Although the Police comrades sympathized with Comrade Su Qiu’s situation, they could not interfere in matters regarding the Educated Youth going to the countryside. They could only summon the Su Family over for a round of education.
Su Jiazhong might have acted imposing at home, but outside he was nothing more than a coward.
After being called over by the Public Security personnel, he stood in the Public Security hall with trembling legs.
Liu Xiangyu had come along as well. Though only forty years old, she had a slender figure. Her features were plain, but her fair skin, paired with her flashy way of dressing, gave her an affected feminine charm.
The instant Liu Xiangyu saw Su Qiu, she wanted nothing more than to beat this little wretch to death.
Not only had she caused her precious son to suffer, she had even dragged them to the Public Security Bureau and made them lose face.
Despite the fury burning inside her, Liu Xiangyu still put on the appearance of a virtuous and gentle woman as she stepped forward and softly said,
“Xiao Qiu, what happened? You nearly injured your brother’s important parts, and running away secretly was one thing, but how did things end up at the Public Security Bureau too?”
Only then did Su Jiazhong notice that Su Qiu was there as well. Once again, this unfilial daughter had caused trouble.
His face immediately flushed red with anger as he clenched his fists and strode forward.
“You wicked creature! How long are you planning to torment this family!”
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand to slap her.
Su Li reacted quickly and stepped forward to grab her father’s wrist.
“Dad, if you have something to say, then say it properly. Why are you hitting Younger Sister?”
Su Qiu deliberately trembled in fear and grabbed onto the sleeve of the nearby Police comrade.
The Police comrade immediately shielded Su Qiu and glared darkly at Su Jiazhong.
“Outrageous! This is the Public Security Bureau. Do you not take us comrades seriously at all!”
That furious roar carried immense intimidation.
Startled, Su Jiazhong subconsciously withdrew his hand and hurriedly forced out a smile as he explained,
“Police comrade, you misunderstand. I was just anxious for a moment. My daughter has always been disobedient and constantly causes trouble. As her parent, I’m truly worried sick. I acted impulsively just now, please don’t take offense.”
The Public Security officers had already learned the entire story. Hearing him spout nonsense now only made them feel even more that these parents were irresponsible.
“Comrade Su Qiu is already eighteen years old, yet she doesn’t even look as sturdy as a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old child. Is this how you act as parents?
“And Comrade Su Qiu has no problems at all. The ones with problems are the two of you. We heard that you abused the child and refused to cooperate with the Educated Youth countryside assignment, is that correct?”
The moment the Police comrade said this, both Su Jiazhong and Liu Xiangyu hurriedly shook their heads.
“Police comrade, you misunderstand. As parents, how could we abuse her? And we never refused to cooperate. We’ve been very cooperative. If you don’t believe us, ask the Educated Youth Office. The countryside paperwork has already been completed.”
The Police comrade snorted coldly.
“We already understand clearly what the two of you have done. Replacing Comrade Su Qiu’s job and secretly signing her up—those are family matters outside our authority. But refusing to provide little Comrade Su Qiu with living expenses means you are not cooperating with the Educated Youth countryside assignment.
“And Liu Xiangyu, your younger brother Liu Pingqing deliberately brought people over to cause trouble and disturb public order. He has already been temporarily detained by us. If Comrade Su Qiu insists on pursuing the matter, then he may end up in prison.”
Liu Xiangyu had no idea her younger brother had been arrested. Upon hearing this, she immediately panicked and hurriedly said,
“Police comrade, there must be some misunderstanding here. My younger brother isn’t that kind of person.”
“Whether he is or not is not for you to decide. Right now, you should seek Comrade Su Qiu’s forgiveness. It would be best if this matter could be settled privately. If you are unwilling to resolve it properly, then we’ll proceed according to the normal Public Security process.”
Liu Xiangyu only had this one younger brother, and she had practically raised him herself. She cherished him even more than her own son, so naturally she could not let him go to prison.
