Daliushu Village was in a frenzy!
The villagers were bursting with excitement, running around spreading the word to one another, passing along a single piece of news—
“The Old Su family had a daughter!”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
“Aiyo! That sure wasn’t easy!”
“Tell me about it! A flower has actually bloomed on that iron lump of the Old Su family!”
“Does that mean the Old Su family is…”
Auntie Two suddenly slapped her thigh as something came to mind, shouting out, “They’re gonna hit it big!”
At this moment, the Old Su family—the ones deemed about to hit it big—was filled with joy from top to bottom, radiating excitement inside and out.
In the main hall, Old Man Su was glowing with health, grinning so widely that all his teeth showed.
“Eldest Daughter-in-Law, go into the village and borrow two taels of white flour to make your mother a bowl of dough drop soup!”
“Alright, Father!” The eldest daughter-in-law rushed out with a burst of energy.
“Oh, right! Borrow two eggs as well to poached in the soup to nourish your mother’s body!”
“Got it, Father!” The eldest daughter-in-law kept walking briskly as if she had wheels under her feet, answering crisp and clear.
Old Man Su was extremely pleased with her attitude.
Then, he turned to look at the second daughter-in-law.
“Second Daughter-in-Law, go into the village and borrow one tael of brown sugar to brew your mother a bowl of sugar water to replenish her blood and vitality!”
The second daughter-in-law stood still, not budging.
“Father… brown sugar is such a precious thing, who would be willing to lend it to us?”
If we borrow it, don’t we have to return it?
The family is so poor we can barely keep the pot covered—what are we going to pay it back with?
This is just a bottomless pit!
Hmph! Borrowing everything!
Poverty-stricken to death!
The second daughter-in-law had a face full of reluctance.
Old Man Su glanced at the second daughter-in-law without a word, then turned his head to look at his second son.
Su Erhu glared at his wife and growled in a low voice, “If Father tells you to go, then go! Hurry up!”
The second daughter-in-law of the Su family shivered.
“Going, going, I’m going right now…”
She bolted out as fast as her legs could carry her.
Old Man Su knew that this second daughter-in-law had always looked down on the Su family for being poor. Fortunately, his second son was able to keep her in line, so the old couple simply turned a blind eye.
Having sent both daughters-in-law away, Old Man Su, like a general issuing calm and firm commands, looked toward his sons next.
“Eldest, go wander around the foot of the mountain and see if you can catch a wild chicken or something to stew chicken soup for your mother!”
“Alright, Father!” Su Dahu was an honest, simple soul who instinctively agreed to whatever his father commanded.
“Second, take a few of the younger ones down to the river and look around. Scoop up some carp to make fish soup for your mother—that stuff helps with milk production!” Old Man Su instructed his second son.
“Father, that river is practically picked clean right now. People have caught almost all the fish and shrimp down to the size of a fingertip, and you’re specifically asking for carp… Isn’t that just daydreaming?”
Su Erhu scratched his head awkwardly, feeling that his father was being totally unrealistic—purely dreaming!
Old Man Su glared at him.
He swung a slap right toward the back of Su Erhu’s head.
“You little rascal! What rubbish are you talking about? If I tell you to go, you go!”
“Ouch! Father, I’ll go! I’m going…”
Having taken a slap from his father, Su Erhu agreed verbally, yet his body didn’t budge an inch.
Not only did Su Erhu remain still, but even Su Dahu didn’t move.
What’s more, the two brothers shared the exact same thought—craning their necks, trying to peer into the inner room.
“Why haven’t you left yet?!” Old Man Su glared at them once more.
“Father, why don’t you let us see Little Sister before we go?” Su Erhu tested the waters.
Su Dahu also grunted out a phrase, “Just one peek.”
“Get out, get out, get out! Peek at what? What if a bunch of unrefined oafs like you scare my little daughter?” Old Man Su said with a face full of disdain.
The Su family sons suddenly realized they had been treated like weeds.
Heartbreaking!
Stepfather! He’s absolutely a stepfather!
“Father, we are your biological sons,” Su Erhu said, clutching his chest with a look of grief.
“Are sons as sweet as a daughter?!” Old Man Su replied with complete conviction, twisting the knife further.
The Su family sons: “…”
Their hearts shattered into bits of glass.
“Hurry up and go do what you’re supposed to do! You can see her after three full days!” Old Man Su declared with a wave of his broad hand, as if granting a grand mercy.
Although the Su brothers still felt an itch in their hearts like a cat scratching, desperate to see their little sister, they ultimately left under their father’s tyranny—or rather, under his fists.
Off to catch chickens, off to scoop fish.
As for whether they could actually catch any chickens or scoop up any fish, that was entirely up to fate.
After all, at the foot of that mountain, you couldn’t usually spot so much as a wild chicken feather.
And the river was even cleaner, as if someone had dragged a net through it repeatedly.
Having chased out his sons and grandsons, Old Man Su couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
Now that those stinky boys were gone, the air felt so much fresher.
Old Man Su adjusted his collar, smoothed his hair, and flattened out the patch on his front coat. Only then did he lift the door curtain and step into the inner room.
He was finally about to see his little daughter!
Like going to court to pay homage, Old Man Su felt both excited and nervous.
He wondered if his daughter was pretty.
Phooey, phooey, phooey!
His daughter was definitely pretty!
The prettiest in the entire world!