Chapter 19: A One-to-One Match
Qian Huifang poured a glass of water for Su He and asked, “You look like you’ve been traveling. Did you just get in from the countryside? I heard from your second aunt that you only went back yesterday?”
Normally, Qian Huifang couldn’t be bothered with Su Yongshi and his wife. But after the incident with Zhao Bin, she had exchanged a few words with Cao Hongmei the day before.
Naturally, Cao Hongmei pushed all the blame onto Zhao Bin, claiming that she and Su Yongshi had been deceived and didn’t know Zhao Bin was of bad character.
Qian Huifang had rolled her eyes at that. Even if they didn’t know he had assaulted a girl before, they should’ve known he was a no-good loafer. Introducing a niece to someone like that? Heartless.
If she had any choice, she wouldn’t even want neighbors like them.
Su He sighed. “Auntie, I don’t know who blabbed, but the incident from the other day has already spread back home. It’s hard for me to stay in the village now. So I thought I’d come to the county and lie low for a few days before heading back.”
Qian Huifang gave her a sympathetic look. Though the girl was clearly the victim, the gossipy women in the village wouldn’t care about that. Who knew how they’d twist her story?
“Well then, stay in the county for a bit. And feel free to come hang out at my place anytime.”
Su He nodded, then hesitated before asking, “Auntie Qian, do you know if any work units in the county are hiring? Something like what my second uncle and aunt do—temporary work is fine. I really don’t want to stay in the village anymore.”
Qian Huifang shook her head. “Hard to say. Your second uncle and aunt got lucky. The textile factory brought in new machines and needed temporary workers at the time. Now, it’s strictly one worker per job. Even if there are openings, people are already lined up for them.
Take our machinery factory, for example. We’re full. The leadership had no choice but to send a few people to the Agricultural Machinery Bureau to help repair tractors.”
Su He was thrilled. She had only come to build rapport and maybe dig for information later. She didn’t expect to get a lead so quickly.
With admiration in her voice, she said, “Auntie Qian, that’s why everyone says folks from the machinery factory are the best. You even know how to fix tractors! No wonder people say the machinery factory is the county’s big brother!”
Qian Huifang beamed with pride. “That’s right. No matter where we go, people look up to us.”
Su He flattered her for a while longer until she heard the sound of a door opening next door. “Auntie Qian, that must be my second aunt back. I’ll head over now, but I’ll be back to learn more from you soon!”
Qian Huifang was a bit reluctant to let her go—being genuinely admired felt wonderful. So she was especially warm when seeing Su He out.
“Xiao He, come visit anytime! And don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”
Cao Hongmei stood frozen with a slab of pork belly in her hand as if struck by lightning.
First, she hadn’t expected Su He to come back again!
Second, she couldn’t believe that the usually snobby Qian Huifang was being so warm to Su He!
Su He ran over and affectionately grabbed her hand. “Second Aunt, did you guess I’d be coming today and bought meat on purpose? Hmm, that can’t be right. Didn’t you say you used up all the meat coupons this month?”
Cao Hongmei’s face turned white, then green. After a long pause, she muttered, “Jinbao kept yelling that he wanted meat, so I thickened my skin and borrowed a coupon from a coworker. I’ll return it next month. Xiao He, what are you doing back here?”
Su He, with eyes red from “emotion,” repeated the same excuse she gave Qian Huifang: “Second Aunt, I plan to stay a few days this time. You won’t kick me out, will you?”
Seeing Qian Huifang still watching from her doorway, Cao Hongmei forced a smile. “Xiao He, how can you say that? I’m thrilled to have you here! Come on in. I’ll stew some meat for you.”
Back inside, Cao Hongmei started the fire and cooking, but her mood was clearly foul. She wasn’t in the mood to talk.
Unfortunately, Su He wasn’t the type to take a hint. She chirped on and on, making Cao Hongmei’s head throb.
Several times, she wanted to snap at her but remembered the matchmaking situation and held back.
Soon, Su Jinbao came home from school.
When he saw Su He, he gave her a sideways glance. “Why are you here again? Trying to steal my meat?”
Cao Hongmei scolded, “Is that how you talk to your cousin?”
But Su He only smiled sweetly. “It’s fine, Second Aunt—kids say the darndest things! Jinbao, Grandma gave you a boiled egg. Come on, let’s play egg-cracking in the yard!”
Jinbao immediately perked up and followed Su He outside.
Su He pulled the last two boiled eggs from her cloth satchel, handed one to Jinbao, and kept one for herself.
“Whoever loses has to eat their own egg. Ready?”
Before Jinbao could react, Su He smashed her egg against his.
Her egg cracked.
Su He sighed. “I lost. I’ll take the punishment.”
She peeled the egg and ate it in just a few bites.
Then she gave Jinbao a thumbs-up. “Jinbao, you’re amazing! Not only are you good at playing war games, but you’re also the egg-cracking champ!”
Jinbao looked at the single egg left in his hand. He’d won, but something didn’t feel quite right.
Just then, Su Yongshi came home.
He had changed his shift today so he could be home for the meat.
As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, Su He bounced over. “Second Uncle! Are you surprised? Happy surprise or total shock?”
Su Yongshi: …Surprised? More like horrified!
Why the hell is this girl back again?
He had been hiding the bike incident from Cao Hongmei and was still stressing about it.
And now this little debt collector had returned!
Certain that Su He was up to something, he quickly found an excuse to lead her out of the courtyard.
“Why are you back again? I already gave you the bicycle. What more do you want?”
Su He laughed. “Second Uncle, I’m your niece! Why are you acting like I’m a thief? Don’t worry, I’m not here for you this time. I’m here to borrow the Iron Ox!”
Su Yongshi took a moment to process that, then stared at her in disbelief. “What did you just say? You want to borrow the Iron Ox? Are you kidding? The Agricultural Machinery Bureau only has two of them. Even if the leaders from Huaihua Commune came, they couldn’t borrow one!”
Su He shrugged. “I didn’t want to come either, but what can I do? Grandma beat up Zhang Lianxiang—beat her badly. Grandpa’s worried that without a plow ox, the village will mock us. So I volunteered to try my luck.”
Back home, while tending the fire, Su Laotai suddenly sneezed twice.
“Damn it, which little brat is gossiping about me?!”
