Su Xiaotian finished her conversation with the trees in the courtyard.
Regrettably, the big tree informed her that there was nothing underground.
Su Xiaotian was a little disappointed but soon felt at ease.
Her luck was already very good, and she had encountered many fortuitous events.
It wasn't possible to find a lot of treasure just by buying a house; what kind of world would that be?
Besides, the treasures the old Su family had acquired in recent years would be enough for them to live comfortably for many lifetimes after they were sold.
After Su Xiaotian finished her tasks, she realized everyone else was busy tidying up the house.
Su Shouwen and some of his brothers were helping to fetch water and dispose of the dirty water from the washed rags.
Su Xiaomei and Su Xiaocao were helping Grandma Su tidy the house.
Su Xiaotian went to help, but Grandma Su and her two older sisters pushed her out.
"Hurry up and go outside. You don't need to help here. Go play outside."
Su Xiaotian, bored, could only sit on a stone bench in a corner of the courtyard and focus on reading.
This time, Grandma Su had spent all the money and coupons she could spare. She had to start accumulating wealth again, or she wouldn't even be able to afford food after a while.
Su Xiaotian read for over an hour diligently.
The others had already cleaned the entire house spotlessly.
Grandma Su, patting her back, smiled happily and said, "Thanks to your help, we can live here tonight."
The two girls quickly said there was no need to be polite. Then, they exchanged a glance and said, "Grandma, Xiaocao and I have discussed it, and we plan to live at school. Xiaogang will also live in the dormitory with us."
Grandma Su heard this and immediately said, "This courtyard is large enough for you to live in. I've been calculating, and you two and Xiaotian can share one room. The two rooms on the east side can be for the boys; five people can live in one room. I'll live in this room, your second aunt will live in this room, and your third aunt will live in this room. It's just right."
Su Xiaocao and Su Xiaomei clearly hadn't expected Grandma Su to have planned so meticulously.
They didn't want to live at school, but they felt they couldn't impose on the Su family by staying with them all the time.
Moreover, it wasn't just about accommodation, but also about food.
They had to go to school and wouldn't have time to cook. They couldn't possibly expect the Su family to serve them meals, could they?
"Auntie, we'll still live at school. It saves us time traveling back and forth," Su Xiaomei said with a smile. "The school dormitories haven't been ready yet, but I heard they will be available next week."
"Sister Xiaomei, please live with me. I don't have any sisters and have always lived alone since I was little," Su Xiaotian said, pulling Su Xiaomei's arm and smiling.
She didn't feel at ease letting Sister Xiaomei and Sister Xiaocao live at school.
County No. 1 Middle School previously only had two dormitories, one for boys and one for girls.
Each dormitory was packed with people, with dozens of people sharing a room.
Even so, they couldn't accommodate everyone. Principal Guo and others discussed it and decided to convert a warehouse into dormitories.
They were tidying it up these past two days, but Su Xiaotian felt that living at school was not a good idea.
Firstly, the schools were very chaotic at the time.
Secondly, it was only for half a year.
Others might not know, but Su Xiaotian was well aware that the college entrance examination would be held in half a year.
Based on Su Xiaomei and Su Xiaocao's grades, they would definitely be admitted to college if nothing unexpected happened.
"But..." the two girls still hesitated, unwilling to agree.
Grandma Su also didn't feel at ease about the two girls living at school.
"You can stay here for now. Although you won't have a room to yourselves, it's much better than school."
After speaking, seeing the hesitation from Xiaomei and Xiaocao, she added, "This matter isn't for you children to decide. I'll go back to the brigade tomorrow and talk to your parents."
At this moment, Su Manxiu came over, saying that dinner was ready.
The whole family had been busy for a long time, and it was getting dark. They were truly hungry.
In the evening, Su Manxiu brought up the issue of the children's meals.
"Your second and third sisters-in-law are also busy with work and can't attend to this side. I've been thinking about it too."
"I'll cook for them. I'm idle at home anyway," Su Manxiu said after thinking for a moment. "If my second and third sisters-in-law get off work early, they can help with cooking."
But Grandma Su felt this was not appropriate.
"I'll go back and discuss it with your father. I'll take care of the children!" This was the best solution Grandma Su could think of.
Su Manxiu didn't object upon hearing this.
Her mother had always been a very opinionated person.
The next day, Chen Zi'an specifically arranged for someone to escort Grandma Su back to Hongxin Brigade.
