On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the old Su family rose early to eat longevity noodles as per tradition.
The entire family ate and chatted lively in the main hall, discussing their hopes for the new year and reminding Su Shouwen and his brothers not to cause trouble in the capital.
Seeing the lively scene, Grandma Su couldn't help but sigh.
Su Manxiu knew that her mother was missing Su Manxiang.
Although Su Manxiang had made many mistakes in the past, she was still the child her mother had doted on since childhood.
"Mother, why don't Third Brother and I go to town to see Manxiang later?"
After a moment of silence, Grandma Su shook her head and said, "Let's not go. Manxiang's temper..."
She knew her daughter too well. If they went to her now, it would surely lead to more trouble.
Su Manxiu didn't say much more, but secretly planned to visit Su Manxiang on their way back to the county town.
Before the meal was finished, they suddenly heard a thudding sound at the door.
Su Xiaojiu ran to open it, only to see an unfamiliar person standing at the entrance.
"Is this Su Chuan's house?"
The visitor was polite and did not slight Su Xiaojiu because of his young age.
"Yes, are you looking for my grandfather?" Su Xiaojiu politely invited the person in.
After entering the main hall, the visitor looked at the lively scene inside, his lips moved as if the words he was about to speak were difficult to utter.
"Who are you..." Grandpa Su asked, putting down his chopsticks.
"Are you Old Man Su? I'm from the Kang family in town."
The Kang family?
Almost everyone shivered at the mention of the Kang family.
For so many years, no one from the Kang family had ever come to their old Su family's doorstep.
Why had they come suddenly today? Had something happened?
"Old Man Su, I am Kang Renyi, Kang Shao's nephew."
Kang Shao, the adults of the old Su family knew, was Kang Rende's father.
Why had someone from the old Kang family come?
"What happened?" Grandma Su's heart suddenly began to pound.
"The old Kang family caught fire, and the whole family..." Kang Shao couldn't continue. Not a single member of the family had survived.
Especially Su Manxiu, who had already reached the door, but was burned to death leaning against the main gate.
The thought of that scene was heartbreaking.
"Are they all injured?" Grandma Su asked with a trembling voice.
Although she suspected it wasn't good news, Grandma Su still held onto a sliver of hope as she asked.
Kang Renyi shook his head sadly.
The old Su family fell silent, the warm atmosphere of a moment ago vanishing instantly.
An hour later, Grandpa Su and Grandma Su, accompanied by their children, arrived in town.
The three eldest grandchildren came, while the younger ones were left with Su Taohua.
Su Xiaotian insisted on going, worried that Grandpa and Grandma Su wouldn't be able to cope with such a blow.
Liang Xiu eventually decided to bring Su Xiaotian but stopped the other children from following.
For some reason, she felt that having her daughter there would help her in-laws feel better.
In town.
The house that originally belonged to the Kang family had been burned to ruins, and even the neighboring houses showed signs of being affected by the fire.
It was evident that the neighboring family had only been slightly affected due to timely firefighting.
Seven or eight charred bodies lay in a row on a cleared flat area.
The bodies were so burnt that their original appearances were unrecognizable.
Grandma Su only glanced at them. Before a single tear could fall, before a single wail could escape her lips, she fainted dead away.
Su Manxiu and Liang Xiu, with quick reflexes, rushed to support Grandma Su on either side.
No one had expected such a scene.
The deceased had not even a single intact body...
"In-laws, you've arrived?" An elder in his fifties walked over and greeted Grandpa Su.
Although they hadn't seen each other for some years, Grandpa Su knew this was Kang Zhao, Kang Shao's brother.
Grandpa Su suppressed his grief and greeted Kang Zhao, then his gaze returned to the corpses.
His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately, not a single word came out.
Su Xiaotian stepped forward and gently held Grandpa Su's hand.
She saw that Grandpa was murmuring her aunt's name.
Her heart couldn't help but tremble. She had been too naive before.
Even though the two families had severed ties, how could blood relations be severed?
Grandpa Su's hand was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth.
But when his granddaughter reached out, he instinctively tightened his grip a little.
Su Xiaotian felt a pain in her hand, but she stoically endured it.
"In-laws, since you've come, we need to discuss the funeral arrangements."
Grandpa Su didn't quite understand and looked at Kang Zhao hesitantly, as if not grasping his meaning.
