The courtyard had already descended into chaos, filled with discussions and contempt toward Su Ercheng’s family.
Zhang Tianci’s face was dark and gloomy. It seemed Su Man could not be found anymore, but his Zhang family had been played for fools—this could not simply be let go!
“You Su Family agreed to the marriage and then pulled this stunt. Then compensate us for our losses,” he said.
Su Ercheng still had not realized Zhang Tianci’s shamelessness. “We agreed to give the betrothal gifts today. The proposal didn’t go through, so the marriage doesn’t count. What loss is there?”
Zhang Tianci said, “Our family already sent you plenty of gifts, and 200 yuan!”
Su Ercheng looked at Xia Hongxia in shock, suspecting that she had hidden the money or sent it back to her natal family.
Xia Hongxia panicked so badly that she slapped her thigh and sat down on the ground, shouting, afraid Su Ercheng would believe it and force her to produce the money. “Just some gifts! When did we ever receive 200 yuan? The proposal didn’t even go through, how could they have given money first!”
“Other families wouldn’t, but who doesn’t know our Zhang family is wealthy? What’s so strange about that?” Zhang Tianci had clearly decided to teach the Su Family a lesson. “If you don’t admit it, then you’re offending my father.”
Su Ercheng looked at Xia Hongxia’s reaction and knew she would not dare lie. It was obvious Zhang Tianci was extorting them!
He indeed did not dare offend Factory Director Zhang. He trembled in anger for a moment and could not even speak.
Just then, Su Lan suddenly ran out. “If Su Man ran away, I can marry him!”
Since Su Man had disappeared yesterday, Su Lan felt her chance had come. Now that her parents could not produce money, they would surely support her instead.
Su Lan stood in front of Zhang Tianci, shyly lowering her head and fiddling with her braid. The next moment, she looked up in disbelief, her face turning pale.
“You think you’re worthy?” Zhang Tianci sneered.
Su Lan’s eyes filled with tears. Her body trembled as she grabbed the man’s clothes, crying, “B-but we already… you promised you would be good to me.”
These words easily led to wild speculation. Coupled with Su Lan’s pitiful expression of having been wronged, many people widened their eyes in shock as they guessed what had happened.
Xia Hongxia’s face also went pale. She grabbed Su Lan and slapped her hard. “You damn girl, what nonsense are you spouting? I told you not to talk nonsense!”
Zhang Tianci’s gaze swept over Su Lan with a hint of disgust. He said in a low voice, “How can words spoken on a man’s bed be taken seriously? Besides, you offered yourself willingly that night. Do you have any proof?”
He lowered his voice so only Su Lan and Xia Hongxia could hear.
Xia Hongxia felt completely chilled. She had originally opposed Su Lan marrying into the Zhang family because the rumor about Zhang Tianci peeping at female workers bathing in the factory was true. Although she favored her son more, Su Lan was still her daughter—she had no reason to push her into a fire pit.
Who would have thought this damn girl would actually do such a thing! Zhang Tianci’s attitude clearly showed he would not admit it. With Factory Director Zhang backing him, their family would just have to swallow the humiliation like that female worker who had been peeped at.
Xia Hongxia could no longer hold back and rushed at Zhang Tianci to kick and hit him, but Su Ercheng stopped her. “Enough! Do you want to make this even more embarrassing?”
Zhang Tianci straightened his clothes and left a final warning. “Forget the gifts, but if you don’t return the 200 yuan, I’m not done with you!”
Zhang Tianci left with his people. Aunt Liu had also seen enough of the drama; her purpose had been achieved, and she left satisfied.
Just as Su Ercheng was about to drive the neighbors away, the Director of the Educated Youth Office arrived.
The director did not know what had just happened and thought the engagement had gone smoothly. Smiling warmly, he said, “Old Su, you’ve formed a marriage alliance with Factory Director Zhang and are also responding to the national call by sending your children to the countryside. People like you with such awareness are truly role models!”
