Chapter 12 Even if I die, I'll die a quick and painless death.
Su Mu set rules for ID6653365985.
You can only spend a maximum of 100 yuan per day, not a penny more. Otherwise, you'll be blocked, permanently.
id6653365985: ...Oh.
Su Mu felt that this attitude was not proper enough, so after thinking for a moment, he sent another message with a tone of admonition: "To be honest, do you have some strange fetish? Like, do you have a particular urge to spend money on other people?"
id6653365985: ...Yes, that's right, I don't feel comfortable if I don't spend money on others.
Su Mu was speechless for a moment.
Is that really true? What kind of fetish is this?
Su Mu: Then you can donate the money to children in mountainous areas and help those in need. Wouldn't that be more meaningful?
id6653365985: I did donate, but I have a lot of money, so I can donate. You shouldn't donate; there are many scams involved in donations. I donated a considerable amount to an organization before, but later it was reported in the news that the person in charge of that organization embezzled and misappropriated the funds, and ended up in jail. The money didn't reach the children; instead, it enriched the corrupt officials. It's disgusting to think about. It's better to give it to someone you like; at least you know that the money went to the person you wanted it to be given to.
Su Mu thought this person was quite kind.
But just because you watched a few live streams, because of the forklift? Because of his face? You can casually say you like him.
frivolous.
However, not everyone is as morally upright as Jiang Ran.
id6653365985: Did you go home because you were unhappy with your previous job?
Su Mu: Not just that.
It's not just about work. There's more to it than that. But he didn't want to talk about it, nor did he feel the need to confide in a stranger with eccentric behavior.
Su Mu: I have to go now, let's talk next time.
There was silence on the other end of the line, and no further reply came.
That afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, and there wasn't much work at the factory, so he went home early.
He remembered that both the doctor and Dr. Li had mentioned that prenatal education could be helpful for the baby's development. He had no experience and didn't know exactly how to do it, so he thought he would find some soothing music or audiobooks to listen to.
He picked up his phone and opened a podcast app he often used. The app still retained his old habits and subscription list from when he was in City B. He opened my subscriptions, intending to look for gentle music or story albums suitable for prenatal education.
However, once the list was opened, it was filled with podcasts, almost all of which were related to finance, investment, macroeconomics, and industry analysis.
"Daily Financial News Briefs", "In-depth Analysis of US Stocks", "Wall Street Insights", "Chief Strategist"...
In an instant, it brought Su Mu back to the days and nights he spent in the CBD office building, wearing a neatly pressed shirt, staring at the flashing K-line charts and complex data reports, experiencing either anxiety or excitement.
The air seemed to be filled with the bitter aroma of coffee again, along with the dry, warm air from the central air conditioning that never stopped.
His fingers slid down unconsciously, line after line passing before his eyes. Su Mu remembered listening to it while commuting with noise-canceling headphones, while eating a sandwich during his lunch break, and while working late at night to stay awake.
Those were the essential nutrients that helped him build his professional understanding, try to gain a foothold in the brutal industry, and even aspire to stand out from the crowd.
Now, he sits in his old home, with sheets drying in the yard outside the window and the occasional barking of dogs. He types "pregnancy music" and "prenatal education stories" into the search bar.
New lists pop up, with covers mostly featuring soft pink, blue, or cute cartoon designs, and titles brimming with warmth and childlike charm.
But Su Mu didn't really want to listen, so he exited and reopened my subscription.
Oh well, I've already bought it, so I might as well not waste it.
Su Mu patted her belly and said, "Good baby, listen if you can, go to sleep if you can't."
The three-month pregnancy wasn't very noticeable. Su Mu was pregnant at the right time, and it was winter when the belly grew bigger, so you couldn't tell anything by covering it with clothes.
When Su's mother came back, she saw Su Mu's phone playing very loudly and asked him what he was doing.
Su Mu asked, "What about prenatal education?"
Su's mother asked curiously, "What are you listening to?"
Looking at the cover, Su Mu said, "The impact of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy on the global market, financial report analysis and future outlook of tech giants, and how to interpret macroeconomic indicators."
Su's mother leaned closer and tapped Su Mu's forehead: "Oh dear, my silly son, how old are you? You're just a little bean sprout, how could you understand any of this?"
