RGL – Chapter 5

That evening, the entire family atmosphere was heavy. Sun Qiufang made a pot of noodles and carried her bowl into her room to eat alone. Su Min also didn’t want to see the rest of the Su family, so she took her own bowl and went into her room. Only Su Changrong didn’t want things to become too strained and sat in the main hall to eat with everyone else.

In her room, Su Min finished her noodles in just a few bites. Seeing how Sun Qiufang had no appetite at all, she could tell her mother was worrying about their future.

They were moving out tomorrow, with no house to live in and not much money. The crops in the fields for this year would only yield some grain to eat. Only after next year, once they received their own share and started planting themselves, would the land finally be considered theirs.

This coming year would definitely have to be lived as frugally as possible.

Su Min decisively set her bowl on the broken table next to her and said, “Mom, what are we going to do in the future? Have you and Dad figured it out?”

Sun Qiufang had been worrying about the same thing. Hearing her daughter ask, she forced a smile and said, “Don’t worry. We have a plan.”

Su Min knew that was a lie. They had no money — how could they possibly have a plan? She said, “Mom, let’s go to the city. When I was studying in town, I heard people say there’s money everywhere in the city. As long as we work hard, life won’t be so bad.”

Hearing this, Sun Qiufang chuckled, “What kind of silly talk is that? The city isn’t a place for us rural folks. I heard even drinking a glass of water costs money. What can we do there with just a hundred yuan? Your dad and I don’t have any skills — no one would hire us. We’d just starve to death. Don’t worry, your dad and I already thought it through. We’ll look for a house in the village first. If we can’t find one, we’ll stay at your grandma’s for a few days. We’ll get through this somehow.”

“Mom, why don’t you believe me?” Su Min said helplessly. She knew what life was like in the city, but her parents didn’t — they never even considered it. No matter how much she said, they probably wouldn’t believe her.

After dinner that night, Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang went out to look for a house.

Su Min knew it wouldn’t be easy. Although life had improved somewhat, houses were still in high demand — no family had extra rooms to lend out. And even if they did, it wasn’t like they would lend them out for free. Otherwise, her family wouldn’t have spent all these years crammed into a mud house.

Sure enough, they returned that evening looking completely dejected.

As soon as they walked in, the two of them sat down heavily on the bed.

Sun Qiufang said, “I think tomorrow we’ll send Minzi to my parents’ place, and you and I will just put up a makeshift shelter for now. Once we find a house, we’ll bring her back.”

“Sigh, Qiufang, I’ve made you and Minzi suffer,” Su Changrong said, guilt written all over his face.

Sun Qiufang didn’t reply. She was angry with her husband too. But they were husband and wife — no matter how angry she was, life still had to go on.

Su Min popped out from under the covers and said, “Dad, why don’t we stop trying to stay in the village? Let’s go to the city to look for work. Even if it’s hard, at least there’s hope for the future.”

But Su Changrong didn’t take her seriously. He chuckled, “Life in the city is tough. At least we have land here. If we can get through this year, things will be better later. Don’t worry, your mom and I will work hard, and you won’t suffer.”

Su Min was getting frustrated. “Why don’t you believe me? Let’s just try it — if it doesn’t work out, we can come back.”

“Alright, let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow we’ll take you to your grandma’s. Once your mom and I find a place, we’ll bring you back,” Su Changrong said, then turned off the light and went to sleep.

In the darkness, Su Min clenched her fists.

Even though she hadn’t lived through it yet, she knew the only way out was to go to the city. If they stayed like this, and her father got sick again, they wouldn’t have the money to treat him. Only in the city could they earn money. Even if he got sick a year later, the better healthcare there would keep a minor illness from becoming fatal.

Tomorrow — she had to find a way to get to the city.

The next morning, Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang got up early.

Even though they’d split from the family, it was still Sun Qiufang who handled the cooking. She made crispy griddle cakes and cooked rice porridge, along with some pickled beans and cabbage.

Once everything was on the table, Su Changfu’s family finally emerged from their room.

Seeing that Su Changrong’s side had already started eating, Li Yulan smiled and said, “Big brother, sister-in-law, the food’s ready — why didn’t you call us? Changfu’s heading to the supply and marketing cooperative in town today, you know.”

“If I’m responsible for feeding you, do I have to wipe your ass too? Can’t wake up on your own, and that’s our fault?” Sun Qiufang snapped back. Since they were moving out, she no longer had to swallow her pride like before.

Hearing this, Grandma Su choked on her porridge and let out a loud humph, a bit of porridge dribbling from her lips.

Unhappy, she said, “Changrong’s wife, I’m telling you — even if you’re moving out, we’re still family. There’s no need to hold a grudge about your dad’s job decision. Changfu got that job because your dad and I made it happen. Don’t blame Changfu and his wife.”

