On her way back to the village from the compound, Su Fu ran into Wang Cheng.
“Mazi, why aren’t you at work today?”
Wang Cheng took a pear from his pocket and handed it to her.
“I thought about what you said and realized it made sense. I just went and told them I’m quitting.”
He had a few hundred yuan saved now — enough to support his elderly mother and younger sister.
If he kept doing it and something happened, what would the old and young at home do?
A person shouldn’t be too greedy. He could wait until things became safer before making plans again.
Su Fu nodded.“As long as you don’t blame me later for blocking your chance to make money.”
Wang Cheng: “…How could I? If I were that kind of person, you’d have beaten me to death long ago.”
Su Fu thought that was true. Since she’d be leaving for a few days, she quietly reminded him:
“I’m going out for a while soon. Help me keep an eye on my family.”
Wang Cheng instantly understood.“Don’t worry, Sister Fu. I’ll make sure even how many times they use the toilet—”
Su Fu cut him off.“That’s not necessary. Just watch for big things.”
Wang Cheng asked, “Should I also keep an eye on the educated youth at the youth point?”
Su Fu waved her hand.“I’m leaving with Li-li. As for the others… use your judgment.”
Wang Cheng used to like Su Fu, but after several attempts ended with him half-beaten to death, he gave up.
Now he liked an educated youth who came to the countryside last year.
He scratched his head awkwardly.“Sister Fu… do you think a city girl like her would like someone like me?”
Su Fu seriously examined him — height barely acceptable, facial features passable.
Only problem: scattered gray-brown pockmarks across his face. Not ugly, but not good-looking either.
“I think it’s unlikely. And if you really get together and her family pulls strings to send her back to the city, what then?”
Wang Cheng was confused.“Can’t I go with her?”
Su Fu rolled her eyes.“Do you think her family would accept you?”
Wang Cheng: …painful but true.
He looked up at the sky, sunlight shining on his face.“Sister Fu, I guess I’ll have to find a matchmaker.”
Su Fu couldn’t be bothered with him.“Go ahead. I’m leaving.”
After only a few steps he chased her again, talking nonstop all the way to the village entrance — until Su Fu kicked him.
“So annoying. Get lost.”
“Okay!”
Entering the courtyard, she saw the entire family gathered — Su Meimei included.
Su Fu raised a brow.“Well, everyone’s here. Not working today? Waiting for grain to fall from the sky?”
Su Meimei was furious.“Su Fu, you still dare come back?!”
She had spent ten yuan on the plan!
If she didn’t vent this anger she’d explode.
Su Fu was puzzled.“Why wouldn’t I? Auntie, not that I should say—”
Su Meimei lunged at her before she finished.
Su Fu blocked her with one hand and slapped her twice with the other.
“Tsk tsk. They say use words not fists — yet you tried to hit me.”
Dazed, Su Meimei collapsed onto the ground like a soulless puppet.
Su Fu dusted her hands and looked at the Su family.
“What? Anyone else dissatisfied? If I don’t fight back you really think I’m easy to bully?”
She truly didn’t understand how they forgot pain so quickly — like indestructible cockroaches.
The Su family shook their heads together.“No complaints.”
Complaining meant getting beaten. They weren’t stupid.
Su Fu glared at them.“I’m going away for a few days. Behave yourselves.
If I find out anyone enters my room while I’m gone — you can forget about keeping your own rooms.”
They all promised they wouldn’t.
Su Fu didn’t believe a word — she’d just beat them again if necessary.
Li Mingyu’s family moved fast.Called yesterday — by evening today she received approval to return to the city.
Li Mingyu was delighted.“Susu! I’ll take you boating on the lake, and we can go to the grand theater!”
The farthest Su Fu had gone was the city — and that was just a county-level one.
A grand theater she’d only read about in books.
“Great! I’ll hold tightly onto Li-li’s thigh.”
Li Mingyu stretched out her leg.“Here, hold it. You’re my only friend here. Some people at the youth point bad-mouth you — they know nothing.”
She truly liked Su Fu. Anyone who gave her carrots at their first meeting couldn’t be bad.
Su Fu didn’t care what others said — mouths belonged to others.
If she was clinging to a powerful friend, she’d do it openly.
“Don’t worry, Li-li. I’ll definitely handle your childhood fiancé.”
Even without the 200 yuan…Well, actually, it was for the 200 yuan.
They chatted for a long time before returning to pack.
Next morning, without even eating breakfast, they went to the team leader’s house.
Li Youcai was happy for Li Mingyu, but incredulous at Su Fu’s reason for requesting a travel letter.
“You’re saying… you’re going to find your childhood fiancé?”
Su Fu nodded naturally.“Not superstition — my father came to me in a dream yesterday. After waking I remembered he mentioned it before he died.”
Li Youcai: …Who are you fooling?
Still, he issued it — because she threatened to make a scene at the police station.
About what?
About him, the team leader, breaking up lovers and preventing an orphan girl from meeting her fiancé.
After leaving, Li Mingyu gave a thumbs-up.“Susu, you’re amazing. I even prepared five yuan to bribe—”
Su Fu covered her mouth.“Don’t say things like that. When outside, there’s no need to tell every truth.”
Li Mingyu learned something new.
They went to the youth point to collect luggage.
Some youths were jealous she could return to the city.
Even more jealous of Su Fu — everyone could tell she’d latched onto a powerful connection.
A bespectacled male youth muttered, “Bootlicker.”
Su Fu stopped and looked at him while digging her ear.
He immediately shut up and left for work.
Li Mingyu had lots of belongings — quilts, pillows — she planned to leave them.
Seeing the new cotton inside, Su Fu grabbed a sack.
“No wasting. We take everything.”
The female youths who hoped to pick leftovers turned dark-faced but said nothing.
Su Fu packed quilts and pillows, another sack for shoes, reorganized clothes into a big trunk and travel bag, and stuffed miscellaneous items into yet another sack.
Looking at the mountain of luggage, Li Mingyu hesitated.“How do we carry all this?”
Paid work meant proper service.
Su Fu tied the sacks together with rope, hoisted them onto her shoulder, steadied them with one hand, and still carried the trunk with the other.
She raised an eyebrow at Li Mingyu.“No big deal. If you get tired, I can carry you too.”
She wasn’t taking the 200 yuan for nothing — premium service included.