"I just sent you a WeChat message, did you see it? Did you not check your phone again?"
Su Mu picked up her phone and glanced at it. Sure enough, there were several unread messages, all from her mother: "No, I didn't check just now."
Su's mother: "If you didn't see it, then forget it. I just wanted to let you know that we won't be having dinner at home later; we're going to a banquet over there."
"A banquet?" Su Mu was taken aback.
In small towns, attending a banquet usually signifies a wedding or funeral.
“Yes, your third aunt’s granddaughter, the one named Xiaoqin, is getting married tomorrow. According to our local custom, the night before, the bride’s family has to set up a few tables to invite close relatives and friends to get together and have a lively send-off banquet,” Su’s mother continued. “Your father has already gone to help, and my daughter and I will pack up and go over there too.”
Su Mu nodded. Since he was home, he would naturally go.
The wedding banquet was held next to an old street on the east side of the town. It wasn't one of those luxurious hotels or restaurants, but an old-fashioned restaurant with a large courtyard that specialized in hosting banquets.
The courtyard was large enough to accommodate a dozen or twenty tables. It was already decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and big red "double happiness" characters were pasted up. People were coming and going, and the place was bustling with activity.
The air was filled with the mixed smells of cooking oil, firecracker smoke, and food, along with the cacophony of voices, children's laughter, and the clanging of pots and pans—a vibrant and lively atmosphere typical of the city.
Su Mu followed his mother into the courtyard and soon spotted familiar faces in the crowd; Meng Lingxuan's family had also arrived.
Meng Lingxuan was standing to the side smoking and chatting with several men of similar age, while his wife was holding their daughter Meng Jiaojiao's hand and talking to several other men of similar age.
Meng Jiaojiao, with her sharp eyes, turned her head and spotted Su Mu. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she broke free from her mother's hand, fluttering over like a little butterfly, calling out in a clear voice, "Brother Su! Brother Su, you're here too!"
Su Mu first protected her stomach to steady herself, then looked down at the little girl with two pigtails and rosy cheeks, and couldn't help but smile gently: "Jiaojiao, hello there."
Meng Lingxuan also saw Su Mu, stubbed out his cigarette and walked over. He greeted Su Mu's mother first, then jokingly scolded, "Hey, Meng Jiaojiao, what's wrong with you? You're so disrespectful, calling him 'brother' all the time! This is your Uncle Su Mu!"
Meng Jiaojiao pouted, not afraid of her father at all, and instead retorted confidently: "My mother taught me this. She said that if someone is handsome and looks young, you should call them brother. Calling them uncle makes them sound old."
Meng Lingxuan was speechless at his daughter's logic and turned to look at his wife.
His wife, a cheerful person, was covering her mouth and laughing. When she saw her husband looking over, she shrugged generously and gave her daughter a thumbs up: "Good girl, you're right. That's how Mom taught you. Su Mu is a handsome guy, so you should call him brother."
Several relatives and neighbors who heard this burst into laughter, making the atmosphere even more lively and relaxed.
Meng Lingxuan had no choice but to shake his head helplessly at this pair of lively mother and daughter, and said to Su Mu, "Look at these two, they're both more mischievous than the other. Don't mind them, Mu Mu, the kids don't know any better."
Su Mu said casually, "It's nothing, it's just a form of address. She can call me whatever she wants. Jiao Jiao likes to call me 'brother,' so let her call me that."
Meng Jiaojiao was even happier. She tightly gripped Su Mu's clothes with her little hands, tilted her head up, and started chattering: "Brother Su, let me tell you, our Chinese teacher is just as beautiful as today's bride."
She hasn't given up on being a matchmaker yet.
They're all from the same place.
Neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances—you could probably trace your lineage back several generations. Wedding banquets are like an invisible net, bringing together people who are usually scattered everywhere; familiar faces are everywhere.
They all knew each other.
Upon seeing Su Mu, those who knew him, and those who were not familiar with him but whose faces looked familiar, all greeted him warmly.
After all, Su Mu was a celebrity in their small town, not just in the empty fame he had online, but because he had always been the "other people's child" since childhood.
