Chapter Thirty-Eight: God, are you playing me?
For someone in Su Xiangdong's position, staying in the city was fraught with trouble; going to the farm was far better. He was quickly suspended and taken away, but since they had already established connections, Shu Yao wasn't too anxious. It would only be a month or two; going to the farm would simply be a change of scenery, and she was prepared.
She got up early, intending to try and pull some strings, but her third aunt was already anxiously waiting for her in the yard. "Yaoyao, what are we going to do about Xiangdong?"
"I'll try to find out what's going on by pulling some strings." She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Don't worry, it'll be alright."
In her previous life, Su Xiangdong lived on a farm for several years. If she could just get through this period, she would at most have to farm for a few more years. It's alright, it's alright. She never intended to run away from the beginning, because no one in the family could bear to leave anyone else; together, they would be too conspicuous. If they were caught and charged with treason, that would be a certain death, beyond saving. Besides, the road to smuggling was treacherous; countless people had died along the way. The children were young; if something happened to them on the way, she couldn't bear the consequences.
She had just stepped out when she ran into Zhou Dalin. He stopped his bicycle in front of her. "Sis, are you going to see your husband?"
"Hmm. I wonder where he's being held, and if he's getting any food."
"Don't worry. I've already pulled some strings and just met him. My brother-in-law told you not to worry, he's fine. He's got food and wasn't beaten."
Shu Yao didn't completely believe these words. In situations like this, as long as safety was guaranteed, taking a few hits wasn't really important. But Su Xiangdong clearly didn't want her to worry, so he tried to downplay the situation.
"Can I see him?"
"I'm afraid it won't be easy." Zhou Dalin avoided her gaze, not daring to look her in the eye.
"Where will he be criticized and denounced today? At the grain station or on the street?"
No, I'm not sure.
Shu Yao didn't ask any more questions and waited until 8 a.m. before riding her bicycle to the grain station. Everything seemed normal there, but according to the staff, not only the station manager but several other leaders had been taken away.
At the busiest intersection on the street, a large crowd had already gathered. Shu Yao pushed her way through the crowd and, sure enough, saw her man in the center. Su Xiangdong was placed in the most inconspicuous corner, keeping his head down to minimize his presence, while the people below whispered among themselves.
“They used to be leaders, and now they've come to this.”
"But these people haven't done anything wrong, have they?"
"I wouldn't dare to talk nonsense. I must have made a mistake, otherwise why would I have been criticized?"
She stood in front of the crowd, her gaze fixed on the man. Su Xiangdong suddenly looked up and saw her, silently telling her to leave. She shook her head and stood still. Although she had made arrangements beforehand, she would still worry if she didn't see it with her own eyes. Only when she saw that he hadn't been beaten did she feel relieved.
Halfway through the approval process, several more people were brought in, including Sun Yaozu. The Sun family was a wealthy household before liberation, but their class background was problematic. Old Man Sun had been forcibly reformed and did manual labor for several years. In recent years, things had relaxed, and they thought everything was fine, but suddenly this happened.
Sun Yaozu saw Shu Yao, who frowned in bewilderment. He had been reborn; how could such a selfish person not find another path for himself? She didn't quite believe he was unwilling to abandon his parents, wife, and daughter.
Shu Yao waited there until the conference ended, then hurriedly followed. She had only taken two steps when someone grabbed her arm; turning around, she saw Zhou Dalin.
"Don't worry, sister, I'll take you to see your husband."
Shu Yao nodded and silently followed Zhou Dalin. As the large truck carrying people drove further and further away, Zhou Dalin told her not to rush, that he knew where they were going.
Upon arriving at their destination, after some negotiation by Zhou Dalin, Shu Yao finally saw her husband. Su Xiangdong was unharmed and in good spirits. Seeing her, he rushed to greet her, his eyes filled with heartache. He was fine with what he had endured, but seeing his wife worry and fear along with him pained him deeply.
"sorry,"
"You didn't do anything wrong, so there's no need to say this."