Upon returning home, Grandma Su immediately discussed with Grandpa Su about going to the city to take care of the children.
Grandpa Su, perhaps having anticipated this, strongly agreed.
"You can rest assured taking care of our grandchildren in the city. Don't worry about things here. Your eldest daughter-in-law said she'll do the cooking from now on."
The chicken farm was now on track. Under normal circumstances, even if Wang Xianghua were absent for a while, there wouldn't be too much to worry about.
With Grandpa Su's support, Grandma Su went to the brigade leader to ask for a certificate.
Her household registration was in the countryside, and she couldn't live in the city for an extended period without a certificate.
Su Changjiu was unaware that Grandma Su had bought a house in the city. He thought she had rented a place for the children's studies.
"Alright, I'll issue you a certificate. It will state that you're going to the city for medical treatment. How does that sound?" Su Changjiu said with a smile.
He was worried Grandma Su might not want to use such an excuse, but to his surprise, Grandma Su readily agreed.
"Brigade leader, just write it. It's not like I'll actually get sick just because you write that I'm sick!"
Su Changjiu couldn't help but smile upon hearing this. "Everyone in the brigade says you dote on your grandchildren the most. I didn't believe it before, but now I finally do."
Grandma Su said helplessly, "Your third uncle and aunt, and your second daughter-in-law are all in the city, but they are too busy and can't manage. I have no other choice."
After Su Changjiu wrote the certificate, Grandma Su remembered she had something else to discuss and mentioned her idea of having Su Xiaocao live with her.
Su Changjiu hesitated for a moment. "To be honest, I'm also worried about letting my daughter live alone at school. I had thought it would be best if she could be taken care of by your family, but I was afraid Xiaocao would be a bother to you, so I didn't dare to say anything."
It wasn't a matter of a day or two, and Su Changjiu truly didn't have the nerve.
Although he wasn't someone who favored sons over daughters, he truly doted on his daughter and hadn't slept well for days because of this matter.
Grandma Su smiled and said, "Brigade leader, don't worry. Xiaocao is sensible and won't be a bother to me."
"We don't have grain coupons at home. I'll send you grain monthly from now on," Su Changjiu said immediately. "I'll send food and drinks, but I'll have to trouble you to take care of her."
Grandma Su didn't refuse and agreed on the spot.
Afterward, Grandma Su went to the cowshed.
Su Taohua was washing clothes and was overjoyed to see Grandma Su.
The two children had been sent to the city like that, and she didn't know their situation. It was a good opportunity to inquire.
Grandma Su then explained her thoughts.
"Auntie, I know Xiaomei. She's afraid of being a burden to you!" Su Taohua sighed.
It wasn't just Xiaomei; she was also afraid of her own son and daughter being a burden to Grandma Su.
"Xiaomei's personality is like yours," Grandma Su said.
Su Taohua had never been someone who caused trouble since she was young.
She never bothered others with things she could solve herself.
"Auntie, to be honest, our family's current situation..." A hint of bitterness crossed Su Taohua's lips.
Her family's conditions weren't good, and they certainly couldn't afford that many grain coupons, nor would they have much grain.
"Whose family doesn't have difficult times?" Grandma Su smiled and patted Su Taohua's hand. "You can rest assured leaving the two children with me!"
"Auntie, thank you so much. Taohua has been so worried that she can barely sleep these past few days," Shen Zizhen said sincerely to Grandma Su, having walked over at some point.
"Teacher Shen, you are too kind. Xiaomei is already in her second year of high school, and it's only for one year. At this time, living in your own home is more reassuring than living at school."
Su Taohua's family conditions couldn't compare to Su Changjiu's, but she still managed to take some grain to the city for Grandma Su.
Living in someone else's home was one thing, but she couldn't possibly eat their food for free.
She truly didn't have the nerve.
Because Shen Zizhen fully supported the children's studies and even gave up her own rations, Su Taohua took even better care of Shen Zizhen.
At school, Su Xiaotian was now a renowned figure.
Feng Xiangyu, who was already a formidable presence, was defeated by a young girl. This news was known to everyone at County No. 1 Middle School.
Su Xiaotian initially thought that with such a reputation, she could study with peace of mind.
However, some people still considered it a joke.
What could a mere girl accomplish?