Good grades, good looks, admission to a top university, and working in a big city are the role models that many parents mention when educating their children.
"Oh my, isn't this Little Wooden Head? You're back! You look great!"
"Su Mu, it's been a long time. Are you doing well in City B?"
"Your mom said you're back. How long do you plan to stay?"
After the initial pleasantries, the conversation inevitably veered towards some classic questions. Especially the older, kind-hearted, and busy aunties and grandmothers, who looked at Su Mu with obvious concern in their eyes.
"Little Wooden Head, you're... twenty-five or twenty-six this year, right? Have you settled your personal life yet?"
"Do you have a girlfriend yet? Girls in big cities have high standards, but the local girls are pretty good too. Would you like me to introduce you? My niece just graduated from university this year and is a teacher in the county. She's good-looking and has a great personality..."
Faced with such warm concern, Su Mu could only smile awkwardly, unsure of how to respond.
Fortunately, Su's mother was right there.
Su's mother always knew exactly when to stop, smiling and deflecting his concerns: "Oh, Aunt Wang, Aunt Li, don't worry about it! Young people these days are different from us back then. They value free love and believe that when the time is right, things will fall into place. Let them handle these things themselves. We parents should mind our own business and let them be."
As she spoke, she pulled Su Mu behind her, like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
Besides those asking about marriage, there were also some more trendy inquiries. A young man about Su Mu's age, working in another city, came over with his phone, his face full of excitement and curiosity: "Brother Su Mu! I saw you on social media! You... that forklift! Is that you? You look just like me! Huh, you're a social media influencer now!"
Su Mu was a little surprised and embarrassed. He touched the back of his neck and nodded in admission: "Yeah, it was me. I was just messing around with it when I had nothing to do. I was bored at home anyway, so I thought I'd find something to do, and I found it... kind of interesting."
The young man slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Yeah, that's so cool! I'll follow you too!"
After chatting for a while, the banquet officially began.
The tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks clattered as steaming dishes were served one after another.
According to local custom and the elders' arrangements, Su Mu was seated at the children's table because he couldn't drink alcohol. His parents only vaguely explained that he had been unwell recently and shouldn't drink.
So he was seated at a relatively quiet table with a few teenagers and a few women who also didn't drink much, drinking orange juice.
The atmosphere was lively, with everyone toasting and drinking.
An acquaintance, an uncle, came over with a wine glass, his face flushed, and insisted on toasting Su Mu.
Su's father was sitting at the next table, watching this scene closely. Upon seeing this, he immediately put down his chopsticks, stood up, and walked over in a few steps. With an apologetic but firm smile on his face, he blocked Su Mu's way and waved his hand, saying, "Old Zhang, Old Zhang! I appreciate the sentiment, I appreciate the sentiment! But this wine really can't be allowed to be drunk by him."
"He's allergic to alcohol, he's been since he was a child. Just a sip of alcohol and he breaks out in a rash all over his body, it's really painful. The doctor warned him he absolutely can't touch it. So, I'll drink it for him, I'll finish it, you can drink as you like!"
Without saying a word, Su's father took the wine glass from the uncle's hand, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, his movements swift and decisive, and even showed the bottom of the glass.
Seeing this, the uncle didn't press the matter any further. He laughed and patted Su's father on the back, saying, "Alright, alright, Old Su, you're so protective of your son. Well then, you'll have to drink a few more cups for Little Wood!"
The topic then shifted elsewhere.
After the meal, it was still dark.
The evening breeze carried a cool breeze, dispelling the greasy and noisy atmosphere of the banquet. The family of three chose to walk home slowly, without riding bicycles or hitchhiking.
The distance from the old street where banquets are held to the alley where their house is located is neither too far nor too close.
The road was a newly built cement road, and it was fairly flat. On both sides were houses of varying heights, and some windows emitted a dim, warm light.
The air was filled with the faint scent of soapy water from people washing up after dinner, and the sweet, cloying fragrance of night-blooming jasmine wafting from some courtyard.
Su's mother took out a few wedding candies from the red handbag she was carrying. The candies were common hard fruit candies. She carefully peeled one open and held it to Su Mu's mouth: "Here, have a candy and share in the joy."
