But isn't it precisely because his sons are useless that he clings to his fourth son? Why can't the fourth son understand and support him? They're all brothers, can't he help them out? If they do well, without the one holding them back, the fourth son can go further, right?

They are all his own children, and he feels bad if any of his sons are not doing well.

But now the fourth brother...

When Su Zhiyuan thought of Su Lu, he instantly became listless, as if he had aged four or five years, and all his imposing aura vanished.

Su Ming, Su Qi, Su Guo, and the others were finally able to breathe again, and they glanced at Su Zhiyuan with some surprise.

I never knew their father had this skill!

"Tell me, what do you want?"

Su Ming didn't look up, and Su Qi ignored the wink Duan Hong gave him. Ma Mingming, however, received a hint from Su Guo to speak first.

Ma Mingming thought for a moment about how to put it nicely, then smiled and said, "Dad, it's been so long since Fourth Brother and Qin Xiaoxiao got married, and we haven't gone to see how they're doing. Recently, we've been less busy in the fields, so I thought I'd go and see if there's anything I can do to help."

Dad knows there's been a lot of gossip about our Su family in the village lately. I was thinking of going over there to tell those gossips that we're doing fine, and that our fourth son is still on our side.

After Ma Mingming finished speaking, she glanced nervously at Su Guo, and finally breathed a sigh of relief after receiving confirmation from him.

Su Zhiyuan didn't say anything, nor did he say whether it was good or bad. He just took two puffs of his cigarette and then looked up at Gao Laidi and Duan Hong.

"Is this the same thing for you?"

The two exchanged a glance, smiled awkwardly, and then nodded.

Su Zhiyuan knew that it must have been after he visited Qin Xiaoxiao at the educated youth compound yesterday that these people had this idea. Otherwise, no one would believe that they would only think of going to see her, show their concern, and demonstrate their brotherhood after so long.

They have no brotherhood whatsoever. If they weren't his own flesh and blood, he would have loved to beat them both to death.

Su Zhiyuan was conflicted when facing his sons. He wanted to be a good father, but he also lamented that they were not up to par. He wanted to help his older brothers, Su Lu, but he didn't want to offend Su Lu too much. He was caught in all sorts of dilemmas and contradictions, which led to all four sons resenting him and him being unable to please anyone.

"It's up to you. If you don't want to go, then don't go."

Without specifying whether he wanted to go to Qin Xiaoxiao's place or to the fields, Su Zhiyuan got up and left, not even eating breakfast.

As soon as the others left, Gao Lai and his two brothers wanted to hurry up and find Qin Xiaoxiao, but as soon as they got up, they heard Wan Guihua's scolding voice.

"What are you doing so early in the morning? If you don't do the work in the fields, who will earn work points? By the end of the year, we'll all be starving."

Aren't you going to clear the table? Are you expecting me to do it myself?

The group looked at Wan Guihua, who hadn't spoken a word. They saw the old lady with a gloomy face, her sharp eyes glaring at her three sisters-in-law, her hatred and impatience almost overflowing.

The three were startled and quickly cleared away the dishes. Ma Mingming was the last to arrive. She was usually fine, but she was afraid of Wan Guihua when she got angry. Therefore, she was responsible for washing the dishes in the kitchen and refused to go out no matter what.

Su Ming and the other two didn't say anything. They sent the children out to play and were just about to smile and comfort Wan Guihua when the old lady turned around and left without paying any attention to them.

After Wan Guihua left, the three of them turned pale in unison, but they quickly composed themselves and looked up again as honest people.

Wan Guihua left her home and headed straight for the educated youth compound. As she walked, she pondered the situation until she reached the back gate of the compound, at which point she realized she probably wouldn't be welcomed.

Wan Guihua took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock on the door.

When Qin Xiaoxiao returned from the old house, she was followed by a tagalong.

Looking at Qin Yue sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) reading a comic book, Qin Xiaoxiao sighed helplessly.

Since she's already followed us here, what can she do? Luckily, she's here, so she doesn't have to go to work today.

It's more accurate to say that Qin Yue was watching over her, preventing her from causing trouble, rather than saying that Qin Yue was following her. Therefore, she could only go wherever Qin Yue went, unless the girl found something more fun.

A knock sounded at the door, and Qin Xiaoxiao got up to open it. She was surprised to see Wan Guihua outside the door, and then smiled at her.

When Wan Guihua saw Qin Xiaoxiao, she hesitated for a moment, then put on a stern face and asked coldly, "Where is Su Lu?"

"He's not in now."

"Where did you go?"

"I'm going to work."

Wan Guihua looked at Qin Xiaoxiao in shock, "Going to work? What kind of work does he have?"

Qin Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "I bought it, otherwise who would give him a job?"

Wan Guihua frowned. "Where did he get the money to buy a job?"

At this time, jobs are in high demand, and everyone wants to have one. Especially in the city, if you don't have a job and aren't married, you'll be sent to the countryside. So jobs are a rare commodity, and getting one is harder than climbing to heaven.

Besides, wasn't the fourth brother's money used to build a house? Plus the dowry for Qin Xiaoxiao, where would he get any money left?

Qin Xiaoxiao tossed her hair aside, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. "I paid for it."

Wan Guihua fell silent, her eyes shining as she looked at Qin Xiaoxiao.

Qin Xiaoxiao sneered, "Do you have anything else to do? If you're looking for Su Lu, wait until tomorrow. He went to the provincial capital on a trip and won't be back until midnight. If you're in a hurry, then come back at midnight."

Wan Guihua choked, took a deep breath, and said, "No need, I just came to see him. I'll come again tomorrow."

Wan Guihua turned to leave, but after a few steps she suddenly stopped, then turned back to Qin Xiaoxiao and asked, "Where does he work?"

Qin Xiaoxiao didn't hide anything, "The transport team drove the car."

Wan Guihua frowned again. "He can drive?"

Qin Xiaoxiao laughed again, "You're asking me? You, as her mother, don't know about this?"

He's been with the Su family for so many years, and you didn't even know if he could drive. That shows your concern for him is only so-so. Otherwise, why wouldn't he have told you?

Taking advantage of Wan Guihua's inattention, Qin Xiaoxiao gave her a disdainful look and closed the door while Wan Guihua was still in a daze.

Hearing the door close, Wan Guihua snapped out of her daze and dragged her heavy steps to the field.

She genuinely didn't know her youngest son could drive, and it was infuriating that she had been outmaneuvered by Qin Xiaoxiao because of it.

Why didn't the fourth brother say anything about this? He just knows how to drive, what's there to hide?

Wan Guihua couldn't understand it, so she went to work with a frown on her face.

Su Lu: I'm innocent! I didn't mean to hide it, but you didn't ask!

Back in her room, Qin Xiaoxiao sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and grew angrier the more she thought about it.

Her son had been married for so long, and this mother finally managed to come over once in a while. Instead of asking how her son was doing or if he was having any difficulties, she kept asking about his work. She really felt sorry for Su Lu.

With a mother like that and a family like that, it's a miracle that Su Lu didn't turn out badly. (End of Chapter)