The atmosphere was so harmonious, but in a blink of an eye, it was broken by a sudden knock on the door.
“Who is it at this hour?” Grandma Su asked curiously.
With red cloth strips hanging at the door, everyone would know that a baby had just been born, and they would definitely not knock directly.
Who is so blind and inconsiderate?
Grandma Su didn’t know, but Su Xiaotian already did.
Naturally, the reason she knew was that the jujube tree told her.
The jujube tree had reminded her three minutes ago that the two people who had spied on the yard before had reappeared.
Su Xiaotian had only thought that the purpose of these two people today was still to spy, but she didn’t expect them to directly knock on the door.
Moreover, the knocking sound was so frantic, clearly not coming with good intentions.
Does this mean they are here to cause trouble?
Although Su Xiaotian knew, she could only pretend not to know and said, “Grandma, should we go out and see?”
“Okay, I’ll go see.” Grandma Su immediately turned to go out.
Chen Zi’an was worried that Grandma Su, an elderly person, might not be able to handle it, so he also wanted to go out.
Just then, Su Xiaotian said, “Uncle, you stay inside to watch Aunt and little brother, I’ll go with Grandma!”
These two people chose to come to the door today, surely because they thought Uncle hadn’t returned yet.
Perhaps today would be a big show, and it would be boring if the show ended before it even began if Uncle went out!
Since that was the case, it would be better not to let Uncle show his face for now.
Although Chen Zi’an didn’t understand why Su Xiaotian said that, he nodded obediently.
This little girl, who knew what scheme she was up to again.
Su Xiaotian ran a few steps and caught up with Grandma Su, who had already reached the middle of the yard, and walked towards the main entrance hand in hand with her.
“Xiaotian, why are you here? Hurry back inside.”
Grandma Su didn’t know who was outside, but listening to the knocking sound, she keenly sensed that the visitor was not friendly!
As they were talking, they heard the sound of the main door being slapped loudly.
She didn’t know if this person was knocking with their hand or kicking the door with their foot.
“Coming, coming, who is it? Why are you in such a hurry?” Grandma Su responded with a frown, lest the person outside smash the main door.
Why would such an ill-mannered person do this?
Are they in a hurry to attend a funeral?
“Grandma, don’t worry, let’s walk slowly.” Su Xiaotian quickly pulled Grandma Su’s sleeve and said.
Grandma Su nodded and said, “We’re not in a hurry!”
Unwelcome guests are not guests.
Grandma Su slowly walked to the main door, and after opening it, she saw a familiar person.
The woman in front of her could only be Su Xiaoqin.
Su Xiaoqin had left Hongxin Brigade last year. After almost a year, her appearance had matured a lot, and she was prettier than before.
Su Xiaoqin had changed a lot compared to before, transforming from a country girl into a fashionable young lady in the county town.
Of course, the so-called fashionable young ladies of this era were actually just two braids, wearing a set of public security blue clothes, and a red armband on their arms.
And Su Xiaoqin was dressed like this at the moment.
Although the set of public security blue clothes, which were five-tenths new, was a bit loose, it was already a world of difference compared to her previous attire in Hongxin Brigade.
When Su Xiaoqin was in Hongxin Brigade, her clothes were all patched up.
“Xiaoqin?” Grandma Su asked in surprise, “Why did you come here?”
By intuition, Grandma Su thought that Su Xiaoqin was not doing well in the county town and had come to seek relatives.
Although she had lost hope for Su Xiaoqin, Grandma Su did not intend to blame her too much.
After all, she was still a child. Even though she had done wrong, with proper guidance, she might still change.
But Su Xiaoqin didn’t even look at Grandma Su, her demeanor was so arrogant, as if she had never known the person in front of her.
Grandma Su’s heart turned cold. She stood in front of Su Xiaoqin and blocked her.
This child had long gone astray, and she shouldn’t have been kind-hearted.
“Old woman, get out of the way. We’re here to find Su Manxiu, the one who’s been messing around!” Su Xiaoqin didn’t even give Grandma Su an extra glance.
