“This Su Dacheng has barely left, and Su Ercheng is already marrying off his niece. Won’t all of Su Dacheng’s estate end up in Su Ercheng’s family? And after forming ties with Factory Director Zhang’s family, they’ll be living a good life.”
“I don’t think Su Ercheng is that kind of person. He was quite righteous when his elder brother passed away.”
“Exactly. Maybe Su Man herself wanted to marry. The Zhang family conditions are so good.”
“Come on, the Zhang family is indeed well-off, but that Zhang Tianci…” someone shook his head with a sigh, as if he knew some inside information, yet he fell silent with hesitation.
Suddenly someone said, “Yesterday I heard from the director of the Educated Youth Office that both children of Su Ercheng’s family had registered for going down to the countryside, and they even volunteered for the hardest places. He said Su Ercheng was actively responding to the national call, and the director even said he would set Su Ercheng as a model for praise.”
Upon hearing this, the neighbors gathered in front of the Su Family’s door were shocked. In this era, everyone kept political correctness on their lips, but few were truly willing to send their children to the countryside. Su Ercheng actually had such high ideological awareness. The earlier speculation about Su Ercheng’s family immediately faded, leaving only envy and admiration.
Zhang Tianci, wearing a large red flower on his chest, thought of Su Man’s delicate and beautiful face and became excited. His family was the best in the area, and now he was going to marry the most beautiful girl. He led a group of his brothers behind him, walking proudly into the courtyard—only to freeze in shock the next moment.
The courtyard instantly fell silent. Zhang Tianci’s expression turned ferocious. “Are you all joking with me? Su Man still has a job at the Textile Factory. Where could she possibly run off to?”
Su Ercheng and Xia Hongxia looked miserable as they said that after Su Man agreed to the marriage, she had sold her job at a high price to Su Yuan, emptied their entire savings, and then escaped after taking the money.
This was the explanation they had agreed on last night. Since the job had already been secured, if they revealed how Su Man had tricked them out of their money, the neighbors would inevitably gossip. Su Ercheng could not bear being accused of trying to seize his niece’s inheritance. That would be worse than killing him.
As for the money, once Su Man was caught, they would force her to spit it all out!
“As long as Factory Director Zhang helps us, we will definitely find Su Man and bring her back to fulfill the engagement. We will never allow her to escape marriage!”
Although Zhang Tianci spent his days indulging in food and drink, influenced by his factory director father, he was not a fool who could be easily deceived. At that moment, he did not fully believe Su Ercheng and Xia Hongxia’s words. However, he knew what he wanted most was Su Man. As for settling the score for being played, that would wait until she was caught.
Zhang Tianci’s face darkened as he silently thought it over. Just as he was about to nod and reach an agreement, a voice interrupted him.
“I know where Su Man went. She did not escape the marriage!”
Aunt Liu’s voice rang out loudly as she entered the courtyard.
“Su Man went to the military unit to seek her childhood fiancé. This was a marriage arranged personally by her father Su Dacheng. I have seen the reply from the man’s family, and I personally issued Su Man’s introduction letter. You don’t need to look for her.”
Zhang Tianci paused for a moment, then suddenly tore the large red flower from his chest and threw it to the ground. He pointed angrily at Su Ercheng and Xia Hongxia. “Su Man has a childhood engagement? Fine! If you don’t give me an explanation for this, our Zhang family is not done with you!”
Su Ercheng and Xia Hongxia’s minds buzzed. Su Man went to seek her fiancé? When did their elder brother arrange a childhood engagement? How did they know nothing about it?
What should they do now? They had been planning to catch Su Man back.
Aunt Liu’s next words extinguished their thoughts. “The man is a soldier. Even if you go there, they will already have registered their marriage. Interfering with a military marriage is a crime that can land you in prison.”
“Just because you say so? We are Xiao Man’s only relatives. How come we know nothing about this? Tell us the address, we will go ask in person!” Xia Hongxia shouted.
Su Ercheng had already fully believed Aunt Liu’s words. This was exactly something his elder brother would have done. His brother had looked down on him since childhood and guarded against him at every turn. Now that he had died early, he had even hidden such an engagement, clearly intending to trap him in wrongdoing!
His own niece had gone to find her fiancé, yet as her only uncle, he knew nothing. What would others think? Su Ercheng felt his face burning, as if everyone’s gaze was mocking him.
Aunt Liu sneered. “Then you should ask yourselves what guilty conscience you have that forced that child Su Man to leave secretly.”
She turned to the surrounding neighbors and passionately recounted how Su Ercheng’s family had exploited their niece completely, and how they tried to sell Su Man off even before Su Dacheng’s body had turned cold.
“Liu Chunxiang! Don’t talk nonsense! What proof do you have!” Su Ercheng shouted angrily.
“Exactly, Chunxiang, without evidence you can’t just accuse people. Su Ercheng even registered both his children for going to the countryside. The director of the Educated Youth Office said he had high ideological awareness and should be promoted as a model. His family reputation has never been bad. They wouldn’t do such things, would they?” a neighbor said.
Many others echoed in agreement.
Su Ercheng was pleased to hear support for his family, but the second half left him confused. He had registered both children for going to the countryside? He knew nothing about it.
He wanted to ask, but feared disrupting the favorable situation, so he held back and planned to ask later.
“Am I, Liu Chunxiang, the kind of person who speaks nonsense? This is what Su Man told me herself in the middle of the night. The job and house were sold to the Li family’s daughter. I was the one who arranged it and personally witnessed the signatures and procedures!”
“That child Su Man has always been obedient and honest, never lies. Everyone knows Su Dacheng’s character as well. You people doing such predatory things, aren’t you afraid Su Dacheng will come knocking in the middle of the night?”
Su Ercheng and Xia Hongxia were completely stunned. Before they could deny it, a familiar wailing sound was heard.
“Mom! That little bitch Su Man secretly sold my job to the Li family! What am I supposed to do! I don’t want to go to the countryside! Hurry up and deal with that little bitch!” Su Yuan ran in in a disheveled state, with a bruise on his face.
Xia Hongxia quickly grabbed Su Yuan and asked, “Weren’t you the one who went to the factory with that girl to handle the procedures? What happened?”
Everyone was shocked. What Liu Chunxiang said about Su Man selling her job to the Li family was true!
Just moments ago, Su Ercheng and Xia Hongxia claimed Su Man had sold the job to them at a high price and said Liu Chunxiang had no evidence and was talking nonsense.
Now it was obvious who was lying. Moreover, Su Yuan’s constant insults toward Su Man made the neighbors’ expressions turn strange.
Some were also confused. The director of the Educated Youth Office had said Su Ercheng registered both children for going to the countryside, yet this family seemed completely unaware.
Xia Hongxia noticed the injury on Su Yuan’s face and became both anxious and angry. “They even dared to hit you?”
Su Yuan covered his face, stammering. He did not dare say he had been too lazy to go with her when the job transfer was handled, nor did he dare explain how he got the injury. “N-no, it’s nothing! Why are you asking this now? Hurry up and go settle accounts with them!”
The men of the Li family were all strong. Today they had gone to the factory to support Li Cui, clearly prepared for trouble from the Su family. Five brothers standing together created an overwhelming presence. Su Yuan did not dare say anything more. The injury on his face had actually come from him falling in panic after being frightened.