Chapter 95

Everyone hearing Su Changliang's words couldn't help smacking their lips.

This is just too prestigious!!

Not to mention other villages, just speaking of Qiu Qiu Village—like when the village chief's son held a banquet earlier and had two constables seated at the head table!

But just look at this banquet put on by the Su Clan's son-in-law!

The seat of honor isn't something just anyone wearing blue cuffs can attain!

Blue cuffs—that's the rank of a county magistrate!

"Oh dear, auntie, people say raising a daughter is a money-losing venture, but look at what you've raised—this is no money-loser, it brings your family so much glory!"

The villagers in the courtyard couldn't help but gaze at Su's mother and say.

At this moment, Su's mother sat inside the room, her face already blooming with joy, yet she still smiled and waved her hands repeatedly, saying:

"Oh dear, it's nothing—she herself has good fortune, hahaha……"

By the end, Su's mother could no longer hold back and burst out laughing.

Su's father, squatting to the side, at that moment puffed on a cigarette, his face full of pride.

Look at the daughter our family has raised~

At this moment, Su Changliang said with a face full of pride:

"It's not that—you don't know how much my brother-in-law dotes on my sister.

"I won't even mention the sewing machine—my sister definitely has one; guess what kind of bed she's sleeping on now~"

What kind of bed?

The crowd looked at each other, you looking at me, me looking at you.

Does this bed have any particularities??

Isn't a bed just a bed?

If it's a kang, it's connected to the stove, so lighting a fire to cook also heats the kang.

If it's a bed, it's just a bed—you find something to prop up a thick plank.

What else could there be to fuss about?

Seeing the crowd's bewildered faces, Su Changliang said proudly:

"The bed my sister sleeps on is called Soft Dream Thought, and it just arrived this year from the Jiangnan Forging Bureau.

"It's not ordinary softness—imagine sleeping among clouds; that's what Soft Dream Thought feels like~

"This Soft Dream Thought bed costs over a hundred coins~"

Hearing Su Changliang's words, the crowd couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

Hiss~~~

Is this how people live??

One bed costs over a hundred coins??

This??

Given how fast we save money, by year's end we can at most save ten or eight coins.

Over a hundred coins… we'd have to toil for ten years to save that much, and even then it might not be enough to buy one!

The Su Clan daughter's bed alone costs over a hundred coins??

What, is the Su Clan daughter made of gold?

Why is she so cherished by her son-in-law?

"Hey, what do your brother-in-law and sister usually eat at home?"

An aunt in the courtyard asked curiously.

All these things Su Changliang mentioned—what's a heated kang, what's Soft Dream Thought—none of us have seen or heard of them.

We don't even know what using them feels like.

Although we think it's amazing, aside from astonishment, there's nothing else.

Compared to that, we'd rather know what such a wealthy household eats for its three daily meals.

Speaking of this, Su Changliang became even more proud and said:

"As for the food, no need to say—I've been to my sister's house three times; the first time my brother-in-law took me to eat roast duck.

"It's the famous hanging-oven roast duck from Huangcheng, served with lotus-leaf pancakes, scallion strips, cucumber strips, and sweet bean sauce—needless to say, it's delicious~"

"The second time was when my brother-in-law held a banquet for my sister; a table for ten coins' worth was basically all big meat dishes, hardly any vegetables, and the loose liquor was poured freely~"

"This last time was just yesterday—I ate at my brother-in-law's house before heading back……"

Saying this, Su Changliang suddenly stood up and looked around:

"Hey, Mom, where's my bundle?"

Bundle?

Su's mother stared for a moment, then immediately stood up, raised her eyebrows, and said:

"Didn't you just dump it in your room when you got back?"

"Oh oh…… right…… almost forgot."

Su Changliang immediately ran back to the small room in his courtyard, took out the bundle, pulled out three lunch boxes from inside, and carefully opened them to show the people in the courtyard, saying:

"Take a look—really not me bragging—my sister has to eat three of these meat dishes every night.

"These were just made last night; my sister packed them for me to eat on the way back."

Upon seeing them, the crowd exclaimed, "Whoa, what a haul……"

Braised pork, braised beltfish, and two large meatballs.

Hiss~~~

Three meat dishes for one dinner??

This...

Everyone felt this sounded like storytelling, but seeing Su Changliang's three greasy lunch boxes, they couldn't help but swallow saliva.

Seeing Su Changliang take out these three lunch boxes, Su's mother was a bit dazed and said:

"Your sister prepared food for your return; why didn't you eat it on the way?"

When Su Changliang just came back, he was already fussing about being hungry; Su's mother and father had finished breakfast, and they freshly made a pot of millet porridge for Su Changliang.