Only then did Su Ercheng remember what had been mentioned earlier in the courtyard. He hurriedly asked, “Director, what are you talking about? When did I register both children?”
The director frowned. “How could that be false? Your family took the household registration book to apply, and said it was you who requested to go to the most difficult areas.”
Now everything became clear. The household register had only been given that day to Su Man so she and Su Yuan could handle the transfer procedures.
But thinking of how today’s events had already ruined his reputation—and how as an uncle he was now seen as someone who tried to swallow his niece’s inheritance—this incident instead became a possible way out.
Su Ercheng quickly said he had forgotten, exchanged a few polite words, and sent the director away, then closed the courtyard gate.
“You really plan to send your son to the countryside?” Xia Hongxia had already guessed Su Ercheng’s thoughts but still asked unwillingly.
Su Ercheng said, “They’ve already been registered. What else can we do? We might as well say it was voluntary—it sounds better for our reputation.”
Su Yuan immediately cried out in protest. “I don’t want to go to the countryside! I’d rather die than go! Mom, think of a way!”
Xia Hongxia remained silent. Once Su Ercheng had made a decision, what could she do? Nothing mattered more than his reputation—even their son.
Su Yuan was still making a fuss, but Su Ercheng slapped him to the ground.
“You can’t even handle a simple transfer procedure and still have the face to cry? If you keep this up, I’ll really beat you to death!”
Su Lan stood nearby, somewhat dazed. She had always known her parents only cared about her younger brother. She did not want to go to the countryside. Zhang Tianci had been her desperate gamble for a way out—how had it all come to this?
Su Yuan finally quieted down. Only then did Su Ercheng turn to Su Lan. “You honestly go to the countryside. From now on, you are not allowed to mention anything about that Zhang family again. Pretend nothing happened! If you ruin the family reputation, I’ll beat you to death!”
“What reputation does our family even have left?” Su Lan suddenly thought of an idea and ran out excitedly. “I’m going to marry Zhang Tianci! I must be carrying his child!”
Su Ercheng was so angry he almost struck her, but he only saw Su Lan’s back as she ran off.
Meanwhile, Zhang Tianci was still planning how to retaliate against the Su family, completely unaware that disaster was already approaching his own household.
The anonymous report letter Su Man had sent quickly took effect. Based on the information inside, Factory Director Zhang’s rivals in the factory soon uncovered substantial evidence. Aside from what Su Man had mentioned about Zhang Tianci privately selling factory assets, they also found many cases of Factory Director Zhang abusing power for personal gain.
And Su Lan, having thrown away all dignity by falsely claiming she was pregnant to threaten the Zhang family, soon discovered that the Zhang factory was already on the verge of collapse.
In the end, after all the chaos, Su Lan became infamous. Going to the countryside unexpectedly became the best option for her. After all, the remote hardship areas were far away—no one there would know what her family had done.
Su Ercheng personally sent the two children onto the train. One was crying and refusing to leave, while the other sat by the window, pale and numb.
Su Ercheng and Xia Hongxia had suffered a great loss. Of course, they wanted to find Su Man, but Aunt Liu refused to reveal any address. She also said that the arranged marriage family belonged to a Military Unit and would not let them off. The two of them were left without any solution.
Meanwhile, Su Man had just gotten off the train.
Aunt Xu carried two chickens and two baskets of eggs, walking slowly for fear of breaking them.
The two had agreed to travel together. Su Man quickly took Aunt Xu’s heavy luggage, but she was suddenly bumped into, and the bundle in her hands almost fell to the ground.
At first, she thought it was accidental, but the person showed no apology at all and instead blamed her. “How do you walk? Do you have no eyes?”
As he spoke, he reached out to shove Su Man aside, clearly in a hurry.
Aunt Xu immediately realized it was intentional and pushed the man hard. “You were the one who bumped into her first, and you still act unreasonable?”
Now the man became furious and, out of anger, swung a punch.
After steadying herself, Su Man calmly and coldly watched the man.
Seeing him attack, she slightly bent her body and steadied her stance.