RGL – Chapter 70

She pinched the money in her hand, then reached out and handed it to Sun Qiufang. “I’m going to my uncle’s place to eat.”

“Alright, go ahead,” Sun Qiufang replied with a smile.

Shao Yun looked at Su Min and smiled. “This child has grown up well.”

“Oh, she barely eats, how could she grow up well?” Sun Qiufang replied modestly, but she was clearly delighted. What mother doesn’t like hearing others praise her daughter?

The two sides chatted for a bit, and the initial awkwardness gradually faded.

Neither Shao Yun nor Su Changgui brought up the matter of borrowing money, as if their visit was simply for catching up and maintaining the relationship.

After Shao Yun left, Sun Qiufang commented, “Although she and Changgui being together isn’t exactly honorable, she’s actually not difficult to get along with. If Gao Hong had been like this back then, our two families wouldn’t have ended up on such bad terms.”

“Exactly,” Su Changrong agreed, nodding.

A little while later, Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang asked their workers to look after the shop, and the two of them went to Sun Hai’s place for dinner. Since both families usually worked late and didn’t want to be too tired to work, they would eat around six or seven in the evening. After eating, Li Meng would take food back for Grandma Sun and bring the child along, while Sun Hai stayed to continue watching the shop.

Sun Hai had already asked someone to prepare the meal. Su Min and Li Meng had started eating. When the couple arrived, Li Meng quickly smiled and handed them bowls and chopsticks.

“Minzi said you had relatives over, so I didn’t bring food over.”

Sun Qiufang took the utensils and smiled. “It was Minzi’s third uncle and third aunt. They just left.”

When Li Meng heard it was the third aunt, her expression became a little complicated. After serving them food, she said, “Sis, Minzi’s third aunt—is her name Shao Yun?”

Sun Qiufang nodded while eating. “Yes, that’s her name. How do you know?”

“She used to be from our village.”

“Your village?” Sun Qiufang was surprised. What a coincidence—her sister-in-law and her niece-in-law were from the same village.

Su Changrong smiled, “That really is a small world.”

Li Meng said, “What small world? That woman’s not that great. I heard from folks in my village that back when her family was starving, it was Uncle Li who helped them. So her parents promised her to him. They were already going to get married when she suddenly said she wanted to go to university. Uncle Li agreed and kept taking care of her family. But guess what? Folks said she got herself a boyfriend in college. When the truth came out, she got expelled. After she came back, she married Uncle Li, but everyone said she was unclean.”

Upon hearing this, both Sun Qiufang and Su Changrong lost their appetites.

Then Li Meng added, “Later, she got involved with the people in the village too, things got ugly, and that’s why Uncle Li divorced her.”

That bombshell left Sun Qiufang and Su Changrong stunned, unable to react for a long while.

They had just thought she was easy to get along with—who would’ve known she had such a past?

Of course, they believed Li Meng. After all, Shao Yun had nothing to do with her, so there was no reason for her to lie.

Sun Qiufang said, “We’d better minimize contact in the future.”

Su Changrong frowned. “I wonder if Changgui knows about this. He finally found someone again, and it turns out to be someone like this.”

“Whether he knows or not, I don’t care anymore,” Sun Qiufang said with clear disdain. “If she were really a decent woman, she wouldn’t have gotten involved with Changgui before he was even divorced.”

If it had just been a one-time mistake with a man, one might chalk it up to poor judgment. But looking at it now, she was a repeat offender. First being ungrateful and finding someone else in college, then getting entangled with people after marriage. And now, after her divorce, she’s seduced Changgui. That woman was clearly a mess.

Sun Qiufang had originally thought that since they were practically family now, and Shao Yun acted so warmly toward them, they should at least keep things cordial. But now that she knew about all this, she had no interest in keeping in touch.

Su Changrong also found it deeply off-putting.

He was an honest man, and he had no tolerance for a woman who couldn’t stay faithful.

Su Min had never liked Shao Yun much to begin with, so she wasn’t too surprised by all this—just thought it was best to keep their distance.

Although Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang had decided not to have anything to do with Shao Yun, she kept showing up.

From the day after they first met, Shao Yun began dropping by every day to chat with Sun Qiufang. If Sun Qiufang wasn’t there, she’d chat with Su Changrong, mostly about Su Changgui.

After seeing this happen twice, Sun Qiufang complained to her husband when they got home, “You know what kind of woman she is, why are you even talking to her?”

Su Changrong felt wronged. He didn’t want to talk to her either, but she came in all smiles and wasn’t doing them any harm. He couldn’t just slap her in the face, so he made small talk to be polite. But in his wife’s eyes, even that became something improper.

“Qiufang, don’t you trust me in our life together? I’m not the kind of person who messes around. That’s Changgui’s wife—how could I have any other thoughts? Since you don’t like it, I won’t talk to her again next time.”