Su Changliang stared for a moment, then broke into a grin and said:

"I wasn't thinking of bringing it back to eat with you all; eating it alone on the way back is tasteless."

Su Changliang's words also made everyone involuntarily laugh and shake their heads.

These two children of the Su Clan are truly filial.

Su's mother and father also couldn't help but show smiles on their faces.

However, at this moment the other people in the courtyard laughed and said:

"Do you still need to worry about your parents?"

"Your brother-in-law just had someone send over an ox-cart of goods yesterday; your parents are eating good stuff at home every day~"

Su Changliang blinked.

Huh?

Oh, I see...

Also... his brother-in-law is so caring, how could he forget his parents...

Sigh...

If I had known, I would have eaten on the way...

Walking from the village from after eight at night until six or seven in the morning, I was starving.

Fortunately, I ate plenty of meat at my brother-in-law's house tonight.

Upon hearing the villagers' words in the courtyard, Su's mother couldn't help but roll her eyes and say:

"Where do we get to eat delicious food every day? You saying that is really~"

Actually... indeed.

Last time our son-in-law came back to host a banquet, the leftover rice, flour, and vegetables are still half a cellar's worth.

The pork and such that couldn't be eaten were hung up to make cured meat.

They also sent quite a bit to his second and third uncles' families.

However, adults always need to be a bit discreet about such matters.

One can't keep showing off like one's son Su Changliang, right?

My son is only seventeen; showing off isn't a big deal.

But if adults also follow suit, it leads to gossip behind their backs.

At this moment, Su Changliang, knowing his parents had good food, directly grabbed a big piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth.

Seeing this, everyone swallowed their saliva; since the last time they had a meal at the Su Clan and saw meat, they hadn't seen any meat for such a long time.

While chewing the braised pork, Su Changliang muttered:

"This morning my sister went out to buy breakfast: two fried dough sticks, a basket of fresh meat buns, two tea eggs, those fried dough sticks cost four cents each~"

"I don't know about noon; my sister eats at the factory cafeteria, and my brother-in-law is so wealthy, he surely eats well too~"

After Su Changliang finished speaking, everyone blinked repeatedly.

We only knew Su Liyan lived a carefree life in the city, but we didn't expect it to be this kind of carefree life.

This...

Everyone's faces were full of envy; Su's father also had a full-face smile, chuckling quietly while smoking.

On the contrary, Su's mother, upon hearing this, couldn't help but furrow her brows.

Su's mother knows her son-in-law; unless he has something to do, he never gets up early in the morning.

How could my daughter behave like this...

Not making food for her son-in-law, she goes out to buy fried dough sticks to eat herself?

What about the son-in-law then?

Where is there a wife who doesn't make food for her husband in the morning?!

In a moment, Su's mother's anger flared up, but with so many people in the courtyard, it wasn't good to lash out.

The people around didn't think it was a big deal; the son-in-law's family is so wealthy, of course they can afford it.

Then someone curiously asked:

"What does your sister do at the factory; is it tiring?"

Su Changliang repeatedly shook his head and said:

"Not at all tiring; my sister says her job at the factory is quality inspection, she just takes calipers to the workshop for a stroll each day, then there's nothing else."

"My brother-in-law arranged this for her, deliberately finding an easy job; she started as an apprentice, earning twenty dollars a month."

Everyone nodded repeatedly; the Su Clan's son-in-law is truly exceptional.

Everyone felt the same way.

While everyone was still chatting, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Su Liyan and Lu Yuan entered hand in hand.

Lu Yuan had long known that his father-in-law's house would definitely have many people.

After greeting this group, Lu Yuan pulled out two cigarettes from the package on his horse, opened them, and gave each of the men in the courtyard a pack.

Everyone looked at the cigarettes Lu Yuan gave and couldn't help but smack their lips.

Peony brand, this packet costs three mao.

And Su Liyan was handing out candy to the women in the courtyard, and eating hairband‑skin fried peanuts.

After Lu Yuan finished handing out to the people in the courtyard, he took three cigarettes and went to his father‑in‑law, smiling and saying:

"Dad, I'm giving you three sticks; when someone comes over for the holidays, you can share them."

The men in the courtyard looked and exclaimed, "Wow, good stuff! Drum Tower brand cigarettes—each stick seven (units), totaling seven mao per box."

This Su Clan son‑in‑law, he's really loaded~

Su father repeatedly smiled and nodded, taking it with both hands.

Su father isn't very talkative, being honest and simple; he just kept nodding, not knowing what to say.

