Seeing Liu Suqin's uncompromising attitude, Su Xingye felt a pang of regret.
She really lacked experience interacting with close relatives. She had been so focused on distracting her sister-in-law from crying and thought mentioning Shen Kaiyue would shift her attention. She hadn't expected the news to stimulate her sister-in-law so much that she refused to listen to anything else.
Liu Suqin spoke with an air that left no room for negotiation. "I'm telling you, even if you cry, throw a fit, or threaten to hang yourself this time, your sister-in-law won't agree. I'll discuss it with your brother later. This time, we will keep our eyes wide open and find you a good match. If you want to keep the children, you can bring them; if not, I'll raise them for you. You will stay close to me from now on, and I'll watch over you."
Seeing Su Xingye open her mouth to speak, she raised a hand to cut her off. "Don't say anything. The person you found—your sister-in-law doesn't agree. I don't trust your judgment. You just wait for me and your brother's word."
Su Xingye gave an awkward smile. "Sister-in-law, I chose well this time. He definitely won't be like Zhou Renqiang."
"Chose well? You got the divorce certificate just half a day ago, and you 'chose well'? I think you're mad with anger."
As she said this, she convinced herself. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that this was the case. She then thought that her sister-in-law still had a childish mentality and needed patience. "Xiao Xing, listen to your sister-in-law. It's not worth destroying your future because of that beast. No matter how angry you are, you can't take it out on the rest of your life. Listen to your sister-in-law. I moved in when you were only ten. I watched you grow up, and I won't hurt you."
"This time, your brother and I will keep our eyes open and definitely find you a good match."
Su Xingye found the situation both frustrating and endearing but dared not mention Shen Kaiyue again. She could only figure out a way later. She nodded obediently. "Okay, I'll listen to you, Sister-in-law."
Liu Suqin finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That's right. Good. Now, take the children home and rest. Come back for dinner later. I'll have Daya come fetch you. Just rest well for the next couple of days."
Back at the original host's house, Su Xingye finally understood why Liu Suqin felt so much heartache. The place was truly impoverished. There was only one bowl of corn flour in the jar, a tiny bit of oil left in the bowl, and absolutely nothing else.
Su Xingye couldn't figure out why the original host was so devoted to Zhou Renqiang. Because Zhou Renqiang hated her brother and sister-in-law, she disliked them too. She never went to their house unless she was absolutely starving.
She was absolutely crazy.
She took out two more rolls of haw flakes, giving one to each child. "Do your stomachs feel better?"
Neither of them had eaten the roasted sweet potato earlier, clearly still stuffed from the noodles.
The younger brother, Xiaoliu, touched his belly and was very honest. "Better now."
Zhou Xiaoyang, sucking on a piece of haw flake, looked at Su Xingye's smiling face and suddenly asked, "Is he really not coming back?"
His tone was as indifferent as if he were talking about a stranger. Su Xingye was confused for a moment, then realized he was asking about Zhou Renqiang.
She squatted down and explained seriously, "He won't come back. Divorce means two people part ways and no longer live together."
Seeing Zhou Xiaoyang visibly relax, Su Xingye thought for a moment. "He is not fit to be your father. A father should protect you, earn money to buy you delicious food, and buy you new clothes. How about Mom finds you a new father who is like that?"
The younger brother, Xiaoliu, clapped his hands. He didn't fully understand, but he understood the delicious food and new clothes. "New father! New father!"
The older brother wanted to shake his head. He didn't want a new father; he only wanted his uncle (jiùjiu) and aunt (jiùmà).
Since he could remember, only his aunt had been the best.
In this home, all he had ever seen was his mother being beaten, his brother crying, and his father smashing things and cursing.
"Will Auntie agree?" If Auntie agreed, he would too.
Su Xingye patted his head. "Don't worry. Mom knows what you mean. When you meet him, you will agree."
It seemed she needed to have Shen Kaiyue visit after all. She had thought too simply, assuming that since the original host had no parents, she could make decisions on her own. She had forgotten her fiercely loving brother and sister-in-law. No matter what, she had to ease their minds.
Unexpectedly, Shen Kaiyue showed up the very next day.
Shen Kaiyue went to Su Xiayang's house. When he knocked on the door, Liu Suqin was talking to her husband. The autumn harvest was over, and her husband had found work building a house in the neighboring village. He worked from dawn till dusk and came home very late.
Liu Suqin felt sorry for her husband. She had been afraid to talk about the divorce the night before, worried he wouldn't sleep well, so she brought it up after breakfast.
As expected, Su Xiayang was instantly angry.
His parents had died young, leaving him only this one sister. He had doted on her as she grew up. When she was charmed by the educated youth, Zhou Renqiang, he was never happy about it, but for his sister's sake, he endured it. He never expected that beast to behave so inhumanely.
The problem was that he couldn't find him now.
"Don't let me ever see him again," Su Xiayang gritted his teeth.
Liu Suqin was washing clothes for the children while talking to him. "What's the use of saying that? The important thing now is Xiao Xing. I think she's been seriously provoked. Yesterday she came and told me she found someone else, saying he's a soldier, and he's so great."
"No way! Tell her I don't agree!" Su Xiayang didn't even have to think about it.
The couple's minds were always in sync regarding Su Xingye. Liu Suqin nodded. "As if I needed you to tell me! I told her right then that this time, we'll keep our eyes open and find her someone who cares for her, so she doesn't suffer that kind of pain again."
Su Xiayang grunted. "You talk to her often, don't let her become stubborn."
Liu Suqin scrubbed the clothes vigorously and lowered her voice. "Don't tell me, I actually think this isn't all bad. You were worrying every day, couldn't sleep, afraid Xiao Xing would go to the city and be wronged. Now we don't have to worry about that."
