Since she had been the spark that started the argument, Su Meier didn’t know what to say and could only bury her head in her food.
Suddenly thinking of someone, she looked up and asked curiously,
“Where’s Second Brother? Why haven’t I seen him around?”
It seemed she had never actually met her second brother.
At the mention of him, Mother Liang’s face filled with worry.
“Your second brother has been like a bird set free ever since graduating from high school.
He’s gone every few days, and nobody knows what he’s doing out there all day. He’ll probably be back in a couple of days.”
Su Meier stared in disbelief, her expression practically asking, And none of you stop him?
Then she remembered how the original owner had behaved before. Her parents had never seemed particularly strict with her either.
It appeared that this family was fairly open-minded and not overly conservative.
Then again, she wasn’t in any position to laugh at someone else’s craziness when she had her own problems.
Father Su spoke up.
“He’s bold and doesn’t want to stay trapped in a tiny place like this. If he wants to go out, let him. As long as he doesn’t cause trouble.”
Even if he accomplished nothing, they would still be there to support him when he came back.
Su Meier glanced at Father Su.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but this stern-looking middle-aged man didn’t seem like an ordinary villager.
“Let’s eat. We’ll talk about Mingyuan when he comes back,” Mother Liang said, placing food into Father Su’s bowl.
“Dad, um… where does Comrade Song work?”
Su Meier felt it was necessary to find out where that man worked so she wouldn’t have trouble finding him later.
Father Su paused mid-motion with his chopsticks.
Everyone at the table turned to look at her in confusion.
Su Mingding immediately asked,
“Little Sister, don’t tell me… you’ve taken a liking to him?”
He remembered the educated youth.
When registering his information, he had learned that the young man came from a wealthy family in Kyoto. He was usually quiet and somewhat difficult to approach.
His looks were every bit as good as, if not better than, the boyfriend Su Meier had once had in town.
Had his little sister set her sights on him?
Su Meier nearly spat out her rice.
“Big Brother, don’t talk nonsense. I’m just asking casually.”
Not?
Now Su Mingding was the confused one.
Zhang Aiyuan remained silent, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
“Aside from those planting rice seedlings, everyone else is currently harvesting rice in the paddies,” Father Su replied before giving her a meaningful look.
“Daughter, he isn’t a suitable match for our family.”
Mother Liang disagreed.
In her eyes, her daughter was wonderful in every way.
Still, she didn’t openly contradict her husband.
“Dad, you’ve misunderstood. I happened to run into them today and was just curious. I really don’t mean anything else.”
As long as she knew where they worked, that was enough.
To make herself clear, she added,
“I don’t like that type.”
She preferred warm and cheerful men.
“Then what type do you like, Little Sister? Should your sister-in-law introduce a few men to you?” Zhang Aiyuan suddenly asked enthusiastically.
Mother Liang immediately shot her several dirty looks.
“Meier is still young. I want to keep her at home for a few more years. There’s no rush.”
“No need to rush,” Father Su agreed.
“Meier has just finished her studies. We should settle her work first.”
He had apparently already planned her career path.
“Next year, the position of work-point recorder will become vacant. We’ll put you in that role.”
Su Meier’s eyes widened.
Her mouth hung open in shock.
What?
A secure government-style job just like that?
And obtained entirely through connections?
Honestly, it didn’t sound bad at all.
A perfect position for someone who wanted to coast through life.
The announcement struck everyone like a bolt from the blue.
Even Mother Liang had known nothing about it and sat frozen in surprise.
Zhang Aiyuan, however, immediately lost her composure.
“Dad, Little Sister is going to get married eventually. How can you give that position to her?”
In her eyes, it was like letting benefits flow into someone else’s family.
Father Su instantly understood what his daughter-in-law was thinking.
“The position requires at least a middle-school education.”
Zhang Aiyuan’s frustration subsided somewhat, but she still protested unwillingly.
“Dad, you’re the production team leader. Isn’t the education requirement just a matter of your word?”
“That attitude alone makes you unsuitable for the job.
If you abuse your authority for personal gain and it comes to light, the entire Su family will suffer the consequences.”
Father Su trusted his instincts.
She wasn’t suitable.
Su Meier was stunned.
Did she really look that honest and trustworthy?
What if she abused her authority for a little personal benefit too?
“Then why am I suitable?” she asked.
“As long as I’m here, you won’t dare, and you won’t do it.”
Father Su sounded absolutely certain.
Zhang Aiyuan opened her mouth but didn’t dare argue further.
“Aiyuan,” Mother Liang said gently, “I’ve already taught you everything I know.
In the future, you can make clothes at home like I do and take care of Mingding and the household.
You don’t necessarily need to work in the production team.”
But Father Su noticed the ambition in Zhang Aiyuan’s eyes.
He knew she would never be content spending her life confined to household duties.
“The propaganda officer position doesn’t have many requirements. Your elementary school education is sufficient.
After the New Year, if Yuan Hongying decides to retire and help take care of her grandson, that position can be arranged for you.”
Yuan Hongying was already of retirement age and would likely step down within a few years.
Zhang Aiyuan was instantly overjoyed.
“Thank you, Dad! I’ll work hard!”
Father Su ignored her excitement and turned to Su Mingding.
“Mingding, after work, continue handling the accounts and financial records in the evenings. Double-check everything carefully.
Also, assign someone to help the female educated youth team.”
“Dad, don’t worry about the accounts. I verify them every night, so there won’t be any mistakes.
But as for assigning someone… everyone’s already busy. Taking one person from one place just creates a shortage somewhere else.”
Su Mingding looked troubled.
Suddenly, his eyes landed on his younger sister, who was absentmindedly eating.
An idea flashed through his mind.
He looked at Su Meier expectantly.
“Little Sister, you’ve been free lately. How about you fill in—”
Before he could finish, Mother Liang slammed her hand on the table.
“You little brat! Your sister just recovered from her injury, and you’re already trying to make her do hard labor? Are you deliberately making life difficult for her?”
Even Zhang Aiyuan jumped in fright.
As for Su Mingding, who had proposed the idea, he immediately shrank back.
“Mom, I was only asking. I didn’t mean it seriously.”
But Su Meier was already considering it.
“Big Brother, what kind of work would I be doing with the female educated youth team?”
Su Mingding instantly sensed hope.
“You’d just be turning and drying rice at the grain-drying yard near the fields. It’s not tiring.”
Near the fields?
That was perfect.
If she managed to catch any game, finding people would be much easier.
She was already excited.
It was as if countless snacks were flying toward her with open arms.
“I’ll do it. I’ll help.”
Mother Liang immediately panicked.
“Meier, you’re not fully recovered yet. You can’t do physical labor.”
She kept signaling frantically for her daughter to refuse.
But Su Meier pretended not to notice and refused to change her mind.
Even Father Su frowned.
“Daughter, don’t force yourself if you can’t handle it.”
Someone who had never done manual labor before made him worry.
Meanwhile, Zhang Aiyuan pouted resentfully.
As if other people’s daughters weren’t daughters too.
Who else got to enjoy such comfort without working like Su Meier?
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m confident.”
Her inflated confidence prevented her from considering one important question:
Could a pampered young lady who had never lifted a finger in her life really endure the hardships of farm work?
The matter was settled just like that.
Mother Liang shot Su Mingding a furious glare.
It was all because of his terrible idea.