Then she glanced sideways at Sun Qiufang and added, “If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not being capable enough to give our Su family a grandson.”

“Mom, let’s just eat, okay? Don’t say any more,” Su Changrong said, trying to smooth things over. There had been enough drama these past few days — he didn’t want to stir the pot further. They were moving out soon anyway; there was no need to completely destroy the relationship.

Grandma Su, hearing him defend his wife, curled her lip. “Got yourself a wife and forgot your own mother.”

Su Changrong glanced at Sun Qiufang. Seeing her silently eating with her head down, he didn’t say anything more. Let the old lady get her words in — it wasn’t worth arguing.

Su Min, hearing Grandma Su rant, didn’t get as angry as before. They’d already split from the family. Let them say what they wanted. The more they fought now, the better — maybe they’d never talk again, and things would finally be peaceful.

After breakfast, Su Changfu and Grandpa Su went to town to handle paperwork.

Once everything was finalized, Su Changfu would start his new job at the beginning of next month. From then on, he’d have a government salary, a stable job — no more working under the hot sun. After sending the two off, Li Yulan was still grinning ear to ear.

Looking back and seeing Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang packing up to leave, she called out, “Oh? Big brother, sister-in-law — did you find a place to stay?”

“None of your business,” Su Min snapped, cutting in while carrying a bucket and basin.

“What an ill-mannered brat,” Li Yulan muttered, then cheerfully went back inside.

Grandma Su sat in the courtyard, watching her eldest son and daughter-in-law carry their things out the gate. She said nothing. Ever since the drama yesterday, she’d developed a grudge against that side of the family. No grandson, and they even had the nerve to lay hands on her. Might as well have raised a dog instead of a son.

As Su Changrong walked past her, he said, “Mom, we’re heading out now. We’ll come visit you and Dad sometime.”

“Mm,” Grandma Su replied without even glancing at him.

Su Changrong’s heart sank. His lips moved as if to say something, but in the end, he just picked up his things and led his wife and daughter out the courtyard gate.

Su Min walked behind them, carrying a plastic bucket. As she stepped outside, she looked back at the mud house her family had lived in for two generations.

She felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

Finally, she was leaving this place behind.

After leaving Sujia Village, Su Changrong asked a nearby neighbor to temporarily store their belongings in the neighbor’s thatched shed. They planned to first send Su Min over to Sunjia Village.

Sunjia Village was a bit far from Sujia Village—nearly an hour’s walk.

On the way, Sun Qiufang reminded her daughter, “Minzi, when you get to your grandma’s, you must behave yourself, understand? Once your dad and I find a place, we’ll come get you.”

“Mom, I really don’t want to go to Grandma’s. You both know what my eldest aunt is like—she’s not any easier to deal with than my second aunt. If I go live with them, they’ll definitely resent it,” Su Min said with a frown. Even though her mom was the only daughter in her grandma’s family, her eldest uncle, while not a bad person, was too soft-hearted and completely under his wife’s thumb. Her younger uncle had a disability and couldn’t help with much. Her grandma was elderly now, and Su Min really didn’t want to be a burden to her.

Hearing this, Sun Qiufang tapped her on the forehead. “Don’t say that. Doesn’t your grandma always treat you well? Whenever Qiangqiang and Yanzi get something, don’t you get it too?”

“I know Grandma loves me, but she’s being supported by my eldest uncle’s family now. I don’t want to add to their burden.”

Hearing that made Sun Qiufang feel even worse. She knew her family’s situation too well, but right now they had no other choice—they had to lean on her side of the family for a while.

“Be good, Minzi. Just bear with it for a little while. Your dad and I will come get you as soon as we can.”

Su Min could only bottle up her frustration. Since her parents were set on this course, she had no choice but to follow along to her grandmother’s house. She hadn’t even arrived yet, and she already knew how it was going to end. No need to say more—her eldest aunt definitely wouldn’t be willing to let her stay. Once even this last option was shut down, she’d cling to the idea of going to the city and keep persuading her parents. She had to make them try going to the city. Even picking up trash in the city would make more money than farming in the village.

Once they arrived at Sunjia Village, they walked down a narrow path for a few minutes and reached a courtyard with an earthen wall. The gate was open, and from there, they could see two houses inside—one slightly larger than the other. In the yard, an elderly woman with gray hair was squatting beside a large basin, chopping pig feed.

“Mom,” Sun Qiufang called out as she walked in.

Grandma Sun looked up from her work and saw her daughter. Surprised, she stood up and said, “Qiufang, why are you here all of a sudden?” She looked behind and saw Su Min and Su Changrong. “Changrong and Minzi came too? Come in, come in, have a seat.”

“Mom, who’s here?”

Just as they were about to enter the house, a plump woman stepped out.