Aside from Su Dabao, who didn’t grasp Su Wen’s true intentions, Wang Lihua had also caught on.
She stared at Su Wen’s hypocritical act, her gaze growing colder by the second.
Back when she first married into the family, Su Wen was only five years old, and Su Xiuxiu was three. At that time, the family hadn’t yet split up. Originally, Old Mrs. Su had wanted her and Liu Xianghua to take turns cooking, but Liu Xianghua, in order to secretly take food back to her own family, volunteered to handle all the cooking duties.
Everyone had to work in the fields to earn work points, so Liu Xianghua didn’t dare to skimp on the rations openly. Instead, she secretly reduced the portions for Su Wen and Su Xiuxiu, leaving the siblings often hungry.
When Wang Lihua discovered this, she couldn’t make a fuss about it. Seeing how pitiful the siblings were, she began sharing her own rations with them every day. This continued until she became pregnant with Su Dabao. One day, she fainted in the field from hunger because she hadn’t eaten enough, and only then did Old Mrs. Su find out. She severely punished Liu Xianghua for it.
Now, it seemed Su Wen had completely forgotten how she had shared her rations with him back then.
Wang Lihua closed her eyes briefly. Yesterday, Erbao had said that she was beaten to death by Su Dagui and Su Wen.
What an ungrateful wretch!
Seeing that Wang Lihua remained silent, Su Wen gritted his teeth, resentment boiling inside him over this woman’s heartlessness. Yet, tears streamed down his face.
“Auntie, please, I can’t lose Juanzi.”
“Juanzi said that if I can’t come up with the betrothal gifts today, she’ll go to the hospital and get rid of the baby.”
“Auntie, you’re the kindest person. You wouldn’t want to see me lose my child, would you…”
As he spoke, he kowtowed heavily again, this time with force. A large bump quickly swelled on his forehead, making him look utterly pitiful.
If one didn’t know what a despicable person he truly was inside, they might actually be fooled by his act.
Su Erbao cursed inwardly, thinking this guy was a master at emotional manipulation.
But recalling the plan the mother and daughters had discussed last night, she was happy to watch him kowtow a few more times—better yet, if he knocked himself to death!
When Su Wen’s forehead started bleeding from the kowtows, Wang Lihua finally spoke calmly, “Go and call your family over.”
Su Wen’s face lit up with delight, and he scrambled to his feet. “Auntie, it’s settled then! I’ll go right now and fetch my grandma!”
His words twisted the situation—Wang Lihua had only told him to go call his family, but he insisted on framing it as her agreeing to lend him money.
But Wang Lihua couldn’t be bothered to argue. After he left, she turned to Su Dabao. “Dabao, go and invite Third Great-Grandfather and Fifth Great-Uncle over.”
Su Dabao nodded. This had been discussed the night before, so she hurried out to fetch them.
The main branch of the family didn’t keep Wang Lihua waiting long. Soon, Old Mrs. Su and Su Dafu arrived.
Su Xiuxiu and Liu Xianghua didn’t come, likely because Old Mrs. Su was afraid they might say something inappropriate, unable to hold their tongues.
Wang Lihua got up, draped a padded jacket over herself, and went to the main hall. She said to the three of them, “Have a seat.”
Hearing that she didn’t even call her “Mom,” Old Mrs. Su’s eyes flashed with anger. But thinking about the money she was about to get, she quickly suppressed her irritation.
Su Erbao stood nearby, not missing a single expression on the old woman’s face.
“Second daughter-in-law, don’t you worry. We’re all family, and you’re still sick. No matter what, we wouldn’t delay your treatment.” Old Mrs. Su spoke with affectionate concern, looking every bit like a kind and benevolent mother-in-law.
But Su Erbao knew exactly what a hypocritical and venomous person she was—the sweeter her words, the more ruthless her actions.
Upon hearing Old Mrs. Su’s words, Su Dafu quickly chimed in, “That’s right, sister-in-law, just set your mind at ease. Little Wen has always regarded you as his own mother.”
“As soon as Juanzi enters our household, we’ll return the money immediately, not a single cent less!”
He rubbed his hands together, his face flushed with excitement. Three hundred yuan wasn’t much for city folks, but for country people like them, it was truly no small sum. If used frugally, it could last their eldest branch of the family for a whole year.
Su Wen wore a look of gratitude. “Second Aunt, once Juanzi comes into the family, I’ll take care of you together with her.”
Wang Lihua wore a faint, ambiguous smile and said nothing, her gaze fixed on the courtyard gate.
Seeing her reaction, Old Mrs. Su and Su Dafu exchanged glances, both feeling a sense of foreboding.
And soon enough, their premonition came true. Just as they were about to urge Wang Lihua to hand over the money quickly, several people arrived outside the door—all respected elders from the village.
As soon as the leading elder stepped into the main hall, Wang Lihua knelt before him, tears streaming down her face.
“Third Uncle, you must stand up for me today!”
Su Erbao also knelt with a thud and began to cry, mother and daughter weeping together in an instant.
Wang Lihua had always given the villagers the impression of being strong, swallowing any grievances she suffered without ever showing them, always maintaining her dignity.
Now, with this kneeling and weeping, she genuinely shocked the elders and the villagers who had followed them to watch the commotion.
How great must her suffering be!
Everyone exchanged glances. Third Grandpa wanted to help her up but hesitated due to his gender, hurriedly calling out to Su Dabao, “Dabao, quick! Help your mother up! She’s still sick!”
Su Dabao responded with an “Aye!” but before she could step forward, two aunties who didn’t get along with Old Mrs. Su came over. They supported Wang Lihua on either side, helping her sit on a stool. Su Dabao could only go over and pick up Su Erbao.
Third Grandpa’s eyes swept across the main hall. Seeing Su Dafu, who clearly looked guilty, and Su Wen, who appeared resentful, what else was there to understand?
Most likely, they were coveting the pension money in the hands of the widow and her orphaned child.
“Dagui’s wife, speak up if you have any grievances. We old folks aren’t dead yet, and we’ll definitely stand up for you,” Third Grandpa declared boldly as he sat on the stool Su Dabao had brought for him. Fifth Great-Uncle also sat beside him, both looking at Wang Lihua.
Before Wang Lihua could speak, Old Mrs. Su said with a smile, “Third Brother, this is our family matter. There’s no need for you to trouble yourselves, is there?”
Her face was smiling, but her eyes were chillingly cold.
Wang Lihua thought that by inviting these old folks over, she could avoid handing over the money. What wishful thinking!
Whatever Li Fengying wanted, she had never failed to obtain.
Third Grandpa snorted coldly, not sparing her any face.
“Family matter? Don’t Su Dafu and Su Dagui share the Su surname?”
Third Grandpa pointed at Wang Lihua and Su Erbao. “Dagui has just passed away, and you bring your eldest son’s family to bully the widow? Do you really think there’s no one left in the clan?”
Old Mrs. Su narrowed her cloudy eyes and snorted just as coldly.
“What kind of widow is she, Wang Lihua? Does she have proof?”
“The authorities have said that only with a marriage certificate can a couple be recognized. Does she have one?”
Third Grandpa was left speechless by her words.
In the past, rural folks considered a wedding feast as the official marriage, while more respectable families would also have a marriage certificate.
Nowadays, the authorities require couples to go to the county to register for a marriage license, but many have not done so.