Chapter 77: I Have an Idea
Hearing Tian Aixiang’s words, Su Tao glanced toward the inner room and whispered, "Is she talking with Grandma now?"
"You bet." Tian Aixiang nodded. "I overheard a little. Your grandma doesn’t want to get involved in this mess. I reckon that time Su Qing pulled a knife, it scared her for good."
Tian Aixiang curled her lip as she spoke. ’The old bat sure is scared for her life.’
"Mom, is that family rich?" Su Tao asked, looking thoughtfully toward the inner room again as if the question were just a casual afterthought.
"Yes, I hear they’re rich," Tian Aixiang replied, her hands busy with her chores. "They have a red brick and tile house, which makes them one of the wealthier families in the village."
"Oh." Su Tao nodded.
Tian Aixiang turned and saw Su Tao wasn’t leaving. "Alright, don’t just stand here loafing around. Hurry back to your in-laws’. If your grandma sees you, she’ll definitely give you an earful. You snuck out, aren’t you afraid your husband’s family will find out and lecture you?"
"Mom." The resentment in Su Tao’s heart grew. "Can’t you see all these bruises on me?"
"Didn’t I tell you? You need to be more like Su Qing. If you were fiercer, who would dare touch you?" Tian Aixiang couldn’t resist poking Su Tao on the forehead. "You silly girl, why are you so dense? Don’t you know how to intimidate people? Just look at Su Qing..."
"Enough, enough." Hearing Tian Aixiang bring up Su Qing again, Su Tao interrupted her, annoyed. "Can you stop talking about Su Qing? Don’t you know I can’t stand her?"
"Fine, I won’t. Now hurry back before your grandma comes out." Tian Aixiang started trying to shoo her away.
"Mom, I’m still hungry," Su Tao said, pressing her lips together.
"You’re impossible." Tian Aixiang glanced toward the inner room. Seeing no sign of Old Su coming out, she pulled a sweet potato from under the stove and shoved it into Su Tao’s hands. "There. Now hurry back. And remember, be fierce, got it?"
"Okay, I know." Su Tao took the sweet potato. With her lips pressed together and her head down, she gave Tian Aixiang a furtive glance, then pulled her scarf up to cover her face before quietly leaving the Old Su Family home.
Tian Aixiang watched Su Tao’s retreating figure and sighed. She shook off the chaotic thoughts in her mind and got busy cooking.
Meanwhile, Chen Danou felt conflicted. The business with Su Qing pulling a knife was truly hard for her to accept. Seeing that Old Su’s tone left no room for discussion, she decided not to press the matter. "Alright, Aunt Su. Let’s just drop it, then. I guess my second son and Su Qing just aren’t fated to be. I’ll be heading back now."
"Alright." Old Su nodded. ’It’s not that I don’t have regrets. After all, the Liang Family is truly rich, and the bride price they offered was tempting. But thinking about the reality of the situation...’ Her head finally cleared. ’If I really force this, that wretched girl Su Qing will probably eat me alive.’
’Forget it, forget it. I won’t provoke that damned girl for now. My eldest son told me: either lie low, or make sure the first strike is a fatal one. I’ll be patient!’
After leaving the Old Su Family home, Chen Danou was still mulling over Su Qing’s tendency to pull a knife. She was trying to figure out how to tell Liang Fushan and get him to give up on the idea.
Just as she was thinking, someone quietly approached her and whispered, "You’re Aunt Liang, right?"
"Gah!" Chen Danou had been lost in thought and was badly startled by someone suddenly appearing and speaking to her. She looked around and saw she was already on the outskirts of Lihua Village. Beside her stood a woman with her face hidden by a scarf.
"Who are you?" Startled, Chen Danou’s tone was sharp.
"I just want to talk to you about something." The person was none other than Su Tao. She hadn’t left after leaving the Old Su Family home, but had waited nearby for Chen Danou to emerge. Once she saw her, Su Tao followed her to the edge of the village before daring to approach.
"About what? Who are you?" Chen Danou asked with a frown.
"Who I am isn’t important. I want to ask you, Aunt Liang, your family wants to marry Su Qing, is that right?" Su Tao asked, her eyes narrowing. "And Su Qing refused, and the Old Su Family won’t help you, correct?"
"Who in the world are you?" Hearing this, Chen Danou’s brow furrowed even deeper. Old Su had only just refused her moments ago. She had just left the Old Su Family home, so how could this news have traveled so fast? She couldn’t help but stare at Su Tao with suspicion.
’And hiding her face with a scarf. Hmph. She doesn’t dare show her true face.’
"Aunt Liang, if your family really wants to marry Su Qing, I have a solution. Do you want to hear it?" Su Tao asked in a low voice.
"Who are you, really?" Chen Danou stared at Su Tao. "Why help me? You and Su Qing... you don’t have some kind of feud, do you?"
Su Tao smiled. "I simply want to help you."
"Why help us?" Chen Danou wasn’t so easily fooled. "If you don’t give me a clear reason, I have to assume you have ulterior motives. First, tell me who you are. If you can’t even answer that, we have nothing to talk about. For all I know, you’re setting a trap for me. If you screw me over, I wouldn’t even know where to find you."
With that, Chen Danou turned to leave.
"Wait, Aunt Liang!" Seeing Chen Danou about to walk away, Su Tao grew anxious. She said quickly, "I can tell you who I am, but you have to promise you won’t tell anyone I’m the one helping you."
Chen Danou sneered. "Just as I thought. You have a grudge against Su Qing. What, you want revenge? And you want to use our Liang Family as your pawn to lead the charge for you?"
Su Tao was taken aback. "Aunt Liang, you’ve got it all wrong," she said hurriedly.
Chen Danou sneered again. "Little girl, I wasn’t born yesterday. You think you can fool me with your petty little schemes? Save your breath."
With that, she ignored Su Tao and prepared to leave.
"Wait, Aunt Liang!" Su Tao quickly grabbed Chen Danou’s arm.
Chen Danou glanced down at her arm and frowned. "What now? Are you going to force me to listen?"
"No," Su Tao said quickly.
"Then let go." Chen Danou’s expression was dismissive. "You won’t even show me your face or tell me your name, yet you expect me to listen to your advice? Heh. Do you take me for a fool? Let go. Now."
In the end, Su Tao was only a sixteen-year-old girl with little worldly experience. Intimidated by Chen Danou’s commanding presence, she quickly released her arm and confessed, "Aunt Liang, to be honest... I do have a grudge against Su Qing. But I didn’t come to help you today because of that. I came hoping that if I give you a good idea, you’ll give me some money."