Chapter 5: Is It So Deadly to Speak Kindly?

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Su Chen forced a bitter smile. "Mom, where are you getting that idea? How could I possibly steal money? I was just helping others with some big tasks, and they thanked me—one gave me a hundred, another fifty."

Liu Chunhua scrutinized Su Chen’s expression closely. "Really?"

"More genuine than gold!"

Only then did Liu Chunhua break into a smile. "That’s settled then."

Turning away, she couldn’t help but scold again, "Ah Chen, your old mother is getting on in years. If your cloth shoes are worn, just patch them up and keep wearing them. Why spend money on new ones? And Honghong—girls are always a money drain. Why buy her a new coat? Wouldn’t it be better to get one for Asheng?"

"Honghong and Apeng are the oldest, so their clothes are bigger. Later, Asheng and Yueyue can wear them too. Mom, I thought this through."

Liu Chunhua was about to say more, but Su Chen quickly turned to Su Xiaoyan. "Third sister, have you eaten dinner yet?"

Su Xiaoyan nodded. "Yes, yes, I have."

Hearing this, Liu Chunhua hurriedly set down the bag and brought over the pot of hot noodles.

"Ah Chen, your third sister brought over a pound of fatty pork today. The oil rendered from it smells so good—eat quickly."

Su Chen was truly starving and didn’t hesitate. Grabbing a pair of chopsticks, he began eating heartily.

Seeing this, Su Xiaoyan felt a pang of sympathy.

"I heard you fell yesterday. Were you hurt? Didn’t have time before, and I just finished selling meat and rushed back. You didn’t hit your head, did you?"

"No, I’m fine," Su Chen smiled at her. "Third sister, did you spend a lot today?"

Su Xiaoyan glared at him. "What nonsense? Buying things for Dad, Mom, and the younger brothers isn’t really spending, is it?"

Su Chen smiled but didn’t reply.

From memory, although third brother-in-law showed no displeasure, he hardly ever came back with them, which spoke volumes.

Indeed, who would like a wife constantly supporting her natal family?

Looks like before the New Year, I’ll have to find a way to visit third sister’s house and bring some gifts.

Thinking this, Su Chen finished the noodles and soup.

Su Xiaoyan took the bowl to wash and asked, "Little brother, how exactly did you help others?"

The fortune-telling matter couldn’t be hidden, so Su Chen was candid.

When they asked how he learned fortune-telling, Su Chen made an excuse, "I used to go often to the old temple on the mountain; the elder Taoist there taught me. And honestly, it’s quite accurate."

Su Xiaoyan was curious. "That old Taoist can really tell fortunes?"

"I thought he only knew how to weave baskets."

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"Third sister, you’re judging by appearances now, aren’t you?"

Su Xiaoyan laughed. "Yes, yes. My little brother is very sharp-eyed. People see you wandering around all day, but who knew when you learned this skill? Mom, Dad, if little brother’s fortune-telling is really accurate, it could actually make money."

Liu Chunhua was proud. "Exactly. He just started and already bought me leather shoes."

She glanced at Old Su teasingly. "Some people don’t have a single hair on their head."

Old Su snorted lightly. "Showing off. Xiaoyan also brought me a box of tobacco."

"That’s just a few bucks. Ah Chen, how much were those shoes?"

Su Chen found the old couple’s banter amusing and smiled. "Not expensive. The shop said 59 yuan, but I calculated the wholesale price and got them for 18."

Su Xiaoyan widened her eyes, incredulous, looking him up and down.

"Little brother, you can even calculate wholesale prices?"

"Yes, and more. If your skills are high enough and your third eye opens, just one glance can tell you almost everything. No need to calculate."

Su Xiaoyan gasped. "That’s possible?"

Su Chen scratched his head. "Well, not quite there yet."

"Humble. Mom, Dad, I just realized my little brother is too modest."

