RGL – Chapter 80

Liao Zhaodi spoke with firm resolve—she simply didn’t want to go back. No matter what the reason, nothing could make her return to that house.

Sun Qiufang had been listening from the side for a long while. Seeing that neither side had reached an agreement, she finally chimed in to mediate: “Since the child has made up her mind, just let her go to the city for school first. If she runs into difficulties in the future, she can come back and find you, and you can help then—it’s the same. Kids these days are stubborn. It’s not easy to make them bow their heads.”

Zhu Qiang and Zhang Hui were out of options too. Zhang Hui wanted to talk more with Zhaodi, but with Zhu Qiang present, there were many things she couldn’t bring herself to say.

She looked at her daughter with unease, wondering what she would do if Zhaodi truly no longer acknowledged her as her mother. Xiaobing would never accept her as his mother, and her two daughters had already left—Zhaodi was the only biological child she had left. If Zhaodi didn’t recognize her anymore, could she still be considered a mother?

She had given birth to three daughters, and in the end, not one of them wanted her.

When they left, Zhu Qiang and Zhang Hui offered more words of thanks. No matter what, their child staying here had undoubtedly brought trouble to the Su family. Zhu Qiang was already thinking that on the way back, he’d bring over some meat and vegetables to the Su family as a sort of food expense.

After sending Zhu Qiang and Zhang Hui out the door, Sun Qiufang returned inside. Seeing Liao Zhaodi still sitting on the sofa, she asked, “You really don’t want to go back?”

“I’m not going back,” Zhaodi nodded.

Sun Qiufang didn’t say anything more. She just smiled, patted her on the shoulder, and got up to cook.

This was someone else’s family matter—there was only so much she could interfere with. But the child really did seem pitiful. Zhang Hui was getting more and more muddled. Not going back was probably for the best.

The next day, Zhu Qiang came by with ten jin of pork and some vegetables.

Sun Qiufang and Su Changrong firmly refused to accept them and tried to push them back.

Zhu Qiang insisted. “If you don’t take these, Hui and I won’t feel at ease. No matter what, the child is staying here. We can’t just completely wash our hands of her. Hui was muddled in what she did, and the child has every right to be angry. But we can’t just abandon her.”

Hearing this, Sun Qiufang had no choice but to accept. She added, “Go home and talk some sense into Zhang Hui. Everything needs to be considered from the child’s perspective. This is a new era now—we adults can’t just decide everything for the kids.”

“Ai, I understand.” Zhu Qiang nodded, exchanged a few more words, and then left in a hurry.

Sun Qiufang sighed, “Zhu Qiang really is a good man—just had the bad luck to end up with a son like that.”

On the day school started, Sun Qiufang and Su Changrong didn’t stay home to watch the shop. They both accompanied Su Min and Liao Zhaodi to the city to register for school.

Su Changrong had been to the city before for supplies, so he was familiar with the area. After getting on the bus, he started telling Su Min and Zhaodi about all the good places to eat and fun spots in the city.

Sun Qiufang frowned at this. “The kids are going to school—you’re telling them where to eat and play for what?”

“They’re not bookworms. Can’t just bury their heads in studying all day.” Su Changrong didn’t fully agree with the idea of his daughter studying nonstop. He thought it would be great if she got into college, but even if she didn’t, it wasn’t the end of the world—no need to wear herself out.

Sun Qiufang didn’t bother arguing with him. She simply reminded the girls that once they were in the city, they shouldn’t wander around, and should focus on studying. They could come home during the holidays.

The county was nearly two hours away from the city—not that far. They had caught the earliest bus, so it was just about to turn ten when they arrived. Su Changrong hailed a cab and brought the girls straight to the city’s top high school.

Most of the students at this prestigious school were locals. County students only got in if they were truly top of their class.

The driver, upon hearing they had come from the county to enroll their child, laughed and said, “Then your kid must be really smart. It’s no easy feat to test into this school. How did you raise her?”

Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang both felt proud. Su Changrong smiled modestly and said, “Oh, nothing special. Her mom and I didn’t interfere much with her studies. She managed on her own.”

“That’s really impressive,” the driver gave them a thumbs-up.

Flattered by the praise, Su Changrong and Sun Qiufang were all smiles. When they arrived at the school, Sun Qiufang looked at the newly built campus and said with a smile, “The city really is different—this new school is so big. That driver said it was just built last year.”

“It’s quite nice,” Su Changrong agreed. It was spacious and bright inside, and relatively quiet. Not like the schools in the county, which were located in the busy town center. Convenient, yes—but loud and chaotic.

After registering the girls, the couple went to help them find their dorm.

There weren’t many kids staying in the dorms. Most city students lived at home. Only students like Su Min who came from out of town would stay in the dorms.

