isn’t your in-laws’ house—you can’t just smash things. These cost money!”

But Su Yue couldn’t care less.

She confronted her father: “Dad, I know you’re mad at my mom for letting Su Nian go to the countryside. But I’m your daughter too! How could you be so cruel and send me as well?

I’m already married—I don’t need a job!”

Su Daqiang was both aggrieved and angry. “The household register was with your sister—I had no idea she’d do something like this. If you want to throw a tantrum, go find her. What’s the point of making a scene at home?”

Su Yue’s heart sank.

Su Daqiang was always one to avoid responsibility. From the way he spoke, it was clear he didn’t care about her at all. She wasn’t his biological daughter, after all—of course the treatment would be different.

“You gave the household register to her—what did you think would happen?

I really thought you cared about me and treated me like your real daughter. Clearly, I was delusional. Since that’s the case, isn’t it only fair I get the same treatment as Su Nian?”

Su Daqiang’s eyes widened. “Same treatment?

I didn’t give her a single cent—same for you. Now go back to your husband’s house. I really thought I could treat you like my own. Turns out I was wrong. My Nian Nian only thinks about helping me get promoted.

You? All you do is seduce your brother-in-law and ruin my reputation. Just like your mother!”

Yao Xiaojun got angry too. It was one thing to bully her daughter—but now he was insulting her? What did he mean, “just like your mother”?

Another battle broke out in the Su household!

In the end, Su Yue still returned to her in-laws’ house with the 100 yuan her mother gave her.