As Su Yun spoke, she made a move as if to leave.
He Hua's expression immediately changed. She stomped her foot and said, "Su Yun, that match was arranged for you. What does it have to do with me? You're truly vicious!"
Afraid that Su Yun might actually go and say something, He Hua no longer dared to stay and watch the commotion. She turned around and hurried back into her kitchen to cook.
Not long after, Chen Xiue returned, still holding a broom, with Aunt Gao and Aunt Wang following behind, trying to calm her down.
Aunt Gao said, "Xiue, don't be angry. You know what kind of person your sister-in-law is. Besides, doesn't Su Yun already have someone now? That young man from before looked handsome and energetic—he and Su Yun are quite a good match!"
Aunt Wang added, "Exactly. Just treat her words like nonsense and don't take them to heart. The more you get angry, the happier she'll be."
Chen Xiue's face was dark, her chest rising and falling with anger. "I just didn't expect her to dare bring it up again! It wasn't enough for her to come asking for money—she just had to make trouble for me too. I've never seen such a shameless aunt!"
After a few more words of persuasion, and seeing that Chen Xiue had calmed down a bit, Aunt Gao and Aunt Wang each returned home to cook.
Once inside, Su Yun handed Chen Xiue a cup of honey water. "Mom, don't be angry. Second Aunt has always been like this. She just wants to provoke you. If you ignore her, she won't be able to stir up trouble."
As Chen Xiue drank the water, she couldn't help but say, "Do you think I don't know what kind of person she is? Back then, we married into the Su family one after another. After I gave birth to your eldest and second brothers, she had Su Xiu. Your grandparents favored grandsons, so they always helped our family. She's resented me for that her whole life—do you think I didn't notice?"
"But whose fault is it? After giving birth to Su Xiu, she never had another child. Yet she blames me, saying that because I later gave birth to Xiao Wu, she couldn't have more children. Listen to that—doesn't it sound completely unreasonable?"
Su Yun comforted her, "Second Aunt has always been unreasonable. There's no point arguing with her."
"I didn't even want to deal with her, but as soon as she heard your father got a 20-yuan reward from the factory, she rushed over to borrow money, saying Su Xiu is about to get married and needs new clothes. When I refused, she brought up that fool again, saying she found you a 'good match'—just to make me a laughingstock in the courtyard!"
With that, Chen Xiue slammed the cup onto the table. "I can't swallow this anger. I have to teach your second aunt a lesson!"
When Su Wenshan came back, Chen Xiue instructed Su Yun and Su Baoguo, then dragged Su Wenshan out the door.
Su Baoguo tried to follow but was scolded and didn't dare go.
The siblings ate at home. Su Baoguo's little face was full of anger. "Second Sister, if I had been home today, I would've helped you deal with Second Aunt! I'd tear her mouth apart so she'd never dare talk nonsense again!"
"And that He Hua! She cleans toilets yet dares to watch our family's drama. I'll go find her later and teach her a lesson for talking badly about you!"
Su Yun didn't stop him, only said, "Be careful. Don't let Widow He catch you."
"Don't worry, Second Sister. I know what I'm doing!"
Su Yun also wanted to deal with He Hua, but at her age, getting into a fight would count as disorderly conduct, and the neighborhood committee would criticize her.
Su Baoguo was different—he was only ten. Even if there was some conflict, it would just be dismissed as childish mischief, at worst requiring an apology.
After finishing dinner, Su Baoguo hurried out.
Su Yun cleaned up the dishes and went to the communal sink. Just as she finished washing, a loud crashing sound echoed—something seemed to have hit a rooftop.
Soon, an angry shout came from Widow He's house: "Who did that? Who smashed my roof? Come out if you dare!"
Widow He pushed aside the curtain and came out, looking around. When she saw Su Yun, she shouted, "Su Yun, was it your Xiao Wu who smashed my roof? Where is he? Tell him to come out!"
Su Yun shook her head innocently. "I don't know."
At that moment, Su Baoguo came from the backyard with a handful of marbles, followed by the Wang family's three boys. Laughing and chatting, they squatted beside Su Yun and began playing.
Seeing him, Widow He pointed and demanded, "Xiao Wu, did you smash my roof?"
Su Baoguo looked confused. "Your roof got smashed? No wonder I heard such a loud noise earlier—turns out someone was delivering justice!"
Hearing this, Widow He's face turned green. "It was you! It must have been you! Pay for my roof—compensate me!"
Jin Suo from the Wang family stood up to defend Su Baoguo. "We were with Xiao Wu the whole time. He didn't smash your roof. Don't accuse him wrongly."
Others washing dishes nearby also spoke up. "Your whole family is full of bad intentions. He Hua reported Su Yun, yet the Su family didn't even argue with you. And now you're framing a child?"
Widow He shouted angrily, "What do you mean they didn't argue? Chen Xiue smashed my kitchen—didn't you see that?"
Others replied, "That's because you reported Su Yun first. You brought it upon yourselves."
"Exactly! Who told you to start trouble? We all live in the same courtyard. With people like you around, we can't even sleep peacefully, worrying we might be reported next!"
Being ganged up on, Widow He's blood pressure soared. Clutching her head, she rushed back inside, shouting that she couldn't go on living.
Su Baoguo lowered his head, his little face full of pride.
After returning inside, Su Yun asked him, "What happened to Widow He's roof?"
Su Baoguo grinned. "I got Tian Ci to do it. I gave him a sugarcane in return!"
Su Yun couldn't help but praise him, "You're quite clever—even know how to get someone else to do your dirty work."
"Of course! Tian Ci is my good buddy—he won't betray me. We even agreed that tomorrow morning we'll block He Hua at the public toilet and teach her a lesson for gossiping about our family!"
Meanwhile, Su Wenshan rode his bicycle with Chen Xiue to Su Yonghe's house.
Su Yonghe was Su Wenshan's younger brother, only a year younger. They married in the same year. After marrying Zhao Manfen, Su Yonghe only had one daughter, Su Xiu.
He had taken over their father's position and worked at a coal mine after marriage, rarely interacting with Su Wenshan's family.
Su Yonghe lived in the coal mine's residential area—a row of narrow, single-story houses. Night had fallen, yet few homes had lights on. His house was also dimly lit.
Su Wenshan carried the bicycle into the small courtyard. Chen Xiue strode forward first and pushed the door open. Inside the dark room, Su Yonghe's family was eating dinner by the dim light of an oil lamp.
"Yonghe, come out."
After parking the bicycle, Su Wenshan called out in a deep voice.
Hearing him, Su Yonghe slowly stood up. His expression was unclear in the darkness. He walked to the doorway and pulled the light switch.
The room was instantly illuminated, and at last, everyone could see each other clearly.