Chapter Seven: Su Qiqi Gets Beaten

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Outside was the voice of Old Madam Su. Su Dawei tossed all the money he had exchanged for gold bars today into the storage space. He exchanged a glance with Qin Jiuhong and Su Yanchu before opening the door.

“Why did you take the afternoon off today? Have you been hiding money behind my back?” Old Madam Su grumbled as she walked in.

“Seventh Girl said Su Yanchu has hidden quite a bit of private savings. Hurry and hand it over!” After entering, Old Madam Su began rummaging through the room.

“Mom, what are you talking about? What money?” Su Dawei grabbed her arm and said, “You believe everything Su Qiqi tells you. What if I told you she’s hiding a hundred yuan now? Go search her room.”

“Mom, there’s no money in our room anyway. When will you divide the house? After all, the shared money for odd jobs is still with you,” Qin Jiuhong added.

“I went to the recycling station to sell the venomous snake Chuchu brought back yesterday, so I do have some money. But didn’t Chuchu already tell you yesterday that this money isn’t to be turned over to the public fund?” Su Dawei said, casting a glance at Su Qiqi trailing behind Old Madam Su.

“Granny, when I came back this afternoon, I saw Third Cousin hiding money on her person. You better check,” Su Yanchu suddenly shifted the topic onto Su Qiqi.

“Isn’t it you hiding money yourself and trying to frame your sister?” Old Madam Su questioned, slapping Su Qiqi across the face.

The slap sent Su Qiqi to the floor, a five-finger imprint marking her cheek. She looked at Old Madam Su in disbelief, tears streaming down.

“Granny, I didn’t hide any money.”

“Cry, cry, cry all day long, only knowing how to weep and falsely accuse your Third Uncle’s family,” Old Madam Su scolded, tapping her head before searching her again. Finding no money, she finally let her off.

“Hurry up and get back to cooking. Do you want me to starve to death?”

“You disgraceful thing!” Old Madam Su grabbed Su Qiqi and dragged her off to cook.

Before leaving, Su Qiqi glared daggers at the family, full of hatred.

Su Yanchu shrugged indifferently.

After Su Qiqi and the others left, Qin Jiuhong said, “We’d better find jobs and try to move out as soon as we get a place.”

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But jobs weren’t something you could just buy—you needed connections.

...

Just as Su Yanchu’s family was at a loss trying to buy jobs, Su Yunzhi, who had married into the city, returned.

Su Dawei and Su Yunzhi were twins. Because Su Yunzhi had been pretty in her youth, she married her current husband.

Her husband, Lin Hong, worked at a machinery factory, earning a monthly wage of just over fifty yuan. They had a son and a daughter: their eldest son, Lin Wensen, was seven, and their youngest daughter, Lin Sisi, was five.

Her father-in-law worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. Her mother-in-law had originally worked at the thermos factory, but after Su Yunzhi gave birth to her son, she handed over her job to Su Yunzhi and stayed home to care for the grandchildren.

“Dad, Mom, I’m back!” Su Yunzhi casually placed the tofu she bought at the market on the table, calling out with a perfunctory tone.

Su Yunzhi hadn’t been valued much in the Su household, but ever since marrying into the city, Old Madam Su and Old Master Su had changed their attitude.

“Yunzhi, what are you carrying there?” Old Madam Su’s eyes fixed tightly on the large package hanging from Su Yunzhi’s arm.

“Nothing much, just a coat I made for Chuchu and some things for Third Sister-in-Law,” Su Yunzhi replied with no warmth toward Old Madam Su.

“Why didn’t you bring anything for Yaozu? How can you be such a sister?” Old Madam Su frowned.

“Mom, aren’t you the most biased person here?” Su Yunzhi thought to herself. Old Madam Su had never treated her well since childhood, always hitting or scolding. She felt that bringing them two pieces of tofu was already generous enough.

“I did bring you tofu. Let me tell you, tofu is really expensive now, and you need a ration ticket!”

“You useless girl, I’ve raised you for nothing!” Old Madam Su glared at Su Yunzhi and raised her hand to strike her, but the slap was stopped mid-air by a broad palm.

“Mom, it’s fine to talk, but hitting is not good,” Su Dawei said with a half-smile after releasing Old Madam Su’s hand.

Old Madam Su felt Su Dawei had changed recently, but not drastically.

He used to be a troublemaker, now he seemed even more unruly.

“You two really are siblings who grew up wearing the same pants!” Old Madam Su snorted coldly, withdrawing her hand.

“Mom, just keep an eye on your precious youngest son,” Su Yunzhi smiled.

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The eldest brother was cunning, the second brother slow-witted; Su Yunzhi was only close to her twin brother Su Dawei.

Since childhood, whenever Su Dawei had a bite to eat, she was always included.

After returning to the third household’s room, Su Dawei put his arm around Su Yunzhi’s shoulder and asked, “Sister, what nice things did you bring for me, your wife, and Chuchu this time?”

“I brought two jars of Snowflake Cream for sister-in-law and made Chuchu a cotton-padded jacket,” Su Yunzhi said, taking items out of the package and handing them to Qin Jiuhong.

“Sister-in-law, use the Snowflake Cream on your face often. Women need to take good care of themselves.”

“Thank you, Yunzhi,” Qin Jiuhong said happily upon receiving the cream.

“You shouldn’t have gone to such trouble.”

“Chuchu, this is the cotton jacket I made for you,” Su Yunzhi also handed the finished blue jacket to Su Yanchu.

“Thank you, Aunt. This jacket looks even better than the ones in the city department store!” Su Yanchu accepted it without hesitation and tried it on.

“You’re welcome!” Su Yunzhi then took out a can of malted milk and a pack of peach crisps for Su Dawei.

“Third Brother, this is for you.”

“Thanks, little sister.” After accepting them, Su Dawei asked, “Yunzhi, didn’t buying all these things affect your relationship with your brother-in-law?”

Qin Jiuhong and Su Yanchu also looked at Su Yunzhi with concern.

That must have cost a lot!

“I only spent my own money, and I discussed it with Hong,” Su Yunzhi waved her hand.

“That’s good, that’s good,” Qin Jiuhong breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sister, I want to ask you something,” Su Dawei said. Since Su Yunzhi worked at the thermos factory, she was in a better position to get connections for buying jobs.

“What is it, Third Brother?” Su Yunzhi asked.

“My wife and I have saved some money and want to buy a position in the city. You know, city jobs are scarce and each position is hard to get. Even if you want to buy a job, you need connections.”

“Third Brother, Third Sister-in-Law, I came back this time to talk to you about this very thing,” Su Yunzhi said. “Hong’s factory is holding a recruitment exam, giving priority to city household registrations. Hong and I agreed to help you raise the money and buy a job for you. When you’re more financially stable later, you can pay us back slowly.”