Su Xiaoqin spoke stiffly, her tone and demeanor as if she didn’t know Grandma Su at all.
Grandma Su was instantly dumbfounded. What did Su Xiaoqin mean by this?
“Xiaoqin, Manxiu is your aunt. Why are you saying this?”
After a pause, Grandma Su asked again, “How can you say that about your aunt? How is your aunt messing around?”
Grandma Su couldn’t understand. How did her good daughter become a mess?
Her daughter and son-in-law were legally married, recognized by the state!
“I don’t have an aunt who is so shameless!” Su Xiaoqin said coldly, “Don’t try to get close to me, we have no relationship!”
The words “no relationship” deeply hurt Grandma Su’s heart. How could there be no relationship?
They were clearly from the old Su family, so how could there be no relationship?
But if there was no relationship, then so be it!
After all, this child had long gone astray.
After thinking it through, Grandma Su no longer dwelled on this matter.
However, she still couldn’t agree with Su Xiaoqin slandering her own daughter.
“One must have a conscience, Xiaoqin.” Grandma Su suppressed her anger and spoke word by word.
“Conscience? You ask me to have a conscience, but do you have one yourselves?” Su Xiaoqin said resentfully, her eyes as if poisoned.
“How are we heartless? Is it because we gave you food when you couldn’t eat that we’re heartless? Or is it because we helped you when your grandmother beat you that we’re heartless? Su Xiaoqin, you know what you’ve done, don’t assume everyone is like you just because you’re heartless!” Su Xiaotian asked with a cold smile.
Su Xiaoqin glanced deeply at Su Xiaotian, the struggle and resentment in her eyes unconcealed.
“If you really had a conscience, why did you give me such terrible food? Why is it that Su Xiaotian always gets the best, while I can only have plain soup?”
“As daughters of the Su family, why is your life so different from mine? You have the love of a whole family, while I have nothing?”
“The most hypocritical is your family. You keep saying you take care of me, but in reality? Have you really taken care of me? If you took care of me, why didn’t you take me to live in your house? Why didn’t you let me live like Su Xiaotian?”
Su Xiaoqin’s attitude of “you owe me” made Su Xiaotian laugh in anger.
Grandma Su also had her mouth half open, not knowing what to say.
What kind of logic is this? She wasn’t the daughter of their second branch, so why should she be treated the same as Xiaotian?
“Su Xiaoqin, who do you think you are? Our family doesn’t owe you anything. Taking care of you is a favor, and not doing so is our duty.”
“The reason I can eat well is because I am the biological granddaughter of my paternal grandfather and grandmother, and you are not!”
Before Su Xiaoqin could speak, the round-faced girl standing behind her, dressed similarly to her, spoke up.
“That’s where you’re wrong. The great leader taught us that all the people in the country are one family, and everyone is a brother and sister. How can you speak of closeness and distance?”
Su Xiaotian couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Who are you?
On what basis are you asking this?
“Then I’ll come to your house for a few meals later!” Su Xiaotian said sarcastically.
The girl in front of her was wearing clothes that were nine-tenths new, and she even had a light lipstick on her lips. A plum blossom brand ladies’ watch on her wrist flashed.
It was evident that she came from a family with good financial standing.
What was the meaning of such a girl following Su Xiaoqin?
“Why should you come to our house for meals?” The round-faced girl was stunned and couldn’t help but retort.
“The great leader taught us that all the people in the country are one family, and everyone is a brother and sister. How can you ask such a question?” Su Xiaotian shot back.
The round-faced girl was choked and speechless.
“You’re so glib!” The round-faced girl said after a long pause.
“Being glib is better than being unreasonable. What is your business here today? If you have no business, we will not entertain you!”
Su Xiaotian spoke as if she was about to close the door.
The round-faced girl pushed the door open with her hand.
“We are here to find Su Manxiu today.”
“My aunt doesn’t want to see you.” Su Xiaotian said impolitely.