When Su Min and Zhaodi arrived, the dorm was still empty. The two of them picked adjacent lower bunks and began making their beds and organizing their things.

Liao Zhaodi looked very happy about her new living space. She smiled the whole time while wiping down the table and the bed.

Sun Qiufang, on the other hand, wasn’t so pleased. Her child wouldn’t be living at home anymore and would have to stay in this place. The thought of her daughter being away made her wish she could move in with her.

She said, “Changrong, how about we move here too?”

Su Changrong was wiping the bed rail for their daughter when he heard this. He laughed and said, “What are you thinking? If we move here, who’s going to watch the shop back home?”

Sun Qiufang said, “Didn’t you say a long time ago you wanted to open a shop here? Why don’t we do it now?” Her tone carried a hint of complaint—her child was going to school all alone out here, while they, as parents, were stuck running the store every day.

Su Changrong looked a bit sheepish when she brought this up.

Opening a store in the city… it was something he had only ever dared to dream about. He wasn’t quite ready to make it real.

Feeling awkward, he quickly busied himself finishing up the packing. Seeing that it was getting late, he suggested they take the kids out for lunch.

Fortunately, Sun Qiufang had only said it out of a moment of emotion and didn’t press the matter.

As they walked to the school gate, Su Min was already thinking about renting a place off-campus so she’d have more freedom. When she’d worked part-time before, she had also lived in dorms and knew how easily conflicts arose when many people shared a space. And if she wanted to start a small business with Zhaodi, dorm life would be inconvenient.

“Su Min?”

Just as they stepped out the school gate, they heard someone call out hesitantly from ahead.

Su Min hadn’t expected to run into Xue Nian here.

Since the last time the report incident happened, whenever there was a holiday, they would bring over some homemade pickles and salted duck eggs to visit Xue Nian. But in the past few months, because of the intense focus on studies, they hadn’t gone to see her again.

Today, Xue Nian was wearing a blue dress with three-quarter sleeves, looking very elegant. She smiled as she walked over. “I saw you from afar and thought it might be you—and it really is. Mianmian told me earlier that you got into the top high school in the city. I was thinking you’d be at the same school as our Zhao Xue.” She glanced back at the tall teenager behind her with a smile.

Su Min looked up and saw that he somewhat resembled Xue Nian. She immediately understood this must be Zhao Xue, Xue Mian’s cousin.

Before Su Min could say anything, Xue Nian looked at Sun Qiufang and Su Changrong. “These must be Su Min’s parents?”

“Yes.” Sun Qiufang nodded in a daze, then asked with some confusion, “And you are…?”

“I’m Xue Mian’s aunt. Xue Mian and Su Min are good friends.”

Now both Sun Qiufang and Su Changrong recognized her—this was the wife of County Chief Zhao, someone who had helped their family a great deal back then. Sun Qiufang quickly smiled and said, “So you’re Xue Mian’s aunt! Su Min used to visit your place often—we’ve always wanted to thank you in person but never had the chance. How about we treat you to a meal today?”

Xue Nian laughed and said, “No need. I have to take my son to school to register and also talk to the teachers about last year’s situation. We’re all living in the county town now, so there’ll be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Sun Qiufang understood this was just polite refusal and could only smile. “Alright, then next time, we must have a meal together.”

“Sure,” Xue Nian nodded with a smile.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xue Nian led Zhao Xue into the school.

Zhao Xue looked back at Su Min and then said to his mom, “That’s the girl Mianmian’s got a crush on?”

“What crush? You kids sure have active imaginations. You’re still young and already thinking about this kind of stuff?”

Zhao Xue rubbed his nose. “It’s not like I’m making it up. I’m just telling the truth. Have you seen how many pictures Mianmian’s drawn of her in his sketchbook? And to be honest, she looks quite mature. I don’t get why Mianmian likes that type.”

Xue Nian gave him a sidelong glance. “I actually think if Mianmian’s going to find a wife in the future, it better be someone like her. Ordinary girls won’t be able to keep him in line.”

Then she added, “You’re older than them. If Su Min runs into any difficulties here, help her out if you can.”

“I know. Xue Mian’s told me many times to keep an eye out, especially to make sure no boys get too close to her.”

Xue Nian frowned. “What’s wrong with you kids? Do you think everyone’s mind works like yours? Always thinking about boys and girls—what’s the point of studying then?”

Zhao Xue guiltily clasped his hands behind his back and didn’t respond. Deep down he thought, At my age, if I still didn’t understand these things, my mom would probably be worried.

Meanwhile, Sun Qiufang was also talking about Xue Nian.

“She really did us a huge favor. But it just feels too impolite to go to her house to say thank you. Feels kind of wrong.”