And Su Changliang was helping to lead the horse into the shed, taking the items from the horse into the house, then hurriedly said:

"Mom, I'll tidy up my room."

Su mother directly said:

"No need, you can just sleep in your room tonight; your brother‑in‑law and sister will sleep in her room."

Everyone looked at Su mother, somewhat confused.

"This…… is a bit against the rules, right?"

However, upon thinking, it's also okay.

"What rules, not rules—such a son‑in‑law, why bother with breaking rules?"

"The son‑in‑law can do whatever he wants."

And Su mother also looked at the crowd and hurriedly shouted:

"It's almost noon; my son‑in‑law and daughter definitely haven't eaten yet—everyone, hurry home and get busy."

Everyone also nodded.

Not to mention it's almost noon—everyone came here just to look at the Su Clan son‑in‑law's stuff.

The Su Clan son‑in‑law handed out cigarettes, the Su Clan daughter handed out candy; everyone got their things and naturally left satisfied.

After everyone left, Lu Yuan walked into the house, picked up his homemade fishing rod, and said:

"Mom, I won't be home for lunch—I'm going fishing; you guys eat, I'm not hungry."

We really need to hurry and go fishing—we only have two days back, so we can't delay.

Seeing Lu Yuan not even eating lunch, Su mother hurriedly said:

"Oh dear, son‑in‑law, you can't do that—eat something first."

After Su mother finished speaking, Su father beside her laughed and said:

"It's fine—Xiao Yuan wants to go fishing, let him go; prepare lunch and have Liyan send it over."

Su Liyan also smiled and repeatedly nodded, responding:

"Mmm~ Brother especially likes fishing; these days he's been busy with household matters and hasn't gone—once the meal is ready I'll bring it to him."

Lu Yuan originally wanted to say no need to send it, but who knows when he'll get hungry—so just send it.

Immediately, Lu Yuan put down his things and hurriedly said:

"Then I'm off~"

Su Liyan quickly picked up a coat to put on her man, and said coyly:

"Brother, come back when it gets cold~"

If Su Liyan didn't know her man dislikes being disturbed while fishing, she would have gone along.

Lu Yuan looked at his lovable wife, smiled and pinched her cheek, then picked up his fishing rod and water bucket and said:

"I'm off~"

After Su Liyan saw her man off to the door, she then smiled, prepared to go back inside to change into old clothes and help with chores.

However, after Su Liyan returned to the room, she saw Su mother's face had darkened, and she didn't know when she had picked up a stick.

Su Liyan looked at her mother like that and felt a bit dazed.

Before Su Liyan could say anything, Su mother sank her face and said:

"Kneel down, stretch out your hands."

Su Liyan froze—this…… what's going on??

But with Su mother's loud shout, Su Liyan was frightened and immediately knelt down.

Su father knew why Su mother was doing this.

In this family, disciplining the children, Su father usually doesn't intervene.

This time, Su father also felt his own daughter had gone a bit overboard.

"How could you buy fried dough sticks and buns in the morning, yet not take care of your own man?"

"Saying this out loud really makes people laugh!"

Those people just now in the courtyard—after they go back, who knows what they'll say.

Su father shook his head, turned and went into the inner room.

And Su Changliang beside her, somewhat flustered, said:

"Mom, maybe not needed……"

Although Su Changliang also felt his sister was wrong, he just wanted his mother to say something—he didn't expect her to actually strike!!

"His mother's strikes really hurt!"

When they were kids, neither he nor his sister got off lightly.

As soon as Su Changliang spoke, Su mother glared and said:

"Shut up, go do what you're supposed to do!"

Su Changliang was frightened and shrank his neck, so he had to go out.

Su's mother turned her head and lashed Su Liyan's small hand with a stick.

The stick came with a whoosh, striking solidly.

This made Su Liyan's eyes well up with tears from the pain.

"Do you know why I'm hitting you?!!"

"I'm hitting you for being lazy and gluttonous!!"

Su Liyan was dazed. "How... how did I become lazy and gluttonous??"

Before Su Liyan could understand, Su's mother brought down another stick, glaring as she said:

"Your husband dotes on you, yet you don't make him breakfast, you run out to eat tasty snacks?!"

"Su Liyan, I've found that as you grow up, you become more foolish, you're such an ungrateful wretch!"

Inside, Su Liyan hadn't reacted yet, but outside Su Changliang realized, uh-oh, I've caused trouble!!

"You can't keep hitting her like this!!"

"If you keep hitting like that, Mom will definitely end up hurting my sister."

Su Changliang felt this wasn't right; he needed to quickly fetch his brother-in-law back!!

With a whoosh, Su Changliang darted out!

(End of chapter)