Seeing how heartbroken she was down there, I thought she'd break down in tears when we met. But she didn't. She seemed calm and rational, and even offered him comforting words. She was carrying a bag; inside was a very old coat and some food.
"Dried biscuits can last for many days. Can you deliver food here? I'll bring you some."
"It probably won't work. Don't worry about me, this will be over soon."
Shu Yao nodded silently. She knew how things were going and had already made preparations. Although Su Xiangdong had been criticized and scolded, he hadn't been physically assaulted. Once this period was over, she would go to the farm. She had money and connections, so it wouldn't be too difficult. Now, with Da Lin helping her, he must have also pulled some strings.
"Sister, you don't need to be so polite with me." Zhou Dalin said with some guilt, "It's a pity that there's no way to get the person out."
"This is the tide of the times, which no individual can shake." Knowing that her life would not be in danger and that she had made preparations to deal with it, Shu Yao was actually very calm.
That night, Su Xiangdong slept in the coat his wife had given him and discovered that although it looked worn, it was actually very warm. The inner lining was soft and very insulating.
"How clever." Its worn exterior won't attract attention, but its functionality remains unaffected. His wife is very capable; this must have been prepared long ago.
Although he couldn't see Shu Yao afterwards—he was usually criticized in the morning or afternoon these days, and she was working the early shift, so her shift was basically over after she finished—Zhou Dalin used his connections to send him food; the steamed buns were very fragrant and sweet.
Shu Yao also started being questioned at work, and she could only try her best to deal with it each time. She had been questioned in her previous life as well, but she had no news of her parents and brothers. After going abroad, they went to several places, and she was not sure where they were now.
In her past life, she retained her factory workstation, but Sun Yaozu was assigned to clean the toilets, which was mostly her job. That job was incredibly dirty and smelly, but she endured it. In this life, she's prepared to go to the farm with Su Xiangdong; farm work is nothing to her.
When I rode my bike home that evening, Aunt Xu secretly came to tell me, "Sun Yaozu has been assigned to clean toilets, and the couple is arguing non-stop. I heard his mother is very ill, and this time she probably won't make it."
At such a sensitive time, Shu Yao didn't say a single unnecessary word. It wasn't that she didn't trust people, but everyone had to be cautious during this period. In her past life, Aunt Xu was quite kind and didn't take advantage of her misfortune, but she was still very careful. She was polite to guests, but spoke very little.
Sun Yaozu knew his fate and dealt with it quite calmly. He was cleaning the toilets, a task arranged to be done in the evening so it wouldn't disrupt use. He wore a mask to cover himself completely, and being mentally prepared, he was actually quite okay.
I cleaned the men's restroom first, then overheard people talking in the women's restroom next door. "Meng Xi and that other girl, they act like we don't know anything. What kind of person is she? She's married but still so restless. Now that guy's infiltrated the Revolutionary Committee, he's incredibly powerful."
Sun Yaozu: No wonder she was so loud last night, she must have found a backer outside. No way, it can't be. She loves me so much, how could she betray me? No way, we couldn't be together in our past life. Every time I see her, I'm so happy; she loves me.
“What do you know?” another woman said in a low voice. “She had an affair with Wu Erhu from their factory before, and the child might not even be her husband’s. She said it herself, her husband has problems.”
"Really?!"
The two women were gossiping in the bathroom late at night, thinking no one would hear them. Little did they know that the people involved had overheard them. Sun Yaozu, on the other side, was utterly stunned and couldn't believe it.
Is this talking about him? It's probably just a coincidence of names. Why can I understand each word individually, but the combination is so incomprehensible? Meng Xi is saying he has a problem, even that she's been having affairs with other men?
He shook his head, gritted his teeth, and staggered back to a corner, refusing to believe it was real. He had been reborn for many years, though he had doubted it repeatedly. He had thought that true love would prevail, but why were they constantly arguing, their marriage almost on the verge of collapse?
In his past life, he thought his marriage to Shu Yao was a compromise, a matter of necessity. However, they hardly ever argued over the years. During special times, Shu Yao stayed by his side, sharing all the dirty and tiring work with him.
