Chapter Two: The Egg Snatch

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After Qin Jiuhong and Song Qiao finished preparing breakfast, Su Yanchu and Su Qiqi also wrapped up their tasks. Breakfast consisted of steamed corn buns, rice soup, a small dish of pickled vegetables, and two eggs.

Old Lady Su divided the food on the table, giving the men slightly more and the women a little less, but the two eggs were reserved unchanged for Su Yaozu.

Su Dawei first took a bite of a corn bun, then stared at Su Yaozu’s unpeeled egg and casually asked, “Mother, did Second Brother go to work so early?”

“He has a fever and hasn’t gotten up yet,” Old Lady Su replied. As she was about to peel the egg for the youngest son, Su Dawei’s quick hands snatched both his own and Su Yaozu’s eggs.

“Mother, the little brother is already so plump; if he eats more, he won’t be able to move.” After quickly peeling the eggs, Su Dawei swiftly handed them to Qin Jiuhong and Su Yanchu before Old Lady Su could react.

“Mother, Second Brother is usually very hardworking; it’s good for him to rest now.”

“What’s good about it? He usually brings home twelve centimeters a day; now he’s just lying in bed, doing nothing!”

Old Lady Su cared little about Second Brother’s illness—her main concern was that Su Yaozu’s eggs had been taken.

“Father, Mother, Third Brother stole my egg!” Su Yaozu, who was quite chubby and always performed poorly in school, was spoiled by Old Lady Su and Old Man Su.

Qin Jiuhong and Su Yanchu were quick too; while Su Dawei and Old Lady Su were talking, they finished the eggs in their bowls in just a few bites, leaving nothing behind.

“You, the third son’s family, and you, Su Yanchu, that brat, were those eggs meant for you to eat?” Old Lady Su, seeing Qin Jiuhong and Su Yanchu finish the eggs, grew furious and scolded them repeatedly:

“You two are girls—if you eat less, you won’t starve!”

“All the eggs in the house belong to Yaozu.”

“Mother, I think my stomach’s been acting up lately. Besides, I heard from my family that women need to eat more nutritious food to ensure the prosperity of the family line.”

Since the eggs were already eaten, Qin Jiuhong didn’t care about Old Lady Su’s protests and spoke with a smiling face.

“Yes, Grandma, my entrance exam is coming up soon. When you’re hungry, you can’t focus on studying. If I eat better, I’ll do better on the exam, get into technical school, and after graduating and getting a good job, I can help pave the way for my uncle,” Su Yanchu said with a smile.

Whether eggs or no eggs, the important thing was to irritate Old Lady Su.

In this era, technical secondary schools were considered more valuable than high schools; their scores were higher, and graduates would receive official cadre status like university graduates.

Old Lady Su’s idea of supporting Su Yanchu’s education was to have her open a path for Su Yaozu.

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If Su Yanchu became a cadre and earned more money, she would hand her salary over to the family, increasing Old Lady Su’s income. Perhaps as a cadre, she could even help Su Yaozu move to the city, find a job, and eat commercial grain.

Su Yanchu thought it over—based on the timing, a four-year technical secondary school was still attainable if she passed the entrance exam now.

Old Lady Su considered it carefully and found Su Yanchu’s argument quite reasonable.

“From now on, every meal will include an extra egg for Chu,” Old Man Su, sitting at the head of the table, declared.

“Why?” Su Qiqi protested, challenging Old Lady Su and Old Man Su. “She doesn’t work or contribute to the family. Why should she get an extra egg every meal?”

“Qiqi, you shouldn’t say things like that!” Su Dawei spoke up again. “Chu may not contribute much now, but she will once she starts working. Her exam is coming soon—how can she not eat nutritious food?”

“If she doesn’t get enough nutrition now and fails to enter technical school, all our previous efforts would have been for nothing.”

Since they were living this life, the lazy and greedy character had to be played to the end!

“Girls won’t starve if they eat a little less. All this fuss over one egg—Qiqi, were you a glutton in your past life?” Old Lady Su glared at Su Qiqi.

“Mom, it’s all Qiqi’s fault. I’ll talk to her later!” Song Qiao chimed in.

After that, she told Su Qiqi, “Listen to your grandparents and don’t cause trouble.”

Su Qiqi reluctantly shut her mouth.

“Mm,” Old Lady Su nodded, then added another matter:

“After breakfast, everyone goes to work in the fields. Qiqi and Chu are responsible for going to the mountain to gather pig feed, cook meals, and bring them to the fields.”

Old Lady Su began assigning the day’s tasks.

Su Qiqi looked gratefully at Old Lady Su because, at least in this matter, she wasn’t showing favoritism.

Su Yanchu’s seizing of the schooling opportunity left a thorn in Su Qiqi’s heart. If Old Lady Su favored both Su Yaozu and Su Yanchu, it would deeply upset her.

Su Yanchu felt that Old Lady Su had her go along not because of favoritism—everyone in the family had to work, regardless of illness or other reasons.

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Even if she didn’t have classes on Sundays, she still needed to help the family.

After breakfast, on their way to work, Qin Jiuhong and Su Dawei found a secluded spot and entered the space.

Su Yanchu also entered the space.

“This coarse grain really doesn’t fill you up. Luckily, we stocked up on plenty of food!” Qin Jiuhong whispered, complaining about how unappetizing the corn buns were.

“Husband, your egg-snatching move earlier was brilliant! I saw that old lady’s face turn dark!”

Recalling that, Qin Jiuhong had never seen Old Lady Su look so displeased.

To deal with a difficult person, one must be equally formidable.

“We have to keep doing this—find a chance to get a job in the city, then divide the family property and move out,” Su Dawei said. “No matter what, our characters can’t collapse. Ideally, we want to force the old couple to suggest dividing the family themselves.”

“Dad, you’re right,” Su Yanchu agreed.

Though it was challenging, with enough determination, they could drive Old Man Su and Old Lady Su crazy.

“Let’s eat some buns first, or we won’t have the strength to work,” Su Dawei said.

Although they had many supplies, they didn’t plan to sell anything on the black market—it was risky and speculative.

Finding work in the city was the proper path, or they could try to divide the family property. Su Dawei recalled they had an old house that was abandoned.

“Yes, let’s work together to irritate them,” Qin Jiuhong agreed.

Since the buns were ready-made, and time flowed differently inside the space, spending an hour inside felt like only five minutes outside.

After heating some buns and canned food in the space and finishing their meal, Qin Jiuhong and Su Dawei headed out to work.