Su Mu obediently opened his mouth and took it in.
The candy was orange-flavored and a bit too sweet. Su's mother then took out a small, folded red paper packet and gave it to Su Mu as well. The total value inside was probably only three or four yuan.
"Take this, keep it safe when you get home." Su's mother stuffed the small red envelope into Su Mu's hand.
From childhood to adulthood, whenever his parents encountered something they considered a good omen—an apple, a coin, or even just a small red envelope with very little money inside—they would give it to him.
It was as if all the blessings and good fortune in the world could be poured into him through these insignificant objects.
The three walked side by side, with Su Mu in the middle.
He had grown taller than his parents, and just like many years ago, they naturally shielded him between them.
The night was gentle, and the streetlights cast long, thin, and then shorter shadows of the three of them on the concrete pavement.
Su Mu said, "Mom, what if I don't hold such a ceremony in the future? Wouldn't you and Dad feel ashamed?"
With a hint of nonchalance, Su's mother said, "Why do we have to hold such a party? Holding such a party, with all the gongs and drums, and all the chaos, is called a lively event, but to be honest, isn't it just to get back the money we gave out as gifts in the past?"
She turned her head and glanced at Su Mu: "Besides, does it really matter whether there's a ceremony or not? Living a good life is more important than anything else."
She seemed to have thought of something even happier, and her tone became cheerful: "When my eldest grandson or granddaughter is born, for the full moon, 100-day celebration, and first birthday... I can still hold a grand celebration, invite all the relatives and friends, have a lively time, and still collect the gift money!"
Su Mu was both amused and exasperated by his mother's words: "Mom, you're such a money-grubber. All you ever think about is wedding gift money."
Su's father, walking on the outside, said, "That's right, your mother is a money-grubber. She's been thrifty since she was little."
Mother Su snorted and said smugly, "So what if you're a miser? If I weren't careful with money, could I have raised you two so well? Could I have made our family's life so stable?"
The family of three all laughed.
Su Mu walked between his parents, feeling the comforting and reassuring warmth of his family emanating from both sides.
He looked at the cement road stretching ahead, illuminated by streetlights in patches of light and shadow, and for a moment, it seemed as if he were seeing a scene from many years ago.
It was a night like this, or perhaps earlier, with more stars. He was still a little kid, carrying a heavy schoolbag, just coming home from school.
His parents, having just returned from working in the fields or factory, still smelling of mud or engine oil, or perhaps they had come specifically to pick him up. They would meet somewhere along this road.
Then, just like now, his parents will naturally stand on either side of him, protecting him in the middle. The little boy will stretch out both hands, one holding his father's hand and the other holding his mother's.
The three of them, close together, walked home under the moonlight or starlight, chatting about trivial things at school, or listening to their parents talk about the crops in the fields and the work in the factory. Step by step, slowly, they made their way home.
Now, he's grown up, taller than his parents, and about to become the father of another little life. Yet, walking on this familiar yet somewhat different road, his parents still protect him in the middle.
It seems that no matter how old he gets or how far he goes, in their eyes he will always be the child who needs to be protected and placed in the safest place.
Jiang Ran is now clearly a master of short video platforms.
He was no longer the clumsy novice who only knew how to search and spam with gifts. He learned to switch his IP address and change the location displayed on his account to "Fenghuang Village, Qu County, He City". In this way, the platform's big data algorithm would naturally push more local content from that area to his homepage.
He felt like a hunter lurking in the shadows, using technology to build himself an excellent lookout post for observing his prey.
The internet is indeed a good thing.
Su Mu is already quite well-known in Phoenix Village and even in the surrounding villages and towns.
After all, the popularity of the video of the factory's male lead driving a forklift has not yet subsided, and he himself is indeed outstanding in appearance and gentle in personality, so it is natural that he is more likely to become the focus of attention and media attention.
Jiang Ran could occasionally see photos or short videos featuring Su Mu in her local recommendations.
Sometimes it's a group photo taken in front of a relative's house, with a tiled rural self-built house and parked motorcycles in the background; sometimes it's a blurry profile of someone walking on a country road, with rice paddies in the distance; sometimes it's just a casual snapshot of Sumu sitting quietly eating in a corner during a family gathering in someone else's yard.