Those who hadn't suffered at Feng Xiangyu's hands thought Feng Xiangyu was inherently incompetent, which was why he lost to a young girl!
Some who had been beaten by Feng Xiangyu knew how powerful his fists were, but they thought Feng Xiangyu must have lost to a young girl for some other reason.
As a result, Su Xiaotian was challenged for three consecutive days. Su Xiaotian, not bothered by such things, refused them all.
But the consequence was that she didn't even have time to study peacefully.
Su Xiaotian frowned, wondering if some people just deserved a beating.
Feng Xiangyu, who had been subdued by Su Xiaotian, watched these people continuously provoke Su Xiaotian with a sense of schadenfreude.
He couldn't be the only one getting beaten; it was good if more people got beaten.
On the fourth day, when someone persistently provoked Su Xiaotian again, Su Xiaotian finally agreed to spar.
The young man, who had originally thought Su Xiaotian wouldn't agree and had even prepared many taunting remarks, was stunned when Su Xiaotian suddenly nodded in acceptance.
Didn't they say this little brat wouldn't dare to agree? Why did she suddenly agree?
Did she think he was a weakling among these provocateurs?
The young man's casual thought, however, turned into a tangible realization half an hour later: he was indeed a weakling.
He couldn't even last one move under Su Xiaotian before being completely kicked down and pinned to the ground.
"Do you want to continue fighting or end it here?" Su Xiaotian asked leisurely. "If you want to continue, we'll keep fighting. If you want to end it, don't bother me again in the future!"
The person lying on the ground felt pain all over his body.
How could he dare to say he wanted to continue fighting?
Seeing that one person had already been defeated, Su Xiaotian, not wanting to face such trouble every day, swept her gaze over the onlookers.
"Anyone else who wants to spar, come on together. I don't want to fight people every day!"
Su Xiaotian's confidence stunned those who had wanted to provoke her before.
How could a short and thin girl have the confidence to ask everyone to come at her together?
Some boys felt it would be dishonorable to win and disdained to step forward.
However, some wanted to try.
Su Xiaotian's combat power was significantly higher than Feng Xiangyu's. Dealing with those who knew no martial arts was even easier.
Su Xiaotian was almost indiscriminate, fighting anyone who wanted to fight. None of them could last even one move. The strongest one wasn't knocked to the ground, but he stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance.
That afternoon, Su Xiaotian consecutively defeated twenty-four boys.
By the end, no one dared to step forward. Those who had thought Feng Xiangyu was going easy on her realized they had been mistaken.
When Principal Guo heard the news, he didn't know how to react.
Were the children of Minister Chen as abnormal as Minister Chen?
Clearly, she was an extremely quiet young girl, yet she became famous at school for fighting.
Su Xiaotian's only thought was that it was finally quiet, and she could study diligently.
The teachers of various subjects also found it strange when they saw Su Xiaotian studying with such focus.
Under normal circumstances, children who studied well were not good at fighting.
And those who were good at fighting usually had terrible academic performance.
But Su Xiaotian seemed to be an exception; she was good at studying and good at fighting. Most importantly, she was very disciplined. No matter when she was seen, Su Xiaotian always seemed to be studying diligently.
When had they last seen such a dedicated child?
Grandma Su took care of her grandchildren in the county town. Occasionally, when her daughters-in-law had time off or got off work early, they would also help Grandma Su.
Qi Liangying moved out of the factory and into the house. Su Lao San and Liang Xiu also rented out their original house and moved in.
The family became even livelier.
The atmosphere in the family was quite good.
However, Grandma Su also had a concern.
Grandma Su knew that the money and coupons spent on buying the house came from Su Xiaotian, but others didn't know.
Grandma Su felt that the house should belong to Su Xiaotian.
But she couldn't say it out loud.
She couldn't tell the truth, could she?
Finally, Grandma Su decided to discuss it with her husband when the children had their holidays and went home.
She couldn't let her sons have any discord over a house.
The others were unaware of Grandma Su's worries and continued to live their lives as usual.
In a short period, Su Xiaotian accumulated some more money and coupons, all of which she gave to Grandma Su.
Since they had come to the county town to study, their expenses had increased.
Fortunately, earning money while studying had also increased.
Moreover, with her nine brothers studying, Su Xiaotian could also obtain a certain amount of money and coupons, making her earning speed much faster.
[Author's Note]
Today there are only four thousand words. I will try to update more tomorrow!