The old man held up one finger.
"I'll be staying here for a few days to see how that girl behaves after she gets out. If she's still so disrespectful and immature..."
He squinted.
"As for the other three members of your Li family, I don't care. Regarding today's incident, three to five days in jail is fine, but ten years of labor reform in the countryside is also normal."
Su Mingqiang swallowed hard and nodded repeatedly.
"I will definitely change! I promise I'll make sure Jinhua takes good care of you two!"
In the end, the old man softened for the sake of his eldest grandson. He didn't want his grandson to lose his wife and his home to be incomplete, so he decided to teach this ignorant granddaughter-in-law a lesson.
The kitchen door creaked open, and the old lady came out carrying two steaming bowls of egg noodles.
A golden poached egg rests atop the noodles, along with vibrant green scallions; the aroma instantly fills the messy room.
"Let's eat first."
The old lady placed the noodles on the relatively clean coffee table, glanced at the injury on her grandson's forehead, and turned to get a towel.
The old man picked up his chopsticks and suddenly asked a question.
"Mingqiang, do you remember how I punished you when you were ten years old and stole candy from the supply and marketing cooperative?"
Su Mingqiang was about to take the hot towel his grandmother handed him when he heard this and his hand trembled.
"I...I remember...you made me stand at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative for a whole day, telling everyone I met, 'I stole something'..."
"You knew shame back then."
The old man stirred the noodles, the steam obscuring his expression.
"And now? For money, you've thrown away all shame?"
The old lady pressed a hot towel to her grandson's forehead and said softly.
"Eat first, while it's hot."
The three of them ate their noodles in silence, the slurping sounds particularly clear in the quiet room.
The old man finished his noodles in a few bites and put down his bowl and chopsticks.
"I'll take you to the police station first thing tomorrow morning. Remember, I'm only giving her one chance."
Su Mingqiang's hands trembled slightly as he held the bowl, the hot soup reflecting his distorted image.
He knew the weight of his grandfather's words.
If Li Jinhua causes trouble again after she gets out, not only will she have to go back to jail, but her troublemaking parents and brother might actually be sent to a farm for ten years of reform.
The old lady was clearing away the dishes when she suddenly said something.
"Mingqiang, in this life, there are some things that are far more important than money..."
Su Mingqiang stared at the cold, burnt-out braised pork rib soup on the ground without answering.
.
On the other side.
It was dinnertime at Su Jianguo's house.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the kitchen screen window, casting dappled light and shadow on the dining table.
Wang Xiulan wiped her hands with her apron and placed the last plate of cold wild vegetables in the center of the table.
The emerald green wild vegetables still had water droplets clinging to them, and next to them was a bowl of golden egg sauce, with chopped scallions floating on the glossy surface.
"Honey, dinner's ready."
Wang Xiulan called softly, her voice as gentle as the food she cooked.
Su Jianguo put down his newspaper and walked into the main room, his gaze sweeping over his children who were already seated.
The third brother, Su Mingfu, immediately stood up and pulled out the chair in the main seat, his movements more practiced than yesterday.
Since getting the chance to repeat a year of high school, this child has been full of energy and spirit.
"Dad, please sit down."
Su Mingfu's voice carried a cautious, ingratiating tone.
Su Jianguo nodded, his gaze sweeping over the others.
The eldest daughter, Su Yufen, lowered her head and set out the chopsticks, while the youngest daughter, Su Yuzhen, huddled in the farthest corner, barely breathing; the second son, Su Mingde, sat there, but his eyes kept glancing out the window.
"Eat it all."
Su Jianguo picked up his chopsticks, took a pinch of wild vegetables, and dipped them in egg sauce.
The fresh aroma of wild vegetables, mixed with the savory flavor of soy sauce, explodes in your mouth—this is the taste you missed most when you were paralyzed in bed in your past life.
The only sound at the dinner table was the clinking of chopsticks against bowls.
Wang Xiulan quietly observed her husband's expression and added a piece of pickled cucumber to his bowl.
"Big sister, try this."
Su Mingfu suddenly broke the silence and put some wild vegetables on Su Yufen's plate.
"Mom went to dig them up this morning, they're so fresh."
Su Yufen looked up, flattered, and forced a smile onto her sallow face.
"Thank you, Third Brother..."
Before she could finish speaking, her chopsticks were suddenly knocked to the ground by Su Yuzhen.
The sixteen-year-old girl jumped up like a startled rabbit.
"I didn't mean to!"
Everyone was stunned.
Su Yuzhen's face was deathly pale, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, her eyes darting frantically between her father and the ground.
The memory of being beaten yesterday is still fresh; the red marks on my palms haven't faded yet.
Su Jianguo put down his chopsticks, the metal making a crisp sound as it struck the porcelain bowl.
Su Yuzhen trembled, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Pick it up."
Su Jianguo's voice was very calm.
Su Yuzhen practically fell to the ground to pick up the chopsticks, her knees hitting the brick floor with a dull thud.
She bit her lip and handed the chopsticks to her mother, her voice trembling with tears.
"Mom...I'll go get another clean pair..."
Just as Wang Xiulan was about to get up, Su Jianguo handed her his chopsticks.
Use mine.
His gaze swept over his youngest daughter's swollen knees.
"Sit down and eat."
This small act of leniency left Su Yuzhen stunned, and tears suddenly streamed down her face.
She gripped her father's chopsticks tightly, as if grasping at a lifeline.
"Yu Fen."
Su Jianguo turned to his eldest daughter.
What were you trying to say?
Su Yufen unconsciously rubbed the hem of her clothes with her fingers, the sound as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Father...I want...I want to go back..."
"Go back where?"
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