Su Xiaotian did not know that when she took the money and tickets from her granddaughter's hand, Grandma Su's heart was not feeling very well.
Watching Su Xiaotian's bouncing figure as she skipped out the door, Grandma Su's hand, clutching the money and tickets, couldn't help but tighten.
Then she let out a deep sigh!
This child, Xiaotian, has no selfish motives.
Whatever she has, she gives it to them.
She never thought that whether it was money or tickets, once it reached her hands, it was for everyone.
No, this matter must be clarified.
She couldn't possibly mistreat Xiaotian alone!
Taking advantage of her son and daughter-in-law's day off, Grandma Su returned to the Hongxin Brigade.
The old couple sat on the kang, and after Grandma Su expressed her worries, Grandpa Su tightened his grip on his pipe.
Grandpa Su appeared to be a man who didn't concern himself with anything, but every word he spoke was always sensible.
This time was no different. After a moment of contemplation, Grandpa Su spoke.
"This is easy. Just say that the money and tickets were a reward for Xiaotian saving someone. The eldest and second sons should be able to understand."
Grandma Su was willing to believe her sons, but sometimes wealth could stir up human hearts.
"Old man, what if? If they don't believe us, they'll say we're showing favoritism to the third family."
"If the eldest and second sons have objections, tell them that if the children stop studying, we'll sell the house and divide the money."
As he said this, Grandpa Su's tone was also very heavy. If such a small matter caused trouble, the family might be completely separated.
Although the old Su family was said to have split, it wasn't a complete separation.
Many things were still mixed together, and a formal division would definitely be necessary in the future.
At that time, who the unclear property rights belonged to would be a problem.
Although Grandpa Su thought his sons were all good, who could guarantee anything?
The worries of the elderly couple were, however, resolved during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
This year's Mid-Autumn Festival was not on a weekend.
The children at home and the sons and daughters-in-law working in the city could not return to the Hongxin Brigade.
Chen Zi'an arranged for Driver Xiao Zhu to pick up Grandma Su and Grandpa Su from the Hongxin Brigade to spend the festival in the city.
Since Grandpa Su and Grandma Su were going to the city, the brigade leader said that since the couple had been looking after the chicken farm and pig farm for two days, they should also invite the eldest son and his wife, and the second son, to the city.
The Su Changjiu couple always felt that their daughter in the city was being looked after by the Su family, and they felt very embarrassed, wishing they had an opportunity to help them.
The entire Su family, a large group, set off for the city to celebrate the festival.
This could be considered the Su family's first Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in the city, and everyone, young and old, attached great importance to it.
The dinner was very rich, with meat, vegetables, egg cakes, mooncakes, and fruits.
Su Xiaocao, Su Xiaomei, and Su Xiaogang initially felt a bit awkward celebrating the festival at someone else's home.
But the Su family treated them like their own children, constantly offering them meat and adding dishes, and the three of them gradually integrated into the family.
After a satisfying meal and drinks, they admired the moon.
But Grandma Su said there was nothing much to see in the moon, and only let the children watch.
It was good for the whole family to gather to celebrate the festival, but no one knew when they would turn against each other.
After a while, when it was late and the children had all gone to bed.
As Grandma Su was preparing to rest, the eldest son, Su, spoke.
"Dad, Mom, I can see that you've had something on your minds lately." Su, the eldest son, had also had a bit to drink, which was why he spoke so directly.
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Su, the eldest son, continued, "As the eldest son, I naturally know what the family situation is like. It was difficult to even get enough to eat in the past two years."
Grandma Su and Grandpa Su were actually apprehensive, not knowing what their eldest son intended to say.
Wang Xianghua, fearing her husband would speak carelessly after drinking, tugged at him.
After all, the third family's couple and the second daughter-in-law were all in the city.
If her husband was feeling unhappy, it was possible.
"Shouwen's mother, don't pull me. I'm sober," Su, the eldest son, said with a smile to his wife. "Some things, once clarified, might be better."
Qi Liangying looked at her husband, then at her elder brother and sister-in-law. She felt that what her elder brother and sister-in-law were going to say today might be related to the house.
Others didn't know the specific situation of the house, but they themselves did.
The third family already had a house. Although it was small, it was better than many other families.
If this courtyard could be divided between the eldest and second branches, it would be good.
As she was contemplating, she heard Su, the eldest son, continue speaking.
