Chapter 36: Trapped, but No Big Deal

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What a mess the former owner had made of things!

Su Chen sighed inwardly.

It seemed that the former owner’s tumble on the way home late at night had truly left the old man and the children traumatized.

He reminded himself to return earlier next time, so they would not worry.

While they ate the noodle dumplings, Honghong insisted on bringing over a chair and began pounding his shoulders and back with her little hands. Then, thoughtful little thing that she was, she fetched hot water and washed his feet.

Su Chen had tried to protest at first, but the child was so determined that he could only let her.

That child was so considerate it broke one’s heart.

Just as he was feeling sentimental, Liu Chunhua suddenly exclaimed, “Oh my, A-Chen, is this whole bag filled with abalone?”

He turned his head and saw the things Boss Zhang had forced upon him. Su Chen nodded.

“He insisted on giving them to me after I helped him deal with a problem.”

“So much?” Liu Chunhua set the bag down and opened another one. “Dried squid this big must cost five or six yuan apiece, right?”

Old Man Su took a puff from his water pipe and secretly scorned her.

They were nearly as large as washbasins. Could five or six yuan buy one? What a lack of judgment.

Liu Chunhua opened six bags in succession. The last contained red mushrooms, and she brightened at once. “Perfect! I was thinking of stewing a chicken for New Year’s Eve dinner. I’ll put some of these red mushrooms in later. They’ll make it wonderfully fragrant.”

By then, Su Chen had finished all the noodle dumplings. Seeing two eggs left at the bottom of the bowl, he called Honghong over and stuffed one into her hand. Then he ate the other in a single bite before opening the leather briefcase on the table.

Old Man Su and Liu Chunhua had noticed the briefcase as soon as Su Chen returned. It looked rather expensive, but they had figured that after spending so much money these past few days buying them clothes and shoes, it was hardly a big deal for their son to buy himself a leather briefcase to make a better impression.

Still, as Su Chen slowly pulled open the zipper, their eyes could not help following it.

Once the bag was open, Su Chen rummaged inside, quickly gathered up a stack of large bills, counted out twenty notes, and handed them to Liu Chunhua.

“Mom, keep this money. The New Year is almost here. I’ll probably be busy for the next while, and I don’t know whether I’ll have time to prepare the New Year goods. If I really can’t manage it, you and Dad will have to take care of it.”

Liu Chunhua’s mouth fell open. She covered it in astonishment.

“A-Chen, this… this much money?”

Then she could not help asking, “A-Chen, you didn’t rob someone, did you?”

Old Man Su abruptly knocked his pipe against the leg of the stool.

“What nonsense are you spouting, old woman? Who would carry this much money around on the road for years?”

“Besides, does A-Chen look like that kind of person?”

“I only…” Liu Chunhua said guiltily. “I’m just a little uneasy.”

“Mom, if you’re uneasy, then I’ll take the money back…”

He had barely finished speaking when Liu Chunhua hugged the money tightly to her chest.

“I’m not uneasy, not at all! Your mother is perfectly at ease. Oh, our A-Chen has really made something of himself. It’s only been a few days, and he’s already earned so much money.”

As she spoke, Liu Chunhua secretly stole several more glances into the briefcase.

Su Chen explained, “I’m thinking of seeing whether I can buy a house in the city.”

Old Man Su’s fingers, which had been rolling tobacco, stopped.

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“You want to buy a house in the city?”

Su Chen nodded.

Originally, he had planned to rent a place in the city after the New Year. He had already asked Grandma about it, and a room on Springbright Street cost only fifteen yuan a month—well within his means.

But plans could not keep pace with changing circumstances.

Who could have expected him to meet Boss Zhang, who had handed him more than twenty thousand yuan in one go?

With that much money, renting a place would be idiotic.

So Su Chen explained, “Dad, I know someone in the city who’s very familiar with Emerald City. I’ll ask him to look around for us. If there’s a good house, we’ll buy it. Living in the city would also make it easier for the children to attend school.”

Old Man Su took another puff from his water pipe and slowly nodded.

“Then we’ll do as you say.”

Liu Chunhua muttered a few words, earning a sharp glare from Old Man Su.

“What? Do you have an objection?”

“No, no, no. I only mean that there are plenty of pretty girls in the city too. They’re bound to be better than the women in our countryside. When the time comes, A-Chen, your mother will certainly keep a close eye out and find you a good wife who knows how to look after a household. What do you think?”

Su Chen gave an awkward laugh.

“Heh…”

Then he promptly stood up.

“Honghong, come on. Time for bed.”

“That boy…” Liu Chunhua stamped her foot when she saw him leave.

Old Man Su looked at her disdainfully.

“Just shut your mouth. Don’t you know why A-Chen has changed for the better? Hua has only been gone a short while, and you’re already trying to arrange another marriage for him. Where’s your common sense?”

“But A-Chen is only thirty. There are five children in the household. How can he manage without a woman?”

