The more Su Wenshan listened, the darker his face became.
When Chen Xiu'e finished speaking, he turned and strode toward the door with a grim expression. "That second brother's wife is shameless. I'm going to confront her!"
"Stop right there!"
Chen Xiu'e jumped down from the kang and grabbed him. "If you go make a scene, won't everyone find out that our Xiao Yun was almost matched with a fool?"
Su Wenshan hesitated.
Although Chen Xiu'e was equally unwilling to let it go, she could only persuade him to hold back. "I already went to see his second aunt at noon today. I warned her that if she ever dared to set up our Xiao Yun like that again, I would expose the mole on her backside to everyone. She promised she wouldn't spread any nonsense."
Just like in her previous life, Chen Xiu'e had been anxious about Su Yun's marriage prospects and, in her desperation, had believed the second aunt's lies. She had secretly gone to see the fool and returned home in a fury.
Now, just as before, Chen Xiu'e sighed miserably. "I asked Matchmaker Zhang this morning. She said the Jiang family had made it clear—Sister Jiang doesn't approve of our Xiao Yun."
She snorted indignantly. "That Sister Jiang is obviously narrow-minded. Their family may have good conditions, but she ought to take a good look at her own son first. He's so homely-looking. If our Xiao Yun married into that family, she'd be a fresh flower stuck in cow dung. And she still dares to be picky? I'd like to see what kind of bride she can find!"
Seeing that the tension had eased somewhat, Su Yun quickly said, "Dad, Mom, let's not talk about these upsetting things anymore. Let's eat first before the food gets cold."
Su Wenshan felt dejected but nodded. "All right. Let's eat."
Chen Xiu'e sighed and then noticed that Su Baoguo was nowhere to be seen. She immediately shouted, "Little Fifth, you brat! Where have you run off to?"
"I'm coming right back!"
Hearing her voice, Su Baoguo reluctantly returned from the He family's door.
Once everyone was seated, Su Yun closed the door.
Su Baoguo sat at the table and said enviously, "Widow He's roast chicken smells amazing. I heard it's made by the head chef of the state-run restaurant. They only sell twenty a day, and ordinary people can't even buy one. Sigh… Even someone like He Hua gets to eat roast chicken. When will our family ever get to have it?"
Chen Xiu'e immediately tapped him with her chopsticks. "You stinky boy! With our family's situation, your father and I eat corn buns every meal and never complain. We give you wheat-and-corn steamed buns, and you're still not satisfied? Roast chicken is expensive—do you think everyone can afford it?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Yun lifted the rag covering the table and removed the lid from the clay pot, revealing the black-boned chicken soup that had simmered for two hours.
She then uncovered the basin beside it, exposing a mound of white rice.
The Su family fell completely silent.
Chen Xiu'e looked as if someone had grabbed her by the throat—she couldn't utter a word.
Su Baoguo's mouth fell open as he stared wide-eyed.
Su Wenshan was stunned.
After a long moment, Chen Xiu'e anxiously glared at Su Yun. "Xiao Yun, did you slaughter our chicken? That hen was supposed to lay eggs to nourish you and Little Fifth. How could you stew it?"
Her eyes were red with distress.
Raising a few chickens in those days was no easy task.
Su Yun hurried to soothe her. With a serious expression, she said, "Mom, it's not our chicken. Someone came to our courtyard today and took a liking to the bowl we use to feed the chickens. He insisted on trading twenty jin of rice and one chicken for it. He said the bowl was some kind of official kiln porcelain from the Qing Dynasty. Even though it's a bit worn, he wanted it for his collection. I thought the bowl wasn't of much use to us anyway, so I exchanged it."
Chen Xiu'e and Su Wenshan were both incredulous.
To divert their attention further, Su Yun quickly added, "Dad, Mom, I have good news. I found a job! I don't need to rush into blind dates or marriage. I can stay in the city!"
Hearing this, they immediately forgot about the chicken.
"What? Is that true?" they asked almost in unison.
Su Yun nodded firmly. She trimmed certain parts of the story about the recycling station and fabricated a few additional details, then told them, "…That's what happened. The aunt there is very kind. She needs to move away to take care of her grandson and agreed that I don't have to pay the 300 yuan for the job all at once. I can pay her back gradually from my monthly wages."
Aside from lowering the price from 500 to 300 yuan, her explanation sounded perfectly reasonable. Chen Xiu'e believed her almost immediately.
After all, if it had been her, she would have given up a job to care for a newborn grandson as well.
Overwhelmed with joy, tears streamed down Chen Xiu'e's face. "Good, good! We've truly met a kind-hearted person! Xiao Yun, you're so fortunate. To encounter such a blessing is like a pie falling from the sky! Your father and I will pay half of the 300 yuan. The remaining half can be deducted from your future salary. Tomorrow I'll take a day off and go with you to transfer the job—"
Su Yun quickly stopped her. "Mom, there's no need. This is a sensitive time. I should handle the transfer quietly. If you come with me and someone notices something, it might cause trouble."
It was indeed the height of the "Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside" movement, and buying a job could not be made public.
Su Wenshan nodded, his previously dull voice brightening. "Xiao Yun is right. This matter must not be publicized."
Chen Xiu'e nodded through her tears. "All right. This time, I'll listen to you two."
At that moment, she felt as though the cloud that had weighed on her heart for so long had finally lifted. She felt lighter than she had in months.
Su Baoguo was also thrilled to hear that Su Yun had found a job and couldn't help cheering. But at his age, he could not ignore a pot of fragrant chicken soup sitting before him.
"Mom, can we eat now?"
In her good mood, Chen Xiu'e immediately declared, "Let's eat!"
"Woohoo!"
Su Baoguo cheered again and quickly picked up a piece of chicken, stuffing it into his mouth. At the same time, he instructed Su Yun, "Second Sister, take that drumstick. There's more meat on it."
Su Yun did pick up a drumstick—but instead of eating it herself, she placed it into her father Su Wenshan's bowl. Then she found the other drumstick and put it into her mother Chen Xiu'e's bowl.
Before they could refuse, she said firmly, "Dad, Mom, I stewed this chicken specially for you today. You've worked so hard all these years. Ever since Elder Brother, Second Brother, and Sister were sent to the countryside, you've been scrimping and saving at home. You eat corn buns every meal, and whenever there's anything good, you leave it for me and Little Fifth. For so many years, you haven't even bought yourselves new clothes. That was the past—but now I have a job. You raised me to this age and worried about me so much. From now on, I will take good care of you and never let you suffer again."