“Little Sister Su, whatever happened with Zhang Lan, you must not spread it around. Just stay honestly in the Gu family and mind your own business.”
Auntie Zhao exchanged a glance with the others. Everyone could sense that there was something strange about the matter between Su Mingzhu and Zhang Lan, so they quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, when did your family replace the front door with this iron one? Wasn’t it a wooden door before?”
Seeing that they had become interested in Zhang Lan’s return to the city, Su Qingwan secretly curled her lips into a smile. Following Auntie Zhao’s gaze toward the sturdy security door, she said with a smile, “My husband had it replaced before he left. You are only noticing it now? I thought you had noticed it long ago.”
Everyone was stunned. Looking around, they realized that all the doors of the Gu family were now of this style, and they were slightly surprised.
So this iron door had been installed a long time ago? The color really did not attract much attention.
Some people were still doubtful and asked uncertainly, “Really? I remember it being a wooden door before.”
Su Qingwan nodded without the slightest change in her expression. “Of course it’s true. Otherwise, with my delicate little hands, how could I possibly move such a huge door?”
As she spoke, she raised her slender wrist and waved it around.
Seeing this, everyone thought her explanation made sense. The door weighed at least a hundred jin, so how could a young woman like her have the strength to replace it, let alone install it?
The door was obviously an expensive city product. How could a country girl like her know how to install something like this?
Quite a few people enviously touched the smooth iron door and sighed.
“Your Jinchuan really is wonderful. He is young and capable, and before leaving, he arranged everything for you so carefully.”
“Exactly. Although he does not have any relatives to help him, he has the ability to make up for it. He is only thirty and already a regiment commander in the army. You rarely see someone reach that rank at his age.”
“That is right. A man like that would be impossible to find even with a lantern. Little Sister Su, you really must cherish him!”
“Forget everything else. Just look at the way he prepared for his wedding.
The four major items and three hundred yuan in bride price, what a grand display! Unlike my family, where we can barely keep food on the table.”
Although those words sounded like praise, there was also a hint of probing and jealousy hidden underneath. In these times, no one dared to show off their wealth because it was too easy for others to set their sights on you.
Su Qingwan smiled shyly and openly admitted it.
“That is true. My husband said that he had taken a liking to me when he was only a teenager, and from then on, he started saving money every year so he could marry me. That is how we ended up with everything we have now.”
“He said he loved me more than life itself and that he could not live without me.”
“It’s just that my family has been completely emptied out now. I only have a few dozen yuan left to repair the house, and next month, I will probably have to borrow some flour and rice from someone just to get by.”
As she spoke, she looked seriously at Auntie Mo, who had sounded the most sour just moments ago, and asked sincerely, “Auntie Mo, could you lend me a sack of flour next month?”
Auntie Mo’s expression froze. She took a step back as if she had just stepped in dog feces and forced out an awkward laugh.
“Flour? How could my family have such a good thing? We usually eat sweet potatoes with bran steamed buns. You should ask someone else to lend you some.”
Su Qingwan looked toward the others as well, only to find everyone quickly averting their eyes, afraid of making eye contact with her.
It made sense. In times like these, having enough food for yourself was already something to be grateful for. Who would lend food to someone else?
Besides, this was refined white flour. One sack cost six yuan. If they lent it out, who knew when they would ever get it back?
Auntie Zhao, however, was quite generous. She patted Su Qingwan on the shoulder and smiled.
“My family doesn’t have any flour either, but we do have some sweet potatoes. If you need them, Little Sister Su, just come to my house and take some.”
Su Qingwan did not refuse. “All right, thank you, Auntie.”
After finishing their conversation, everyone no longer dared to stay at the Gu family. They divided up the candies and melon seeds from the fruit tray before returning home one after another.
As soon as they left the courtyard, someone could not help complaining.
“Borrow flour? Su Qingwan really knows how to live in luxury. My family would be lucky to eat flour once a month.”
“Exactly. By the way, can you give me two of those candies in your pocket? My grandson has never tasted something this good.”
“I don’t have any. I only have two. Go ask someone else.”
