Chapter 5: At Least My Mother Doesn’t Cheat on My Father

Chapter 5: At Least My Mother Doesn't Cheat on My Father

"Hey hey hey, Su An."

As soon as Ji Qingqing heard this, she immediately grew anxious and grabbed Su An's arm. "My child, why are you so upset?"

"You're a girl from the Su family. If we don't take care of you, should we take care of Zhao Daxing instead?"

"You mustn't say such angry words again in the future. Oh my, let me see. That brute from the Zhao family really went too far, didn't he?"

"Come, come, let me apply some red medicine on you."

Lin Zhaodi and Su Jianjun wanted to say something but were stopped by Ji Qingqing's glance.

Now that Su An was married into the Zhao family, it wouldn't be good if she broke off relations with her natal family. If she started whispering in Zhao Daxing's ear, it could stir up more trouble. It was best to keep her calm until they had the job situation sorted out.

Lin Zhaodi and Su Jianjun exchanged a glance and immediately understood Ji Qingqing's intention. They turned their faces away, deciding to turn a blind eye.

Su An settled down in the Su family, but she was no longer the old maid she used to be. She only showed up for meals and spent the rest of her time elsewhere.

Early in the morning, she started running around the streets, and later, in the park, she practiced swinging, chopping, and stabbing movements with firewood.

An old man in a Tai Chi outfit watched her with interest for a bit before wandering off. In the afternoon, he encountered Su An again, drenched in sweat. Unable to resist, he gave her a few pointers.

Influenced by movies, a martial arts craze had swept across the country. Kickboxing and boxing had been formally piloted in domestic colleges a few years ago. In later generations, they even made it to various international sports events, becoming important competition projects.

The old man could tell from Su An's words that she admired kickboxing and boxing, which made him frown.

"What do you know, little girl?"

"Let me tell you, my ancestors were in the escort business. I've been practicing traditional martial arts with my elders since I was young."

"I'm telling you, it's not that traditional martial arts can't be used in actual combat, but they are too dangerous. Many of the moves are extremely perilous and unsuitable for the fighting ring."

Here, the old man gestured as he spoke, "Look, for example, the snake form. I strike at the groin, and even if this hand misses, my knee will follow up. The opponent can't protect their head and tail at the same time."

"And this move."

The old man's hands shot forward like arrows, swift and precise.

"Can you use this eye-gouging move in the fighting ring? And this one, the eagle kite turn in Xingyiquan. If the opponent punches or kicks you, you rush up and hit them with your elbow, locking their arm. It's easy to break their arm."

"The kickboxing and boxing you mentioned, I've seen them. They have referees and are about winning or losing. But traditional martial arts from the folk cannot be used in the ring. There are no rules in real combat, just survival techniques. These are used in life-threatening situations where there's no room for mercy or fairness."

"In our younger days, when our lives were in danger, we could use hidden weapons, tools, or even bricks and stones. There were no rules."

Su An's eyes lit up with excitement. This was precisely what she had been looking for!

"Uncle, I'd like to learn those moves you just showed. Can you teach me?"

On the third day after Su An returned home, Su Jianjun was convinced by Ji Qingqing to confront Zhao Daxing at the steel factory.

He waited at the factory gate all afternoon but learned that Zhao Daxing was on a business trip.

.....

At the dinner table, Su Jianjun looked at Su An, who was eating heartily, and couldn't help but lecture her, "When you have nothing to do, help your mom with the housework. You're a grown girl, yet you're never around. What kind of behavior is this?"

Su An didn't even lift her head. "What’s there to do at home besides cook? I used to cook as soon as I got back from school. And Mom’s home all day; she doesn’t have a job. If she doesn’t cook, wouldn’t she really be eating without contributing?"

"I've only been back for two days, and you're all too busy to even cook a meal? If I hadn’t come back, would you have just starved?"

As she finished speaking, Su An picked up her spoon and scooped a large portion of the egg custard from the table onto her plate, causing Ji Qingqing's cheeks to twitch in pain.

"Su An, don't you like radish greens? This egg custard is specially made for your brother to nourish his body. Your dad and I don’t even have the heart to eat it."

Su An shot her a cold glance. "Who likes radish greens? You’re the one who always says I like them. The money my brother sends every month is enough for me to eat eggs every meal, or even meat."

"If you know to steam eggs for Su Lei to nourish his body, why haven’t you steamed a single egg for me or my brother all these years we’ve been in this family?"

"A stepmother is indeed a stepmother—cruel and biased!"

Ji Qingqing’s chest heaved violently from being provoked. Seeing this, Su Jianjun slammed his chopsticks onto the table.

"Su An! Do you have any manners left? Look at how sharp-tongued and mean you’ve become, just like your mother!"

Su An calmly finished the rice in her bowl, picked up the spatula, and scooped the remaining custard into her mouth.

"They say when you get a stepmom, you also get a stepdad. I had a stepdad long before I ever got a stepmom. What right do you have to talk about my mother? At least my mom doesn’t betray her husband."

After giving them a meaningful look, Su An turned around and left.

Su Lei looked at the bowl of eggs in front of him and opened his mouth to wail.

"Wahhh, my eggs! My eggs! I want my eggs!"

Su Jianjun and Ji Qingqing finally snapped back to their senses. "This is pure rebellion! This wicked daughter is trying to drive me crazy..."

"She never said a word, even when we tried to discipline her. I thought she was a good kid, but she’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing."

Ji Qingqing, barely holding back her anger, grabbed Su Jianjun and said through gritted teeth, "Jianjun, bear with it for now. Wait until we get the job."