Chapter 4: The Eccentric Su Zhaodi

Chapter 4: The Eccentric Su Zhaodi

There was a reason behind her inability to enjoy good fortune. When Xu Daniu first married into the family, she didn't have much ill will towards this big sister who had returned to her parents' home. After all, at that time, Su Zhaodi had already been driven out of the house and was living alone with her children, posing no threat. They would smile and greet each other when they met.

After Xu Daniu gave birth to a son in the Su family and felt secure in her position, she began to command various matters in the household, including those concerning this big sister who did not live with them.

Since the big sister had no man, it was up to her as the younger sister-in-law to arrange things for her.

Before long, she found an old widower in her hometown who had lost his wife. This widower was more than ten years older than Su Zhaodi and had six or seven children from his previous marriage. His first wife had died giving birth, and his family was extremely poor. Despite their poverty, he had high demands, stating that he would only take Su Zhaodi's son, not her daughter, because sons could work while daughters were just a waste once they grew up. Without even consulting Su Zhaodi, Xu Daniu agreed to this arrangement on her own initiative.

She believed that as a widow with two children, Su Zhaodi had nothing to offer except for her looks. They relied on renting land from landlords every year, and it was a great blessing for someone to accept one of her children. Conveniently, there was a family in the neighboring village looking for a child bride, and their conditions were decent. Xu Daniu took it upon herself to find a husband for Gu Nian, thinking that since they lived nearby, she could keep an eye on things, and Su Zhaodi wouldn't refuse.

Su Zhaodi herself had been a child bride, so she thought it might be good for her daughter too.

At that time, Gu Nian was only four years old.

After making all these arrangements, she turned around with a smile and proposed a match for Su Zhaodi. Su Zhaodi had no intention of remarrying; she only wanted to raise her two children. Afraid of offending her younger sister-in-law, she initially greeted her politely. However, when Xu Daniu mentioned sending Gu Nian away as a child bride, Su Zhaodi couldn't bear it anymore!

The usually mild-tempered Su Zhaodi drove Xu Daniu out of her house.

For this, Su Zhaodi's parents came over to scold her, saying she shouldn't have driven her sister-in-law out and accusing her of being ungrateful.

From then on, Xu Daniu looked at Su Zhaodi with disdain, as if even glancing at her would dirty her eyes.

She often called Su Zhaodi and her two children "poor devils."

When the land was redistributed, she even caused a commotion, wanting Su Zhaodi to exchange her two acres of prime paddy fields for some land from the Su family, claiming that a married woman had no right to claim land in her natal village.

She wasn't the only one in the village with such thoughts, but fortunately, the village officials were practical and did not listen to such idle talk. Instead, they educated those who spread such rumors.

As soon as Su Zhaozhao saw these two people, memories of them flashed through her mind.

This younger sister-in-law truly embodied the saying "the face reflects the heart," with her triangular eyes and sharp eyebrows, a picture of meanness and cruelty.

Su Laibao, on the other hand, was short and small, about the same height as his sister Su Zhaodi, around 1.6 meters. This height was acceptable for a woman but considered short for a man. He was weak-willed and indecisive, and marrying a strong-willed woman like Xu Daniu was a form of complementarity.

Su Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by 'fate'? Do you think we're still in the old society? At the last village meeting, it was clearly stated that all feudal superstitions should be abolished. Your constant talk of fate given by heaven, where does that leave our great leader, who has led us through stormy seas into a new life? Are you nostalgic for the days when we toiled under the landlords? Comrade Xu Daniu, your thoughts are seriously problematic!"

Xu Daniu: "..."

What was she babbling about?

She didn't understand most of it, but for some reason, Xu Daniu instinctively shut her mouth.

While Xu Daniu didn't understand, Su Laibao, who had attended school for a few years, did.

"Big Sister, don't say such things. Daniu didn't mean it that way. How are you feeling? Any better?" He quickly changed the subject, though his gaze toward Su Zhaozhao was filled with confusion.

Swallowing the retort that was on the tip of her tongue, Su Zhaozhao replied, "I won't die."

The original body had deep feelings for this younger brother. From the moment he was born, she had carried and cared for him. Later, when the Su family parents made Su Zhaodi move out, he helped repair the house. However, his occasional acts of kindness rarely succeeded and often resulted in Su Zhaodi receiving more abuse from Xu Daniu. Despite this, Su Zhaodi never blamed him and remembered his good deeds.

Su Zhaozhao, however, was not Su Zhaodi and didn't share these complex feelings.

Xu Daniu wanted to say something more, but Su Laibao pulled her away, fearing a scene, "Let's go home, home, the chickens haven't been fed yet..."

This time, Xu Daniu gave him some face, but she was seething inside. As soon as they got home, she asked, "What did she mean by that? What kind of thoughts? What does this have to do with the leader? Why bring up the landlords?"

Su Laibao glanced at her, "She said you believe in feudal superstitions and don't respect the leader, thinking the landlords were better..."

"Rubbish!" Xu Daniu jumped up, "When have I ever said such things? Is Su Zhaodi having a fit?"

She wanted to go back and argue with Su Zhaozhao, but Su Laibao held her back, "Your words sounded like that. At the last meeting, they emphasized the need to combat feudal superstitions. Don't cause trouble again, or you might end up in an education class..."

The mention of an education class made Xu Daniu hesitate. She hated classes, getting dizzy at the sight of a blackboard. Confused, she asked, "Wasn't your big sister always quiet and reserved? Why did she suddenly start spouting nonsense after fainting? Could she be possessed by a ghost?"

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed possible. She immediately recalled the ghost stories the elders used to tell, and goosebumps rose on her skin.

Su Laibao waved his hands, "Don't say such things, that's feudal superstition..." He also felt something was off, "I don't think my big sister would say such things. Maybe she really hurt her head..."

Su Zhaozhao didn't enter the house. She had noticed the puzzled look in Su Laibao's eyes. The original personality was so different from hers that she needed to be cautious, controlling her words to avoid seeming strange.

If not for the fear of arousing suspicion, she wouldn't have held back, feeling constrained.

A small hand tugged at her side, "Mother, Aunt Daniu has never acted like this before. Usually, she would make a big fuss."

Every time Aunt Daniu caused trouble, her mother would frown and sigh.

Gu Nian, without the complexities of adults, simply thought her mother had become very capable!

She liked that her mother could drive Aunt Daniu away but disliked seeing her mother always worried and telling them to endure everything.

Su Zhaozhao smiled down at her, "Mother was sick, and now she sees things differently. We can't let others bully us. We must stand up for ourselves."

Gu Nian nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

In the village, no one dared to bully her because her brother would beat them up. Unfortunately, her brother was too young to fight the adults.

Her brother had always wanted to beat up Aunt Daniu and those who gossiped in the village.