Everyone covered their pockets and kept refusing each other’s requests as they walked away, leaving the Gu family’s courtyard quiet once again.
Su Qingwan locked the front door, gathered up the empty plates, and felt extremely pleased.
Now that she had brought up borrowing flour, those people who had originally wanted to take advantage of her would have a hard time asking her for anything.
As for the Su family…
Su Qingwan looked in the direction of the Su family, the corners of her lips curling upward.
They had caused a commotion during the day. It was time to put a proper ending to things tonight.
At night, the countryside was so quiet that the only sound was the chirping of insects.
Although electricity had already reached their village, many people would rather light kerosene lamps than turn on the electric lights.
After the last kerosene lamp in the Su family went out, the entire courtyard fell into complete darkness.
Su Qingwan moved lightly as she climbed over the wall and slipped inside.
She quickly made her way toward the woodshed behind the Su family’s house and set it on fire.
The bright flames dispelled the darkness of the night, illuminating the area in an instant.
Hiding in the darkness, she deliberately lowered her voice and let out a sharp scream.
“Fire!”
In an instant, everyone in the Su family was jolted awake and rushed toward the backyard.
“Fire! Put it out quickly!”
No one noticed that a shadow took advantage of the chaos to slip into the house. With quick and nimble movements, the intruder swept away all the valuable belongings and food stored by the Su family. Before leaving, the intruder even threw another burning object onto the roof.
Su Qingwan quickly disappeared into the darkness. When the people who had come to put out the fire arrived, she pretended to be completely innocent and blended into the crowd to help.
“Not good! The front room is on fire too!”
Everyone looked up and saw flames shooting from the roof. They were terrified and hurriedly began throwing water onto it.
Fortunately, there were many people, and they worked quickly. The fire was extinguished before long, leaving behind only a few scattered embers.
The Su couple had no time to worry about anything else. They immediately rushed into the house, hoping to retrieve the savings they had hidden away.
“Mingzhu, quickly check whether anything valuable in the house has been…”
“Ah!”
The moment Su Mingzhu’s mother entered the room, she let out a shrill scream.
Everyone was startled. They cautiously leaned forward to look inside and were completely dumbfounded.
The room was so empty that there was not even a mouse left. Forget about the money box, even the wooden table they had made themselves had disappeared without a trace.
“We’ve been robbed!”
Su Jianguo’s mind worked quickly, and he immediately shouted, “Hurry and chase them! The fire outside was a diversion. They set it up so they could take advantage of the chaos and empty our house!”
Su Mingzhu also came to her senses and hurriedly shouted, “Dad, Mom, that cabinet was extremely heavy. The thief couldn’t have gotten far. Hurry and chase them!”
As soon as the villagers heard this, they forgot all about the remaining embers and rushed outside in pursuit of the thief.
Su Qingwan followed behind Auntie Zhao with a worried expression and called out to the Su couple.
“Dad, Mom, everyone has gone after the thief. What should we do about the fire?”
Su Mingzhu’s mother cursed, “The fire has already been put out, so what the hell are you worrying about? Our entire household has been emptied. If we don’t catch the thief, what are we supposed to live on from now on?”
Su Qingwan timidly nodded, then added as though talking to herself, “I understand… I just don’t know whether this thief acted alone or whether a group of people worked together.”
“Did they only rob one family, or are they going to rob the entire village?
Should I go back to the Gu family and take a look? We still have the four major items at home.”
The moment she said this, the villagers who had been running enthusiastically after the thief suddenly stopped in their tracks.
That’s right!
What if the thief was part of a group? What if they took advantage of everyone gathering at the Su family and secretly broke into their homes?
Their houses were now left with only the elderly, women, and children. How could they possibly stop thieves?
“Something’s wrong. I need to hurry home and take a look!”
“I’m going back to check too!”
The pursuit that had been so lively only moments ago instantly scattered in every direction.
The Su family was left completely dumbfounded. They anxiously stamped their feet and shouted after everyone.
“Hey! Hey! Why are you all leaving? Our entire house has been emptied! Don’t go!”