Chapter 15: So Happy
Su He: “…Grandma, the engagement is off. I bought this stuff myself.”
The smile on Old Madam Su’s face instantly collapsed.
Old Madam Liu covered her mouth and chuckled, “Sister Su, marriage talks are all about matching families. I didn’t think this engagement would work from the start, just didn’t want to say it outright.”
Old Madam Su’s face turned green with rage!
Su He smiled lightly, “Granny Liu, you’re absolutely right. Marriage really is about matching family backgrounds.
I just saw your daughter-in-law at the commune getting scolded by her mother-in-law.
I almost couldn’t bear it, but I’m just a junior—I didn’t think it was my place to step in.”
Old Madam Liu’s daughter, Liu Chunhua, had some backing from her husband’s side and was placed to work at the State-owned Mall. Because of that, she had always been submissive to her in-laws and had endured a lot of mistreatment.
Old Madam Liu’s laughter froze, and she sulked back into her house.
Seeing her put in her place, Old Madam Su’s mood slightly improved. But she still scolded Su He, “You little money-waster! The engagement fell through and you still bought so much stuff?!
You must’ve spent all of my ten yuan! Heaven help me, how did I end up with such a jinx of a granddaughter…”
Su He sneered, “Grandma, you can’t blame me for this. Wait till Grandpa comes back—I’ll tell him all about the great match Uncle arranged for me!”
With that, she pushed the bicycle straight into the west room.
“You dead girl, what’s going on exactly? Tell me clearly! And what’s in that burlap sack?”
Su He clutched her chest and moaned, “Grandma, I can’t… my chest hurts again. If you keep pressing me, I’ll faint and need to get a vitamin shot at the commune clinic…”
Old Madam Su nearly burst a blood vessel in anger, cursing as she stomped back to the east room.
Just a little girl—what’s the worst she could do?
At dinnertime, Su He handed Old Madam Su a strip of pork belly.
“Grandma, render the fat into lard and stew the lean meat with cabbage.”
Old Madam Su looked heartbroken, “You wastrel! Buying this much meat and planning to eat it all in one meal? Are we not trying to live anymore…”
Su He clutched her chest again, “Oww… I’m about to faint again…”
Old Madam Su really wanted to beat Su He with a firewood stick. But remembering what Su He had said earlier, her mind wavered, and she begrudgingly followed her instructions.
Back in those days, households barely had any oil. The aroma of stewed meat wafted far.
Old Madam Liu stood in her yard and spat in their direction, “Pah! Engagement fell through and she’s still got the nerve to eat meat? No decent family would act like that!”
Su Xiaoman had just come home from school and heard that. She stomped her feet and shouted, “You coffin-dodging old crone, who are you calling names?! You’re the indecent one—your whole family is! Even the rats in your house are shady!”
Su He facepalmed. This little girl might not be great at school, but she sure was a master at cursing!
Old Madam Su, on the other hand, was delighted. Not only did she not scold Su Xiaoman, she even rewarded her with a piece of pork crackling.
Su Xiaoman felt like the happiest girl alive!
Not only did she get crackling, there was meat stewing in the pot, and her “mean sister” even said she bought her candy and pastries.
Su He called Su Xiaoman into the room and gave her a few instructions.
With a milk candy in her mouth, Su Xiaoman nodded enthusiastically.
Not long after, Old Man Su and Su Yongguo’s family came back from work.
Zhao Cui’er’s first move was to check on her daughter. Seeing Su He’s eyes all red, her heart skipped a beat.
“Su He, were you crying? Who bullied you?”
Su Yongguo also looked concerned. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Old Madam Su was nearly foaming at the mouth. That dead girl’s eyes were just fine earlier—how did they get red so fast?!
Su He lowered her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “It’s nothing serious… just the match Uncle arranged turned out to be problematic. But he meant well, I think he was deceived too.”
Old Man Su’s brow furrowed tightly. “Tell me clearly—what exactly happened?”
Su He looked at Old Madam Su, hesitating like she wanted to speak but was scared to.
Old Madam Su almost choked from anger. Why the hell are you looking at me like that, you little devil?!
Old Man Su knocked his pipe against the table a few times. “Don’t look at your grandma. Tell it straight!”
Only then did Su He stammer her way through the story. She kept it calm and matter-of-fact, but she made sure to emphasize that Su Yongshi turned back midway.
“Grandpa, please don’t blame my uncle. Even though he and my aunt wanted to get promoted, they still meant well.
Even though he didn’t stay when I begged him to, the fact that he came back partway shows he still cares about me as his niece.”
On the surface, she was excusing them, but she was really making two things clear: Her uncle and aunt arranged the match so they could get permanent work status. Her uncle abandoned her pleas and left her in danger!
What kind of person does that?!
Su Yongguo trembled with rage. His younger brother had made it sound so wonderful, but he had almost ruined Su He’s life!
Even Zhao Cui’er, usually gentle and soft-spoken, couldn’t hold back anymore. She hugged Su He and cried while shouting:
“Since I married into the Su family, I’ve never treated your uncle’s family poorly. And now they sell my daughter for a job—are they even human?!
If that beast hadn’t had a sudden attack, wouldn’t Su He have been ruined?!
Even if your uncle turned back, it was already too late!
I’ve endured so much over the years, but this I won’t tolerate! Su He, Xiaoman, come on, we’re going back to your grandma’s house!”
She grabbed Su Xiaoman, but the little girl stared at the stew pot, sniffing the fragrant meat.
“Mama… can we eat first? That way we can save Grandma’s family a meal…”
Su He: “…”
Old Man Su slammed the table. “Eldest daughter-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll make your brother-in-law give you a proper explanation! Eldest son, come with me to the county tomorrow—I’ll beat that bastard to death myself!”
Old Madam Su hurried to speak up, “Old man, calm down. Yongshi isn’t that kind of person. Maybe this was all that troublemaker Cao Hongmei’s idea. Yongshi must’ve been tricked.”
Su He knew her grandfather was just venting. Instead of pressing harder, it was better to get something useful out of this.
So she choked out, “Grandpa, what my uncle did was wrong, but if you go to the county and people start gossiping, he and my aunt might lose their jobs. I don’t mind a little grievance—it’s better to think of the bigger picture.”
Only then did Old Madam Su dare to speak again. “Right, right! You can scold him when he comes back. If he and his wife lose their jobs, Jinbao won’t be able to go to school in the county.”
Though Old Man Su wasn’t as obvious as his wife, it was clear he also cared deeply about Jinbao.
Seeing how understanding Su He was, he felt both relieved and guilty.
“Su He, we can’t let you suffer for nothing. If you want something, just say the word!”
Su Xiaoman had been waiting for this—it was the task her “mean sister” had given her!
“I think Uncle’s bike is really nice. How about we give it to my sister?”