"If I'm not mistaken, the money for buying the house is Xiaotian's contribution."
As he spoke, he glanced thoughtfully at Su Xiaotian.
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su clearly hadn't expected Su, the eldest son, to bring this up directly.
Su, the third son, quickly said, "Big brother, we're all family, why are you saying this?"
He was afraid that Su, the eldest son, would blurt it out carelessly and affect Su Xiaotian.
Su, the eldest son, said, "The family's life is getting better and better, especially in the past two or three years. It's like riding a rocket. Even if Dad and Mom haven't said anything, I can still gauge some things."
Grandma Su looked at Su, the eldest son, worriedly. She hadn't said anything, but her eldest son was meticulous and might have discovered something.
"Eldest son! You're drunk!" Grandpa Su also immediately interjected.
"Dad, Mom, I don't ask how the money and tickets came about. I just want to say that our family's life is getting better and better, but we can't turn against each other over a bit of property."
After Su, the eldest son, finished speaking, he felt that the word he used was quite appropriate.
Su, the second son, was always a straightforward person. Hearing his elder brother say this, he just echoed.
"Dad, Mom, big brother is right. We can't turn against each other over such a small piece of property."
Qi Liangying heard her husband and elder brother say this and felt instantly disappointed. She had originally thought that her elder brother and sister-in-law would fight over the property, so their second branch could also benefit.
But her elder brother said they shouldn't turn against each other.
If anyone else said this, she might have thought it was just politeness, but when her elder brother said it, she knew it was true.
"Eldest son, second son, I'm relieved that you can think this way!" Grandma Su said with great relief.
Wang Xianghua was straightforward and felt that life was good now, so she was content.
Moreover, she had invested too much energy in the chicken farm and hadn't considered whether the family would have conflicts.
Only when the topic was brought up did she realize that she seemed to have missed something.
"Dad, Mom, Shouwen's father's intention is my intention!"
Grandma Su looked at Qi Liangying. Since Qi Liangying did not speak, Grandma Su knew that she was somewhat displeased.
Among the three daughters-in-law in the family, only the second daughter-in-law had a few little schemes in her heart, but over the years, she hadn't caused trouble like other daughters-in-law.
"This courtyard, when it was bought, cost two hundred and eighty yuan, plus quite a few tickets. As you all know, given the family's situation, your father and I don't have the money."
The sons and daughters-in-law exchanged glances. How could they have produced so much money without having any?
"This money and tickets belong to Xiaotian. I'm just keeping them for her temporarily. This house should belong to Xiaotian, but since our whole family is living together now, there's no need to be so meticulous about dividing things."
"Mom, it's not wrong to clarify things." Su, the eldest son, was a meticulous person.
He wasn't worried about Wang Xianghua; his wife, although straightforward, wasn't petty.
However, the second daughter-in-law might have opinions.
"Although this money and tickets belong to the third family, we can't let the other two families suffer too much."
Qi Liangying's originally disheartened mood suddenly had a glimmer of hope, and her eyes immediately brightened.
"Now we live together in the house. When we divide the family later, the old house will belong to the eldest branch, and the house the third family is currently living in will be for the second family. If it can be transferred, it will be transferred to the second family. As for this courtyard, it belongs to the third family. Do you have any objections?"
Su, the third son, said, "Dad, Mom, isn't this a bit inappropriate? Although it's Xiaotian's money, we haven't divided the family yet."
Grandpa Su looked at his sons and daughters-in-law and said with a firm tone, "We have divided. We already divided the family when you bought the house."
The others in the Su family then remembered that they had already separated their finances and even had a verbal agreement about the houses.
In reality, they lived their own small lives, at most giving a few yuan to Grandpa Su and Grandma Su, and that was all.
Now, with another division, the eldest and second branches were benefiting from the third family.
Even Qi Liangying felt that her family was getting a bargain.
After all, the third son's house was also a small three-bedroom.
With this house, she would have a place to stay in the city in the future.
The originally troubling matter was thus resolved early.
The stone that had been weighing on her heart was gone, and Grandma Su's mood became exceptionally good.
Su Xiaotian even felt that her grandmother's mood seemed to be very good. Was it because the family was reunited for the festival?
************
Just after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the people of Hongxin Brigade were surprised to hear a piece of news: Shen Zizhen was returning to the capital.
