Su Ermei hadn’t even finished speaking when Su’s mother cut her off, watching her daughter get increasingly worked up.

With a stern face, she said gravely, "Su Erniu, what nonsense are you spouting?

I know you want to hold your head high in front of the Hu family, but your brother has the ability to keep them in line.

Don’t you get any wicked ideas about harming your brother. Otherwise, when he turns on you, don’t blame your father and me for not standing with you."

Those few short sentences seemed to drain all of Su’s mother’s strength. After she finished, the expression on her face grew even more sorrowful.

It was as if the weight of her own words was suffocating her, making them almost too much to bear. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Su Ermei’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her parents. Her father’s expression was livid.

Anger surged within her, and she blurted out accusingly, "Dad, Mom, now that my brother’s rich, are you going to look down on your daughter too? Do you realize you’re just scorning the poor to curry favor with the rich?"

"Su Erniu, I know you’ve had it rough these past two years, but your father and I haven’t had it easy either!

With your brother’s condition back then, he needed medicine every day and had a bleak future. We didn’t have the energy to worry about you too.

Besides, when we went to the city, your dad asked what you wanted. He asked if you wanted to come with us to get on the commodity grain rations.

That was an opportunity your brother nearly died for, but you said the Hu family treated you well, so you refused to come with us.

So when things got tough later and the Hu family had you under their thumb, how can you blame your brother?

And you’re still here playing dumb with me. Search your heart. Weren’t you just ashamed of your brother for being a cripple back then?

Were you afraid that if you got a job in the city, we’d ask to borrow your wages to support your brother? Is that why you’d rather pass up commodity grain rations than move to the city?"

Su’s mother sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze complex as she looked at her daughter. Her weathered face was etched with helplessness and sorrow.

It was clear how much pain and resignation she felt as she spoke.

"Mom..." Su Erniu looked at her mother, tears welling in her eyes. A dull ache spread through her chest, so painful she couldn’t utter a word.

She knew her mother was telling the truth, but she didn’t want to leave. Her husband and children were here; these were her roots.

Besides, her Hu Family in-laws had wanted her to give the chance for commodity grain rations to her sister-in-law, Hu Meili.

’If not her, then at least my husband, Hu Yungeng. They said that if a married woman like me went to the city, my heart would run wild, and I’d surely abandon my husband and children.

But I was also afraid that if my husband got those rations, he’d abandon the wife who’d been with him through thick and thin!

In the end, the arguments never stopped, so my father-in-law declared that no one would go to the city for the grain rations.

He said my brother was a bottomless pit, that no amount of money would be enough for his medicine. It was better for them to just stay home and be honest farmers.’

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Su Ermei took two steps forward. "Dad..."

"Don’t call me Dad. I’m not your dad. That old man from the Hu Family is your real dad."

Mr. Su’s voice was laced with reproach and coldness. He stood, turned, and started for the door.

After a few steps, he glanced back at Su Erniu, his voice still icy. "Su Erniu, you’re a mother of three now. You need to lead by example."

"Dad, what did I do wrong? Everything I know, I learned from you and Mom. If I’m wrong, it’s because you taught me to be."

"You... you... Did we teach you to throw your weight around and bully the Hu family?" Mr. Su’s eyes were bloodshot with rage as he gasped for breath.

Su Ermei stared at her parents, speechless. ’If I lose their affection, I’ll never be able to hold my head high in front of the Hu family again.

Just like Mom said, with my brother’s power, I don’t need to suck up to Hu Meili to make the Hu family listen to me.’

Once she understood this, she immediately put on a pitiful expression. "Dad, Mom, I was wrong. I’ll listen to you both from now on."

Su’s mother studied her daughter. Years of hard labor had tanned Su Erniu’s skin, and her dark eyes were now vacant.

Seeing that her daughter had finally come around, her tone softened. "Su Erniu, I know you’ve really suffered these past two years, but you can’t blame us. Plenty of people have it harder. Who isn’t suffering these days?"

"I know, Mom. You two get some sleep. I’m going back to my room." With that, Su Ermei turned and left.

Once his daughter was gone, Mr. Su walked to the bedside. "Do you think Erniu really took what we said to heart?"

"I don’t know. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the village committee office and call Jiaojiao."

"Is that a good idea?"

"Are you afraid Jiaojiao will look down on us? She’d never do that. I have to tell her what Erniu said."

"But won’t she blame Erniu?"

"I’m more afraid that Erniu hasn’t given up on her wicked plan. If she really harms Chi, Jiaojiao will hate Erniu forever when she finds out.

If Jiaojiao knows what she’s thinking beforehand, she can tell us what to do and prevent a disaster.

What’s more important, our pride, or keeping our family from falling apart?"

"Fine. Tell her if you want. You’ve had a long afternoon, get some rest."

"Mm. Look how thoughtful our son is now. He even bought us a new cotton quilt and a duvet cover."

"Heh heh, he even bought pajamas. Do you think he plans on staying in Shuanghe Village for good?"

"How should I know? I’ll ask Zijie tomorrow. It looks like Chi brought two more people with him. Do you think he’s planning to open a factory in Shuanghe Village?"

"Sigh, why do you worry so much? I never felt like I belonged during those three years in the city. It’s much more relaxing to be home."

The couple whispered to each other, thinking no one could hear, but Su Shuochi had sharp ears, and the earthen walls were thin.

He wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but he still heard the entire conversation between his parents and Su Ermei.

’Su Ermei wants to harm me, but she has neither the guts nor the brains for it. Still, her attitude is a problem. At least Mom and Dad aren’t being foolish.

If they want to call Jiaojiao, they can do it from Qing City. I’ll have Zijie drive them back first thing tomorrow.

This year, the family will celebrate the New Year in the new courtyard house I bought in Qing City. As for this village... I’ll let them come back here to retire once I’ve finished its development.

Everything is going to get better. The only thing that’s killing me is that I can’t contact my wife until my mission is complete.’

Su Shuochi lay in bed, unable to sleep. The cotton quilt was too heavy, nothing like his wife’s light, warm down comforter.

’Maybe I should get the villagers to start raising ducks...’

「In town.」

Hu Meili took her third brother’s motorcycle straight home that night. Her husband was stunned to see her.

’He’d thought she wouldn’t be back until tomorrow at the earliest!’

Hu Meili was stunningly beautiful, and everyone envied his good fortune. But only he knew the truth.

’An old husband with a young wife... it has its ups and downs.

As I get older, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. And her demands... they’re insatiable...’