Under the dim light, smiles lit up Su Xiaoyan and Liu Chunhua’s faces, and even the usually stern Old Su’s eyes showed warmth.

Honghong tried on the coat. Though a bit large, it was warm. Happy, she ran to show Yueyue, then quickly went and brought Apeng’s coat. Soon Apeng was out wearing it, strolling around. Liu Chunhua saw his bare legs and hurried to pull him inside.

"My dear grandson, such cold weather—you’ll catch a cold."

Seeing this, Su Xiaoyan got up to boil water and prepared a bottle of milk for Su Chen.

"Little brother, Ayun is awake. You feed him yourself."

"Ayun?"

"Yes. When Ah Hua was pregnant, she told me the youngest would be named Ayun. The name fits any gender. Sadly..." Su Xiaoyan sighed. "Enough of that. Little brother, if you can really tell fortunes, you can’t keep going back and forth to the city. The round-trip fare adds up. If needed, you could rent a place in the city. Third brother-in-law said, in Cuiling, slum rentals are cheap—about ten yuan a month."

When she said this, Old Su’s ears perked up, and he paused in rolling tobacco.

Su Chen sighed. "Third sister, I’ve thought about it too, but the baby is still young. I can’t just leave everything to Mom and Dad."

"If it really doesn’t work, rent a bigger place and bring Mom and Dad along?"

Seeing Su Chen head inside, Su Xiaoyan followed. "Little brother, Mom and Dad are getting old. When Ah Hua was alive, she helped tend the land, but now they’re overwhelmed. I was thinking: when you married, Big Brother and Second Brother had fallen out with Mom and Dad. Now they don’t even speak to you. If you move to the city, you could let those two farm the land. Maybe it would improve relations."

The barely month-old Ayun was such a tiny bundle that Su Chen worried he might crush him with the slightest pressure.

He carefully fed the baby with a spoon, afraid of choking him. After finishing the bottle, he wiped the sweat from his brow.

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Looks like I need to buy a feeding bottle.

Su Xiaoyan saw his cautious care and felt both comforted and heartbroken.

"Third sister, let’s talk about this later. For now, I’ll work harder, run more errands in the city. Once there’s some savings, I’ll discuss with Mom and Dad and try to talk to Big Brother and Second Brother—they’re tough but soft-hearted, easy to reason with."

Just as Su Xiaoyan nodded, Liu Chunhua came in wearing the leather shoes, walking around in front of them. "Xian’er, how do they fit?"

"Mom, they fit well. They look so beautiful."

"Of course. They’re leather and originally cost 59 yuan."

Liu Chunhua went outside and walked in front of Old Su, raising her eyebrows. "Nice, huh?"

Old Su took a puff from his water pipe and exhaled smoke.

"We’re old folks—how nice can we look?"

Liu Chunhua immediately shot him a sideways glance. "You old grump—never a kind word from your mouth. Can’t you say something nice just once?"

The old couple bickered again, filling the house with noise.

Sniffing his armpits, Su Chen detected a foul odor.

After a long day and two trips along mountain paths, he definitely needed a wash.

But in this bitter cold, there was no bathroom at home...

After hesitating, Su Chen got up, boiled water by the stove, and washed himself outside with hot water.

When he finished and returned, Yueyue was already sound asleep under the covers, and little Ayun beside her was peacefully resting. He gently turned Yueyue over, raised his arm to shield Ayun, and finally closed his eyes.

Before dawn the next day, Su Chen heard movement and got up to go out. Su Xiaoyan immediately put a finger to her lips.

"Don’t wake Mom and Dad. I have to hurry to town to sell pork."

Su Chen looked outside—it was still dark. Walking the mountain road alone would be scary.

He lowered his voice, "Third sister, I’ll go with you."

No sooner had he spoken than Old Su’s voice came from nearby, "What are you two whispering about? If you’re leaving, then go quickly. I’ll watch the kids."

Startled, the two burst into laughter.