Mother Su was just short of saying outright: My daughter’s marriage is none of your business.
“You… you’re being far too hasty!”
“What kind of family is the other party from? What are their conditions? Have you looked into everything before deciding like this?”
“How old is Wanwan? What’s the rush?”
“I think this marriage should be called off for now!”
Old Madam Su had her own selfish motives. Why was Wanwan in such a hurry? The one who should be anxious was Feifei, the granddaughter of her youngest son.
The youngest son had promise. At a young age he left home to learn a trade, went into the city, became a city worker, and even married a city woman.
Everything about the youngest son was good, except for one flaw he only had one daughter.
For some reason, the couple had only that one daughter and never had another child.
Since he had only this one daughter, Old Madam Su loved her all the more. Naturally, she doted on this granddaughter.
The old couple had three sons.
The eldest had two daughters and one son.
The second had three sons and one daughter.
The youngest had only one daughter.
So the Su family had four granddaughters, and her favorite was Su Feifei, the youngest son’s daughter.
Whenever there was anything good, she would always think of Su Feifei first.
So when she heard that her youngest grandson, Su Huai’an, had returned and even brought a comrade-in-arms with him, she got an idea.
In those days, marrying a soldier was an honor.
Soldiers received generous allowances more per month than factory workers. If her granddaughter married one, wouldn’t she enjoy a comfortable life?
“Smack!”
Mother Su no longer cared about her in-laws’ dignity. Since they were being shameless, she would not hold back.
“You don’t get a say in this matter!”
“This son-in-law is mine for sure!”
“He has his eye on my Wanwan. What does that have to do with Feifei from the third household?”
“If she’s looking for a match, let her own parents arrange it!”
“You… what kind of attitude is that!” Old Madam Su was humiliated by her second daughter-in-law and lost all face.
“Second son, are you just going to stand there and not discipline your wife?”
She turned to her second son.
“Dad, shouldn’t you rein in your wife? Listen to what Mom is saying. Wanwan’s engagement is already settled on what grounds should we give it up?”
“I’ve never seen a family give away their own son-in-law. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Old Madam’s words touched Father Su’s bottom line.
His wife and daughter were his limits.
“What’s so shameful? Outsiders won’t know!”
“What family lets the younger sister marry before the elder?”
She simply didn’t want Su Feifei to marry after Su Wanwan.
Otherwise, wouldn’t people laugh at her granddaughter?
The older sister unmarried while the younger married first.
“Grandma, whether Sister Feifei marries or not is her own business.”
“Do I need to stand in line to get married?”
“If Sister Feifei never marries, does that mean I can’t marry either?”
“When I’m getting married, even my three full brothers haven’t said a word. Why should a cousin from my uncle’s side have any say?”
Su Wanwan would not swallow this silently.
Let alone her grandmother even if an ancestor showed up, it wouldn’t matter.
Whether she wanted to marry was one thing. Being forced to give it up was another.
“You… what nonsense are you talking!”
“You just can’t stand to see your sister do well!”
Old Madam Su trembled with anger, pointing at her.
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“No one begrudges her happiness.”
“I think, Grandma, it’s you who can’t stand to see me happy.”
Su Wanwan showed no fear. The original girl had never been one to suffer in silence either.
She had grown up by her mother’s side, watching her mother and grandmother constantly clash.
“Second son, is this how you teach your child? Talking back to elders like this have you no rules?”
Old Madam Su slapped her thigh in fury.
“Mother, we’re just ordinary farmers. What rules do we need? We’re not some landlord household dividing people by rank.”
“Besides, our family certainly has no rule about giving our own men away.”
Mother Su firmly stood by her daughter.
The old lady’s favoritism had gone too far was no one even allowed to argue back?
If they didn’t fight back, wouldn’t they be bullied to death?
“Enough. It’s getting late. Go back. The second son’s family still has work tomorrow.”
Old Master Su saw that the second son’s family would not back down and ended the dispute.
Though the old couple retreated, Father and Mother Su did not relax their guard.
They were afraid someone would cause trouble when the Lu family came to propose.
…
The conflict in the Su family was unknown to Lu Xiao.
He first called the political commissar of his unit. The matter was urgent writing a letter would be too slow.
The commissar was stunned when he heard that Lu Xiao wanted to get married.
Lu Xiao didn’t mention the earlier misunderstanding. He only said that he had fallen for Su Huai’an’s younger sister and wanted to marry immediately.
The commissar was delighted. At last, Lu Xiao’s lifelong issue was about to be resolved. The boy had become an old bachelor problem.
Many in the unit were only twenty-six or twenty-seven and already had children running around, yet he was still single. Now he had finally met someone he liked.
However, when the Lu family received Lu Xiao’s call saying he intended to marry a rural girl, they were naturally unwilling.
“No!”
“I don’t agree!”
Mother Lu’s blood pressure nearly shot up from anger.
That wretched boy.
“Mom, whether you agree or not, I’m marrying her.”
Lu Xiao was firm.
“You brat! Get back here immediately we’ll talk face to face!”
Father Lu issued an order.
This was a major matter and could not be handled carelessly.