Su Xiaotian followed Liang Xiu and Wang Xianghua, pretending not to hear their conversation.
These were matters for adults, and as a child, she wouldn't concern herself with them.
However, Tian Xiaohe was truly too clever, plotting and scheming at every turn.
Soon, the three of them arrived at the breeding farm.
Chang Xiulan, much like Wang Xianghua before her, treated the breeding farm as if it were her own home.
Fortunately, Chang Xiulan's in-laws and husband were very supportive. Even when Chang Xiulan was busy and couldn't attend to household matters, they didn't blame her.
They even said that the breeding farm was just starting out and it was difficult, so Chang Xiulan should focus on taking care of it.
Chang Xiulan's face lit up with a smile when she saw Wang Xianghua and the others.
"Auntie, you're here. Come in quickly. The weather is cold, warm your hands by the fire first."
"This weather, it looks like it's about to snow. It's chilling to the bone," Liang Xiu said, rubbing her hands.
"This weather, it does look like it's about to snow. Xiulan, have you finished preparing the pigsty and chicken coop for the cold?"
"We've followed the blueprints brought back by the village head. We've built frames, and if it snows, we'll cover them with corn stalks," Chang Xiulan replied.
The village head had said at the time that it would be best to cover the pigsty with plastic sheeting.
However, after inquiring around, not only was plastic sheeting scarce, but it was also expensive, so they had to give up on that idea.
Hearing Chang Xiulan's words, Su Xiaotian understood that it was due to the difficulty in obtaining plastic sheeting.
She planned to promote greenhouse vegetables and was currently in contact with several plastic factories. Perhaps this issue could be resolved then.
However, the current price of plastic sheeting was high, and she worried that the breeding farm couldn't afford it.
But there was no rush for this matter; she could discuss it with Uncle Changjiu when she had time.
Wang Xianghua had developed a knack for breeding. After following Chang Xiulan to inspect the farm, she pointed out several issues. Although they didn't seem like major problems at the moment, their consequences could be quite severe if they arose.
"Auntie, thank you so much. If you hadn't come to take a look today, I wouldn't have discovered these problems."
"Don't be so polite, child. When we were working at the breeding farm, you were the most diligent one."
Chang Xiulan smiled faintly. She recalled that it was only after she started working at the breeding farm that her situation improved.
It was also from that time that her grandmother's preference for sons over daughters began to change slightly.
In essence, it was simply that her grandmother felt that girls could also earn money.
Chang Xiulan was uneducated, but she wasn't foolish. She understood from that time on that no matter when, one must be self-reliant.
Only those who are self-reliant can earn the respect of others.
She had worked diligently and earnestly all these years to achieve what she had today.
"I saw Grandma Chang a couple of days ago, and she even praised Sister Xiulan for being smart and capable!" Su Xiaotian couldn't help but smile, recalling Grandma Chang's proud expression.
What had that old woman said before?
"My grandmother has changed a lot these past few years, and it's a good thing she changed, otherwise, our lives..."
Chang Xiulan sighed, her words trailing off, but everyone present understood.
If Grandma Chang's mindset hadn't changed and remained as it was, the lives of the Chang family's daughters would likely not have been very good.
Even if they got married, they would be threatened and coerced.
"Sister Xiulan, keep up the good work, and one day you'll show Grandma that daughters are no less capable than sons!"
Chang Xiulan understood Su Xiaotian's words but still smiled and shook her head. "Daughters are of course not as good as sons. You haven't heard my grandmother constantly boasting about how outstanding your brothers are!"
Chang Xiulan said this undoubtedly as a joke.
It wasn't just Grandma Chang who constantly spoke of the Su family's sons being outstanding; which elderly person in the village didn't do the same?
In the past, her grandmother would look at the Su family, who had all sons, with envy and jealousy. Now, although she still envied them, it was because the Su family's sons were successful in their studies.
At times, Grandma Chang even regretted and lamented why she hadn't let her own daughters study. If she had let them study back then, perhaps things would be better now.
"Speaking of which, Aunt Chang is quite fortunate. I heard that the betrothal gifts from your in-laws were given to you as your dowry!" Liang Xiu said with a smile.
"I didn't expect it either. I thought my grandmother would keep the betrothal gifts from my sisters for my younger brother!" Chang Xiulan said, full of emotion.
"Aunt Chang was just being narrow-minded back then."
Wang Xianghua and Xiulan's mother married into their respective families around the same year. She gave birth to a son, while Xiulan's mother gave birth to a daughter. It seemed that from that point on, Grandma Chang became unhappy.
Later, the Chang family had one daughter, then another, and another, while the Su family had one son after another. Grandma Chang's mindset became unbalanced.
Perhaps because the Su family left and didn't return even once a year, Grandma Chang lost her object of comparison and instead came to her senses.
The group chatted and laughed, and after preliminarily addressing the issues at the breeding farm, the three from the Su family bid farewell and headed home.
As soon as they arrived home, they heard news that a call had come from Beijing regarding an important matter, asking Shen Zizhen and Su Sangong to return immediately.
They had originally planned to return to Beijing on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, but receiving a long-distance call indicated the urgency of the situation.
Shen Zizhen said, "Sangong just got married. How about I go back alone?"
It was not ideal to separate the newlyweds so soon.
"Since they called for him to return, then he should go. Xiaocao can go with him. Fortunately, the house in Beijing is already prepared."
Grandpa Su still believed that matters of the state were more important.
The old man had always believed that there was the country before the family. If family matters conflicted with state affairs, the interests of the country must be prioritized.
Especially since Su Sangong was now working for the country, he should think for the country.
It had to be said that the older generation always held the most simple beliefs.
The next morning, Shen Zizhen, along with Su Sangong and his wife, departed early for Beijing.
As for Su Taohua, she decided to wait until the sixth day of the Lunar New Year to return to Beijing with the others.
Since she had returned home after a long time, she wanted to visit all her relatives.
She didn't know when she would return next time. If she didn't visit, she didn't know when she would see her sisters again.
On this day, the three daughters-in-law of the Su family also returned to their respective maternal homes.
Liang Xiu had a knot in her heart and initially didn't want to go back.
However, Grandma Su said, "Go back and take a look. If they treat you poorly, then come back. It will at least fulfill your filial duty as a child."
In the end, Liang Xiu went with Su Laosan, bringing along Su Xiaotian and Su Xiaoba.
This was Su Xiaotian's request; she was genuinely worried that her parents would be taken advantage of at the Liang family's home.