Chapter 10: Returning to the Su Family

Shuangqiao Commune, Shuangshui Brigade, Su family at the end of the village.

The old gate creaked, and Su Qianqian walked in with Su Qingyue.

Before Su Qianqian could speak, Su Qingwu put down his hoe and walked up to Su Qingyue to take her luggage, his voice trembling, "You, you are the second sister."

Su Qingyue's eyes reddened instantly, "Big Brother, it's me."

Su Mingqiang was helped up tremblingly by his little daughter. Su Qingyue hurriedly walked over, wiped her eyes, and called out, "Father, Little Sister."

Su Mingqiang stared at Su Qingyue for a long time, and it was a long while before he said in a choked voice, "You look like your mother. It's good that you're back."

"Father, are you feeling better? I'll take you to the county town to see a doctor tomorrow."

"It's an old ailment, don't bother."

Su Qingxi looked at this beautiful sister who looked very much like her mother, and said with a tearful voice, "Sister, you are really beautiful."

Su Qingyue examined her little sister, a thirteen-year-old girl with skin tanned yellow and a pair of big, bright eyes filled with tears.

Su Qingyue's heart ached, "Why are you crying? Sister brought you clothes and skincare products. You can't work in the sun anymore."

Perhaps because of their blood relationship, the two became intimate instantly.

Su Qianqian rolled her eyes. Su Qingxi was greedy for food, loved to be lazy when working, and had never been close to her, but now she was acting like sisters with Su Qingyue the moment they met.

"Uncle Su, Su Qingyue is back, you guys have a good reunion, I'll go first."

This "Uncle Su" instantly widened the distance between everyone. Su Mingqiang felt a chill in his heart, and Su Qingwu felt a bit awkward.

Sister-in-law Li Zilan thought Su Qianqian was jealous, so she hurriedly went to pull her hand, "Qianqian, this is also your home. Hurry and tidy up to eat; your big brother specifically cut some meat."

Su Qianqian pulled her hand away, "No, Sister-in-law. I'm an educated youth going to the countryside and have to live in the educated youth dormitory. I'll return to the city next year."

Li Zilan was stunned and didn't know how to respond. Su Qianqian had already walked out of the gate.

Su Qingwu thought of Su Qianqian's previous behavior and immediately waved his hand, "Qingyue is back, let's eat."

Su Qingyue smiled and greeted her sister-in-law, and helped serve the dishes.

The dishes were on the table: stir-fried potato slices with fermented beans, stir-fried pork with chili, stir-fried eggs with chives, and finally a cold-mixed wild vegetable dish that Su Qingyue didn't recognize.

The staple food was white rice. Su Qingxi looked at the rice, which could only be eaten during the New Year, and swallowed her saliva greedily.

A little bean-sprout ran back from the gate, smelling the food. He looked at Su Qingyue with round eyes and asked shyly, "Are you my biological aunt?"

After speaking, he sniffed and blew a bubble.

"*Pfft*"

Su Qingyue couldn't help but laugh. Li Zilan's face tightened, and she caught her son, preparing to spank him.

Su Qingyue hurriedly stopped her, tilting her head with a smile, "Sister-in-law, I just remembered myself when I was little, I also often played with a flowery face."

"Zhuangzhuang, go wash your hands first and then come to eat. Later, Auntie will have a reward for you."

Su Zhuangzhuang grinned, ran to the basin with his short legs to wash his hands and face, and sat obediently at the dinner table.

"Mom and Dad, is it New Year today?"

Su Qingwu glared at his silly son, "It's to welcome Auntie home."

Zhuangzhuang swallowed his saliva, "Then Auntie, don't leave in the future. That way the family can eat white rice and meat every day."

Su Qingxi said, "Silly Zhuangzhuang, keep dreaming. We only eat white rice today, the rest can only be eaten during the New Year."

Su Qingyue felt a tug at her heart. So they had been living so hard.

She put meat into Zhuangzhuang and her sister's bowls, "Father, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, I'm back. Let's eat like before, whatever we have."

"When I'm settled, I'll see what I can do to help the family share the burden."

