Su Xiaotian felt that Su Manxiu's book had some stiff parts and the imagination wasn't wild enough.
However, it was only slightly lacking.
For that period of time, it was already a very rare work.
If the manuscript could be revised and organized, and the unreasonable parts improved, it would probably take half a year.
Submitting it within half a year would be just right.
This book had a high chance of being serialized or published.
This way, her aunt could transform into a cultured person instead of a housewife.
Su Manxiu had no idea that Su Xiaotian had so many thoughts in her mind.
She thought these manuscripts were just random scribbles, and she didn't know why she had so many whimsical ideas in her head at that time.
Such messy stuff could be shown to her own children, but how could it be published as a novel?
"Xiaotian, forget it. I don't think it's possible. I haven't even gone to school."
As Su Manxiu said this, she even lowered her head.
She had never been a confident person, even though Chen Zi'an had been in her life for the past two years, making her life very smooth.
However, the deep-seated inferiority complex from childhood still affected her, and she still lacked confidence.
Su Xiaotian understood Su Manxiu and knew what she was thinking.
But she wasn't too worried. Although her aunt was still not a confident person, she had improved a lot compared to a few years ago, hadn't she?
"Aunt, if you don't believe me, just let us read the manuscript. If my brothers and I all think it's good, will you submit it?"
Su Xiaotian thought for a moment and said, it would be a good opportunity to point out the shortcomings, which would help her aunt revise it better.
Although Chen Zi'an didn't quite believe in Su Xiaotian's judgment as a young girl, he still took the manuscript with great interest.
He planned to praise her thoroughly if the writing was acceptable.
After all, it was his wife's work, so he had to praise it.
However, as he read it word by word, the text deeply shocked Chen Zi'an.
He never knew his wife had so many amazing ideas; it was simply incredible.
Would technology really develop to this point one day?
If technology could develop to such an extent, how prosperous and strong would the country become?
The usually steady Chen Zi'an became uncharacteristically excited.
Seeing her husband's expression, Su Manxiu became more and more uneasy.
She asked hesitantly, "Is it not good?"
"Xiu, it's too good, too good, do you know?"
Chen Zi'an's voice was filled with excitement as he spoke.
"You are simply a genius, Xiu'er, you are a genius."
If it weren't for his mother-in-law and nieces and nephews present, Chen Zi'an would have hugged Su Manxiu and kissed her heartily.
Su Xiaotian smiled, looking at Chen Zi'an like this.
They were children, and Su Manxiu might not believe their words, but Chen Zi'an was different.
"Really? You're not comforting me?" Su Manxiu asked hesitantly.
"It's really good, Xiu'er. Although I've only read a few pages, I'm already captivated," Chen Zi'an said firmly.
Su Manxiu didn't quite believe her nephews and nieces.
But her husband's words filled Su Manxiu with confidence, and she decided to seriously revise the manuscript when she got back.
However, Su Manxiu didn't have much time and energy in the short term; she had to leave with Chen Zi'an.
Before she left, Su Xiaotian had already finished reading the entire novel.
Overall, she had also sorted out the problems she had found.
When Su Manxiu saw the problems and suggestions compiled by Su Xiaotian, she was overjoyed.
"Xiaotian, thank you so much. You mentioned these things, and I felt there were problems when I was writing them," Su Manxiu excitedly hugged and kissed Su Xiaotian.
The little one, Chen Xiuyuan, saw this and quickly came over.
"Mom, Mom, kiss, kiss," the little one hugged Su Manxiu's thigh, struggling to get Su Manxiu to kiss him.
After asking Su Manxiu, Chen Xiuyuan also said to Su Xiaotian, "Mom, mine, mine!"
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but laugh, then hugged Su Manxiu's arm and said, "Aunt, mine, mine."
Su Manxiu laughed, watching the two children, one big and one small, playfully interacting.
The happy life she had never imagined before was right beside her, so what else could she be dissatisfied with?
She kissed her son heavily.
Before leaving, Chen Zi'an and Su Manxiu wanted to sell the courtyard they were currently living in.
They didn't have much savings, and there would be many expenses in the new place. If this courtyard could be sold, their hands would be a bit looser.
As soon as they mentioned this idea, it was opposed by Su Xiaotian.
"Uncle, do you remember? I said before that you should never sell this courtyard."
"Why?" Chen Zi'an asked, confused.
"There's a reason, but I can't say it now. In another year or two, Uncle, you'll know."
Although they didn't know why in the end, Chen Zi'an remembered that Su Xiaotian had said this a few years ago. This child wasn't someone who spoke carelessly, so there must be a reason for her to say this.
In the end, the couple decided to keep the courtyard and live in it when they returned to their hometown.
As for the current financial tightness, it was still manageable.
With the promotion, their salary would also increase a bit.
If there was an opportunity, Manxiu could also find a job, and then with both of them earning money, they could get by.
Grandma Su probably also realized the real reason why Chen Zi'an and Su Manxiu wanted to sell the house.
She privately gave Su Manxiu a hundred yuan and a thick stack of ration coupons.
Su Manxiu refused to accept it.
