Chapter 28: The Su Family’s First Family Meeting
At that moment, Su He was holding a pencil, scribbling and drawing on a piece of paper.
Shen Ruyi’s previous schemes had failed, but Su He knew she definitely had more tricks up her sleeve. According to the original plot of the novel, the Su family’s ending was extremely tragic.
Su Yongshi had his leg broken. Old Madam Su suffered a stroke and died from the emotional trauma. Su Xiaoman was sentenced to death. Zhao Cui’er went insane. Su Yongguo went to work in the mines and developed a severe lung disease. In the end, the entire Su family was barely held together by the old man, Old Man Su.
By the time the original Su He gave up on everything, she was still alive, but after enduring so much suffering, she found life worse than death.
After pondering for a while, Su He circled Su Yongshi’s name.
Su Yongshi and his wife were short-sighted and greedy. They looked shrewd but were actually quite foolish. Shen Ruyi would very likely instigate them to do something harmful.
So, on this upcoming trip to the county, Su He planned to bring those two completely under control—to prevent them from becoming liabilities.
Also, the college entrance exam would be reinstated in November 1977. She would definitely be leaving to study elsewhere by then and wouldn’t be able to protect the Su family all the time.
They needed to broaden their horizons and develop some real skills—so that when faced with Shen Ruyi’s schemes, they’d have the courage and strength to resist.
This was one of the reasons she had Su Yongguo learn how to drive a tractor.
But that wasn’t enough. They also needed to improve their literacy and education.
Old Man Su, Su Yongguo, and Zhao Cui’er could barely read or write a few simple characters, while Old Madam Su was completely illiterate.
Once Su He finalized her plan, she tore up the paper and threw it into the stove.
After dinner, Su He said, “Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Xiaoman—since everyone’s here, let’s have a family meeting.”
Old Madam Su said, “What? A meeting? What kind of meeting?”
The rest of the family looked confused too. What kind of meeting were they supposed to have in a regular household?
Besides, if there was a meeting, shouldn’t Grandpa be the one hosting it?
Su He turned to Su Xiaoman and said, “Go get some paper and a pencil. Take notes for the meeting.”
Su Xiaoman was about to refuse, but Su He added, “If you take good notes, I’ll bring you back some chocolate from the county.”
Su Xiaoman bolted to her room to grab a notebook and pencil.
She’d only had chocolate once in her life—brought back by Shen Ruyi last time—and she’d been thinking about that taste ever since.
Once Su Xiaoman was seated again, Su He grew serious. “Do you know why I jumped into the river before?”
Everyone in the Su family shook their heads. They’d wanted to ask but were too scared the question might upset her and drive her to do something rash again.
“Shen Ruyi told me two things that day: first, that Qi Yuansheng—the man I was verbally engaged to—had gotten together with her. Second, she said our Su family wronged her and vowed to take revenge… to completely destroy our family.”
Before Su He could even finish, Old Madam Su started cursing.
“We wronged her?
When she was born, she was so weak she looked like a sick kitten. Your father and mother begged everyone to get her treated and raised her into adulthood. If it had been any other family, they would’ve let her die on her own!
All these years, we treated her like a little princess. What other girl in the village only had to earn two work points a day? Only our Su family treats girls this well!
And what’s the result? A backstabbing ingrate!
Destroy our family, my ass! If she pushes us too far, I’ll beat her to death with my own hands—”
Su He had already seen through Old Madam Su’s nature—she only dared to act tough within the family. If Shen Ruyi really showed up, she’d be the first to back down.
Still, Old Madam Su’s outburst made Su He suspicious.
If Shen Ruyi was that frail as a newborn, could it be that Song Xian (Shen Ruyi’s birth mother) intentionally switched the babies? After all, infant mortality was quite high in those days…
Su He stored that thought away for now and continued, “When I went to the county last time, I investigated. The reason Second Uncle and Second Aunt tried to set me up with Zhao Bin was because someone egged them on. That someone was clearly Shen Ruyi. She’s already started her revenge.”
This time, Old Man Su’s expression changed completely.
Before, he had treated Su He’s words as simple intimidation from Shen Ruyi. But now he realized the situation was much more serious.
He took a few deep puffs from his pipe, his brows furrowed tightly.
Zhao Cui’er was still in disbelief. “Su He… Ruyi really said all that to you? And she was really behind the Zhao Bin thing?”
Even though Shen Ruyi wasn’t her biological daughter, Zhao Cui’er had raised her for 18 years with her own hands. It was hard to accept—let alone believe—that she’d do something so cruel.
Su Xiaoman piped up, “I don’t think Ruyi-jie would do something like that. She even brought me chocolate last time she came home!”
Su He tugged gently on Xiaoman’s little cowlick. “Haven’t you ever heard of ‘sugar-coated bullets’? From now on, if you want something, just tell me. Don’t take gifts from others!”
Su Xiaoman didn’t fully agree, but she was smart enough to keep quiet when needed. She said nothing more.
Su He looked at Zhao Cui’er. “Mom, I know it’s hard to accept, but it’s the truth. You may feel you’ve done nothing wrong, but she believes we stole the life of a wealthy city girl that should’ve been hers.
Here’s the plan—when I return from the county, I’ll call Second Uncle and Second Aunt back and have them tell you everything themselves.”
Old Man Su tapped his pipe bowl against the edge of his shoe. “Su He, what do you think we should do?”
Unintentionally, Su He had already become the pillar of the Su family.
That’s why she’d waited until now to bring up Shen Ruyi. If she had said this earlier, no one would have believed her—they’d have thought she was making things up.
“Shen Ruyi has the Shen family behind her—money and power. If we want to survive, the Su family has to unite and work together to face her scheming ways.
This meeting is just to warn everyone so we don’t fall into her traps.
Also, starting tomorrow, everyone has to start learning to read and write.”
Old Madam Su pouted. “Su He, your granny’s never read a word in her life. Don’t go tormenting these old bones of mine!”
The others looked equally unwilling.
Su He smiled. “Granny, we’re not going to stay stuck in this tiny village forever. I’m going to take you all to the county, the provincial capital, even the imperial capital!
Just think—if you’re sitting with city ladies and they’re all educated while you can’t read a single word, wouldn’t you feel embarrassed?”
Old Madam Su swallowed hard. “You cheeky girl, don’t trick me! You’re saying you can take me… to the capital? What kind of place is that for an old woman like me?”
Su He pointed at the swallow’s nest on the ceiling beam. “Granny, our family is like those migrating swallows—only the ones that keep up with the flock can reach the destination safely. Fall behind, and you’ll freeze to death in the winter.”
A fat swallow peeked its head out of the nest, gave Su He a quick glance with its beady eyes, and ducked back in.
Old Madam Su didn’t say another word. Whether she froze or not, she still wanted to go to the capital and be a titled lady. No way she’d fall behind now.
The others silently made up their minds too—they couldn’t fall behind either.
Su He turned to Su Xiaoman. “From now on, you’ll teach everyone in the family to read and do math. If you do well, you’ll be rewarded. If not, don’t expect to eat any candy.”
Su Xiaoman pouted but nodded.
Then she solemnly wrote in her notebook:
April 25, 1975 – The Su Family’s First Family Meeting
Attendees: Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Sister, Me.
Sister said: Sister Ruyi is a bad person.
We shouldn’t take things from others.
Everyone must study hard. No one is allowed to fall behind.
