Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Tan Qingjuan Becomes Suspicious

Su Qing had no intention of getting involved in Tan Qingjuan’s affairs. Besides, she wished she had never been at that corner to overhear anything. She looked at Tan Qingjuan indifferently and said coolly, "Are you blind? Can’t you see I just came down from the mountain? Why would you ask such an idiotic question?"

"You!" Tan Qingjuan was infuriated by Su Qing’s attitude. In the past, whenever she spoke to Su Qing this way, Su Qing would just lower her head without a sound. Even if she cursed her out, Su Qing would silently take it and never fight back. ’Has she had a complete personality change? Did she get a temper now that she’s split from the Old Su Family?’

"What about me? Good dogs don’t block the path, and I don’t recall us being friends." Su Qing rolled her eyes, not intending to spare Tan Qingjuan another thought. She shifted the wicker basket on her back and started for home.

"Stop right there." Tan Qingjuan quickly took a few steps to block Su Qing’s path, secretly gritting her teeth as she stared at Su Qing’s face.

Just a moment ago, when she and Liang Fushan had parted ways, he had actually asked about Su Qing. That instantly put Tan Qingjuan on high alert. ’Why would Liang Fushan suddenly ask about her?’

Tan Qingjuan had always felt superior to Su Qing. Her own family, who favored sons over daughters, had packed her off to the countryside as an educated youth and then washed their hands of her. But seeing what Su Qing went through with the Old Su Family made her feel better about her own lot. On top of that, the scar on Su Qing’s left cheek had given her, who was normally insecure about her looks, a bit of a confidence boost.

That was why Tan Qingjuan had always felt superior whenever she was around Su Qing.

But now, this same Su Qing, someone she’d always looked down upon, had somehow caught Liang Fushan’s eye. He had even specifically asked about her. This unsettled Tan Qingjuan, especially since she and Liang Fushan had just shared such an intimate moment. The fact that he turned right around and asked about Su Qing was what truly infuriated her.

But she couldn’t bring herself to question Liang Fushan about it, so she was left to brood and stew over it on her own. And then, just as she turned her head, she saw Su Qing coming down from the mountain.

’Su Qing went up the mountain, too?’

Instinctively, Tan Qingjuan felt Su Qing must have had ulterior motives for going up the mountain. So, without a second thought, she’d gone to confront her. But she never expected Su Qing to actually snap back at her!

"You tell me to stop, so I should just stop? Who do you think you are?" Su Qing shot Tan Qingjuan a glance and immediately quickened her pace.

Annoyed, Tan Qingjuan followed for a few steps, wanting to demand why Su Qing had been on the mountain. But when she saw two village women approaching in the distance, she stopped in her tracks. Now that Su Qing had split from her family, the villagers were on her side. Tan Qingjuan didn’t want to get a bad reputation among the villagers like the Old Su Family did. Besides, the people of Lihua Village weren’t very fond of the educated youth to begin with.

Tan Qingjuan could only watch Su Qing walk away. Stomping her foot in a fit of pique, she turned and headed back to the educated youth quarters.

Su Qing figured this must be her unlucky day.

She hadn’t even reached her front door when she ran into Er La Niang.

Su Qing didn’t know Er La Niang well, so she just offered a polite but distant greeting. Normally, Er La Niang wouldn’t have given Su Qing the time of day, but today, she was beaming. "Su Qing, dear, are you just back from the mountain?"

Er La Niang’s enthusiasm made Su Qing raise an eyebrow. ’As the saying goes, "Unwarranted attention means ill intent."’ Though she didn’t know what Er La Niang’s aim was, Su Qing’s guard went up. She gave a faint nod. "Yes, I just got back."

"Oh my, you’re such a hardworking girl," Er La Niang said with a smile. "It must be so hard for you all on your own. Now that you’re living by yourself, there must be a lot of things a young woman can’t handle. If there’s anything you need help with, just come find your Brother Erlai at our house. He’ll be sure to get it all sorted out for you, no problem."

Hearing this, Su Qing’s eyebrows arched even higher. She thought she might, just possibly, be starting to understand what Er La Niang was getting at.

"That won’t be necessary. The chores at home are simple enough. I don’t need to bother anyone," Su Qing said, refusing her outright.

"Oh, don’t say ’anyone’! We’re all from the same village. You two practically grew up together, so it’s no trouble at all." Er La Niang chuckled, stepping forward to grab Su Qing’s hand. "Just stop by our house when you’re free! Whatever work you have, as long as your Brother Erlai is home, he can do it for you."

Su Qing took a step back, avoiding Er La Niang’s hand. ’Heh, if she keeps this up, people will think Zhang Erlai and I are childhood sweethearts.’ "I’d rather not trouble Brother Erlai. Auntie, I still have things to do, so I’ll be heading back now."

With that, Su Qing sidestepped Er La Niang and hurried toward home.

Seeing that Su Qing completely ignored her overtures, Er La Niang was displeased. ’I was being so kind! How can that girl be so disrespectful to her elders? She’s avoiding me like the plague!’

Anger flared in Er La Niang’s heart, but the thought of the five hundred yuan Su Qing had quickly smothered the flames. ’It’s not just our family that’s short on cash; my two brothers’ families need money too. Su Qing is a fat sheep, and I have to find a way to fleece her for our family, no matter what.’

’And my own son! To think he has absolutely no interest in Su Qing. Honestly! Even if he’s not interested in the girl, how can he not be interested in the money?’

Thinking about how neither of them would listen to her, Er La Niang felt extremely frustrated.

"Well now, Er La Niang, who were you just talking to?" Just then, an old woman with the surname Zhuang ambled over and asked, "Looked to me like that Su Qing girl."

This Old Lady Zhuang had a personality much like Old Su’s. She heavily favored boys over girls, loved to browbeat her daughters-in-law, and, on top of that, was an even bigger gossip than Old Su. She loved nothing more than spreading rumors about everyone.

Seeing Old Lady Zhuang, Er La Niang chuckled. "It was indeed that Su Qing girl. We were just exchanging a few words."

"What, you’re close with that Su Qing girl?" Old Lady Zhuang really disliked Su Qing. She felt that by insisting on splitting from the family, Su Qing was being unfilial to her elders. As for Su Qing’s life with the Old Su Family, she saw nothing wrong with it at all. ’What woman doesn’t work? Besides, granddaughters are just money-losers. Since the Old Su Family raised her, she should have slaved away for them like an ox for the rest of her life. To cause such a huge fuss and even split from the family—it’s the height of unfilial impiety.’

Old Lady Zhuang glanced disdainfully at Su Qing’s retreating figure. "That girl is no good. What, are you thinking of having your Erlai marry her?"

"Ah, well... when it comes to the children’s affairs, a parent like me can’t control them. I can only go along with what they want." Er La Niang said evasively, her eyes darting shrewdly.

Old Lady Zhuang’s eyes widened the moment she heard that.

The moment Er La Niang saw Old Lady Zhuang’s reaction, she knew she’d taken the bait. She feigned a look at the sky and let out a little cry. "Oh my, it’s getting so late! I have to get home and start dinner. Aunt Zhuang, I’ll be on my way, then." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Oh, right. Go on, go on." Old Lady Zhuang nodded hastily.

Watching Er La Niang walk away, Old Lady Zhuang narrowed her eyes. She shot a contemptuous glance in the direction of Su Qing’s house, then turned and scurried off to find someone to share the gossip with.