He thought he was unhappy with Shu Yao, and every time he secretly went to see Meng Xi, he felt overjoyed. He swindled money from Shu Yao to give to Meng Xi, and he used Shu Yao's money to buy a house for Meng Xi. Now he and Meng Xi are husband and wife, and she is part of his plans.
He didn't believe it, not a single word of it.
That's what he thought, but once the seed of doubt was planted, it quickly took root and sprouted. When Meng Xi returned home late again, he was getting ready in front of the dressing mirror, his hands clenched into fists.
Where are you going again?
"Mind your own business."
"you……"
"Bring glory to our ancestors, bring glory to our ancestors..."
His father next door was calling, so he quickly went out to his parents' house. His mother was clearly on her deathbed, and he had been extremely worried these past few days. His parents had many flaws, but they undoubtedly loved him; he knew that. He felt sorry for his parents and always considered them in his actions.
"mother,"
The old woman was barely breathing; when she saw her son, she gripped his hand tightly. Her eyes were wide open, filled with worry. In the years she had spent lying on the kang (heated brick bed), she had experienced and thought so much. First, she resented Shu Yao, but now, on her deathbed, she realized how much she worried about her son.
"I want to see Shu Yao."
“Mother, Shuyao is no longer the obedient girl she used to be. She won’t see you. Why can’t you understand?”
"I..." The old woman gasped for breath. Even at a time like this, her daughter-in-law wouldn't even show her face. "Shuyao's twins...aren't they ours?"
She knew she was dying, and years of mental habits had led her to consider what to do when she met her ancestors. "Is it yours?"
"Mother..." Having no heir, Sun Yaozu thought he didn't care, but it turned out he cared deeply. From a young age, he was burdened with the responsibility of carrying on the family line, and deep down, he favored sons over daughters. He understood now how much he loved Meng Xi's daughter in his past life—it was all because he already had a son.
"We want it back."
Sun's mother held on to her last breath, trying to sit up. After saying that, she slumped back onto the kang (a heated brick bed), lifeless but with her arms still outstretched and her eyes wide open in death.
"mother……"
Hearing Sun Yaozu's cries, Meng Xi finally arrived late. Her daughter followed timidly behind her, knowing that her grandparents didn't like her and always avoided her whenever they saw her.
"You woman..."
Over the years, caring for his paralyzed wife has taken a toll on the old man, making him look much older than in his previous life. His daughter-in-law is unyielding and refuses to care for him, making him angry just looking at her. But Meng Xi doesn't listen to any of that now; she turns and leaves as soon as she hears him cursing.
"you……"
Sun Yaozu stopped his father, saying, "Forget it. At this time, be careful she doesn't sue you for capitalist oppression."
With that one sentence, Old Man Sun fell silent, closing his eyes and tears streaming down his face. He never imagined old age would be like this. He couldn't control the times, but his wife had passed away, he wasn't feeling well, and he had no grandchildren.
"Yaozu, are Shuyao's twins really yours?"
They were probably desperate, dreaming of having a grandson. Coupled with Sun Yaozu's various behaviors, the old couple started thinking about that other couple again. Whether it was psychological or not, the more they looked at Su Hexu, the more she seemed to resemble someone from the Sun family.
"Whether it is or not, do you think Shu Yao will give it to her?"
"If so, we have to get them back no matter what. They are the bloodline of the Sun family."
“How can you prove it?” Sun Yaozu closed his eyes. “She won’t admit it.”
Whether Meng Xi betrayed him or not is still uncertain, but it's probably pretty close. As for Shu Yao, he felt she definitely wouldn't cheat on him so soon after their marriage; at that time, she was devoted to the Sun family. Those twins were his children, but Shu Yao refused to acknowledge them. Her quick remarriage was to sever all his hopes.
Shu Yao, you're ruthless. You made me childless, left my mother with unresolved grief, and kept my father awake at night. If this is your revenge, then you win.
The Sun family held a very low-key funeral; many neighbors didn't even know about it. When Shu Yao came home from work that evening, Sun Yaozu stopped her.
