Chapter 17: My Daughter Is My Bottom Line

Yang Guixiang could hardly believe it. She had always been the one to distribute food at home, yet now someone had dared to ride roughshod over her—and that person was her own granddaughter. Her face instantly darkened with anger as she snapped, “The world’s gone topsy-turvy! Who do you think you are to take charge at home? You think you’ve grown up, huh?” She then turned to her youngest son and daughter-in-law. “Look at the daughter you’ve raised—lazy and good-for-nothing all day long. What decent husband would want a wife like that?”

Su Wanwan responded with confidence, “I’m just following what Grandma taught us. Grandma taught me well.”

Yang Guixiang pointed a finger at her granddaughter, fuming, “Look at you, talking back like that! You deserve a good beating.”

Su Wanwan pressed on, “Grandma has taught us this way since we were little. I haven’t done anything wrong. Grandma taught me well.”

Jinhua glanced into the basin and found not a single piece of chicken left. Her temper flared immediately. “Second brother, sister-in-law, look at the daughter you’ve raised! What kind of upbringing is this? No manners, no education, nearly nineteen years old and can’t find a job, can’t earn work points, just freeloading at home. You should teach her properly or get her married off soon.”

Su Jianwei chimed in, “Exactly. This girl deserves a beating. Does she have any respect for her elders?”

Yang Guixiang’s eyes gleamed with a calculating light. “She can’t just freeload at home. Fortunately, I happen to have a young man from the city in mind—the son of the factory director, your eldest sister’s factory. He’s just the right match for Wanwan. That’s settled then. Tomorrow, I’ll have his family come to propose. The bride price is the highest in the village—one thousand yuan exactly.”

Su Jianjun and He Fen frowned simultaneously.

Suddenly, Su Wanwan recalled the story in the book: at this time, her marriage to Ma Zhiming had just been arranged. Her so-called “good grandmother” even came over to tell her that the factory director’s son was wealthy and that marrying him meant a life of comfort.

Later, Su Jianjun had investigated that man—and found out he was mentally challenged.

A faint smile curved Su Wanwan’s lips, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Grandma, who do you think that bride price will go to in the end?”

Yang Guixiang, as if already holding the thousand yuan, smiled, “Of course to me. I’m the head of the family.”

Su Wanwan’s gaze turned cold and sharp like a blade as she looked at her grandmother. “Grandma, are you trying to sell me to a fool as a wife?”

Yang Guixiang suddenly stared at her granddaughter.

Su Wanwan then looked to Su Jianjun. “Dad, do you know what kind of man that director’s son is? He’s a fool, and violent too. Grandma’s trying to push me into a fire pit.”

Su Heng clenched his fists tightly, never imagining such cruelty could exist.

Yang Guixiang gave Su Wanwan a suspicious glance. “He’s not a fool, just a bit slow. Not like what you say.”

Su Jianjun’s bottom line was his daughter. He had never lost his temper in front of the family, but now he was furious. His eyes blazing with rage, he swept a look over them and slammed his palm down on the table, causing the chicken soup to splash.

Jinhua was instantly intimidated by her younger brother’s presence.

Su Jianwei trembled all over.

Having served many years as team leader, Su Jianjun’s aura was formidable.

They had never seen him lose his temper before; this anger was terrifying.

Suppressing his rage, Su Jianjun addressed his parents, “My daughter is still young. She won’t marry until she’s twenty-two. Stay out of my daughter’s affairs. As for that director’s son you mentioned, I will investigate thoroughly. If anyone tries to push my daughter into a fire pit, I won’t let it slide—even if the Heavenly King himself comes, I’ll deal with him.”

Yang Guixiang’s heart skipped a beat. She was used to controlling people, but this level of anger over a girl? Could it be that he really planned to discipline them? After all, they were the boy’s parents.

Su Jianjun turned to Jinhua and his eldest brother. “Who do you think you are? I’ve endured your criticism before, but my daughter is my bottom line. I don’t need you to meddle.”

“My daughter hasn’t said a wrong word. Has she ever eaten from your household? Or used your things? But your whole family has eaten from my home plenty of times.”

Jinhua was so frightened she didn’t dare utter a sound.

Su Jianwei twisted his face into a scowl and glared at Su Jianjun fiercely. “I’m her uncle, am I not allowed to speak? Jianjun, don’t forget I injured myself for you.”

Jinhua perked up at this, recalling her husband’s injuries that had left her living like a widow for years, always having to feed him medicine.

She straightened her back, “Exactly. We’re just saying a few words to the younger generation, and you can’t take it?”

Su Jianjun’s emotions surged violently, foreboding a storm.

Yang Guixiang and the old man had never seen their youngest son like this.

It was a first for them.

Yang Guixiang slapped Jinhua across the face to ease the tension. “It’s all your fault for causing trouble. We can’t even have a proper meal because of you.”

Jinhua’s tears streamed down her face, looking at her husband with helplessness, no longer daring to speak.

The old man said, “Eat, eat. Your granddaughter’s actions aren’t wrong. It’s good.”

The meal ended under such a tense atmosphere.

Before leaving, the grandparents checked every room, then carried grain from the kitchen and held fresh vegetables from the garden. “Son, I’ll take these home now. Next time, buy more.”

Su Jianjun watched it all. This would be the last time. Tomorrow, he planned to dig a new cellar at home.

After exchanging a glance, Su Heng and Su Wanwan followed the grandparents out.

In those days, with no entertainment or television, summer evenings were spent sitting under the great locust tree, fanning themselves and chatting to cool off.

Many villagers had gathered there.

When the grandparents arrived beneath the tree, Su Heng ran up and tugged at his grandfather. “Grandpa, please leave us some food. Otherwise, we’ll be hungry tomorrow.”

Grandpa Su Maodun’s face darkened immediately, sensing the boy was deliberately saying this in front of everyone.

This child had never acted like this before.

The villagers below became instantly curious.

Su Maodun softened his tone. “This is your father’s grain for supporting me. Your father will buy more tomorrow. You won’t go hungry.”

“But dad won’t buy it in the morning either. We’ll still be hungry then. Can I come eat at Grandpa’s place?” Su Heng asked.

Seeing all eyes on them, Su Maodun answered firmly, “Of course. You come to Grandpa’s in the morning. I won’t let you go hungry.”

Su Heng grinned widely. “Really? Grandpa, you’re the best. You’re such a good grandpa.”

Su Maodun beamed with pride. “Really. Hungry? Come to Grandpa’s.”

Only then did the grandparents carry the grain back home.

Along the way, old lady Yang Guixiang cursed the Jianjun family. “We should never have split the household. They should be working like beasts at home.”

Curious villagers by the locust tree asked Su Heng what had happened.

Hesitating, Su Heng revealed how the grandparents often came to their house to take grain and how much monthly support they received—everything from small items like water pots and bowls to large sacks of grain and quilts.

Neighbor Liu, who lived near the Su family, said, “Some of you live far away, but I often see the elders coming to the team leader’s house to move things. I never realized there was a five-yuan monthly support.”

The villagers immediately started gossiping, each adding bits they knew, chatting animatedly.

Su Wanwan achieved exactly the effect she wanted. Seeing things had reached their peak, she exchanged a glance with Su Heng, and the two returned home.