"In-laws, the dead must be buried with dignity. Look, the whole family... we can't just leave them lying here, can we?"
Kang Zhao's words struck an unpleasant chord with everyone present.
The old Kang family was considered a prominent family. Kang Shao had three sons and three daughters. He and his wife lived with their youngest son, Kang Rende.
This time, the entire family, from the oldest to the youngest, had not been spared.
However, Kang Shao's eldest and second sons' families lived separately and were all fine.
The Kang family still had living members. Regardless, the funeral arrangements could not be handed over to the old Su family.
But Kang Shao's eldest and second sons did not show up, only sending their uncle Kang Zhao to represent them, and then attempting to push the funeral arrangements onto the old Su family.
The surrounding people felt that the Kang family was utterly shameless.
"Uncle Kang Er, look at the way you're speaking. Does the old Kang family have no one left?" Su Laoda, feeling extremely displeased, directly retorted.
"What kind of talk is that, child? Your sister's affairs are your family's affairs!" Kang Zhao said disapprovingly, speaking to Su Laoda with a tone of sincere advice.
Su Laoda had already seen through the intentions of the old Kang family and let out a cold snort.
"Uncle Kang Er, don't blame me for speaking bluntly. My sister has been married into the old Kang family for so many years, bearing children. Even though she's gone now, it's hardly our family's responsibility to handle the funeral, is it?"
Su Laoda was not afraid of offending Kang Zhao and clearly expressed his displeasure.
"What you say is true, but with the entire family gone..."
Uncle Kang Er put on a troubled expression. His petty demeanor made Su Laoda very uncomfortable.
If it weren't for the fact that he was an elder, he would have surely lost his temper.
"Let Kang's eldest and second sons come out and speak. Their father is their father, their mother is their mother, and their brothers are their brothers. Are they still waiting for us?" Su Lao Er also said angrily.
No wonder they had rushed to their Hongxin Brigade early in the morning to deliver the message. It turned out they were waiting for them to arrange the funeral.
Who knew where the old Kang family got such nerve!
"They are suffering from misfortune and have fallen ill!"
Su Laosan let out a cold laugh.
"Wife, Eldest Sister, we've seen enough. Let's help Mother and Father back."
Kang Zhao hadn't expected the old Su family to leave without a word after just one look.
How could this be?
He had heard that the old Su family was wealthy now. They had hoped to get the old Su family to pay for the funeral expenses, and perhaps even get a little extra.
If the people were gone like this, wouldn't everything be lost?
"In-laws, you can't leave. I know there were some misunderstandings between your two families years ago, but blood is thicker than water. You are family after all."
Kang Zhao's words were eloquent, but despite their eloquence, the old Su family members were extremely displeased.
"In-laws, I won't hide it from you. The eldest and second sons are having a hard time. Having to send off so many people at once has caused their families to argue incessantly."
As Kang Zhao spoke, he cautiously stole glances at the expressions of the old Su family members.
However, he only saw silence on their faces.
He had forgotten that all the ties between the old Su family and the old Kang family were maintained through Su Manxiang.
And now that Su Manxiang was gone, and even her children were gone, the ties were gone as well.
They were strangers. How the Kang family lived had nothing to do with the Su family.
"In-laws, we must consider the living. We can't let the eldest and second sons' lives be ruined over such a small matter!"
After Su Xiaotian's eyes darted around, she turned and whispered something to Su Shouwen.
Su Shouwen immediately understood. He stepped forward and said, "Uncle Kang Er, it's not impossible for our old Su family to step in."
With these words, almost everyone's gaze turned to Su Shouwen.
Even the onlookers wondered if this child was perhaps something else.
He looked like a decent person, so why was he so foolish?
Of course, some people also felt that the old Su family was righteous and kind.
Kang Zhao's gaze involuntarily showed a hint of joy. His eyes inadvertently drifted towards a certain spot.
Su Xiaotian was observing Kang Zhao. Following his gaze, she indeed saw several familiar figures hiding in a nearby corner.
Heh, they were really treating their own family like fools.
The Su brothers were anxious and felt that Su Shouwen was being foolish.
How could they agree to this?
Kang Rende was not a son-in-law who had married into the family.
Moreover, even if Kang Rende had married into the family, would the old Su family still help bury his parents?
