Chapter 7: Who Goes to the Countryside

Song Qingyan was the first to refuse, "You just came back from the countryside, you can't go back!"

Su Qianqian hurriedly walked over to the sofa and sat down, affectionately holding Song Qingyan's hand, "Mom and Dad, listen to me."

"First, Big Brother has a job and doesn't need to go to the countryside at all. Second Brother is also doing what he loves. Only I am an idler."

Speaking of this, she even glanced at Su Qingyue.

She continued, "Secondly, I saw that the place for this trip to the countryside happens to be Shuangqiao Commune. Our family knows rural life best through me; cooking, chopping wood, raising pigs, and feeding chickens are all things I can do."

When Su Weixin and Song Qingyan heard this, their hearts ached. This child had suffered so much, yet she was still thinking of the family like this.

Su Qianqian touched Su Qingyue's hand, her tone firm and gentle, "Finally, I'm afraid Qingyue won't be used to it after returning to the countryside. If I go to the countryside, I can look after her a little."

"We are both girls, it's much more convenient than Big Brother or Second Brother."

Shen Xunbao frowned, "Qingyue is also going to the countryside?"

Su Qianqian took a letter out of her bag, her face full of heartache, "Yes, the flash flood has passed."

"My foster father in the countryside is in poor health. This is a letter they wrote, wanting to see their sister."

Su Qianqian said earnestly, "But Sister, it doesn't matter if you don't want to go back. I can fulfill your filial piety for you. After all, it is the family that raised me for seventeen years."

Su Qingyue hadn't intended to stay in the Su family forever, but she hadn't expected Su Qianqian to be so impatient to kidnap her.

Wasn't it just acting? She could do that too.

Su Qingyue's eyes immediately turned red, her voice trembling and her expression urgent, "Sister, is Father's condition serious? I will go back with you."

"Mom and Dad, actually, I wanted to say yesterday that I should go back to the countryside to live. Father is old, and I should stay by his side to fulfill my filial piety."

After she finished speaking, she took out the bag she had prepared long ago, "These are the clothes I bought for you and the foster family. Everyone has one."

Su Qingyue took out the clothes one by one. For Su Weixin, it was a dark gray twill tie; for Song Qingyan, a dark blue dress; for the two brothers, two white polyester shirts.

No one in the Su family lacked clothes, but Su Qingyue had written a letter for everyone.

She fluttered her big eyes, a hint of shyness on her face, and pouted as she acted spoiled, "Don't open the letters yet; wait until you're back in your rooms to read them, okay?"

Su Yuan looked doting, "Don't tell me you wrote a letter like when you were little, asking us to buy you snacks."

Everyone thought of the fun times in the past and laughed, and the sadness of going to the countryside was diluted quite a bit.

Su Qingyue smiled, "This is the dress for Sister. Thank you for taking care of me everywhere."

Su Qianqian feigned surprise, "It's really beautiful. Thank you, Sister."

In her heart, she wanted to curse Su Qingyue to death.

She had originally thought that if she let Su Qingyue return to the village, she would make a scene in public, and then Su Qianqian would jump out to save the day, gaining everyone's gratitude and sympathy.

She hadn't expected Su Qingyue to agree to return to the countryside directly! And she had even prepared parting gifts for the family in advance.

But so what? The countryside was Su Qianqian's home turf. Su Qingyue could just wait to suffer!

Su Qianqian put away her belly full of bad intentions. She secretly glanced at Shen Xunbao and continued to do ideological work for the family.

"Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother, just let me go. I will definitely build up the countryside well and take good care of myself and my sister, and bring honor to you all."

Su Weixin was very gratified, and looking closely, there were even tears in his eyes, "Child, since you have this political awareness and revolutionary enthusiasm, then go. After a full year, I will find a way to get you a quota to return to the city."

He had been to many mountain villages during his military campaigns when he was young, and rural conditions were exceptionally hard. It would be a lie to say his heart didn't ache.

Su Weixin had recently been preparing to arrange a job for his younger son, but he hadn't expected this to happen. Now that Su Qianqian was willing to take the initiative to go to the countryside, this sense of responsibility and sacrifice made him happy and admire her.

"Qingyan, send Qianqian one hundred yuan every month."

"Qianqian, Mom and Dad will send you packages regularly. If you lack anything, call home. Qingyan, hurry and accompany the child to pack her luggage. Xunbao said the train is tomorrow morning; we're leaving in a hurry."

