After tidying up the house, Su Yun changed into an old set of clothes, locked the front door, and took Su Baoguo with her to her second uncle Su Yonghe's home.
It was still early. Su Yonghe had just left for work, and Zhao Manfen had gone out with the neighboring women to the train station to pick up coal briquettes, carrying a basket on her back.
Only Su Xiu remained at home, washing clothes.
Holding Su Baoguo's hand, Su Yun walked through the narrow alleyways. Just as they reached the entrance of her second uncle's house, they heard a man's voice from inside, sounding completely self-righteous:
"Xiu'er, my mother has been sick for several days and hasn't even had a hot meal. I had no choice but to come to you. We're getting married next month—my mother will be your mother. Can you really bear to see her suffer in illness without even being able to drink a bowl of meat soup?"
Su Xiu sounded troubled. "My family is also struggling right now. To bring you in as a live-in son-in-law, my father hired people to expand the house and build a new room for us. All our money has gone into materials, and there's hardly anything left."
The man quickly asked, "Then how much is left? Give it to me first to help me out. We're getting married soon anyway—your money is my money. I'll definitely treat you well in the future! My mother will treat you well too!"
As if!
This was the very same man who, in her previous life, had stolen Su Xiu's hard-earned savings—money meant for her daughter's medical treatment—and run away with another woman. He had even cheated during the marriage and fathered an illegitimate child!
This time, Su Yun would not let him succeed. She would do everything she could to save Su Xiu.
She quickly pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in, pretending she hadn't heard anything. Raising her voice, she called out, "Sister Xiu, are you home?"
Seeing someone enter, the man immediately looked nervous. But when he realized it was just a young girl and a child, he quickly returned to his earlier arrogant demeanor.
Su Xiu was surprised to see them and hurriedly welcomed them inside. "Xiaoyun, Xiaowu, what brings you here? There's nothing much at home—I'll pour you some hot water."
As she spoke, she went to get water.
Her fiancé stepped forward and looked Su Yun up and down, his eyes gleaming with calculation. "You're Su Xiu's younger cousin? Her uncle's daughter?"
The calculating look in his eyes was deeply unsettling.
Before Su Yun could respond, Su Baoguo stepped in front of her, raised his head, and stared at the man. With a snort, he said, "So you're the live-in son-in-law for my second uncle's family? You're really ugly—just looking at you ruins my appetite. Doesn't your family feed you? Why do you look so skinny and rat-faced, like you've been starving for eight hundred years?"
"You brat, watch your mouth!"
The man's eyes widened in anger as he reached out, trying to grab Su Baoguo by the collar to teach him a lesson.
Su Yun moved to stop him, and Su Xiu quickly came over as well. She set the cup down and stood beside Su Baoguo, saying to her fiancé:
"Qiangzi, he's just a child. How can you take it seriously?"
Then, gritting her teeth, she pulled out twenty cents from her pocket and handed it to him. "This is all I have on me. Take it and buy something for your mother to eat. I have things to do here—please go back first."
Qiangzi took the money. Though dissatisfied, he still left while muttering complaints. Before leaving, he reminded Su Xiu to prepare the agreed bride price as soon as possible, saying his mother would come to collect it in a few days.
Su Yun grew angry just listening. "Sister Xiu, his family is asking you for a bride price? Are they selling their son or what?"
Su Xiu forced a smile. "Families willing to send their son as a live-in son-in-law usually do it for money. They're only asking for a bicycle and fifty yuan—that's already considered cheap."
Su Baoguo exclaimed, "What? A bicycle isn't enough—they still want fifty yuan? Just look at him—skin and bones! Does he really think he's worth that price? Even if he were free, I wouldn't want him!"
Smack!
Su Yun lightly knocked Su Baoguo on the head and shot him a look.
He covered his head and fell silent, though his face remained full of indignation.
Su Xiu gave a bitter smile. "Qiangzi has eight brothers—he's the fourth. Around the coal mine area, his family is the only one willing to send a son as a live-in son-in-law, so…"
"Sister Xiu, don't blame me for being blunt," Su Yun said seriously. "That Qiangzi doesn't seem like a good person. He's already coming to take your money before even marrying into the family. Who knows how much worse he'll get in the future? You really need to think this through."
Of course, Su Xiu understood.
But she felt she had no choice. "Forget it. This is my fate—I'll accept it."
"How can you just accept your fate?"
Grabbing her hand, Su Yun said firmly, "Sister Xiu, I came today to tell you something—I found a job for you, as a clerk at the Public Security Bureau. Would you be willing to take it?"
Su Xiu was stunned. "Xiaoyun, don't joke with me…"
Su Baoguo quickly chimed in, "My second sister isn't joking! She told Mom yesterday, and Mom even scolded her for not keeping such a good job for herself!"
Su Yun squeezed Su Baoguo's shoulder and smiled at Su Xiu. "Sister Xiu, I like my job at the recycling station—it suits me, and I don't want to leave. So I wanted to ask if you'd like to take this opportunity. If you agree, you can report to the bureau next Wednesday."
It took Su Xiu a long while to process this.
Her lips trembled as she asked in disbelief, "Is this real? I can really work at the Public Security Bureau? Xiaoyun… you're giving such a good job to me?"
"Sister Xiu," Su Yun explained, "my job is actually quite good, and it gives me free time to do my own things. But working at the bureau is different—you'll be surrounded by colleagues, expected to be diligent, and you might not even have much time to rest. Can you handle it?"
"I can!" Su Xiu nodded vigorously. "I… I don't even know what to say. Xiaoyun, thank you…"
Her eyes reddened, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.
But in those once dull eyes, a spark of hope had appeared. For the first time, Su Xiu looked like a young woman full of life again.
Su Yun comforted her for quite a while. By the time it was nearly noon, she finally left with Su Baoguo despite Su Xiu's attempts to make them stay.
When they had come, they took a bus. On the way back, Su Yun deliberately took Su Baoguo on a tram. The siblings found everything fascinating along the way until they arrived at a state-run restaurant.
Su Baoguo had never been inside one before. As he entered, he was timid, like a frightened quail.
The waitress wore an arrogant expression. When Su Yun placed the order, she responded indifferently. After taking the money and ration coupons, she shouted toward the kitchen:
"One braised pork, one vegetable tofu stew, and two bowls of rice!"
Su Baoguo remained stiff and cautious, helping Su Yun carry the dishes to the table. Then he whispered, "Second Sister, the two of us eating a whole portion of braised pork used half a jin of meat coupons—it's too wasteful. We could've just eaten something simple outside!"
Despite his words, when it came time to eat, he didn't hold back at all—shoveling rice and picking up piece after piece of meat, finishing all the food together with Su Yun.