Chapter 11 She couldn't possibly do something so despicable...
Zhang Cuihua asked in bewilderment, "What does work have to do with that brat? How could she possibly influence the factory leaders?"
Uncle Tong understood: "It's been rumored that the factory treats the second son so well partly because of the efforts of his ex-wife."
Li Mei hadn't accepted the job, but as soon as this girl arrived, she started immediately. I guess the rumors might really be true. If she wanted her job back, it would be much easier for her than for us.”
"Can a country woman really be that capable? That doesn't sound very plausible," Zhang Cuihua said dismissively.
If that country woman were that capable, Tong Aihua wouldn't have been unemployed when she returned to the city, forced to marry a woman who clearly couldn't bear a son, and then squandered all her earnings on those money-losing girls.
"What do you know?" Old Man Tong glared at her. "The one before Aihua has parents and brother who are all martyrs. Their status is different."
Zhang Cuihua pouted, "But that girl treated me and Tianyao so badly before. If we talk to her, she might just act all high and mighty. Anyway, I won't talk to her unless she apologizes to me."
Old Man Tong nodded: "It's really not appropriate for us to step in. She's the one begging us for this, we shouldn't be the ones rushing to help."
Uncle Tong: "Isn't Da Hua coming over to deliver vegetables in a few days? Let her go then."
Tong Dahua was the eldest child in her family. She was disliked for being a girl from birth. Life was difficult before liberation, and she was sent back to her hometown in the countryside to be a child bride when she was not very old.
Because we live relatively close by, we have kept in touch over the years.
When Tong Aihua went to the countryside, Tong Dahua was the only family member who prepared things for him.
Su Ruyi knew her aunt Tong Dahua, so she was quite polite when she saw her visit.
Tong Dahua is only in her forties, but she looks as old as sixty, though she keeps herself very clean and tidy.
When she saw Su Ruyi, tears streamed down her face.
"Good, good, your dad can rest easy down there now."
Tong Dahua held Su Ruyi's hand and talked a lot about how Tong Aihua missed her, as well as some things about Tong Aihua's childhood.
He said he had been diligent and capable since childhood, and often went back to the countryside to help her during holidays.
Su Ruyi listened attentively and gained a better understanding of this father.
According to Tong Dahua's description, her father was good at farm work and was very proactive.
However, when he went to the countryside, he behaved very poorly, taking his meager work points with a clear conscience, focusing his energy on his family, and content to be the little man behind his mother.
His father is like water; whatever mold you put him in, that's what he becomes.
After hesitating for a long time, Tong Dahua tentatively spoke:
"When are you going home to visit? You haven't seen your grandma, uncles, and aunts yet, have you?"
The Tong family wants her to persuade Su Ruyi to voluntarily acknowledge her ancestors and return to her clan, and then change her surname back to her original one.
Tong Dahua felt that this was not a good idea, since Su Ruyi was the only one left in the Su family. So she didn't mention changing the surname, but only asked Su Ruyi to go back to the Tong family to visit, since they were all family after all.
“Aunt, my dad should have told you about my family’s situation. My mom and dad had made an agreement back then.”
Su Ruyi smiled, but her attitude was very firm.
When she arrived, Su Ying told her to consider acquaintances based on the circumstances, whether it was Li Mei or the Tong family.
If you can get along with the person, then keep in touch; if you can't get along, then just let it go.
In the past two days, Su Ruyi had also learned about the Tong family's behavior after her father's disappearance, and had also seen what Zhang Cuihua was like, so she felt there was no need to have any contact with her.
Su Ruyi respected her aunt, and she had worried about her father a lot after he went missing.
Tong Dahua's family situation is not good. Her husband is a disabled person who was born without legs. Her eldest son suffered brain damage from a fever when he was a child. She also has two children in school and two elderly people who are unable to do much work and are often sick.
Tong Dahua was the only able-bodied person in the family, so they lived a very frugal life. However, she still brought a chicken and a basket of eggs with her when she came.
However, it's impossible to make Su Ruyi go against her own will and do things she doesn't want to do.
Upon hearing this, Tong Dahua immediately fell silent.
After Tong Aihua returned to the city, she said that Su Ruyi would be a member of the Su family from now on.
If the two elderly people just wanted to see their granddaughter, that would be fine, but Tong Dahua knew it wasn't that simple.
"Then, if you have time, go back and visit T. After all, we're family."
Su Ruyi smiled, neither confirming nor denying, and did not continue the topic.
Although Tong Dahua felt a little regretful, she didn't want to make a fool of herself. She was inexplicably intimidated by her seemingly gentle niece and didn't treat her like a child.
"Auntie, does your home live quite close to the provincial capital?"
Upon seeing Tong Dahua, Su Ruyi recalled a brief mention of a passage in the original text.
"Yes, the road used to be bad, with many turns, but now a new road has been built, making it much closer to the provincial capital. Come visit my family sometime; although the village isn't as nice as the city, there are still many fun things to do."
This has made life much better in their village. Because of the convenient transportation, the chickens and ducks they raise and the vegetables they grow can be transported to the city to sell, where the prices are higher than in the town, and they are easier to sell.
During the off-season, it is also convenient to find odd jobs in the province.
"Okay, I'll definitely go check it out when I have time."
Tong Dahua was delighted to hear this, thinking to herself that she truly was her second brother's daughter. Over the years, only Tong Aihua had visited her home; everyone else had looked down on it because it was a rural place.