As a daughter, she felt guilty for not being able to support her parents, so how could she let her family subsidize her?
"Mom, this won't do. It's not easy for you to save this money, how can I take it?"
Although the family's conditions were good now, it was not easy for her mother to save so much money.
"Take it. I'm giving it to you because I have it," Grandma Su said with a smile, handing the money back to her daughter.
"Mom, you always subsidize me. Even if my sisters-in-law don't say anything, they must be uncomfortable in their hearts."
"Your sisters-in-law are not foolish; they know what's important. In the past few years, haven't you and Zi'an helped our family a lot, both openly and secretly?"
Grandma Su sighed. On the surface, she would give Su Manxiu meat and eggs, but in reality, Chen Zi'an helped them much more.
Not to mention anything else, in the past two years, Qi Liangying and Liang Xiu had been getting along better and better at the factory, all thanks to Chen Zi'an behind the scenes.
Without Chen Zi'an's support, they wouldn't have been so smooth sailing in the factory.
Not to mention that the third child, in just a few years, had already risen to the position of deputy team leader in the car team.
"Xiu'er, your brothers and sisters-in-law are sensible people. If they weren't helping us, you wouldn't be in a situation where you couldn't even save money."
Grandma Su said these words very seriously.
In the past few years, Grandma Su had given Su Manxiu some ration coupons, but very little money.
Chen Zi'an had a job and a decent salary, but because he always had to take care of the orphans of several comrades, he was not well-off in terms of ration coupons.
But every time they received ration coupons, Chen Zi'an and Su Manxiu always thought of reciprocating.
Every time they sent them scarce items that could only be bought through special channels.
They even found ways to give benefits to Director Li and the people in the car team.
These things cost quite a bit of money.
Su Manxiu originally planned to do things quietly, but she didn't expect her mother to say it directly, so she stopped protesting.
"Xiu'er, now that you're leaving, we mothers and daughters might not see each other for a long time. Having money in hand will give you more confidence," Grandma Su said again with earnest words.
After all, it was a hard fact that her daughter couldn't earn money, which was Grandma Su's concern.
In recent years, her daughters-in-law could all earn money, which made her feel more strongly that her daughter should have a proper profession.
Su Manxiu no longer refused; she accepted the money and coupons.
"Mom, consider this a loan from you. I will definitely return it to you in the future."
Grandma Su said with heartache, "Silly child, what are you talking about?"
"Mom, since this courtyard is not being sold, someone needs to look after it. I'm afraid it will be a lot of trouble for you again," Su Manxiu said.
"What's there to trouble about? Don't worry, I'll come over every few days to air it out and clean it. It's not difficult," Grandma Su readily agreed.
"If anyone wants to rent it, you can rent it out as you see fit. It can also help a little!" Su Manxiu added.
Grandma Su also readily agreed.
Afterward, amidst the reluctant farewells of Grandma Su, Su Xiaotian, and others, Chen Zi'an's family of three set off for the south.
This was originally a very ordinary matter, at least in Su Xiaotian's opinion.
In her understanding, regardless of whether her aunt and uncle were in the county or not, it didn't have much impact on their lives.
However, she didn't expect that trouble would find them just three days after her uncle left the county.
But this trouble didn't come to their home, but to the school.
Duan Xingguo's mother went to the school and directly to the principal's office.
She had only one question, insisting that Su Xiao Ba had beaten her son and demanding that the school punish Su Xiao Ba.
Principal Guo didn't take the matter of the two children sparring very seriously.
After all, it was just children fighting and playing.
Besides, Su Xiao Ba hadn't injured Duan Xingguo; he had only stepped on him, causing him to lose face.
But now, Duan Xingguo's mother, Chang Huiyun, came to the school aggressively and in an unyielding manner, which truly made Principal Guo difficult.
However, he still patiently explained.
"Comrade Chang Huiyun, it was just a sparring match between children. Although Su Xiao Ba won against student Duan Xingguo, he did not cause any substantial harm."
Chang Huiyun couldn't listen to any of this. The moment she heard that her son had been stepped on, she wanted to come to the school.
However, her husband had said that the Su family relied on Chen Zi'an.
Chen Zi'an was someone not to be provoked in the county. Several families that had provoked Chen Zi'an had already declined.
In Duan Xingguo's father's words, the Duan family could not afford to provoke such a powerful opponent.
Although Chang Huiyun was stopped by her husband, she actually didn't listen at all.
She was constantly thinking about when she could get revenge for her son.
"I know, you are the uncle of this young man from the Su family. But you have to see clearly, the local official is not as powerful as the former official. That Chen Zi'an has already been transferred."
Chang Huiyun sat in the chair with an arrogant attitude that didn't seem like the wife of an ordinary minor official in the county, but rather like a foreign first lady, which made Principal Guo very uncomfortable.
"That's true, but Minister Chen..."
Before Principal Guo could finish speaking, Chang Huiyun slammed the table and stood up.
"Principal Guo, you should know your place. You should know who is in charge in the county now. Our Duan family has many people in politics."
Principal Guo hadn't heard such a blatant threat in years.
His expression was not good, but it was only his expression!
