Chapter 514 I had a dream that felt like it actually happened.
Of the brothers, apart from the eldest, the other three were all scoundrels. They knew that Mom was tired, didn't want to work anymore, and couldn't do it anymore, but none of them offered to let her stop and rest. They made Mom sick from overwork. Mom... worked herself to death to earn money for her brothers!
Su Lao Er gritted his teeth, his face tense.
Fang Erniu has changed now because she has been by her mother's side and has learned a lot of principles from her, understanding right from wrong. She is no longer the shrewish woman in the dream who only cared about money.
But the essence of the other members of the Fang family has not changed.
If the third son marries Fang Erniu, the Fang family will use her to leech off his mother and the third son.
Fang Erniu has regained her senses.
But reason prevails when faced with family ties. These are her own mother, brother, and younger brother who raised and loved her, as well as her nephew who carries her Fang family blood. Can she firmly choose his mother and the third brother again and again?
He didn't want to gamble on human nature, nor did he dare to!
That dream felt so real.
It was so real, as if he had lived that way in his past life.
Su Lao Er clenched his fist, let out a soft breath, patted Su Lao San's shoulder, and said, "Lao San, I'll ask your second sister-in-law to introduce you to someone. You're not short of money, let's find someone educated..."
The eldest brother's expression changed slightly, and he gave the third brother a look, signaling him to stop talking.
Su Lao Er pretended not to see it.
Since it's impossible, why not make a clean break instead of letting things get worse?!
If I don't get married, who will I give a chance for?
Su Lao San tilted his head to look at Su Lao Er, his face still slightly dazed, and shook his head vigorously. "Second brother, I'm not getting married. I'll never get married in this life. Anyway, I can't marry the person I like, so what's the point..."
How will you know if you don't try?
Su Lao Er patted Su Lao San's shoulder and said, "Love can be cultivated after marriage. There's nothing wrong with getting married first and then falling in love."
"Second brother..."
Boss Su frowned and shook his head to stop him, "Don't say anymore."
Su Lao Er glanced at Su Lao Da and sighed.
He said, "Brother, unlike you, Lao San and I are... dull-witted. We understand some things too late. Tell me, is your lover more important or your family?"
Boss Su paused for a moment, then replied, "Both are important."
"We need to choose one of them. How do we choose?" Su Lao Er asked again.
Su Laoda opened his mouth, but then suddenly realized what he was saying and looked down at Su Laosan.
Su Lao Er looked at Su Lao San and said, "As long as he doesn't get married, people will think there's still a chance. What were our family's conditions before, and what will they be like in the future? Can someone who's been a thief for a thousand days be on guard for a thousand days? How can we guard against it?"
Boss Su, "..."
He sighed and said, "I understand what you mean, but... this is unfair to the third son and his future wife. Let the third son make his own choice."
Su Lao Er wanted to say something, but Su Lao Da patted him on the shoulder, "Alright, we'll talk about it later. I'll get Lao San inside first. He can't sleep here; it's cold and windy..."
Su Laosan had fallen asleep leaning against the door at some point.
Seeing that Su Lao Da had helped the man to bed, Su Lao Er pulled the blanket over him.
Looking at the dark circles under Su Laosan's eyes, Su Laoer sighed and was pushed away by Su Laoda.
The door closed, and Su Laosan turned over, facing the wall, a string of tears sliding down his cheeks.
Outside the courtyard, the eldest brother pushed the second brother back into his own courtyard. The two brothers sat in the main room watching the flashing cannon fire outside. The second brother didn't know the full story of the unexpected turn of events when the third brother and Fang Erniu got engaged, while the eldest brother, who had been involved throughout the whole process, knew more about it.
He recounted the scene to Su Lao Er, as well as the efforts Su Lao San and Fang Er Niu made to be together, but these efforts were clearly thwarted by the Fang family.
"...Lao San personally saw Fang Erniu off. She left home to work in another city after only two days. Lao San contacted Fang's eldest sister-in-law, who intended to help the two get back together. She maintained contact with Lao San for a while, but... I don't know why, the day after your sister-in-law and I were admitted to graduate school, Fang's eldest sister-in-law suddenly terminated the lease and even transferred her child to another school. Her whereabouts are unknown. Lao San went to the village to inquire several times, but no one in the village knew where they were. Fang Erniu seemed to have vanished into thin air. Lao San never looked for her again, but he would occasionally mention her in casual conversation..."
Su Lao Er recalled the name of his third aunt that Su Lao San had blurted out a few days ago, and his eyes were filled with complex emotions.
He turned to Su Laoda and asked, "Brother, if... Mom suffered a lifetime of hardship because of us and eventually worked herself to death, would you still marry your sister-in-law?"
Old Master Su was stunned and looked at him. "What are you saying? How could your sister-in-law and I let Mom suffer her whole life and work herself to death?! It's the New Year, so hurry up and spit three times."
After saying that, he spat three times, "The bad ones don't work, the good ones do."
Su Lao Er laughed, and Su Lao Da slapped him, "Still laughing? Quickly do as I say."
"good."
Su Lao Er smiled and did as he was told, then sighed, “There’s a reason why you’re the eldest brother. You’ve tried to persuade Mom countless times in your dreams. It’s because Mom… was forced to stop by us.”
Boss Su frowned, "What dream? Why are you talking nonsense?"
He reached out and touched Su Lao Er's head, muttering, "He doesn't have a fever."
"Hmm, no fever."
Su Lao Er said, "When I went into the operating room, I had a dream that felt like it really happened. In the dream... Mom was desperately trying to treat all six of us siblings equally and make sure we all had a good life. Except for you, eldest brother, every one of us was greedy. I insisted on marrying Cui Yuxia, Mom..."
He glanced at Boss Su, a hint of guilt in his eyes.
"...She took her sister-in-law's job and gave it to Cui Yuxia, selling everything she owned to bring Cui Yuxia into the family. The third son married Fang Erniu, and the Fang family behind her clung to her and the third son like leeches, sucking blood from Mom. Su Hongying was even more of a traitor, taking all the good things to her husband's family, and asking Mom for money whenever she was short of cash. Su Xiaosi, relying on his intelligence, looked down on everyone in the family, marrying into a high-ranking official's family. When he heard us asking Mom for money, he wanted some too, thinking he was of higher status than us and asking for double. Su Hongmei was vain and had no ability to earn money herself, treating Mom like a cash cow, asking Mom for money whenever she was short of cash."
"Mom opened a shop selling medicinal porridge and worked there until my son got married and then my third son got married. She worked herself to the bone and became very sick. When she was lying in the hospital waiting to die, she found out that our father, Su Youfu, was having an affair with that old widow, He Taohua. She never saw a penny of Su Youfu's money in her whole life. All his money went to supporting Lin Jiefang and He Taohua. Brother, Mom's life was so hard. Her husband didn't love her, and her children didn't care about her..."
The eldest brother, Su, was dumbfounded. "Second brother, how could you have such a dream?"
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