Su Shuochi hung up the phone and turned to see his parents, already dressed and ready, waiting for him.

Song Zijie was also waiting in the Su family’s living room. He had originally arranged to take Su Shuochi to the airport. "Su, are we ready to go now?"

"Yeah, let’s go." Su Shuochi nodded.

Su’s mother watched her son cautiously. With her daughter having caused trouble, she felt she could hardly face him.

But if her son didn’t go back with them, she had no idea what she would do.

Mr. Su trailed behind to lock the door. The group was silent all the way to the car.

Su’s mother and her husband sat in the back, Su Shuochi drove, and Song Zijie took the passenger seat.

After the car started, Song Zijie said in a low voice, "Su, I was really worried you’d be angry."

His tone held a hint of almost imperceptible apology and unease, along with a touch of self-blame.

’If I hadn’t been late this morning, Su would already be at the airport on a plane back to the Imperial City. He wouldn’t have been stuck here to hear that distress call from his second sister’s husband and given up on returning to the Imperial City.’

His behavior made Su Shuochi frown slightly. ’This Song Zijie... isn’t he a bit too sensitive?’

Su Shuochi smiled nonchalantly. "I don’t blame you at all. If something really happened to my sister, I would’ve come back even if I had already made it to the Imperial City."

Su Shuochi didn’t just say this for his parents and Song Zijie to hear; he genuinely meant it.

Hearing this, Song Zijie finally relaxed a little. ’He knew Su was a loyal and righteous person, which was why he would come back despite his busy schedule.’

"That’s right. Chi has been a stand-up kid ever since he was little," Su’s mother said proudly.

’I used to love it when the whole family was together. It wasn’t because I liked being the matriarch or having that feeling of being in control of everything.

It was because I believed deep down that a big family was only a real family when everyone was happy together.

Even after my second daughter got married years ago, I still liked to help her out financially, because my son earned more money than anyone else.

So when my three children were still young, I was most displeased with my son, who had a mind of his own and was always getting into trouble.

To me, my son’s refusal to listen was rebellious, while my second daughter was obedient, well-behaved, and sensible.

But my eldest was the Old Su Family’s only son, our pillar of support. When it came to food, I couldn’t help but favor him.

My second daughter might have been well-behaved and sensible, but she wasn’t a son, so she didn’t carry the heavy expectation of continuing the family line.

My eldest son was quick-witted from a young age, and also very rebellious, so I sent him to join the army before he even turned eighteen.

My original intention was just to keep him from causing me trouble. Who knew that he would gradually do better and better for himself?

He actually ended up reaching a rather high position, which brought me great honor throughout Shuanghe Village.

My son sent money home on time every month. Whenever the postman rode his bicycle to our door with a money order, I was incredibly proud.

I would also generously give a portion to my married second daughter, and my son-in-law’s family became especially close with us.

Back then, I felt so proud. Both my children were filial, and it truly felt like our whole family was peaceful and prosperous.

But the good times didn’t last. My son got injured, and my second daughter’s in-laws immediately changed their tune, terrified we would ask to borrow money from them.

For the first six months, my second daughter would still visit us at Qingcheng Mansion, because back then we still had things for her to take home.

But after a year, with my son needing medicine every day and my youngest daughter still in school, we could barely put food on the table.

That’s when my second daughter stopped visiting. Our relatives from our old hometown also cut off contact, as if we had never been close in the first place.

I haven’t been back to Shuanghe Village for a full three years. One reason was that I had to take care of my son every day, and the other was that I was short on cash.

We didn’t go back, and my second daughter’s family stopped coming. That’s when I finally saw my second son-in-law for the good-for-nothing scoundrel he was. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

And my second daughter turned out to be selfish and narrow-minded, a two-faced person who only ever thought of what was hers and never of others.

We lost contact for almost a year in between. My second daughter didn’t even show up to congratulate her brother when he got married.

Later, our family gained a wonderful daughter-in-law, and our lives started getting better and better. I dreamed of my son returning to his hometown in glory to make me proud.

That’s why I thought of sending some food to my second daughter’s family, along with some clothes for my grandchildren.

Who knew that her family would latch onto us again, and now we can’t shake them off no matter what!

My disappointment in my second daughter now was as great as the favoritism I once showed her. Especially now that she’s learned to throw her weight around and bully people!’

Su’s mother had been lost in these thoughts, but in reality, only a moment had passed. Song Zijie, sitting up front, quickly chimed in, "Our Su is the most loyal guy there is. And his wife is wonderful, too."

"Yes, our Jiaojiao is truly wonderful. Chi, once you’ve handled your sister’s mess, you should head back quickly!" Mr. Su said, his voice weary.

"Dad, don’t worry about Su Ermei. I’ll sort it out for her. No matter how serious it is, I won’t let her be sent to a labor camp."

Su Shuochi said reassuringly. He had seen the anxious looks on his parents’ faces in the rearview mirror and just couldn’t bear it.

He had originally planned to return to Shuanghe Village in a couple of years to help them prosper, but with his sister causing trouble, he had no choice but to move his plans forward.

"Mom, Dad, try to get some sleep. We still have about three hours to go. You’ll need your energy to face everyone later."

"Mm, dear, Chi is right. Let’s get some sleep. With our son here, there’s nothing that can’t be sorted out."

Mr. Su said in his usual bluff manner. He wasn’t the least bit sleepy, and it was a lie to say he wasn’t worried about his daughter. Even if she was a disappointment, she was still their own flesh and blood.

Su’s mother wasn’t very sleepy either. They had taken the medicine their daughter-in-law gave them last night and had slept very well.

’Good thing I put on a face mask in time. My skin looks much better today than it did yesterday.’

Though neither of them wanted to sleep, they didn’t want their son to worry, so they leaned back in their seats and pretended to rest. Before they knew it, they had actually fallen asleep.

Su Shuochi glanced at his sleeping parents in the rearview mirror, then floored the gas pedal. The scenery along the sides of the road blurred and flew past.

Two hours later, Su Shuochi reached the entrance to their village. There were no major roads inside, so the car couldn’t go any further.

The village was called Shuanghe Village because two small rivers ran through it, each one managing the water supply for the rice paddies of several production teams.

The drive from Qing City to the village entrance would normally take about five hours, but Su Shuochi had made it in only three.

It was another half-hour walk from the village entrance to the Su family home. From getting the call to arriving at the house, Su Shuochi had spent a little over three and a half hours in total.

They had set out at ten past eight, and it was now just before noon. Su Shuochi parked the car but had no time to grab a bite to eat.

Because his parents were so anxious, the group got out of the car and hurried into the village.

They had assumed that after several hours, the people involved in the fight would have dispersed.

Who knew that the crowd hadn’t scattered at all. A large group of curious villagers was gathered around the old Su family house.

They were buzzing with excitement as they watched the spectacle, chattering amongst themselves. "That Su Ermei is just too arrogant! She actually beat Aunt Wang until her head was bleeding."