Su Ruyi thought for a moment and then said, "Aunt, if anyone comes to your house and asks you to sign any documents, you must not sign them."
Tong Dahua asked, puzzled, "What documents do you need to sign?"
"Just remember what I said: no matter what anyone asks you to sign, don't sign it or put your fingerprint on it. If you don't understand something, take the document to the city and have a lawyer look at it for you."
Tong Dahua was even more confused. What was this "lawyer" thing? What was all this about?
Su Ruyi was quite puzzled by her sudden remark, but she still kept reminding everyone to be careful whenever she needed to sign any documents.
Although Tong Dahua didn't understand, she still agreed.
Su Ruyi knew that this wasn't safe enough; simply reminding her wouldn't suffice, and she could only be more careful in the future.
Su Ruyi, the villainous female supporting character, has an indelible stain on her reputation: she deceived her superiors and subordinates, using improper means to seize farmers' land at low prices for real estate development.
One of them was Su Ruyi's relative, whose family was very poor, but she still wanted to make money off him by deceiving him into signing a consent form at an extremely low price.
This left that relative homeless, destitute, and their entire family ruined.
Meanwhile, Su Ruyi, on the male lead's side, quoted a high price and made a huge profit from the difference.
Later, when the truth came out, the male protagonist was furious and spent a lot of effort and money to smooth things over and restore the company's reputation.
This incident greatly displeased the protagonist's grandfather, who almost halted the real estate business.
Because there was very little information, Su Ruyi didn't know when this happened. Based on the information she had, she guessed it must have happened in the last few years.
This year, Japan's bubble economy collapsed, causing a sharp drop in real estate prices. Coupled with the impact of the domestic political environment, the real estate market experienced its first downturn since housing reforms. Numerous unfinished buildings appeared in various cities, and many real estate development and investment companies withdrew from the market, leading to some instability. ①
However, the male protagonist was very optimistic about the market and the prospects of the real estate market. He firmly believed that it would recover, so he accumulated a lot of land during this period, laying a solid foundation for his later business empire.
Su Ruyi also took the opportunity to benefit herself and even extended her evil clutches to her relatives.
Based on Su Ruyi's analysis of her relationships, that relative is very likely Tong Dahua.
Su Ruyi always felt that something was off about the original text. She didn't just transform from one person into another; she was Su Ruyi, and she was the same person in both her lives.
But given her personality, she would never do something so despicable.
Su Ruyi loves money but isn't greedy; she has reason to believe she's been made a scapegoat.
These days, real estate development is quite chaotic, with many irregularities and messy practices.
Many people later saw demolition as a way to get rich overnight, but in reality, some people became poorer after the demolition, and this is even more common in this era.
So there must have been a lot of shady dealings involved; some people took advantage of her downfall to pin the blame on her.
Although this is a book, it is already a real world for Su Ruyi now, and everything in the book will not remain unchanged.
Su Ruyi wanted to find out who was so despicable as to resort to such dirty tricks.
Tong Dahua was born into hardship, but she never lost hope and always tried to live, humble yet full of vitality.
To cheat someone like that, leaving them no way out, is truly heartless.
Su Ruyi was going to the provincial capital, and she happened to be going the same way as Tong Dahua. The two agreed to travel together the next day.
Tong Dahua left in a hurry when she saw that it was almost time. Su Ruyi wanted to invite her to stay for a meal, but she couldn't persuade her no matter what she said.
"They've reserved that spot for me; I want to spend more time with my parents."
Su Ruyi had no choice but to let her go.
“Your aunt won’t stay for dinner. She thinks we’re not well-off and is afraid she’ll eat us out of house and home.” Li Mei said, as if she had expected this.
In the past, with Tong Aihua supporting the family, Tong Dahua rarely stayed for meals, afraid of adding to their burden. Now, she is even less willing.
Does she come often?
Judging from Tong Dahua's appearance, she is very familiar with this area and must be a frequent visitor.
Tong Dahua's home is not close to Liulin County; it takes more than four hours by car.
“She comes about once a month, and each time she brings a lot of things. She also cleans your grandparents’ house inside and out. Now she even takes care of your grandma when she takes a bath.”
Su Ruyi frowned; that family was truly shameless.
Sending their daughter into a living hell when she was young, how dare they expect others to serve them in their old age?
"Why doesn't my aunt complain at all?" Su Ruyi couldn't understand.
Li Mei: "No matter what, they are still my own parents. They were forced into this situation back then. Although your uncle is disabled, he is a pretty good person."
While sleeping at night, a head popped up next to Su Ruyi's pillow and stared at her longingly.
If Su Ruyi hadn't been prepared by the noise, she would have been terrified.
"Sister Ruyi, are you asleep?"
Su Ruyi: "If you want to go to the provincial capital, you need your mother's permission."
"Sister Ruyi, you're amazing!"
Wang Huiting was stunned. She hadn't even said anything yet, how did Su Ruyi know what she wanted to do?
She clasped her hands together and pleaded:
"Sister Ruyi, I told my mom I knew she wouldn't agree, but it's different with you. Don't worry, I've saved up money to buy the train ticket myself. I promise I'll be obedient and listen to you. If you say east, I'll never go west, and I won't hold you back! And even though I've only been there once, I know the place pretty well. I know all the fun things to do and the best food to eat."
A note from the author:
① Baidu's "Looking Back at 1990"
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