Chapter 30: I Have Nothing to Talk About with You
Su Shengguo jumped in fright when he saw Fu Yuzhen emerge with a stick in her hand. He quickly said, "Mr. Fu, let’s talk this over calmly. Let’s talk this over. I didn’t come here today with any ill intentions."
Su Qing sneered. "Uncle, I don’t know if you came here with ill intentions or not, but I know you’re definitely here for a reason. As for what that reason is, I don’t care to know. In any case, I have nothing to discuss with you."
"Erya, I know..." Seeing how resolute Su Qing was, Su Shengguo was deeply displeased, but he kept a benevolent expression on his face.
Before Su Shengguo could finish, Fu Yuzhen stepped in front of Su Qing and glared at him. "What do you know? That Su Qing suffered endless abuse in your Old Su Family? That your Old Su Family was lying to me the whole time? Yet you didn’t say a single word. You even tricked me into sending things back. I’m afraid Qingqing didn’t get to eat or use a single one of the things I sent, did she."
Su Shengguo was momentarily at a loss for words. The truth was, she was right. The things Fu Yuzhen had sent back then had all been divided up amongst the other members of the Old Su Family. Su Qing truly hadn’t gotten to touch any of it.
Su Shengguo quickly forced a laugh. "Mr. Fu, please, let me explain."
"Listen to you make excuses?" Fu Yuzhen snorted. "Get out of here, now. Or I’ll really start swinging this thing."
As she spoke, Fu Yuzhen raised the wooden stick in her hand.
Su Qing added in a cold voice, "You are not welcome here, Uncle. I hope you won’t show up at my door again using ’concern for me’ as an excuse. I was abused in the Old Su Family for six years, and you never showed an ounce of concern. Now that I’m out on my own, you’ve come to my door feigning concern? Tell me, what is it you’re *really* concerned about?"
Just then, a passing villager overheard the exchange and chimed in with a laugh, "Su Qing, whatever your uncle is concerned about, I’m sure it’s not you."
Su Qing smiled, her lips pressed together. "See, Uncle? Even the villagers can see through it. Are you going to keep up the act?"
It was fair to say that Su Qing’s words showed Su Shengguo no mercy whatsoever. She had just thrown his dignity to the ground and stomped on it in front of everyone.
Su Shengguo’s face flushed with anger. He knew there was no way to get what he wanted today. Yet he didn’t dare lose his temper in front of Fu Yuzhen, fearing she would actually make trouble for him later. So, he swallowed his anger and said, "Uh, Erya, you’ve really misunderstood me. Fine. Since you’re still angry, let’s just pretend I was never here today. Once you’ve calmed down, we can have a proper talk. You have to believe me, I truly came in good faith today."
Su Qing sneered but said nothing, only watching Su Shengguo with a cold gaze.
Annoyed by Su Qing’s ingratitude, Su Shengguo didn’t say anything else and turned to return to the adjacent courtyard.
Fu Yuzhen glared at Su Shengguo’s retreating back and deliberately raised her voice to say to Su Qing, "Qingqing, if anyone bullies you again, you tell me. Some people are just shameless. If they try to lay a hand on you again, you hit them back hard."
Su Qing also deliberately replied in a loud voice, "Got it, Aunt Fu! I promise I’ll do as you say. If anyone bullies me, I’ll hit them back hard."
"That’s right, Su Qing, we all support you," the same villagers who had jeered at Su Shengguo added with cheerful smiles.
"Thank you, Uncles," Su Qing said with a smile, thanking the villagers. She then returned to the courtyard with Fu Yuzhen. Since Fu Yuzhen had to rush back to make dinner, Su Qing didn’t ask her to stay. As she was leaving, Su Qing filled Fu Yuzhen’s cloth sack with wild chestnuts and hazelnuts she had gathered from the mountain. Baihua Mountain was most bountiful in autumn, with plenty of such wild goods to be found.
Fu Yuzhen knew this was a token of Su Qing’s gratitude, so she didn’t refuse it. She once again told Su Qing not to work too hard and to take care of herself, then hastily rode her bicycle back to the county seat.
After Fu Yuzhen left, Su Qing saw that it wasn’t too late. ’Since I’ve already taken time off,’ she thought, ’I might as well not go back to work.’ Instead, she slung her back-basket over her shoulder and headed into Baihua Mountain. ’Nothing is more important than getting my body back in shape.’
Su Shengguo returned to the Old Su Family home in disgrace. The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Old Su storming out aggressively.
"Mother, what are you doing?" Seeing her, Su Shengguo quickly pulled Old Su into the main hall and asked.
"That little bitch! She’s rebelling! Does she really think I can’t control her just because she’s moved out? No matter what, I’m her own grandmother. I refuse to believe she’d dare to lay a hand on me." Old Su had obviously heard the loud exchange between Fu Yuzhen and Su Qing. She was so furious she was about to march over and settle the score with Su Qing right then and there.
"Mother, don’t be rash. Sit down first." Su Shengguo quickly pushed Old Su into a chair. "Things are different now. That Erya really has changed. It’s not a good idea to storm over there like this. What if you attract the attention of the team leader and the village secretary again? They’ll definitely take that damn girl’s side, and our family will be the one to lose out in the end."
"I am her grandmother!" Old Su fumed. "I’d like to see if she dares to hit me. If she really lays a hand on me, I’ll report her for being unfilial!"
"Mother, that won’t work. Think about it. The team leader, the village secretary, even the villagers—they all side with that girl. Besides, the way she was treated in our house wasn’t a secret. Anyone could find out with a little digging. If we really make a scene, our family will be the one to suffer." Su Shengguo knew this perfectly well. "And what if that girl is ruthless enough to actually injure you? In the end, you’d be the one in pain, wouldn’t you?"
"Ah, Eldest, you’re the one who truly cares for me." Hearing Su Shengguo’s words, Old Su was deeply touched. ’I didn’t dote on this son for nothing,’ she thought.
But she still couldn’t swallow her anger. "So we’re just supposed to let that damn girl off the hook?"
"Mother, let me think about this. We have to be more cautious from now on. We can’t give the team leader or the village secretary any more leverage against us. To deal with that girl, we can’t be so direct," Su Shengguo whispered to Old Su.
Hearing this, Old Su looked at Su Shengguo. Among her three sons, the eldest was, in fact, the most cunning. Old Su knew this well. So, she nodded and said, "Fine. You think on it, then."
Then, she added through gritted teeth, "No matter what, if we don’t teach that little bitch a lesson, I’ll never be able to let this go. I won’t even be able to rest in peace when I die."
"Mother, don’t you worry," Su Shengguo placated Old Su. Hearing the sounds of Fu Yuzhen leaving the house next door, he couldn’t help but frown, uncertain whether she would try to cause trouble for him behind his back.
’No, this won’t do,’ he thought. ’Whether Fu Yuzhen intends to make trouble for me or not, I have to take precautions. I can’t afford to be at a disadvantage later on.’