Su Changrong said, “She’s a government official’s wife. We’re not related, so dropping by their house without reason could cause gossip, even if we mean well.”

Su Min smiled, “Mom, Auntie Xue is really nice. She wouldn’t care about that. After all, Grandma Xue is her mother—they’re both very easy to get along with.”

Only then did Sun Qiufang remember that the old lady was indeed Madam Zhao’s birth mother. No wonder she looked familiar—there was a resemblance.

The family found a small restaurant near the school to have lunch. They had only just started eating when Su Min brought up the matter of renting a place outside.

“I just checked—the dorm has six beds, so most likely six people will be sharing. With that many girls, there’ll definitely be some friction. I’m not good with people—what if I get into arguments? I was thinking of just renting outside with Zhao Di. It’ll be quieter and better for studying.”

Sun Qiufang rejected her immediately. “No way. It’s not safe for two young girls to live outside. You’re better off staying on campus. Just get along with others and don’t argue.”

Even Su Changrong, who usually sided with his daughter, firmly objected this time. “Your mom’s right. It’s safer to live at school. It’s not like we can’t afford the rent—it’s just not safe for you two to be out there alone.”

Seeing both parents object so strongly, Su Min didn’t know how to continue arguing. She could only plan to stay in the dorm for a while first. If it really didn’t work out, she’d find a way to move out—without telling her parents.

The next morning, Su Min was woken up by Tang Man’s complaints.

She opened her eyes to see Zhang Panpan already fully dressed and standing beside the bed. Tang Man sat on her bed, scolding her. “Haven’t you ever stayed in a dorm before? We have to move together! Wake-up time should be the same for everyone. If you get up early and make noise, how can others sleep?”

Zhang Panpan bit her lip. “Sorry, I’m used to waking up early.”

“Well, you may be used to it, but you’re in a dorm now—you should adjust to others.”

“Forget it, we have class today. Might as well get up early.” Su Min couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up, climbing out of bed.

Since Su Min spoke, Tang Man didn’t continue but still looked annoyed.

Yin Jing, quietly observing everyone, noticed Tang Man’s sour expression and quickly tried to change the subject by talking to her about class.

The dorm assignments were based on class divisions, so everyone in their dorm was in the same class—Class 2 of the top city high school.

When they entered the classroom, some students were already seated, but many spots were still empty.

Su Min and Liao Zhaodi wanted to sit quietly in the back. As soon as they entered, they found seats in the fourth row from the back and cleaned the desks. Zhang Panpan sat in front of them. Tang Man and Yin Jing had already found seats in the front row. When she noticed Su Min and the others hadn’t followed, she called out, “Su Min, come sit over here!”

Su Min was already flipping through her textbooks. She looked up and smiled. “I prefer sitting at the back.”

Tang Man frowned and came over. “Come on, we’re all in the same dorm. We should stick together and be united. It’ll be easier to study together too.”

Su Min shook her head. “I’ve always sat in the back. I can’t concentrate at the front.”

Hearing her refusal, Tang Man looked even more displeased. She turned to Liao Zhaodi. “Then you come with us.”

Liao Zhaodi replied, “I’m staying with Su Min.”

Tang Man frowned deeper. “Why do you always follow her? Don’t you have a mind of your own?”

Liao Zhaodi was unhappy too—following Su Min meant she had no opinions, but following Tang Man meant she did?

Thinking about how Tang Man had been picking on Zhang Panpan, she didn’t feel like arguing. “I’m fine sitting here. Just because we’re in the same dorm doesn’t mean we have to do everything together.”

“Come on! Other dorms always move as one. If we don’t, people will say we’re not united.”

But Liao Zhaodi didn’t respond and just lowered her head to write.

Tang Man huffed and turned to Zhang Panpan. “Then you come sit with us. You’re not even from the same town as them. It’s not good to stand out too much.”

Zhang Panpan glanced at Su Min and Liao Zhaodi, who were both reading, bit her lip, and quietly gathered her things to follow Tang Man.

Back at her seat, Tang Man complained to Yin Jing, “I just can’t stand people like that. Just because they’re from the same town, they form their own little clique.”

Liao Zhaodi turned to Su Min and said, “What is with her? Everything has to go her way. We’re not robots—we have our own thoughts too. Why should we follow her?”

Su Min smiled, “Ignore her. Let’s just do our own thing.”

This wasn’t the first time she’d encountered someone like Tang Man. At work, she had met colleagues who claimed to value team spirit and expected everyone to participate in every group activity—even when people just wanted a bit of rest. They equated not following their lead with ruining team morale, never considering others had lives of their own. In the end, those group activities were more exhausting than work itself.