Chapter 210: The Nursery Rhyme
Old Man Su believed at least ninety percent of what Tiezhu had just said.
Tiezhu looked like an honest child — he shouldn’t be lying.
Just as he was about to speak, Su Xiaohu burst in crying.
He shoved Su Jinbao aside and threw himself into Old Man Su’s arms.
“Grandpa, Su Jinbao and Su Erya have chocolate to eat! I want some too, I want some too…”
When Old Man Su didn’t answer, Xiaohu began rolling on the ground, kicking up a fuss, “I want chocolate! I want chocolate!
“You’re all bad people! I’m going to tell my maternal grandpa so he’ll beat you up!
“My mom said when she came back there’d be tasty food, I could go to school in the county, and we’d live in a proper house — all lies!”
…
Su Xiaoman and Su Jinbao exchanged a glance.
With a silly kid like this, they didn’t even need to set him up — he’d blurt everything out on his own!
Old Man Su trembled with anger; now he completely believed what Jinbao and Xiaoman had told him.
He’d thought the third son and his wife had truly repented — turned out they’d only come back for the family property!
Just then, Zhang Lianxiang stormed in carrying a fire poker.
She gave Xiaohu’s backside a hard whack, “You little wretch, what nonsense are you spouting?! When did I ever say that?!”
Xiaohu wailed even louder.
Old Man Su banged his pipe hard against the edge of the kang bed, “That’s enough! Why take your anger out on the boy?! You and the third know in your hearts whether you said it or not. Out! Out!”
Zhang Lianxiang didn’t dare talk back; she scooped up Xiaohu and left.
Su Jinbao and Su Xiaoman slipped out as well.
No way were they staying — that’d be like fish walking into a trap!
They even made sure to drag Tiezhu along, since he’d helped cover for them. The two little ones were a bit warmer toward Tiezhu now.
Only Old Man Su and the old lady remained inside.
He sat silently, puffing at his dry pipe, his wrinkles furrowed like pleats in a steamed bun.
Old Lady Su, though half expecting all this, still felt a pang.
She didn’t try to comfort him; she only hoped the third couple had some conscience left and could pass the tests ahead.
If they were just greedy, hoping for benefits — well, that was human nature, not unforgivable.
But if their hearts were truly black, there’d be no saving them.
During the next two days, Su Yongshi and his wife, as well as Su He, showed no sign of leaving.
They did no work, ordering the third son and his wife around.
The pair were furious but dared not speak, swallowing their anger.
Worse, the village kids had started chanting a new rhyme at the Su family’s gate every day:
“Old Su’s third is a white-eyed wolf,
Got a wife and forgot his mom!
Zhang Lianxiang’s got a black heart,
Smelly through and through!”
Finally, Zhang Lianxiang couldn’t stand it. She grabbed the fire poker and charged outside, scattering the children like chicks.
They ran off to their “secret base” — behind Old Zhang’s firewood stack at the east end of the village — to collect eight-sliced bunny milk candies from Su Xiaoman.
Xiaoman shook his little ahoge proudly. With candy, anything could be done — he’d known that since childhood!
One morning, Old Lady Su said to Su Yongshi, “Second, take your brother’s bicycle to the supply co-op, buy some meat and soybean oil.”
The word bicycle made Yongshi flinch. That had been the first lesson from his eldest niece — if not for later making amends, he’d have owed her another 150 yuan on top of that bike!
Thinking of Su He’s arrangement, he said, “Ma, it’s sweltering — I’m not riding to the commune. Third wants to show off, let him go. See if he’s tempted to skim money!”
The third son inwardly cursed but smiled outwardly, “Ma, since Second won’t go, I’ll do it.”
Old Lady Su kept a stern face, “Fine. Go early, come straight back, and don’t use errands as an excuse to loaf.”
“Yes, Ma, I’ll buy the things and return.”
He felt bitter — Mother used to favor him most, but now she treated him like a stepson.
It was just because Eldest and Second were well-off that she’d grown biased!
As he wheeled the bike out, Zhang Lianxiang hurried after him, “Husband, I’ll come too. I’m not feeling well — need to pick up medicine at the clinic.”
Behind them came Old Lady Su’s grumbling — scolding that she did little work but made plenty of fuss.
Once out of Huangxi Village, Zhang Lianxiang began cursing, “Not one decent person in your Su family! The old ones are biased, the young ones full of bad water!
If we weren’t getting benefits, I’d never come back for this humiliation!
Let’s dawdle after shopping — otherwise they’ll pile on chores again!”
The third son grumbled a bit too, “Enough. They won’t stay home forever. When they leave, we’ll sweet-talk the old man. In the end, he’s still the one in charge.”
At the co-op they bought meat and oil.
As they came out, someone called: “Are you Su Yongzhen?”
The couple turned to see a young woman in a light-pink plaid dress — an uncommon look in Huaihua commune, clearly from the city.
Su Yongzhen looked puzzled: “I’m Su Yongzhen. And you are?”
“Let’s talk somewhere private.”
They followed her to a secluded spot. The girl said, “Ruyi sent me. I heard Su He’s back in the village?”
Yongzhen froze, then feigned confusion: “Miss, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
She gave a cold snort, “Save the act. Maybe Ruyi didn’t tell you — I’m her best friend, Luo Xiaoling.
She couldn’t come, so she sent me.
“The original plan’s off. There’s now a golden chance to ruin Su He completely!”
The couple, hearing the detail in her words, began to believe.
“What does Ruyi want us to do?”
Luo Xiaoling produced a small booklet, “Don’t be fooled by the Quotations cover — inside it’s foreign writing, spreading harmful ideas.
“Plant this in Su He’s cabinet, then go report her! Say she brought it back from Shanghai.
Tell them she got big orders only because she’s an enemy agent.
“Leave the rest to us — we’ll make the charges stick.”
The couple were stunned.
Yongzhen stammered, “If the charges hold, wouldn’t she face the death penalty? The Su family would be branded reactionaries — I’d be dragged in…”
The young woman curled her lip: “You married into the Zhangs — what’s that got to do with the Su’s? If trouble hits them, just return to the Zhangs!
“And with Ruyi backing you, she won’t let you suffer. She said if you pull this off, she’ll honor her earlier promises — and reward you an extra 2,000 yuan.”
She stuffed the booklet and 200 yuan into Yongzhen’s hands, “Consider this a deposit. Whether you do it is up to you.”
Then she turned and walked away.