These fragmented, unedited images, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, pieced together by Jiang Ran the fragments of Su Mu's life after he left her.
Su Mu now wears the most ordinary T-shirt and trousers, standing on the dusty village road or sitting in the noisy and greasy banquet, but his face seems to have a relaxed and gentle aura that he has never seen before.
This discovery intensified Jiang Ran's restlessness and sense of urgency, like a fire fueled by oil.
He had almost made up his mind to set off soon to personally visit the place called Phoenix Village.
That day, big data once again accurately pushed a video to his eyes.
Still in the same city.
Upon clicking, the background clearly shows a lively rural wedding banquet. Su Mu, wearing a light-colored sweatshirt, sits at a round table, surrounded by several chattering children. He is looking down, extremely patiently and gently playing something with a little girl with two pigtails and a chubby face.
Su Mu seems to really like children.
As the camera zoomed in, it became clear that they were playing an extremely childish game: cat's cradle, a game where they used a red string to create various patterns between their fingers. Su Mu's fingers were long and nimble, perfectly complementing the little girl's clumsy yet excited movements. Every now and then, when she successfully created a simple pattern, he would show an approving, slightly childlike smile.
The little girl looked up at him with bright, sparkling eyes, her face full of trust and happiness.
The person filming the video was clearly the little girl's mother, because her account nickname was "Jiaojiao's Mom".
The video caption was simple: "Having so much fun with Brother Xiao Su~ [heart]"
There are already some comments below.
Most of the compliments were things like, "Wow, what a handsome guy!", "What a patient young man!", and "What a cute girl!"
Jiaojiao's mother replied enthusiastically to a comment praising Su Mu's handsomeness: Thank you for the compliment~ [shy] Our little Su brother is still single and available to flirt~ I can introduce you to any suitable girls!
Su Mu smiles at others, plays childish games with kids, gets labeled as single and available, and might even be introduced to blind dates.
That evening, Su Mu finished washing up early and prepared to go to bed. He now maintains a regular schedule like a retired cadre, no longer staying up late, all for the healthy development of the little life inside him.
He leaned against the headboard, picked up his phone, and habitually glanced at his private messages.
id6653365985 sent another message, this time a little earlier.
id6653365985: Do you really like children? You will definitely have children in the future, right?
id6653365985: Actually, having children isn't always necessary. The old concept of raising children to provide for old age is no longer valid. As long as we are capable of living a good life on our own, we don't necessarily need children.
id6653365985: Moreover, raising children is very time-consuming and energy-intensive. Economic pressure, personal space, quality of life... all will be affected.
Why is this ID 6653365985 always so self-righteous? Their speech always carries a condescending tone, as if they're trying to interfere in other people's lives.
At this moment, Su Mu was carrying a small life in his belly, the core and hope of his chosen future. Any questioning of this choice sounded particularly harsh to him, like setting fire to the head of a father who had made up his mind and paid a huge price for it.
Su Mu: It's your own choice not to have a baby, so why are you trying to persuade others? I want one. I absolutely must have one. I love my baby very much. Do you understand?
This eccentric netizen is really meddling too much.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Jiang Ran watched Su Mu reply, "I want it. I absolutely have to. I love my baby so much."
Baby? What baby? Whose baby? Why did Su Mu use such a certain and loving tone?
And thumbs up for the one who had all her prenatal checkups done smoothly.
No, we can't wait any longer.
We can't wait another second!
Even if I die, I want to die a quick and painless death.
Jiang Ran dialed her secretary Allen's number. The call was answered almost instantly, and Allen's professional and respectful voice came through: "President Jiang?"
“Allen, listen up! Immediately, right now, get rid of all the work I have on hand that can be cut back, brought forward, or transferred. Cut it to the shortest possible timeframe. I need vacation, immediately. Apply for the longest possible leave I can get. Now, get it done right away!”
A note from the author:
I want to eat more fresh oranges.
Young Master Jiang: He has become a master of the internet and a member of Phoenix Village [Sunglasses]. In the new era, pursuing a wife online has become a new trend.
Little Wood touched his belly: This person must live by the sea, they're being too nosy. Baby, I love you, I love you.
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