Chapter 84: Old Liu Family Can't Support You Anymore?

Su Yanhua didn't dare stay any longer; she's thick‑skinned, but she wouldn't dare fight so many grown men alone!

So Su Yanhua slunk away.

The next day, only Su Yanhua remained at home, and she was so excited her heart hammered.

She immediately took out the stash of coins she had hidden and counted them carefully.

Though not many, it should be enough to rent the most rickety second‑hand tricycle, buy an old stove and basic ingredients.

The plan starts tomorrow!

Early the next morning, before dawn, Su Yanhua quietly got up.

She changed into her most tattered clothes, wrapped her hair with a headscarf, carried the dough and filling she had prepared the night before, tucked the precious money bundle, and slipped out like a thief.

The cold morning wind stung her face as she followed the address she had previously scouted, finding the secluded courtyard that rents out old tricycles and stoves.

After much haggling, she pawned almost all her assets and managed to rent a rickety tricycle that rang everywhere except the bell, and a blackened old coal‑ball stove.

She loaded her things onto the tricycle, stared at it with effort, and wobbled toward the back‑street of the chosen textile factory.

That area is near the female workers' dormitory, with heavy foot traffic in the morning.

By the time she arrived, the sky was already faintly bright.

Stalls selling breakfast lined both sides of the street—steamed buns, fried dough sticks, soy‑milk vendors—each occupying a prime spot, bustling with activity.

Su Yanhua found an inconspicuous corner, hurriedly set up the stove, lit a fire, and heated oil.

The coal‑ball stove was hard to tend; thick smoke made her eyes water, and after finally getting the flame under control, the oil splattered wildly, scorching a few red spots on the back of her hand.

She clenched her teeth, endured the pain and panic, and, following the steps she had practiced countless times in secret, began kneading dough, adding filling, and carefully dropped the first fritter into the oil.

"Sss—" the dough churned in the oil, gradually turning golden.

Su Yanhua's heart lifted with it, her eyes never blinking as she watched, fearing it would burn.

The first fritter emerged, its appearance barely acceptable.

Summoning courage, she mimicked the nearby vendor's style and, timidly, called out, "Fritter… fried cake… tasty fritter fried cake…"

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, instantly swallowed by the noisy market, and no one paid attention.

As seconds ticked by, the morning crowd grew thicker; the stalls beside her filled with people, while her own stand remained desolately empty.

Occasionally someone glanced at the plain‑looking fried cake and fritters in her pot, noticed her clumsy motions and cramped demeanor, then shook their head and walked away.

Su Yanhua's heart grew colder.

Watching her prepared dough run low without selling a single piece, while the coal balls in the stove dwindled—those were money! —panic and despair seized her again.

Was she really this useless?

Could she not even keep a tiny stall afloat?

At that moment, a middle‑aged woman in work clothes approached, looked into her pot and asked, "Miss, new here? How much for the fritters?"

Su Yanhua jolted, quickly quoted a price, her voice trembling with nerves.

Su Yanhua flinched, hurriedly quoted the price, her voice trembling a little from nervousness.

Su Yanhua fumbled, wrapped them in oil paper, handed them over, and as she received the few warm bills tinged with body heat, her hands shook.

Su Yanhua, flustered, wrapped it in oil paper, handed it over, and when she took those few paper notes still warm with body heat, her hands were trembling.

She finally sold something!

Though it was only a few insignificant coins, it felt like an injection of adrenaline straight into Su Yanhua's veins.

She inhaled deeply, tore off her headscarf, and called out again, her voice much louder and smoother than before.

"Fried cake! Fritter! Freshly fried!"

Perhaps because she looked young, or perhaps the opening brought a bit of buzz, customers began to drift to her stall in scattered numbers.

The pace was slow, but at last she sold a handful.

Su Yanhua sweated profusely, flour dusting her face, unable to wipe it away.

She collected money, gave change, kept an eye on the oil, and occasionally answered customers' questions, feeling more chaotic than a full day of housework.

Yet, watching the old tin box fill with warm bills and coins,

This was money she earned herself! No one else's!

Just as she let out a sigh, thinking perhaps this path could work, a sharp, cutting voice that seemed to freeze her blood rang out from not far away:

"Yo! Who do you think I am? Isn't this Liu Laoshi's daughter‑in‑law? Why are you setting up a stall here? Is the Liu family out of money? Or is Liu Laoshi's meager salary no longer enough to support you?"

Su Yanhua looked up sharply and saw Liu Mother and an equally fastidious elderly lady standing a few steps away.

Liu Mother crossed her arms, her face showing unmasked shock, disgust and sarcasm, her gaze slicing at her like a knife.

The elderly lady echoed, her voice low but audible to everyone nearby: "Oh dear, sister, what a… Wen Bin's wife doing this? If the people at Wen Bin's school found out, how terrible that would be…"

In an instant, every curious, scrutinizing, even slightly sympathetic gaze in the vicinity zeroed in on Su Yanhua.

She felt as if she had been stripped naked and thrown onto the street, with nowhere to hide.

The fleeting sense of achievement shattered instantly, leaving only overwhelming embarrassment and humiliation.

She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat felt blocked, not a single word could emerge.

Her face flushed red then white, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the ground right then.

Liu Mother stared at her disheveled state, snorted coldly, her contempt deepening, as if even a lingering glance would be filthy, and she tugged the elderly lady away, turning to leave.

Walking away she muttered, "What a disgrace! What sin have we Liu family brought upon ourselves…"

Walking along, they complained in a voice neither loud nor harsh: "What a disgrace! What sin have we Liu family committed…".

Not only did the business fail, but she was publicly shamed by a mother‑in‑law on the street…

How can she ever face anyone again?

What would Liu Wenbin think when he finds out?

What will happen when Liu Wenbin finds out?

A huge sense of shame and despair, like a cold tide, instantly engulfed her.

Just as her mind went blank, wishing she could vanish on the spot, a corner of her eye caught sight of two figures that should never have been here.

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran!

They were clearly also just arriving, standing in front of a soy‑milk stall not far away.

Su Ruan wore a light‑blue knit cardigan paired with simple white trousers, fresh and gentle, standing out from the noisy surroundings.

Jiang Ran wore clothes in the same color scheme as Su Ruan, holding a wallet in his hand, bowing his head to say something to Su Ruan, a relaxed smile at the corner of his mouth.

They clearly also saw the scene that had just unfolded.

Su Yanhua's heart lurched sharply, almost stopping.

Why, of all people, them?!

Why did her most embarrassed side happen to be caught squarely by the person she envies most and strives to surpass?!