What an old scoundrel! Su Nian’an cursed inwardly.
The Su family didn’t have that much money or ration coupons? Su Nian’an would be a fool to believe that.
For all that Su Aiguo and his wife were listed as ordinary workers these days, the Su family had actually run businesses in years past. They’d only donated part of their family property to avoid being labeled as capitalists, then bought themselves worker status — that was how they’d escaped being sent down to the countryside. But the wealth they’d saved up over the years? Su Nian’an was certain they could easily meet her demands.
“Absolutely not! I’m only asking for a little, yet you want to cut it all down to nearly nothing. You’re not being sincere at all! Don’t you realize that once I go to the countryside, I could well be dragged out for public denunciations? Just think how terrifying that would be — and all of this was supposed to fall on Su Nianxi!”
Su Nian’an kept repeating that this fate was meant for Su Nianxi — and Su Nianxi said not a single word in reply. She was terrified the negotiations would fall through and Su Nian’an would refuse to marry Gu Qingyu in her place. She dared not press too hard either; push Su Nian’an too far, and she might just reveal the truth: that she was not the Su family’s biological daughter at all.
Su Nianxi had no idea why her parents were so desperate to keep that fact hidden — but she wasn’t stupid. If her parents wanted it kept secret, why on earth would she volunteer to announce it herself?
Su Aiguo sighed heavily before speaking. “Our family’s assets were all donated long ago. We truly do not have that kind of wealth left. Nian’an, your father knows we have wronged you — and we truly want to make amends, to give you enough money and coupons so you won’t suffer too much hardship in the countryside. That is why we agreed to so much in the first place. But surely… one must know when to be content?”
Hearing Su Aiguo’s half-sweet-talk, half-threat tone, Su Nian’an sneered inwardly. Old fox, she thought. So cruel to your own flesh and blood — yet so fiercely protective of your brother’s daughter. She even wondered if Su Aiguo had some improper attachment to his late friend’s daughter; otherwise, why dote on Su Nianxi so? Though in this era, people were far more conservative — such things were rare. Still, Su Nianxi must have some special importance… after all, she was the classic scheming side character in this story.
“It’s not that I refuse to be content!” Su Nian’an retorted. “Once I’m sent down, I may never make it back to the city for the rest of my life! I ask for a little money and coupons, and you haggle over every penny? If that’s how little you value sincerity — forget it! Whoever wants to marry into the Gu family can go! I won’t do it!”
She stood up, ready to walk out. At once, Su Nianxi grew frantic. She was the one who would be sent to the countryside if Su Nian’an refused! And their parents insisted that one of them must marry into the Gu family.
“Father~” Su Nianxi whined, turning all her charm and pleas toward Su Aiguo.
Su Nian’an rolled her eyes. She had nearly reached the door when Su Aiguo’s voice rang out.
“Ten thousand yuan. Thirty pounds of meat coupons. Thirty pounds of cloth coupons. Fifty pounds of grain coupons. Nian’an… this is truly all I can scrape together. The Su family still needs to get by, too.”
Su Nian’an paused in her steps. She turned slowly back to face him.
“I won’t haggle over the rest. But I want one hundred pounds of grain coupons.”
Grain coupons could be exchanged for wheat flour — and Su Nian’an had every intention of baking pastries and snacks once she was settled. After all… no matter how hard life got, she wouldn’t deprive herself of good food. Money, she figured, she could always earn more of on her own.
“Nian’an…” Su Aiguo began to protest, but she cut him off.
“That is my final offer. If you want me to go to the countryside in your adopted daughter’s place and take on this burden… you will pay what it is worth. Otherwise — why should I be your fool?”
She dared speak with such confidence because she knew full well: she was the only one who could take Su Nianxi’s place. The Gu family demanded a bride whole and unharmed — and Su Aiguo and his wife would never dare lay a hand on her.
“Fine! I agree!” Su Aiguo gritted his teeth and gave in.
Standing beside him, Liu Cuilan burned with resentment and snapped. “Su Nian’an! All these years you’ve been away with your aunt — is this what you learned? To come home and extort your own parents? I utterly misjudged you. I thought your return would help our family — instead, you demand half our family’s fortune the moment you open your mouth!”
Liu Cuilan was far from done. She bitterly begrudged every coin and coupon Su Nian’an would carry away — this was their life savings, and the thought of losing it made her heart ache. Though this was the mid-to-late 1970s, ten thousand yuan was no small sum. And ration coupons? They were painfully hard to accumulate — parting with so many at once was more than Liu Cuilan could bear.
“Very well. If you refuse to accept my terms,” Su Nian’an turned back, “then there is nothing more to say. I shall return to my room — do not disturb me.”
She made to leave again — only for Su Aiguo to roar at his wife. “Will you hold your tongue!”
Liu Cuilan seethed inwardly. Why give so much to a daughter who has never been close to us?
“Nian’an,” Su Aiguo turned back, forcing a calm tone. “Everything I promised… you shall have it. Only — about that document you mentioned… severing our father-daughter relationship…”
“You needn’t worry,” Su Nian’an replied promptly. “Once I have the money and coupons, I will sign it. I want it clearly understood — I will not drag the Su family down through my marriage to the Gu family.”
What a household, she thought. No father worthy of the name, no mother worthy of the title. The original girl had been starved for affection — that was why she’d broken under the heartless way they’d used her and taken her own life. As for Su Nian’an? She was only too glad to cut ties before they tried leeching off her later. And as for Su Nianxi — with her future as the story’s wicked villainess — let this couple spend their days clearing up the mess their precious adopted daughter would surely make!
“Very well. I can have the money withdrawn and given to you tomorrow. As for the coupons…”
“…they may take a little longer to gather,” Su Aiguo added. Coupons were not easily come by in this era — and he hoped to delay, delay, delay… and then simply renege once she was gone.
“Not acceptable,” Su Nian’an said firmly. “I want both the money and the coupons by tomorrow evening. You’ve already agreed on a wedding date with the Gu family — surely you wouldn’t risk delaying that? Try to stall on my coupons… and see what happens.”
Su Aiguo’s mask of fatherly concern vanished instantly. His voice turned cold and sharp.
“Fine. Everything shall be given to you together tomorrow. The day after tomorrow at dawn… someone will escort you to the Gu family’s countryside home.”
“I will go on my own,” Su Nian’an said at once. Let Su Aiguo’s men escort me? And who’s to say they wouldn’t rob and kill me for that money and coupons along the way? Crime rates were far higher in this era — people starved and froze, and desperation drove people to unspeakable acts. There were no security cameras, no witnesses… one could vanish in the wilderness and never be found.
“Then how am I to be certain you will keep your word and honor the marriage?” Su Aiguo pressed. “That you will truly go to the Gu family?”
“Simple,” Su Nian’an smiled. “Send someone from the Gu family to collect me and escort me there. That way there can be no doubt, no delay… and no ‘accidents’ along the way.”
She left him speechless. Every last attempt at manipulation — blocked, in an instant.