"Here is a letter from the Southern Province. Please sign for it."

"Southern Province?"

"yes!"

Su Li couldn't imagine who would write to her; surely it couldn't be Su Guoqiang!

She took the letter and opened it only after the postman left.

As expected of Su Guoqiang, the letter essentially told her to continue being Su Jiaojiao's slave.

Otherwise, I'll just ignore her from now on; it's all just a bunch of nonsense.

Su Li tore up the letter and threw it away.

*

Yangnan County, Nan Province.

It has been more than a week since Su Li and Su Jiaojiao went to the countryside.

Since the house was robbed, everything needs to be replaced, but unfortunately, the family has no money.

Su Guoqiang lent eighty yuan to Su Jiaojiao to buy things, and let her take all the rest of the money.

They had planned to sell Su Li's job at the textile factory the next day so that the family would have money.

When he arrived, he found out that Su Li had already sold her job. Su Guoqiang really didn't expect that his usually obedient, sensible, and hardworking eldest daughter would turn on him in the end. He was so angry that he smashed the few bowls that were left in the house.

The family had practically nothing, so Su Guoqiang went to borrow money again, but this time no one was willing to lend him any.

These days, nobody's money grows on trees. I might lend you money once in an emergency, but I can't lend you more than that. Besides, there are many people who can't stand how he treats his own daughter and are unwilling to lend him money.

Su Guoqiang tried to borrow twice, but when he couldn't and was sometimes ridiculed, he was too embarrassed to ask again.

The father and son didn't have a single penny.

There are still twenty days until payday, and we haven't even been able to afford cornbread at home these past few days.

They had no clothes to wear, no money to buy groceries, and no one to clean their house.

Su Mu's clothes had been worn for a whole week and were starting to smell.

His clothes and shoes were so dirty that they were unrecognizable; the once clean-cut boy had become the slovenliest person in the entire school.

He returned from school on Friday night, and he had already lost weight in just a few days.

Before, Su Li would have breakfast ready as soon as Su Mu woke up in the morning. But ever since she went to the countryside, Su Mu hasn't eaten breakfast at all. She only gets one meal a day, which is provided by the school. Su Guoqiang doesn't cook dinner when she gets home.

Of course, he didn't have money to buy groceries, but fortunately neither he nor his son ate them.

Su Mu has been living like this for a week now. He doesn't even dare to think about it. Before, the school would provide meals, but this Saturday and Sunday, the school won't provide meals. Will he have to go hungry at home for two days? Will he starve to death?