Although Su Qiao and her three siblings had lost both parents, they were not homeless or pitiable children who had to rely on relatives for food.
Their father, Su Changhe, had been a construction worker who sacrificed his life in the line of duty to save a visiting high-ranking official.
For this, he was posthumously awarded the title of “Hero for Righteous Deeds.”
As for the four siblings, they received the status of orphans of a martyr, with the county providing a monthly stipend of ten yuan per child.
Ten yuan was a significant income in the rural villages of that time.
So when the county officials responsible for welfare visits came to the village to assess the situation, there was no need for much discussion—Su Changfu and Su Sanmei immediately and eagerly competed to adopt the children.
Now, seeing the bruises on Su Lan’s body and the rope still tied around her, everyone present, though silent, looked at Su Sanmei and her son with clear disdain.
Even Su Sanmei’s eldest brother, Su Changfu, upon seeing the deep marks on Su Lan’s body, snorted angrily and shoved Su Sanmei aside.
Seeing everyone’s reaction, Su Sanmei panicked.
She suddenly turned and grabbed Li Zhuang beside her, slapping him hard across the back!
“I’ll beat you to death! This is how you watch your sister at home?!”
The slap was so forceful that the unprepared Li Zhuang yelped and shot forward several feet.
Su Sanmei sneaked a glance at Su Qiao, clearly hoping she would intervene, but Su Qiao stood there motionless, as if she didn’t understand at all.
For the sake of that ten yuan a month, even if it was just to save face, Su Sanmei had to give everyone an explanation.
Gritting her teeth, she chased after her son and began pounding him relentlessly.
“I told you not to go out! I told you to stay home! Is this how you help me watch Xiao Lan? How can you be so irresponsible?!”
It was unclear whether she was speaking to anyone in particular.
But under all these eyes, Su Sanmei dared not slacken. Every slap landed with real force, sending Li Zhuang bouncing and jumping, leaving red handprints on his exposed skin as he ran and screamed through the courtyard.
Watching the mother and son flail at each other, everyone couldn’t help but glance at Su Qiao.
There she stood in the middle of the yard, holding her sister, her expression calm and detached, quietly observing everything.
She made no move to intervene, yet there was no trace of schadenfreude in her gaze.
Her whole presence, however, seemed shrouded in a profound, inexplicable sorrow that made anyone watching feel an uncomfortable ache in their chest.
Su Qiao looked at Li Zhuang, who was still wailing like a banshee, and a memory flashed before her eyes, the brutal fight between the three brothers all those years ago.
She held her sister’s hand tightly, as if only this could assure her that everything in front of her was real.
Even now, Su Qiao still felt a little dazed, hardly able to believe that the disasters of the past had been resolved so easily.
Could this mean—
From now on, those nightmares would be gone, and she and her siblings would never be separated again?!
Thinking this, a spark of life finally returned to Su Qiao’s eyes.
She bent down, picked up her sister, and ignored the wailing of Su Sanmei and her son, turning to look at Jin Guiyou. She said, “Uncle Jin, I want to take Xiao Lan back and raise her myself.”
Her voice was quiet, yet it sent a shock through everyone present.
Su Sanmei froze mid-motion, unable to believe her ears. She turned to her, demanding, “What did you say? No, you can’t!”
Su Qiao, as if she hadn’t heard, continued, “Uncle Jin, not just Xiao Lan—I plan to bring Xiao Wei and Xiao Peng back as well. From now on, the four of us siblings will live on our own.”
The words barely left her mouth before Su Changfu, who had been silently watching nearby, also became agitated.
“Xiao Qiao, what nonsense are you talking? How old are you? How can you take care of all three of them? And you’re still in school, how will you manage? No, I don’t agree!”
Su Qiao gave him a mocking smile.
Calmly, she asked, “School? Didn’t you and Aunt already decide I wouldn’t continue my studies? Otherwise, why would you trick me back at this time, knowing I was about to take the pre-exam, using Xiao Peng’s illness as an excuse?”
Shaking her head, she sighed, “I don’t want to say anything more. Uncle, have Xiao Wu’s belongings removed from my house and clear out the room. Today, I’m moving back with my siblings. From now on, we’ll live on our own!”
Her words caused an uproar among everyone present.
What did she mean? Although Su Qiao didn’t spell it out, everyone could hear clearly that she was declaring a complete break with both her uncle’s and her aunt’s families.
Su Qiao had always had a good reputation in the village, quiet and well-mannered, and the only top student from Xiaojin Village to pass the county exams, reportedly with a real chance at university.
And now, right before the college entrance exam, she suddenly chose not to continue?!
The injustice she must have endured behind the scenes—
Thinking back to her earlier words, that she had been tricked back under the pretense that her brother was seriously ill, and seeing the bruises on her wrists and neck that couldn’t be hidden…
The gazes of everyone around, now on Su Changfu and Su Sanmei, instantly darkened with unease.
Although the four Su siblings were orphans, they were orphans of a martyr!
In the village, anyone would naturally look up to them.
“Earlier I heard my wife say that Xiao Qiao was shouting at the doorstep this morning, saying her uncle was selling his niece… isn’t that what this is about? Didn’t Wang Lanxiang say she had found a good family for Xiao Qiao and that she was already engaged? Could it be that Xiao Qiao never agreed?”
Someone suddenly interjected.
The courtyard instantly buzzed with murmurs again.