“Police comrade, please give me some time. We’ll settle this privately.”
After speaking, Liu Xiangyu walked directly over to Su Qiu and gritted her teeth as she said,
“Xiao Qiu, when have your father and I ever refused to give you living expenses? Just say how much you want. Whatever requests you have, bring them up.”
At the hospital, she had heard from her husband that this girl had outrageously demanded five hundred yuan.
She had not taken it seriously then and only assumed the girl had gone mad.
Who would have thought this damned girl would be so scheming and actually bring the matter to the Public Security Bureau?
Su Qiu looked pitifully toward the Police comrade. Seeing how miserable she appeared, the Police comrade nodded encouragingly.
“Don’t be afraid, Comrade Su Qiu. Say whatever requests you have.”
Su Qiu began counting on her fingers as she spoke.
“My father transferred my job to Younger Sister. That job was found for me by an old friend from my biological mother’s side. If it had been sold to someone else, it would’ve been worth at least three hundred yuan.
“And over the past two years of working, I handed over a total of three hundred and eighty yuan in wages to the family. Usually I ate and drank at my work unit anyway, so I didn’t spend the family’s money. Altogether that makes six hundred and eighty yuan. Just returning six hundred yuan to me will be enough.”
After Su Qiu finished speaking, she looked at the darkened expressions on her father’s and stepmother’s faces, then kindly added another sentence.
“You two are already getting older, and life isn’t easy for you either. You don’t even need to pay for my countryside living expenses. I’ll treat the extra sixty yuan as my filial respect to the two of you. I’ll just spend my own money.”
That final sentence nearly made the couple choke with rage.
This little bitch! How dare she open her mouth and ask for six hundred yuan! Even if they sold her off, she would not be worth that much money.
At first, the Police comrade had been shocked upon hearing such a large amount of money. But after hearing Su Qiu’s later remarks, he instead felt the girl was quite pitiful.
To still be able to speak so considerately toward her parents at the end—she truly was a filial and good child.
He gave a light cough and helped her speak.
“Comrade Su Qiu has already stated her requests. Personally, I think they sound quite reasonable. She’s just a young girl, yet she’s still considerate of your hardships and didn’t even ask for living expenses. Give us your answer.”
Su Jiazhong’s face flushed purple. Their family had only managed to save around one thousand yuan over all these years. At the thought of handing six hundred yuan over to this unfilial daughter, he could not speak for a long while.
Liu Xiangyu clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh.
Six hundred yuan was not six yuan. Naturally, she was even more unwilling to part with it.
But if her younger brother went to prison, not only would he lose his job, but his wife had just become pregnant. Without the family’s breadwinner, their parents would surely make another huge fuss.
Everything was Su Qiu’s fault. She truly had underestimated her. Usually, the girl did not even dare let out a peep, yet at a crucial moment she pulled out such a move.
Once they returned home, she would definitely deal with her properly!
Even though she was unwilling inside, in front of the Public Security officers, Liu Xiangyu still pretended to shed tears as she cried,
“Xiao Qiu, we’re all one family. How could your father and I refuse to give you living expenses? We’ve always been saving your wages for you. We were even planning to use them as your dowry when you married in the future. Since you want them now, you can take them. But as for the money from selling the job, the family truly doesn’t have that much.”
After hearing his wife’s words, Su Jiazhong hurriedly echoed her.
“Su Qiu, your mother already agreed to return the three hundred and eighty yuan in wages to you, so stop making trouble. How could the family possibly have six hundred yuan? Are you determined to drive us to death?”
Su Qiu looked even more aggrieved than they did. Pretending to wipe away tears, she cried out,
“But I clearly saw that the family had a lot of money. Stepmother secretly stuffed three hundred yuan to Uncle last time. I’m only asking for my own money back, not yours.”
The moment those words came out, Su Jiazhong immediately turned toward his wife in disbelief.
“You gave Pingqing money again? Why didn’t you tell me!”