Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Su Shengguo’s Plan

"Mom, just listen to me," Su Shengguo said hurriedly, trying to calm Old Su down when he saw she was about to fly off the handle.

"Go on, then. Let’s see what kind of fancy story you can spin," Old Su said with a huff.

"Mom, Fu Yuzhen is back."

"Fu Yuzhen?" For a moment, Old Su couldn’t place the name. "Who’s that?"

"You don’t remember? Erya’s mother’s friend. The one who used to always send us things from out of town." Every time Fu Yuzhen sent a package, Su Shengguo was the one who picked it up from the post office and brought it home. So while the name Fu Yuzhen didn’t ring a bell for Old Su, she immediately knew who he meant when he mentioned the packages from out of town.

"She’s back?" Old Su frowned. "Wasn’t she out of town?"

"She’s back. When I was coming home just now, I saw her standing right at the gate to Erya’s yard," Su Shengguo said.

"So what if she’s back? What does that have to do with our family?" Old Su said dismissively, though she felt a pang of regret. ’We probably won’t be getting any more packages from Fu Yuzhen.’

Su Shengguo quickly added, "Mom, I saw Fu Yuzhen today, and she was carrying a ton of bags to see Erya. She was completely hostile toward me. She must already know what happened before."

"So what if she knows? You think I’m scared of her?!" Old Su said stubbornly, raising her voice and yelling in the direction of Su Qing’s yard.

"Whoa, Mom, keep your voice down," Su Shengguo said hastily. "Her brother-in-law is the vice-director of my factory. What if that Fu Yuzhen tries to cause trouble for me behind my back? What if the vice-director comes after me? Mom, what if they get me fired?"

"Ah, it’s that serious?!" The moment she heard Su Shengguo might lose his job, Old Su grew frantic. "What are we going to do?" she asked anxiously.

"Mom, that’s why I’m saying we should coax Erya back, so she won’t be separated from the family anymore," Su Shengguo explained. "That Fu Yuzhen really dotes on Erya. As long as we’re on good terms with her, Fu Yuzhen will have no reason to come after me."

Old Su’s expression turned sour. She seethed with anger just thinking about Su Qing, her teeth grinding in frustration. ’That damned jinx of a girl is nothing but trouble. She cursed her father to death, cursed her mother away, and now she’s cursed the Old Su Family’s reputation.’ The thought alone made her want to beat that wretched girl to death.

Su Shengguo knew Old Su couldn’t get over her grudge, so he quickly said, "When the time comes, I’ll go talk to Erya. I’ll coax her a little. She’s still young, and we were a bit too harsh on her before. That’s why she got so stubborn."

"Too harsh? How were we too harsh? After what her mother did to our family, the fact that I raised her at all is more than good enough for her," Old Su retorted, displeased. "What’s the point of bringing her back? Just to piss me off?"

"Mom," Su Shengguo said urgently. "Coaxing Erya back is nothing but beneficial for our family. Think about it. First, we’ll get that five hundred yuan back, right? It’s not safe for a kid like her to have so much money. As her elder, shouldn’t you hold onto it for her? And taking a step back, even if she refuses to hand it over, if she herself comes back to the Old Su Family, then the money naturally comes back too. We can just take it back when she’s not around. Even if she suspects something, she won’t have any proof. Don’t you agree?"

Old Su glanced at Su Shengguo, her eyes narrowed, and said nothing.

Su Shengguo continued, "And after that, Erya is getting to that age. If we try to marry her off to an idiot like before, she’ll definitely make a fuss. It would be better to find someone decent for her, someone who can pay a large betrothal gift. That way, you see, we can collect another sum of money, can’t we?"

"Plus, if our relationship with that girl improves, Fu Yuzhen naturally won’t try to trip me up, and my job will be secure. See? There are so many benefits to Erya coming back, aren’t there?"

After hearing Su Shengguo’s words, Old Su said, "I’m just afraid that girl won’t agree to come back. From what I can see, she despises our family." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"I’ll go over in a bit and talk to her. It’s perfect that Fu Yuzhen is there too. We can show her our sincerity," Su Shengguo said quickly.

"Hmph. It’s like we’re stooping to that girl’s level," Old Su grumbled, feeling very displeased.

"It’s just a temporary measure, Mom."

Old Su looked at Su Shengguo, thought for a long while, and then said, "Fine. You go give it a try."

"Alright, I’ll go right now." Having convinced Old Su, Su Shengguo quickly got up and headed toward Su Qing’s house.

Meanwhile, Su Qing and Fu Yuzhen were chatting happily in the main room. Fu Yuzhen had a great eye; the clothes she had altered for Su Qing were a perfect fit and needed no further adjustments. Seeing that Fu Yuzhen wouldn’t let her change back into her old clothes, Su Qing just kept the new outfit on. It was perfect for the current season anyway.

Fu Yuzhen smiled as she looked at the transformed Su Qing. "Later, I’ll get you some cotton and make you a padded winter coat," she said. "That way, you won’t freeze in the winter."

"Thank you, Aunt Fu." Su Qing didn’t refuse. She was terrible at making clothes, so she could only trouble Fu Yuzhen. She knew that if she offered money directly, her aunt would definitely refuse it. So, she planned to find some nice things to give Fu Yuzhen later as a gift.

Fu Yuzhen stroked Su Qing’s calloused, rough palm and said resentfully, "The entire Old Su Family is rotten to the core. And that Su Shengguo, he completely led me on back then. If I had known the Old Su Family would treat you like this, I should have taken you away with me from the start."

"Aunt Fu, don’t be angry. It’s all in the past. My life will only get better from now on," Su Qing said, trying to comfort her.

"You’re right. We’ll live a wonderful life, just to spite that family of animals," Fu Yuzhen nodded emphatically.

As the two of them were talking, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Fu Yuzhen was a bit surprised. "Who could be here at this hour?"

"I’ll go see." Su Qing got up, went to open the courtyard gate, and saw Su Shengguo standing at her doorstep.

"Uncle, is there something you need?" Su Qing’s voice was flat.

"Erya, I came to talk to you about something," Su Shengguo said, quickly forcing what he thought was a kind smile.

Seeing Su Shengguo’s fake smile, Su Qing sneered internally. ’What kind of scheme is he cooking up now?’ Su Qing was certain that Su Shengguo had a hidden motive for coming to see her.

He was the type who wouldn’t lift a finger unless there was something in it for him.

"I have nothing to say to anyone from the Old Su Family." Su Qing had no intention of letting Su Shengguo into the yard, nor did she plan on talking to him much. "You should go back. Aside from what’s stipulated in the separation agreement, I have nothing to do with the Old Su Family."

"Hey, Erya, you can’t say that. After all, you’re still part of the Old Su Family, right...?"

Before Su Shengguo could finish his sentence, Fu Yuzhen appeared, brandishing a wooden stick. "Su Shengguo, get lost, or I won’t be so polite."