Everyone in the village knew about the engagement arranged for Su Qiao. Wang Lanxiang had long boasted about it so that it was common knowledge.
She had told everyone that she had arranged a good match for Su Qiao with a very suitable family. People had secretly admired it, thinking the family was decent and hadn’t wronged the children of her brother.
But now, hearing the meaning behind Su Qiao’s words, it seemed that this engagement had been arranged behind her back?!
“What exactly is going on?” Jin Guiyou’s expression turned extremely serious. He turned to Su Changfu: “What does Xiao Qiao mean by this? What did you two do behind her back?!”
Su Changfu had not expected Su Qiao to openly accuse him in front of so many people, which made him furious!
He had always believed he treated his brother’s children well, no less than his own. They had never been deprived of food or drink, and his own children never lacked anything either.
Even regarding Su Qiao’s engagement, he had a little personal interest in it, but the person he chose for her was by no means unsuitable. He never imagined that his niece would be so ungrateful, unable to see any of the good adults had done for her!
Being publicly questioned like this by the village chief left Su Changfu fuming, gasping, unable to speak for a long while.
Finally, he managed to force out: “What have I done? What could I have done!”
He looked up, and his eyes landed on Xiao Qifeng, standing near the courtyard gate like an invisible observer who hadn’t intervened in the earlier dispute. Instantly, Su Changfu felt he had found proof.
He immediately walked over, grabbed Xiao Qifeng, and pulled him in front of everyone.
“This is the man I’ve arranged for Xiao Qiao! Look at him! Look at his character, his appearance, how is he not worthy of her? How could I, her uncle, have wronged her?!”
Everyone had already seen Xiao Qifeng earlier.
Su Qiao had even specifically mentioned that it was this People’s Liberation Army officer who rescued Su Lan.
People had been curious, but in that situation, it wasn’t appropriate to ask much. Many assumed he was some relative of the Su family who had happened to come across the situation and helped.
No one expected that he was actually the man Su Changfu and his wife had chosen for Su Qiao!
Hearing his words, everyone’s attention immediately focused on Xiao Qifeng.
After sizing him up, they had to admit that Su Changfu was right: this young man not only looked impressive and well put-together, he was also wearing a uniform with four pockets, a clear sign he was a military officer.
Standing next to Su Qiao, the two of them looked very compatible.
Everyone glanced between Xiao Qifeng and Su Qiao, their expressions becoming increasingly complicated.
In their hearts, they couldn’t help but think: choosing someone like him… it’s not exactly like Su Changfu was pushing his niece into a fire, right?
Before meeting Xiao Qifeng, Su Qiao had been deeply resistant to this engagement.
But after interacting with him, although she still despised her uncle and aunt’s idea of using her marriage for personal gain, she wasn’t willing to defame this man just to prove how pitiful her situation was.
So, when she confronted her uncle earlier, she hadn’t mentioned the engagement at all.
However, she had forgotten that before Xiao Qifeng arrived, she had already made the matter public.
Now, seeing that Xiao Qifeng was being drawn into this, Su Qiao felt deeply apologetic.
She hurried to explain, but Xiao Qifeng sent her a reassuring look.
Then, very naturally, he addressed everyone: “I’ll explain this matter myself.”
With that, he strode confidently to the center of the courtyard.
In a calm but firm tone, he first introduced himself, then said: “I take responsibility for this. I was injured and stayed in the hospital for three months. My mother feared that my leg would never heal properly, that I’d never walk normally again, so she panicked and tried to arrange a marriage for me.
She was worried that if I suddenly became disabled, the psychological shock would be too much, and after leaving the military, I might struggle to adjust and feel miserable. She just wanted me to have something joyful in my life.”
At this point, he instinctively glanced at Su Qiao.
There was a subtle light in his gaze, causing Su Qiao to instinctively avoid his eyes.
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Qifeng’s expression darkened slightly.
He paused, then continued: “This was indeed my mother acting on her own without consulting me in advance, but she was anxious.
Perhaps you don’t know, my mother and Su Qiao’s mother, my Aunt Qiuyue, were close sisters and had frequent contact. When she heard that Su Qiao’s uncle intended to arrange a marriage for his second son using my mother’s help, she couldn’t bear it.
She was worried that Su Qiao would be treated unfairly, and since she also wanted to find me a wife, she simply went to Su’s family and arranged our marriage.
However, the main responsibility lies with me—I returned too late and failed to communicate effectively. Not only did I make my mother worry, but I also caused Su Qiao’s studies to be delayed. I want to first apologize to Su Qiao for that.”
Su Qiao was completely dumbstruck.
She had no idea that there had even been a plan to arrange a marriage for her!
Seeing Xiao Qifeng looking at her, she instinctively waved her hand and said blankly, “No, it’s not your fault.”
Her mind was still in total chaos.
Xiao Qifeng glanced at her, then turned to Su Changfu and said, “Uncle, I only returned from the military hospital this morning. As soon as I learned about this, I came straight here. I’m here to apologize to you and aunt for this, the engagement cannot go through.
It’s not that I have any objection to Su Qiao, but our circumstances simply don’t allow it. First, she’s too young. Second, I didn’t know about this before and didn’t report it to my superiors for approval.
Under these circumstances, the engagement isn’t suitable for either of us. We can discuss future matters later, but for now, this engagement must be canceled.”
Xiao Qifeng spoke calmly and firmly, explaining everything clearly in just a few sentences.