"Principal Guo, if you handle these children from the Su family as I say, I won't pursue the school's responsibility!"
"Comrade Chang Huiyun, you should think before you speak. These children are students in the school, and I have no reason to punish them!"
Principal Guo was so angry when he said these words that he couldn't believe there were still such unreasonable people in the world.
The Duan family was not considered a prominent family in the county; they were just well-off, and a few minor officials had emerged from their family.
But as the previous prominent families fell one by one, the Duan family began to stand out.
Unexpectedly, a family that had just prospered was so unreasonable. If they really developed in the future, would there be any way for others to live?
Principal Guo didn't have any ill feelings towards the Duan family before, but now he suddenly felt that the Duan family might not be a good family.
They didn't dare to make a move when Chen Zi'an was in the county, but as soon as Chen Zi'an left, they immediately moved to attack his relatives.
Such people were despicable!
But Principal Guo didn't dare to say these words.
If the women of the Duan family were unreasonable, it could be seen that the men of the Duan family supporting them were probably not broad-minded.
He was just a small middle school principal, how could he provoke people from these prominent families?
However, expelling all the children from the Su family was not something he could do.
Even if it wasn't for Chen Zi'an, just for the sake of a few students who could bring honor to the school, he couldn't do that.
Principal Guo felt that he should try his best to protect the children of the Su family.
"Comrade Chang Huiyun, I know you love your son dearly, but so much time has passed, and student Duan Xingguo is in perfect health. Why bother with this?"
When he said this, Principal Guo had lost his patience and was speaking while forcefully suppressing his frustration.
Chang Huiyun let out a cold laugh, her meaning very clear: she never intended to end it so easily.
"Principal Guo, you should know what kind of family our Duan family is in the county. I believe you should know who to stand on the side of and make your choice!"
This was a direct coercion for Principal Guo to make a decision.
Principal Guo felt very uncomfortable. The current achievements of the County No. 1 Middle School were due to him, but he was just a "stinky old scholar" who could be overthrown at any moment.
He felt sorry for the talented children and was also annoyed by his own lack of ability.
If the children from the Su family were gone, what would happen to the college entrance examination rate of the County No. 1 Middle School?
He didn't know how many would get into college.
But it was certain that they would not be able to achieve the top one, two, or three rankings in the province.
"Comrade Chang Huiyun, don't you know that although Minister Chen has been transferred to the south, he has been promoted? If he returns one day, it won't be the current ministerial position!"
Principal Guo suddenly thought of this possibility and was still painstakingly explaining this to Chang Huiyun.
Chang Huiyun didn't care whether Chen Zi'an was promoted or demoted.
She only knew that her son had been wronged and had to get even.
Even if he was promoted, wouldn't he be back in a year or two?
Therefore, she didn't listen to any advice and insisted that Principal Guo expel all the children from the Su family.
"Principal Guo, why bother for a few irrelevant children? If you don't expel those mud-legged children from the Su family, I will make you leave the County No. 1 Middle School."
Principal Guo fell silent.
The news that Duan Xingguo's mother had come to the school demanding that Su Xiao Ba and others be dealt with quickly spread throughout the school.
Although the students were young, their ability to spread gossip was not weak at all.
In just over ten minutes, the news had spread widely throughout the school and reached Su Xiaotian's class.
Su Xiao Ba didn't expect that after so many days, such a sequela would arise.
The Duan family was forcing Principal Guo to expel them. What choice would Principal Guo make?
Su Xiao Ba was frowning. He wasn't stupid and understood why the trouble had started now.
It wasn't like when his uncle was still in the county. Their Su family had no one behind them, and they could indeed suffer losses.
Even if his uncle was promoted, a local official was more important than a distant one. A distant savior couldn't solve an immediate problem.
The Duan family was waiting for his uncle to leave before causing trouble, aiming for a fatal blow.
"Xiaotian, what do you think we should do?" Su Xiao Ba asked his sister nervously.
It was fine if he couldn't study, but he couldn't implicate his brothers and sisters.
Su Xiaotian, however, put on a calm and composed demeanor, as if she wasn't taking this matter to heart at all.
"Xiaotian, say something. Will we not be able to go to school?" Su Xiao Jiu also asked worriedly.
He didn't like studying, but seeing his brothers go to college, he had quietly set a goal for himself to go to college in the capital.
If he had known that Duan Xingguo's family was so unreasonable, they shouldn't have fought that fight.
If Duan Xingguo wanted to hit someone, it wouldn't have mattered if he let him hit him a few times.
Besides, if they really suffered a loss at Duan Xingguo's hands, they could have secretly made Duan Xingguo suffer in private.
For example, they could have secretly put a sack over Duan Xingguo and beaten him, or they could have ambushed him in an alley at night and beaten him.
Anyway, Duan Xingguo wouldn't know who had done it.
Why fight openly? Now they were being retaliated against, right?
But it was too late to think about this now. The Duan family had come to their door.
Their fate now depended on Principal Guo's arrangement.
The two young boys had never been so anxious.
[Author's Note]
I worked overtime for half a day and came home to write. This is all I have. Babies, don't forget your votes.