“If I catch you again, I won’t let it go so easily.”

Sun Qiufang puffed up her cheeks, still looking somewhat angry.

When Su Changrong took a break from watching TV in the living room, she pulled her daughter into the room to talk.

“I’m not worried about your dad now, but that Shao Yun—I can see it. Every time she talks to your dad, her eyes light up. If you see her talking to your dad again, don’t let them stand too close.” She trusted her husband, but she couldn’t stop other women from throwing themselves at him. There aren’t many men who can truly resist women who push themselves onto them.

Su Min frowned. “I don’t think Dad would… And that Shao Yun isn’t even that young or pretty.”

“Didn’t your third uncle get hooked anyway? That woman is no good.”

Sun Qiufang felt she had a sharp instinct for these things.

At first, Su Min didn’t believe it either, but after running into Shao Yun a couple of times when she came to the shop to eat, she really did feel that the woman liked to hover around her dad. Fortunately, her dad seemed to get the message and always found something to do elsewhere.

“Third Aunt, don’t always stand so close to my dad. People will start gossiping. You know, folks around here are pretty conservative, and uncles and aunts-in-law are supposed to keep some distance. I heard you’re educated—you should understand this kind of thing. Don’t give people a reason to talk.”

Shao Yun felt suffocated hearing this, but she still smiled and said, “Don’t overthink it, kid. I just want to get along better with your parents.”

Su Min smiled. “I’m not overthinking it. I just want to make things clear so my mom doesn’t get upset. You’re a woman too—you should understand how she feels.”

Shao Yun’s smile began to falter. Her lips tightened, and she didn’t say anything more.

Just then, Su Changrong came over. Seeing Shao Yun still there, he quickly said, “Why haven’t you gone back yet? Don’t you need to cook for Changgui?”

Shao Yun quickly replied, “I just came out to buy some groceries. I’ll head back now. I’ll come again another day.”

After she left the shop, the smile on her face completely disappeared.

She had originally thought that since Su Changgui’s eldest brother’s family was so wealthy, if she could get close to them, it’d be easy to ask for favors in the future. But that man was like a blockhead—he didn’t take the hint at all. She also remembered seeing Li Meng the other day and began to wonder if Li Meng had said something to them.

Given Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang’s current attitude, it was probably hopeless. If she kept pushing, they might not even treat her like family anymore. If Changgui ever found out what she was thinking, he’d skin her alive.

Thinking that far, Shao Yun gave up on the idea.

After that day, Shao Yun rarely came around to talk to Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang anymore. Occasionally, when she came shopping with Changgui, she’d say a few words, but the two families never got close. Su Changgui had some pride too. Seeing how distant his brother and sister-in-law were acting, he didn’t try to force anything either.

Sun Qiufang was quite satisfied with how clearly Shao Yun saw the situation. With that external nuisance out of the way, she and Su Changrong turned their attention back to worrying about their daughter’s upcoming high school entrance exam.

By comparison, Su Min was much calmer. As the exam approached, she stuck to her study schedule each day without showing any signs of stress.

A week before the exam, Su Min invited Liao Zhaodi to her home so they could study together.

Zhang Hui hadn’t planned to let Zhaodi continue studying anyway, and didn’t expect her to do well in the exam. But Su Min asked Sun Qiufang to speak to Zhang Hui and Zhu Qiang, hoping they’d let Zhaodi stay at her place for a few days so the two of them could study together and motivate each other.

Zhu Qiang was easygoing. When Sun Qiufang brought it up, he agreed right away.

That night, when Zhang Hui mentioned it to Zhu Qiang, she was worried he might not like the idea.

Zhu Qiang said, “If the kid does well in the exam, why not let her continue? It’s not like we can’t afford it.”

Zhang Hui looked troubled. “But Zhaodi isn’t your biological daughter. Xiaobing didn’t even finish school—if we let her continue, what will the neighbors say? And Xiaobing’s grandma’s side will probably kick up a fuss too.”

Zhu Qiang didn’t agree with her. “We live our own lives. Who cares what others say? Don’t worry, we’ll make our own decisions. If Zhaodi gets good grades, we’ll let her keep studying.”

“Who knows if she’ll even pass,” Zhang Hui sighed. Deep down, she was hoping Zhaodi wouldn’t make it. Then she could take her to the market to help with the business. If she had that skill, she wouldn’t have to worry about going hungry. What’s the point of studying anyway? High school takes three years, and if she goes to college, that’s even more time. How long until she can earn her own money? Back in their hometown, Zhaodi would’ve stopped at middle school anyway.

Over at the Su household, Liao Zhaodi was discussing whether to aim for the city’s top high school with Su Min.

Zhaodi still planned to apply for the county high school, so she could attend with her second sister. It was closer to home, and she could help out around the house.

