The job wasn't secured yet, and the matter of returning to the city hadn't been settled, so Su Qing wasn't ready to openly confront Su Xue. But that didn't stop her from putting on a little act—shedding a few theatrical tears to lay the groundwork for public opinion later.
Her crying immediately tugged at Wang Cuifen's heartstrings. Once they left the courtyard, Wang Cuifen softened her voice to comfort her, "Whether someone has a conscience has nothing to do with whether they're family. So what if you ran into a pack of heartless wolves? Just ignore them..."
"Mhm." Su Qing nodded obediently, her eyes still glistening with tears.
But as soon as she wiped them away, she noticed Wang Cuifen starting to cry too. Unlike her own fake tears, Wang Cuifen's were real.
Even while crying, Wang Cuifen’s tone remained fierce as she continued bitterly, "Blood ties mean nothing when people have no conscience. Sometimes strangers treat you better! A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit—we’ve learned our lesson the hard way..."
Su Qing blinked, stealing glances at Wang Cuifen’s expression. The older woman spoke through gritted teeth, her hatred palpable.
Something felt off. Was Wang Cuifen comforting her—or herself? Had she gotten so emotionally invested that she was venting her own grievances?
Tentatively, Su Qing probed, "Auntie Wang, I really admire you. You see life so clearly—no wonder you’ve built such a good life for yourself."
"Admire me? Don’t. Your future will be far better than mine." Wang Cuifen’s mood eased slightly as she sighed. "Everyone faces this hurdle in life. The sooner you see people for who they really are, the wiser you’ll live. We should count ourselves lucky."
Her own hurdle had come too late—she’d only seen the truth on her deathbed. No wonder her past life had turned out worse than Su Qing’s.
The memories of that life made Wang Cuifen’s eyes instantly weary.
Seeing her like this and recalling her earlier words, Su Qing couldn’t help but connect the dots to Wang Cuifen’s children.
Aside from the deceased Xie Jianhua, at least one of her remaining kids must have been an ungrateful wretch who’d broken her heart.
The one who really needed comforting was Wang Cuifen.
Quickly, Su Qing reached out, warmly looping her arm through Wang Cuifen’s. "Auntie Wang, don’t be sad for me anymore. It’s all in the past. We’ll both have better days ahead."
"Right! You’re absolutely right—it’s all behind us." Wang Cuifen wiped her tears and straightened up, her resilience returning.
She had too much to do to wallow in self-pity. If she didn’t step up, young Su Qing would be trampled by the Su family. She had to stand by Su Qing and settle her affairs first.
As for those thankless children of hers? She’d deal with them later—there’d be plenty of time.
The policy on educated youth returning to the cities had already started loosening up. Work units no longer outright refused rural residents like they had a few years ago.
Su Xue’s position had been a cushy one, tailor-made for her as an under-the-table favor. As an unofficial beneficiary, her voluntary transfer raised no eyebrows—the boss asked a few questions, signed off, and that was that.
Only after personally overseeing Su Qing’s handover and leave approval did Wang Cuifen finally relax.
On the way home, she couldn’t resist gloating. "Out of the whole Su family, Su Xue’s job was the easiest—reading newspapers and knitting sweaters when things were slow. Not like your dad and brother at the rubber shoe factory. Sure, they earn a few extra bucks, but it’s backbreaking work. The Women’s Federation role suits you much better."
Without her mentioning it, Su Qing had barely registered Su Youjin’s job. Now, comparing them, she praised, "Auntie Wang, you’re truly brilliant."
Even if she’d been acting in self-interest, after sizing up the Su family, she’d have targeted the Women’s Federation job too. Without the one-child policy yet, the work there was low-pressure.
Wang Cuifen’s voice dripped with doting indulgence. "We don’t need those extra few dollars from you. Think of it as resting in an office—eat well, rest well, focus on rebuilding your health. That’s what matters most."
"Absolutely, health comes first." Su Qing nodded emphatically. She’d worked herself to death in her past life. If she overexerted herself again this time, she’d be a fool.
Su Xue trailed behind them, silently listening to their critiques of the family’s jobs, her confusion growing.
These two hadn’t seen each other in years, yet they acted closer than real mother and daughter.
Before today, she—Su Xue—had been the Xie family’s future daughter-in-law, yet Wang Cuifen had never shown her this much warmth.
If not for the fact that scheming against Su Qing had been a last-minute decision, she’d almost suspect this was a trap they’d set together. Instead of gaining anything, she’d been left battered and bruised.
The thought of her pregnancy scandal exploding and the trouble it would bring made her stomach twinge with pain.
When she let out a faint, pained whimper, her face pale, Wang Cuifen immediately steadied her with a look of concern.
"Oh dear, you can’t afford complications. If you miscarry on the street, forget your family’s reputation—what about my son’s marriage application?"
For all her bluster and threats to involve the authorities, Wang Cuifen was the last person who wanted the Su family to have a criminal record.
A tarnished record would complicate the marriage license. A wedding banquet without the certificate would be embarrassing—she’d never let her dear daughter-in-law suffer that indignity.
Su Xue’s face flushed then paled, realizing Wang Cuifen only cared about the paperwork, not her well-being. Furious, she trembled.
"Don’t get upset. Your health matters most." Su Qing also reached out to support her, offering soothing words. They hadn’t secured the 500 yuan yet—no point risking the debt if Su Xue collapsed from anger.
After a morning of emotional whiplash, Su Xue finally cracked.
Clutching Su Qing’s hand, she broke down in guilty sobs.
"Elder sister... wu wu... I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! I just... I thought marrying Xie Jianhua would be better for you. Being an educated youth is so hard..."
Su Qing’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. She wasn’t opposed to marrying into the Xie family. During Wang Cuifen’s negotiations with the Sus, she’d already weighed the pros and cons and tacitly agreed.
In the original host’s memories, Xie Jianhua had returned to his military unit the afternoon after their wedding banquet. He rarely came home, and a few years later, he died in service. What a perfect placeholder husband.
In this era, without an introduction letter, you couldn’t stay at inns or buy train tickets. She needed a foothold—and the Xie family was ideal.
While the outcome suited her, the process had been far from pleasant, especially her dealings with the Su family.
They all knew how grueling life was for educated youth, yet during all those years the original host spent in the countryside, her family never sent money, food coupons, or even defective shoes from the factory. And when she finally returned home? Sold out without a second thought.
The original host’s life after marrying into the Xie family had been worse than her time as an educated youth.
Now Su Xue, the one who started it all, was using the excuse of "doing what's best for her."
"Third Sister, let's not bring up the past again. If you do, I’ll get angry," Su Qing said with an expressionless face, adding a warning: "When I get angry, even I’m afraid of myself."
Hearing this, Wang Cuifen nodded in agreement. Back then, Su Qing had nearly come at her with a kitchen knife—she really was terrifying.
Su Qing wasn’t about to beat up a pregnant woman, but after securing the job and the money, exposing the truth about the arranged marriage and clearing her original self’s name was part of her plan.
They had publicly shamed her original self, so Su Qing would return the favor in kind.
As for the so-called "honor among thieves" principle of fulfilling a deal, that was a virtue for honorable people. Since both sides were scoundrels, there was no need to stand on ceremony.
But after all these years, Su Qing had always been the family’s punching bag. So when she said she’d get angry, Su Xue actually laughed, convinced in her heart: Big Sister must have already let go of her anger.
With that thought, Su Xue relaxed, and even the discomfort in her stomach eased.