What are you doing?
"Let Shuhua go and kowtow to my mother. We can't let her die without peace."
"Who?" Shu Yao asked, puzzled. "You've got the wrong person to talk to."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Sun Yaozu reached out and grabbed her. "You know. You clearly know everything, but you still act so cruelly. That's the child's own grandmother, how could you do this?"
"What's wrong with you?" Shu Yao, who had been refusing to admit it, remained so. "If you're sick, go get treatment. If you keep this up, I'm calling for help."
“Shu Yao,” he gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and then raised it again, his tone softening. “I know you understand everything, I know you hate me. But Shu Hua is a member of the Sun family. My mother is gone, it’s not unreasonable for the child to kowtow to her grandmother.”
"Who exactly is this Shuhua you're talking about? What kind of delusions are you having?" No matter what you say, no matter how clear you are, I just won't accept it. You have no son, you have no daughter, you have nothing. Sun Yaozu, didn't you dislike us? Now we have nothing to do with you.
Sun Yaozu felt as if his heart had been stabbed, the pain causing him to bend over. His son had been raised so well, yet he had never called him "Dad" again. He clearly had sons and daughters; the Sun family line had always been passed down through a single male heir. But now, the Sun family was extinct, with no grandson to carry the funeral banner for his grandmother.
"Shu Yao, how could you be so cruel?"
“I have nothing to do with you, so it’s not a question of whether I’m ruthless or not.”
After Shu Yao finished speaking, she turned and left. Even with her back to him, she was trembling with excitement. The breath she had been holding in since her rebirth was finally released.
Disappointment, anger, resentment, heartbreak, and a feeling of being torn apart—since her rebirth, she had been holding back her anger, determined to see what fate awaited those two adulterous lovers. And his parents, who knew he was cheating on her yet deceived her, forcing her to serve the Sun family like a slave for the rest of her life.
Good, very good. He died with his eyes wide open, didn't he deserve it?
As she entered the Su family's gate, Sun Yaozu, his hands trembling, stepped forward again to pull her up. "Yaoyao, don't be so cruel. She's the woman you've called 'Mom' your whole life. You came to the Sun family at twelve, and we've treated her like a daughter..."
“I am not their daughter, and they have never treated me as their daughter. And even if I were their daughter, you know best what happened to your sister.”
Sun Yaozu was abruptly pulled away, and the door slammed shut in front of him. The night wind chilled him to the bone; anger, resentment, and a heart-wrenching pain filled him. He was now experiencing the same pain Shu Yao had felt in the past. He finally understood how painful it was to have a knife cut into his heart; the pain was so intense that he could barely stand.
In the Su family courtyard, three children stood in a row. Upon seeing her, He Yi came forward first. "Mommy, did someone bully you?"
He Xu stepped forward and said, "Mom, did that Sun Yaozu bully you again? Wait here, I'll go beat him up for you. Does he think we're safe just because Dad's not here?"
Shu Yao reached out and grabbed her son. "It's alright, it's alright. His mother died, and he wants me to go. He's trying to morally blackmail me, but I won't fall for it."
Old Mrs. Sun is a two-faced woman. Over the years, the more she's been kind to her, the more she's exploited her. If you praise her cooking, she has to get up at six in the morning to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then cook dinner again when she gets home from work. If you say she washes clothes clean, she only rested for a week during her postpartum period before getting up to wash those unclean diapers herself.
The old woman had a daughter, and a very beautiful one at that. At fourteen, a traveling merchant took a liking to her and arranged for her to marry a man nearing forty. She hasn't returned in all these years; I heard in my previous life she died quite early.
"Mom, did that old woman bully you a lot before?"
"It's all in the past."
She didn't want her children to be filled with resentment; that feeling was like holding a double-edged sword, and could easily hurt herself. She had already vented her anger herself, and there was no need for her children to suffer along with her, or to feel sorry for her.