There was no such logic in the world!
Su Shouwen gave his father, Su Laoda, a look, then said loudly, "My uncle by marriage works at the supply and marketing cooperative. I'll go to the cooperative now to ask the leaders."
At these words, Kang Zhao's heart suddenly sank.
What did these words mean?
"What are you going to the supply and marketing cooperative for, child?" Kang Zhao quickly asked. "Why bother the leaders with something you can solve yourself!"
"It's not bothering the leaders, it's just asking them. After all, my uncle by marriage has no other relatives. Why not return his job to the state? I believe the supply and marketing cooperative would be willing to provide some funeral expenses."
As Su Shouwen spoke, he observed carefully. Indeed, he saw Kang Zhao's expression change drastically. Clearly, he had not expected Su Shouwen to say such a thing.
Without waiting for Kang Zhao to reply, he continued, "Oh, I remember, if a working staff member like my uncle by marriage passes away, the unit usually provides funeral expenses!"
This was a test, but for Kang Zhao, it was like a bolt from the blue.
Did the old Su family even know this?
After speaking, Su Shouwen ignored Kang Zhao and walked towards the supply and marketing cooperative.
As Su Shouwen passed, Kang Zhao grabbed him.
"You child, why are you really going to find the leaders? Leaders are busy all day. You're really so tactless!"
"I'm tactless? Then how about this: Ladies and gentlemen, since the old Kang family doesn't even have anyone to help with the funeral, it shows they are truly alone. If anyone is interested in my uncle by marriage's job, they can provide funeral expenses for this family and register it at the supply and marketing cooperative to take over."
Su Shouwen spoke with a serious expression, as if he truly thought this way and it could indeed be done.
Indeed, several people around were tempted.
Who wouldn't be tempted?
The supply and marketing cooperative was a good unit. It was not easy to get someone in. Although paying funeral expenses for a family was a bit more money, it was worthwhile to get a job.
"Su family boy, if you say it, does it count?" someone asked tentatively.
A voice emerged before Su Shouwen could speak.
"Of course, what he says doesn't count. My brother's job, how can an outsider like him decide?"
Everyone looked over. This person was none other than Kang Rende's elder brother, Kang Renxian.
The Kang family members had such good names, like Xian and De, but not a single one possessed virtue.
"Your brother? If an outsider like me can't decide on your brother's job, why should I be the one to handle the funeral?" Su Shouwen's words were full of sarcasm.
Kang Renxian, a grown man, was lectured by a child who hadn't even grown a full beard, and his face immediately turned red.
He puffed out his chest and said, "We're not expecting you to handle your brother's funeral. Your aunt and the children your aunt bore, you old Su family can take them. I'll be responsible for the rest!"
This person said it as if it were a matter of course, as if he were bestowing a great favor upon the old Su family.
Everyone present immediately started discussing, hearing such a thing for the first time. It was too funny!
Because it was so funny, even Wang Xianghua couldn't help but let out a light laugh: "Heh!"
"What are you laughing at, woman?"
Wang Xianghua chuckled, "I've never heard such a joke in my life."
Kang Rende had already heard the surrounding people discussing how their family was being unethical.
"I'll go to the commune right now to ask if there's any such principle in this world. My sister married into the Kang family many years ago, bore children, and my nephews are also the Kang family's kin. Why should they be ours?"
She had learned a lot from her time at the chicken farm and knew how to raise a banner.
The other party clearly hadn't expected the old Su family to demand to go to the commune.
Was the commune a place that was so easy to go to? If people from the commune intervened, this matter might not proceed as they wished.
If this woman really went to the commune, it would likely cause a lot of trouble!
No!
"Why go to the commune? This is our family's private matter. What are you, a woman, doing butting in?" Kang Laoda said with his neck stiffened.
"What's wrong with being a woman? You, a grown man, are not as reasonable as a woman. Am I not allowed to speak? Besides, the great leader once said that men and women are equal. You can talk nonsense, so why can't I speak reason?"
Wang Xianghua was already a sharp-tongued person. With a rapid-fire retort, she completely silenced Kang Laoda.
Kang Laoda's face turned red, his mouth opened and closed several times, but he couldn't utter a single word.
[Author's Note]
Babies, throw your votes at me! If there are many votes, I'll add more tomorrow, okay?