“Don’t you count?”

“You old fool! Are you deliberately arguing with me?”

The two of them lowered their voices and continued quarreling until a soft knock came from the door.

Liu Chunhua and Old Man Su both froze. Old Man Su exchanged a glance with her, and she cleared her throat.

“Who is it?”

“Mom, it’s me, Chun-Jiao.”

The moment Liu Chunhua heard that voice, her expression soured.

Keeping her voice low, she said to Old Man Su, “Those short-sighted people accused us of favoring one child over another when the family split up. Now that they know how capable A-Chen is, they come running to our door. Hmph, at least they still know enough to feel ashamed, coming at this hour.”

Old Man Su ignored her. He set down his water pipe and rose to open the door.

Liu Chunhua grabbed him by the arm.

“You old fool, what do you think you’re doing? Just try opening that door!”

Old Man Su glared at her impatiently.

“They haven’t come here in years. Maybe something urgent happened. What if something happened to one of the children?”

Liu Chunhua snorted.

“If something happened, then so be it. What does it have to do with us? We’ve long since cut ties.”

Though she said this, she still released her grip on his arm.

Old Man Su drew back the door bolt, and the first thing he saw was Lin Chun-Jiao, her eyes red from crying. He glanced behind her and trembled.

“Chun-Jiao, A-Mao didn’t come with you?”

Liu Chunhua noticed it too and immediately began scolding her.

“You walking disaster, did something happen to A-Mao? You were the one who whispered in his ear and made him split from the family. Now you’ve gotten him into trouble again… No, what happened to our A-Mao? Tell me quickly!”

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Her voice was so loud that not only did Su Chen hear her from inside, but people in the neighboring houses were also awakened, and lights began coming on.

Su Chen pulled on his sweater and came out again. He saw his sister-in-law, Lin Chun-Jiao, sniffing with embarrassment on her face. She shook her head, struggling to hold herself together as she spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Mom and Dad, I… I came to find my little brother.”

“Sister-in-law, come inside and talk.”

The moment Lin Chun-Jiao saw him, tears spilled down her cheeks.

“A-Chen, please help me. Liang, Liang went into the mountains with some people today to hunt wild boar, and he still hasn’t come back. Your brother and De went looking for him, and they haven’t returned either. I… do you think something happened to them?”

“What?!”

Liu Chunhua was stunned, then immediately launched into a tirade.

“You let Liang go hunting wild boar? Don’t you know how vicious wild boars are? You walking disaster—”

“That’s enough!” Old Man Su roared.

Liu Chunhua finally gave Lin Chun-Jiao a sullen sideways glance and fell silent.

Su Chen looked at Old Man Su.

“Dad, do we have Liang’s birth details?”

“Yes, yes, we do. I’ll get them.”

Liu Chunhua hurried into the house. She accidentally struck her leg against a bench, but did not even stop to rub it. She rushed inside and soon returned with a sheet of red paper.

“A-Chen, everyone’s birth details are written here. Take a look.”

By then, Su Chen had poured Lin Chun-Jiao a bowl of hot water and urged her to drink some. He took the red paper, glanced over it, and began calculating.

Old Man Su’s hands trembled faintly, but seeing the state of his eldest daughter-in-law, he still tried to reassure her.

“Chun-Jiao, don’t panic. They’re probably fine. It’s likely just too dark for them to find their way back. Don’t worry. A-Chen is here.”

Lin Chun-Jiao did not answer or drink the water. She stared fixedly at Su Chen.

Liu Chunhua gave a soft snort and asked, “Why did only you come? Didn’t De go with them? What about Ying? Isn’t she worried?”

Lin Chun-Jiao hurriedly explained, “Ying was going to come too, but she’s weak, and the weather is cold. I told her to stay home and watch the children.”

“One walking disaster and one sickly wretch. Our Su family must have suffered a terrible run of bad luck to end up marrying women like you.”

Liu Chunhua muttered, then pointed disdainfully at the bowl.

“What are you waiting for? Drink it! Don’t you know what your throat sounds like? Don’t fall ill again and make us spend money on medicine!”

Lin Chun-Jiao silently lowered her head and lifted the bowl. Just as she was about to drink, Su Chen stopped calculating.

She immediately asked, “A-Chen, how is it?”

“They’re trapped, but it isn’t serious at the moment. It’s just rather cold.”

He looked at Old Man Su.

“Dad, bring me all the heavy cotton clothes in the house. I’m going into the mountains to bring them back.”

Then his gaze fell on the thermos and the bowl.

“Mom, put the hot water and the bowl in a basket. Also, do we have anything to eat?”

“Yes, yes. There’s the box of biscuits you brought back earlier.”

“Pack that too.”

Lin Chun-Jiao stared at him anxiously.

“A-Chen, are you really sure… they’re all right?”

Su Chen knew she might still not trust him. He smiled.

“Sister-in-law, don’t worry. Wait here at home. I should be back with them in no more than two hours.”