“Whether she sees you or not is not up to her. According to our understanding, Comrade Su Manxiu gave birth less than ten months after getting married. We have reason to believe that she got pregnant by messing around.”
As the round-faced girl spoke, her eyes were filled with contempt and unwillingness.
Su Xiaotian could understand the contempt, but where did this unwillingness come from?
“You’re just a young girl, why are you speaking so nastily?” Grandma Su couldn’t help but ask.
How are the girls in the county town different from those in the countryside?
“Are you saying I can’t say what your daughter did?” The round-faced girl retorted immediately.
This old aunt looked like she understood the rules, but she raised such a shameless daughter, which meant she wasn’t good either.
Perhaps it was true that like mother, like daughter.
She had always wondered why Minister Chen insisted on marrying Su Manxiu, a second-time bride. It turned out they had already been together.
It was no wonder that Su Manxiu lived here before she married Minister Chen.
Why was she so foolish back then that she didn’t even think of these things? If she had thought of them earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the opportunity.
The round-faced girl blushed and felt hot when she thought of Chen Zi’an.
She liked Chen Zi’an so much that she was obsessed with him, but in the end, Chen Zi’an married a second-time bride and didn’t want her, a maiden.
Recently, Su Xiaoqin also learned that Su Manxiu had given birth so early.
After calculating, she realized there was something fishy. Su Manxiu’s child was definitely conceived at the wrong time. These two people must have been together long ago.
“You’re a young girl, why are you speaking so nastily? What did my daughter do? For you to slander her like this?”
Grandma Su was so angry that her face turned red, wishing she could rush forward and tear the round-faced girl’s mouth apart.
However, the round-faced girl had a red armband on her arm, and she didn’t want to cause trouble.
Forget it, it’s better not to say anything more to such a person.
“You get lost, don’t stand at my door!” Grandma Su said sternly for once.
“We must go in and speak clearly with Su Manxiu today!” The round-faced girl’s attitude was also very firm.
She had inquired for a long time and only then found out that Chen Zi’an had gone on a business trip recently and had not returned.
This was a rare opportunity for her. As long as she forced Su Manxiu to admit to messing around and agreed to divorce Chen Zi’an, she would have a chance.
Although it was not proper to go to the door and say such things to a woman who had just given birth and was recuperating, she would have no chance when Chen Zi’an returned.
Today, she had to get in.
Su Xiaotian had already seen the meaning of the girl in front of her, and a slight smile crossed her lips.
So this was Uncle’s troublesome peach blossom!
It was also true that for someone like Uncle, it would be strange if he didn’t have a few troublesome peach blossoms.
“Are you sure you want to go in?” Su Xiaotian asked calmly.
“Absolutely must go in!”
Su Xiaotian pulled Grandma Su and said, “Grandma, let them in!”
She wanted to see what they could do even if they went in.
What would Uncle’s attitude be when facing this troublesome peach blossom?
Grandma Su was unwilling to let them in to slander Su Manxiu like this and wanted to say something more, but Su Xiaotian stopped her.
“Grandma, look, they’re wearing red armbands. If we don’t let them in, who knows what else might happen later.”
Su Xiaotian’s voice was very low, but it was loud enough for the round-faced girl and Su Xiaoqin to hear clearly.
“Sister Xiang Hong, don’t pay attention to this dead girl. She’s been sharp-tongued and malicious since she was a child!” Su Xiaoqin quickly said ingratiatingly to Xiang Hong.
She harbored immense malice towards Su Xiaotian, wishing she could slap Su Xiaotian’s beautiful, fair, and tender face.
Clearly a wild girl from the countryside, why was she so beautiful?
Even after living in the city for so long, her skin was much darker and rougher than Su Xiaotian’s.
If only she had the chance to ruin Su Xiaotian’s face!
But now was not the time.
Sister Xiang Hong’s family had a very high status. As long as she pleased Sister Xiang Hong, she would surely achieve her goal and completely ruin Su Xiaotian.
