“This is cold medicine. Take it three times a day, and remember to take it on an empty stomach.”
Su Yu nodded at Li Dahai and took out twenty cents from her pocket.
“Then I’ll buy enough for one week.”
If she bought too much, Lü Hongmei would probably leave it until it expired. That would only be a waste.
Li Dahai smiled at Su Yu and wrapped the medicine in newspaper before handing it to her.
“Good child. You’re so filial. Your mother will surely understand your good intentions someday.”
There was a trace of sympathy in his words.
Many people knew about Su Yu’s family situation.
As for someone like Su Jianguo, they did not even want to spare him a glance.
None of them could understand why Lü Hongmei treated Su Jianguo so well while pushing her dutiful daughter aside.
“Thank you.”
Su Yu had no desire to complain to others.
No one could truly understand what she had experienced.
At best, they could offer a little sympathy.
Watching Su Yu’s retreating figure, Li Dahai stood by the desk and shook his head.
“Life really is unpredictable.”
With the medicine in hand, Su Yu walked alone along the ridge between the fields.
At that moment, two women approached her.
The way they looked at her carried obvious nervousness.
Seeing this, Su Yu felt that something was wrong.
As they passed each other, she grabbed the sleeve of one of the women.
“Did something happen? Why were you looking at me like that just now?”
The women avoided her gaze.
They were the same two women who had argued with Su Jianguo earlier.
Just then, Su Baobao suddenly came running over, crying loudly. He grabbed Su Yu’s hand and tried to pull her away.
“Why are you crying?”
Su Yu immediately pulled her hand back.
Until she understood the truth, she had no intention of blindly following this child who looked innocent on the surface.
Su Baobao’s face was covered in tears and snot, making him look rather unpleasant.
“Su Yu! My dad got drunk! He’s going crazy at home right now! If you don’t stop him, Grandma might be so angry she dies!”
The moment she heard this, Su Yu hurriedly followed Su Baobao home.
The two women exchanged nervous looks.
As soon as they reached the house, they could hear loud crashing noises.
It sounded like the hot-water kettle in the kitchen had been smashed.
A man’s furious roaring echoed through the yard.
Su Yu narrowed her eyes and immediately picked up the hoe leaning against the wall.
“You old hag! You eat my food and drink my drinks! Now I ask you for a little money, and you tell me you don’t have any?”
Su Jianguo was rummaging through the room like a madman.
Clothes were scattered all over the floor, nearly tripping Su Baobao.
The kitchen was a complete mess.
Split firewood and shattered pieces of the kettle were scattered everywhere.
Hot water covered the ground, sending up wisps of steam.
Su Jianguo’s face was flushed red. He was obviously drunk.
In his hand was half a bottle of Erguotou liquor.
Outside the yard stood plenty of curious villagers.
They pointed at Su Jianguo while whispering among themselves.
“Tsk, tsk. I wonder what kind of sins this family committed to end up with a son like him. If Lü Hongmei had treated her daughter better earlier, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Their words even carried a trace of envy.
After all, a man like Tang Chen was hard to find.
Unable to find any money in the house, Su Jianguo stormed into the yard and threw the neatly stacked firewood onto the ground.
“What are you all staring at? Believe it or not, I’ll send you to meet the King of Hell!”
His worst habit was getting drunk.
Once alcohol got into his system, he would say anything and do anything.
He especially could not stand hearing others criticize him.
Su Yu stood silently in the kitchen, watching everything unfold.
Now was not the best time to step in.
After an unknown amount of time, Su Jianguo finally finished the remaining half-bottle of liquor.
By then, he was completely drunk.
He could barely walk straight.
Staggering around, he eventually collapsed onto a large stone in the yard and fell asleep.
Su Baobao cautiously approached and poked Su Jianguo’s shoulder with a finger.
Su Jianguo snored thunderously, occasionally waving his hands as though swatting insects.
“You little bastard… get lost…”
The words came through his nose in a drunken mumble.
Su Baobao was so frightened that he quickly ran out of the yard.
Su Yu stood nearby and did nothing to stop him.
Inside the room, Lü Hongmei sat there crying endlessly.
“Why is my life so miserable? I thought things would get easier after raising my children. But my daughter only comes home once every ten days or half a month, leaving this old woman here alone to suffer…”
Anyone who didn’t know the truth might have thought Lü Hongmei’s situation was truly pitiful.
But in this era, a married daughter who frequently returned to her parents’ home would become the laughingstock of others.
And Su Yu’s situation was even worse.
Not only did she have to guard against her mother trying to squeeze money from her, but she also had to defend herself from Su Jianguo’s threats and manipulation.
Lü Hongmei continued crying and complaining inside the room.
Standing where she was, Su Yu tightened her grip on the cold medicine.
She walked over and helped Lü Hongmei up from the floor.
“Mom, the floor is cold. Get up first.”
Lü Hongmei seemed like a walking corpse.
Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her hair was stuck to her face from tears.
Without complaint, Su Yu tidied up the room, putting everything back in place.
Then she boiled a pot of hot water in the kitchen.
She handed the medicine to Lü Hongmei.
“Mom, take your medicine first. If the water gets cold, it won’t be good.”
For a daughter to do this much, it was already more than enough.
A bitter smile suddenly appeared on Su Yu’s face.
Even after witnessing Su Jianguo’s behavior just now, Lü Hongmei had not spoken a single word of criticism toward him.
Even after being reborn, seeing this scene still filled Su Yu with sorrow.
After Lü Hongmei finished taking the medicine, Su Yu gave her a few instructions before preparing to leave.
She truly did not want to remain in such an environment any longer.
Just as she turned to go, Lü Hongmei suddenly grabbed her hand.
There was a trace of hesitation in her eyes.
“Um… Daughter… How much did that medicine cost?”
So soon she couldn’t hold back anymore.
Su Yu immediately turned around and pulled out her clean white pocket.
“Doctor Li gave me the best medicine. I don’t have any money left now. There’s still some food and dry rations I brought in the kitchen. If you get hungry, remember to eat.”
Having said that, Su Yu expressionlessly withdrew her hand.
Fortunately, she had not brought much money this time.
Otherwise, Lü Hongmei would certainly have tried to squeeze some out of her.
But Su Yu had still underestimated just how shameless Lü Hongmei could be.
Suddenly, Lü Hongmei stood up and bolted the door shut.