"Alright, let's go prepare."

Shen Xunbao agreed on the departure time with them and went home.

Commander Shen was not at home, and such small matters as packing luggage were all prepared by the nanny, Zhang Xiuli.

She treated Shen Xunbao as if he were her own child, taking care of everything personally, her tone doting.

"Treasure, the sheets, quilt covers, and change of clothes are in this box, and the food is in that box. See what else you need to bring?"

Shen Xunbao knew without looking how thoughtful and thorough she was; after all, Auntie Zhang was his biological mother.

"I'll just bring a few more books."

Zhang Xiuli took out a thick stack of money and coupons from her bag, "These are all the money Auntie has saved, and there are many grain coupons, meat coupons, and sugar coupons. Rural conditions are hard. After you go, spend money to find people to work for your work points; don't work in the fields yourself..."

As she spoke, she burst into tears, her voice choked several times, "Take care of yourself when you go to the countryside. Spend money to find people to help with laundry and cooking. Get along well with the educated youth. Persist for a year, and Commander Shen will arrange for you to come back."

"You, you, you are a good man. After you go to the countryside, don't..."

Shen Xunbao interrupted Zhang Xiuli roughly, "I've said it so many times, don't mention that matter again in the future!"

Zhang Xiuli was so frightened that her shoulders shrank, and her tears flowed even more fiercely, "Alright, alright, I won't say it."

Shen Xunbao sighed deeply, pushed all the money back, and only took a pile of coupons, "The Commander will give me money. Keep your money for yourself."

Before long, Commander Shen returned with the driver. He was in his early forties, wearing a military uniform, his figure solid and tall, his face resolute.

Shen Xunbao walked over to take the coat he had taken off, but Commander Shen raised his hand to stop him.

He said indifferently, his tone carrying the majesty of a superior, making people feel oppressed unconsciously.

"Once you go to the countryside, reform yourself well!"

"Yes, Father!" Shen Xunbao lowered his head, his eyes full of sadness.

Commander Shen went upstairs, stopped halfway, and said to the nanny and the driver, "To spoil a child is to kill him. You all be careful!"

Zhang Xiuli nodded tremblingly, and the driver, Qiao Jinsheng, bent his waist to ninety degrees.

It wasn't until Commander Shen's figure disappeared that the two of them let out a sigh of relief.

Qiao Jinsheng looked at Zhang Xiuli's red, teary eyes and scolded softly, "What are you crying for? Going to the countryside isn't going to your death."

"You don't know how hard the countryside is! Can Xunbao handle it if he goes!"

Qiao Jinsheng's voice was very low, "Don't worry, I've arranged it."

Song Qingyan took her two daughters to the Friendship Store to shop. Su Qingyue waited for someone at the entrance after buying things.

She kept checking her watch. It was twelve o'clock at the store entrance, and now it was almost two. Her savior still hadn't come.

Su Yuan drove the Jeep to pick them up, and Song Qingyan and Su Qianqian carried the bags into the car.

Su Qingyue had no choice but to get into the car, looking back with every step.

After the car started, Su Qingyue's gaze was still on the entrance of the Friendship Store, her eyes full of loss.

She rarely felt such regret. Thinking that she didn't even know her savior's name, her heart felt empty and uncomfortable.

Back at the Su house, Song Qingyan and the nanny helped the sisters pack their luggage, and in the end, the two of them packed four large boxes.

To see the sisters off, dinner was much richer than usual.

Su Weixin put down his chopsticks, "Zhou Wenfang from the compound is also going to the countryside. Qianqian, look after each other. Her parents even came to greet us today."

Su Qianqian's eyes lit up, "No problem, Dad."

Su Qingyue thought about it; Zhou Wenfang was an only child, and the Zhou family wanted to move up, so every word and action had to be synchronized with Commander Shen. No wonder they were willing to send her to the countryside.

The elders finished explaining the precautions, and the two brothers said a thousand words of advice.

Time quickly reached four o'clock the next morning. Su Qingyue finished washing up and carried her luggage downstairs.

Song Qingyan wanted to go to the train station to see them off, but was persuaded by her two daughters. Su Chen and Su Yuan drove the two sisters to the train, and only then did they wave goodbye. ===== CHAPTER 8 =====