“As long as you’ve thought it through. I just think being farther from home and staying at school might give you more time to focus on studying.”

Zhaodi understood her situation. But under the current circumstances, she didn’t have the final say. “Even if I get into high school, I need my mom’s approval to attend. She’s always wanted me to leave school early. If I go to the city alone, she definitely won’t agree. If I stay nearby and can still help her out, it’ll be easier to convince her.”

Su Min felt a bit helpless hearing all the difficulties Liao Zhaodi faced. After all, high school wasn’t like university—at that age, you couldn’t truly be independent.

She smiled and said, “No matter what, just focus on doing well in the exams first. Once we get through them, let’s take a trip to B City. Want to come?”

“That’s pretty far, isn’t it?” Liao Zhaodi asked in surprise.

Su Min nodded. “Yeah, it is quite far. I plan to go there after the exams. I promised Xue Mian I’d visit him. And while I’m there, I can see some famous landmarks too. I’ve wanted to go for a long time, just never had the chance.”

“I won’t go. I still have to help out at home with the chores,” Zhaodi said. Besides, traveling would cost money—she needed to save up for her education.

Hearing that Zhaodi was still thinking about housework even when it came to going out, Su Min sighed inwardly. When would Zhaodi be able to set down that burden?

Meanwhile, over in B City, Xue Mian had been feeling pretty excited the past few days. He was so restless at night he couldn’t sleep, reading under his flashlight and keeping the other two in the dorm awake as well.

Han Lei tossed a pillow down from the top bunk. “You got a screw loose or what? Studying in the middle of the night? I didn’t even see you open a book all day!”

Xue Mian rolled over with a grin. “The exam’s coming up—I can’t sleep.”

The chubby guy nicknamed Song Da Pang rolled over and looked at him. “With your grades, what are you worried about exams for?”

“Reading more never hurts,” Xue Mian replied, grinning so wide he couldn’t hide it.

Thanks to him, Han Lei and Song Da Pang couldn’t sleep either.

Han Lei lay in bed for a while before suddenly saying, “Xue Mian’s going to high school. Da Pang, what about you? Don’t tell me you want to go to high school too?” In this dorm, only Xue Mian liked to study. He and Da Pang were definitely not the academic type.

Song Da Pang pulled a face. “I’m not going. My family’s already arranged everything—after graduation, I’ll be joining the army.”

“With your build? The army?” Han Lei leaned down from the top bunk, eyeing Song Da Pang’s round figure under the flashlight’s glow.

“What’s wrong with my build? I’m solid!” Song Da Pang sat up abruptly. “Listen, I’ve always had a dream. I want to be a cop someday—the kind that carries a gun and looks super cool. Then I’d do this—” He mimed holding a gun. “‘You’re surrounded!’”

“Yeah right, you?” Han Lei flopped back on his bed laughing.

Song Da Pang retorted, “Don’t laugh at me. What do you want to do? Bet it’s nothing as cool as being a cop.”

Han Lei smirked up at the ceiling. “I want to fly fighter jets. You know, the kind that can soar through the sky and dive down fast.”

“Dream on. Fighter pilots are all highly skilled technicians. With your grades? Be happy if you end up driving a big rig.”

“You little punk, still daring to make fun of me!” Han Lei bounced on his bed above.

Listening to them talk about the future, Xue Mian lost the mood to study. He closed his book and set the flashlight aside.

“I want to go into industry. Something that can support a family and help with national development. You know, I’ve been abroad before, and seeing how developed other countries are really made me wonder—how can the world be so different when we all live under the same sky?”

Han Lei and Song Da Pang, hearing Xue Mian talk so seriously about the future, suddenly realized: they really were about to graduate. Soon, they’d all go their separate ways—who knew if they’d even see each other again?

Han Lei sighed and sat up. “Hey, we’ll all be in B City anyway. When we’re on break, let’s make sure to meet up. Don’t be like those people who don’t see each other for years and can’t even recognize their old buddies.”

Song Da Pang and Xue Mian both agreed in unison. “Deal, it’s a promise.”

On the day of the high school entrance exam, Su Changrong was even more nervous than Su Min. He couldn’t eat breakfast at all and just hovered nearby. Once he saw that Su Min had eaten her fill, he quickly picked up her bag to carry it for her. “Let’s go! Don’t be late!”

Su Min hadn’t been in any particular rush, but seeing her father so flustered, she had no choice but to follow along.

Sun Qiufang called out from behind, “Make sure you’ve got everything! Don’t forget anything!”

Only then did Su Changrong remember. He hurriedly handed the bag back to Su Min. She said, “I checked everything multiple times last night.”

“Yes, yes, I was watching too. Ugh, my memory!” He tapped his forehead, grabbed the bag, and led the way out.

At the school gate, after giving Su Min some encouraging words, Su Changrong finally left once he saw the crowd growing.