Everyone assumed he was worried about his family, so they didn't try to persuade him to stay in the capital.
Just then, Li Zhuzi said he had been away from home for several days and needed to hurry back.
Su Changjiu then said he should also return.
He felt that instead of being upset here, it would be better to go back and discuss it with his wife.
"It's best if Uncle Changjiu returns with us. My wife and I can look after him."
After all, he was an older person who didn't go out often. Li Zhuzi was genuinely worried about him returning alone.
"Then we'll go back with you too. We've been out for some time. Although there are people watching the shops, we won't feel at ease if we don't keep an eye on them."
Su Lao Er and his wife decided to go back together.
They had already opened four chain stores in the provincial capital, one in the east, south, west, and north of the city. Because of the good taste and the cleanliness of the food, they had gained a good reputation, and their business was booming.
Now, each store had hired five or six people to help, and they were barely keeping up.
It was almost like saying their hands were too busy counting money to stop. They had become wealthy in the past two years, with a large and prosperous business that they couldn't abandon.
This time, they had also met their future daughter-in-law and needed to go back to earn money diligently to save up for their son's dowry.
Among the Su family branches, they had the greatest pressure, with four sons.
When Grandma Su and Liang Xiu heard that they were all returning, they began to prepare gifts.
"Third daughter-in-law, since they've come all this way, it won't do if our gifts are too light, but if they're too heavy, it's too much to carry back."
Grandma Su found it increasingly bothersome the more she thought about it.
Moreover, this time, they not only had to send return gifts to Su Changjiu but also to others in the village who had brought gifts. Didn't they all have to receive a gift in return?
"Mother, why don't we prepare something easy to carry? I think the pastries from the capital are very good. Let's take some, and then prepare a few packs of cigarettes. These gifts are not light, but they are not too heavy to carry."
Grandma Su felt that her daughter-in-law's words made sense.
Although the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law spoke casually, after all the preparations, they had packed four or five large bags.
When Su Taohua heard that Su Changjiu was leaving, she also sent a lot of things, both for the village chief and for people in the village with whom they had good relationships.
Su Changjiu looked at them and said, "How can I accept this?"
These gifts were more than what he had brought.
He had come to offer congratulations; how could he let the hosts prepare generous return gifts?
"No matter what, we have to bring something back for our villagers. After all, it's our family's great occasion, and we must let everyone share in the joy," Grandma Su said with a smile. "Fortunately, on the way back, Zhuzi and Lao Er will be there to help you."
"Auntie, please rest assured, I will definitely deliver the items and Uncle Changjiu home safely," Li Zhuzi said with a smile.
The return train tickets were arranged by the Su family, and they bought sleeper tickets.
For such a long journey, sitting back all the way would be too tiring.
After seeing Su Changjiu off, the Su family's life returned to normal.
The Su children all went to school, and Su Xiaocao also commuted between school and the Su family every day.
When she didn't see Su Sangong, Su Xiaocao actually felt quite at ease.
Upon arriving in the capital, she truly felt her own shortcomings. During this time, she diligently sought guidance from the teachers at No. 7 Middle School when she was at school, and she also studied diligently at home.
The teachers at No. 7 Middle School were inherently proud. Facing the teachers who came for training, they had a certain arrogance in their bones.
However, they did not make things difficult for the diligent and hardworking Su Xiaocao.
Especially when they heard that Su Xiaocao was the biological sister of Su Xiaotian, they became much more enthusiastic towards her.
Who was Su Xiaotian? Everyone at No. 7 Middle School knew.
She was the youngest student in the history of No. 7 Middle School with the highest exam scores.
Su Xiaotian had contributed to the honor of No. 7 Middle School.
The teachers at the school all marveled, "No wonder this Teacher Su is so diligent; it turns out to be a family tradition."
Su Xiaotian was a diligent and hardworking student, so her biological sister couldn't be any less.
The one who spread the word that Su Xiaocao was Su Xiaotian's biological sister was none other than Teacher Yu.
Since Su Xiaotian had entrusted Su Xiaocao to Teacher Yu's care with great sincerity, Teacher Yu had indeed fulfilled his promise.
There were even two occasions when school ended late, and Teacher Yu specifically sent Su Xiaocao home.
The reason he gave was that he was entrusted by Su Xiaotian to look after her sister, Su Xiaocao.
He could not fail Su Xiaotian's trust.
Grandma Su saw this and quietly asked Su Xiaocao in private if Teacher Yu had feelings for her.
"Grandma, that's not true. It's just that Xiaotian entrusted Teacher Yu to take care of me."
Su Xiaocao spoke with a slight hint of awkwardness.
She didn't know if Teacher Yu truly had such intentions. In any case, the teachers at school said that Teacher Yu was not yet married.
But she didn't feel that Teacher Yu had feelings for her. She even thought that Teacher Yu sent her home just to have a meal at the Su family's house along the way.
Teacher Yu was an unswerving loyal customer of Yiming Pavilion.
Su Xiaotian was not surprised when Su Xiaocao said this.
Under normal circumstances, even if Teacher Yu wanted to find a wife, he would probably look for someone with a Beijing household registration.
What surprised Su Xiaotian was that Teacher Xie Nan would approach her.
Teacher Xie Nan found Su Xiaotian directly at the entrance of Su Xiaotian's classroom, which greatly surprised Su Xiaotian.
"Teacher Xie, do you need something from me?" Su Xiaotian walked with Teacher Xie Nan on the tree-lined path of the school.
Teacher Xie looked at Su Xiaotian without speaking, continuing to walk forward slowly, appearing to be preoccupied.
Su Xiaotian became increasingly confused. What was going on?
Teacher Xie hadn't been like this before.
But Su Xiaotian knew that sometimes, people might just need someone to accompany them, regardless of whether they spoke or not.
After walking about fifty meters further, Teacher Xie Nan finally spoke with difficulty.
"Xiaotian, I have something I want to ask you."
Su Xiaotian was stunned for a moment.
"Teacher Xie, whatever you want to ask, I will tell you everything I know."
She couldn't imagine what Teacher Xie Nan could possibly ask her.
"I want to ask, is Su Xiaocao her biological child?"
What?
Su Xiaotian was even more dumbfounded. How was she supposed to answer this?
Su Xiaocao was older than her, and she had never heard anyone say whether she was born to them.
"She should be. No one in the village has ever said that Xiaocao was adopted. Besides, Uncle Changjiu and Auntie are very good to Sister Xiaocao."
Su Xiaotian's words were entirely truthful.
Most girls in the village did not have as good a life as the boys.
Most families favored sons over daughters.
However, Uncle Changjiu's family was not like that. Uncle Changjiu was very good to his two sons, and he was also good to his daughter.
"Uncle Changjiu even sent Sister Xiaocao to school. It's good enough for the girls in the village to study for a few years; very few go to university."
Uh~~
These words didn't seem entirely accurate, as there were quite a few girls from Nanling Village who went on to study.
But that wasn't the main point.