He was a university professor at the Agricultural University, and the school had invited him back to continue teaching.
It was also said that all his benefits would be increased by one level on top of his previous salary.
When he received this news, Shen Zizhen knelt on the ground and wept tears of joy.
A grown man cried like a child, unable to control himself for a long time.
He had dreamt of this day, waiting for it for so long!
Su Taohua stood under a nearby tree, her eyes red as she watched Shen Zizhen.
After Shen Zizhen's ex-wife and children had visited last time, she had thought of this day coming, but she hadn't expected it to arrive so quickly.
Was Shen Zizhen leaving now? Would they ever have a chance to see each other again in this lifetime?
Yu Ruiyuan walked over and gently held Su Taohua's hand but said nothing.
Although she believed in Shen Zizhen's character, times change, and who knew if he would change?
Such a guarantee could only be given by Shen Zizhen; no one else could.
"I'm fine, Teacher Yu!"
"Teacher Shen is a responsible person. Since he's married, he won't abandon you!"
Looking at Su Taohua's forced strength, Yu Ruiyuan finally said this.
Three days later, Shen Zizhen left the Hongxin Brigade and returned to the capital.
Su Taohua moved back into her own home the next day.
Her daughter and son were both studying in the city, leaving her alone in the vast house, feeling increasingly desolate.
Su Taohua simply moved to the chicken farm to accompany Wang Xianghua.
She could also help Wang Xianghua keep watch when she was busy.
Wang Xianghua knew that Shen Zizhen had returned. When he left, he said that he had made arrangements and would come to pick up Su Taohua.
She believed that Shen Zizhen would definitely take Su Taohua to the capital.
But others might not think so.
Especially when time passed day by day with no news at all.
The villagers in the brigade had all sorts of things to say.
Most of them said that Su Taohua was going to be an abandoned wife, and Shen Zizhen was a city person. Since he had returned, he would definitely not remember a country woman.
Su Taohua heard these rumors but could only pretend not to hear them.
The weather grew colder, and the crops were harvested again. Looking at the bare fields and the uninhabited adobe houses nearby, the four people remaining in the cowshed felt dejected.
Although they were happy that Shen Zizhen could return, they were ultimately disappointed that there was no news from their own side.
Su Xiaomei and others in the county town heard the news more than half a month later.
Upon hearing that Shen Zizhen had returned to the capital, Su Xiaomei was very worried about Su Taohua.
She also felt in her heart that Shen Zizhen might never return after he left.
After all, they would be people from two different worlds from now on.
She wanted to ask for leave to go home to see her mother, even thinking of staying with her mother for a while.
But at this moment, the news that the college entrance examination was resuming and would be held in a month suddenly spread.
Su Xiaomei was stunned. How could the college entrance examination suddenly resume?
But the teacher's hands, holding the People's Daily, were trembling, and his voice was also trembling as he delivered this news to them.
Even when she returned home, Su Xiaomei was still dazed and couldn't believe it was true, thinking she was still dreaming.
Even though Su Xiaocao and Su Shouwen and others had all said that the news had already been published in the People's Daily, so it couldn't be a lie.
"Sister Xiaomei, Uncle Shen's return to the capital was perhaps for this matter," Su Xiaotian said, sitting opposite Su Xiaomei and holding her hand.
"But what about my mom?" Su Xiaomei said dejectedly.
Pulled back from the excitement of the resumption of the college entrance examination by Su Xiaotian's words, Su Xiaomei's feelings were hard to describe.
If her participation in the college entrance examination meant that her mother would lose her husband, she would rather not participate in the examination.
"Aunt Taohua will be fine. Uncle Shen will definitely come to pick up Aunt Taohua and you once he's settled."
Su Xiaomei gave a bitter smile. Whether she and Xiaogang could go to the capital didn't matter.
They had grown up, and even if they stayed in the Hongxin Brigade, they wouldn't starve to death!
"Sister Xiaomei, you and Sister Xiaocao should also participate in this year's college entrance examination. Don't worry about these things. Prepare for the exam with peace of mind, and we'll discuss everything after the exam, okay?" Su Xiaotian gently comforted Su Xiaomei. "No matter what, only if you and brother Xiaogang succeed will Aunt Taohua have hope!"
Su Xiaomei felt that these words made a lot of sense.
She had to study hard, participate in the college entrance examination, and become an honored university student.
To create a better life for her mother.