She thought of something else and smiled. "I think Xiao Xing has finally smartened up this time. You know, she even hugged me yesterday, constantly telling me not to be angry. She's not keeping secrets from me anymore."
Su Xiayang looked at the smile on his wife's face and smiled too. "It's all thanks to you all these years. That girl finally has some conscience. She's not being stubborn anymore; she knows you care about her."
Liu Suqin gave a hearty laugh. "Look at you. Xiao Xing is finally growing up."
Although remarrying shouldn't be rushed, the couple began discussing suitable families in the surrounding area in hushed tones. They figured they could slowly start meeting potential matches after this period passed.
It was at this time that Shen Kaiyue arrived.
"Is Brother Xiayang in?" He knocked on the main door.
Su Xiayang got up and opened the door. He found Shen Kaiyue somewhat familiar but couldn't place him immediately. "You are?"
Shen Kaiyue clenched his fist, then released it calmly. "Brother Xiayang, I'm Shen Kaiyue from Shangqing Village up ahead. We did some land reclamation together."
"Oh~" Su Xiayang suddenly realized. "I thought you looked familiar! It's you, boy. I remember you went off to join the army, right? It's been so many years! Come in, come in quickly."
Su Xiayang stepped aside, showing warmth on his face, but feeling a bit puzzled inside. When he saw the precious items Shen Kaiyue was carrying—cakes, canned goods, and biscuits—he was even more confused.
After listening to Shen Kaiyue's words, he understood.
"Proposing marriage?" Su Xiayang let out a loud shout.
He frowned, instinctively wanting to find fault, but his wife jabbed him with her elbow.
The words he wanted to say were stifled, but his displeasure was evident on his face.
He knew it! This boy dressed so smartly and brought so many things to the door—he must have had ulterior motives.
Initially, he felt a rush of emotion hearing the boy talk about army life, but it turned out the boy was just buttering him up.
Liu Suqin saw that he wasn't speaking and knew he disapproved. However, looking at Shen Kaiyue's appearance, she couldn't bring herself to be harsh. It couldn't be helped; in every era, people have the same common failing: they judge by looks.
Still, she reasoned things out. Although Kaiyue was a state employee, the frontier was thousands of miles away. If Xiao Xing went with him, they wouldn't see her for years. Just this point alone made her reluctant. Moreover, he also had two children.
Liu Suqin smiled politely. "Kaiyue, I don't know how you found out, but your sister-in-law won't hide it from you. Our Xiao Xing divorced that hateful man. Your brother and I discussed it. Xiao Xing has had a rough time these past few years. Even if she remarries, we plan to find her someone we know well, who will stay close to us so she won't be bullied again."
Shen Kaiyue understood the implied rejection. He nodded and showed his greatest sincerity. "I know my conditions aren't great. I am a soldier, and I don't believe in empty talk. I keep my promises. If this marriage happens, I guarantee I will love her children as my own. No matter how much money I earn, I will give every single cent to her."
Liu Suqin and Su Xiayang exchanged glances. Su Xiayang was the one who spoke.
"Kaiyue, why don't you go back for now? Your sister-in-law and I need to discuss this, and we also need to hear what Xiao Xing thinks."
Shen Kaiyue nodded. He hadn't expected to succeed on the first try. He was clear about his own conditions; the single requirement of moving to the frontier was enough to make people unacceptable.
He wanted to leave the gifts for the children, but since the matter was still uncertain, Su Xiayang wouldn't keep the goods, as it would be like accepting a binding arrangement. He only kept two packets of biscuits as a token of friendly exchange, and Shen Kaiyue took the rest back.
As soon as Shen Kaiyue left, the couple started talking.
Liu Suqin didn't have a strong impression of Shen Kaiyue. "That young man looks very sharp. From Shangqing Village?"
Su Xiayang held his bowl and took a sip of water. "Yes. One year, the brigade sent laborers to reclaim land, and I was in his group. He was only sixteen or seventeen then, but a very hard worker. He went into the army after that, and I haven't seen him in years."
Liu Suqin took the bowl her husband handed over and drank a sip. "I think he seems honest, says what he means, no boasting or exaggeration. Him having children is fine; our Xiao Xing has children too. It's just that going to the frontier is so far away."
She hit the core issue. Su Xiayang nodded but didn't speak.
The young man was indeed honest. Out of all the laborers who reclaimed land that year, the reason he had such a strong impression of Shen Kaiyue was precisely because of his integrity.
When reclaiming land, many people were present, and women from every village were sent to deliver meals. It was unavoidable for a group of men and boys to flirt with the good-looking ones. Especially the sixteen or seventeen-year-olds; whenever the meal deliverers arrived, they would swarm around the pretty ones. Shen Kaiyue was different. He always sought out an older auntie with white hair, though later Su Xiayang learned she wasn't even from the same village.
In his work, too, he never slacked off. He just quietly put his head down and worked, never talking much.
Even back then, Su Xiayang felt the boy was upright.
There was another reason he remembered him: back then, he had entertained the idea of introducing his sister to him.
Unfortunately, before he could even mention it to his wife, he heard the young man had joined the army, and the matter was dropped.
Liu Suqin looked at his expression and was surprised. "Who was it who wanted to say no right away? It looks to me like that young man actually appeals to you. But that's the frontier! I can't bear for Xiao Xing to go suffer that kind of hardship."
Su Xiayang swallowed the last sip of water, stood up to go to work, and said, "I'll try to find out more about that frontier place. You go give Xiao Xing a heads-up so she knows what's going on. Tell her that at the very least, she has to find someone like Kaiyue. I definitely won't agree to those other random people she finds."
No comments:
Post a Comment