“We’re going in!” The round-faced girl, Xiang Hong, glanced at Su Xiaotian and turned towards Chen Zi’an’s yard.
This was Xiang Hong’s first time entering Chen Zi’an’s house. She had tried to follow Chen Zi’an several times before, but Chen Zi’an had refused.
Looking around, the jujube trees in the yard were already covered with green dates, hanging in clusters, looking very pleasing to the eye.
The small yard was neat and tidy, with warmth emanating from every corner, showing that the owner of the house lived a comfortable and carefree life.
In the small garden, various vegetables and flowers grew luxuriantly, as if showcasing the owner’s vibrant life.
All this original beauty was so glaring in Xiang Hong’s eyes that she wished she could destroy it all.
How could this be?
How could that second-time bride live such a comfortable life?
This yard should have belonged to her, and only she was worthy of being the mistress of this yard!
Su Manxiu was not worthy!
Jealousy consumed her heart and reason.
In a fit of indignation, Xiang Hong’s already irritable temper finally could not be suppressed.
“Su Manxiu, you slut, come out here!”
Su Xiaotian couldn’t help but hold her forehead. This was truly a girl with no foresight. Why provoke them directly? Wouldn’t it be better to sow discord?
Being so blatant, wouldn’t people laugh at her when they heard?
Be a pure white lotus, okay?
Or maybe a cup of premium Biluochun would be nice!
With so many choices, why choose to be a firecracker?
Su Xiaotian thought and pushed the main door open a little.
“Xiaotian, why did you open the door?” Grandma Su asked in a low voice.
“Let them see!” Su Xiaotian said briskly and naturally.
She didn’t believe that an unmarried girl would be so shameless.
Grandma Su said nothing more. It was good to let them see. Were the young girls nowadays so shameless?
She clearly had her eyes on her good son-in-law, and she dared to come to her daughter’s door to find fault!
At this moment, several of Chen Zi’an’s neighbors had already heard the commotion and were peeking around.
Su Xiaotian’s actions naturally made them see more clearly and boldly.
“Grandma, you go!” Su Xiaotian gestured.
Grandma Su immediately understood Su Xiaotian’s meaning. She quickly hurried towards Su Xiaoqin and Xiang Hong.
“Oh, why are you like this? You barge into our house and shout loudly. What if you scare my little baby?”
“Daughter, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. My daughter is still recuperating and cannot come out.”
“Daughter, what is it? Tell me, your old woman, alright? I’m begging you!”
Grandma Su displayed her wronged side to the fullest.
“Pah, a slut, and she’s still recuperating?” Xiang Hong cursed angrily.
That woman had a child, and it was Chen Zi’an’s child. Every time she thought about it, she felt incredibly distressed.
“My daughter and my son-in-law are legally married with a certificate. How is she a slut in your eyes?” Grandma Su said tearfully, wiping the corners of her eyes with her sleeve.
Su Xiaotian almost wanted to give her grandmother a thumbs-up. She was also a master!
This level was so much higher than this girl named Xiang Hong.
She had underestimated her grandmother’s abilities before!
She secretly signaled her grandmother to keep going.
She herself sat on a stone stool in the corner, swinging her legs and watching the show.
She even thought that if she had a plate of melon seeds in front of her, it would be even more perfect!
Grandma Su cried, but it didn’t stop her from speaking.
“Daughter, how important is a woman’s reputation? As a woman, how can you not know? Are you not ashamed to slander my daughter with such baseless accusations?”
Xiang Hong sneered, “How long have you and your son-in-law been married before your daughter gave birth? Do I need to say more?”
“Daughter, you’re not married, so how can you know that the time a woman carries a baby also varies?” Grandma Su said this with full confidence.
Ten months of pregnancy was correct, but there was a slight fluctuation before and after, and many people gave birth at nine months.
Moreover, many people knew that Manxiu was born prematurely.
