Chapter 22: Reason

How did it get to the point where Third Brother’s family was chased out? Su Xiaozhi thought.

Madam Zhao sighed and looked at the anxious and concerned Su Xiaozhi. She told her the reason and said, “Xiaozhi, I was a disappointing wife. I didn’t give birth to a son for your third brother. Father and Mother couldn’t tolerate Simei. They said that we had to either abandon Simei or leave.”

Su Xiaozhi looked at Madam Zhao in shock. She could not believe it.

Su Xiaolu was lying on the bed and had long since woken up. She did not cry or make a fuss. Her bright eyes looked at Su Xiaozhi curiously, as if sizing her up.

Looking at her obedient niece, Su Xiaozhi felt her heart ache. She understood.

Madam Zhao added, “And I also hurt my body because of Simei. I can’t have another child in the future.”

Actually, this was the root of the problem. If Su Sanlang was willing to be an obedient son, Old Master Su and Madam Wang could tolerate. As long as he was obedient, abandoned his daughter and Madam Zhao, the woman who could not give birth to a son, died.

It was Su Sanlang who couldn’t bring himself to let her down, so he’d rather bring his family out to spend their lives alone, even if they might all starve and freeze to death this winter.

Su Xiaozhi had indescribable emotions in her heart. When she saw Madam Zhao’s tearful eyes, her heart ached. She reached out to wipe away Madam Zhao’s tears and said, “Sister-in-law, don’t think too much. It’s not your fault. My third brother is a real man for doing this. He’s indeed the brother I admire.”

Su Sanlang was loyal, so he could not abandon his wife and daughter. Just as he stood up for his sister back then.

Su Xiaozhi took out a silver bracelet from her sleeve and handed it to Madam Zhao. “Sister-in-law, I can’t help you much. This is the only thing I can give you. Please accept it. When your family is in a pinch, use it. After you get through this year, everything will get better.”

Madam Zhao was shocked and touched. She wanted to refuse, but she couldn’t get the words out. She only cried and said, “Xiaozhi, thank you…”

Su Xiaozhi also shed tears. She smiled and said, “You’ll definitely get through it.”

Madam Zhao nodded heavily.

Su Xiaozhi wiped her tears away. “Alright, don’t cry. You’re still in confinement.”

Both of them wiped their tears. Su Xiaozhi looked at Su Xiaolu and realized that the little girl seemed to have been looking at her. Her lips pursed.

There were tears in her lively eyes, but she didn’t cry out.

Su Xiaozhi reached out gently and said, “Simei, be good and let me hug you, okay?”

Su Xiaolu burst into tears.

Ever since Su Xiaozhi came, she had been paying attention to this aunt of hers.

She had also thought that her aunt might be here to cause trouble, but she had miscalculated. Her aunt was here to help them. How precious it was.

Su Xiaolu was touched and remembered this gesture in her heart.

Su Xiaozhi picked up Su Xiaolu. She was afraid that the little girl would cry, but to her surprise, after she picked her up, the tears in Su Xiaolu’s eyes gradually disappeared. She even opened her mouth and smiled at her.

Su Xiaozhi was pleasantly surprised. “Simei, you’re so obedient. You seem to understand us.”

Su Xiaozhi looked at Madam Zhao with a hint of pain in her eyes.

Madam Zhao smiled and said, “Simei is indeed very obedient. She doesn’t cry much or make a fuss. It’s not tiring to take care of her at all.”

Su Xiaozhi’s eyes were gentle. “That’s good, that’s good. The next time I come to see you, Simei will have to recognise me.”

Su Xiaozhi sighed. She only returned to her parents’ house once a year. This time, she had estimated that Madam Zhao would be giving birth soon. However, she did not expect that in less than a year, there would be such a drastic change.

Since they could not go back, she wished from the bottom of her heart that her upright third brother could live a safe and healthy life with his family.

Madam Zhao also looked at Su Xiaolu in Su Xiaozhi’s arms and sighed slightly. “Yes, next time you come, Simei might even be able to walk.”

Su Xiaozhi smiled and looked into Su Xiaolu’s bright eyes. She could not help but say, “Our Simei must be very good-looking when she grows up. She looks like Third Brother, but her skin is fair like yours.”

Such a cute child. Su Xiaozhi could not accept nor understand why her mother was so vicious and could not tolerate this baby.

Su Xiaolu smiled often and almost melted Su Xiaozhi’s heart. She could only feel sorry that she did not have money and could not help her third brother’s family.

After returning Su Xiaolu to Madam Zhao, Su Xiaozhi said, “Sister-in-law, take Simei to rest. I’ll help you make some clothes. I’m fast and can help you sew a rough foundation.”

Before Madam Zhao could say no, Su Xiaozhi had already gone to pack the cotton and cloth.

Madam Zhao felt a lump in her throat and said, “Alright, thank you.”

Su Xiaozhi waved her hand and said nothing.

Su Sanlang was cooking with Su Sanmei.

Su Chong and Su Hua returned after packing up the grass and roots that Su Sanlang had dug out. The two of them entered the house and looked at Su Xiaozhi curiously.

Su Xiaozhi’s expression was gentle as she waved at the two of them. When the two of them walked over, Su Xiaozhi patted their heads and asked, “Chong, Hua, do you remember me? Last year, during the new year, I came to visit you.”

Su Chong and Su Hua nodded. “Yes, you gave us candy.”

Su Xiaozhi smiled and took out a small paper bag and handed it to the two of them. “There are only three pieces left. Take them and share them with your sister. Everyone gets one piece, understand?”

Su Chong and Su Hua did not know if they should take it. Before they could say anything, Su Xiaozhi had already placed the sugar packet in their hands.

Madam Zhao said gently, “Listen to Aunt. Go outside and share it with Sanmei.”

Su Chong and Su Hua’s eyes lit up.

Suhua said clumsily, “Okay, thank you, Aunt.”

Su Chong also hurriedly said, “Thank you, Aunt.”

The two of them could not conceal their joy and had already gone out of the room together.

Soon, Su Sanmei’s happy shout came from the outer room. “Thank you, Aunt.”

Su Sanlang’s heart warmed. He said gently, “Go eat outside. Father will stay here. When we eat later, I will call for you.”

He had never bought candy for his three children. They had only tried them when Su Xiaozhi returned to visit the family.

Su Sanlang’s heart sank and ached when he thought about how his eldest brother and second brother’s children often had candy to eat in that house, and his children didn’t even get to eat the dregs.

The next time he caught prey, he would buy some candy for the three children. Su Sanlang kept this in mind.

Su Sanmei took her two brothers outside to eat candy. This candy was very hard and sticky. Each of them only had a candy the size of a thumb. They held it in their mouths and let it slowly melt.

After sharing the candy, Su Chong and Su Hua eagerly put it in their mouths.

Su Sanmei quietly took a bite, then wrapped the rest and put it in her pocket.

“Big Brother, Second Brother, let’s have a bug-catching competition.”

Su Sanmei took Su Chong and Su Hua to catch insects to feed the chickens.