The family heard this, and their hearts felt warm and sweet. Su Qingyue looked pampered, but she had no young lady temper and was easygoing and close.

Li Zilan was very gratified. She was glad her sister-in-law didn't despise poverty and love wealth.

She kept putting food into Su Qingyue's bowl, "Mother passed away at the beginning of the year, and Father's waist is bad."

"Qianqian took two hundred yuan when she left home. With a series of things happening, the family didn't have extra money to buy fine rice and flour..."

"But it's okay, as long as we work together, we can live a good life."

Su Qingyue smiled sweetly, her eyes firm and optimistic, "Okay, I'll listen to Sister-in-law."

Su Mingqiang and Su Qingwu didn't talk much, but they kept putting food into Su Qingyue's bowl.

Su Qingyue felt warm in her heart. After the meal, she opened the two wooden boxes and took out a pile of things.

"Everyone has clothes. I asked Qianqian for the sizes. If they don't fit, Sister-in-law, please work hard to alter them."

Li Zilan carefully touched the blue dress in her hand, "Needlework is no trouble."

Su Qingxi compared a yellow floral dress, her small face flushed with excitement, "I have a dress too! I heard they cost dozens of yuan. I'll wait until I'm married to wear it!"

Su Qingyue laughed, "By the time you're married, you won't be able to fit into this skirt. Wear it if you want, Sister will buy you more in the future."

Su Mingqiang and Su Qingwu each had a Zhongshan suit, and neither could bear to wear them, their eyes filled with uncontrollable happiness.

Zhuangzhuang was small, so Su Qingyue bought him two outfits, and the little guy changed into them immediately.

Su Qingyue opened the other box and took out two boxes of malted milk, a bag of fruit candies, three bags of White Rabbit cream candies, two bags of egg cakes, two bags of biscuits, three boxes of chocolate, and three bags of bread.

Zhuangzhuang's eyes couldn't take it all in. He rushed over and hugged Su Qingyue's thigh, "Wow! Auntie! Can I eat a White Rabbit cream candy every day?!"

The little guy's voice was cracked with excitement, "Auntie, you are so good! Don't leave, live in our house from now on!"

Li Zilan was so embarrassed she wanted to die, and she hit his butt twice, "Stinky boy, this is already your Auntie's home!"

Su Qingyue couldn't laugh or cry, pinched Zhuangzhuang's face, and stuffed a candy into his mouth, "Auntie won't leave!"

She also unpacked the side dishes and shared them with everyone, "Sister-in-law, you put the rest away."

Li Zilan nodded with a smile, "There are many side dishes, but we can't finish them all at once. Life has to be lived every day."

Su Qingxi ate the White Rabbit cream candy, the sweet taste simply melting into her heart.

"Qingyue, you sleep in the same room as Qingxi. You must be tired from the car, sleep for a while."

The sheets and quilt covers looked like they had just been washed and had the smell of the sun, "Sister-in-law, I'm not tired. I want to go see Mother."

"And go to the county town to pick up the package."

Su Mingqiang wiped his eyes, "Yue, don't rush. Let's go visit your mother's grave together on the fifteenth."

Sister-in-law nodded, "The bus to the county town has a trip at six every morning. Tractors are only used when the commune has business."

"You can take the Pei family's ox cart if you pay, but that rough man has a bad temper."

"Sister-in-law, I know. I'll ask later."

Su Xuanwu instructed Zhuangzhuang to take Auntie around, and the family went to the fields to earn work points.

Su Qingyue let Zhuangzhuang lead her to the Pei family. Standing in front of the thatched cottage, Zhuangzhuang stepped back, "Auntie, you go knock on the door. Pei Huaiye is fierce, I'm scared."

Su Qingyue looked at this thatched cottage, which was even more dilapidated than the Su family's mud house. How could anyone live here?

After talking to Zhuangzhuang for a long time, she learned that Pei Huaiye had a bad relationship with his family and lived alone in the thatched cottage.

She knocked on the door for a long time, but no one answered.

Pei Huaimei was passing by with a basket of pig grass. When she saw Su Qingyue, her eyes went straight.

This was the first time a woman had come looking for her brother, and she was such a beautiful woman! ===== CHAPTER 11 =====