“Hmph, sophistry. Since ancient times, it has been ten months of pregnancy. I haven’t heard of different times.” Xiang Hong was also full of confidence.
But as soon as she said this, she was proven wrong.
“This daughter, what you said is also incorrect. It’s not uncommon for someone to give birth prematurely at seven months, and it’s not necessarily ten months.”
“Exactly. According to this logic, wouldn’t many women who give birth be considered sluts?”
Two aunts who were listening outside the door said in unison.
“My daughter-in-law’s first child was born at eight and a half months, and the second child was just nine months old.”
“My daughter’s two children were born less than nine months after pregnancy.”
“When I gave birth to my eldest, I was young and ignorant. I fell on the road at over seven months and gave birth.”
…
The women watching chattered.
They naturally knew what Xiang Hong was here for. She had her eyes on someone else’s man and wanted to use this method to force the legitimate wife to leave?
Too shameless!
Are the daughters of today so shameless?
However, when they saw the bright red armband on Xiang Hong’s arm, they suddenly understood something!
Xiang Hong had only heard of ten months of pregnancy. After calculating, Su Manxiu gave birth only eight months after marriage, so she felt justified and came to find trouble with Su Manxiu.
But what were these women saying?
Giving birth at eight months, seven months, why was it different from what she knew?
“What are you talking nonsense about? The doctor said it’s ten months of pregnancy. Can I still wrongly accuse Su Manxiu?” Xiang Hong argued in a flustered manner.
The people around could also see that Xiang Hong was not easy to deal with, so many of them dared not speak.
Someone said, “Daughter, you’re not clear about this matter since you’re not married. Why don’t you go home and ask your elders.”
At this time, people needed to work, and few people had full-term pregnancies.
Moreover, even if they were truly pregnant, the gestation period was only 280 days, which calculated to a little over nine months.
A slight premature birth would actually be over eight months.
Any woman who had given birth knew this common sense.
However, Xiang Hong didn’t know. She liked Chen Zi’an and was always thinking of Chen Zi’an, and never considered whether Su Manxiu’s child was appropriate or not.
Coupled with Su Xiaoqin’s instigation, she came to Su Manxiu.
“You don’t want to confuse the issue. I want to see Su Manxiu. I will definitely make her admit that she is a slut!” Xiang Hong said with full confidence.
If Su Manxiu didn’t admit it, she would bring more people tonight and tie Su Manxiu up directly. She wouldn’t be afraid that she wouldn’t admit it.
“How am I a slut? You’re an unmarried girl who has taken a liking to my man. What kind of behavior is that? Aren’t you a slut?” Su Manxiu, wrapped tightly, stood under the eaves and asked softly.
But although her voice was gentle, her questioning tone was very strong!
She also knew that if this matter was not clarified today, by tomorrow, the entire county would know that Minister Chen’s wife was a slut.
“You’re talking nonsense. When did I take a liking to Minister Chen?”
Su Manxiu glanced at Xiang Hong. This girl was far inferior to the young widow Liu Xiaocui, completely lacking in lethality.
“Are you sure you don’t have a liking for my man? Who asked someone to propose to my man before we got married? Who actively approached my man and threw herself into his arms? Xiang Hong, how many times has my man clearly rejected you? Do you dare to tell everyone?” Su Manxiu’s voice carried a chilling coldness that penetrated to the bone.
Her words made Xiang Hong blush. She had liked Chen Zi’an for a long time and had begged her family to propose to Chen Zi’an, and she had also actively shown favor to Chen Zi’an.
But how did Su Manxiu know?
Some things happened before Su Manxiu appeared, and some things happened when Su Manxiu didn’t know.
Su Manxiu should not have known these things!
How could she know that Chen Zi’an, whom she longed for, was in the house at this very moment?
Su Manxiu knew these things because Chen Zi’an had just confessed them to her.
[Author’s Note]
Many babies have said that the update is a bit slow. Today, I have a bit more time and have been working very hard to write. I finally have six thousand words. I hope all the babies will continue to support the author!