"Mom, who is this Shuhua he mentioned?" He Xu asked curiously. He had just overheard him saying that Shuhua was his mother's child. But his mother clearly only had the three of them, and none of them were named Shuhua. Besides, the Sun family wanted a grandson, and he was a boy in his family.
"He's having a hysterical episode, and I don't know who it is."
"That's insane."
In her past life, when Granny Sun died, her two children were in junior high school. Her grandson carried the soul-guiding banner, and her son smashed the basin. She died with a smile on her face. But in this life, she died several years earlier, after suffering paralysis and endless torment.
Shu Yao didn't sleep well that night, but not because of the Sun family. Seeing Sun Yaozu's current state, her anger had almost completely dissipated. She was worried about her husband and would try to pull some strings again tomorrow to get him to the farm as soon as possible.
She had connections at the farm, and with money in hand, she believed things wouldn't be difficult. The next day, before dawn, she heard crying next door; Old Mrs. Sun was being cremated. The Sun family were locals; even after death, they were buried in the ancestral cemetery but still had to be cremated.
She went to work in the morning, dropping her little girl off at daycare. The little girl tugged at her sleeve, pouting, on the verge of tears. The child looked like her grandmother, and the older she got, the more Su Xiangdong's features became. Thick eyebrows, big eyes, and delicate skin—everyone who saw her praised her beauty.
"Mom, I miss Dad."
Over the years, Su Xiangdong has been primarily responsible for picking up and dropping off the children. The two older children spent three years in daycare, and then he took over picking up and dropping off the younger one. These past few days, all three children have looked worried, knowing their mother is also troubled and therefore afraid to say anything. But today, the youngest daughter couldn't hold it in any longer.
She knelt down and hugged the child: "Daddy will be alright soon, and then Mommy will take you to see Daddy."
"Are you really alright?"
"Really." It'll be tough, but it'll be fine. Knowing what the future holds, she felt a little worried but not anxious.
I picked up my child from work in the afternoon, and as soon as I entered the alley, I saw Old Man Sun standing in front of her house. Ever since she confronted him, he hasn't gone near her anymore. Today, Old Man Sun was buried, so what's he doing at her doorstep?
Why are you standing at my door?
"Shu Yao, for the sake of our years of friendship, tell me honestly, are the twins really of the Sun family bloodline?"
"no."
As always, Shu Yao's answer was always the same. Upon hearing this, Old Man Sun's vision blurred, but she quickly caught him. "This is the Su family's front gate; don't try to extort money from us."
Old Man Sun heard rumors today that his son has asthenospermia and will have difficulty conceiving. He inquired about asthenospermia and learned that it worsens with age. So, he started fantasizing again that perhaps Shu Yao's twins were from the Sun family, back when Yao Zu was still very young.
"Is Heaven determined to destroy the Sun family?"
The old man, who considered carrying on the family line his greatest concern, was deeply shocked. Shu Yao, seeing Sun Yaozu return, immediately handed him over to him.
"Don't come looking for me again, or don't blame me if anything happens."
After she finished speaking, she took the child and went home. Her cold attitude hurt the old man even more. "Yaozu, she said the twins have nothing to do with the Sun family."
"Father, please don't think about these things."
Old Man Sun went back and immediately took to his bed. Sun Yaozu was also criticized and beaten until his head was bleeding. After it was over, they could go home on their own. He was dizzy and cold all over. He didn't see Meng Xi at all during the whole process.
He watched Shu Yao running around for Su Xiangdong, and Su Xiangdong still didn't get much of a beating today. But what about him? His wife didn't show up at all. The vows of eternal love he once thought were so profound and affectionate now made him realize that they were a complete joke.
Back when he was first reborn, he was full of ambition, determined to prove himself to Shu Yao. It was all her fault. Without her, his life would have been happy and fulfilling. Who would have thought that just a few years later, he would already miss the sister from his past life who would protect and care for him?
Unfortunately, Shu Yao had long since severed ties with him. Not only his wife, but even their two children were now unrelated to him, becoming someone else's biological children.
He couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh, tears streaming down his face. "God, you're playing me. You gave me a second chance just to make a joke of me."
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